Server Rack Air Filtration

[Nightcreeper]

I have an APC Server Rack with a Mesh Front Door and Mesh Half Doors on the Rear (half width), sides have half solid doors (1 top and 1 bottom). I unfortunately live in a Dusty area and putting them in my home unfiltered would not be the best for them (obviously). My rack has 14 servers in it of which I may use up to 10 (8x blades and 2x StorageWorks 4500 G2's [NAS]).

 

My thoughts were to seal the rack, and then to install a filter system on the bottom with ventilation (exhaust) fans on the top. Pull the cool air off the floor and exhaust the hot out the top, no fighting thermal dynamics that way.

 

My question I guess is would that be the best route or would it be to do that on the front (intake - bottom) and rear (exhaust - top)? What kind of fans would provide sufficient air flow for such a task? Would it be better to just filter the entire front and rear and allow thermal dynamics and the servers fans to circulate air and would that offer sufficient cooling?

[spartaman64]

hot air rises so probably the exhaust on top and intake on bottom?

and you really cant go wrong with noctua fans

[Jarsky]

You could put one of these into the base, with a filter panel underneath it: http://www.racks2you.com/product_detail_2772.aspx

[Mikensan]

You don't want to move so much air that the servers can't keep up, but I would get a blower on just 1 end to either push or pull the air through the cage, something that would fit PVC pipe. Considering the dust, I would push air through the cage so in the worst case air leaks out of the cake vs. sucking dusty air in through somewhere you missed when sealing.

[Nightcreeper]

Ok, so what I am thinking is now to seal the front and rear doors making them air tight (or as close as possible), using a blower remotely mounted to push air through say a 4" PVC pipe into a box at the bottom of the rack, which will house the filter, and allow it to push air in there at the bottom front side and then make the top sealed except for the top rear to allow hot air out. I plan on using 24" x 24" x 2" Thick air filters similar to what a central ac/heater would use for this. Probably not a hepa rated one but next best. Think it would move enough air to keep the rack cool?

 

 

[Guest]

Just put mesh filters on the front and rear pannels, put 2x2 fan grid on the top as an exhaust - standard way of doing things.

[Nightcreeper]

OK, well, the bottom of the rack is completely open, just use some lexan or plywood and seal it off?

 And I guess just get some foam gasket stuff for doors to make the door to rack seal also. Sounds like a plan. Thanks.