Power distribution system utilizing digital communications to determine the configuration thereof

• US 8,792,569 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Alshinnawi, Shareef F., Cudak, Gary D., Suffern, Edward S., Weber, J. Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Timory, Kabir A
• Application Number:
  US13/723,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20140177736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 375/257, 375/258
• US Class Current: 375/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Three-phase electrical power is used to distribute electrical power to electronic devices in a cluster. A power distribution system includes circuit breaker panels and power distribution units for providing electrical power to the electronic devices. The electrical connections within the power distribution system form a digital communication network that communicates identification codes for the purpose of identifying each electrical connection in the power distribution system. A cluster management entity may then collect the identification codes associated with each electrical connection in order to detect the actual configuration of the power distribution system. By further knowing the load of each electronic device and their association with entities of the power distribution system, the cluster management entity may determine the load on each phase and take steps to balance the load.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of servers in communication with a cluster management entity;

a power distribution system including a three phase electrical source, each phase having at least one electrical power supply cable forming an electrical connection from the phase to at least one circuit breaker panel for providing electrical power to the at least one circuit breaker panel, each circuit breaker panel having at least one electrical power supply cable forming an electrical connection from the circuit breaker panel to at least one power distribution unit for providing electrical power to the at least one power distribution unit, and each of the power distribution units having at least one electrical power supply cable forming an electrical connection from the power distribution unit to at least one of the servers for providing electrical power to the at least one of the servers;

each circuit breaker panel having a circuit breaker panel management processor; and

each power distribution unit having a power distribution unit management processor;

wherein, for each power distribution unit, the power distribution unit management processor of the power distribution unit is in digital communication with the circuit breaker panel management processor of the circuit breaker that provides electrical power to the power distribution unit, wherein the digital communication is carried over the electrical power supply cable forming the electrical connection between the power distribution unit and the circuit breaker panel, and wherein the circuit breaker panel management processor and the power distribution unit management processor are coupled for communication with the cluster management entity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker panel management processor stores a circuit breaker panel identification code and the power distribution unit management processor stores a power distribution unit identification code.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical phase management processor coupled to each of the three phases; and

a carrier detection circuit allowing a valid communication with the electrical phase management processor to occur on only one of the three phases at a time, wherein the carrier detection circuit identifies the phase from which the valid communication occurs.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, for each circuit breaker panel, the circuit breaker panel management processor of the circuit breaker panel is in digital communication with the electrical phase management processor over the electrical cable forming the electrical connection between the circuit breaker panel and one of the phases.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical phase management processor is coupled for communication with the cluster management entity.