Computer Room Air Conditioning

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What Does Computer Room Air Conditioning Mean?

Computer room air conditioning (CRAC) is a unit that is used to monitor and maintain the temperature of room in
which the computing equipment operates. They maintain the proper air distribution and humidity of the network room.

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CRACs are most commonly used in data centers.

Techopedia Explains Computer Room Air Conditioning

Until recently, standard
air conditioners were normally used for maintaining temperatures in rooms in
which computing equipment operates. These are now
widely being replaced with CRACs. These
have a lot in common with residential air conditioners commonly used in homes. They consist of a direct
expansion refrigeration cycle, and air is
blown over a cold coil in order to achieve cooling. The temperature of the coil
is maintained with the help of a refrigerant.

However, unlike residential air conditioners, these units generally have
on and off controls only. Additionally, some CRAC units can help in managing the airflow within
the data center.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.