A first walkthrough of the CoolSim interface: views, units, room setup, placing CRACs, racks and blocks, cloning, and submitting a run.
This video is a quick-start tour of the CoolSim application for new users. It builds a small raised-floor data hall and ends with submitting a run.
What the video shows
- Interface and views: the window opens as two linked views of the same model, with single, split-screen and dual-monitor modes. Each view can be set to top, perspective or other directions.
- Preferences: units can be mixed, for example kilowatts for cooling capacity and cubic feet per minute (CFM) for flow. The authentication codes are entered here as well.
- Room: double-clicking a wall opens the room editor, where the presenter sets a ceiling plenum, plenum height, room height, room size, altitude, tile size and adjacent room temperature. It is best to set the room up before adding equipment. The origin is the upper left corner, with X to the right and Z downward.
- Cooling units: dragging in a computer room air conditioner (CRAC) places a downflow unit with a plenum extension and arrows showing air direction. Its editor sets flow direction, flow rate, supply temperature and on, off or fan-only operation.
- Racks: dragging in a rack, then opening its editor to set the quantity, start position, rack type, and heat load. A rack can also be specified server by server, including a gap with no blanking panel.
- Other objects: heat dissipating units, which are described by heat dissipation rather than rated capacity; blocks (columns, cable trays, round and polygon blocks); baffles that allow leakage; grilles; and the duct tools, covered in a separate video.
- Shortcuts: copy and paste, grouping, and the clone tool, which copies an object or group with an offset in X, Y and Z.
- Before running: the pre-simulation report compares the airflow the racks need with what the cooling units deliver. The presenter says enough air must be delivered, because the model is a closed system. The Run button submits the job, and an email follows when it is done. The Status button downloads the results into the report tab.