There’s no arguing with the fact that data centres and server rooms use a lot of energy. And one of the biggest contributors to the energy bill is the cost of data centre cooling, especially when using conventional chiller units. Cooling server rooms consume a staggering 1% of the world’s energy. It’s not surprising then that data centre operators are increasingly interested in the concept of free cooling or the use of fresh air.
There are several ways to configure an uninterruptible power system (UPS), and each topology offers different benefits. To support an 80 kVA load, we could use a:
Traditional approach: single 100 kVA unit
Parallel approach: two 50 kVA units
Modular approach: nine 10 kVA units
Although the capital costs are lower, the traditional approach is the least efficient way to support the load. It’s not scalable, which means the UPS won’t always properly support the load and if … Continue reading →
Some manufacturers offer high-efficiency standby power solutions with ‘eco-mode’ and ‘high-capacity’ UPS.
Eco-mode UPS
Smarter eco-mode systems constantly monitor the incoming power quality and switch from efficient eco-mode to the more resilient (but less efficient) double-conversion mode when they detect a power disturbance.
They offer the same level of protection against voltage disturbances as a permanently online UPS, but because the inverter stays in standby mode for most of the time, they dramatically reduce overall power consumption.
Using old and inefficient uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) leads to higher running costs. UPS systems that are too big for the load they’re protecting waste money too. So is it worth investing in a new standby power system?
How much can I save with a modern UPS?
A 10-year old on-line double conversion UPS will be around 88% efficient – today’s units offer closer to 96% efficiency – a 9% improvement. Modern UPS also reach maximum efficiency more … Continue reading →
Having sufficient standby power is essential if you want to protect your electrical equipment against mains failure. What should you consider when you specify your UPS system?
The nature of your organisation
The equipment used by your organisation will help to determine the type of protection you need. For example, data centres with rows of rack-mounted servers require a larger UPS to back-up their operations. While large computer rooms are usually supported by high-capacity, centrally located, online UPS … Continue reading →
The most important thing to remember is that your generator size must exceed your UPS power rating. This is because generators need to support both the UPS power rating and an additional 20%-30% to cover the ‘power conditioning’ process.
Harmonics
You will also need to consider harmonics – a distortion of the smooth wave-form of the AC electrical supply. Failure to look at the harmonics within your system can lead to electrical components heating up, which can reduce … Continue reading →
Typically, when we think of power failure, we think of a complete blackout. However, power failure can also mean that the quality of the supply is in some way inadequate, and each quality issue can affect electrical equipment in different ways. Here are some of the key issues:
Surges and spikes
Surges and spikes are very short bursts of very high-energy voltage. Typically they only last for a few milliseconds, and are usually caused by electrical storms or … Continue reading →
To ensure your business is protected against power failure you need to ensure you have a robust standby power system in place. To help you plan your system, we’ve compiled the following steps:
Stage 1: To ensure your UPS system gives you adequate protection, we’d recommend performing an initial risk assessment to determine how badly your business would be affected against power failure.
Stage 2: Next you need to classify your equipment depending on the level of power … Continue reading →
A standby power system is essential if you want to ensure your business continues to operate in the event of a mains failure. To create your standby power strategy, you need to understand how a power failure will affect all areas of your business. For example, to a small business, a power failure could be nothing more than an inconvenience. But for a data centre, it can cost thousands of pounds and have a negative impact on the … Continue reading →
We recently spoke to a group of enthusiastic army representatives about the potential for hydrogen fuel cells during a ‘Hydrogen Energy Workshop’. The following day, the US Department of Defense released a study entitled “Beyond Demonstration: A White Paper on the Role of Fuel Cells in the Department of Defense’s Energy Strategy”. The white paper supported the use of fuel cell solutions for defence applications, and validated the technological and commercial progress made to date by developers of … Continue reading →
