Data center power network with multiple redundancies

• US 10,063,092 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sarti, Pierluigi
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Dinh T
• Application Number:
  US14/873,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64, 307 91, 307 68
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover

Abstract

Several embodiments include a power network system for a data center. The power network system can provide high voltage direct current (HVDC) power to server racks or any IT load racks type. For example, a HVDC converter circuit can provide the HVDC power by converting AC power. The power network system can also include multiple redundant power systems (e.g., a genset, a capacitive backup power system, a turbine-based generator system, or any combination thereof). The capacitive backup power system can provide HVDC power when the AC power fails and/or when the HVDC converter circuit can no longer provide sufficient power. The genset can be turned ON after the AC power fails. However, the genset may not provide stable power until sometime thereafter. Hence, the air turbine-based generator system can provide nearly-instant backup power once turned ON and provide supplemental energy in combination with the capacitive backup power system to smooth out transitions of power sources.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

converting alternating current (AC) power from a power grid into high voltage direct current (HVDC) power;

detecting a power failure of the power grid;

in response to the power failure;

providing the HVDC power from a capacitor-based backup power system to power a server rack;

activating a turbine-based generator to supplement the capacitor-based backup power system upon detecting that the HVDC power provided by the capacitor-based backup power system is losing electric charge;

detecting, by a genset coupled to the power grid, a low voltage of the HVDC power in response to a loss of pressure in a tank of the turbine-based generator; and

activating the genset, in response to detecting the low voltage, to provide the HVDC power before the pressure in the tank of the turbine-based generator is exhausted.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the power failure, charging and keep charged the capacitor-based backup power system utilizing the HVDC power.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the power failure, compressing, by a compressor in the turbine-based generator, the gaseous substance into the tank of the turbine-based generator.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising capturing, by the compressor, the gaseous substance as air that is proximate to the tank for said compressing through an intake valve.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said activating the turbine-based generator occurs within a shorter delay than activating said genset, as measured by a timing circuit in the turbine-based generator, from a time when the power failure is detected.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said activating the turbine-based generator occurs substantially simultaneously to activating said genset.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the turbine-based generator to supplement the capacitor-based backup power system upon detecting that the HVDC power provided by the capacitor-based backup power system is losing electric charge comprises detecting that the HVDC power has fallen below a voltage threshold, thereby triggering a power generation mode in the turbine-based generator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting, by the genset coupled to the power grid, the low voltage of the HVDC power in response to a loss of pressure in a tank of the turbine-based generator comprises detecting a decompression of a gaseous substance in a tank of the turbine-based generator such that a pressure in the tank is insufficient to power an electrical load in the server rack.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the turbine-based generator comprises an adiabatic decompression generator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the turbine-based generator is positioned outside of a data center comprising the server rack such that temperature variation from decompression does not affect the server rack.

11. A power system for a server rack in a data center, comprising:

an alternating current to direct current (AC-DC) converter configured to convert AC power to DC power for a server rack or other information technology (IT) load;

a capacitive backup power system, coupled in parallel to the AC-DC converter, configured to receive a portion of the DC power to charge a capacitor therein and to provide substitute DC power to the server rack in response to loss of the AC power and a voltage drop of a power line providing the AC power, wherein the power line is coupled to the capacitive backup power system; and

a turbine-based generator, coupled to the capacitive backup power system, configured to provide additional electric DC power to supplement the substitute DC power provided to the server rack upon detecting that the capacitive backup power system is losing electric charge.

12. The power system of claim 11, wherein the turbine-based generator is an adiabatic decompression generator.

13. The power system of claim 11, wherein the AC-DC converter is a high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter;

and the capacitive backup power system and the turbine-based generator both provide HVDC power.

14. The power system of claim 11, wherein the turbine-based generator is positioned outside of the data center such that temperature variation from decompression does not affect the server rack in the data center.

15. The power system of claim 11, wherein the capacitive backup power system comprises a modular capacitor unit that includes one or more capacitor banks in parallel with an asymmetric conductance component and a resistor or a constant current switching power converter to recharge and maintain charge of the capacitor banks.

16. The power system of claim 15, wherein the capacitive backup power system comprises at least a battery in series or in parallel to the capacitor banks.

17. The power system of claim 11, wherein the capacitive backup power system is configured to supplement the DC power provided by the AC-DC converter during peak power operation that extends beyond maximum power output of the AC-DC converter.

18. The power system of claim 11, wherein the AC-DC converter, the turbine-based generator, and the capacitive backup power system are outside of the server rack.

19. The power system of claim 11, further comprising a genset coupled to the power line, wherein the genset, in response to detecting a low voltage from the turbine-based generator, provides the additional electric DC power before a pressure in the tank of the turbine-based generator is exhausted.

20. The power system of claim 11, wherein the turbine-based generator detects that the capacitive backup power system is losing electric charge by detecting that the substitute DC power has fallen below a voltage threshold, thereby triggering a power generation mode in the turbine-based generator.