Challenges with Modern Data Centers, Design Considerations and Recommended Power System Studies

Data Center power systems today face unique power demand challenges due to the proliferation of cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IOT), as well as the intensifying demand for high bandwidth applications which cause instantaneous spikes in load fluctuations. In addition, resonance incidents observed recently in new data centers are leading to power quality concerns. Motivated by such challenges, this paper discusses the design considerations for modern data centers and suggests various power system studies during engineering design to overcome such challenges. This paper presents a literature review that suggests the essential power system studies that can help identify the root cause of the power quality concerns, identify potential points of failure during operations of an existing data center power system, and allow designers and engineers to overcoming such challenges when designing modern data center power systems and developing and refining equipment specifications.