InfraStruXure with cell technology @ APC

Global supplier of end-to-end power solutions, the American Power Conversion (APC), has announced the release of its InfraStruXure with integrated fuel cell technology.

This product is expected to offer several hours of extended runtime of high availability systems for Network-Critical Physical Infrastructure (NCPI).

This solution, according to the Country General Manager, APC for Africa, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, offers hours of extended runtime for Information Technology (IT) applications with high availability requirements.

The award-winning InfraStruXure architecture, which integrates power, cooling, management and services in a rack-optimized design, now offers IT professionals the ability to power their IT systems using fuel cell technology, an alternative to traditional extended-run options.

APC’s official also said the new 30 kilowatt (KW) solution incorporates modular Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells.

IT project managers could stack up to three 10kw modules per rack to create a scalable solution, as energy is stored and supplied to the system via bottled hydrogen.

Small to medium data centers, he said, are ideal applications for the early-adopter phase of this system.

InfraStruXure with integrated fuel cells, the manager said, is the best for environments that may have limitations due to building code, emission requirements or physical constraints.

He gave the insight that the future phases of this programme would include further integrated management via InfraStruXure manager.

“APC is constantly developing innovative systems to dramatically increase availability in all aspects of the NCPI,” he said, just as the product offers the first practical fuel cell solution for data center extended-run applications.

He pointed out that this new system, supported by APC’s global services network, also improves availability by minimizing points of failure with the system installed close to the load; lowers the total cost of ownership with a design life of 10 years; reduces the total cost of ownership with a more compact footprint; and improves agility by allowing power generation in more locations that could have emissions restrictions.