Retail giant Pick 'n Pay has implemented an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system to protect the data centre and other critical loads in its new KwaZulu-Natal regional headquarters building in the West End office complex at Westville, Durban.
The system is based on an APC Silcon 60KW UPS unit complete with a sealed 10-year design life battery that will supply a full load for 20 minutes in the event of a power failure. The UPS will ensure clean power continues to support the data centre, security system and online computer users in the event of a mains power failure. Should the power failure extend beyond a pre-determined time, power from an AMF (automatic mains failure) diesel generator set will be fed to the UPS unit ensuring that the systems continue to function.
The UPS system was supplied, installed and commissioned by Square One Power Solutions, the uninterruptible power supply specialist in the JSE-listed Square One Solutions Group Limited.
Charles Bott, Durban branch manager of Square One Power Solutions said the company also supplies and maintains other UPS systems that protect the central computer and cash till systems in Pick 'n Pay supermarkets and Mini Markets nationally.
"The basic role of the UPS is to provide a continuous source of clean, uninterrupted power to sensitive and critical electronic equipment. In the event of a power failure, the UPS instantaneously runs on battery to keep the equipment running for long enough to enable it to be properly shut down without data loss or corruption or until another power source such as a genset, is brought in."
The UPS also protects against mains power supply problems such as "brownouts", which are periods of extended low voltage, "spikes" or "surges" which are rises in voltage of very short duration that can damage sensitive equipment; "undervoltage" which is low voltage in the range 210 - 230V; "overvoltage" which is high voltage in the range 230 - 250V; and "noise" which is high frequency interference that may or may not be continuously present.
"A UPS system really amounts to a risk management measure, protecting the electronic hardware and the all-important data within," said Bott. "The value of UPS systems in helping to prevent down time and data corruption or loss is often immeasurable. The critical nature of the data centre and security system required a special UPS solution"
An APC High Power Partner, Square One Power Solutions selected the APC Silcon unit for the solution because its unique delta conversion technology offers exceptionally high efficiency with low operating costs. These units always operate at a power factor corrected input of unity. External power factor compensation is not necessary and less energy is consumed with added cost saving benefits.
"The Silcon unit is very economical in terms of genset requirements because of its high input power factor and very low input distortion. A further feature is the slow 'ramp up' of the UPS input current, which does not impose a large current demand on the genset when starting," said Bott.
In today's business environment, where availability and cost savings are key criteria for customers, the advantages offered by Delta Conversion technology are significant. APC's Powerchute advanced power management and control software provides another benefit by allowing the IS manager to monitor the UPS from anywhere on the WAN.
"The online design not only provides high reliability and ease of maintenance, but also power factor corrected input, low input distortion and high efficiency."
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