low complexity + low cost = high availability

© 2014 Uptime Institute

Low Complexity + Low Cost = High Availability

Keith Klesner, PE Vice President, Strategic Accounts

Uptime Institute

Driven by Business, IT Strategy, and Customers Multitude of Data Center Design Criteria §  Availability §  Location §  Connectivity §  Scalability §  Energy Efficiency with 100% Availability §  Innovation Many Data Centers 100% Uptime is an Expectation

Simple and Cost-Effective Designs Lead to Uptime

Data Center Solutions

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Uptime Institute Data and Analysis: §  Historically vast majority of outages are caused by human error §  In 2011 redundancy and staffing led to 67% of saves (outages

prevented) §  Operational Sustainability reviews of dozens of live data centers in the

past 3 years

Certain Design Solutions Increase the Chance for Human Error while other Designs Reduce the Risk

and Allow for Saves

Why Do Failures Occur?

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Start With The End In Mind

Uptime Institute research and field experience confirms §  Data center operations start before the conceptual design

phase of the project process §  Data center operations continue to serve as the source of

continuity for knowledge management and transition to production

Why an Operations Focus? §  Increase return on investment §  Increase uptime §  Increase data center efficiency §  Reduce costs §  Reduce risks

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Typical Construction Plan Precon/Planning Design Construction Commissioning Turnover Close out project Scramble to get operations management program in place

Uptime Institute’s Integrated Capital Project Plan Starts with the end in mind…

and prepares customers from the beginning to maintain and operate a data center beginning at turnover

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Uptime Institute

Highly Operable Engineering Solution?

•  Fuel Control, Pumping, and Filtration Room

•  2(N+1) Pumps •  Complex Design was Initially

Built Incorrectly •  Operating Valves Required

Climbing on and over Piping

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Highly Operable Engineering Solution

•  20,000-liter Engine Generator Belly Tank

•  Engine Generator within Enclosure is Directly on top of Belly Tank

•  No Additional Piping or Fuel Pumps Required

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Traits of Simplicity §  Immediately understood architecture

•  2N Topology versus Isolated Redundant •  Well marked A and B Systems

§  Avoid reliance and over provisioning of ATSs or STSs §  Limit Complex Building Automation Systems Allow for §  Reduced operator error §  Clear operations during emergency (allows for saves) §  Reduced cording error

Simple Solutions

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Simplicity in Practice

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Design Example: 3 to Make 2 Option

•  Allows the UPSs and PDUs to be loaded at maximum of 66.6% •  Requires strict management of loads and connections

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Design Example: 2N Option

•  Allows the UPSs and PDUs to be loaded at maximum of 50% •  Easiest layout to manage loads and connections

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§  Is the design characteristic a proven performance enhancement?

§  Does the design characteristic increase exposure to human error?

Designers, Owners and Operators must be able to answer the following:

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“Right sized” for Load §  Key equipment designed around major components

•  UPS, Engine Generators, and Chillers/Mechanical Cooling §  Phased build out to truly allow for “pay-as-you-grow”

but without impacting the critical load §  Modern equipment offers efficient performance across the load profile

Avoid Overspending §  Over provisioning of ATSs and STSs §  Excessive Redundancy at transformation layer §  Too many system ties

Cost-Effective Solutions

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Utilize Proven Technology §  Early adopters pay a price penalty §  Outage costs exceed incremental savings from new or

leading edge technology Low Maintenance Systems §  Lifecycle Cost - Purchase price not the only consideration

•  Operations/energy cost •  Maintenance requirements •  Lifespan and overhaul timelines

Offer Resource Availability § Critical spare parts § Local, experienced technicians

Cost-Effective Solutions

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Proposed Electrical Solution

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Onsite Power Generation §  N+R systems where R= 1 or 2 have proven effective §  1500 to 2000 kW Diesel EGs provide the most kW per dollar UPS Systems §  2N configuration has proven most reliable preventing costly outages §  Allow for high efficiency across a load profile of 10-50% §  Most have proven ability to handle a step load §  1000 to 1200 kW static UPS systems provide the most kW per dollar Critical Distribution §  2N UPS allows for independent critical distribution to IT devices Mechanical System §  Designed to fit within EG balance of power and climate conditions §  N+R systems where R= 1 or 2 have proven effective

Example of a Cost Effective Solution

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Simplified Electrical Solution

G

UPS System

Computer Room Cooling

House Power

Chilled Water Plant

Main Distribution

UPS System

Computer Room Cooling

House Power

Chilled Water Plant

U

A

A

A

A

B

B

B

Mech Distribution A

Mech Distribution BMain Distribution B

A

B

G

Critical Distribution Bus A

Critical Distribution Bus B

Side “A”

Side “B”

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§  Scenario – Data Center w/Legacy Chilled Water with CRAHs or CRACs §  Goal – Improve Efficiency of CRAHs/CRACs §  Options – Replace or Retrofit with VFD or Electronically Commutated

Fan Assembly (EC)

Cost Effective Example - CRAC/CRAH Retrofit

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Neither options change capacity of the cooling unit Both technologies proven Both options require control modification Cost

•  Initial cost lower on VFD upgrade using existing squirrel cage fans

•  EC fans offer improved fan performance •  EC fan retrofit has significantly reduced maintenance

Result – EC fan assembly had 20-50% reduced fan energy, reduced maintenance and reduced

maintenance related risk

CRAC/CRAH Retrofit - Analysis

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Low Complexity and Low Cost may lead to high availability

§  Start with the End In Mind §  New yet proven technologies are efficient and may

be cost effective

Reduced complexity, simplifies the design and lowers component count,

lowers cost and reduces the risk of human error

Summary

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For more information contact: Keith Klesner

UIwebinars@uptimeinstitute.com 720.214.6634

Questions?

© 2014 Uptime Institute 23