Measuring Air Flow - BAR Managed Servers - IntelliBase Platforms - IntelliFlex Platforms

Teradata® Hardware Site Preparation Guide

Product
BAR Managed Servers
IntelliBase Platforms
IntelliFlex Platforms
Published
October 2020
Language
English (United States)
Last Update
2020-10-26
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Product Category
Hardware
For environmental evaluation, you may need to measure air flow rates of conditioned air entering a computer room through openings that include:
  • Vented floor tiles, including both perforated tiles (typically having an overall opening area of approximately 20%), and grate tiles (typically having an overall opening area greater than 50%)
  • Floor tiles with unblocked openings (such as cable cutouts)
  • Cold air diffusers in overhead cold air delivery systems
Two methods for measuring air flow rate through these openings are:
  • Using an Alnor meter
  • Using an air flow meter and a handmade air capture hood

The Alnor flow rate meter has an air capture hood, and is instrumented to measure air flow rate in m 3/s or ft 3/min. However, the Alnor meter is relatively expensive and lacks portability, even when folded.

A cost-effective and portable method to get reasonably accurate air flow rate measurements is to use a digital air velocity meter and a handmade cardboard air capture hood.

When using an air capture hood of the dimensions specified in Measuring Air Flow Rate Using an Air Flow Meter and Handmade Air Capture Hood, and an air velocity meter set to feet per minute (fpm), the flow rate in cubic feet per minute (CFM) is the velocity reading in feet per minute (fpm). The calculation is straightforward because the top opening area is exactly one square foot (ft 2).

Any air capture hood restricts air flow to a certain extent, introducing air flow impedance and associated measurement errors. As a result, instrument calibration is required to make sure measurements are accurate. The following correction table is the result of calibration with the hood of the preferred dimensions. If a hood of different dimensions is used, a new calibration is required.
Air Flow Velocity (ft/min) Flow Rate (ft 3/min or CFM) Correction Factor
< 200 1.10
< 400 and > 200 1.18
< 600 and > 400 1.25

For example, if air flow velocity measured with an air capture hood of the preferred dimensions is 250 ft/min, the actual flow rate is estimated to be 250 x 1.18 = 295 CFM.

If the opening is too small for a hood of the preferred dimensions, flow rates can be estimated by measuring the flow velocity and multiplying it by the open area.

To derive flow rates using units other than CFM, use the following conversion table.
From Unit To Unit Multiply by:
CFM m 3/s 1/2119
CFM m 3/hr 1.69

For detailed information, contact Teradata.