Data Center Efficiency: More Than Saving Money

Domenic AlcaroAmerican Power ConversionDirector, Enterprise Segment Northeast

Agenda

What is data center efficiency?IT trends

The problemRoot cause

Proposed solutionsSupport material

What is data center efficiency?

Total IT powerTotal IT power

Total input powerTotal input power=

• Input power includes both IT power and NCPI power• Input power is only for data center, not for personnel spaces

Source: APC White Paper #113

What is data center efficiency?Data center

ITEquipment

Power toPower todata centerdata center Cooling

LightsFireSecurityGeneratorSwitchgear

UPSPDUCablingSwitches

Power pathPower pathto ITto IT

Power toPower toSecondarySecondary

SupportSupport Data centerUSEFUL OUTPUTUSEFUL OUTPUT

ComputingComputing

Data centerINPUTINPUT

Power Power to ITto IT

NCPINCPI ITIT

Data center

ITEquipment

Power toPower todata centerdata center Cooling

LightsFireSecurityGeneratorSwitchgear

CoolingLightsFireSecurityGeneratorSwitchgear

UPSPDUCablingSwitches

UPSPDUCablingSwitches

Power pathPower pathto ITto IT

Power toPower toSecondarySecondary

SupportSupport Data centerUSEFUL OUTPUTUSEFUL OUTPUT

ComputingComputing

Data centerINPUTINPUT

Power Power to ITto IT

NCPINCPI ITIT

TOTAL IN

%USEFUL OUT Data CenterData CenterEfficiency = Efficiency =

Power to ITPower to IT

Data centerData centerPower INPower IN

IT Trends

• Compaction• High density computing• Dynamic computer loads• IT / physical infrastructure relationship

The Problem

• More customers reaching power limit• Increased risk of tripping CB• World’s most expensive server• Mostly small data rooms and data centers• Potential impact on Service Providers

The ProblemProgression of moves adds & changes

10 kW Rack 1 kW Rack

UPS Load UPS Load UPS Load

Electric Utility Electric Utility Electric Utility

The Problem

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Compaction density: kW Per Rack

Are

a in

ft2 /

kW [

m2 /

kW]

Area of IT equipment

Area of power and cooling infrastructure

Total area of IT equipment + infrastructure

[4.65]

[4.18]

[3.72]

[3.25]

[2.79]

[2.32]

[1.86]

[1.39]

[0.93]

[0.46]

Root Cause

• Planning– Capacity - kW– Availability level – N+1– Power density - watts / ft2

• Traditional data center design– Typically built all up front– Built with static power density– Raised floor and perimeter cooling

Proposed Solutions

Close Couple The CoolingClose Couple The Cooling

Which would you rather do?

50 Feet

5 Feet

Much less energy requiredAir distribution much more predictable

Proposed Solutions

Proposed Solutions

Proposed Solutions

Proposed Solutions

0

48

95

143

190

238

285

333

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Average Per-Rack Power Density (kW)

CR

AC

Pow

er C

onsu

mpt

ion

kW

row-oriented cooling

room-oriented cooling

rack-oriented cooling

Source: APC White Paper #130

Proposed Solutions• Change data center specify, design, and build

– Specify the max capacity and availability– Design based on predictable standardized building blocks– Grow in zones – each with its own density and availability

• Rightsize based on your load today• High efficiency components – UPS, VFD Chiller• High voltage distribution• Close coupled cooling• Upgrade utility capacity (source: RSMeans)

– Electrical service > $34,650– Feeder installation > $41,700– Switchgear > $53,280– TOTAL > $129,630

Proposed Solutions

High Efficiency Data Center

Chiller @ 7.0 COP14%

Humidif ier3%

CRAC9%

IT Equipment64%

PDU5%

UPS3%

Lighting1%

Main sw tchgr / Gen1%

Typical Data Center

Main swtchgr / Gen1%

Lighting1%

UPS6%

PDU5%

IT Equipment48%

CRAC13%

Humidifier3%

Chiller @ 2.9 COP23%

IT Load

Support Material

• White Papers about High Efficiency in the Data Center

• #108• #128

• #113• #114

• #120

• Visit DataCenterUniversity.com for learning modules on data center efficiency

Questions?