BICSI Power Distribution

AC & DC Power Distribution for
Data Centers
Configuration Availability Level Comparison
Bill Campbell
Power Sub Work Group Member, Emerson Network Power
Harry Handlin
Power Sub Work Group Member, Technical Committee
Vice-Chair, GE Energy Systems
Mark Murrill
Power Sub Work Group Member, Emerson Network Power
Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

The Green Grid Forum 2012
Agenda
Introduction
Review Industry Standards for data center availability levels
BICSI Standard as the AC Reference
Examine AC Single & Multi Module UPS Systems and
analogous DC systems
BICSI Availability Class Comparisons AC to DC
Alternate DC solutions
Summary
Q&A

Copyright 2012, The Green Grid
Introduction
Tier I-IV availability terminology (1st introduced by The Uptime

Institute) is the defacto shorthand method to convey basic AC power
distribution / availability architecture for a data center
Tier I-IV concepts have been adopted by other industry organizations

(eg: TIA; BICSI), sometimes applying alternate but similar
terminologies
Growing interest in the possible performance features of DC power

for data centers has led potential users to makeperformance inquiries
of industry AC power system suppliers regarding DC power
distribution solutions in terms of generic availability levels
Purpose: Suggest a data center power distribution AC DC

availability comparison approach and encourage industry discussion
The Uptime Institute, founded 1993 ; representing data center owners interests
http://www.uptimeinstitute.com
BICSI-002: Building Industry Consulting Service International, Inc., founded 1977
https://www.bicsi.org
TIA-942: Telecommunications Industry Association founded 1988 - merger
http://www.tiaonline.org
The Uptime Institute, similar to The Green Grid, recommends best-practices. BICSI & TIA are standards writing
organizations.

Method
Compares basic AC v DC topology & qualitative
availability levels
References are AC topologies
Framework: ANSI/BICSI Standard-002-2011
Assumptions:
Basic AC system: 480 VAC, 3, 3 or 4 W, + Gnd
Basic DC system: 380 VDC, 2W + Gnd
380 V DC solutions are offered as suggestions

Not yet a standard
Not covered: comparisons of efficiency, costs or

relative merits
Leaving these for future comparative and quantitative analysis
BICSI-002 Introduction
ANSI/BICSI 002-2011, Data Center Design and

Implementation Best Practices
BICSI-002
Rev 1, 2010
BICSI-002
Rev 2, 2011
BICSI-002
Rev 3, 2014
Expected

BICSI Data Center Design Classes
Topology Class
Key Power path Feature
Class F0
Single Power Path w/o UPS or Alternate AC source
Class F1
Single Power Path with UPS,

Non-redundant components
Class F2
Single Power Path with UPS,

Some redundant components
Class F3
Multiple Independent Power Paths, some with UPS,

Concurrently maintainable & operable
Class F4
Multiple Independent Power paths with UPS,

Fault Tolerant
BICSI-002-2011, 9.1.6.1

Determining BICSI Design Classes
BICSI-002-2011, Table B1

Determining BICSI Design Classes
BICSI-002-2011, Table B3

BICSI Class Definitions & Feature Checklist Review
Performance
Feature
Class F0
Class F1
Class F2
Industry Description
Module Redundancy
System Redundancy
Power Paths to
Critical Load
UPS sources to
Critical Load
Full Maintenance
under load
Alternate long Term
Energy (Genset)
Alternate Short Term
Energy (Battery)
Fault tolerance
Class F3
Class F4
Class F0 Data Center Single Path, No UPS
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 14

Class FI Basic Data Center
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 15

Class F2 Redundant Components
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 16

12
Class F3 Concurrently Maintainable

BICSI-002-2011, Fig 17b

Class F4 Fault Tolerant
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 18
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 17b
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 18

AC Static Switch
Static Switch applications in multiple
power path topologies
A Bus
A Bus
B Bus
Dual Input IT Load
B Bus
AC Load
Single Input
IT Load
AC Load
BICSI Definitions & Feature

Checklist Review
Performance
Feature
Class F0
Class F1
Class F2
Class F3
Class F4
Single
Path
Single
Path
Single Path +
Redundant
Components
Dual Path,
Concurrently
Maintainable
Dual Path,
Fault
Tolerant
Module Redundancy
None N
None N
N+1
N+1
2(N+1)
System Redundancy
None N
None N
Limited N+1
Limited N+1
2(N+1)
Power Paths to
Critical Load
One
One
One
Two
Two
UPS sources to
Critical Load
None
One
One
One
Two
Full Maintenance
under load
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
Alternate long Term

Energy (Genset)
No
Option
Yes
Yes
Yes

Energy (Battery)
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Fault tolerance
No
No
Limited
Limited
Yes

DC Solutions
BICSI-002 DC Power Systems
Next: Suggested AC DC Comparative Power Topologies

BICSI Basic UPS Module

Configurations
AC UPS N System
(Single Module System)
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 21


Configurations
AC UPS N System
DC UPS

N
Main
Input Distribution
Rectifier
Cabinet
Battery
Plug-in Modules Illustrated
Output Distribution
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 21

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
To Critical Load
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic

Configurations
AC UPS N System
DC UPS
(AC SMS N System Equivalent)

N
Main Bypass
N+1
Input Distribution
Rectifier
Cabinet
Battery
Output Distribution
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 21

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
To Critical Load
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic

Configurations
AC UPS N System
(AC SMS N System Equivalent)
Main Bypass
DC UPS
N
Maint Byp
N+1
N+m optional
Input Distribution
Rectifier
Cabinet
Battery
Output Distribution
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 21

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
To Critical Load
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic

Configurations
AC UPS N+1 System

(Multi-Module System)
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 22


Configurations
AC UPS N+1 System
DC UPS
N
N
Input Distribution
Rectifier
Cabinet
Battery
Output Distribution
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 22

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
To Critical Load
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic

Configurations
AC UPS N+1 System
DC UPS
(AC MMS N+1 System Equivalent)

N
N+1
N+1
Input Distribution
Rectifier
Cabinet
Battery
Output Distribution
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 22

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
To Critical Load
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic

Configurations
AC UPS N+1 System
DC UPS

N
N+1
Bypass
N+1
Maint Byp
N+m
optional
Input Distribution
Rectifier
Cabinet
Battery
Output Distribution
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 22

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
To Critical Load
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic
BICSI Topology Diagrams

Comparative AC & DC Topology Diagrams
Sequence: AC Diagram; Changes Needed; DC Diagram
Only suggestions for DC; no accepted conventions as yet
Symbols indicate where differences appear

Remove this AC component for DC applications
AC-to-DC component changes
AC / DC Rectifier - configurations:
Modular or Monolithic; 5 kW to > 1 MW rectifier units
Plug-in (may be hot-swappable) or hard-wired I/O
Input to Output isolated or non-isolated
o Isolation Xfmr: power line frequency or high frequency
Class F0 Basic Data Center

Class F0 Single Path; No UPS
AC
Performance
Feature
Class F0
Single Path
Module Redundancy
None N
System Redundancy
None N
Power Paths to
Critical Load
One
UPS sources to
Critical Load
None
Full Maintenance
under load
No
Alternate long Term

Energy (Genset)
No

Energy (Battery)
No
Fault tolerance
No


AC


AC
DC
N Rect
No Batt


Class F1 Single Path with UPS
AC
Performance
Feature
Class F1
Single Path
Module Redundancy
None N
System Redundancy
None N
Power Paths to Critical

Load
One
UPS sources to Critical One

Load
Full Maintenance
under load
No
Alternate long Term

Energy (Genset)
Option

Energy (Battery)
Yes

Fault tolerance
No

AC


AC
DC
N+1 Rectifiers;
Modular
or
Monolithic
Fully, Partial or non-
redundant
Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient
IT battery


Class F2 Single Path UPS with Redundant Components
AC
Performance
Feature
Class F2
Single Path +
Redundant
Components
Module Redundancy
N+1
System Redundancy
Limited N+1
Power Paths to Critical

Load
One
UPS sources to Critical

Load
One
Full Maintenance under

load
Limited
Alternate long Term

Energy (Genset)
Yes

Energy (Battery)
Yes

Fault tolerance
Limited

AC


AC
DC
N+m
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic

Fully, Partial or nonredundant battery

Class F3 Dual Path; Concurrently Maintainable
AC
x2
x2
x2

The Green Grid Forum
Dual2012
or single
Cord IT Loads
Performance
Feature
Class F3
Dual Path,
Concurrently
Maintainable
Module Redundancy
N+1
System Redundancy
Limited
N+1
Power Paths to
Critical Load
Two
UPS sources to
Critical Load
One
Full Maintenance
under load
Yes
Alternate long Term

Energy (Genset)
Yes

Energy (Battery)
Yes
Fault tolerance
Limited

AC
x2
x2
x2
x2
x2
Celebrating 5 Years
of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT
Dual or single
Cord IT Loads

x2
Dual or single
Cord IT Loads

AC
DC
x2
x2
x2
x2
N+m
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic
x2
N Rect
Mod or
Mono
x2
Fully, Partial or
Celebrating 5 Dual
Years
of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient
IT
or single
non-redundant
Cord IT Loads

battery
Dual or single
Cord IT Loads

Class F4 Dual Path; Fault Tolerant
AC
Performance
Feature
Class F4
Dual Path,
Fault
Tolerant
Module Redundancy
2(N+1)
System Redundancy
2(N+1)
Power Paths to
Critical Load
Two
UPS sources to
Critical Load
Two
Full Maintenance
under load
Yes
Alternate long Term

Energy (Genset)
Yes

Energy (Battery)
Yes
Fault tolerance
Yes
x2
x2
x2
Dual or single
Cord IT Loads
Celebrating 5 Years
of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

AC Input-to-PDU bypass is also

available with AC

Class F4 Dual Path; Fault tolerant
x2
x2
x2

Dual or single
Cord IT Loads

Class F4 Dual Path; Fault tolerant
DC
x2
x2
N+m
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic
N+m
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic
x2
Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
Dual or single
Cord IT Loads
AC Static Switch
Static Switch applications in multiple
power path topologies
A Bus
A Bus
B Bus
Dual Input IT Load
B Bus
AC Load
Single Input
IT Load
AC Load
Static Switch Applications
Static Switch applications in multiple power path topologies

o Single-corded IT loads
A Bus
B Bus
A Bus
B Bus
DC Load
AC Load

Static Switch Applications

A Bus
B Bus
Static Switch applications in

multiple power path topologies
o
Dual-corded IT loads
A Bus
B Bus
AC Load
DC Load

Alternate DC Solutions
There are also other alternate DC topologies in use that do

not fit directly into the Class F0 F4 structure.
Two basic alternative topologies are reviewed, both of which

have several variations.

DC Solutions - Review
AC UPS N+1 System
DC UPS

N
N+1
Bypass
N+1
Maint Byp
N+m
optional
Input Distribution
Rectifier
Cabinet
Battery
Output Distribution
BICSI-002-2011, Fig 22

Fully, Partial or
non-redundant
battery
To Critical Load
Rectifiers;
Modular or
Monolithic
AC Power Source A
Battery
Internal
or
External,
Redundant
or
Non-Redundant
Alternate AC Power Source B
Rectifier Cabinet(s)
N+M Modules
Output
Distribution
A
380VDC Distribution
or
48VDC Distribution
DC PSU
Output
Distribution
B
DC PSU
IT load
Rectifier modules
may be dedicated to
either A or B source,
or switchable
between the two
AC Power Source A
Battery
Internal
or
External,
Redundant
or
Non-Redundant
Alternate AC Power Source B
Rectifier Cabinet(s)
N+M Modules
DC Output
Distribution
A
380VDC Distribution
or
48VDC Distribution
DC PSU
AC Output
Distribution
B
AC PSU
IT load
Rectifier modules
may be dedicated to
either A or B source,
or switchable
between the two
Summary
Driven by AC user inquiries, suggested DC Class F0 F4 Availability

Level power distribution topologies have been qualitatively reviewed in
terms of accepted AC topologies.
Practical DC equivalents are available, as well as other alternatives

All DC solutions require rectifiers in the primary and alternate power paths
Distribution static transfer switch functions are simpler to implement in DC
Existing AC-based standards may not be the best method to present and
compare DC solutions. The DC power industry is encouraged to propose
alternatives.
Because of the many variations possible in both AC and DC topologies,

quantitative presentations of key performance parameters such as
availability, reliability, efficiency and costs, are beyond the scope of this
introduction.
The Green Grid, as it is focused on improving the performance of data

centers in these key areas, encourages further quantitative analysis for
the benefit of its industry members.

AC DC Availability Level
Comparisons
Questions?
Be sure to attend the AC DC Roundtable

discussion by industry leaders following this
presentation.
BICSI-002 material used with permission

Contributors
Thanks to the following for their support:
The Green Grid Power Sub-Working Group Participants
Pam Lembke - IBM

Jim Spitaels - Schneider Electric
Lynn Simmons - Dell
Dusty Becker - Emerson
Brad Thrash - GE
George Navarro Eaton
Shaun Harris - Microsoft Keith Klesner - TUI
John Collins Eaton
Steve McCluer Schneider
Electric
BJ Sonnenberg - Emerson

Thank you for attending

Join The Green Grid Forum conversation on Twitter!
As you are tweeting, use #TGGForum12.


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AC & DC Power Distribution for

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Tier I-IV availability terminology (1st introduced by The Uptime

Tier I-IV concepts have been adopted by other industry organizations

Growing interest in the possible performance features of DC power

Purpose: Suggest a data center power distribution AC DC

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

380 V DC solutions are offered as suggestions

Not covered: comparisons of efficiency, costs or

ANSI/BICSI 002-2011, Data Center Design and

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Key Power path Feature

Single Power Path w/o UPS or Alternate AC source

Single Power Path with UPS,

Single Power Path with UPS,

Multiple Independent Power Paths, some with UPS,

Multiple Independent Power paths with UPS,

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI-002-2011, Fig 17b

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Definitions & Feature

Alternate long Term

Alternate Short Term

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

Next: Suggested AC DC Comparative Power Topologies

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

(Single Module System)

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

(Single Module System)

(AC SMS N System Equivalent)

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

(Single Module System)

(AC SMS N System Equivalent)

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

AC UPS N+1 System

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

AC UPS N+1 System

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

AC UPS N+1 System

(AC MMS N+1 System Equivalent)

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Basic UPS Module

AC UPS N+1 System

(AC MMS N+1 System Equivalent)

Celebrating 5 Years of Leading the Industry to Resource Efficient IT

BICSI Topology Diagrams

Symbols indicate where differences appear

Class F0 Basic Data Center

Alternate long Term