Power & Cooling Infrastructure
Data Center Power & Cooling Infrastructure Guide
Complete guide to power requirements, UPS systems, generators, cooling methods, PUE optimization, and energy efficiency strategies for data centers in India.
Power Requirements & Calculation
Power Calculation Formula
| Component | Power Calculation | Example for 50 Racks |
|---|---|---|
| Server Power | Watts × Quantity | 500W × 400 = 200 kW |
| Storage Power | 15-20% of server power | 40 kW |
| Network Equipment | 5-10% of server power | 20 kW |
| Cooling Load | 40-60% of IT load | 120 kW |
| Total IT Load | Sum of above + 20% growth | 312 kW |
| Total Facility Load | IT Load ÷ 0.8 (efficiency) | 390 kW |
UPS Systems Specification
| UPS Type | Capacity Range | Runtime | Efficiency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line-Interactive | 1-10 kVA | 5-15 minutes | 85-90% | Small server rooms |
| Online (Double Conversion) | 10-500 kVA | 15-30 minutes | 92-95% | Medium data centers |
| Modular UPS | 50-1000 kVA | 30+ minutes | 96-98% | Large facilities |
| Rotary UPS | 200-2000 kVA | Hours | 97-99% | Hyperscale data centers |
Recommended Brands:
- Enterprise Grade: Eaton, Schneider Electric, Vertiv
- Mid Range: APC by Schneider, CyberPower
- Budget Friendly: Microtek, Luminous, Numeric
Generator Requirements
| Data Center Size | Generator Capacity | Fuel Type | Runtime | Redundancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (10 racks) | 150-250 kVA | Diesel | 24-48 hours | N (Single) |
| Medium (50 racks) | 500-800 kVA | Diesel | 48-72 hours | N+1 |
| Large (200 racks) | 1.5-2.5 MVA | Diesel/Natural Gas | 72+ hours | 2N |
Cooling System Design
Air Cooling
- Hot aisle/cold aisle containment
- Precision air conditioning (CRAC)
- Raised floor air distribution
- Best for low density (5-8 kW/rack)
Liquid Cooling
- Direct-to-chip cooling
- Immersion cooling
- Rear door heat exchangers
- Best for high density (15+ kW/rack)
Free Cooling
- Air-side economizers
- Water-side economizers
- Chiller-less operation
- Best for cool climate regions
PUE Optimization Strategies
| PUE Level | Energy Efficiency | Typical Design | Annual Savings* | Implementation Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0+ (Poor) | 50% efficiency | Traditional design | Baseline | Baseline |
| 1.7-1.9 (Average) | 53-59% efficiency | Basic containment | 15-25% savings | Low |
| 1.5-1.7 (Good) | 59-67% efficiency | Advanced containment | 25-35% savings | Medium |
| 1.3-1.5 (Excellent) | 67-77% efficiency | Free cooling + optimization | 35-50% savings | High |
| 1.1-1.3 (World Class) | 77-91% efficiency | Google/Facebook level | 50-65% savings | Very High |
*Savings based on 1 MW data center with ₹8/kWh electricity rate