comrent.com 888.881.7118 ComRent Load Bank Solutions Our Knowledge, Your Power • Why load bank testing is critical for your data center • The benefits of load bank testing • Determining which system type is the right fit for your facility • Optimizing your data center for optimal performance • The proactive vs reactive approach (case study) FPO Using Load Bank Solutions to Optimize Data Center Commissioning
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Using Load Bank Solutions to Optimize Data Center Commissioning
comrent.com 888.881.7118
Why test with load banks? Datacenteroperatorswhoproperlyleverageloadbanktechnologyduringdata-centercommissioningcanvalidatetheirelectricalandmechanicalinfrastructureperformance,isolateandcorrectissuesbeforeproduction,qualifyforLEEDcertification,acceleratecommissioning,andreducetheiroveralldatacentercommissioningcosts.
Partnering with a Load Bank ProviderThroughpartnershipwithaloadbankpartner,criticalfacilitiesmanagersandengineerscanidentifypotentialproblemsearlyintheprocess.Thatway,theycanavoiddelaysaswellascostoverrunsduringcommissioningandoperationaldowntimepost-deployment.
• Load bank technology provides accuracy, efficiency and safety in commissioning Thedemandforhigherserverdensityhassubstantiallyincreasedthecomplexityofdatacenterdesignandimplementation.Certaincomponents,likehighserverthermaloutput,hot-aisle/coldaislerackpositioning,andcomplexcoolingmechanisms,increasethedifficultyofdatacentersimulationmakingitexponentiallymorecriticalfordatacenteroperatorstoimplementaloadbanktestingstrategy.Precisesimulationoftheoperationalcharacteristicsofproductionserversrequirestechnologythatpreciselymimicstheactualelectricalload,heatgeneration,airflow,andphysicaldimensionsofserverracks.
• Customizing a solution tailored fit for your needs Unfortunately,traditionalsimple“suitcase”loadbanksareoftennotabletosimulateairflowproperly,resultinginthefailuretopredicthotspotsinproductiondeployments.However,havingacustomizedplatformofrackmountedloadbanksthatcanvaryelectricalload,heatandairflowandsimulate“blackstart”andmaximumoperatingconditionsisessentialtoprecisedata-centersimulation.
• Keep an eye on your analytics and monitoring for optimal accuracy and efficiency Newpower-qualitymonitorshaveimprovedcapabilitiestocollectadatasetmorerichthanwhatcouldbeachievedjustafewyearsago-measurementscanbetakenattherack,aisleorroomlevelfromindefinitecollectionpoints.Inadditiontoaccuracyandefficiency,loadbanksolutionsmustnotjeopardizethesafetyoftheelectricalandcoolingsystemstheytest.Toavoiddisasterduringcommissioning,itisessentialtoleveragesystemsthatprovidewrong-voltagedetection,power-supplyshutdown,andthermaloverloadprotection.
comrent.com 888.881.7118
Additional Benefits of Load Bank Testing
Long-term Benefits of Structured Room Validation TestingAlthoughloadbank,cableandswitchgearrentalisnotinexpensive,thesecostsareeclipsedbythecapitalsavedthroughtheavoidanceofexpensiveproblemspost-deployment.That’swhyidentifyingproblemsduringthecommissioningphaseprovidestheopportunitytofixissuesbeforeafacilitygoesintooperation.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification» AssistsclientsinattainingLEEDcertification» Demonstratescommitmenttoenvironmentalstewardship–
Determining Which System Type is the Right Fit for Your Facitility
ComRent Load Bank Solutions 4
• Load Banks for UPS SystemsInaddition,loadbankscanbeusedtotestthebehaviorofUPSsystemsduringasimulatedpoweroutage.LinkableloadbanksforUPStesting(ofteninthe400Kwrange)areavailablethatcanbeusedtotestresistiveandreactiveloadsatavarietyofpowerfactors(PFs).BatterystringscanbetestedusingDCloadbanks.
• Power Distribution TechnologiesNotonlymustpowergenerationbetested,butalsopowerdistribution.Newsystemsareavailablethataccommodatepowerdistributionunittestinginavarietyoflocations,includingundertheraisedfloortrack,inaremotepowerpanelorinanoverheadbustrack.Newbustrackadaptersallowforfastersetupandshortercableruns.
• Testing in Unique EnvironmentsManydatacenterfacilitiesrequirea‘pindrop’quietworkingenvironment.Luckily,therearehighlyattractivealternativestotraditionalair-cooledunitsavailablethatconsideryouruniquesituation.Forexample,watercooledloadbanksareonealternativethatisquiet,butalsoallowsforindoorinstallationsincontrolledenvironmentsversusoutdoorswhereunitsareexposedtotheelements.
Optimizing Your Data Center for Optimal PerformanceMostdatacenterthermalissues–suchashotspotsorovercooling–stemfrompoorairflowmanagement.Asubstantialamountofcoldairdoesnotreachtheserverduetobypassandrecirculationairflow.Beingabletolocateandeliminatethecoldairwasteattheservercanleadtoanenergyefficientdatacenter.Todosorequireseffectiveenvironmentalmonitoring.
Developing a Structured Commissioning PlanForadatacentertorunatoptimalcapacity,developingastructuredcommissioningplanthatconsiderstheeffectofloadbanktechnologyiscritical.
When should load testing occur?Loadbanktestplanningshouldoccurasearlyintheoverallprojecttimelineaspossible,becauseloadbanktestingpromotesaniterativedesignmodel:Testspecificationsthatarenotvalidatedinitiallycanbereferredbacktoengineersforredesignandoptimization.Thisproactive,structuredapproachidentifiesproblemsbeforethefacilitybecomesoperational,ensuringthattheITinfrastructureisabletoperformatcapacityupondeployment.
An integrated commissioning plan supports a thorough risk assessment that focuses on:
A Case Study Example of Reactive vs Proactive Data Center Commissioning
Note: In the following comparative analysis of approaches to load bank testing, the names of two actual companies performing data center construction are changed to “Enterprise A” and “Enterprise B”.
ComRent Load Bank Solutions 6
Enterprise A EnterpriseAwaiteduntilitsdatacenterconstructionprojectwasnearcompletiontofinalizetheloadbanktestingplan.Engineersfailedtoadequatelyplanfortotalloadrequirements,equipmentplacementandcablesruns.Whentheequipmentarrived,theloadbanksdidnotfitinthefreightelevatorandhadtoberelocatedoutside.
Enterprise B EnterpriseBstarteddevelopingthecommissioningplanalmostayearbeforecommissioningwasscheduledtostart.Withtheinvolvementofthedeveloper,theGeneralContractorworkedwiththeElectricalContractor,themechanicalcontractor,thecommissioningagentaswellastheloadbanksuppliertodevelopanintegratedcommissioningplan.
contact informationFor more information on ComRent and our experience in your industry, please visit our website, contact your nearest ComRent location or call 888-881-7118.