Adjustable scalable rack power system and method

• US 20040231875A1
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Neil, Ziegler, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,718,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1449 with connections to the back board
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1457 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1491 having cable management arrangements management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1497 Rooms for data centers; Shipping containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor

Abstract

Systems and method for installing computer equipment and power distribution equipment in facilities is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides an uninterruptible power supply system for use with a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices having a power input to receive power. The uninterruptible power supply system includes an equipment rack, an input to receive input power, a DC power source mounted in the equipment rack that provides DC power, an output that provides output power derived from at least one of the input power and the DC power, power distribution circuitry, mounted within the equipment rack, having a plurality of distribution devices each having an input coupled to the output to receive the output power, and a plurality of output power cables each having a first end coupled to one of the plurality of distribution devices to receive output power and a second end that mates with the power input of one of the plurality of devices.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply system for use with a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices having a power input to receive power, the uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

an equipment rack;

an input to receive input power;

a DC power source mounted in the equipment rack that provides DC power;

an output that provides output power derived from at least one of the input power and the DC power;

power distribution circuitry, mounted within the equipment rack, having a plurality of distribution devices each having an input coupled to the output to receive the output power; and

a plurality of output power cables each having a first end coupled to one of the plurality of distribution devices to receive output power and a second end that mates with the power input of one of the plurality of devices.

2. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution circuitry includes a power distribution panel, and the plurality of distribution devices includes circuit breakers mounted to the power distribution panel.

3. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 2, wherein the DC power source includes a plurality of battery modules, removably mounted in the equipment rack.

4. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of devices are designed to be installed in a facility in a predetermined arrangement at a predetermined distance from the uninterruptible power supply, wherein each of the plurality of cables has a length based on the predetermined distance between the uninterruptible power supply and one of the plurality of devices;

and wherein the second end of each of the power cables has a connector to mate with a connector of one of the plurality of devices.

5. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 4, further comprising an input cable having a first end coupled to the input and a second end having a mating connector to mate with a power receptacle in a facility.

6. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 5, wherein the equipment rack has a top panel having at least one opening formed therein, and each of the output power cables are arranged to pass through the at least one opening in the top panel.

7. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 6, wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings, and wherein each of the output power cables passes through one of the plurality of openings.

8. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of devices are designed to be installed in a facility in a predetermined arrangement at a predetermined distance from the uninterruptible power supply, and wherein each of the plurality of cables has a length based on the predetermined distance between the uninterruptible power supply and one of the plurality of devices.

9. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, further comprising an input cable having a first end coupled to the input and a second end having a mating connector to mate with a power receptacle in a facility, and wherein the input of the uninterruptible power supply is configured to receive three phase input power.

10. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, wherein the equipment rack has a top panel having at least one opening formed therein, and each of the output power cables are arranged to pass through the at least one opening in the top panel.

11. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 10, wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings, and wherein each of the output power cables passes through one of the plurality of openings.

12. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, wherein the input of the uninterruptible power supply is configured to receive three phase input power.

13. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the output power cables is configured to provide three phase power and at least one of the output power cables is configured to provide single phase power.

14. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, further comprising a bypass device, coupled between the input and the output of the uninterruptible power supply system, having a bypass mode in which the bypass device couples the input directly to the output.

15. An uninterruptible power supply system for use with a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices having a power input to receive power, the uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

an equipment rack;

an input to receive input power;

a DC power source mounted in the equipment rack that provides DC power;

an output that provides output power derived from at least one of the input power and the DC power; and

means, mounted in the equipment rack, for distributing the output power to the plurality of devices, the means for distributing including a plurality of output cables, each of the output cables having a connector that mates with a connector of at least one of the plurality of devices.

16. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the input of the uninterruptible power supply system is configured to receive three phase power, and at least one of the plurality of output power cables is configured to provide three phase power.

17. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 16, wherein the equipment rack has a top panel having at least one opening formed therein, and each of the output power cables are arranged to pass through the at least one opening.

18. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 17, wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings, and wherein each of the output power cables passes through one of the plurality of openings.

19. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, further comprising bypass means for coupling the input of the uninterruptible power supply directly to the output of the uninterruptible power supply.

20. A method of installing an uninterruptible power supply system in a facility used to power a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

providing an uninterruptible power supply having a power distribution panel mounted within the uninterruptible power supply;

determining a location for the uninterruptible power supply system and the plurality of devices in the facility;

based on the location of the uninterruptible power supply and the plurality of devices, determining a necessary length of each of a plurality of power cables, such that each of the power cables can be coupled between the power distribution panel and one of the plurality of devices;

connecting a first end of each of the power cables to the power distribution panel; and

installing a connector on the second end of each of the plurality of power cables, each connector being selected to mate with an input connector of one of the plurality of devices.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

after installing the connectors, packaging the plurality of power cables and the uninterruptible power supply for shipment to the facility.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the uninterruptible power supply is mounted in an equipment rack, and wherein the method further comprises:

routing each of the power cables from the power distribution panel through a top panel in the equipment rack.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

routing each of the plurality of power cables through at least one power cable trough mounted on the top of the equipment rack.