ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 84

Column data centers
Donald L. Beaty

How CPUs Impact Design
By DonalD l. Beaty, P.e., Fellow aSHRae

Most commercial and industrial industries have fairly consistent approaches
when considering HVAC design. However, within the data center industry, the
HVAC design is heavily influenced by changing electronics technology. Those
electronics technology changes are frequent and can sometimes have a revolutionary impact on the approach to data center cooling.
Perhaps the most vivid example of this occurred in the
early 1990s when the changing semiconductor technology resulted in a revolutionary shift from liquid cooling
to air cooling. Today, a shift back toward liquid cooling
is occurring driven by higher densities and the current
energy-efficiency awareness. However, there have been
signs of a coming revolutionary shift that may cause the
industry to revert back to liquid cooling on an even more
massive scale.

Semiconductors are materials that can
function as either conductors or insulators and ultimately use electrical energy for
power control and communication applications. Combinations of different types of
semiconductors are used to create electronic
devices and integrated circuits.
Modern semiconductor-based devices
such as transistors, the building blocks of
integrated circuits and central processing
units (CPUs), are created using a silicon substrate (hence the term "Silicon Valley" used
to describe the region in California where
many silicon-based technology companies
are located).

Bipolar & CMOS

ASHRAE JouRnAl

2.6 Billion
1 Billion
100 Million
10 Million
1 Million
100,000
10,000
2,300
1971

Bipolar transistors were invented in 1948
and effectively began a roadmap that would
see the electronic technology industry
84

FIguRe 1 Moore's Law (image from Wikipedia).

transistor Count

What Are Semiconductors?

accelerate its advancement to where we are today. Prior
to that, electronics were predominantly bulky, mechanical (e.g., vacuum tubes), unreliable, and energy hogs.
Bipolar transistors enabled the development of more
lightweight and inexpensive electronics, which in turn,
made them more accessible to be leveraged into more
applications.
With the increase in popularity came a tremendous
increase in demand; demand for more powerful devices

ashrae.org

N OVEM BER 2013

1980

1990
2000
Date of Introduction

2011

Donald L. Beaty, P.E., is president of DLB Associates Consulting Engineers, in Eatontown, N.J. He is publications chair of ASHRAE TC 9.9.



ASHRAE Journal - November 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - November 2013

Contents
Commentary
Industry News
Letters
Meetings and Shows
Feature Articles
Sequencing & Control of Compressors
Fire Station Renovation
Sewage Plant Heats Village
Standing Columns
Engineer’s Notebook
Building Sciences
Special Supplement
BACnet Today & the Smart Grid
The Performance Gap
Refrigeration Applications
InfoCenter
Energy Modeling
Emerging Technologies
Data Centers
People
Products
Special Products
Geothermal for Big Box Retail
Classified Advertising
Advertisers Index
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Intro
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 2
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Commentary
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Industry News
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 8
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 9
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Letters
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 11
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Meetings and Shows
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 13
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Sequencing & Control of Compressors
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 15
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 16
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 17
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 18
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 19
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 20
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 21
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 22
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 23
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 24
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 25
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 26
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 27
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 28
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 29
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Fire Station Renovation
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 31
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 32
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 33
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 34
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 35
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 36
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 37
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 38
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 39
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Sewage Plant Heats Village
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 41
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 42
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 43
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 44
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 45
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 46
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 47
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Engineer’s Notebook
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 49
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 50
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 51
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 52
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 53
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 54
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 55
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Building Sciences
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 57
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 58
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 59
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 60
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 61
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 62
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 63
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 64
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - BACnet Today & the Smart Grid
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - BCover2
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B1
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B2
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B3
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B4
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B5
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B6
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B7
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B8
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B9
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B10
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B11
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B12
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B13
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B14
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B15
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B16
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B17
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B18
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B19
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B20
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B21
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B22
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B23
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B24
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B25
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B26
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B27
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B28
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B29
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - B30
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - The Performance Gap
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 66
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 67
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 68
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 69
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 70
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 71
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 72
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Refrigeration Applications
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - InfoCenter
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 75
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 76
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 77
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 78
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Energy Modeling
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Emerging Technologies
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 81
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 82
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 83
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Data Centers
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 85
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 86
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - People
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Products
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Special Products
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Geothermal for Big Box Retail
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 91
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 92
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 93
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - 94
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Classified Advertising
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Advertisers Index
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal - November 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_MCDEBX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WNYSQY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XATVOD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FJSHSS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CCBZDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XDEFVG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VHGNBL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WPKBNJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_UUVCDE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTGDEW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LKRFXS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AZSOFG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ERCDBH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QWDFRV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JHGVDF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPUYHG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SREIBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LRTGLK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OKRFGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TZSERA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LVRUIX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RPTVYZ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/mini_pub_catalog
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XIYTGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RFGDOB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PABXNU
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_REMKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PICVBT
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AOYTVW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JQOPLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IOYTBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SGAJJF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IGHYER
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PDRKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XCODFR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QSLFGO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ILKVNM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPDJKD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VJKSRY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDHUTC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JPPKRR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDLTTH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CKLLES
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SLDOX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_HJETUK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OLUHGE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ZERDGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QVMNEO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTPOKE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_BBATRE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_STUBMW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TPEMPE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JNMKDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FBTTPA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WQMMNE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TVBRYN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_KTUZMA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ABEDGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019septmeber_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019september
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019april
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019march
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018december
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraeinsights_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashrae_meetinginsert_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acrexindia
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acma_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acmasupp_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/achr_expo_mexico2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201111_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201109_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com