Dry-type transformers prove worth in booming data centres
South Africa, Johannesburg: The growth of data centres in South Africa has been rapid in recent years, exacting requirements related to safety and reliability.
Image source: ESI Africa
South Africa, Johannesburg: The growth of data centres in South Africa has been rapid in recent years, exacting requirements related to safety and reliability.
This has created special opportunities for the application of dry-type transformers.
According to Trafo Power Solutions managing director David Claassen, a significant amount of data space is currently being constructed in South Africa. Alongside the issue of data security, says Claassen, the top priority in these facilities is uptime – as a data centre can simply never be offline.
“The volume of equipment in these large server rooms creates considerable heat and therefore requires extensive cooling facilities – all leading to high levels of energy demand,” says Claassen. “Transformers, therefore, play an important role in these operations, and they must function to the highest levels of safety and reliability.”
Claassen notes that South Africa faces a significant additional challenge, with unreliable electricity supply from the national utility. This requires backup power facilities to be installed, so that 100 % uptime can be guaranteed.
In these applications, dry-type transformers are well suited in terms of safety and risk, he explains. These transformers have an F1 fire rating, demonstrating their resistance to flammability; they are designed to be flame-retardant, and do not generate harmful emissions.
“Modular substations can be rapidly manufactured, and dry-type transformers can be readily incorporated without the need for any special fire suppression,” says Claassen. “Another important factor is efficiency, as large data centres could consume as much power as a mining operation.”
The use of dry-type transformers is in line with data centres’ efforts to achieve the lowest possible energy consumption, according to Claassen.
Source: ESI Africa
#Application#data centre#dry-type transformers#South Africa#Trafo Power Solutions