The Importance of Switchgear to Data Center Uptime

Among all the electrical and system components that support the normal operation of a data center, switchgear is often overlooked and hidden in the corners of a data center facility. However, the rapid development of digitalization is changing the importance of switchgear, and data center facility managers must pay attention to the important role switchgear plays.

As enterprises leverage the massive amounts of data generated by mobile computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and other forces to drive competitive advantage, the role of data centers has never been more important, as system uptime is increasingly critical to business success. Business interruptions not only affect productivity, but can also cause significant financial and reputational damage, affecting market position.

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While generators provide backup power in the event of a short power disturbance, optimal equipment uptime requires a reliable power distribution system, of which switchgear is the most important. Switchgear, which consists of electrical disconnects, fuses, and circuit breakers used to control, protect, and isolate electrical equipment, is directly related to the reliability of the power supply that powers the entire data center facility. In many cases, power from the grid and diesel generators passes through and is controlled by switchgear. Therefore, downtime of the switchgear means downtime of the data center.

Switchgear is becoming increasingly important

Historically, especially in the data center space, switchgear has primarily provided short-circuit protection, making it a relatively passive part of the overall facility infrastructure. Facility managers only interact with the equipment when a fault occurs, which is a rare occurrence. But that is officially changing.

With the explosive growth of data consumption and the increase in the physical and computational size of data centers (the United States leads the world in the number of hyperscale data centers), the need for active energy protection and electrical reliability has become more intense, which has led to the entire data center (including switchgear) becoming more interactive and adaptive. With the advancement of new technologies such as automatic transfer capabilities, switchgear can (and must) handle more electrical operations and must operate successfully when required to operate. For example, when severe weather causes a power outage at an electric utility, switchgear is responsible for automatically reconfiguring distribution lines to switch from the grid to a secondary source of power, namely generators.

With great power, then, comes great responsibility. But this paradigm shift is difficult. Having traditionally used switchgear sparingly, if at all, many facility staff may not realize or address the importance of equipment transition. With the rapidly aging infrastructure of U.S. data center facilities, tighter operating budgets, and reduced staff and support personnel, ongoing switchgear maintenance is being deferred, putting the performance of the grid at risk. This can create the potential for failures, outages, or arc flash issues throughout the facility.

Necessity of maintenance

Because electrical switchgear is generally considered a low-maintenance product, it is often the most overlooked component in a power distribution system. However, like any man-made device, switchgear faces certain operating limitations and requires regular maintenance to avoid failure. Just like people service their cars or airplanes, switchgear must also be maintained, and its life cycle is directly proportional to its environment and how it is treated.

Huge amounts of electrical energy are not only able to pass through, but also to be effectively routed and re-routed through switchgear. This can put stress on electrical components, especially when the environment is less than ideal, such as when temperatures are outside of the optimal performance zone, air quality is poor, or equipment is exposed to excessive moisture (it is worth noting that while rack and server environments within a data center are highly regulated, switchgear is often located in other parts of the facility and does not typically have the same level of environmental control). Depending on the type of switchgear, some technologies may be more susceptible to the effects of the environment (air-insulated switches are most susceptible, inert gas-insulated and shielded solid-insulated switches are the least susceptible).

When planning switchgear maintenance, first determine what the repairs will include: the environment surrounding the equipment and the equipment’s duties. Typical questions include:

• Are there any air pollutants?
• Is there a corrosive environment?
• Is there a possibility of rodents getting in?
• Do the temperature and humidity meet the requirements?
• How often do the switches switch?
• What is the current on the device? How close is it to the rating of the device?
• What level of current is being switched?

Switchgear Innovation Improves Reliability, Saves Time and Money

As the industry continues to evolve, successful businesses should view switchgear as a competitive advantage, enabling them to provide the highest levels of power availability while saving time and money.

Recent innovations in switch design have enabled data center personnel to install and operate medium-voltage networks with sustained performance and lower risk. For example, the introduction of shielded solid insulated switchgear (2SIS) technology in the United States has brought unprecedented reliability and safety, providing protection against internal arcs by enclosing solid materials in a shielded insulation of the main circuit components. This design greatly reduces the possibility of damage to the system, protects live conductors from dust, moisture, humidity and other environmental factors that may cause failures, and reduces the risk of electric shock, arc flash hazards, and arc discharge hazards for maintenance personnel.

Equipment cost is also a key factor that can be offset by a commitment to adopting newer equipment. Modern infrastructure allows for the use of smaller equipment, which can provide the same power in a smaller space. Modern technology is also highly modular, requiring less maintenance and less complicated maintenance, greatly reducing the associated costs. In addition, while replacing the power infrastructure, increasing the distribution voltage can be evaluated, which also provides significant cost savings (reduced cable size, reduced cable length, less conduit/trays, reduced installation effort).

in conclusion

Switchgear is often the most undervalued component of any power distribution and backup system within a data center. But with aging electrical equipment requiring maintenance, putting vital data center performance at risk, can facility managers really afford to ignore this often-overlooked component to ensure uptime?

The impact of a data center power failure can cost an organization in a number of ways, and while backup systems such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generators provide backup power when the main power source needs to be shut down or a single point of failure occurs, modern switchgear is the heart and soul of a reliable power network and must be properly maintained.