THE CLIENT
The customer is one of the leading international operators in the field of Earth observation (EO) and geospatial information. The company manages critical infrastructures for the reception, processing and distribution of very high-resolution satellite data, providing essential services for environmental monitoring, security, navigation and emergency management on a global scale.
THE NEED
Inside the company’s computing and control center for ground stations, power supply stability is a vital factor. The infrastructure hosts high-performance computing (HPC) server clusters, high-speed mass data storage systems and satellite reception antennas with extremely precise motorized tracking systems.
The main issue was related to grid micro-interruptions. Although imperceptible to lighting systems, these fractions of a second caused the reset of the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) dedicated to tracking satellites in orbit and the disconnection of the power supply systems for sensitive IT servers. As a result, each micro-interruption led to:
- Loss of telemetry and data being downloaded from satellites during orbital passes, which are unique events that cannot be repeated in real time;
- File corruption and long restart times for the computing pipelines dedicated to geospatial image processing;
- High extraordinary maintenance costs and operational inefficiencies.
OUR SOLUTION
Ortea configured and installed a 500 kVA K Oxygen Zero micro-interruption compensator.
Thanks to its advanced technology based on IGBTs and supercapacitors, the system can detect a grid anomaly and intervene in less than 5 milliseconds, supplying the energy needed to cover voltage dips and ensure continuity of the power flow.
The key advantages that determined the success of the installation include:
- Advanced integrated protection: the K version provides enhanced safety for critical infrastructure thanks to integrated automatic circuit breakers (input and output) and an interlocked electromechanical bypass line.
- Superior energy efficiency: with efficiency above 99%, Oxygen Zero minimizes operating losses compared with a traditional UPS.
- Battery-Free solution: the use of supercapacitors ensures a system service life of more than 10 years, with maintenance requirements reduced to a minimum and no disposal costs for harmful chemical substances.
Thanks to Ortea Next’s intervention, the ground station eliminated downtime caused by electrical grid disturbances, ensuring maximum reliability in the delivery of geoinformation services to its international partners.