Challenge

One of the goals of this new facility centered around advancing their Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) design to industry-leading levels. The current design became very costly to operate, especially with the high maintenance cost associated with VRLA batteries.

While efficiency remained a top consideration, price, quality, and lead time also played a significant role. Even though DC BLOX had a long-term partnership with a competitor, they were open to new suppliers that could excel in these categories.

Achieving their goal included a more technically sophisticated UPS system, as well as an upgrade from VRLA to lithium ion batteries. The DC BLOX location in Greenville, SC would be the first lithium ion installation in its Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), bringing with it a whole slew of codes and protection features.

An ambitious task was at hand with a litany of considerations - and the looming pressure of setting the precedent for future builds.

Solution

To back up their world class data center, DC BLOX placed Mitsubishi Electric at the top of their list for excelling in the categories of efficiency, lead time, cost, technology, and support. Jeff Williams, Vice President, Operations, said he “spoke to references and heard nothing but good things.”

After working closely with The Mission Critical Management Group (MCM Group) and members of the Mitsubishi Electric team, DC BLOX selected the SUMMIT Series^® UPS for its high efficiency, unrivaled reliability, advanced Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology, small footprint, and low heat rejection. In fact, the SUMMIT Series^® UPS beat the competition’s efficiency rating by +4%.

Although the newness of the lithium ion installation brought on some hesitation, DC BLOX embraced the challenge, working closely with Mitsubishi Electric and Samsung to not only integrate a safe and efficient VRLA alternative, but to go above and beyond the minimum AHJ fire protection requirements.

DC BLOX incorporated exhaust fans, as well as advanced sensors for off-gas detection to improve the safety of the design. They further increased reliability with the purchase of a three-year service contract.

Results

The five 500kVA SUMMIT Series^® UPS and two lithium ion battery cabinets were successfully installed and started up in October of 2021. To date, the systems have run flawlessly, safeguarding DC BLOX and their customers from the increasingly expensive cost of downtime. DC BLOX is also happy about the 10-15-year lifespan of their lithium ion batteries as opposed to the five years with VRLA.

With five locations up and running, two more DC BLOX data centers are currently under construction: a new build in Myrtle Beach, SC and an expansion project in Birmingham, AL. DC BLOX intends to deploy Mitsubishi Electric’s 9900D UPS systems.

As stated by Bill Thomson, Vice President, Marketing & Product Management, becoming one of the most technologically advanced regional edge data centers requires partnering with “world-class companies like Mitsubishi.”