Glossary - T

This is a glossary of older terms. While many of the definitions are unchanged, some of the definitions may be out of date and some of the terms may no longer be in use in the Data Center industry. This legacy glossary provides definitions for hundreds of information and communications technology (ICT) and data center terms and acronyms. Arranged alphabetically and searchable, the glossary explains common industry vocabulary.

1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z
TC

Technical Committee. Source: TGG

TCE

Total cost to the environment. Source: Intel

TCLO

Total Cost of Liquid Operations. Source: TGG

TCO

Total cost of ownership. Source: ASHRAE

TCP/IP
A networking protocol developed for the creation of a robust internet being a connection across a variety of local networking mechanisms. The protocol used to connect to and through what is known today as the internet. The internet uses a layered architecture with several protocols. The TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) defines session-based communications, and the IP (Internet Protocol) addresses the lower-level issues of packet fragmentation and routing
TDP

Thermal design power. The maximum amount of heat generated by a component Source: ASHRAE

TDR
Time domain reflectometer
Technical Name

A name that is generally used in commerce, regulations, and codes to identify a substance or mixture, other than the IUPAC or CAS name, and that is recognized by the scientific community. Source: United Nations GHS

Telecom
Telecommunications
Temperature
The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object
Temperature, Dew-point
The temperature at which water vapor has reached the saturation point (100% relative humidity)
Temperature, Dry-bulb
Temperature of air indicated by an ordinary thermometer
Temperature, Wet-bulb
The temperature indicated by a psychrometer when the bulb of one thermometer is covered with a water-saturated wick over which air is caused to flow at approximately 4.5 m/s (900 ft/min) to reach an equilibrium temperature of water evaporating into air, where the heat of vaporization is supplied by the sensible heat of the air
Testbed
The entire test setup, including the SUT and any external systems used to drive, coordinate, or monitor the benchmark
TGG

The Green Grid, part of ITI and US Non-Profit professional organization. Source: TGG

Thermal Effectiveness
Measure of the amount of mixing between hot and cold airstreams before the supply air can enter the equipment and before the equipment discharge air can return to the air-handling unit
Thermal Efficiency
Energy output as a percentage of energy input of a machine or process
Thermal Storage Tank
Container used for the storage of thermal energy. Thermal storage systems are often used as a component of chilled-water systems
Thermosiphon
An arrangement of tubes for assisting circulation in a liquid through the use of capillary action
TIA
Telecommunications Industry Association
TIM

Thermal Interface Material: any material inserted between two parts to enhance the thermal coupling. Source: OCP

Tin Whiskers
See whiskers, tin
Tonnage
The unit of measure used in air conditioning to describe the heating or cooling capacity of a system. One ton of heat represents the amount of heat needed to melt one ton (2,000 lb) of ice in one hour. 12,000 Btu/h equals one ton of heat
TOR

Top of rack (network switch product). Source: ASHRAE

Total Heat (Enthalpy)
See heat, total
Turn-down Ratio
Ratio representing highest and lowest effective system capacity. Calculated by dividing the maximum system output by the minimum output at which steady output can be maintained. For example, a 3:1 turn-down ratio indicates that minimum operating capacity is one-third of the maximum
TWh

Terawatt-hour. Source: GEC

Twisted Pair
A cable element that consists of two insulated conductors twisted together in a regular fashion to form a balanced transmission line (from ISO/IEC 11801: 1995)
Twisted-pair Cable
A bundle of multiple twisted pairs within a single protective sheath (from ISO/IEC 11801: 1995)
Two Phase

A classification type of data center cooling for high heat density liquid cooling of data center equipment. Uses indirect liquid cooling with a cold plate. Source: NVIDIA