OVERVIEW

Data Center Electrical Power Chain Assessment Tool Version 1. January 25, 2010
This tool was developed jointly by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and EYP Mission Critical Facilities for the US Department of Energy (DOE).
The developers acknowledge helpful reviews by experts from ANCIS Incorporated, Emerson, EPRI and Syska Hennessey.

Worksheet

Description

Overview

This Sheet: Provides an overview of the data flow.

Step 1: UserInputs

User Input: Questions on IT chain and lighting along with applicable actions.

Step 2: Actions Summary

Result Output: Actions, savings, implementation costs, and simple payback.

Step 3: Peer Comparison

Result Output: Benchmark data for UPS load factor and IT power density.

UPS Efficiency

Background Data: Reference chart for efficiency of different UPS topologies.

What does this Tool do?

This assessment tool is designed to help data center owners assess the potential savings from efficiency
actions in the electrical power chain of a data center i.e. transformers, generators, UPSs, and PDUs.
Note that this tool is not a detailed 'investment-grade' audit tool - the savings estimates are based on typical
practice and actual savings will vary based on site-specific conditions.
How is the Tool used?
Step 1: Answer questions and select applicable actions on the UserInputs tab
Step 2: Review actions and provide cost information (optional) on Actions Summary tab
Step 3: (Optional) Review benchmarks for selected metrics in Peer Comparison tab
Tool Suite
This Electrical Tool is part of a tool suite, which includes HVAC, air management, electrical, and IT tools.
Currently, the individual tools are designed as "stand-alone" modules.

Step 1: USER INPUTS

Table A: Basic Information Questions (Yellow cells: Enter data).

Question Basic Information
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

What is the utility input voltage?

What is the UPS input voltage?
What
What
What
What
What
What
What
What
What

is
is
is
is
is
is
is
is
is

the
the
the
the
the
the
the
the
the

UPS output voltage?

UPS system configuration?
N size of UPS module in kW?
total UPS load capacity in kW?
UPS design topology?
designed IT load capacity in kW?
present IT load in kW?
data center raised floor area in sq. ft.?
area of support spaces (UPS, generator,...)?

What
What
What
What

is
is
is
is

the
the
the
the

emergency generator configuration?

total block heater power in kW of the generator?
annual electrical (incl. of IT) energy use in kWh?
total annual IT energy use in kWh?

What is the Lighting density in raised floor area?

What is the total annual lighting energy usage in kWh for the
facility?
What is the annual average unit cost of electricity in /kWh?
Is power analyzer installed at main feeder panel for critical
components?
Is Infra-Red test performed on electrical systems regularly?

Table B: Efficiency Information Questions (Yellow cells: Enter data).

Input

Tables A and B:
Answer questions by selecting (drop-down) or entering
data in yellow cells.
Table B:
If multiple actions are recommended, select actions
by checking the boxes.
Actions will be carried over to Step 2: Actions Summary.

Question Efficiency Information

21

What is the load factor % per active UPS module?

Input

Potential Action(s)
Information not available
0
0
0
0

22

What is the UPS efficiency at 50% load factor?

#N/A

23
24

What is the age of the UPS?

What is the age and type of the main service transformer?

#N/A
#N/A

25

What is the age and type of PDUs and downstream

transformers?

#N/A

26

What is load factor % per each active transformer / PDU?

Investigate the load factor % per active

PDU/transformer

0
0

27

Does the PDU located inside the raised-floor area have a built-in
transformer?

#N/A

28
29

What is building power factor?

What is the building total harmonic current distortion (THD) at
main feeder panel?

#N/A
#N/A

30
31
32

What is the IT equipment power factor?

What is the power source for emergency generator block
heater(s)?
Does the block heater(s)/heater water jacket for emergency
generator(s) operate with thermostat control?

#N/A
#N/A
#N/A

33

What is the power source for non-critical loads?

#N/A

34

What is the power source for IT racks?

#N/A

35

Are the loads balanced between all phases for UPSs, PDUs
transformers, etc.?

#N/A

36
37
38

Are the UPS DC capacitors older >5 years?

What type of lamps are installed?
What type of ballast are installed?

#N/A
Investigate type of lighting installed
#N/A

39

How are the lights controlled in data center?

Investigate how the lighting is controlled

0
0

40

Are bi-level lights installed where applicable?

41

Are Lights in raised floor area located above the aisles?

Investigate if bi-level lights are installed

#N/A

Step 2: ACTIONS SUMMARY

Table 1: Recommended Actions Based on User Input .

Savings %
(of elec losses
or lighting
energy)

Question Actions

Savings
[kWh]

Savings
[$]

Cost to
Impleme
nt [$]

Simple
Payback
[yrs]

21

Notes:
Actions are based on input provided to Questions 21-41 on Step 1.
There are two additional Questions (21a and 26a) on this sheet.

21a
22

No action required

23
24

#N/A

25

#N/A

>50%

0.0

0.0 $

1,500

0.0

#N/A

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

#N/A

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0

0.0 $

26

100

0.0

Enter cost to implement (Column I, yellow cells).

This will generate simple payback (Column J).
Lighting % savings are relative to total lighting energy use.
The summary savings are shown in Table 2.

26a

Investigate the load factor % per active

PDU/transformer

>50%

27

#N/A

28

#N/A

29

#N/A

30
31
32

#N/A
#N/A
#N/A

33

#N/A

34

#N/A

35

#N/A

36
37
38
39

#N/A

40

Investigate type of lighting installed

#N/A

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0
0.0
0.0

0.0 $
0.0 $
0.0 $

0.0
0.0
0.0

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0

0.0 $

0.0

0.0
0.0
0
0

0.0
0.0
0
0

$
$
$
$

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

0 $

0 $

0 $

100

3,300

0.0

0.0

Investigate if bi-level lights are installed

41

1,000

0.0

#N/A
0.0

Table 2: Summary Savings.

Function
Electrical power chain savings
Lighting savings
Total (Electrical + Lighting)

Savings
% 0
0

Savings ($)
-

Notes:
Cumulative savings for electrical power chain is capped at 30% of
electrical power chain energy use (excluding IT).
Cumulative savings for lighting is capped at 30% of lighting energy use.

PEER COMPARISON

Averag e IT Power D ensity

These two charts allow you to compare your data center to 25 other data centers that were analyzed by LBNL.
Note that data were not available for all data centers for both metrics shown below - hence the data gaps.

160.00

IT Power Density

140.00
120.00
100.00
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00

Data center number

UPS load factor

UPS Load factor

1.00
0.90
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

Data center number

UPS EFFICIENCY INFORMATION

These UPS efficiency data are provided for information purposes only. The data are drawn from information
provided by vendors for 2007 models. Note that these are typical values for various UPS typologies; actual
values may vary.
UPS Information
Size

Voltage

750 kVA / 675 kW

Legend
DB
DLT
R
FW

480 V

Topolog
y

Load kW
%

DB+filter
DLT
efficiency
R
FW

10%
79.5%
88.0%
74.5%
84.0%

20%
85.8%
93.3%
83.8%
92.8%

30%
90.2%
95.2%
87.4%
95.4%

40%
92.0%
96.1%
89.1%
96.3%

50%
93.2%
96.5%
90.0%
97.0%

Double Conversion
Delta Conversion
Rotary
Flywheel

Double Conv ersion UPS

Delta Cov ersion UPS

Rotary UPS

Fly wheel UPS

98.0%
96.0%
94.0%
92.0%
90.0%
88.0%
86.0%
84.0%
82.0%
80.0%
78.0%
76.0%
74.0%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

60%
93.9%
96.8%
90.5%
97.3%

70%
94.5%
97.0%
90.7%
97.6%

80%
94.3%
97.0%
90.7%
97.7%

90%
94.1%
97.1%
90.8%
97.9%

100%
94.0%
97.1%
90.7%
98.0%