Reino Buchmüller, Head of Low Voltage Systems, Helsinki, August 31, 2011
Direct Current (DC) Data Center
The game changer
Data center power supply
DC versus AC – the concept “Grid-to-Chip”
Utility
Transformer
UPS
Utilit
y
PDU
AC-Server
UPS
13.8 kV AC
480 V AC
480 V AC
208/120 V AC
AC/DC DC/DC
e.g. 750 V DC
VR
CPU
Batteries
Utility
MV rectifier package
13.8 kV AC
380-400 V DC
PDU
DC-Server
380-400 V DC
DC/DC
Batteries
Chart 2
© ABB 2010
VR
CPU
Why DC Data Center?
Better energy efficiency, cost savings

Higher energy efficiency by up to 25%

Increase in transmission and conversion efficiencies / fewer
conversions, less heat generation
10% energy savings on electrical distribution system1, plus 15% in IT room2

Reduced floor space up to 30%

Less power & cooling equipment
2,700 sq ft saved on a fully redundant (1MW) solution, representing ~20%

Reduced installation and maintenance cost of up to 30%

Less equipment, simplified wiring
30% less installation cost than AC fewer components = less maintenance needs4

Increased reliability and availability

Less conversion stages less equipment
Uninterruptable Power Supply UPS -related issues most often cited for data
centre failures3
1 ABB analysis 2 Duke Energy analysis 3 Emerson Network Power 4 Syracuse University
Chart 3
© ABB 2010
Direct current DC renewable energy options
Simple, reliable, fast and modular integration
Energy Integration

Easily integrate renewables (photovoltaic, fuel cells, wind), storage (batteries) and DC
consumers = DC micro grid

No synchronization required to connect multiple sources
Chart 4
© ABB 2010
Direct Current DC data center showcase
green.ch data center Switzerland


Green.ch’s most modern data center in north-central Switzerland

Tier level III standard UPtime

10‘000 m2 / 30 megawatt facility divided into three modules

Offering secure storage and data management capabilities
ABB is installing a fully redundant 1 megawatt DC power solution
inside the first, operational module A, operational Q1 2012


Designed and engineered to green.ch’s stringent ecological
standards by Validus DC Systems, an ABB company
green.ch DC data center is ABB’s demonstration site for its new DC
technology

A showcase for international data center customers seeking to
profit from this groundbreaking DC technology
Chart 5
© ABB 2010
Direct current data center showcase
green.ch data center Switzerland
The future of data centers

DC Technology will make strong progress, AC technology
to be used where appropriate

AC is technology of choice whenever heat can be re-used
or in cold locations like Northern Europe

For most locations, DC data center technology is more
energy efficient and cost saving

DC will be a „game changer“ for data centers to reach
better energy efficiency levels
Chart 6
© ABB 2010