UPS Systems has announced its first fuel cell UPS order from Winton Capital Management .
London based Winton is a managed futures and hedge fund manager established in 1997. The fuel cell UPS system supplied to Winton is the first commercial implementation by UPS Systems, following its own purchase in early 2006 of a fuel cell UPS for use at its headquarters in Hungerford – believed to be the first such system installed in the UK protecting an IT infrastructure.
Winton was looking for a standby power solution that would provide power for unlimited periods in the event of extended power loss. Installing and running a diesel generator was out of the question due to environmental concerns. A large battery bank was also impossible as there was insufficient space to house the volume of batteries necessary. Owen McCormack, Head of IT for Winton explained, “Working in a 24 hour industry we can not tolerate extended downtimes due to power problems.” “We had the added difficulty of the limitations imposed because of our location, and I was looking for a standby power solution that could give us the unlimited power option that we required”. McCormack continued, “When I heard about the fuel cell system being used at UPS Systems, it sounded like the answer to our problems and being able to see the product in action at their offices proved to me that it was”
Winton has purchased three 10kW fuel cells mounted in the same rack providing a maximum of 30kW of power. Its modular, rack-integrated design makes it easy to add more power. Winton’s fuel cell system will be linked to a 30kW 3-phase UPS and will provide potentially unlimited runtime in the event of power failure
To manoeuvre the fuel cell into the only space available in Winton’s office required UPS Systems to winch the unit up from the street.
The final integration of the system involved building a below ground hydrogen store which was finished in brick in keeping with the rest of the building. A hydraulic mechanism means access to the tanks for removal and replacement is simple – the slate roof of the construction lifts.
UPS Systems’ Sales Manager Lee Scott commented: ‘Winton Capital Management is the perfect example of why fuel cell is an important development for standby power,” Scott continues “without this alternative the customer would have been left with a less than satisfactory solution.” “However a fuel cell based system has given them the 24-7 power and protection that they needed.”