Contamination accumulated on electronic circuit boards will cause temperatures in electronics to rise, triggering cooling fans to work harder to keep the equipment below its operating temperature limit, according to a new research paper by 8 Solutions.
Untreated contamination is costing the data centre industry millions of pounds each year, the authors say. The study, which was conducted by IMH Technologies and independently verified by The University of Southampton’s Research Institute, revealed that if left untreated, contamination will accumulate on electronic circuit boards and act as a thermal insulating layer, consuming up to two percent more energy in the process.
Cooling efficiency will also be lost if heat sinks, or if intake and outlet vents or the fans themselves become clogged with contamination, further contributing to increased power consumption.
