The Information Services Department of Centre Community Hospital (now called Mount Nittany Medical Center) had seen several different central computer systems installed over the years. As the systems increased in size, so did internal loads. At least one cooling upgrade occurred during the last fifteen years. That project included the complete replacement of the existing unit, but existing ducted systems were not increased for the expanded unit size. As a result, the hospital was experiencing an ongoing problem maintaining adequate temperature levels in the vicinity of the server racks.

The new system was designed to serve as a “spot” cooling system, supplying a large quantity of air to a small area while not disrupting the rest of the occupied space. Supply diffusers were selected to deliver a high quantity of air immediately in front of the servers, while a simple return system was located immediately behind the systems to reduce influence of this air stream upon other systems.