Rack-level scalable and modular power infrastructure
First Claim
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1. A rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:
- a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the PDU receives alternating current (AC) power from an external power source;
a busbar coupled to the PDU, wherein the PDU outputs direct current (DC) power to the busbar;
a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) coupled to the PDU, wherein the PCIB comprises modular components that allow for the PCIB to receive multiple types of AC power without requiring a re-wiring of any connections to or from the PDU;
a distribution element coupled to the PCIB for receiving the AC power, wherein the distribution element comprises a wiring scheme to distribute phase-balanced power to one or more power elements disposed within the PDU, and wherein the one or more power elements comprises a plurality of single-phase, power supply units (PSUs);
one or more connectors for coupling the distribution element to the plurality of PSUs, wherein the one or more connectors carry phase-balanced AC power to the plurality of PSUs, and wherein each phase of the AC power is balanced across the plurality of PSUs so that each phase is loaded with the same number of PSUs;
a power infrastructure controller coupled to the plurality of PSUs, wherein the power infrastructure controller sends one or more control signals to the plurality of PSUs;
a first terminal within the PCIB for receiving one or more wires associated with the AC power;
a detachable interface coupled to the first terminal;
a swappable wiring block within the PCIB coupled to the first terminal, wherein the wiring block arranges one or more wires output from the first terminal into a pre-determined wiring arrangement for output to a second terminal within the PCIB, wherein the pre-determined wiring arrangement corresponds to a wiring arrangement of a third terminal; and
a battery back-up unit (BBU) element coupled to the busbar, wherein the BBU element charges from and discharges to the busbar based on one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs, wherein the one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs are based on the one or more control signals.
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Abstract
In accordance with the present disclosure, a scalable and modular rack-level power infrastructure is described. The power infrastructure may include a power distribution unit (PDU), which receives alternating current (AC) power from an external power source. The PDU may be coupled to a busbar and output DC power to the busbar. The busbar may be coupled to a server within a rack-server system and provide DC power to the server. Additionally, the infrastructure may include a battery back-up unit (BBU) element coupled to the busbar. The BBU element may charge from and discharge to the busbar.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:
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a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the PDU receives alternating current (AC) power from an external power source; a busbar coupled to the PDU, wherein the PDU outputs direct current (DC) power to the busbar; a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) coupled to the PDU, wherein the PCIB comprises modular components that allow for the PCIB to receive multiple types of AC power without requiring a re-wiring of any connections to or from the PDU; a distribution element coupled to the PCIB for receiving the AC power, wherein the distribution element comprises a wiring scheme to distribute phase-balanced power to one or more power elements disposed within the PDU, and wherein the one or more power elements comprises a plurality of single-phase, power supply units (PSUs); one or more connectors for coupling the distribution element to the plurality of PSUs, wherein the one or more connectors carry phase-balanced AC power to the plurality of PSUs, and wherein each phase of the AC power is balanced across the plurality of PSUs so that each phase is loaded with the same number of PSUs; a power infrastructure controller coupled to the plurality of PSUs, wherein the power infrastructure controller sends one or more control signals to the plurality of PSUs; a first terminal within the PCIB for receiving one or more wires associated with the AC power; a detachable interface coupled to the first terminal; a swappable wiring block within the PCIB coupled to the first terminal, wherein the wiring block arranges one or more wires output from the first terminal into a pre-determined wiring arrangement for output to a second terminal within the PCIB, wherein the pre-determined wiring arrangement corresponds to a wiring arrangement of a third terminal; and a battery back-up unit (BBU) element coupled to the busbar, wherein the BBU element charges from and discharges to the busbar based on one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs, wherein the one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs are based on the one or more control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing a rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:
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providing a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the PDU receives input alternating current (AC) power; coupling the PDU to a busbar, wherein the PDU outputs DC power to the busbar; coupling a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) to the PDU, wherein one or more modular components of the PDU allow the PCIB to receive multiple types of AC power without requiring a re-wiring of any connections to or from the PDU; coupling a distribution element to the PCIB for receiving the AC power; distributing phase-balanced power via a wiring scheme of the distribution element to one or more power elements disposed within the PDU, wherein the one or more power elements comprises a plurality of single-phase, power supply units (PSUs); coupling the distribution element to the plurality of PSUs via one or more connectors, wherein the one or more connectors carry phase-balanced AC power to the plurality of PSUs, and wherein each phase of the AC power is balanced across the plurality of PSUs so that each phase equal is loaded with the same number of PSUs; coupling a power infrastructure controller to the plurality of PSUs; sending one or more control signals from the power infrastructure controller to the plurality of PSUs; receiving one or more wires associated with the AC power at a first terminal within the PCIB; coupling a detachable interface to the first terminal; coupling a swappable wiring block within the PCIB to the first terminal; arranging by the wiring block one or more wires from the first terminal into a pre-determined wiring arrangement for output to a second terminal within the PCIB, wherein the pre-determined wiring arrangement corresponds to a wiring arrangement of a third terminal; and coupling a battery back-up unit (BBU) element to the busbar, wherein the BBU element charges from and discharges to the busbar based on one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs, and wherein the one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs are based on the one or more control signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An information handling system, comprising:
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a processor; a memory element coupled to the processor; a direct current (DC)/DC power supply coupled to the processor, wherein the DC/DC power supply receives power from a rack-level power infrastructure, and wherein the rack-level power infrastructure comprises; a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the PDU includes a plurality of single-phase, commodity power supply units (PSU) disposed in slots within the PDU; a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) coupled to the PDU, wherein the PCIB comprises modular components that allow for the PCIB to receive multiple types of AC power without requiring a re-wiring of any connections to or from the PDU; a distribution element coupled to the PCIB for receiving the AC power, wherein the distribution element comprises a wiring scheme to distribute phase-balanced power to one or more power elements disposed within the PDU, and wherein the one or more power elements comprises a plurality of single-phase, power supply units (PSUs); one or more connectors for coupling the distribution element to the plurality of PSUs, wherein the one or more connectors carry phase-balanced AC power to the plurality of PSUs, and wherein each phase of the AC power is balanced across the plurality of PSUs so that each phase is loaded with the same number of PSUs; a power infrastructure controller coupled to the plurality of PSUs, wherein the power infrastructure controller sends one or more control signals to the plurality of PSUs; a first terminal within the PCIB for receiving one or more wires associated with the AC power; a detachable interface coupled to the first terminal; a swappable wiring block within the PCIB coupled to the first terminal, wherein the wiring block arranges one or more wires output from the first terminal into a pre-determined wiring arrangement for output to a second terminal within the PCIB, wherein the pre-determined wiring arrangement corresponds to a wiring arrangement of a third terminal; a busbar coupled to the PDU, wherein the plurality of PSUs output DC power to the busbar based on the one or more control signals; and a battery back-up unit (BBU) element coupled to the busbar, wherein the BBU element charges from and discharges to the busbar based on one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs, and wherein the one or more inputs from the plurality of PSUs are based on the one or more control signals. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification