Power distribution with wraparound bus

• US 9,318,919 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Seaton, Scott Thomas, Wenzel, Allan Joseph, Steinert, Steven Ray, Jones, Courtney Shepherd
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US13/530,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 307 19- 21, 307/29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/0073 for providing alternative feeding paths between load and source when the main path fails, e.g. transformers, busbars
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover

Abstract

A power distribution system among a set of units (e.g., server blocks) may comprise, for each unit, a utility line and a unit generator, and a reserve generator providing failover transient performance and redundancy improvement to the power for the unit generators. The reserve generator may connect to the units via a reserve bus, and the unit generators may selectively connect to a wraparound bus connected to the reserve bus. When the failover load exceeds the available failover transient capability of one generator, one or more unit generators may (automatically or by operator selection) be connected with the wraparound bus to apply available transient capability to satisfy the excess failover load with minimal increase in power distribution resources and complexity.

Claims

1. A generator set providing power to at least two units, the generator set comprising:

a reserve generator;

a reserve bus connecting respective units to the reserve generator;

a wraparound bus connecting the respective units to the reserve bus;

for respective units;

a utility line;

a unit generator;

a generator switch that;

routes power to a unit load from the utility line, and

responsive to detecting unit load exceeding power from the utility line, routes power to the unit load from the unit generator;

a reserve switch that, responsive to detecting unit load exceeding power routed by the generator switch, routes power to the unit load from the reserve bus; and

a wraparound controller that, when the unit has capacity exceeding the unit load, selectively connects the unit to the wraparound bus to supplement the power provided by the reserve generator to a second unit load.

2. The generator set of claim 1, the wraparound controller comprising:

an operator panel comprising at least one operator switch that, when toggled by an operator, activates the wraparound controller for at least one unit generator.

3. The generator set of claim 1, the wraparound controller detects a reserve insufficiency comprising reserve load on the reserve bus exceeding power from the reserve generator;

and

responsive to the reserve bus monitor detecting the reserve insufficiency, selectively connects the unit generator to the wraparound bus to supplement the power provided by the reserve generator to satisfy the reserve insufficiency.

4. The generator set of claim 3:

respective unit generators having a maximum load; and

the wraparound controller selectively connects the unit to the wraparound bus to supplement the power provided by the reserve generator, wherein the power provided by the unit is within the maximum load of the unit generator.

5. The generator set of claim 1, comprising:

a load bank that supplies variable load to the reserve bus.

6. The generator set of claim 5:

respective unit generators having a minimum load; and

the generator set comprising;

a load bank controller that selects a variable load of the load bank to provide the minimum loads to respective unit generators.

7. The generator set of claim 5:

the generator set that provides a failure tolerance of a specified number of unit failures of unit generators; and

the load bank that selects a variable load not greater than the loads of the specified number of unit failures.

8. The generator set of claim 5, comprising:

a load bank controller that, responsive to detecting a connection of at least one unit generator to the wraparound bus, reduces the variable load of the load bank.

9. The generator set of claim 1, respective unit generators capable of providing power to the wraparound bus with a step load of at least one additional unit.

10. The generator set of claim 1, respective units comprising:

a battery connecting the generator switch and the reserve switch.

11. The generator set of claim 1, respective units comprising:

at least one air handling unit that controls air flow within the unit.

12. The generator set of claim 11:

respective units comprising a battery receiving power from the generator switch; and

the at least one air handling unit comprising;

a primary air handling unit connected to the battery; and

an auxiliary air handling unit connected to the generator switch and not connected to the battery.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the wraparound controller further selectively connects the unit to the wraparound bus when a reserve load on the reserve bus exceeds power from the reserve generator.

14. A method of controlling a generator set providing power to at least two units, the generator set comprising:

a reserve generator;

a reserve bus connecting respective units to the reserve generator;

for respective units;

a utility line;

a unit generator; and

a reserve switch that, responsive to detecting a unit load exceeding power from the utility line and the unit generator, routes power from the reserve bus; and

a wraparound bus connecting respective unit generators to the reserve bus;

and the method comprising;

monitoring a reserve load on the reserve bus and power from the reserve generator; and

responsive to detecting reserve load on the reserve bus exceeding power from the reserve generator;

identifying a selected unit having spare capacity that exceeds power routed to a unit load of the selected unit; and

selectively connecting the selected unit to the wraparound bus to supplement the power provided by the reserve generator for the reserve load.

15. The method of claim 14:

respective unit generators having a maximum load; and

selectively connecting the selected unit to the wraparound bus further comprising;

selectively connecting the selected unit to the wraparound bus to supplement the power provided by the reserve generator, wherein the power provided by the unit is within the maximum load of the unit generator.

16. The method of claim 14:

the generator set further comprising;

a load bank that supplies variable load to the reserve bus; and

the method further comprising;

responsive to selectively connecting the selected unit to the wraparound bus, adjusting the variable load of the load bank.

17. The method of claim 16:

respective unit generators having a minimum load; and

adjusting the variable load of the load bank comprising;

selecting a variable load of the load bank to provide the minimum loads to respective unit generators.

18. The method of claim 16:

the generator set that provides a failure tolerance of a specified number of unit failures of unit generators; and

adjusting the variable load of the load bank comprising;

selecting a variable load of the load bank not greater than the loads of the specified number of unit failures.

19. The method of claim 16, adjusting the variable load of the load bank comprising:

responsive to detecting a connection of at least one unit generator to the wraparound bus, reducing the variable load of the load bank.

20. A system for controlling a generator set providing power to at least two units, the generator set comprising:

a reserve generator;

a reserve bus connecting respective units to the reserve generator;

for respective units;

a utility line;

a unit generator; and

a reserve switch that, responsive to detecting unit load exceeding power from the utility line and the unit generator, routes power from the reserve bus; and

a wraparound bus connecting respective unit generators to the reserve bus,

the system comprising;

a reserve load monitor that monitors a reserve load on the reserve bus and power from the reserve generator; and

a wraparound bus connector that, responsive to detecting reserve load on the reserve bus exceeding power from the reserve generator;

identifies a selected unit having spare power capacity that exceeds a unit load of the selected unit; and

selectively connects the selected unit to the wraparound bus to supplement the power provided by the reserve generator for the reserve load.