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Power Distribuition PDF
Power Distribuition PDF
Transcript
Slide 1
Welcome to the Data Center University TM course on Power Distribution I.
Slide 2: Welcome
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Click the Notes tab to read a transcript of the narration.
Slide 4: Introduction
Power distribution is the key to maintaining availability in the data center. Many instances of equipment
failure, downtime, software and data corruption, are the result of a failure to provide adequate power
distribution. Sensitive components require consistent power distribution as well as power that is free of
interruption or distortion.
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The consequences of large-scale power incidents are well documented. Across all business sectors, an
estimated $104 billion to $164 billion per year are lost due to power disruptions, with another $15 billion to
$24 billion per year in losses attributed to secondary power quality problems.
It is imperative that critical components within the data center have an adequate and steady supply of power.
Slide 5: Introduction
It is important to provide a separate, dedicated power source and power infrastructure for the data center.
The building in which a data center is located could have a mixture of power requirements, such as air
conditioners, elevators, office equipment, desktop computers, and kitchen area microwaves and
refrigerators.
If the data center shares a common power source with the rest of the building, and power consumption is at
a high level, it could impact the data center’s air handlers, for example, and greatly increase the risk of
unanticipated downtime.
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This course will explore the topic of power distribution within the data center. Let’s begin with a review of
how power is transmitted to the data center.
The power generation facility at the utility generates three phases. Thus, three wires are used to transmit
power. Generating and distributing 3-phase power is more economical than distributing single phase power.
Single phase power only has one “hot” wire.
Now that we’ve reviewed the basic concepts of power transmission, let’s move on to nominal versus normal
voltage.
The voltage received, therefore, can vary depending upon the consumers’ position along the power line and
depending upon the total load that the line is expected to supply.
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By the time source power reaches the computer installation site, it can suffer voltage losses of up to 11%,
even under optimal conditions.
If the voltage coming into the data center is either too high or too low, it can impact equipment by causing it
to run hot. This is corrected with the utilization of a transformer. Now let’s explore transformers.
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Stepping up or down 3-phase power requires what is called a Delta transformer. It is called Delta because
its circuit diagram looks like the Greek letter Delta.
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As the current flows through the primary coil, it induces current in the second wire (called the secondary
coil). This phenomenon is called the law of induction. The strength of the induced current depends upon the
number of times the second wire is wrapped around the iron core. By adjusting the number of turns on the
secondary coil, the transformer’s output current and voltage can be determined.
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Slide 13: Step Up Transformer
The step up transformer works in a similar manner. The only difference is that the primary coil has fewer
turns or windings than the secondary coil. In the case of the step up transformer, the voltage coming into the
transformer is less than the voltage going out of the transformer.
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The Wye transformer is different from the Delta transformer because it outputs not just three-phases but
also a neutral wire.
Wye to Wye transformers are not as common as Delta to Delta transformers, but can sometimes be found
to support distribution in cases where the utility is not the primary power source. An example would be the
upstream of a UPS and downstream of a generator.
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Slide 15: Delta to Wye Transformer
To break out single phase from a 3-phase source a Delta to Wye transformer is required. A Delta to Wye
transformer takes in three phases and a ground and it outputs three phases and a neutral.
The voltage coming into the transformer is equal to the voltage coming out of the transformer.
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Remember that within the transformer, the law of induction dictates that transformation takes place without
any electrical connection between the input and output. The benefit of the isolation transformer is that it
filters out electrical spikes on the input, thereby providing better power quality on the output.
Now that we’ve covered transformers, let’s discuss the service entrance.
Beyond the Main Service Entrance, the power is distributed within the facility. Power distribution within the
facility can be broken down into six areas:
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Main electrical service panel, transformers, feeders, subpanels, branch circuits and receptacles.
Let’s explore each of these items in more detail, beginning with the main electrical service panel.
The first component is the neutral bus. The neutral bus is a bar to which all the neutral wires are connected.
This is done to keep all of the neutral wires referencing the same voltage.
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Slide 20: Main Electrical Service Panel
The next key component is the neutral to ground bond. This bond connects the neutral bus to the electrical
ground of the building. If this bond is not made, neutral problems, such as high impedance can occur.
Impedance is when the flow of alternating current (AC) encounters opposition in an electrical circuit.
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This electrode is then connected to the Main Service Panel via the neutral bus which is bonded to the
ground bus using the neutral to ground bond.
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Slide 23: Facility Transformer
Within the facility, transformers are used to provide either Delta or Wye power for either isolation, stepping
up or down voltage or to break out a single phase from a 3-phase source.
They are also useful in breaking down a facility’s power requirements into zones. Each zone can be
provided with a dedicated transformer with a specific VA rating. Typical ratings range from 30 kVA to 225
kVA. Transformers are ideal for this partitioning effect because they isolate loads from the Main Service
Panel. Thus, power problems such as harmonics and overloaded neutrals can be isolated from the main
electrical service.
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However, whenever a transformer of 1000 VA or larger is used within the facility, the secondary winding
must be grounded to building steel. In this case the transformer is considered a separately derived power
source and must be grounded as such.
Typical subpanels include 240/120V single phase with three wires and 208/120V 3-phase with four wires.
Subpanels are constructed and configured to ensure that all phases are equally loaded.
Branch circuits consist of conductors and conduit. The size of the conductor cables in both the feeder and
branch circuits are outlined in National Electric Code (NEC) article 310.
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that noisy appliances or equipment on nearby general-purpose branches will not interfere with the sensitive
equipment.
In some cases, it is necessary to isolate the circuit all the way back to the main distribution panel at the
service entrance.
(For more information on plugs, please refer to the Data Center University Course entitled “Fundamentals of
Power”.)
Now that we’ve addressed each of the components in the service entrance, let’s move on to the different
methods of power distribution, beginning with direct connect.
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Slide 30: Direct Connect Power Distribution
Many factors come into play when deciding on a power distribution layout from the PDUs to the racks. The
size of the data center, the nature of the equipment being installed and budget are all variables. However,
be aware that two approaches are commonly utilized for power distribution in the data center.
One approach is to run conduits from large wall mounted or floor mounted PDUs to each cabinet location.
This works moderately well for a small server environment with a limited number of conduits. This doesn’t
work well for larger data centers when cabinet locations require multiple power receptacles.
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Slide 32: Traditional Power Distribution
Another option for power distribution to the racks is to install the PDU in the rack unit itself. In this case the
distribution is as close as possible to the load, fewer feet of cable are required and the solution is completely
mobile. In both the direct connect and distributed power schemes, significant amounts of cabling would have
to be removed from the raised floor in order to move the PDU to a new location.
Today, an updated power distribution system could have several enhanced features, most notably:
Branch circuit power metering
Overhead cable tray with flexible power cords
Overhead fixed busway with removable power taps
High power, pluggable rack power distribution units
Transformerless Power Distribution Units, and
Power capacity management software
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Slide 35: Optimized Power Distribution System
Here is another example of a similar power distribution system that distributes to IT rows using one or more
overhead busways. The busways are installed up front and traverse the entire planned IT rack layout. When
a group of racks is to be installed, a low-footprint modular PDU is installed at the same time and plugged
into the overhead busway.
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The connection to the busway is also shown in here. Instead of traditional circuit breaker panels with raw
wire terminations, the modular PDU has a “backplane” into which pre-terminated shock-safe circuit breaker
modules are installed. This arrangement allows the face of the PDU to be much more narrow, and
eliminates on-site termination of wires.
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The modular PDU initially has no branch circuit modules installed. The power circuits from the modular
PDU to the IT racks are flexible cable that are plugged into the front of the modular PDU on site to meet the
requirements of each specific rack as needed. The branch circuit cables to the IT enclosures are pre-
terminated with breaker modules that plug into the shock-safe backplane of the modular PDU.
In this system, a PDU for a new row of IT enclosures, along with all of the associated branch circuit wiring
and rack outlet strips, can be installed in an hour, without any wire cutting or terminations.
Options also exist for the deployment of transformerless, rack-based distribution units. An example of such
a deployment would include a 415 volt line to line UPS that directly feeds the transformerless PDUs that
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distribute to the racks. In the case of North America a 480 volt to 415 volt step down transformer could be
installed upstream of the UPS.
Other parts of the world typically receive 400V from the utility and convert it to 220V at the service entrance.
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Slide 38: Summary
Let’s conclude with a brief summary.
It is imperative that critical components with the data center have an adequate and steady supply
of power. The delivery of power is the key to maintaining availability in the data center. Avoiding
instances of equipment failure, downtime, software and data corruption lies the management of
power distribution.
As power is distributed across long distances, over power lines, losses in voltage caused by
resistance and inductive losses can occur as the power works it’s way through various
transformers. Voltage is either stepped up or stepped down by a series of these transformers.
Transformers are essential to transmit and distribute power, because if the voltage coming into the
data center is either too high or too low, it can impact the equipment by causing it to run hot.
There are a wide range of receptacles used throughout the world today are due to the wide range
of power requirements by all electrical loads currently in existence.
The degree to which an electrician can achieve a noise-free circuit for sensitive equipment is
dependent on a number of factors, including: quality of power; building age/design; grounding
system integrity; electrical noise amounts; and the degree of balanced electrical loads.
Distributed power designs are emerging as the preferred configuration for larger server
environments, because they are easier to manage, less expensive to install, and more resistant to
a physical accident than a direct connection power distribution.
This ends Power Distribution Part I. Part II will explore the issue of power distribution in new high density
data center environments.
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