Impact of harmonics on electricity consumption
in the data center industry
Modern data centers use many UPS power supplies and variable frequency energy-saving equipment, which often results in high harmonic distortion rates in their power distribution systems. Harmonic environments pose a great threat to the safe and normal operation of systems and equipment, such as program errors, data errors, time errors, crashes, unwarranted restarts, and even damage to electrical equipment, causing irreparable and huge losses to large-scale operations.
The harmonic control solution provided by Xixing Technology can efficiently solve the power quality problems in the data center industry and create a green, healthy, safe, and stable power environment.
Where do harmonics in the data center industry come from?
The main sources of harmonic power pollution in the data center industry come from non-linear loads such as UPS power supplies, frequency conversion equipment, and LED energy-saving lamps.
Frequency conversion equipment will generate many harmonics during the rectification and inversion process. The types of harmonics generated are related to the number of pulses of the rectifier. The harmonics are 5th, 7th, 11th, and 13th for a 3-phase 6-pulse rectifier circuit.
The UPS principle is to convert AC into DC through rectification, then invert DC into AC, while connecting batteries in parallel. When the AC input fails, the batteries will supply power to the load for a certain period. A 6-pulse UPS mainly generates 5th and 7th harmonics, and a 12-pulse UPS generates 11th and 13th harmonics.
The ballast of an energy-saving lamp converts a 50Hz power supply into a high frequency of about 38kHz. When a high-frequency ballast is working, the current waveform is not a sine wave due to the non-linear load, which generates harmonics. Energy-saving lamps mainly generate 3rd harmonics.
Pain points of harmonics in the data center industry
The working voltage and signal of information, data, communication, and monitoring systems belong to weak current systems, which are easily interfered by harmonics, causing system froze, abnormal control, and shutdowns. In severe cases, real-time data will be lost.
The load in the data room will generate many third harmonics. The third harmonics belong to zero-sequence harmonics. A major feature of zero-sequence harmonics is that the phase is consistent, which causes the three-phase zero-sequence harmonics to be superimposed on the N line, causing the current on the N line to seriously exceed the current carrying capacity of the N line, and eventually overheat and melt, causing a fire.
Due to the interference of harmonics, it is easy to cause the incoming circuit breakers of high and low voltage distribution equipment to trip, causing the entire system to be out of power and unable to work. Although there is a backup power supply UPS, due to the influence of harmonics, the UPS cannot meet the working requirements and cause losses.
Comprehensive governance solutions for the data center industry
EasyPQ-APF series active filters of Xixing Technology can treat 2nd-50th harmonics, and the harmonic filtering rate of low-order harmonics (harmonics lower than 13th) can reach more than 95%. The harmonics generated by the data center industry are mainly 3rd, 5th, 7th, 11th, and 13th harmonics.
Aiming at the harmonic problems existing in this industry, the EasyPQ-APF series active power filters can be used to effectively treat harmonic problems, comprehensively improve the system power quality, and ensure the safety of electricity usage.
