IS IT TIME TO MODERNIZE
YOUR DATA CENTER POWER INFRASTRUCTURE
Picture the data center power infrastructure as a single chain
carrying power from the utility service entrance to the IT
equipment. Along the way, specific links transform the power to
the right voltage and quality and ensure it is protected. For the
best performance and the most efficient, cost-effective operation,
the chain must be rust-free and have no weak links.
If your data center runs on a legacy power infrastructure
(1995-2007), the chain has lost its shine, and you’ve named its
weak links HIGH COST and INFLEXIBILITY.
UTILITY
TRANSFORMER
GENERATOR
TRANSFER SWITCH
Newer power technologies are designed cut those weak links out of the chain
permanently. A modern power infrastructure will allow you to:
Gain up to 25%
Carve 15% to 25%
end-to-end efficiency improvements
from operating expenses
Swap asset underperformance for
Lose your worries
up to 75% or
higher utilization
about how to simply and
cost-effectively support
future growth
BATTERY
UPS
PDU
RACK
LEGACY UPS
MODERN UPS
LEGACY UPS
EFFICIENCY
MODERN UPS
EFFICIENCY
Lower Efficiency
˜91-92%
100%
Load
˜85% at
40-60% Load
45%
˜85%
100%
Load
Higher Efficiency
40-60%
Load
Every point of efficiency improvement translates into $10,000
annual savings.1 Upgrading to a modern $250,000 UPS
system could reduce losses at the UPS itself by 4-5%, yielding a
$40,000 to $50,000 annual savings. ROI = 5 years
40-60%
Load
The UPS utilization rate when power
components on each bus of a
dual-bus system are oversized to
110% of data center load
MODERN UPS
UTILIZATION RATES
75%
or
higher
UPS utilization rate of a reserve
architecture, a new best practice
UPS 1
UPS 2
UPS 3
STS
STS
STS
PDU
PDU
PDU
RESERVE
6,170,784 hours, or ~704 years2
LEGACY POWER
DISTRIBUTION
Whether legacy or
modern, PDUs:
˜96-97% ˜94-95%
Transformer-free UPS
in double conversion mode
LEGACY UPS
UTILIZATION RATES
Less than
IT LOAD
The mean time between failures of modern
Emerson Network Power UPS units
96%-97%
PDU efficiency
Transform voltage from 480
or 600 volts down to 208/120
volts to the servers
Distribute and control the power
MODERN POWER
DISTRIBUTION
More
than
98.5%
Efficiency of the most common
PDU sizes used today3
Monitor and control energy consumption
LEGACY GROWTH STRATEGY
Growth through over-provisioning
Deploying oversized UPS systems
allowed capacity for growth, as well
as protection against downtime.
MODERN GROWTH STRATEGY
Growth through flexible
and scalable capacity
Small form factor software
scalable and modular systems
let you upgrade when needed
and take up little space.
IS IT WORTH IT TO REPLACE LEGACY EQUIPMENT?
1 Compare your current cost of ownership to a modern power infrastructure cost
Energy usage will be a dominant factor in your calculation, but don’t forget benefits such as
lower service costs, better parts availability, and improved control & visibility.
2
Energy usage = UPS efficiency + heat rejection + cooling load
Remember: Each 1% improvement in efficiency per MW = ~$10,000 annual savings (@$0.10kWh)
Work with a power infrastructure expert
An Emerson Network Power expert can work with you to assess your needs, and can recommend a
power solution that meets your business requirements.
LEARN
MORE:
Notes:
1. $10,000 annual savings for each efficiency
point gained assumes a 1-megawatt data center
located in a region with high utility costs, such as
the northeastern U.S.
2. Emerson Network Power studied more than
1,348 maximum efficiency UPS units under
warranty and service contract, which had
operated for a total of 24,683,136 hours, to
determine the mean time between failures
(MTBF) of these systems.
MTBF = operating hours
[failures + 1]
3. In 2007, the National Electrical Manufacturers
Association new reference standard TP1
mandated minimum efficiency levels based on
transformer size; www.nema.org.
For more information about upgrading your power infrastructure, contact your local
Emerson Network Power representative or visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com/KnowUPS
Emerson, Emerson Network Power, and the Emerson Network Power logo are trademark or registered trademarks of Emerson Electric Co. or one of its affiliated companies. © 2015. Emerson Electric Co. Analysis provided for estimation and
illustration purposes only. Actual savings and efficiencies may vary based upon various operating and environmental factors. Any and all other brands, product names, or trade names are the property of their respective owners.