Internet data centres (IDC): design considerations for mission critical power system performance

Customers that operate or depend on IDC service provision often require mission critical availability. Various aspects of uninterrupted power system design and implementation must be carefully considered to ensure that this requirement is met. Faithful interpretation of design standards, high quality production control, intelligent operation and maintenance are among the important factors. The use of an emergency power system (UPS and gensets) designed with the latest technology is key. Experience shows that the intrinsic reliability of the distribution segment (wiring, protection devices, interconnection, transfer units etc.) is also critical to the continuous availability of the power system. A significant portion of system failures is caused by problems in the distribution rather than by the failure of the power sources themselves. This paper describes how distribution reliability affects the reliability of the whole power supply system. Utilization of vector control techniques, advanced design of static switching architectures, and special attention to the distribution segment dramatically improve the reliability of the total power system to accomplish mission critical objectives. Guidelines are proposed and their application is shown through real life case studies.