Kyoto cooling

Kyoto cooling

Kyoto cooling, also called the Kyoto wheel, is an energy-efficient free cooling method for data centers developed in the Netherlands. Kyoto cooling uses outside air to remove the heat created by computing equipment instead of using mechanical refrigeration. Compared to the energy required by traditional computer room air conditioners, computer room air handlers and other traditional cooling methods, Kyoto cooling uses between 75% and 92% less power. Kyoto cooling is named after the Kyoto protocol, an international environmental impact agreement. The Kyoto cooling method uses a thermal wheel that contains a honeycomb lattice made out of heat-absorbent material. The wheel, which is half inside and half outside the building, removes heat from circulating air by picking up heat from the data center and then releasing it into the cooler outside air as the wheel rotates. The patented Kyoto method uses the energy transferred by the honeycomb system to run small fans that help pull air through each half of the system. It also takes advantage of the hot and cold aisle concept to completely isolate the flow of hot and cold air going to and from the wheel.