UPS system: How can future technology and topology improve the energy efficiency in data centers?

Abstract

A Data Center can consist of a large group of networked servers and associated power distribution, networking, and cooling equipment. All these applications consume enormous amounts of energy which result in a significant increase in energy inefficiency problems. One of the causes of Data Center energy inefficiency power distribution is from the uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The UPS system is an alternate or backup source of power linking between mains power supply and end critical loads in order to provide back-up power and protection for the sensitive load. This study attempts to answer the question of how can future UPS topology and technology improve the efficiency of Data Center. In order to analyze the impact of different UPS technologies and their operating efficiencies, a model for a medium size Data Centre is developed, and load schedules and worked schematics were created to analyze and test the components of each of the UPS system topologies.