Controlling air circulation in a data center

A data center system comprising:

• a first cold aisle comprising a first perforated floor element and a temperature sensor;
• a first hot aisle comprising a second perforated floor element that can be opened and closed;
• a server rack comprising a plurality of servers separating the first cold aisle from the first hot aisle;
• an air conditioning unit having an input coupled to the first hot aisle and an output coupled to the first cold aisle via the first perforated floor element;
• and
• a controller configured to toggle the data center system between:
• a first configuration, in which the second perforated floor element is closed and the air conditioning unit is active;
• and
• a second configuration, in which the second perforated floor element is in a full open position and keeping the air conditioning unit in a standby mode upon a temperature in the first hot aisle reaching a defined threshold.

A method of controlling the temperature in a data center system comprising:

• a first cold aisle comprising a first perforated floor element;
• a first hot aisle comprising a second perforated floor element that can be opened and closed;
• a server rack comprising a plurality of servers separating the first cold aisle from the first hot aisle;
• an air conditioning unit having an input coupled to the first hot aisle and an output coupled to the first cold aisle via the first perforated floor element;
• and
• a controller configured to toggle the data center system between:
• a first configuration in which the second perforated floor element is closed and the air conditioning unit is active;
• and
• a second configuration in which the second perforated floor element is in a full open position providing a direct path between the first hot aisle and the first cold aisle and bypassing the air conditioning unit and keeping the air conditioning unit in a standby mode;
• the method comprising:
• recirculating air from the first hot aisle to the first cold aisle via the second perforated floor element and the first perforated floor element;
• and
• upon a parameter indicative of server activity reaching a defined threshold, recirculating air from the first hot aisle to the first cold aisle via the air conditioning unit whilst keeping the second perforated floor element closed.