* Sun sets up experimental data center that runs on DC power
Sun launched an interesting data center experiment last month.
The company, using equipment from Emerson Liebert, Intel and Cisco, along with manpower from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and $2 million in funding from the California Energy Commission, set out to prove that a DC-powered data center could save money on energy costs and consumption.
At its Newark, Calif., campus, Sun set up an experimental data center that runs on DC – direct current – power. Traditionally data centers run on AC – alternating current – DC power is converted to AC. The problem with AC to DC conversion though is that during conversion, power is lost and heat generated.
DC power allows a higher voltage to be used than DC – DC operates on 380 volts, AC operates at 209 volts. When Edison started building data centers in 1887, he used DC power. As DC power is distributed it loses power. Because of this, the AC power approach from George Westinghouse won out. Today, almost one-fifth of the data centers in the United States are located in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley.
Most telecommunications carriers use DC power to operate their phone systems.
If DC was used to power data center servers, 20% to 40% less heat would be generated and power consumption could be reduced by as much as 30%.
There are servers available that use 48-volt DC power. The data center on Sun’s campus converts 480 VAC power to DC power and by skipping conversion steps, can save as much as 20% of electricity usage.
The project will run through August.
