Monitoring Data Center Infrastructure With One Integrated Network

Introduction

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A leading data center system integrator helped their client, one of the largest broadband and media companies in South Korea, design and deploy the next generation of data center infrastructure. The entire infrastructure includes multiple critical systems, including a backup power generation, Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS), uninterrupted power systems (UPS), as well as chillers and water-cooling systems. All the systems must be monitored and fully
controlled through a DCIM (Datacenter Infrastructure Management) system. To develop a reliable communication network across these critical systems, Moxa’s rugged DIN-rail Ethernet switches, the EDS-500E Series, were installed to connect the backup generator, chiller, and power quality (PQ) meters to the network backbone. Legacy devices, such as flow meters and circuit breakers were connected to Moxa’s MB3660 Series protocol gateway, which supports routing by IP addresses or TCP ports for flexible deployment. Moxa’s PT-G7800 Series was selected because of its IEC 61850 certification which confirms the product was designed for non-stop operation in the harsh environment of a power substation and will provide maximum reliability for the DCIM system.

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System Requirements

• Reliable network for managing the data center infrastructure
• Smooth integrated communication for power, cooling, and managing other systems within the building
• Collecting large amounts of data from a variety of power and cooling monitoring devices and sensors

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Moxa Solution

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Active Energy Efficiency with Minimum Programming Efforts

By deploying resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensors, power meters, and Ethernet remote I/O in the physical environment, real-time serial, digital, and analog data about the environmental temperature, water-cooled chiller temperature, pump speed, and power consumption can be acquired and transmitted to the database to determine further action.

To automatically enable the settings adjustment of the chiller, pump, and fan, based on the real-time temperature in the hypermarket, the commands to regulate the functioning of the smart HVAC can be set by Click&Go Plus, a programming-free control logic that is included in the Ethernet remote I/O (ioLogik Series). The DI channels monitor the machine status of the chiller, pump, and fan. The DO channels control the settings of the chiller, pump, and fan, based on the information provided by the Ethernet remote I/O (ioLogik E1260), which takes temperature readings around the hypermarket. Click&Go Plus also benefits the hypermarket by allowing it to operate its HVAC system according to its business hours. Another key feature of Moxa’s solution is that the I/O and connected serial device’s data, e.g., power meters, can be sent to the MySQL database, displaying the system and energy usage status via the web server. By collecting field site OT data and sending it through Moxa’s data acquisition suite (MX-AOPC Suite) to the database reduces system integrators’ workload immensely. What’s more, it allows the customer to connect its legacy HVAC OT systems to IIoT networks.

The hypermarket’s management can log into a web console that allows them to monitor the entire HVAC system and the amount of energy that has been saved. As the HVAC system can now be remotely monitored, engineers do not need to be dispatched for routine inspections. They are only sent out when a problem arises that needs immediate attention. Both of these features help the end user reduce the total cost of ownership significantly.

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Why Moxa

• A comprehensive product portfolio of Modbus gateways, and industrial Ethernet switches
• IEC 61850-3 certified switches that can operate reliably in a high electromagnetic environment
• Modbus gateways that have an active polling mechanism for the fast acquisition of large volumes of data

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