Performance as Promised

by Jodi Holland on 1/15/19 7:52 AM

You probably see products with certifications everywhere. From Energy Star on your refrigerator, to a JD Power rating on your car, a UL Listing on your lamp. So, what? An organization has slapped a “we certify this product” sticker on the next new thing. What does it mean? Should you care? What clout does this sparkly label carry with it?

When an organization, such as the American Dental Association, allows Crest Toothpaste to put its recognizable “ADA Accepted” logo on their tubes and brushes, they are basically trying to assure you the following:

"Attention consumers. We have done the testing and we have certified that this product effectively achieves what it is says it’s going to do. Don’t feel like you’re taking a huge risk. We are so confident in our rating of this product, we bet our reputation on it."

That is why it is such a big deal that Liebert units from Vertiv became the first U.S.-based computer room air conditioning company to have their products be certified by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). As part of their rigorous certification program called Datacom 1360, which is for mission-critical data center and telecom cooling systems, AHRI assures customers that they’re getting the capacity and efficiency from their cooling systems.

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In addition, AHRI’s certification of certain Liebert products further validate Vertiv’s own ratings of their products and performance software, while ensuring product compliance with the industry’s technical standards. And, as the consumer, the certification allows for more effective comparisons between different cooling systems when you are in the decision-making phase.

We encourage you to learn more about the Liebert products that carry the trusted AHRI Certified mark, and what it means for your data center.

Connect with a data center professional.

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Topics: cooling, AHRI, data center cooling

Choosing Between VSDs and EC Fans. Making the right investment when upgrading fan technology.

by Emerson Network Power on 7/15/15 3:23 PM

Blog_VSD

Fans that move air and pressurize the data center’s raised floor are significant components of cooling system energy use. After mechanical cooling, fans are the next largest energy consumer on computer room air condition (CRAC) units. One way many data center managers reduce energy usage and control their costs is by investing in variable speed fan technology. Such improvements can save fan energy consumption by as much as 76 percent.

With the different options on the market, it may not be clear which technology is best. Today, variable speed drives (VSDs)—also referred to as variable frequency drives or VFDs—and electrically commutated (EC) fansare two of the most effective fan improvement technologies available. The advantages of both options are outlined below to help data center managers determine which fan technology is best for achieving energy efficiency goals.

How do different fan technologies work? 
In general, variable speed fan technologies save energy by enabling cooling systems to adjust fan speed to meet the changing demand, which allows them to operate more efficiently. While cooling units are typically sized for peak demand, peak demand conditions are rare in most applications. VSDs and EC fans more effectively match airflow output with load requirements, adjusting speeds based on changing needs. This prevents overcooling and generates significant energy savings.

With VSDs, drives are added to the fixed speed motors that propel the centrifugal fans traditionally used in precision cooling units. The drives enable fan speed to be adjusted based on operating conditions, reducing fan speed and power draw as load decreases. Energy consumption changes dramatically as fan speed is decreased or increased due to the fan laws. For this reason, a 20 percent reduction in fan speed provides nearly 50 percent savings in fan power consumption.

EC fans are direct drive fans that are integrated into the cooling unit by replacing the centrifugal fans and motor assemblies. They are inherently more efficient than traditional centrifugal fans because of their unique design, which uses a brushless EC motor in a backward curved motorized impeller. EC fans achieve speed control by varying the DC voltage delivered to the fan. Independent testing of EC fan energy consumption versus VSDs found that EC fans mounted inside the cooling unit created an 18 percent savings. With new units, EC fans can be located under the floor, further increasing the savings.

How do VSDs and EC fans compare?

Energy Savings
One of the main differences between VSDs and EC fans is that VSDs save energy when the fan speed can be operated below full speed. VSDs do not reduce energy consumption when the airflow demands require the fans to operate at or near peak load. Conversely, EC fans typically require less energy even when the same quantity of air is flowing. This allows them to still save energy when the cooling unit is at full load. EC fans also distribute air more evenly under the floor, resulting in more balanced air distribution. Another benefit of direct-drive EC fans is the elimination of belt losses seen with centrifugal blowers. Ultimately, EC fans are the more efficient fan technology.

Cooling Unit Type
VSDs are particularly well-suited for larger systems with ducted upflow cooling units that require higher static pressures, while EC fans are better suited for downflow units.

Maintenance 
In terms of maintenance, EC fans offer an advantage. EC fans also reduce maintenance because they have no fan belts that wear and their integrated motors virtually eliminate fan dust.

Installation 
Both VSDs and EC fans can be installed on existing cooling units or specified in new units. When installing on existing units, factory-grade installation is a must.

Payback
In many cases, the choice between VSDs and EC fans comes down to payback. If rapid payback is a priority, then VSDs are likely the better choice. These devices can offer payback in fewer than 10 months when operated at 75 percent.

However, EC fans will deliver greater, long-term energy savings and a better return on investment (ROI). While EC fans can cost up to 50 percent more than VSDs, they generate greater energy savings and reduce overall maintenance costs, ultimately resulting in the lowest total cost of ownership.

Have the experts weigh in. 
Service professionals can be an asset in helping choose the best fan technology for a data center. Service professionals can calculate the ROI from both options, and they can recommend the best fan technologies for specific equipment.

Service professionals trained in optimizing precision cooling system performance can also ensure factory-grade installations, complete set point adjustment to meet room requirements, and properly maintain equipment, helping businesses achieve maximum cooling unit efficiency today and in the future.

Whether you ultimately decide to go with VSDs or EC fans, either way, you’ll be rewarded with a greener data center, more efficient cooling, and significant energy savings that translate into a better bottom line.


Original Emerson Network Power Blog Post

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Topics: data center energy, PUE, Battery, Efficiency, Thermal Management, DCIM, Uptime, the green grid, AHRI, availability, education, KVM, Data Center efficiency, preventative maintenance

Final Day, DVL Engineering Summit in Philadelphia, PA

by Marissa Donatone on 4/24/15 8:50 AM

On behalf of DVL and the speakers from Emerson Network Power, Thank You! We had an awesome time with all our great attendees over the course of this week's DVL Engineering Summit. We concluded or Engineering Summit, today at Le Meridien Hotel, Philadelphia, PA. 

For future DVL Events be sure to check out our events page: www.dvlnet.com/events

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Topics: Emerson Network Power, DVL, DC Power, Thermal Management, energy efficiency, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, DVL Engineering Summit, AHRI, NFPA, Power and Cooling

Day 3- DVL Engineering Summit, Wilmington, DE

by Marissa Donatone on 4/22/15 9:03 AM

Another great day at the DVL Engineering Summit. Mechanical are here getting the latest inforamation on Data Center Economizers and Energy Standards. Electrical Engineers are learning about Electrical codes and standards for Data Centers. 

We are concluding our Engineering Summit tour at Le Meridien Hotel in Philadelphia on Friday, April 24th. We are excited to see you there! 

 

Wilmington_DVL_Engineering_Summit

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Topics: Emerson Network Power, Data Center, data center energy, Green Technology, DC Power, 7x24 exchange, Thermal Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, DVL Engineering Summit, AHRI

Day 2- DVL Engineering Summit

by Marissa Donatone on 4/21/15 9:37 AM

Thank you to our Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for coming today to Day two of the DVL Engineering Summit in West Conshohocken!

We are excited to see everyone for Day 3 tomorrow in Wilmington, DE. Tomorrow's address: Hilton Wilmington/Christiana, 100 Continental Drive, Newark, DE

WestConshEngineering_Summit

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Topics: DC Power, Thermal Management, cooling, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Codes and Standards, DVL Engineering Summit, AHRI

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