Risk-free distribution boards help secure data

An ABB Automation Tech (LV Products) product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 17, 2003

A new range of secured power distribution boards can be expanded or contracted as a building's occupancy level rises or falls.

Secured power distribution boards that can be expanded or contracted as a building's occupancy level rises or falls have been introduced by ABB, thanks to a smart plug-in system that separates the distribution board's infrastructure side from the client side.

Specifically designed for use in computer or data centres, the boards feature a client tray, which carries the final distribution devices that supply power to the occupant's data systems.

The client tray plugs directly into the multi-functional wall - a patented, precision moulded composite barrier that acts as both the carrier for the distribution busbars and the segregation between them and the main busbars.

Its labyrinth design enables devices to be safely plugged onto the live distribution bars without the risk of arcing or shorting, thereby protecting both plant assets and operator.

The boards are suited to data centre environments where heavy investment is required in the buildings infrastructure, long before it is occupied.

Having the flexibility to grow the power distribution board as the occupancy level rises helps control cash flow.

The client tray caters for a range of configurations based on MCCBs, MCBs and fuses, including single pole, double pole and three-pole devices.

Plant cables are connected directly to the outgoing terminals of each breaker and can be terminated safely whilst adjacent circuits are live.

Wiring out to remote terminals has been engineered out, thereby avoiding additional points of connection which can increase the potential areas of failure in the system.

The client cabinet is contained within the infrastructure side of the board, which also houses the incomer and associated protection, metering, maintenance-free busbars, static switches and isolation transformers.

Secure power distribution boards obtain power from a main or sub-main switchboard, either direct, via static or rotary uninterruptible power supply units, diesel generators or a combination.

At the heart of the secure power distribution board is ABB's fully type-tested MNS busbar system.

The modular, frame-based cubicle system permits up to four electrically independent busbar groups to be installed in the standard product, permitting numerous combinations of back-up supply options.

MNS has the widest international certification in its class, with a busbar system that is designed to be maintenance free and approved for installation where periodic maintenance inspections are greater than five years.

This is a major requirement in data centre environments where system downtime is rare and today's products are not expected to have traditional maintenance needs.

Because of the infrastructure side and client side design, large parts of the distribution system can be worked upon, while adjacent circuits remain live.

Finally, the whole system can be further expanded by the addition of satellite client units, without disruption to existing services.

This feature removes a major obstacle to planning and executing changes to the network such as expansion or upgrades to the data networks.