SCALABLE DISTRIBUTED REDUNDANCY

• US 20090033153A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Global Data Centers Americas Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: RagingWire Enterprise Solutions, Inc. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Macricostas, George, Linkhart, Charles O., Mishra, Yatish C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

A scalable power distribution system for a data center and methods for scaling a power distribution system are described. The scalable power distribution system includes a transformer that is connected to a load at its output. The input of the transformer is connected to two isolation switches. A source is connected to one switch at all times, and the source can be switched without affecting power to the load by synchronizing the two sources at the transformer before switching sources. The load is not de-energized at any time during the transfer process.

Claims

1. A scalable power distribution system comprising:

a transformer coupled with a load;

a first isolation switch connected to an input of the transformer;

a second isolation switch connected to the input of the transformer; and

a first power source connected to the first isolation switch;

wherein a second power source is connectable with the second isolation switch, the second power source and the first source synchronizable at the transformer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first power source and second power source comprise an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first isolation switch and the second isolation switch are manual switches.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first isolation switch and the second isolation switch are automatic switches.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second transformer coupled with the load;

a third isolation switch coupled with the second transformer; and

a fourth isolation switch coupled with the second transformer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second power source is connected to the first isolation switch and wherein the first power source is connected to the third isolation switch.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a third transformer coupled with the load;

a fifth isolation switch coupled with the third transformer; and

a sixth isolation switch coupled with the third transformer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a third power source is connectable with the second isolation switch, the third isolation switch, the fourth isolation switch, the fifth isolation switch or the sixth isolation switch.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein a second power source is connected to the third isolation switch, a third power source is connected to the fifth isolation switch, and wherein a fourth power source is connectable with the second isolation switch, the fourth isolation switch or the sixth isolation switch.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the load is divided equally among the first power source, the second power source and the third power source.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the load is divided equally between the first power source and the second power source.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the load is divided equally among the first power source, the second power source and the third power source.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system comprises a room for the first power source, second power source, transformer, first isolation switch and second isolation switch and a separate room for the load.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power source and the second power source are synchronizable at the transformer by switching the first power source and the second power source to an internal bypass mode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first power source and the second power source are both connected to a utility.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first power source and the second power source are both connected to a generator.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the first power source and the second power source are both connected to the output of a single UPS.

18. A method of distributing power comprising:

providing a transformer having a first isolation switch and a second isolation switch, a first source connected to the first isolation switch;

connecting a second source to the second isolation switch;

energizing the second source; and

deenergizing the first source.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising setting the first source and the second source to an internal bypass mode before connecting the second source to the load by closing the second isolation switch.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising returning the second source to a normal mode after deenergizing the first source.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising redeploying the first source circuit to the transformer after deenergizing the first source.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a second transformer having a third isolation switch and a fourth isolation switch, the second transformer connected to a different load; and

connecting the first source to the second transformer.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a third transformer having a fifth isolation switch and a sixth isolation switch, the third transformer connected to a different load;

connecting the first power source to the third transformer; and

connecting a third power source to the second transformer.

24. A power distribution unit comprising:

a transformer having an input and an output, the output of the transformer configured to be connected to a load;

a first isolation switch connected to the input of the transformer; and

a second isolation switch connected to the input of the transformer.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a first source is connectable to the first isolation switch and a second source is connectable to the second isolation switch.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the transformer, first isolation switch and second isolation switch are located in proximity to the first source and the second source and separate from the load.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first isolation switch and the second isolation switch are manual switches.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first isolation switch and the second isolation switch are automatic switches.

29. A method comprising:

providing a transformer having a first isolation switch and a second isolation switch, a first power source connected to the first isolation switch and a second power source connected to the second isolation switch;

synchronizing a first power source and a second power source;

energizing the second power source to the transformer by closing the second isolation switch; and

de-energizing the first power source.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising redeploying the circuit from the first source to the transformer after de-energizing the first power source.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing a second transformer having a first isolation switch and a second isolation switch; and

connecting the first power source to the second transformer.

32. A method for scaling a power distribution system comprising:

connecting a first transformer to a load, the first transformer comprising a first transformer, a first isolation switch and a second isolation switch;

connecting a first power circuit to the first isolation switch;

connecting a second transformer to the load, the second transformer comprising a second transformer, a third isolation switch and a fourth isolation switch; and

connecting a second power circuit to the third isolation switch.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

connecting a third transformer to the load, the third transformer comprising a third transformer, a fifth isolation switch and a sixth isolation switch.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising connecting a third power circuit to the fifth isolation switch.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising connecting a third power circuit to the fourth isolation switch and connecting the second power source to the fifth isolation switch.