Applications for data centers
Few industries depend so much on continuous power supply and efficiency as data centers. Any outage threatens operations, while electricity costs account for a major share of ongoing expenses. Operators therefore face a dual challenge: reducing energy costs and CO2 emissions without compromising availability, reliability, and efficiency.
With the modular UMG 800, data center operators can precisely measure energy consumption at all levels. The UMG 800 proves particularly effective for branch circuit monitoring at Power Distribution Units (PDUs) and Remote Power Panels (RPPs).
Feeder measurements
Challenge
The heart of any data center lies in its servers and racks, powered by PDUs and RPPs. Disturbances in power supply here can be catastrophic. Key performance indicators such as PUE3 require high accuracy data on energy usage. This makes measurement technology indispensable. However, a comprehensive system covering all server racks can quickly become expensive and complex.
Solution
The data center decided to carry out feeder measurements with the modular UMG 800 energy analyzer. The measurement device greatly simplifies branch circuit monitoring. One device can be expanded with modules to up to 96 current measurement inputs, grouped into a maximum of 32 measurement groups. Neutral currents can be calculated internally via Virtual Meters.
This means that one UMG 800 with five modules can measure up to 32 outputs simultaneously. This ensures a low cost per channel and saves valuable space in panels. Operators can thus cost-effectively monitor PDUs and RPPs and generate reliable metrics.
Measurement Groups
Create and combine values for 3- and 4-phase applications virtually, without additional hardware. This reduces the need for devices, lowers costs, and ensures efficient processes. The result: simpler energy management with reduced hardware costs.
Space and Cost Savings
The various modules enable significant space and cost savings and offer a low measurement channel price. Both the 800-CT24 module and the 800-CT8-LP module use low-power technology. The low voltage signal on the secondary side eliminates the need for converter isolation terminals, which saves a lot of space, especially when a large number of measurements are taken. In addition, low-power current transformers usually have a higher accuracy class than conventional transformers. At the same time, low-power current transformers are often less expensive than conventional transformers, which, together with their simple installation, reduces the overall cost of the solution.
Uninterrupted Operation
Challenge
In a data center, thousands of servers run around the clock. Even the smallest disturbances can cause massive downtime. Therefore, operators must continuously monitor the grid and check for anomalies.
Solution
Data center operators deploy the UMG 800 at various points in the network to capture power quality. With a sampling rate of 51.24 kHz and 1024 samples, the analyzer detects even the slightest deviations within just 10 ms.
The UMG 800 records half-wave RMS values in real time and identifies critical events immediately. Control rooms receive instant alerts and detailed analyses, enabling technical teams to respond before outages or damage occur.
Precise event and transient monitoring protects servers and data, ensures uptime, and minimizes the risk of costly downtime. Continuous monitoring of the power supply keeps data center performance stable and reliable – critical for success and security in today’s data-driven world.
Measuring Accuracy
Thanks to its high sampling rate of 51.24 kHz and 1024 samples, the UMG 800 detects even the smallest deviations that could endanger IT infrastructure, such as over- and undervoltages. The measuring device records and reports events and transients with an accuracy of 18 µs. In combination with the flexible threshold values, this enables real-time monitoring of transients and events.
Network Analysis
The UMG 800 measures harmonics up to the 63rd order and identifies disturbances such as overvoltage, undervoltage, unbalance, and flicker. With precise waveform recording, operators can analyze the root causes of disturbances and resolve them quickly.
Further Highlights for Data Transmission
Modbus TCP/IP Gateway for up to 31 Modbus RTU Devices
The UMG 800 as a gateway enables up to 31 additional devices to be integrated into the system, making monitoring and controlling simpler. This provides a better overview and simpler data exchange whilst reducing the complexity of device integration and improving network performance.
Modbus Whitelisting
Modbus whitelisting increases operational safety and protects data integrity. This function allows data centre operators to monitor data traffic and only grant access to authorised devices and communication requests. Potentially hazardous or unauthorised access is blocked.
Data Storage
The 4 GB internal memory stores critical measurement data, including 200 ms min/max values. This enables early detection of load peaks and helps prevent costly failures. Trend data with averaged and sliding mean values support long-term optimization and preventive maintenance.
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