data centre power supply

Introduction

Core objective: Ensure high reliability (99.999%+ availability) and stability of power supply to prevent data loss or business interruption caused by power outages.

Power supply architecture (multi-level)

External input: Usually connected to dual municipal power grids (primary and backup) to reduce the risk of single-grid failures.

Emergency support: Configure diesel generators/gas generators (to deal with long-term power outages in the power grid), UPS (uninterruptible power supply) (millisecond-level switching, covering power grid fluctuations or generator start-up intervals);

Internal distribution: Power is precisely distributed to servers, air conditioners, cooling systems and other equipment through distribution cabinets and PDUs (Power Distribution Units).

Key components

UPS: The core is the battery pack, providing short-term emergency power supply. Some parts adopt modular design to enhance scalability.

Generator: It needs to be linked with the UPS to ensure that it starts within 10 to 30 seconds after a power outage, guaranteeing continuous power supply.

Power distribution system: Equipped with overload protection and lightning grounding devices to prevent the spread of power faults.

Core challenge

High energy consumption: The energy consumption of the power supply system itself (such as UPS and generators) and the supporting cooling system accounts for more than 30%, and it is necessary to balance reliability and energy efficiency.

Redundant design: Different levels of redundancy (such as N+1, 2N) need to be configured according to the business level (such as Tier 3/Tier 4), and the cost and reliability need to be balanced.

Development trend

Greening: Introduce photovoltaic and energy storage systems, and combine intelligent dispatching to reduce reliance on traditional power grids.

Intelligence: By using AI to monitor power supply load and predict faults, the efficiency of power distribution is optimized.