Data Center Arnhem chooses ComAp

One of the critical components of a data center is the electrical system used to provide power or emergency power to the data center. The electrical installation takes care of controlling, measuring and monitoring the supply of power, switching the UPSs and starting the emergency generators.

To increase the availability of the data center,  Data Center Arnhem invested in an upgrade of the existing electrical installation. One of the Data Center's intended goals is to maintain its longstanding zero-failure reputation. This is to provide additional security for existing customers and to improve its competitive position for new customers.

In cooperation with our client Controlin mapped the requirements and wishes of the data center and designed the new emergency power control based on this information. One of the key requirements was to eliminate single point of failure (SPOF). Whilee in the existing situation the control was based on conventional PLC technology, Controlin has devised a control system with a decentralized architecture.

System Description

The basis of the new control system is the controllers from manufacturer ComAp. ComAp is a defining global player when it comes to generator and motor controls for emergency power systems. ComAp has an extensive range of controllers for controlling generator sets, controlling field switches and torque switches.

ComAp's controllers are available in a variety of builds. In this case, we took the BaseBox variant to which a separate screen of your choice can be attached. All controllers are equipped with 5.7" colour displays that show the parameters of that part of the installation. The displays are automatically configured depending on the application in the controller.

All controllers communicate with each other via a CANbus communication bus. The controllers controlling the field switches are redundant. ComAp controllers can be redundantly connected to each other, allowing the controllers to take over from each other.

For integration with higher-level systems, the InternetBridge is included in the system. This makes it possible to monitor all controllers simultaneously with InteliMonitor. InteliMonitior is ComAp's monitoring and control (SCADA) software that allows the entire electrical installation of the Data Center to be viewed on one display at a glance. Data is retrieved from the various controllers through the SNMP protocol, allowing a history to be built up which is used for reporting.

This project was initially simulated and tested at Controlin BV in Ridderkerk and then smoothly commissioned on site at Data Center Arnhem.

Within this project, we were able to use the added value of Controlin very well. Controlin is not only a supplier of products. Our in-house application knowledge makes us a sparring partner for both the installer and the end customer for the establishment of functional requirements/wishes, engineering and commissioning of the installation.