LQR and MPC control of a simulated data center

Abstract: One of the largest contributions to a data center’s power usage is its cooling system. To decrease the energy usage of the cooling system, an automatic control scheme that adapts the capacity of the cooling units is needed. In this master thesis, a Simulink model of a data center is developed, along with several LQR and one MPC controller. The controllers control the outlet temperature and volumetric airflow of two CRAH units in the simulated data center. Simulations are performed in which the controllers are judged based on their estimated energy usage and how often the server temperatures in the data center exceed 35°C. Based on the experimental results, recommendations are made regarding what kinds of controllers to investigate in ABB’s further research.