Innovation
380Vdc - Capacity expansion for the telecom central office
Frees up floor space to make room for more equipment
380Vdc is an attractive alternative to the traditional 48Vdc power transfer that normally takes place in the central offices of 48Vdc-based Telecom/Information Communication Technology (ICT) networks.
It relieves cable congestion, frees up floor space to make room for more equipment and is a fundamentally more economical, flexible solution that will enhance the capacity and extend the life time of the central office facility.
380 Vdc optimizes cable utilization and power density
What is the best route to enhance the capacity of the telecom central office? Relocation would be an expensive and time-consuming exercise. However, adding more 48V capacity is not always possible and it can be complex and costly as floor space is a scarce commodity and needed for ICT equipment. The 48Vdc Power system will compete with the ICT Equipment for available space and infrastructure. If a 48V configuration is not viable, the alternative is to embark on a journey of to 380Vdc power distribution – which can be converted and used to feed existing 48Vdc ICT Equipment or used directly to feed 380Vdc ICT Equipment.
Flatpack2 380v HE
Flatpack2 DCDC 380 SHE
The Flatpack2 380/48 3000W SHE DC/DC converter module enables a super high efficiency power conversion, from 380Vdc to 48Vdc, in order to power telecom based ICT equipment with an efficiency of 98.2%.
The Flatpack2 380V/3000W HE rectifier module produces power which is distributed as a part of a total battery backup solution with minimal loss. This maximizes reliability and flexibility in the central backup power system.
The high-voltage advantage
The higher the voltage, the less is lost during power transmission. 380V power transmission optimizes cable utilization and the cables’ capacity to transfer power. In other words, using 380Vdc instead of 48Vdc, allows you to transfer significantly more power through the same cable, or the same amount of power over significantly longer distances.
When designing a 380Vdc system, you may increase the cable length to over 10 times the distance of a standard 48Vdc system, whilst only using 25% of the cable. This makes it possible to relocation of the power system and batteries to another location within the building.
A typical 48V power system cable set-up implies that both your battery back-up and power system needs to be in close proximity to your ICT equipment. In this scenario it requires 120 meter of cabling with parallel connections.
With a 380V power system with the same amount of cable you can move the power system and the batteries out of the ICT room giving you more space for ICT equipment.
The difference in length is significant between the power system and batteries, and between power system and ICT Equipment, for traditional 48V designs versus 380Vdc designs. Using the same amount of cable, one can increase distance between power system and ICT Equipment from 10+ to 600 m, with comparable voltage drops.
From congested chaos to organized tidiness
Cable congestion restricts power delivery into the ICT equipment room from the 48V power plant. Large accumulation of cables are typically the result of the high current levels, losses and heat generation are synonymous with the 48Vdc power designs, the increasing power requirement to support worst-case ICT Equipment projections and the need to adhere to tight voltage drop design specifications.
By changing to 380Vdc for the transportation of the power to its final destination, the current-carrying capacity of existing copper cables is increased many times over.
The number of cables will be reduced. Expensive new cabling and associated manpower cost can be avoided In addition, in some instances existing cable can be re-allocated.
More space for ICT equipment
380Vdc power offers the opportunity to move the power system out of the ICT Equpiment room, freeing up space for servers and other revenue generating equipment.
The power system can be placed in another rooms, even on another floor or other remote locations, where there is enough space and adequate electrical/mechanical infrastructure to accommodate the power system.
Flexible output solutions
Currently 48Vdc-powered ICT equipment dominates the telecom environment. However, more and more ICT equipment is becoming 380Vdc-based. The 380Vdc supply feeds are configured with an End of Row or In Rack converter system to supply 48Vdc locally, or power 380Vdc ICT equipment directly without conversion.
Integration of renewable energy
Another opportunity that 380Vdc opens up, is the easy integration of renewable energy sources, for example photovoltaic energy. The power generated by associated PV panels/arrays is converted to 380Vdc for the transportation directly to the ICT equipment.
A resilient solution
A 380Vdc solution comes with hazard levels equivalent to those of a Vac power source. It operates at the same level when it comes to safety and reliability, which makes it serviceable using the same equipment and know-how. The entire 380Vdc system is thoroughly tested and designed to be compliant with IEC/UL/ETSI standards, ensuring a single fault-tolerant solution and continuity of service.
Footprint
In a traditional 48V system the power equipment occupies valuable space that could have been used for ICT. By moving the power system to a different location you can free up valuable space and make it available for revenue-generating ICT equipment.
Potential beyond telecom
The flexibility and capacity of 380Vdc may also open up to new applications and benefits. There are many applications that may benefit from the centralized power/ 380Vdc distribution model, potentially powering of various DC or AC equipment at any location. Examples may include high-rise buildings, tunnels, stadiums, etc.
In a traditional 48V system the power equipment occupies valuable space that could have been used for ICT. By moving the power system to a different location you can free up valuable space and make it available for revenue-generating ICT equipment.
