In critical infrastructure design, uncertainty is the greatest enemy of profitability. To ensure success, Data Center thermal validation using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) is a fundamental step. When facing High-Density projects, exceeding 8-9 kW per rack, traditional rules fail. Spreadsheets are no longer sufficient. Phenomena such as hot air recirculation or cold air bypass are dangerous. Static pressure loss in the raised floor can also compromise operations from Day 1.

In this article, we demonstrate how our team at Atreydes Engineering utilizes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). We use high-precision algorithms to perform Data Center thermal validation and optimize complex designs. This ensures compliance with thermal SLAs under any load scenario.

We recently undertook the analysis of an IT room designed to house 24 racks. Each rack has a load of 9.6 kW. The room is cooled by a raised floor downflow system with two perimeter CRAC units.

The challenge was not just “cooling the room,” but answering critical questions:

Many studies fail because they oversimplify the physics. Our approach to Data Center thermal validation is based on rigorous modeling. We replicate real fluid behavior.

We validated a Cold Aisle Containment (CAC) architecture in this case. However, our consulting services evaluate the suitability of the topology based on load density:

Thanks to this preventive Data Center thermal validation, we delivered actionable conclusions to the client:

Software is just the tool; the value lies in the interpretation of the physics.

Conducting these studies in-house is complex. It requires expensive licenses and high-performance computing hardware. It also demands a steep learning curve to avoid convergence errors.

This technical complexity increases even further when moving from steady-state to critical emergency scenarios. Therefore, we do not only validate your standard design; we also perform Data Center transient CFD simulation: Thermal Inertia Analysis to determine the real safety ride-through time your infrastructure has in the event of a total cooling failure.

Our proposal is simple: Atreydes Engineering handle the mathematical and computational complexity. You receive a validated report guaranteeing the design’s performance.

Do you have a critical project or a design that needs thermal validation? Let’s talk about how we can apply these advanced methodologies to your next Data Center.