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ComRent Load Bank Solutions
Our Knowledge, Your Power
• Whyloadbanktestingiscriticalforyourdatacenter• Thebenefitsofloadbanktesting• Determiningwhichsystemtypeistherightfitforyourfacility• Optimizingyourdatacenterforoptimalperformance• Theproactivevsreactiveapproach(casestudy)
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Using Load Bank Solutions to Optimize Data Center Commissioning
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Why test with load banks? Datacenteroperatorswhoproperlyleverageloadbanktechnologyduringdata-centercommissioningcanvalidatetheirelectricalandmechanicalinfrastructureperformance,isolateandcorrectissuesbeforeproduction,qualifyforLEEDcertification,acceleratecommissioning,andreducetheiroveralldatacentercommissioningcosts.
Conductingloadbanktestingallowsdatacenterengineersandfacilitymanagerstominimizethelikelihoodofcostlypost-deploymentconfigurationchanges.Loadbanktestingalsovalidatesroomdesign,equipmentplacement,aswellastheoveralleffectivenessofcooling-systemsandpower-distributioninfrastructure.
Partnering with a Load Bank ProviderThroughpartnershipwithaloadbankpartner,criticalfacilitiesmanagersandengineerscanidentifypotentialproblemsearlyintheprocess.Thatway,theycanavoiddelaysaswellascostoverrunsduringcommissioningandoperationaldowntimepost-deployment.
Furthermore,fullsystemintegrationtestingofcriticalsystemsduringcommissioningestablishesanaccuratebaselineforongoingoperationalperformanceandisavaluablesalesandmarketingtoolindiscussionswithfuturetenants.
Read on to discover the benefits of load bank testing your data center.
Introduction: Why are load banks critical for my data center?
Your Load Bank Partner
Youshouldchoosealoadbankpartnerthatwillnevermakeyoufeellikeyouarealoneintheprocess.Aconsultantshouldalwaysbeknowledgeable,experienced,andavailabletoworkwithyou,side-by-side,toensureyouarehavingthebestandmostefficientexperiencepossible.
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• 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.
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Benefits of Data Center Load Bank Testing
• Limit overall cost Leveragingtheproperload-banksolutionalsoensuresthatthecommissioningprocessitselfoccurswithinbudget.Laborisbyfarthelargestsinglelineitemduringthedatacentercommissioningprocess.TheabilitytomanageWi-Fi-enabledloadbankswithWindowsandAndroiddeviceseliminatestheneedtophysicallymovearoundthedatacentertomanuallyadjustloadstepsandfanspeedsinordertocompletetests.Inaddition,fortestingtheemergencydieselgenerators,medium-voltageloadbanksreducerequiredcablingbyafactoroffifteenandreducesetuptimebyafactoroffive,furtherdecreasinglaborcostswhilecreatingfewerpointsoffailure.
• 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.
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Additional Benefits of Load Bank Testing
Long-term Benefits of Structured Room Validation TestingAlthoughloadbank,cableandswitchgearrentalisnotinexpensive,thesecostsareeclipsedbythecapitalsavedthroughtheavoidanceofexpensiveproblemspost-deployment.That’swhyidentifyingproblemsduringthecommissioningphaseprovidestheopportunitytofixissuesbeforeafacilitygoesintooperation.
EvenifanenterprisereducesbyjustafewpercentagepointsitstotalITlaborcostsoverthelifespanofatypicaldata-center,thenloadbanktestingwillprovidepositivereturnoninvestment.Itisalwayslessexpensivetofixaproblembeforedata-centeroperationsbeginthanafterserversareputintoproduction.Peaceofmindisavaluablethingtoconsider,especiallywhenitcomestomaintainingyourreputationwithyourclients.
Beyondtheobviousadvantageofensuringoperationalsuccessofanewlyconstructeddatacenterviavalidationofsystemdesignandperformance,loadbanktestingiscriticaltosuccessinotherareas,including:
• Documenting thermal and electrical load requirements» Reassuresclientsofprotectionagainstuninterruptedservicebyconfirmingthat
equipmentmeetsalltestspecifications(e.g.,validationofbackup-generatorandUPSperformance)
» ProvidestheabilitytooptimizerackplacementorHVACsettingstooptimizefacilityenergyefficiencyperformance
» Reducestechnicalandfinancialriskoffuturedatacenterupgradesorexpansions
• Ensuring accuracy of budgetary data» Validatescapitalexpenditure(CAPEX)budgetbyconfirmingthatequipment
meetsalltestspecifications» Confirmspowerandcoolingrequirementsforincorporationintooperating
expense(OPEX)budget» Reducesfinancialrisktoclients–reducingthelikelihoodofunbudgetedcost
increases
• Simplifying compliance with regulatory requirements» Providesintegratedcommissioningplantofulfillrequirementsofcontactaward/
negotiationprocess» Ensurescompliancewithlocal,stateandfederalenvironmentalregulations–
vitaltoconstructionpermits
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification» AssistsclientsinattainingLEEDcertification» Demonstratescommitmenttoenvironmentalstewardship–
generatingfavorablepublicity» Demonstratescommitmenttoenvironmentalstewardship–
generatingfavorablepublicity» Ensuringcoordinationandcommunicationamongcommissioningagentsand
general,electricalandmechanicalcontractors
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Determining Which System Type is the Right Fit for Your Facitility
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• 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.
Besidesbeingcompletelyinaudible,thesesystemsarehighlycompact,virtuallymaintenancefree,andidealforinstallationinbuildingsincentral-cityareas,industrialparksorofficecomplexeswhereanoutdoorair-cooledunitwouldbearchitecturallyobtrusiveorimpossibletoinstallduetospaceornoiserestrictions.
• Real-Time ReportingSimilarly,advancesinpowermonitortechnologyofferanalogousflexibilityandoptimization.Themostmodernpowermonitorsprovidemechanismsforsimplelinkagetoavarietyofreal-timereportingsystemsandoftencontainanumberofadvancedfeatureslikeharmonics,currentsummationandtemperature/humidityreadings.
• Advanced Cooling SystemsThetestingofcoolingsystemsisjustascriticalasthatofpowersystems.ItisessentialtoensuretheCRAC’scapacitytoprovideoptimalthermalconditions(constanttemperaturesandhumiditylevels)athighserverloads.Testingsystemsmustbeusedthatmeasureroomairflow(incubic-feetperminute)androomtemperaturechange(“deltaT”)inavarietyofroomconfigurationsandcontainerenvironments.
Read on to learn more about the latest in monitoring technologies and cooling systems.
Therearevariousstate-of-the-artloadbanktestingsystemsforalltypesofinfrastructure.Duringdatacentercommissioning,you’llneedtopayspecialattentiontotheperformanceofthefollowingtypesofsupportinginfrastructure:
• Back-Up Generators• UPS Systems• Automatic Transfer Switches• Power Distribution Units (PDUs)• Computer Room Air Conditioning
(CRAC) systems• Server Containers and Layouts
Testing Equipment Available:Generally,themoreadvancedtheloadbanktechnology,themoreaccuratethetestingresults,andthemoremoneythatcanbesavedinlaborduringthecommissioningprocess,whichiswhyit’simportanttobecomefamiliarwiththelatestdevelopmentsintestingequipmentforalltypesofdatacenterinfrastructure.Hereareafewofthem:
• Medium-Voltage Emergency Diesel GeneratorsFordatacentersdeployingmedium-voltageemergencydieselgenerators(arelativelycommonoccurrencetoday),commissioninglaborcostscanbereducedthroughtheuseoftransportablemedium-voltage(13.8kv)loadbanksthatdonotrequireseparatetransformers.
Systemsarecommonlyavailablethatdissipatefivemegawattsandarelinkableforloadsupto100megawatts.Setuprequiresasmallernumberofmedium-voltagecables(asfewasoneperphase)–drasticallyreducingset-uptime.
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Optimizing Your Data Center for Optimal PerformanceMostdatacenterthermalissues–suchashotspotsorovercooling–stemfrompoorairflowmanagement.Asubstantialamountofcoldairdoesnotreachtheserverduetobypassandrecirculationairflow.Beingabletolocateandeliminatethecoldairwasteattheservercanleadtoanenergyefficientdatacenter.Todosorequireseffectiveenvironmentalmonitoring.
Manydatacenterengineersuseinfraredguns,wirelesssensors,DCIMorBASsystemstomeasureoverallperformanceoftheirdatacenter’stemperatureandairflow.Howeverthesesystemstypicallyrequiresignificantinvestment,installationtime,andbackendmanagement,orsacrificeaccuracyforaquick,cheapsnapshot.
Luckily,ComRentusesinnovativeandcost-effectivetools,suchastheAUDIT-BUDDY™portableenvironmentalmonitoringsystem,thatcanpinpointanddiagnosethermalissuesattheserver,rackandaisleleveltoprovideturn-keydatacentercommissioningandsolutions.
Whenoptimizingyourdatacenter,partnerwithaloadbanksolutionsproviderwhousesproducts,liketheAUDIT-BUDDY™system,thatallowformoreprecisemeasurementofyourdatacenter’sperformanceandoveralltemperatureataminimalcost.
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AUDIT-BUDDY™
• Portabletemperatureandhumiditymonitor
• Spotcheckairqualityanddiagnoserack-levelcoolinginefficiencies
• Recordsreal-timeandlongtermscanswithouttouchingtheserverracks
• Operationalrightofthebox;noinstallorimpactoninfrastructure
• ReadandanalyzedatadirectlyinMSExcel
Developing a Structured Commissioning PlanForadatacentertorunatoptimalcapacity,developingastructuredcommissioningplanthatconsiderstheeffectofloadbanktechnologyiscritical.
Regardlessofthetypeofloadbanktestingsystemsincorporatedintoadatacenter’scommissioningprocess,itisessentialtodevelopagranular,comprehensivetestingblueprintthatanticipatesfuturecomputationaldemandsontheserverinfrastructure.
When should load testing occur?Loadbanktestplanningshouldoccurasearlyintheoverallprojecttimelineaspossible,becauseloadbanktestingpromotesaniterativedesignmodel:Testspecificationsthatarenotvalidatedinitiallycanbereferredbacktoengineersforredesignandoptimization.Thisproactive,structuredapproachidentifiesproblemsbeforethefacilitybecomesoperational,ensuringthattheITinfrastructureisabletoperformatcapacityupondeployment.
An integrated commissioning plan supports a thorough risk assessment that focuses on:
• Verifyingsystempower-consumptionandthermalperformancepriortoproductionusingasimulatedoperatingenvironment
• IdentifyingpathtowardLEEDcertification• Collectionofdatatosupportfutureexpansions/upgrades• Reducingfinancialandtechnicalrisksofre-engineering
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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”.
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Enterprise A EnterpriseAwaiteduntilitsdatacenterconstructionprojectwasnearcompletiontofinalizetheloadbanktestingplan.Engineersfailedtoadequatelyplanfortotalloadrequirements,equipmentplacementandcablesruns.Whentheequipmentarrived,theloadbanksdidnotfitinthefreightelevatorandhadtoberelocatedoutside.
Asaresult,thecablerunswereshortandtheschedulewasdelayed.Itrainedonthedaythetestwasscheduledtobeginandasindoorloadbanksdon’tfunctionwellintherain,theschedulewasdelayedagain.ItwasalsoassumedthatunforeseendeficienciescouldbeaddressedasITequipmentwasactuallybeingdeployed,sothetestdidnotfullyvalidatehot-aisle/coldaislelayoutandCRACperformance.
Asaresult,therewerenumerouscostlydatacenterconfigurationchangesanddelaysinraisedfloordelivery.Torecover,acomprehensiveandexpensiveinitiativeinvolvingelectricalandmechanicalcontractorswasrequiredtorectifynumerouselectricalandmechanicalperformanceissues.
Intheend,thelackofcoordinationbetweenthedesignfirm,generalcontractor,electricalcontractor,mechanicalcontractorandcommissioningagentresultedinaprojectthatwasoverbudgetanddeliveredbehindschedule.
Enterprise B EnterpriseBstarteddevelopingthecommissioningplanalmostayearbeforecommissioningwasscheduledtostart.Withtheinvolvementofthedeveloper,theGeneralContractorworkedwiththeElectricalContractor,themechanicalcontractor,thecommissioningagentaswellastheloadbanksuppliertodevelopanintegratedcommissioningplan.
Asthespecificationswerereviewed,itwasdeterminedthattherewasarequirementforalevelofhotaisle/coldaisletestinggranularityforwhichtherewasnoavailablesolution.Whatwasneededwasarackmountedserversimulatorthatsimplydidnotexist.TherewerealsointegratedsystemstestsinvolvingthegeneratorplantandUPSthatrequiredmultipleloadbanksolutionsandtestcoordination.
However,becausethecommissioningplanwasdiscussedanddevelopedveryearlyintheconstructionprocess,therewastimetodevelopandbuildasolutionthatmetthestringentcommissioningspecificationsthedeveloperrequiredaswellasdevelopacoordinatedtestingschedulethatenabledthefacilitytobecommissionedasatotalsystemvs.independentanddisparatecomponents.
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ComRent Load Bank Solutions 7
ApproAch EntErprisE A - rEActivE EntErprisE B - proActivE
Planning Thecommissioningplanfinalizedlateinconstructionprocessandloadbanksprocuredatthelastminute.
CommissioningplancoordinatedwithGC,EC,MC,Cxandloadbankvendormonthsbeforestartofcommissioning.
Commissioning RulebyMurphy.SignificantProblemsResultinginScheduleDelaysandcostoverruns.Multipleindependentsystemtests.
Integratedsystemscommissioningplanwithsimulationofthermal&electricalloadstovalidatedesignspecs&operationalperformance.
Schedule Numeroustechnicalissuesidentifiedpost-delivery,requiringexpensiveretrofits.Deliverydelayed.
Highlyreliabledatacentercompletedontime.
Financial Projectoverbudget.Revenuemodelnotachieved. Provendatacenterdeliveredwithinontime,onbudget.Revenuemodelachieved.
ConclusionDevelopingacomprehensivecommissioningplanearlyinthedesignandconstructionphasehelpsensurethatallcommissioningspecificationsareadequatelyplannedforandmet.Employingadvancedloadbanktestingequipmentandpartneringwitharespectedequipment/servicesproviderisessentialtoreducingoveralldata-centercommissioningcosts.Byvalidatingsystemdesignandperformancebeforeproduction,loadbanktestingensurestheoperationalsuccessofanewlyconstructeddatacenterandreducesthelikelihoodofcostlypost-productiondatacenterreconfigurations.
SummaryThisproactiveapproachenabledEnterpriseBtofullyvalidatedesignspecificationsandoperationalperformanceoftheentirefacilityasasystem,beforethefacilitywasoperational.Simulationofdatacenteroperationalthermalandelectricalloadsrevealedseveralissuesthatwereabletobecosteffectivelycorrectedwhilestayingwithininitialscheduleandbudget.
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Purchasing vs Renting
Althoughloadbanksystemscanbepurchased,itisoftenmorecosteffectivetorentthesystemsinstead,asthesystemsaretypicallyusedonlyonce(duringcommissioning).Inadditiontothesignificantinitialcapitalexpenditure,loadbanksmustbeserviced,maintainedandstored.Thereisalsotheaddedcostoflogisticsmanagementandpersonalpropertyinventorytaxes.Whenaddedup,thetotalcostofownershipissignificantlyhigherthanisexpected.
Furthermore,rentedloadsystemshaveahigheron-sitereliabilityfactor;powermonitoringtoolsarecalibratedbeforeeachrentalandoftenhaveupgradedfirmware/software,ensuringbetteraccuracyandloweroverallcost.
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Wehopeyoufoundthiswhitepaperusefulandlookforwardtoprovidingadditionalpublicationsthroughouttheyeartohelpyourbusinessstayaheadofthecurve.
With18strategicallylocatedcentersandNorthAmerica’slargestinventory–over2,500piecesofequipmentand90milesofcable–ComRentcanmeetawidevarietyofloadrequirements,regardlessofyourindustryandtestingobjectives.Andwithover30,000loadtestsperformedanda99.99%onsiteperformancerecord,there’snobetterormoreexperiencecompanyinthebusiness.ComRentisyoursinglesourceforelectricandthermalloadtesting.
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