Data centers must be protected from power distortions, like blackouts, brownouts, spikes and surges. UPS equipment helps safeguard the expensive hardware within them by providing consistent energy that prevents data loss or damage from these power problems. Datacenter UPS systems are individual units or full data center UPS platforms. Which one you choose depends on your infrastructure design philosophy and your needs.
Uninterruptible Power Supply
UPS systems plug into power sources, draw energy and store it to keep devices running when the electricity goes down. A UPS system can prevent costly power interruptions that may zap devices, cause missed changes and corrupt data. There are several types of UPS systems on the market. Some work differently but aim to provide reliable energy sources and protect equipment from power surges and spikes. Standby, line-interactive and online UPS systems are all available, with the latter being most commonly used for data centers.
An online double-conversion UPS constantly regenerates new, clean AC power through its inverter. It also eliminates AC power fluctuations and offers voltage regulation to ensure the correct amount of energy reaches connected devices. This type of UPS can keep devices powered for hours and even operate during a prolonged brownout or overvoltage spike.
High Efficiency
A UPS for data centers is designed to ensure a consistent power supply to critical hardware systems. This helps eliminate glitches, spikes, and other anomalies that could cause equipment failure. Additionally, it can help protect against blackouts and brownouts that may cause file system or hardware damage.
Typically, UPSs use online double-conversion power electronics to regulate voltage and create backup power. This technology converts AC voltage to DC voltage before charging the energy storage system and then regenerates clean power. This process is repeated as needed. This UPS topology also uses an internal automatic static transfer switch to transition to backup power when the primary source fails seamlessly.
Many leading UPS manufacturers now produce eco-friendly green UPS systems for data centers that consume minimal energy and have high energy efficiency. Selecting an energy-efficient UPS system can reduce operating costs and lower a facility’s carbon footprint.
Battery Backup
UPS systems power up during a power outage, protecting IT infrastructure from potential damage or data loss. They’re also designed to provide a consistent source of AC power that eliminates surges, spikes, and other anomalies in the power supply. There are a few UPS backup options, including offline and line-interactive. Offline systems switch to battery power when the system detects a power disruption.
At the same time, line-interactive UPSes rely on internal components to sense and react to power distortions before passing anomalies to end hardware. Many UPSes come with a network management port that can be used to integrate with your data center infrastructure management (DCIM) system and manage the device remotely. Some offer LCD control panels to easily see the status of your UPS and help with troubleshooting.
Larger UPS systems typically use a modular design that allows you to expand capacity with field-replaceable modules. This helps reduce maintenance requirements and will enable you to right-size your UPS for optimum energy efficiency. Some even feature a bypass option that lets you manually transfer the load to an external maintenance power source, freeing up rack space for more hardware and minimizing downtime during system maintenance.
Scalability
Data centers require a stable power source to prevent data loss, hardware damage and the cost of downtime. UPS systems regulate power from a fluctuating grid to provide enough runtime for a graceful shutdown and maintain essential equipment functioning. Efficient UPS systems can be configured to fit any size data center and scale with energy needs. Modular UPSs have independent power modules that can be added or removed as needed, allowing for easy capacity expansion and maintenance.
Many systems offer a modular design that helps replace internal batteries without shutting down the system. Some systems also feature energy metering to help you track kilowatt hours and make informed power purchasing decisions. Their optimized efficiency means they operate at lower load levels and reduce utility costs. Some systems can even participate in demand response and grid interactivity programs to help stabilize voltage and frequency. With all these features, efficient data center UPSs are the best solution for protecting sensitive equipment.
Maintainability
UPS systems filter incoming AC power and convert it to DC to suppress surges that can damage equipment. They’re commonly used to protect computer systems, data servers and other equipment sensitive to electrical power fluctuations. When the system senses a loss of consistent power, it switches to battery backup. The batteries provide enough ability to run infrastructure until consistent power returns or longer-term emergency power backup systems take over. Companies choose between centralized or distributed UPS models depending on their uptime requirements.
Distributed UPSs sit adjacent to server racks, reducing the distance between the UPS and the equipment they support. This helps reduce the risk of faulty wiring and other problems that can develop over long distances. Many UPSs offer additional features to help ensure they’re well-maintained and able to meet uptime demands.
For example, some provide a self-test mode that lets IT personnel confirm the unit’s health and recharge its batteries without disrupting operations. Other UPSs feature ‘live swap’ technologies that enable battery modules to be replaced while the UPS is still connected, helping companies avoid downtime.
