When it comes to saving energy in the data center, the HVAC system receives the lion's share of the attention. And rightly so. But that doesn't mean the other aspects of the data center don't offer energy saving opportunities, said Munther Salim at NFM&T during a Tuesday session on data center energy efficiency.
A good example is the uninterruptible power supply system, said Salim, principal at EYP Mission Critical Facilities. "UPS losses should not be underestimated," said Salim. He described one very high reliability data center that had lots of UPS units with very low loads. In that facility, UPS losses nearly equalled the entire IT load.
Salim said that UPS units are most efficient when the load is at least 40 percent. Above that point, the efficiency curve flattens out; below that point, however, efficiency drops sharply. "You don't want to be below 40 percent," said Salim.
Data centers are not the only type facility that needs to keep an eye on UPS losses Upon opening our facility our slot floor had almosy 500 small UPS units tucked away under the slot banks to handle the slot machine operation during power outages. our outages were never more than 18 seconds(time enough for the back-up generators to kick in. We are in a remote area in california with many power outages during the summer months. We installed a FLY WHEEL type UPS about two years ago and it was one of the most cost effective items I have ever purchased. Cost comparison with like kind battery backup was unreal. $1.7 mil for the Nicad jar system, installed and a ten year bumper to bumper warranty. Compared to $750k for the inertia system, installed and ten ear warranty. 1.2 megawats of clean clear power.
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