System and method for predicting perforated tile airflow in a data center

A system for evaluating airflow in a plenum of a data center, the system comprising:

• a storage device;
• a display;
• a controller coupled to the storage device and the display and configured to:
• receive input data from the storage device, the input data including data related to the plenum;
• determine an airflow value for each of the openings based on an initial air pressure value;
• divide the plenum into a plurality of grid cells;
• use a first iterative method to determine a value for airflow velocity for each of the grid cells, and an air pressure value at each of the openings based on the airflow velocity;
• use a second iterative method to determine a new airflow value for each one of the plurality of openings based on the air pressure value at the one of the openings;
• determine whether a difference between the new airflow values and previous airflow values is greater than a threshold;
• and
• continue using the first iterative method and the second iterative method using updated values until the difference is not greater than the threshold, and then storing in the storage device the new airflow value for each one of the plurality of openings as a final airflow value.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instruction including instructions that will cause a processor to:

• receive input data, the input data including data related to the plenum;
• determine an average air pressure in the plenum;
• determine an airflow value for each of the openings based on the average air pressure;
• divide the plenum into a plurality of grid cells;
• use a first iterative method to determine a value for airflow velocity for each of the grid cells, and an air pressure value at each of the openings based on the airflow velocity;
• use a second iterative method to determine a new airflow value for each one of the plurality of openings based on the air pressure value at the one of the openings;
• determine whether a difference between the new airflow values and previous airflow values is greater than a threshold;
• and
• continue using the first iterative method and the second iterative method using updated values until the difference is not greater than the threshold, and storing in the storage device the new airflow value for each one of the plurality of openings as a final airflow value.