Rack-level scalable and modular power infrastructure

• US 9,642,282 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bailey, Edmond I., Vivio, Joseph A., Wang, Kunrong
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US15/046,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20160165744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 66
• 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: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

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.

Claims

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.

2. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, further comprising a DC/AC inverter coupled to the busbar.

3. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, further comprising an AC outlet coupled to the distribution element.

4. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, wherein at least the plurality of PSUs are deployed outside of usable server space within the rack.

5. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the PDU balances the current drawn from the phases of the input AC power.

6. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a connector card within the BBU element with a card connector of the PDU.

7. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the BBU element is deployed in a rack-mountable chassis outside of the PDU.

8. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the one or more connectors are ATX form factor connectors.

9. The rack-level power infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the PDU is operable to receive AC input power of at the least types of single-phase, three-phase Delta, three-phase Wye, interruptible, and noninterruptible.

10. A method for providing a rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:

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.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising coupling a DC/AC inverter coupled to the busbar.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising coupling an AC outlet to the distribution element.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein at least the plurality of PSUs are deployed outside of usable server space within the rack.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the PDU balances the current drawn from the phases of the input AC power.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

coupling a connector card within the BBU element with a card connector of the PDU.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the BBU element is deployed in a rack-mountable chassis outside of the PDU.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more connectors are ATX form factor connectors.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the PDU is operable to receive AC input power of at least the types of single-phase, three-phase Delta, three-phase Wye, interruptible, and noninterruptible.

19. An information handling system, comprising:

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.

20. The information handling system of claim 19, further comprising an AC outlet coupled to the distribution element.