DC-BASED DATA CENTER POWER ARCHITECTURE

• US 20060284489A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gross, Peter, Godrich, Kfir
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

A DC-based power system including: an AC power distribution system for providing AC power to a first node and a second node; a first converting system coupled to the first node that converts AC power to DC power and outputs the DC power to a first distributed bus bar; a second converting system coupled to the second node that converts AC power to DC power and outputs the DC power to a second distributed bus bar; a first set of DC/DC converters that steps down the DC power from the first distributed bus bar to a first stepped down DC voltage; a second set of DC/DC converters that steps down the DC power from the second distributed bus bar to a second stepped down DC voltage; and a critical load distribution system that is powered by both the first stepped down DC voltage and the second stepped down DC voltage.

Claims

1. A DC-based power distribution architecture for powering a data center, comprising:

a first stage for delivering AC power to the data center from a utility line and from a distributed energy resource, wherein both the utility line and distributed energy resource provide AC power to a first node and second node;

a second stage that includes a first set of rectifier/charger (RC) units coupled to the first node that converts AC power to DC power and outputs the DC power to a first distributed bus bar, and a second set of RC units coupled to the second node that converts AC power to DC power and outputs the DC power to a second distributed bus bar;

a third stage that includes a first set of DC/DC converters that steps down the DC power from the first distributed bus bar to a first stepped down DC voltage, and a second set of DC/DC converters that steps down the DC power from the second distributed bus bar to a second stepped down DC voltage; and

a fourth stage that includes a dual path power distribution system that is powered by both the first stepped down DC voltage and the second stepped down DC voltage.

2. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the first stage includes:

a plurality of redundant utility lines; and

a plurality of step down transformers for stepping down the AC power from the utility lines to approximately 400-660 Volts AC.

3. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the distributed energy resource comprises a plurality of backup power supplies that generate approximately 400-660 Volts AC.

4. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the data center includes a plurality of mechanical loads that are powered by both the utility line and distributed energy resource.

5. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the DC power on the first and second distributed bus bar is approximately 500-550 Volts DC.

6. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the first distributed bus bar includes a first type of intermediate storage device and the second distributed bus bar includes a second type of intermediate storage device.

7. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 6, wherein the first type of intermediate storage device comprises a battery and the second type of intermediate storage device comprises a flywheel.

8. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the first and second stepped down DC voltage are approximately −

48 Volts DC.

9. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the dual path power distribution frame includes a local storage device selected from the group consisting of:

a capacitor based device and a fuel cell.

10. The DC-based power distribution architecture of claim 1, wherein the dual path power distribution system includes a cabinet for powering a plurality of components.

11. A method for powering a data center using DC power, comprising:

providing AC power to the data center from a utility line and from a distributed energy resource, wherein both the utility line and distributed energy resource provide AC power to a first node and second node;

utilizing a first set of rectifier/charger (RC) units coupled to the first node to convert AC power to DC power and outputting the DC power to a first distributed bus bar;

utilizing a second set of RC units coupled to the second node to convert AC power to DC power and outputting the DC power to a second distributed bus bar;

utilizing a first set of DC/DC converters to step down the DC power from the first distributed bus bar to a first stepped down DC voltage;

utilizing a second set of DC/DC converters to step down the DC power from the second distributed bus bar to a second stepped down DC voltage; and

powering a critical load by both the first stepped down DC voltage and the second stepped down DC voltage.

12. The method of claim 11, including the step of stepping down the AC power from the utility line to approximately 400-660 Volts AC.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the distributed energy resource comprises a plurality of backup power supplies that generate approximately 400-660 Volts AC.

14. The method of claim 11, comprising the further step of powering a plurality of mechanical loads by both the utility line and distributed energy resource.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the DC power on the first and second distributed bus bar is approximately 500-550 Volts DC.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first distributed bus bar includes a first type of intermediate storage device and the second distributed bus bar includes a second type of intermediate storage device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first type of intermediate storage device comprises a battery and the second type of intermediate storage device comprises a flywheel.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second stepped down DC voltage are approximately −

48 Volts DC.

19. The method of claim 11, comprising the further step of using a dual path power distribution system to power the critical load, wherein the dual path power distribution frame system includes a local storage device selected from the group consisting of:

a capacitor based device and a fuel cell.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the dual path power distribution system includes a cabinet for powering a plurality of components.

21. A DC-based power distribution system, comprising:

an AC power distribution system for providing AC power to a first node and a second node;

a first converting system coupled to the first node that converts AC power to DC power and outputs the DC power to a first distributed bus bar;

a second converting system coupled to the second node that converts AC power to DC power and outputs the DC power to a second distributed bus bar;

a first set of DC/DC converters that steps down the DC power from the first distributed bus bar to a first stepped down DC voltage;

a second set of DC/DC converters that steps down the DC power from the second distributed bus bar to a second stepped down DC voltage; and

a critical load distribution system that is powered by both the first stepped down DC voltage and the second stepped down DC voltage.

22. The DC-based power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the AC power distribution system receives AC power from a set of utility lines and a set of distributed energy resources.

23. The DC-based power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the first and second converting system include rectifier/charger (RC) units that generate approximately 500-550 Volts DC.

24. The DC-based power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the first and second set of DC/DC converters generate approximately −

48 Volts DC.

25. The DC-based power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the first and second set of DC/DC converters generate voltage in a range of approximately +/−

24 to 400 volts DC.

26. The DC-based power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the first distributed bus bar includes a first type of intermediate storage device and the second distributed bus bar includes a second type of intermediate storage device.

27. The DC-based power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the first type of intermediate storage device comprises a battery and the second type of intermediate storage device comprises a flywheel.