Case Studies

Want to learn more about the importance of power quality and what we've done for our customers in the past?  Well you've come to the right place!
 
In this section, we share our real-industry case studies covering a wide rage of power quality issues ranging on harmonic distortions, effects of under and over voltage, what happens when voltage dips and sags, and so on.  These case studies offer a look into what the specific challenges were, an analysis of the cause, and a summary of the solutions provided.  

Introduction

This case study addresses the critical role of environmental monitoring and control in data centers and server rooms, emphasizing the need for meticulous management. Seven key functions are identified to ensure the efficiency and longevity of server rooms.

Challenges

Unmanaged server rooms pose a significant risk to operational integrity. The study outlines seven vital environmental monitoring and control functions, offering insights into managing these challenges effectively.

 

  1. Temperature: Monitoring and controlling room temperature is crucial to prevent overheating, a common cause of server failures and data loss. A balance between temperature and energy conservation is achieved through a temperature sensor and control system.
  2. Humidity: Maintaining optimal humidity levels (40%-60%) is essential to prevent electrostatic energy buildup and component corrosion. Automated control and status alerts address deviations and potential HVAC system failures.
  3. Leak Detection: Liquid-cooled server racks, while cost-effective, introduce a risk of leaks. Leak detection systems are vital to prevent disasters, alerting personnel immediately upon detection.
  4. Remote Reboot: Remote reboots are necessary for unresponsive servers. The WebSwitch facilitates manual and automatic reboots through a web interface, eliminating the need for on-site technicians.
  5. Door Status: Monitoring door status with sensors controls access, reducing dust and particulate influx caused by human traffic.
  6. Generator Fuel Tank Levels: Ensuring an ample supply of fuel for backup generators is critical. Real-time monitoring of fuel levels and other generator parameters ensures smooth operation.
  7. Demand-Side Power Management: Control systems optimize demand-side power by selectively shutting down non-critical zones during power changes, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing heat production.

Server Room Alarms

Local alarms, coupled with email and text message alerts, provide real-time notifications crucial for remote management. These alerts serve as vital safeguards, preventing potential emergencies.

Balancing Cost & Benefits

Implementing server room monitoring requires a careful balance of cost and benefits. ControlByWeb’s cost-effective, industrial-grade web-enabled Ethernet I/O devices offer versatile solutions. Rated among the top 10 environmental monitoring solutions for server rooms by Comparitech, these devices provide customizable solutions without relying on the cloud or subscriptions.

This comprehensive case study exemplifies the effectiveness of ControlByWeb’s devices in server room monitoring and control, providing actionable insights for operational excellence.

Credit to Control By Web: Server Room Monitoring and Control

Introduction

In the water and wastewater industry, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) efficiently control motors, pumps, and mechanical systems. However, VFDs can introduce harmful harmonic distortion, causing operational challenges. This study compares MTE’s 6-pulse VFD with Matrix AP harmonic filter to an 18-pulse VFD, demonstrating superior performance.

Challenges

Harmonic distortion from VFDs can lead to overheating, equipment malfunction, circuit breaker tripping, and inaccurate sensor measurements. Many water companies use multi-pulse drives to address these issues, but MTE offers an advanced solution meeting IEEE-519 standards, proving more compact, efficient, and cost-effective.

Solution

Collaborating with water industry companies, MTE implemented a 6-pulse drive with the Matrix AP passive harmonic filter, effectively controlling harmonics and outperforming the 18-pulse drive.

Key Findings

  1. Power Loss: The 6-pulse drive with Matrix AP reduced power loss by 40-73%, depending on VFD size and component manufacturer.
  2. Overall Efficiency: The 6-pulse drive achieved 99.0% efficiency, 0.5% higher than the 18-pulse drive (98.5%).
  3. Harmonic Performance: Under balanced conditions, the 6-pulse drive exhibited 1-2% better Total Harmonic Distortion (THID) performance for loads between 25-75%, with equal performance for loads exceeding 75%.
  4. Harmonic Performance under Line Imbalance: Superior performance under line imbalance conditions. At 3% line imbalance, the 6-pulse drive showed a 32.5% improvement (17.5% vs. 50% THID) at 25% load and a 13% improvement (12% vs. 25% THID) at 50% load.
  5. Power Factor: Comparable to better performance for loads between 50-100%.

Conclusion

Based on a 100 HP 18-pulse drive versus a standard 100 HP 6-pulse drive with a 128 amp Matrix AP harmonic filter, MTE’s solution emerges as superior. This case study underscores the efficacy of MTE’s 6-pulse VFD with Matrix AP harmonic filter in enhancing harmonic control, ensuring operational efficiency, and meeting the specific needs of the water and wastewater industry.

Credits to MTE: MTE Corp – Water and Wastewater