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Accredited Tier Designer Technical Paper Series:: Engine-Generator Ratings
Accredited Tier Designer Technical Paper Series:: Engine-Generator Ratings
August 2017
Whitepaper Template Title Here | May 2017 0
Abstract
This technical paper focuses on the requirement and use of an engine-generator solution for on-site
power in the context of Uptime Institute’s Tier Standard: Topology. It provides additional detail and
clarification regarding the Tier consequences of engine generators and their ratings.
This paper focuses on engine generators due to the nuances of the specific ratings associated with the technology and
their impact on Tier compliance. Although the purchase of power from the local utility is an economic alternative, there are
no considerations of utility power that affect the owner’s target Tier objective. Instead, for Tier III (Concurrently
Maintainable) and Tier IV (Fault Tolerant) functionality objectives, the Tier Standard: Topology states:
“Engine generators for Tier III and IV sites shall not have a limitation on consecutive hours of operation when
loaded to ‘N’ demand. Engine generators that have a limit on consecutive hours of operation at N demand are
appropriate for Tier I or II.”
• Disruptions to the utility power are not considered a failure, but an anticipated operational condition for which the
site must be prepared; and
• A Tier III or IV engine-generator system, along with its power paths and other supporting elements, shall meet the
Concurrently Maintainable and/or Fault Tolerant performance confirmation tests while they are carrying the site on
engine-generator power.
There are two scenarios of operation that result in the engine-generator plant being required for an extended period (weeks
to months):
• The loss of the local utility due to malfunctions within the utility system—resulting in extended outages;
• In some designs or operational profiles, the catastrophic malfunction of the uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
system or isolation of the UPS for replacement or heavy maintenance.
The latter requires running the engine-generator plant to ensure that the most reliable and stable power is being delivered
to the IT critical environment. If the local utility is used during a time the UPS is unavailable, then any perturbation or loss of
the utility will impact the computer room operation and potentially result in an outage.
Uptime Institute field experience and Network member data shows that the availability and reliability of the infrastructure is
paramount to achieving the organization’s business objectives, i.e., it is mission imperative for the data center. Accordingly,
engine generators must have no runtime limitations at N units.
Standby units—allowed to In practice, when applying these definitions and the requirement for no runtime
run for limited durations at limitations at N demand, standby-rated units (as defined) with limited run hours do
constrained capacities—do not comply with Tier III and IV. Standby units—allowed to run for limited durations
not afford the data center at constrained capacities—do not afford the data center owner the capability to run
owner the capability to run the engine-generator plant at capacity for extended periods to support operations
the engine-generator plant at during critical events, and therefore do not meet Tier III or Tier IV requirements.
capacity for extended periods Some manufacturers allow only up to 500 hours of capacity operation per year for
to support operations during certain units. However, a standby-rated unit can comply with Tier III and Tier IV
critical events requirements if there is proper manufacturer documentation that establishes the
unlimited run hour capacity of the unit at the site conditions.
Engine-
Generator Tier I Tier II Tier III Tier IV
Requirements
Any; up to Any; up to Capable of Capable of
Rating to nameplate rating nameplate rating supporting supporting
Support design to support design to support design design load for design load for
load load load unlimited hours unlimited hours
at site conditions at site conditions
De-rating for Site Additional derating may be required due to site conditions (e.g., ambient
Conditions temperatures, elevation)—consult manufacturer requirements
Related Publication
Tier Standard: Topology
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