Medium voltage power distribution

• US 8,994,231 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exaflop LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Exaflop LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Corhodzic, Selver, Clidaras, Jimmy
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/959,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 307/147
• US Class Current: 307/147
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/40 Structural association with built-in electric component, e.g. fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1497 Rooms for data centers; Shipping containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

A data center includes an enclosure defining an interior space, a medium voltage power distribution system in the interior space, a plurality of transformers in the interior space, and a plurality of groups of racks in the interior space. The medium voltage power distribution system is electrically connected to a medium voltage power source outside the enclosure and includes a plurality of interconnected medium voltage power access units. Each transformer is electrically connected to an associated medium voltage power access unit and configured to step-down medium voltage power from the associated power access unit to low voltage power. Each rack includes a plurality of rack-mounted computers. Each group of racks is electrically connected to an associated transformer or to an adjacent rack or group of racks such that the associated transformer provides low voltage power to the group of racks.

Claims

1. A data center, comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior space;

a medium voltage power distribution system in the interior space and electrically connected to a medium voltage power source outside the enclosure, the medium voltage power distribution system including a plurality of interconnected medium voltage power access units, wherein the medium voltage power source provides power at a voltage greater than 1 kV and less than 50 kV;

a plurality of transformers in the interior space, each transformer electrically connected to an associated medium voltage power access unit from the plurality of medium voltage power access units and each transformer configured to step-down medium voltage power from the associated power access unit to low voltage power less than 1 kV; and

a plurality of groups of racks in the interior space, each rack including a plurality of rack-mounted computers, and each group of racks electrically connected to an associated transformer from the plurality of transformers or to an adjacent rack or group of racks such that the associated transformer provides low voltage power to the group of racks.

2. The data center of claim 1, wherein the medium voltage power access units are connected in series.

3. The data center of claim 1, wherein the medium voltage power access units are ring main units (RMU).

4. The data center of claim 1, wherein each group of racks is separately electrically connected to the associated transformer.

5. The data center of claim 4, wherein power cables provide electrical connection between the racks and transformers.

6. The data center of claim 5, wherein power cables provide electrical connection between the medium voltage power access units.

7. The data center of claim 1, further comprising a power coordinator and power control nodes associated with the medium voltage power access units, wherein the power coordinator and power control nodes are configured to allocate computing tasks among the rack-mounted computers to limit an amount of power drawn through the medium voltage power access units or the transformers.

8. The data center of claim 1, wherein the medium voltage power access units are arranged in one or more rows or in a mesh arrangement.

9. The data center of claim 8, wherein the medium voltage power access units are arranged in one or more rows and the racks are arranged in columns perpendicular to the one or more rows.

10. The data center of claim 9, wherein transformers connected to an associated medium voltage power access unit are arranged in a column perpendicular to the one or more rows.

11. A method of assembling a power distribution network in a data center, the method comprising:

placing multiple medium voltage power access units within an enclosure defining an interior space;

electrically connecting each of the power access units to another one of the power access units;

electrically connecting at least one of the power access units to a medium voltage power source outside of the enclosure, the medium voltage power source providing power at a voltage greater than 1 kV and less than 50 kV;

placing a plurality of transformers within the interior space;

electrically connecting each transformer to an associated medium voltage power access unit from the plurality of medium voltage power access units, wherein each transformer is configured to step-down medium voltage power from the associated power access unit to low voltage power less than 1 kV;

placing a plurality of groups of racks within the interior space, each rack including a plurality of rack-mounted computers; and

electrically connecting each group of racks to an associated transformer from the plurality of transformers such that the associated transformer provides low voltage power to the group of racks.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein electrically connecting each of the power access units to another one of the power access units comprises connecting the medium voltage power access units in series and/or in parallel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the medium voltage power access units are prefabricated or on site assembled medium voltage switchboards comprising of one or more breakers or fused switches.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein electrically connecting each group of racks to an associated transformer from the plurality of transformers comprises electrically connecting each group of racks separately to the associated transformer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein power cables provide electrical connection between the group of racks and transformers.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein power cables provide electrical connection between the medium voltage power access units.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising allocating computing tasks among the rack-mounted computers to limit an amount of power drawn through the medium voltage power access units or the transformers.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein placing multiple medium voltage power access units within the enclosure comprises placing the medium voltage power access units in one or more rows within the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein placing a plurality of groups of racks within the interior space comprises placing the racks in columns perpendicular to the one or more rows.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein placing a plurality of transformers within the interior space comprises placing transformers connected to an associated medium voltage power access unit in a column perpendicular to the one or more rows.