To provide this, BlueFjords appointed Data Center Technology AS, a leading expert in the field of data centre design and implementation, to create a complete concept. Essential requirements for the power solution were that it should provide the highest possible levels of resilience and efficiency, and that it should also be scalable to allow easy and cost-effective future expansion.
Based on its wide experience of the UPS market and products, Data Center Technology selected 9395P UPSs for this demanding project. Key factors that influenced the decision were the strong and well-proven reputation for reliability associated with Eaton UPSs, the double-conversion topology which provides comprehensive power protection, and the incorporation of two novel and patented technologies: ESS and HotSync.
In order to provide the highest possible level of resilience, two UPSs, each rated at 275 kVA, were arranged in a redundant A+B configuration. This means that even if one of the UPSs is out of service – because of a fault or to allow maintenance, for example – the other is still capable of supplying all of the data centre’s protected loads.
The ESS – Energy Saver System – technology used in Power Xpert 9395P UPSs is an important advance over conventional double-conversion UPS designs, which significantly enhances efficiency. In standard double conversion mode, Power Xpert 9395P UPSs already deliver industry-leading efficiency of up to 96.3% but, when the quality of the incoming mains power is good, ESS mode boosts this to 99%. Not only does this substantially reduce the energy required to power the UPS, it also means that it generates less heat. This reduces cooling requirements and costs while enhancing the reliability of the UPS and prolonging its working life.
ESS mode is controlled by advanced digital signal processing (DSP) techniques that continuously monitor the quality of the mains supply. As long as the quality is good, power is, in effect, supplied direct from the mains to the loads, allowing maximum efficiency to be achieved. Even when operating in this mode, the UPS filters power to the loads effectively and reliably to eliminate transients. If the UPS detects that the mains power quality has deteriorated, it switches to double-conversion mode in less than two milliseconds; a transition so fast that it is invisible to even the most sensitive loads.
HotSync technology is an advanced load-sharing system that guarantees safe and reliable operation by synchronising parallel power modules and UPSs without the need for a communication link or synchronisation signals. This means that the “common point of failure” associated with UPSs operating in parallel using conventional techniques is eliminated, which greatly enhances resilience. HotSync provides outstanding scalability for UPS installations as, to increase capacity, additional UPSs can be readily connected in parallel with the existing units, with perfect load sharing guaranteed.
In addition to the UPS systems, Data Center Technology also supplied the low-voltage distribution switchgear for the BlueFjords data centre. The switchgear uses Eaton TABULA systems and technology throughout and, like the UPS installation, it has been designed to allow easy expansion. Special attention was paid when selecting the circuit breakers to achieve maximal availability and ensure minimal disruption to the system in a short circuit situation. To reduce the effect of neutral voltage displacement, a selection of 3-pole and 4-pole breakers was used in strategic positions.
Since the commissioning of the BlueFjords data centre, the power systems have operated exactly as planned. Their high efficiency is helping BlueFjords to minimise energy costs and the environmental impact of its operations, while their outstanding reliability and power protection performance are ensuring continuity of service and total data security for the company’s customers.
Commenting on the success of the project, Edvin Brun, CEO of BlueFjords said, “Not only is Eaton a leader in innovation, it also has top-notch competence and excellent products matched by an equally excellent reputation. And it’s a great company to work with. These factors made Eaton an easy first choice for us at BlueFjords, and the performance of our new data centre continues to confirm that it was definitely the right choice.”
