UNCOVERING THE LAYERS
the power is unreliable and continuity is an
issue, filtering of energy from the mains is
highly desirable.
However, provided that there is a
reasonably secure and consistent delivery
of power, eco-mode trades only a small
amount of reliability to deliver a resilient
level of protection while reducing energy
costs, in some cases by up to 98%.
Conversely, if operating in double-
conversion mode, power output from the
UPS will always pass through an inverter,
providing a regular supply to the load. This
provides high levels of continuity for the
user as there is no loss of power in the
face of an outage.
However, using this mode means there is
constant wear on the power components,
with attendant reduction in Mean Time
Between Failure (MTBF) and a knock-
on effect on reliability, which must be
considered in any continuity plan.
The use of Li-Ion technologies also plays
a crucial role in lowering energy costs
associated with UPS systems. Research by
Schneider Electric and detailed in White
Paper #266, found that the Total Cost of
Ownership (TCO) of Li-Ion UPS can be
much lower than VRLA, despite the initial
capital expenditure (CAPEX) being higher.
VRLA batteries for example, will typically
need to be replaced every four years,
whereas Li-ion can remain operational
64
Issue 05
for 10. Over the course of that life-cycle,
the research found that use of Li-ion
battery technology can provide savings
of up to 53%.
Data driven monitoring
and management
To ensure the highest levels of continuity,
a final consideration might be the use of
advanced software to drive monitoring
and management.
In their most basic form, UPS systems
might include an intuitive graphical user
interface (GUI), which allows for simple
system configuration. However, for more
in-depth system monitoring, a user
might choose to deploy an on-premise
Data Centre Infrastructure Management
(DCIM) software application.
IN SITUATIONS
WHERE THE
POWER IS
UNRELIABLE
AND CONTINUITY
IS AN ISSUE,
FILTERING OF
ENERGY FROM
THE MAINS
IS HIGHLY
DESIRABLE.
For the highest levels of continuity,
deployment of cloud-based DCIM
software, such as Schneider Electric’s
EcoStruxure IT Expert, become
increasingly important – especially for
those customers who prefer to outsource
management of their facility to external
service providers. provides round the clock monitoring of
any IoT-enabled UPS or infrastructure
system, delivering updates directly to the
user’s smart phone.
The data harvested via such cloud based
DCIM software is pooled and analysed to
deliver detailed insights into how a data
centre application is performing, providing
the user with real-time recommendations
to drive resilience, efficiency and
continuity. For many, this software If ever a more severe problem is detected,
use of the software can also allow a
service professional to be dispatched to
deal with the problem in person, which is
especially important if the issue requires
external expertise or management across
a number of sites. ◊
As any potential issues arise, they can be
addressed quickly and proactively, enabling
a better level of continuity for the user.
www.intelligentdatacentres.com