• • • COVER STORY • • •


typically cooling and environmental requirements can be kept to a minimum. An example of an integrated enclosure suitable


for any IT environment is Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Micro Data Center S-Series. Made for server rooms and network closets, the S-series is highly customisable and easy to configure. It includes standardised NetShelter or Easy racks and wall-mounted enclosures with no built- in cooling facilities other than perforated or vented doors. These systems will often include Smart-UPS


uninterruptible power protection from 500VA- 5kVA, and environmental sensors to warn of excessive temperature, humidity, smoke and vibration. The self-contained versions of the systems can include InRow SC or Uniflair RM cooling, to supplement any ambient room cooling systems already in place. The key benefits of these systems are that they allow rapid customisation of IT equipment and facilitate fast deployment of additional IT resources to meet business demands.


Commercial and office


space environments Made for commercial environments like offices, retail, education, or healthcare facilities, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Micro Data Centre C-Series include similar capabilities to the C-Series, but incorporate additional features such as fan ventilation, air filtration, and soundproofing. In these cases, pre-integrated enclosures full of IT equipment are deployed wherever there is available space in a standard office. In these environments key issues to address include low noise to minimise impact on office


Industrial and


harsh environments Finally, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Micro Data Center R-Series have been specifically designed for harsh environments, such as warehouses, manufacturing floors, and outdoors and are used to protect sensitive business or production processes. They include sealed enclosures, some with NEMA and IP ratings, and additional features, like active cooling, enhanced filtration and security. Built on 42U rack enclosures, they encompass


personnel; small sizes for fast deployment in space-constrained spaces; thermal comfort to prevent overheating; and physical security to discourage unwarranted access. Physical appearance is also essential, so systems can often be housed in a cabinet to fit within the general office aesthetic. From a component perspective, these systems


include racks and, if required, wall-mounted enclosures with integrated fan cooling. The UPS power protection in capacities ranging from 1.5kVA-5kVA, security options that include standard lock and camera monitoring alongside EcoStruxure IT remote monitoring software to give the user real-time visibility from anywhere, at any time.


large ruggedised systems that include advanced UPS ranging from 5kVA-8kVA. The systems can also be deployed in a 2N configuration for increased resilience. Cooling options can include InRow DX (direct expansion) or InRow SC for a self-contained system, and all offer advanced management and anywhere visibility via Schneider Electric’s award-winning EcoStruxure IT software. As the proliferation of edge computing


continues, the design requirements for micro data centres will remain highly dependent on the environment in which they will reside. While there are fundamental needs in terms of physical infrastructure components, i.e. security, power, cooling, management and safety considerations, the design of the system must be carefully selected based on the needs of the application and the hosting environment. What’s clear is that the system must be robust,


resilient and efficient, offering protection from downtime and mitigating any risks associated with business processes, employee productivity, customer satisfaction, or other primary functions of the environment.


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • MARCH 2022 11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44