Measure, monitor, & save

THE GLOBAL DATA CENTRE MARKET enjoys unparalleled growth and is one of the few areas that continue to do so, despite the ups and downs of most other industrial sectors. Power usage in Data centres has also grown enormously. In 2007 the global data centre market consumed 12Gw. By 2011, this had doubled to 24Gw. Last year saw it rise to 38Gw. So where will it be in 2015 and what impact will it have on Data Centre revenue?

As in all areas of commerce, buoyant times bring an increase in competition, with new clients playing the field to get the best possible deal. Being able to offer a competent service will require Data Centres to go far beyond just managing the movement of vast amounts of media. Being able to offer unquestionable value for money will become the magical USP for those who consider themselves to be major players and with hardware costs being constant across the field, it will be the variables like power costs that will come in for the toughest scrutiny. Accurate accountability for power consumption will provide a means to trim a few more percent off your bottom line and provide a financial edge by which your commercial team can lever in a few more high level clients.

The Carbon Reduction Scheme has yet to have any major impact on the industry, but whist it may be in its infancy now, I have no doubt that like all Government taxes, it will be refined and honed to maximise the revenues gained. I strongly believe that in the coming years it will go on to encompass more than just total consumption. It may cover areas such as power quality, the efficient use of power, for example how much equipment is left to idle during low usage and also power efficiency, the conversion of “Power in” to “Power out”. This is all vital information that would require collecting and quantifying to prove your green credibility.

Those facilities that are truly focused on their business are already looking at their power as a cost centre that can be reduced by the use of smart technology. Before you can make savings, you have to measure your usage and identify where these savings are to be made. There are many monitoring products available and choosing one that gives you what you need should be fully researched, understood, and not just made on price. Shrewd investments will bring big gains in the years to come.
Monitoring at Distribution Board level is relatively easy to do by adding Energy Meters; these are installed without the need to down equipment. They can be remotely read and produce a graphical record of usage and will interface to most existing BMS software. Depending on where they are placed, Energy Meters will measure the power usage per row or per rack. A good place to start, but in all honesty, not the most efficient way to look for cost savings.

A far more effective way would be to take a granular approach and measure every piece of equipment, rack by rack. Today’s power hungry servers have resulted in an 18% increase, world wide, in the use of high-density server racks (10kw or more) with medium density (5-10Kw) increasing to 33%. With all this power consumed at the rack, the remote monitored or active PDU comes into its own.
There are many options available when it comes to active PDU’s, each provide a range of readings and log them on a central reporting system, but closer examination can show vast differences in cost of ownership. Some offer very impressive software, which incurs a high capital outlay and annual licence fees, all of which need to be factored into the overall cost. Choosing a system with an open architecture gives you flexibility to integrate the information gained into existing BMS systems and avoids tying you to proprietary software. Sales of passive or non-intelligent PDU’s has shown an increasing demand for client defined requirements such as the number and type of outlets, along with reliability and security aspects, including outlet protection and locking IEC connectors. If these are not an option on your choice of active PDU, you are not going to hit the buttons of those clients who consider them a must.
Total design flexibility tailored to meet your client’s needs, is the pre requisite for choosing the active PDU that will become the key part of your monitoring programme.

Its ability to measure the fundamental elements of electrical usage should be examined with an eye to more in-depth information such as harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion is a phenomenon in which consumers affect each other through their common connection to the National grid. It is a growing problem and may not affect your facility today, but could do so in the future. It produces higher frequency currents that cause extra heating in cables, switchgear, transformers and degrades capacitors used in switch mode power supplies, therefore it is important to be able to calculate harmonic levels and if necessary reduce them.

For further reading, refer to ER G5/4 and the practical application of LV Harmonic mitigating equipment (Active Filters) to reduce the 5th Harmonic Current.

Being able to measure and monitor every piece of equipment will give you more information than just providing accurate and irrefutable costs for billing purposes; it can also highlight poor performance. Take for example, two servers with identical specifications, yet one consumes an extra 5 watts. This will multiply up over time and impact on your costs. A sudden rise in consumption can be an indicator of impending equipment failure and provide enough warning to allow for a managed swap out instead of a sudden and costly interruption of service.

Remote switching is also a valuable tool, but it will add to your initial costs. Apart from the historical use for rebooting servers, once you have identified its typical power usage, equipment that idles for a large amount of the day should be timed off and on. Another small saving that will multiply up to become a major saving over time. Environmental monitoring should also be a key factor when making a choice, along with security features such as door monitoring and control, you may not currently use these, but plan for the future. Introducing an additional piece of kit 6 months on because you did not want to pay for it as part of the PDU is not going to save you money.

So, you now have a smart PDU that is a measuring device, a security device, a warning and diagnostics device and repair tool all in one. By using it wisely, you can run efficiency audits on your equipment, monitor the purity of your power, identify and switch off idle servers, predict and avoid sudden death of vital equipment and save money.
Power monitoring is a big subject to cover in a few words, but it is probably the single most important area that will affect your running costs. By using the tools available, you will stand head and shoulders above those who do not.