cratermoon 2 years ago

Do you have any examples of the kind of datacenter roofs you think are problematic?

  • westurner 2 years ago

    OTOH from memory, datacenter roofs are typically flat with HVAC gear.

    They don't have windcatchers or motionless rooftop wind energy turbines.

    And they aren't angled to optimize thermal flow through the facility.

    What are some examples of passive rooflines?

    The shed roof is an example of a passive roofline; which angles up towards one side and causes passive thermal exchange. FWIU you can just open and close vents at the peak of the roof according to time of day, internal and external temp and humidity, and the weather forecats

    Passive cooling > Modulation and heat dissipation techniques: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_cooling#Modulation_and...

    /? Passive roofline: https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=Passive...

    There's probably some reason that there aren't data centers with angled roofs other than that there's typically HVAC equipment up there?

    More surface area at the top of the structure should make for greater passive thermal exchange; though a more focused extreme thermal gradient is probably most useful for thermal energy reclamation with arrays of solid-state thermoelectric heat engines?

    • cratermoon 2 years ago

      ok so "flat with HVAC gear" is that you consider "not passive"? Better question for you: why aren't datacenter roofs covered in solar, especially in places like Sparks and Clark, NV?

    • verdverm 2 years ago

      air in data centers is actively managed, one of the big things is the need to filter out particulates. The moisture content also needs to be controlled. One cannot have open exchange with the external environment's air.

      Flat roofs are easier and can have equipment placed on them