ELECTRICAL SERVICES
Data center power is a critical component of data centers. Like anything else that requires electricity, data centers rely on power for just about everything. No power, no data center. To ensure everything runs smoothly in the data center at all times, facilities managers need to make sure that critical equipment has a steady supply of clean, uninterrupted electricity on a constant basis - all without running up the monthly electric bills.
Typical Data Center Power Infrastructure
Most data centers get their primary electricity from the wider municipal electric grid. The facility will then either have one or several transformers in place to take in the energy, while also ensuring the power coming in is of the right voltage and the right type of current (converted from AC to DC typically).
The power then gets transferred to Main Distribution Boards (MDBs). According to engineer Hans Vreeburg, these “are panels or enclosures that house fuses, circuit breakers, and ground leakage protection units, take the low-voltage electricity and distribute it to a number of endpoints, such as Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems or load banks.”
Some data centers supplement their energy from the wider grid or completely remove the need for it thanks to on on-site electrical generation equipment - either in the form of stand-alone generators or with alternative energy sources such as solar photovoltaic panels and wind-powered turbines.
How Much Energy Does a Data Center Use?
In order to keep data centers running continuously and without interruption, managers must use a lot of electricity. According to one report, the entire data center industry uses over 90 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This is the equivalent output of roughly 34 coal-powered power plants.
On a global scale, 3 percent of all electricity used in the world goes to data centers. These 416 terawatts is much more than all of the electricity used by all of the United Kingdom. There are a few reasons why energy use is so high - and growing - in data center environments. Not only do servers and other critical pieces of IT equipment require a lot of energy to work, so too do all of the ancillary equipment. Lights, cooling systems, monitors, humidifiers, etc. all need electricity, and can sometimes escalate energy bills.
How Much Power Does a Server Rack Consume?
At a per-rack level, the Uptime Institute’s latest survey found that around one in five have a density of 30 kilowatts (kW) or higher, indicating the growing presence of high density computing. Half said their current rack density was between 10 and 29 kW. On an individual server level, most are set to run at 600 watts max.
PLC and VFD's
Various automation processes in the industry need control of AC induction motors using AC drives. Presented here is a robust system for switching on/off, varying the speed and direction of rotation of an industrial 3 Phase Induction Motor using VFD and PLC. We use here Delta AC motor drive for its operation.
Maintenance of UPS
Maintenance of the UPS consists of preventive and corrective maintenance. Preventive maintenance consists of a scheduled list of activities. Performing these activities keeps the UPS in good working order and helps to prevent failures.
Corrective maintenance is performed as a result of a failure. Corrective maintenance fixes the problem and gets the unit working again. A standard maintenance procedure cannot be developed for all types and sizes of UPS units. The manufacturer’s user’s manual should always be consulted as to specific maintenance requirements and troubleshooting diagnostics guidelines.
Transformers
A transformer is a passive electrical device that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another, or multiple circuits. A varying current in any one coil of the transformer produces a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core, which induces a varying electromotive force across any other coils wound around the same core. Electrical energy can be transferred between separate coils without a metallic (conductive) connection between the two circuits. Faraday's law of induction, discovered in 1831, describes the induced voltage effect in any coil due to a changing magnetic flux encircled by the coil.
Diesel Generators
A diesel generator (DG) is the combination of a diesel engine with an electric generator to generate electrical energy. This is a specific case of engine-generator. A diesel compression-ignition engine is usually designed to run on diesel fuel, but some types are adapted for other liquid fuels or natural gas.
Diesel generating sets are used in places without connection to a power grid, or as emergency power-supply if the grid fails, as well as for more complex applications such as peak-lopping, grid support and export to the power grid.
