Cross-Connect Blog

Does Cabinet Door Perforation Really Impact Airflow? CPI's Latest White Paper Has the Answer

October 20, 2011

Cabinet Door PerforationIf you want the truth, the "hole" truth, and nothing but, then imagine cabinet door perforation in a data center like a screen door on a summer afternoon. Both reside in typically hot environments, both provide much-needed ventilation through increased airflow, and both do a good job at keeping the big stuff (bugs, prying hands) out.

No matter how you slice... sorry, perforate it, you can't help but notice those little punched holes that dot cabinet doors (screen doors, camping tents, take your pick) make a big difference.

But do you know why cabinet door perforation is so essential to the data center specifically? It all comes down to airflow - how much you want, how fast, how far, and how in the world going from an industry-standard 64 percent to 80 percent perforated cabinet door may (or may not) change energy efficiency - even at high-density heat loads of 30kW and above.

Let's just say the answers involve a good deal of math, a dash of ingenuity and a whole lot of expert analysis - all brought to you by CPI's Thermal Design Manager, Travis North, and available in CPI's newest White Paper, "Understanding How Cabinet Perforation Really Impacts Airflow." Get more information on downloading your copy of this eye-openingreport here. Jeff Cihocki, eContent Specialist

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