Innovative Solutions to Address Safety in AI and High-Density Deployments
🕓 4 minute read | Chris Osian, Starline Product Manager
For data center operators, the rapid adoption of AI and high-performance computing has significantly increased focus on power density and power distribution. Where 10kW racks were once the norm, some AI applications may require 100-150kW per rack. While attention has gone to power distribution and IT infrastructure, this dramatic rise in power density also brings safety challenges that should not be overlooked. Safety must be a key consideration in both the architecture and operations of high-density deployments to ensure the well-being of personnel and the reliability of the infrastructure.
Key Safety Challenges with Rising Power Density
“With great power comes great responsibility…”
While the Spider-Man quote certainly didn’t originate in the data center industry, the lesson imparted still applies. As power density increases, maintenance, installation, and other operational power tasks carry a higher risk. Incident energy, or the energy released during an electrical fault, rises alongside power density and can lead to more severe consequences in the event of an arc flash or other electrical incident.
Rising power density also makes fault current management more complex and increases the radius of arc flash boundaries. Installers, technicians, and operators need training on these new boundaries, and updated personal protective equipment (PPE) standards to ensure their safety. Additionally, as power density rises, load balancing becomes more critical to prevent overloads and ensure continuous uptime. Proper load management can both mitigate risks and enhance the overall efficiency of the data center.
Enhancing Operator Safety with Innovative Solutions
A new Starline installation solution offers a safer alternative for connecting new equipment to an energized, high-power busway. Instead of powering down the busway, installers can use the Remote Plug-in Actuator to safely connect a new drop-down unit from outside the arc flash boundary. Using wi-fi or a cabled connection, the equipment is activated from a distance, reducing the risk of electrical incidents.
Another key innovation comes into play in high-density applications using liquid cooling. Starline's Series-S Track Busway includes the same flexible, accessible power of standard track busway, with added ingress protection against water splashes or other contaminants. This added protection increases the safety of utilizing overhead power distribution for liquid-cooled racks.
Electrical Fault Protection and Power Monitoring
Starline has also introduced key innovations to monitor high-power deployments and protect against electrical faults. The M70 Critical Power Monitor provides real-time metrics on voltage and power, allowing operators to set critical thresholds that automatically alert when met or exceeded. It also helps identify when a breaker trips, enabling prompt response to electrical faults.
AI data center operators can also consider returning to fuses (instead of circuit breakers) for overcurrent protection. Starline can integrate fuses at the busway plug-in unit or the end feed, offering multiple layers of security. Fuses, or overcurrent protection devices (OCPDs), mitigate faults faster than circuit breakers and handle higher interrupting capacities, enhancing safety by reducing potential damage.
Future Evolution of Power Distribution to Meet Safety Challenges
As power densities continue to rise, improvements in operator safety will likely stem from two sources: the evolution of power distribution technology, and investment in continued education and training. As technology improves, enhanced monitoring at multiple points along the power system will be essential, while the use of OCPDs will become more prevalent. Both solutions aim to provide faster fault detection and more reliable protection. Continuous, updated training and education for operators and technicians will also be vital.
In conclusion, rising data center power densities driven by AI and high-performance computing impel a renewed focus on operator safety. By addressing key challenges and leveraging innovative solutions, data center operators can ensure both improved safety and operational resilience.