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Data centre electrical design studies

Power system studies for mission-critical data centres across the UK, from RIBA Stage 3 design development to commissioning and handover. We model the HV and LV network in ETAP and test N+1, 2N and 2N+1 designs in normal operation, maintenance and failure.

Discuss a project See the eight studies
Arc flash check · LV switchboardIllustrative
LV switchboard40 kAWARNINGDANGERArc flash and shock hazardINCIDENT ENERGY–cal/cm²ARC FLASH BOUNDARY–mWORKING DISTANCE455 mmCLEARING TIME–NOMINAL VOLTAGE400 VPPE CATEGORY–
Incident energyat 455 mm– cal/cm²limit 8 cal/cm²
Breaker dutyof its 50 kA rating–%limit 100%
Clearing timeof the arc– msfor reference
Eight studies

Every study, across every operating case.

  • Short circuit analysis

    Maximum and minimum fault currents for utility outages, generator operation and alternative supplies. We confirm every device can withstand and break the fault, and the results feed the protection design.

  • Load flow analysis

    Loading and voltage in normal, maintenance and failure conditions. We check that when the A path is lost, the B path carries the transferred load without overloading anything critical.

  • Protection coordination and relay settings

    Settings built from your protection philosophy: overcurrent, earth fault, transformer differential, restricted earth fault, busbar protection and inrush restraint. The nearest device clears the fault and critical loads stay on.

  • Arc flash risk assessment and labelling

    Incident energy and arc flash boundaries across operating and failure cases, PPE selection, mitigation measures, and a warning label for each piece of equipment.

  • Cable sizing and thermal analysis

    LV and MV cables checked for current rating, voltage drop and fault withstand, with Neher–McGrath thermal analysis of the installation, soil and grouping for the higher loading of redundant operation.

  • Harmonic analysis and power quality

    Voltage and current distortion across LV distribution and at the MV point of common coupling, frequency scans for resonance, and filter design where needed to meet network operator limits.

  • Earthing system studies

    Earth potential rise, touch and step voltages, and fault current paths for HV and LV installations, to support a safe earthing design.

  • ETAP modelling and commissioning support

    One ETAP model, kept current with design changes, manufacturer data and installed equipment. At Stage 5 we validate it, finalise settings and labels, and support energisation and handover.

Results

Four studies, one model.

Choose a case to see the result.

Short circuit and protection coordinationLoad flow on the A and B pathsArc flash label · LV switchboardETAP model, Stage 3 to 5Illustrative
1001k10k100k0.010.11101001000I (A)t (s)18 kA42 kA
UPSUPSN/OABIT loadTransformer B92%Switchboard B81%UPS B96%Cable B-374%100%
The outgoing breaker clears the fault before the incomer relay, and both stay below the transformer damage curve.Transformer A out of service: path B carries the whole IT load, every item below 100%.A label for every piece of equipment: incident energy, arc flash boundary and PPE category.One ETAP model, from typical data at Stage 3 to installed equipment at Stage 5.
RIBA Stages 3 to 5

When you need it.

  1. Stage 3. The design is taking shape, and fault levels and equipment ratings need confirming.
  2. Stage 4. Protection settings, cable sizes and arc flash categories must be fixed before procurement and installation.
  3. Stage 5. The installed equipment differs from the design, and the model, settings and labels must match it before energisation.
  4. The design is redundant (N+1, 2N or 2N+1), so every maintenance or failure case moves load onto what is left.
Results

Four studies, one model.

Choose a case to see the result.

Short circuit and protection coordinationLoad flow on the A and B pathsArc flash label · LV switchboardETAP model, Stage 3 to 5Illustrative
1001k10k100k0.010.11101001000I (A)t (s)18 kA42 kA
UPSUPSN/OABIT loadTransformer B92%Switchboard B81%UPS B96%Cable B-374%100%
The outgoing breaker clears the fault before the incomer relay, and both stay below the transformer damage curve.Transformer A out of service: path B carries the whole IT load, every item below 100%.A label for every piece of equipment: incident energy, arc flash boundary and PPE category.One ETAP model, from typical data at Stage 3 to installed equipment at Stage 5.
Method

How we run it.

  1. 01

    Agree

    Architecture, protection philosophy, and the operating and failure cases.

  2. 02

    Model

    ETAP model of the HV and LV network, generators, UPS and loads.

  3. 03

    Scenarios

    Normal, maintenance, equipment failure and alternative supplies.

  4. 04

    Study

    The eight studies, each run across the governing cases.

  5. 05

    Hand over

    Settings, labels, reports and the as-installed model.

Tools and scenarios

Every scenario through every study.

  • ETAPShort circuit, load flow, protection, arc flash, harmonics
  • Cable thermal analysisNeher–McGrath method
  • Earthing analysisEarth potential rise, touch and step voltages
Short circuitLoad flowProtectionArc flashCable sizing
Normal operation
Maintenance (one path out)
A or B path failure
Generator operation
Utility at minimum fault level
Future expansion

Maintenance (one path out) · Arc flashWith one path out, a fault on board B reached 11 cal/cm². A maintenance mode switch brings it under 8.A or B path failure · Load flowWhen path A fails, transformer B runs at 108%. A larger rating fixes it.Utility at minimum fault level · ProtectionAt the utility’s minimum fault level the incomer relay tripped too slowly. A second setting group covers it.Future expansion · Cable sizingThe future hall pushes one feeder past its rating. One size up now saves a replacement later.

26 checks · 4 led to a change · every case scripted and rerunnable
Deliverables

What you get.

  • ModelThe ETAP model, updated to the installed equipment for handover
  • SettingsRelay settings schedules and coordination curves
  • LabelsArc flash labels and a PPE schedule for every piece of equipment
  • ReportsShort circuit, load flow, protection, arc flash, cable, harmonic and earthing reports

How we check it

Every conclusion traces back to a validated model and a documented scenario. We record tool versions, model sources and assumptions, so the work can be rerun and challenged.

Related

Related studies.

Study · grid sideData centre and large-load grid connection studiesLoad flow, fault level, harmonics and power quality at the connection point.Study · complianceGrid-code compliance studiesThe evidence an operator asks for, written up clause by clause.
FAQ

Questions engineers ask.

Which RIBA stages do you support?
Stages 3, 4 and 5. At Stage 3 we confirm fault levels and equipment ratings. At Stage 4 we fix protection settings, cable sizes and arc flash categories. At Stage 5 we update the model with the installed equipment, finalise settings and labels, and support commissioning and handover.
Do you only work in ETAP?
These studies are run in ETAP, which most data centre designers and contractors use, and if you already have an ETAP model we build on it. For the grid connection side we use PowerFactory, PSS®E and PSCAD: see our data centre grid connection studies.
Do you cover 2N and 2N+1 designs?
Yes. We study N+1, 2N and 2N+1 architectures and run each study across normal operation, maintenance, equipment failures and alternative supplies, so the result holds in every case the site will meet.
Next step

Have a study like this coming up?

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