Context
With the growing density of IT equipment and increasing energy concerns, data centers must optimize their cooling systems to ensure hardware reliability while reducing energy consumption. code_saturne enables precise simulation of airflow, temperature distribution, and complex thermal phenomena within cold/hot aisles, server racks, and ventilation infrastructures.
Workflow overview
Step 1: Data collection
- Server room geometry (racks, cold and hot aisles, walls, ceilings, raised floors)
- Input data: airflow rates from cooling units (CRAC/CRAH), server heat dissipation
- Measured temperatures and air velocities for model validation
- Airflow configuration (supply, exhaust, recirculation)
Step 2: Modeling with code_saturne
- 3D mesh creation (e.g., using Salomé)
- Boundary condition setup: air inlets/outlets, heated surfaces (racks), etc.
- Configuration of turbulence models, viscosity, and heat transfer settings
- Stationary or transient simulations depending on the desired level of detail
Step 3: Scenario simulation
- Visualization of hot spots and under-cooled zones
- Analysis of temperature distribution in the cold aisle
- Identification of hot air recirculation or thermal short circuits
- Comparison of various ventilation layouts or server arrangements
Step 4: Prediction and optimization
- Quantification of localized overheating risks (hotspots)
- Evaluation of colling improvement strategies
- Cold aisle containment
- Airflow rate adjustments
- Rearrangement of high-heat-density servers
- Integration into a full-scale digital twin of the data center (via coupling with system or energy models)
Outputs and impact
Key outputs
- 3D temperature maps
- Streamline and airflow velocity visualizations
- Precise hotspot localization
- Balanced airflow across aisles and racks
Decision support
- Lower operating costs (reduced overcooling)
- Improved hardware availability and reliability
- Simulation-guided design from the early layout phase
- Support for energy certification (e.g., ISO standards)
Example projects
- Assessing the impact of various ventilation layouts before setting up a new server room
- Energy retrofit of an existing data center by identifying inefficient zones
- Feeding a digital twin to dynamically adjust cooling based on real-time IT load
Advantages of using code_saturne
- Well-suited to internal airflow simulations in complex volumes
- Accurate modeling of convection and thermal conduction phenomena
- Compatible with advanced meshing and post-processing tools (Paraview, Salomé)
