Advanced UPS systems will fuel the data center market

Data center providers and UPS system experts highlight the critical function of UPS systems in determining the demand and consumption pattern of power at data centers, emphasising the need to control and monitor the energy consumption behaviour at data centers.

PS systems stand for uninterrupted power supply. It’s a specially designed device that enables uninterrupted system operations even during critical conditions. Traditional data centres globally have decreased their energy demand, from around 97.6 terawatt-hours in 2015 to some 33 terawatt-hours by 2021. On the other hand, hyperscale data centres have doubled their energy demand in the same period.

Minimising power consumption at data centers

The power flow of a data center where there is an incoming power supply to the transformer, UPS, ATS, and PDU comes through the IT equipment that is connected to the output of a PDU. Data centers have traditionally used a high availability dual bus architecture. Debasish Banerji, Director, Sales and Service, Eaton Electrical Sector, India says, “The main considerations for any data center design are reliability and uptime. Over the last decade, UPS systems have entered the market with an energy-saving operating mode known as “ECO mode.” ECO mode promises to help deliver the low power usage effectiveness (PUE) demanded from modern data centers, combined with the promise of high-efficiency operations to reduce the pressure on data center OpEx.

According to Vikas Srivastava, Director-Medium/Large AC Power Offering, Product Development/Engineering, Vertiv India, “Wherever the business model requires a higher utilisation rate of unloading on UPS, it has a different kind of architecture that will reserve a bus architecture that helps to increase the efficiency curve of an entire data center. It aids in reducing energy consumption depending on the topology or architecture used to design the data  center.”

“We are changing the game with the revolutionary Energy Saver System (ESS). UPSs equipped with this technology achieve 99.9 per cent efficiency while maintaining reliability”, Banerji adds. With this approach, the UPS operates at an extremely high efficiency unless utility power conditions force the UPS to work harder to keep clean power to the load.

Managing power surges and shutdown possibilities

According to Banerji, “we’re in the midst of a significant transformation – the digital transformation of manufacturing.”

Moreover, the 4th industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, is the automation of traditional manufacturing practices using digital technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, additive manufacturing, factory simulation, and augmented and virtual reality. Manufacturing models are becoming autonomous and using algorithms and machine learning to become smart.

Controlling power consumption in data centers through UPS

Power usage is one of the most crucial overhead costs in every data center. The ongoing advancement of analytical technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence only increases the demand for data centers. Extending on individual organisations’ work, Eaton emphasises that it has been a forerunner in UPS technology for over 60 years and has delivered several advancements for customers to boost efficiency. “Eaton introduced the first UPS with ABM technology to improve battery life in 1993.”

“Interestingly, Eaton developed the first UPS with double-conversion protection and 99 per cent efficiency (ESS mode) up to 1100 kVA in 2009 and most recently, in 2019, Eaton launched EnergyAware UPS”, Banerji described.

Srivastava emphasises the importance of having two sources of supply for all IT commitments. The hyper scalars are working on their design, which includes their buildings, data centers, and specialised experiments. They have a modular data center setup. The introduction of lithium-ion batteries into the critical space has significantly enhanced acceptability. It has resulted in a highly efficient 20-UPS with several modes of operation, such as dynamic online mode, to boost efficiency. There is a dual conversion ECO mode and a dynamic online mode for more efficient operation.

UPS solutions offered for data centers

“We have two different product types—monolithic and modular—in four of our data centers”, says Srivastava. In monolithic, we have ESM to construct 100 kV, 254 kV, and mid-kit, the size of four data centers. The Excel series, with a double conversion efficiency of up to 97 per cent, goes from 300 kV to 1200 kV.

Detaining further, he stresses that they adhere to one transfer class when we transfer from source to inverter. The data centre load generally accounts for approximately 65 to 70 per cent of total loads. Noting this, “To be more specific, these products have an efficiency of up to 97 per cent efficiency. And any efficiency savings, for example, assist us in cutting the OPEX cost of one data center. Significant savings on greater efficiency items are now available for one data center”, Srivastava comments.

Banerji elaborates on the relevance of data centers, noting, “The uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is frequently referred to as the “heart” of the electrical network. Eaton recently introduced a UPS that uses EnergyAware technology, allowing large data center operators to return energy to the grid. The primary role of UPS remains unchanged, but organisations can support Energy Transition by building UPS as a Reserve (UPSaaR) using EnergyAware.”

UPSaaR organisations can offset both their capital expenditure while reducing the carbon footprint and boosting renewable energy. This is installed along with UPS to regulate demand from the grid. It is responsible for upstream and downstream charging and discharging the battery back to the grid. It compensates the data center companies and operators for reducing energy consumption when required to maintain the grid frequency and contribute to green energy, thus generating revenue from their UPS investments.

Edge Data Center – The New Wave

“Edge computing” has become an IT buzzphrase for data produced by the internet of things (IoT) devices. It reduces latency and creates faster connections than sending the data across long routes to data centers or clouds. Small data centers providing cloud computing support and processing by expanding the network’s edge can be categorised as “Edge” data centers. At times, a single Edge data center may be connected to many other Edge data centers that can be used to store, process, and cache data and deliver the required information when  needed – at the right time and the right place.

Modern UPS systems are expected to perform with alternatives for emergency storage and innovate ways for efficient utilisation. Demand for UPS systems is increasing due to the growing adoption of cloud servers. Manufacturers are more focused on developing systems with lower ownership costs and greater efficiency and are increasingly investing in developing reliable technology to meet the demand for cloud computing.