Testing-adjusting-balancing of data centres

Overview

This paper by Işık Yücesoy was presented in the TAB Seminar at the 16th National Installation Engineering Congress (TESKON 2025, Izmir) and published in the proceedings of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers (TMMOB MMO), p. 1456. It sets out the sequence a Turkish TAB practitioner uses on data-centre HVAC projects: baseline air and water measurements, balancing, determination of BMS set points, and post-TAB energy comparison.

In the introduction, data-centre energy use per 100,000 inhabitants is quoted as about 1 MW in Europe versus about 12 MW in the USA. The method section gives the steps: measure airflow, temperature and pressure per floor before TAB; analyse imbalances; balance air; measure water flow and differential pressure; balance water; set and load BMS set points; and re-measure and compute savings.

The equipment covered includes, on the air side, CRAH/CRAC units, adiabatic AHUs, fresh-air units and fan coils, and on the water side chillers, pumps and balancing valves. Instruments used are an anemometer, manometer, balometer (flow hood), differential-pressure meter, ultrasonic flow meter and humidity and temperature sensors. Both CAV and VAV air systems were treated, and TAB verified operating scenarios and room temperature, humidity and pressure targets.

As a result, the author reports that proper TAB on data centres yields 10-25% HVAC energy savings and that TAB reports become the operating handbook. As a limitation, the paper is short and rests on practitioner experience; it offers no detailed measurement data or independent verification.

Key points

1. Data-centre energy use per 100,000 inhabitants is quoted as about 1 MW in Europe versus about 12 MW in the USA.
2. TAB steps: measure, analyse imbalances, balance air, measure water flow and differential pressure, balance water, set BMS set points, re-measure and compute savings.
3. Instruments used: anemometer, manometer, balometer, differential-pressure meter, ultrasonic flow meter, humidity and temperature sensors.
4. Both CAV and VAV air systems were treated.
5. TAB verified operating scenarios and room temperature, humidity and pressure targets.
6. The reported outcome is a 10-25% energy efficiency improvement.
7. TAB reports serve as an O&M handbook.

Using it in design

• In the commissioning module, include a TAB task list per cooling unit and hydronic circuit (design versus measured airflow, water flow, differential pressure, set points).
• Flag designs without balancing valves or measurement points.
• In the energy model, allow a 'post-TAB' scenario instead of assuming design airflows are achieved.

Who should read it

Mechanical engineers planning and carrying out data centre HVAC commissioning and TAB work.

Related standards

• NEBB TAB Procedures
• ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Systems and Equipment

Publication details

Authors

Işık Yücesoy

Publisher

TMMOB Makina Mühendisleri Odası (MMO)

Year

2025

Document number

TESKON 2025 Bildiriler Kitabı, s. 1456

Event

16. Ulusal Tesisat Mühendisliği Kongresi (TESKON 2025), İzmir - TAD Semineri

Document language

English

Source type

Industry body

Access

Free to read

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation