System and Method for Thermal Protection in a Power System

• US 20120091815A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Richards, George III
• Granted Patent: US 8,742,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0048 Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses using snubbers H02M1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1584 with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for thermal protection in a power system may be provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for thermal protection in a power system having a plurality of power modules selectively enabled and disabled in accordance with an efficiency policy may be provided. The method may include determining if an operating temperature for the power system is greater than a first threshold temperature. The method may also include enabling one or more power modules disabled in accordance with the efficiency policy in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

Claims

1. A power system comprising:

a plurality of power modules, each power module configured to supply electrical current to one or more information handling resources electrically coupled to the power system; and

a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of power modules and configured to;

selectively enable and disable power modules in accordance with an efficiency policy;

determine if an operating temperature for the power system is greater than a first threshold temperature; and

enable one or more power modules disabled in accordance with the efficiency policy in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

2. A power system in accordance with claim 1, the controller further configured to:

determine if the operating temperature is lesser than a second threshold temperature; and

in response to a determination that the operating temperature is lesser than the second threshold temperature and in accordance with the efficiency policy, disable one or more power modules that were enabled in response to the determination that the operating temperature was greater than the first threshold temperature.

3. A power system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second threshold temperature is less than the first threshold temperature.

4. A power system in accordance with claim 1, the controller further configured to:

determine if the operating temperature is greater than a third threshold temperature; and

shut down the power system in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than a third threshold temperature.

5. A power system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the third threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

6. A power system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of power modules comprises a redundant power supply unit.

7. A power system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the efficiency policy comprises a redundancy policy for the redundant power supply units.

8. A power system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of power modules comprises a phase of a multi-phase regulator.

9. A power system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the efficiency policy comprises a phase shedding policy for the phases.

10. A method for thermal protection in a power system having a plurality of power modules selectively enabled and disabled in accordance with an efficiency policy, comprising:

determining if an operating temperature for the power system is greater than a first threshold temperature; and

enabling one or more power modules disabled in accordance with the efficiency policy in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

determining if the operating temperature is lesser than a second threshold temperature; and

disabling one or more power modules that were enabled in response to the determination that the operating temperature was greater than the first threshold temperature, in accordance with the efficiency policy and in response to a determination that the operating temperature is lesser than the second threshold temperature.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the second threshold temperature is less than the first threshold temperature.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

determining if the operating temperature is greater than a third threshold temperature; and

shutting down the power system in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than a third threshold temperature.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the third threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

15. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of power modules comprises a redundant power supply unit.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the efficiency policy comprises a redundancy policy for the redundant power supply units.

17. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of power modules comprises a phase of a multi-phase regulator.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the efficiency policy comprises a phase shedding policy for the phases.

19. An information handling system comprising:

one of more information handling resources;

a power system electrically coupled to the one or more information handling resources, the power system comprising;

a plurality of power modules, each power module configured to supply electrical current to the one or more information handling resources; and

a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of power modules and configured to;

selectively enable and disable power modules in accordance with an efficiency policy;

determine if an operating temperature for the power system is greater than a first threshold temperature; and

enable one or more power modules disabled in accordance with the efficiency policy in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

20. An information handling system in accordance with claim 19, the controller further configured to:

determine if the operating temperature is lesser than a second threshold temperature;

in response to a determination that the operating temperature is lesser than the second threshold temperature and in accordance with the efficiency policy, disable one or more power modules that were enabled in response to the determination that the operating temperature was greater than the first threshold temperature;

determine if the operating temperature is greater than a third threshold temperature; and

shut down the power system in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than a third threshold temperature.