Supraharmonics within a Datacenter-Emission and Propagation

The reliability of the electrical and cooling systems is of utmost importance for the uninterrupted operation of the data center information technology (IT) load. The electrical distribution of the data center includes many subsystems starting with the utility and building transformers, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), power distribution units (PDUs), and power supplies ultimately powering the fans and the internal components of IT equipment. The various converters in data centers emit switching frequency residue due to PWM (pulse width modulation) techniques. The switching frequency range falls within the supraharmonic range, i.e., 2 to 150 kHz. This paper aims to show, with measurements, the different types of supraharmonic emissions measured in the data center, and the difference between their maximum and average magnitudes. The paper shows a method to identify the equipment emitting supraharmonic emission and possible disturbances caused by it. The paper traces the propagation of supraharmonic emission from the source through the transformer to the grid. Lastly, a comparison of measurements is made with the compatibility levels given by standard IEC 61000-2-2.