Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/860140
THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL | 21 www.datacenterjournal.com Power-Distribution Equipment Equipment will become increasingly modular, enabling operators to spend as they need capacity and get N+1 or N+n redundancy using extra mod- ules. Most colos will opt for equip- ment that offers high safety levels, using compartments that separate high-voltage and low-power areas, finger-safe equipment, designs that enable circuits to be added without direct contact by operations per- sonnel, and reactors to reduce the fault current. Operators will strive to reduce equipment cost by using low-K-factor transformers and by using reactors to reduce fault cur- rents. Doing so allows them to use less costly breakers. Colos will opt for equipment that gives them flexibility for different clients. Many will pay a small premium for power-distribu- tion units (PDU) that allow easy field selection of the output voltage. Efficiency Through More Monitoring and Control e paradigm of monitoring and control will look more like distributed control systems that manage pro- cess plants from end to end. Today, facilities personnel use building- management systems (BMSs), and IT personnel use monitoring tools that track IT gear. Some data center infrastructure-management (DCIM) platforms and energy-management soware straddle the facilities and IT sides. In the future, monitoring and control will be integrated to a greater extent, treating the entire data center like a process plant. In summary, the industry, technology, regulatory and economic changes will continue the evolution of power distribution in data centers. Because of a greater focus on deliver- ing higher power, density, scalability and efficiency, there will be greater safety and more-efficient monitoring and control that will guarantee a more reliable experience to the customer. As many industries exemplify, tech- nology advancements trigger new waves of innovation every few years. We are on the cusp of such a new wave in the data center industry. n about the authors: Anand Krishna is the VP Business Development at PDI in Richmond, VA. Vladimir gulkarov, formerly Engineering Director, is now Director of Sales for Strategic Engineering focused on PDI's hyperscale growth. A few simple changes to wiring and grounding can make a big impact. Let CDA help you protect your facility from a serious hit to productivity and more. If your facility isn't properly wired and grounded, you can experience some major consequences from lightning or other power fluctuations. Visit copper.org/pq to learn tips and suggestions that others have applied in a cost-effective manner. Getting the wiring and grounding right is fundamental to reliability. Our white papers and videos help you figure it out. And we can present an informative group seminar to your staff or organization. Together, we can help shield your facility from power quality issues. *Check with your board for approval guidelines. No charge for non-profits; for-profit companies only pay for CDA's travel expenses. Please see our web site for available topics. Free in-house seminars that may lead to PDHs*! Visit copper.org/pq to set one up today!