Increase availability in low-voltage power distribution

Electric failures quickly become costly. The greatest risk is not the grid but the final level of low-voltage power distribution – where faults either cause shutdowns or go unnoticed. Operators must ask: how many outages can we afford, and what availability is required?

When power fails – what really happens

A brief outage can have very different, yet always serious consequences. Data centers need very high system availability: 99.999%. An outage can cost over €500,000 – per hour. In shopping centers, the figure is about €100,000. And in hospitals, a power outage can even cost lives. The most common cause of outages is problems with the power supply, and the trend is rising. The problem: about a quarter of conventional backup systems fail the first time they are started after an outage. The reality is that not all measures work as planned. But it doesn’t have to be that way: We’re here to help you increase the availability of your power distribution.

Hospital emergency

In hospitals and clinics in particular, a power outage can quickly turn critical, especially if the backup system fails to work. At the Berlin Charité hospital in May 2023, patients had to be relocated on an emergency basis.

Flight disruptions at JFK

A small fire in Terminal 1 at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in February 2023 led to a power outage that couldn't be quickly brought under control. Flights had to be redirected or even cancelled as a result.

A high angle view looking down on a shopping mall walkway, two levels visible, people walking in both directions or standing

Checkout system failures

If the power cuts in a supermarket or shopping center, causing the checkout system to crash, the costs can run to €100,000 per hour, since customers will be unable to complete their purchases and may take their business elsewhere.

Milliseconds decide between standstill and output

99.99% System availability

Data centers need very high system availability. The most common cause of outages is problems with the power supply, and the trend is rising.

€ 500k Cost per hour of outage

An outage can cost over €500,000 per hour in data centers. In shopping centers, the figure is about €100,000. And in hospitals, a power outage can even cost lives.

25% Backup systems failure

About a quarter of conventional backup systems fail the first time they are started after an outage. The reality is that not all measures work as planned.

The graph shows an increase in problems with power supply by 19% from 2020 to 2022.

Availability begins with design, not failure

It isn’t uncommon for power distributions to run for 20, 30, or 40 years. A reliable power supply system begins in the planning stage at the start of the project. Planners, operators, and project managers for electrification must ask themselves which essential system functions must be kept running if the power fails, and where the pain is really being felt. If, for example, the cooling in the supermarket fails, all the products will be spoiled. Or which outages can be tolerated, considering admissible outage durations and bridging times? Only by answering these questions can a cost-optimal ratio between availability and outages be achieved. Remember that not every system needs costly 100% availability.

Plan availability systematically with the RAMS approach

Critical infrastructure, industrial, or commercial facilities all have different availability needs. A systematic approach based on the RAMS process can be used to efficiently integrate need-based availability into the planning process.

R – Reliability: Does the system operate reliably?
A – Availability: Is it available when needed?
M – Maintainability: How quickly can it be repaired?
S – Safety: Is it safe for people and equipment?

Organizational, system-specific, and conceptual measures reduce failure risks. The foundation is a demand-specific network design and dimensioning.

Animated graphic of organizational measures, system-based and design-based measures combined

Female Server Technician Stands next to Cabinet in Data Center Corridor with Rows of Rack Servers.

Power quality for low-voltage power distribution

Power quality monitoring is important for making sure you've got reliable, efficient power distribution, which is essential for sensitive equipment in data centers, hospitals, and other critical industrial applications. If the power quality is unstable, you could lose equipment and data, and it'll cost more to maintain your equipment. Find out how to measure and analyze power quality, what optimization measures you can take for power distribution in accordance with EN 50160, and what a system approach can look like.

Use Case Power quality for data centers

Select...

Woman sitting at desk with two computer screens with data in front of her

As an electrical planner and adviser, you determine the level of safety and efficiency of a power distribution. We support you in reducing your effort and integrating added value, such as condition monitoring, into your concepts. The SIMARIS Suite gives you integrated solutions for planning, dimensioning, specification, and documentation.

Totally integrated Power: support in electrical planning

SIMARIS Suite electrical planning software

Tender specifications on energy and plant monitoring

Reducing your downtimes is easy

Organizational measures: As an operator, you can ensure high availability yourself through for example, restricting access or carefully thought-through service and spare parts concepts (minimum time saving).
System-based measures: Detect defects and faults at an early stage using condition monitoring. Arc fault protection and overvoltage protection, on the other hand, are important in ensuring that no outages occur in the first place.
Conceptual design measures: Redundant systems, if optimally planned, cover the widest range of faults. If you also opt for withdrawable technology and a modular system structure, you can replace failed components quickly and easily (maximum time saving).

Animated graphic of combination of organizational, system-based and conceptual measures shown as columns in different height

Frequently asked questions

Further information for planning and implementation

Videos

Video (Youtube) | How to plan higher availability? # 1

Video (Youtube) | How to plan higher availability? # 2

Video (Youtube) | How to plan higher availability? # 3

Video (Youtube) | How to plan higher availability? # 4

White papers

White paper | Condition monitoring with 3VA circuit breakers

White paper | Protect yourself from arc faults

White paper | Planning internal arc fault protection

White paper | Digitally supported power distribution

Software downloads and services

Software | SIMARIS Planning Tools

Software | SENTRON Powerconfig

Industry Mall: Product catalogue

Application example | Enhanced system availability through condition monitoring

Website | Totally Integrated Power hub

SENTRON Powermanager

SENTRON Powermanager software is your comprehensive energy management system (EMS) with advanced functions for industrial, building and infrastructure applications.

SENTRON Powercenter 3000

Preinstalled, ready-to-use energy monitoring software for a clear overview of your low-voltage energy data in industrial, building and infrastructure applications.