Optimise Data Centre Airflow with Blanking Panels: Maximise Efficiency

WITHAM, U.K. - Jan. 9, 2025 - PRLog -- In the demanding world of Data Centres, companies must prioritise maintaining optimal operating conditions to achieve energy efficiency. One critical aspect that professionals often overlook is effectively managing airflow within server racks. As experts in this field, we recognise that efficient cooling relies not only on the power and quantity of cooling units but also on how we direct and manage airflow while optimising cooling.

Blanking panels, commonly referred to as rack blanking plates or rack panels, play an indispensable role within Data Centre server racks. These often-underestimated components are crucial for effective airflow management, which involves controlling air movement in the Data Centre environment and preventing the mixing of hot and cold airstreams. Best practices dictate that we need to manage airflow at the raised floor, rack, and row levels. By doing so, we can optimise cooling systems to maximise efficiency and reduce energy consumption and associated costs.

The Importance of Blanking Panels

Rack-level airflow management highlights the critical role of blanking panels. We can think of these panels as the unsung heroes of Data Centre efficiency. Rack blanking panels are simple, lightweight components designed to fill the empty spaces within the mounting frame of server racks. When gaps exist due to no IT equipment being installed, hot exhaust air circulates back through the rack and mixes with cold air that cools the equipment. This phenomenon, known as bypass airflow, can also lead to hot spots within the cold aisle.

By installing blanking plates in these open areas, we create an effective barrier that prevents airstreams from mixing. When combined with other best practices at various levels, cooling systems can achieve full optimisation, thereby maximising cooling efficiency.

Blanking Panel Solutions

At EDP Europe, we offer a variety of blanking panels to accommodate the diverse array of racks, providing solutions from leading manufacturers such as EziBlank and HotLok.

• EziBlank 6U blanking panel sheets can easily resize to fit your needs and clip into place, allowing you to blank out unused space quickly and conveniently.
• HotLok blanking panels, available in 1U or 2U sizes, feature integral finger grips for easy handling and cantilevered sealing vanes for improved sealing.

Both solutions effectively enhance Data Centre airflow management. Discover more about the benefits of blanking panels and the blanking solutions available from EDP by visiting https://www.edpeurope.com/product-category/thermal-manage....