System and Method for High-Phase Power Distribution in Data Centers

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for six-phase power used in data center components, such as busbars. [Solution] In a system including a power transmission mechanism for a data center, the busbar 122 includes one or more busbar sections. Each busbar section includes a housing 204 and a plurality of conductor rods 202 spaced apart in a first direction. The plurality of conductor rods includes six or more conductor rods and is at least partially enclosed by the housing. Each conductor rod may be arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and may be parallel to each of the other conductor rods. Each busbar section is detachably coupled to two or more output connectors at two or more connectable locations along the second direction. The two or more output connectors are inserted from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [Cross-reference of related applications] This application asserts, under § 119(e), the interests of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 712,254 filed on 25 October 2024 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 892,441 filed on 2 October 2025. Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to power transmission mechanisms in data centers, and more specifically, to the power distribution configuration of power transmission mechanisms in data centers. [Background technology]

[0003] Traditional data centers sometimes utilize three-phase power distribution systems to supply power to computing equipment. With increasing computing demands, particularly the deployment of high-density computing equipment such as artificial intelligence processors and graphics processing units, power requirements per rack can exceed typical power ratings. When conventional three-phase bus systems operate at these high power levels, it may be necessary to increase the cross-sectional area of ​​the conductors to handle the increased current per phase. This results in heavy and bulky overhead power distribution systems, which can strain the structural support system and reduce available space.

[0004] In the distribution of three-phase power at increased power density, significant resistance losses can occur in the conductors, and these losses contribute to waste heat. Furthermore, harmonic components generated by nonlinear loads such as switching power supplies can become more pronounced in three-phase systems, potentially requiring additional filtering equipment and an oversized neutral wire to control these harmonics.

[0005] In power distribution units (PDUs) that meet high power demands within or connected to computer servers used for high-performance computing (HPC) and / or artificial intelligence (AI) work processing, high-ampere capacity three-phase distribution systems are typically used for power distribution. However, the arrangement and termination of large cross-sectional area current conductors, as well as the safety requirements for the minimum functional insulation spacing between adjacent exposed bare conductors and termination elements, become limiting factors for power density and the construction of the enclosures for the aforementioned distribution and supporting equipment (e.g., in systems requiring 240 / 415Vac inputs to supply more than 200kVA).

[0006] Therefore, a system is needed that reduces conductor heating, improves power quality, and is built for higher power levels to meet the increasing power density demands of modern data centers. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0007] A system and method configured for six-phase power used in data center components (e.g., busbars) are disclosed.

[0008] A system for power distribution in a data center is disclosed according to one or more exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. In one exemplary embodiment, the system for power distribution in a data center includes a transformer configured to convert three-phase power to six-phase power. In another exemplary embodiment, the transformer is configured to be located near a power source. In another exemplary embodiment, the transformer includes a secondary winding containing at least six current-conducting conductors.

[0009] In another embodiment, the power source may include a floor-mounted power distribution unit.

[0010] In another embodiment, at least six current-conducting conductors of the secondary winding may be configured to be routed through one or more busbars or one or more insulated electrical cables to one or more racks housing one or more rack-mounted devices. In another embodiment, at least one of the one or more busbars or one or more insulated electrical cables may be used to supply multiphase power to the power input of the one or more rack-mounted devices.

[0011] A system configured for six-phase power is disclosed according to one or more exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. In one exemplary embodiment, the system includes a busbar. In another exemplary embodiment, the busbar includes one or more busbar sections of the busbar. In another exemplary embodiment, each busbar section includes a housing including a corresponding surface configured to receive a support element configured to suspend the busbar in an overhead configuration of a data center. In another exemplary embodiment, each busbar section includes a plurality of conductor rods spaced apart in a first direction, the plurality of conductor rods including six or more conductor rods and therefore configured for the six-phase power, the plurality of conductor rods being at least partially enclosed by the housing, each conductor rod of the plurality of conductor rods being positioned along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to each other conductor rod of the plurality of conductor rods. In another exemplary embodiment, each busbar section is configured to be detachably coupled to two or more output connectors at two or more coupled positions along the second direction. In another exemplary embodiment, the two or more output connectors are configured to be inserted from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions described above.

[0012] In another embodiment, the plurality of conducting rods described above may include seven or more conducting rods, each containing one first neutral conducting rod.

[0013] In another embodiment, the plurality of conductor rods described above may include eight or more conductor rods, each containing one first neutral conductor rod and one second neutral conductor rod.

[0014] In another embodiment, the plurality of conductors may be configured as isolated phases such that each conductor of the plurality of conductors is individually physically isolated from each adjacent conductor of the plurality of conductors by at least one of one or more respective air gaps or the respective cell walls of the housing, where each corresponding cell wall is configured to be electrically grounded.

[0015] In another embodiment, each conductor rod may be electrically insulated from adjacent cell walls by an electrical insulating element surrounding at least three sides of each conductor rod, wherein the electrical insulating element is configured to receive a portion of an output connector.

[0016] In another embodiment, each of the plurality of conductor rods may be in a sandwich configuration in which each of the plurality of conductor rods is sandwiched next to at least one adjacent conductor rod, except for one or more solid layers, wherein the one or more solid layers include one or more solid electrical insulating layers.

[0017] In another embodiment, each of the two or more locations along the second direction described above, configured to be detachably coupled to an output connector, may be discrete and distinct locations and may include discrete bus output interfaces, each bus output interface including six or more individual terminals, each individual terminal being electrically coupled to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors, and each individual terminal being configured to accept a corresponding conductive element of the output connector.

[0018] In another embodiment, the six or more individual terminals may be arranged in three or more rows spaced apart in the second direction described above.

[0019] In another embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the plurality of conductive rods may be coupled to a heat sink of the housing, where each heat sink extends over at least a portion of the width of the plurality of conductive rods along the third direction.

[0020] In another aspect, each heat sink may include a plurality of outwardly protruding fins configured to dissipate heat.

[0021] A method in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes providing a busbar configured for six-phase power. In another exemplary embodiment, the busbar includes one or more sections of the busbar. In another exemplary embodiment, each busbar section includes a housing including a corresponding surface configured to receive a support element configured to suspend the busbar within an overhead configuration of a data center. In another exemplary embodiment, each busbar section includes a plurality of conductor bars spaced in a first direction, where the plurality of conductor bars includes six or more conductors and is thus configured for six-phase power, where the plurality of conductor bars is at least partially surrounded by the housing, where each conductor bar of the plurality of conductor bars is arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is parallel to each other conductor bar of the plurality of conductor bars. In another exemplary embodiment, each busbar section is configured to be removably coupled to two or more output connectors at two or more connectable positions along the second direction. In another exemplary embodiment, the two or more output connectors are configured to be inserted from a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. In another exemplary embodiment, the method includes coupling the busbar to a power input configured to supply the six-phase power. In another exemplary embodiment, the method includes transmitting the six-phase power to the power input.

[0022] In another aspect, the plurality of conductor bars may include seven or more conductor bars including a first neutral conductor bar.

[0023] In another aspect, the plurality of conductor bars may include eight or more conductor bars including a first neutral conductor bar and a second neutral conductor bar.

[0024] In another aspect, each of the plurality of conductor bars may be in an isolated phase configuration such that each conductor bar of the plurality of conductor bars is physically isolated individually from each conductor bar of the adjacent plurality of conductor bars by at least one respective air gap or the corresponding respective cell wall of the housing, where each corresponding cell wall is configured to be electrically grounded.

[0025] In another aspect, each conductor bar may be electrically insulated from an adjacent cell wall by an electrical insulation element surrounding at least three sides of each conductor bar, where the electrical insulation element is configured to receive a part of an output connector.

[0026] In another aspect, each conductor bar of the plurality of conductor bars may be within a sandwich configuration sandwiched between at least one adjacent conductor bar of the plurality of conductor bars, except for one or more solid layers, where the one or more solid layers include one or more solid electrical insulation layers.

[0027] In another aspect, each of the two or more positions along the second direction configured to be detachably coupled to an output connector may be discrete and separate positions and may include a discrete busbar output interface, where each busbar output interface includes six or more individual terminals, where each individual terminal is electrically coupled to a corresponding conductor bar of the plurality of conductor bars, and where each individual terminal is configured to receive a corresponding conductive element of the output connector.

[0028] In another aspect, the six or more individual terminals may be arranged in three or more rows spaced in the second direction.

[0029] In another aspect, the upper and lower portions of the plurality of conductor bars may be respectively coupled to heat sinks of the housing, and each heat sink extends over at least a part of the width of the plurality of conductor bars along the third direction.

[0030] In another embodiment, each heatsink may include a plurality of outward-facing protruding fins configured to dissipate heat.

[0031] The above summary is provided solely to introduce the subject matter of this specification, which is described in its entirety in the detailed description and drawings. This summary should not be construed as describing essential features and should not be used to determine the scope of the claims. Furthermore, both the above summary and the following detailed description are illustrative and descriptive only and do not necessarily limit the subject matter of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] This detailed description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals for different subjects in this description and the drawings above may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments or examples of this disclosure (hereinafter referred to as "Examples") are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. The drawings do not necessarily reflect actual size. In general, the operations of the disclosed process may be performed in any order unless otherwise specified in the claims.

[0033] [Figure 1] This is a schematic block diagram illustrating a system including a power transmission mechanism for a data center, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] [Figure 2] This is a schematic block diagram showing a system including a busbar configured for six-phase power, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] [Figure 3A] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a lone phase configuration busbar according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0036] [Figure 3B] This is another perspective cross-sectional view showing the above-mentioned generatrix of the above-mentioned isolated phase configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] [Figure 3C] This is a cross-sectional view showing the end of the busbar of the above-described isolated phase configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] [Figure 4A] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a generatrix in a sandwich configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0039] [Figure 4B] This is a cross-sectional view showing the ends of the above-mentioned busbars in a sandwich configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0040] [Figure 4C] This is an enlarged perspective view showing the bus output interface of the bus in the sandwich configuration described above, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] [Figure 4D] This is a perspective view showing one bus output interface located on each side of the bus junction in the sandwich configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0042] [Figure 4E] This is a perspective view showing a cover for the above-mentioned coupling portion of the above-mentioned busbar in the above-mentioned sandwich configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] [Figure 4F] This is a perspective view showing a zoomed-out view of the busbars within the sandwich configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0044] [Figure 5] This figure shows the electrical configuration and waveform of the busbar described above, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0045] [Figure 6]This is a flowchart illustrating a method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0046] [Figure 7] This figure shows a double-star transformer according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0047] [Figure 8] This figure shows a rack PDU according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0048] [Figure 9] This figure shows a power diagram of a three-phase primary circuit according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0049] [Figure 10] This is a power diagram showing a six-phase line-to-line secondary circuit according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0050] [Figure 11] This is a power diagram showing a three-phase line-to-line secondary circuit according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0051] [Figure 12] This is a power diagram showing a divided three-phase line-to-line secondary circuit according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0052] [Figure 13] This figure shows how spacing is applied to conductors according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0053] Before describing in detail one or more embodiments of this disclosure, it should be understood that the applications of those embodiments are not limited to the configuration details and arrangement of components, or steps or methodologies shown in the following description or drawings. The detailed descriptions of the embodiments below may include numerous specific details to provide a deeper understanding of this disclosure. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art who benefits from this immediate disclosure that embodiments of this disclosure are implementable without some of these specific details. In other examples, well-known features may not be described in detail so as not to unnecessarily complicate this immediate disclosure.

[0054] Broadly speaking, embodiments of the concept disclosed herein can provide six-phase power to, for example, busbars in a data center. Six-phase power distribution in a data center environment can offer various operational advantages compared to conventional three-phase systems. For example, a six-phase power configuration allows for the use of reduced operating voltages for equivalent conductivity, which improves safety margins. In addition, the increased number of phases relative to a given capacity reduces the current per phase, leading to reduced resistance losses in conductors and reduced heat generation. Furthermore, six-phase systems can exhibit improved power quality characteristics, including harmonic reduction. The nature of current distribution across six phases rather than three phases allows for smaller individual conductor cross-sectional areas and / or smaller spacing between conductors, which may seem counterintuitive given the large number of conductors, but enables smaller busbar designs that maximize the use of overhead space in a data center environment compared to three-phase designs.

[0055] Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a system 100 including a power transmission mechanism 130 of a data center 132, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, where the power transmission mechanism includes a busbar 122.

[0056] In the embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 130 includes one or more components configured to generate, distribute, and / or utilize power in the data center 132.

[0057] For example, the above components of the power transmission mechanism 130 can supply power (e.g., supply external power 102a, or power generated by a generator 102b, or the same; supply battery backup power), modulate power (e.g., convert voltage, convert phase configuration, and / or the same), protect components (e.g., using circuit breakers, fuses, and / or the same), distribute power (e.g., distribute power to rack-mounted equipment 128 (e.g., rack-mounted computing equipment such as GPUs and CPUs) through one or more components), monitor power and / or components (e.g., monitor electrical defects and conditions), and / or the same.

[0058] For the purposes of this disclosure, “Data Center” includes any building, room, set of rooms, or area configured for computational operations, such as an area primarily configured for computational operations. For example, a data center may be controlled and / or maintained by a single entity to serve one or more entities (e.g., the same entity, other entities, or similar entities). A data center may include a server rack or similar with rack-mounted equipment configured to provide one or more outputs, such as output data from computationally intensive operations (e.g., data processing, cloud-based applications, cloud-based communications, artificial intelligence model inference, artificial intelligence model training, and / or similar entities).

[0059] It should be noted that the arrangements shown herein are non-limiting and illustrative only. In embodiments, one or more of the above components of the power transmission mechanism 130 may include any suitable components in any suitable arrangement. One or more of the above components of the power transmission mechanism 130 may be housed in any suitable location, such as separate or combined storage units, embedded in walls, wired using underfloor cables, wired overhead (e.g., busbars), and / or similar.

[0060] The one or more components of the power transmission mechanism 130 may include, but are not limited to, switches 104, 106, 108, 110, 114, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 112, a static transfer switch (STS) 116, a power distribution unit (PDU) 118, a remote power panel (RPP) 120, a busbar 122, a rack power distribution unit (rPDU) 124, a rack 126, or one or more of the same kind.

[0061] Each of the above components of the power transmission mechanism 130 may, but is not required, include an electrical interface (e.g., input / output electrical contacts, such as metal plates, conductor rods, terminals, lead wires, protrusions, soldered circuit connections, receptacles, plugs, and / or similar, which are detachably configured as electrical connectors). For example, the above electrical interface may include one or more input electrical interfaces configured to be coupled to one or more elements (e.g., the first corresponding electrical interface) to receive power, and one or more output electrical interfaces configured to be coupled to one or more other elements (e.g., the second corresponding electrical interface) to output power to one or more other elements (e.g., power distribution). For example, the output of the PDU (e.g., a conductive plate with protrusions) may be coupled to a cable or plate configured to transfer power from the output of the PDU to the input of the RPP or busbar. Such inputs and outputs may be used between any suitable components.

[0062] For the purposes of this disclosure, “cable” or similar term includes any conductor that is flexible in at least part of its length, such as an insulated wire, a bundle of multiple insulated wires with electrical connectors at both ends, a flexible cable whip in a conduit, and / or the same.

[0063] For the purposes of this disclosure, “switches” include assembled electrical isolation switches, fuses, circuit breakers, relays, and / or other protective devices configured to control, protect, and isolate electrical equipment within the power transmission mechanism 130 of the data center 132. Switches may be configured to de-energize (e.g., turn off) equipment in the power distribution to enable safety maintenance, to avoid downstream faults, and to provide operational control of the power distribution. In embodiments, switches may be located in one or more storage units or enclosures and may be located at external power input points, generator output points, upstream or downstream of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and / or other suitable locations. Switches may include low-voltage, medium-voltage, or high-voltage components and may be configured for manual or automatic operation. Switches may further include monitoring and control interfaces, such as sensors, status indicators, and communication units, to support remote or automated management of the power distribution and protection within the data center described above. However, this is a non-limiting example, and the switch may include any suitable combination of configurations or devices for controlling and protecting the power distribution in system 100.

[0064] For the purposes of this disclosure, the “Automatic Power Transfer / Parallel Switch 106” includes one or more storage units configured to automatically transfer loads between power sources 102 and / or synchronize and parallel multiple generators to a common busbar. In some embodiments, the Automatic Power Transfer / Parallel Switch 106 controls power sources and power breakers, performs transfers of transitions to open or closed, synchronizes voltage, frequency, and phase, manages load sharing and limiting, and supports black start, sporadic operation, and re-switching to external power upon recovery. The Automatic Power Transfer / Parallel Switch 106 may include protective devices, instruments, and control / communication interfaces and may be implemented as a standalone unit or integrated with building-attached switches 104 or other switches (e.g., 108, 110, 114).

[0065] For the purposes of this disclosure, “Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)” includes components configured to provide backup power to downstream equipment in the event of loss, degradation, or interruption of power from a power source (e.g., a primary power source). In embodiments, the UPS may be configured to supply power only for limited periods, such as during an external power outage, power shortage, or other power loss event, thereby enabling the continued operation and / or safe shutdown procedures of critical computing equipment. The UPS may include one or more energy storage elements, such as batteries, capacitors, or similar, and may further include power conversion circuits (e.g., inverters, rectifiers, chargers) for converting the stored energy into an output format suitable for downstream loads (e.g., DC or AC power). In embodiments, the UPS may be integrated within a switch, distributed across multiple units, and / or similar, as a separate storage unit, and may be located upstream or downstream of other components of the power transmission mechanism (e.g., between an input switch 110 and an output switch 114). However, this is a non-limiting example, and the above UPS may include any suitable configuration or arrangement for supplying uninterruptible power to computing operations within the data center 132.

[0066] For the purposes of this disclosure, “Static Transfer Switch (STS)” includes components configured to maintain power to downstream equipment by automatically transferring the power load between at least two independent power sources. For example, the STS may be configured to automatically transfer the power load from the first power source 102 (e.g., external power 102a) to the second power source 102 in the event of power degradation or loss from the first power source 102. The STS may also be configured to enable planned maintenance on a single power path while maintaining the load from an alternative power source to provide power maintenance. In embodiments, the STS may include a switch element (e.g., a solid-state switch element) configured to select and provide rapid transfer of the power sources. The STS may be the contents of a separate storage unit located between the UPS output switch 114 and the power distribution unit (PDU) 118, or similar. However, it should be noted that this is a non-limiting example, and the STS may be located in any suitable location and may include any suitable elements.

[0067] For the purposes of this disclosure, “Distribution Unit (PDU)” includes components configured to receive power from an upstream source (e.g., a switch, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), a static transfer switch (STS), or similar) and to supply the received power to a number of downstream components within a data center environment. In embodiments, the PDU may be configured to reduce voltage, convert electrical phase, isolate electrical defects, and / or distribute power to various subsystems (e.g., remote power panels (RPPs), busbars, rack distribution units (rPDUs), or equipment racks). The PDU may include transformers, circuit breakers, monitoring electronics, power quality meters, relays, surge protection, and / or other appropriate electrical components for controlling and / or monitoring the distribution.

[0068] The PDU may be installed in a floor-standing enclosure or integrated into a storage unit, depending on the requirements of the data center as a building. In some embodiments, the PDU may include intelligent functions (e.g., remote monitoring, communication interfaces, fault detection, energy consumption logging, remote switching, or similar) for coupling with a controller configured to monitor the system (e.g., a controller configured as a building management system (BMS) or a data center facilities management (DCIM) platform (e.g., controller 134)). The PDU may be configured to provide a highly reliable and redundant electrical path to ensure continuous power supply to downstream loads such as server racks and to facilitate the maintenance, scalability, and flexibility of the data center. However, it should be noted that these are non-limiting examples, and the PDU may include any configuration suitable for receiving, converting, monitoring, and / or distributing power to support computing operations in the data center.

[0069] For the purposes of this disclosure, “Remote Power Panel (RPP)” or power panel includes components configured to provide electrical protection for computing operations or similar devices. For example, an RPP may be configured to provide branch circuit protection and / or monitoring in the vicinity of computing operations to support visibility of power distribution in the white space of a data center. The RPP may be configured to distribute power from the PDU to the equipment rack by supplying branch circuits located in the vicinity of the rPDU and rack 126. In embodiments, the RPP includes at least one element provided for floor-mounted or wall-mounted installation, along with one or more openings for cable mounting. The RPP may include any suitable elements such as fuses, relays, and / or similar devices. However, it should be noted that this is a non-limiting example, and the RPP may include any suitable configuration for protecting computing operations in data center 132. The RPP may be configured to supply power via one or more cables (e.g., underfloor cables) as an alternative to busbars.

[0070] For the purposes of this disclosure, “busbar” includes components configured to distribute power overhead along one or more conductors in order to reduce underfloor cabling by moving distribution overhead. For example, each busbar section may include metal conductor strips or rod-shaped conductor elements called “conductor rods.” Unlike insulated cables, the conductors may be configured to be coupled to supply power output from two or more locations along their length. The conductor rods may be rigid and parallel. The conductor rods may be bare or coated metal and may be coupled at specific or arbitrary locations along their length. In embodiments, the busbar may include straight sections, attachments, couplings, and likewise coupled end to end, together with housings in each section configured for hot-swappable insertion of coupleable components (e.g., tap-off units, whips, or likewise). In embodiments, the busbar may be configured to supply power to multiple racks, for example, multiple rack PDUs 124. However, it should be noted that this is a non-limiting example, and the busbar described above may include any hypothetical hot-swappable structures for power distribution within the system described above.

[0071] For the purposes of this disclosure, “Rack Power Distribution Unit (rPDU)” includes components configured to distribute power to one or more rack-mounted devices (e.g., computing devices including GPUs, CPUs, or similar items) mounted within a rack. In embodiments, the rPDU may be mounted vertically or horizontally within the rack and may include multiple power output outlets (e.g., sockets) for supplying power to servers, storage devices, networking devices, or other rack-mounted devices. The rPDU may be configured to receive input power from an upstream power source, such as a remote power panel (RPP), busbar, or other suitable power source, and to distribute the received power to the devices connected within the rack. The rPDU may include functions for power measurement, monitoring, and / or control, such as integrated current and voltage sensors, network connectivity for remote monitoring, and / or the ability to switch individual sockets. In some embodiments, the rPDU may provide surge protection, circuit breakers, or other protective elements for protecting connected devices. The above rPDU may be configured with various plug and socket types to accommodate various equipment requirements. However, it should be noted that this is a non-limiting example, and the above rPDU may include any suitable configuration for the distribution and / or management of power within a rack in a data center environment.

[0072] For the purposes of this disclosure, “rack” includes any structure or enclosure configured to house, support, and organize one or more computing devices, such as rack-mounted equipment. For example, rack-mounted equipment may include servers, storage devices, network devices, or other electronic devices in a data center. A rack may include a frame, storage unit, or other suitable structure with mounting features (e.g., rails, shelves, and support brackets) to accept and stabilize rack-mounted equipment in a standard configuration (e.g., 19-inch or 23-inch rack width). The rack may be configured to facilitate cable management, airflow, and cooling, and may include features such as doors, side panels, and lockable access points for safety and maintenance. In embodiments, the rack may further include integrated or mountable rack power distribution units (rPDUs), environmental sensors, and / or monitoring equipment. The rack may be located in rows of racks on the floor of the data center, or in any suitable arrangement to support the computing operations of the data center. However, this is a non-limiting example, and the rack described above may include any structure or configuration for physically supporting, organizing, and / or protecting computing equipment within a data center environment.

[0073] For the purposes of this disclosure, “rack equipment,” “computing equipment,” “computing devices,” or similar terms include any electronic equipment configured to be mounted in a rack, such as servers, memory storage arrays, network switches, routers, firewalls, or specialized computing hardware (e.g., GPU servers, AI accelerators, or similar). Rack equipment may be powered by one or more rPDUs and may be configured for hot-swappable installation, remote management, and integration with data center monitoring systems. However, this is a non-limiting example, and rack equipment may include any suitable equipment for performing computing and / or networking operations in a data center.

[0074] For the purposes of this disclosure, “Signal” may be information, instructions, or data transmitted in any form, whether analog or digital, electrical, optical, wireless, or otherwise, between and / or to the components of System 100 and / or to the outside. Signals may include, for example, voltage or current, digital data packets, control instructions, sensor readings, status indicators, or other forms of communication for transmitting information between equipment, controllers, sensors, or other elements within a data center. Signals may be transmitted via hardware media (e.g., wires, cables, optical fibers) or wirelessly (e.g., radio frequencies, infrared) and may be used for purposes such as monitoring, control, synchronization, fault detection, or data exchange. However, it should be noted that this is a non-limiting example, and signals may include any suitable form or method for transmitting information within or between the components of System 100.

[0075] The system 100 may include a controller 134 which includes one or more processors 138 and memory 136. The controller 134 may be coupled to communicate with any one or more components of the power transmission mechanism 130. For example, the controller 134 may be configured to receive data from the power transmission mechanism 130 (e.g., power monitoring data from one or more power monitoring sensors) and / or to control one or more components of the power transmission mechanism 130. For example, the control may include sending a signal instructing the opening or closing of a power switch of any component if a defect is detected, or any other type of control on any other aspect.

[0076] One or more processors 138 of controller 134 may include any one or more processing elements known in the art. In this sense, one or more processors 138 may include any microprocessor device configured to execute algorithms and / or instructions. In one embodiment, one or more processors 138 may include a desktop computer, mainframe computer system, workstation, parallel processor, or other computer system (e.g., a networked computer) configured to execute a program configured to operate system 100 as described throughout this disclosure. It should be understood that the steps described throughout this disclosure may be performed by a single computer system or alternatively by multiple computer systems. Generally, the term “processor” above may be broadly defined to include any device having one or more processing elements that execute program instructions from non-temporary memory (e.g., memory 136). Furthermore, different subsystems of system 100 may include processors or logic elements suitable for performing at least some of the steps described throughout this disclosure. Accordingly, the above description should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure, but is merely illustrative.

[0077] Memory 136 may include any storage medium known in the Art that is suitable for storing program instructions executable by one or more associated processors 138. For example, memory 136 may include non-temporary memory. For example, memory 136 may include, but is not limited to, read-only memory, random-access memory, magnetic or optical storage devices (e.g., disks), magnetic tape, solid-state drives, or similar devices. It should be noted that in another embodiment, memory 136 is configured to store one or more results from the output of system 100 and / or various steps described throughout this disclosure. Furthermore, memory 136 may be housed in a controller housing common to one or more processors 138. In an alternative embodiment, memory 136 may be located away from the physical locations of the processors and controller 134. For example, one or more processors 138 of controller 134 may access remote memory (e.g., a server) accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet, an intranet, or similar). In another embodiment, memory 136 stores the program instructions for causing one or more processors 138 to perform various steps described throughout this disclosure.

[0078] All methods described herein may include storing the results of one or more steps of the embodiments of the above methods onto a storage medium. The above results may include any results described herein and may be stored in any manner known in the art. The above storage medium may include any storage medium described herein or any other suitable storage medium known in the art. After the above results are stored, they become accessible within the storage medium and are used by any embodiment of the above methods or systems described herein, formatted for display to a user, and used by another software module, method, system, or similar. Furthermore, the above results may be stored “permanently,” “semi-permanently,” temporarily, or for a period of time. For example, the above storage medium may be random access memory (RAM), and the above results do not necessarily need to exist indefinitely on the above storage medium.

[0079] In another embodiment, the controller 134 of system 100 may be configured to receive and / or acquire data or information from other systems via a transmission medium which may include cable and / or wireless portions. In another embodiment, the controller 134 of system 100 may be configured to transmit data or information (e.g., the output of one or more processes described herein) to one or more systems or subsystems via a transmission medium which may include cable and / or wireless portions. In this manner, the transmission medium may function as a data link between the controller 134 and other subsystems of system 100. Furthermore, the controller 134 may transmit data to an external system via a transmission medium (e.g., a network connection).

[0080] In another embodiment, the system 100 includes a user interface. In one embodiment, the user interface is coupled to communicate with one or more processors 138 of the controller 134. In another embodiment, the user interface device may be used by the controller 134 to receive selections and / or instructions from the user. In some embodiments further described in this disclosure, a display (not shown) may be used to display data to the user. The user may then input selections and / or instructions in response to the data displayed to the user via the display device, via a user input device.

[0081] The user interface devices described above may include any user interface known in the art. For example, the user input devices of the user interface may include, but are not limited to, keyboards, keypads, touchscreens, levers, knobs, scroll wheels, trackballs, switches, dials, sliding bars, scroll bars, slides, handles, touchpads, paddles, steering wheels, joysticks, bezel input devices, or similar devices. In the case of touchscreen interface devices, those skilled in the art should recognize that a number of touchscreen interface devices can be adapted for implementations of the disclosure. For example, the display device may be integrated with a touchscreen interface such as, but not limited to, a capacitive touchscreen, a resistive touchscreen, a surface acoustic wave-based touchscreen, an infrared-based touchscreen, or similar devices. In general, any touchscreen interface that can be integrated with the display portion of the display device is suitable for implementations of the disclosure.

[0082] The above-mentioned display device may include any display device known in the art. In one embodiment, the display device may include, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD). In another embodiment, the display device may include, but is not limited to, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) based display. In another embodiment, the display device may include, but is not limited to, a CRT display. Those skilled in the art should recognize that various display devices would be suitable for implementation of the disclosure, and the selection of a particular display device may depend on various factors, including, but not limited to, form factor, cost, and similar factors. In general, any display device that can be integrated with a user input device (e.g., touchscreen, bezel-mounted interface, keyboard, mouse, trackpad, and similar) is suitable for implementation of the disclosure.

[0083] As shown in the figure, the busbar 122 may receive power from a power input 140 (e.g., an electrical conductor such as a cable, terminal, board, or similar object). For example, the six or more electrical conductors may be routed from the PDU 118 or any other component of the power transmission mechanism 130 to the end of the busbar 122. The six or more electrical conductors may include six-phase conductors, each capable of carrying one phase of a six-phase system, to correspond to a six-phase power distribution. In embodiments using seven electrical conductors, an additional conductor may function as a neutral feedback path. In embodiments using eight electrical conductors, two conductors may be configured as neutral conductors, providing redundancy or configured to handle unbalanced loads between different phase pairs. The power input 140 may include termination blocks, lug connections, or bolted busbar connections configured to accommodate a larger number of conductors than a conventional three-phase system. The above routing of six or more electrical conductors from PDU118 may require a special cable tray configuration or conduit size to accommodate the increased number of conductors while maintaining the necessary isolation distance for electrical safety and heat dissipation. Busbar 122 may supply the above power via power output 142.

[0084] The power transmission mechanism 130 may include a transformer 150 that converts three-phase power to six-phase power. The transformer 150 may be located at various points within the power transmission mechanism 130 to facilitate the conversion from three-phase to six-phase distribution, or for other appropriate power phase conversion. For example, the transformer 150 may be integrated into the PDU 118, mounted adjacent to the PDU 118, or located at any intermediate point between the power source 102 and the busbar 122. The transformer 150 may include a three-phase primary winding configuration and a six-phase secondary winding configuration. For example, the transformer 150 may employ a double delta or double wye secondary winding configuration to generate six output phases from a three-phase input. As another example, the transformer 150 may include a primary delta configuration paired with a double wye secondary configuration, where the double wye secondary configurations are electrically phase-shifted by 30° from each other. Transformer 150 may alternatively be configured to produce two separate three-phase outputs that collectively approximate a six-phase power source, sometimes referred to as a composite three-phase configuration. For example, transformer 150 may include a double three-phase secondary winding, where the first three-phase secondary winding provides phases 0, 120, and 240°, and the second three-phase secondary winding provides phases 30, 150, and 270°. For example, when these two three-phase systems are coupled at the input of the busbar 122 described above, a six-phase distribution system with a 60° phase separation between adjacent phases is efficiently constructed. However, it should be noted that this is a non-limiting example, and transformer 150 may include any type of transformer configuration suitable for converting three-phase power to six-phase power or for generating multiple three-phase outputs that are out of phase with each other and approximate a six-phase distribution.

[0085] In embodiments, any number and set of composite three-phase, all-six-phase, or other phase configurations may be used along any length of the power transmission mechanism. For example, a three-phase input may be converted to a six-phase output using a transformer, and such power, after passing through one or more components of the power transmission mechanism, may be converted to a composite three-phase that approximates the six-phase power, and then converted back, or similarly. Such changes in phase configuration may enable the use of a selectable phase during the selection stage of the power transmission mechanism, which can improve efficiency and provide interoperability with existing components, such as components configured for six-phase, composite three-phase, and / or three-phase.

[0086] In an embodiment, the system 100 for power distribution in the data center 132 may include a transformer 150 configured to convert three-phase power to six-phase power. The transformer 150 may be configured to be located near a power source (e.g., a PDU 118, or any other component of the power transmission mechanism 130). The transformer 150 may include a secondary winding (see secondary winding 702 in Figure 7) having at least six current-conducting conductors (e.g., cable windings of the transformer coupled to projections, cables, conducting rods, or similar objects).

[0087] The above power source may include a floor power distribution unit (PDU) 118.

[0088] The above-mentioned six current-conducting conductors of the secondary winding 702 may be configured to be routed to one or more racks 126 housing one or more rack-mounted equipment 128 via at least one of one or more busbars 122 or one or more insulated electrical cables (e.g., RPP120 cables). At least one of the above-mentioned busbars 122 or one or more of the above-mentioned insulated electrical cables may be used to supply multiphase power to the power input of the one or more rack-mounted equipment 128.

[0089] Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a system 100 including the busbar 122 configured for six-phase power, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0090] The above-described busbar 122 may include one or more busbar sections 210. For example, the sections 210 may be straight and their ends may be joined at a joint 216. The joint 216 may be any suitable shape that allows for a straight arrangement and / or a curved arrangement (e.g., a 90° bend) of the sections 210.

[0091] Each busbar section 210 may include a housing 204. For example, the housing may at least partially enclose the internal conductor (e.g., the conductor rod 202).

[0092] The housing 204 may include corresponding surfaces configured to receive a support element 214 (e.g., an imaginary mounting bracket). The support element 214 may be configured to suspend the busbar 122 in the imaginary configuration of the data center 132. See Figure 3B for an example of a corresponding surface 308 configured to receive the support element 214. For example, the corresponding surface 308 may include protrusions and / or recesses, such as sockets, holes, ridges, grooves, and / or similar features. For example, the corresponding surface 308 may include two opposite projections that define a groove on the opposite side that receives the corresponding end of the support element 214, where an example of the support element 214 is a mounting bracket or tab that slides under the projections.

[0093] Each busbar section 210 may include a plurality of conductor rods 202 spaced apart in a first direction. The first direction may be called the stacking direction and may be horizontal or vertical depending on the orientation of the busbar and the insertion direction of the output connector. Each of the plurality of conductor rods 202 may be arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and may be parallel to each other among the plurality of conductor rods 202. In embodiments, the second direction may include any direction, but is usually horizontal.

[0094] Each busbar section 210 may be configured to be detachably connected to two or more output connectors 212 (e.g., turnouts, whips, or similar devices) at two or more connectable positions along the second direction described above. The two or more output connectors 212 may be configured to be inserted from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions described above. For example, the third direction may be vertical from below or horizontal from the side.

[0095] Each output connector 212 may be configured to be connected to a load 208 (e.g., an electrical load such as a rack PDU 124, computing equipment, or similar device).

[0096] The multiple conductor rods 202 described above may be enclosed at least partially by the housing 204. For example, the housing 204 may enclose three or more sides of the conductor rods 202, leaving one side open for coupling.

[0097] The above-mentioned plurality of conductor rods 202 may include six or more conductor rods 202 and may therefore be configured for the above-mentioned six-phase power. However, it should be noted that the plurality of conductor rods 202 may include any appropriate number of conductor rods 202 in combination with any appropriate number of additional conductor rods 202 for neutral conductor rods, wired communications, and / or similar.

[0098] For example, the above-mentioned plurality of conductor rods 202 may include seven or more conductor rods 202, including the first neutral conductor rod of the plurality of conductor rods 202.

[0099] As another example, the above-mentioned plurality of conductor rods 202 may include eight or more conductor rods 202, including the first neutral conductor rod and the second neutral conductor rod of the above-mentioned plurality of conductor rods 202.

[0100] Figures 3A to 3C disclose a busbar having isolated conductors exposed along its length, allowing for continuous adjustment of coupling positions, and Figures 4A to 4F disclose a busbar having a discrete coupling interface that restricts coupling to multiple discrete positions. However, it should be noted that the busbar 122 described herein is a non-limiting example, and any suitable busbar 122 configured for six-phase power, of any suitable configuration, shape, size, or similar, may be used.

[0101] Figure 3A shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a busbar 122 with an isolated phase configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the isolated phase configuration may include or be classified as an iMPB (individualized power busbar). In the embodiment, the isolated phase configuration may allow couplers (e.g., turnouts, whips, or similar devices) to be coupled at any continuously adjustable position along the length of the busbar 122. However, in some embodiments, even in the isolated phase configuration, the number of coupling positions on the busbar may be finite, for example, limited by spaced recesses or similar structures.

[0102] In some embodiments, the multiple conductor rods 202 are arranged in an isolated phase configuration such that each conductor rod 202 is individually physically isolated from each adjacent conductor rod 202. For example, each conductor rod 202 of the multiple conductor rods 202 may be individually physically isolated from each adjacent conductor rod 202 by at least one of one or more corresponding air gaps 302 or corresponding cell walls 304 (e.g., separation walls) of the housing 204. Each corresponding cell wall 304 may be configured to be electrically grounded, for example, by being formed of an electrically conductive material and electrically coupled to a commonly groundable element (e.g., top plate 310). In embodiments, the main body 312 of the housing may include the top plate 310 and the cell walls 304. The main body 312 may include a consistent cross-sectional area along its entire length that can be manufactured by extrusion or similar methods.

[0103] Each conductor rod 202 may be further electrically insulated from adjacent cell walls 304 by an electrical insulation element 306 surrounding at least three sides of each conductor rod 202. The electrical insulation element 306 may be configured to receive a portion (e.g., a tip) of an output connector 212 through a groove or similar. For example, the groove of the electrical insulation element 306 may be located in a gap between adjacent cell walls 304 so that the tip of a branch (or any other coupling element) may be inserted into and coupled to the conductor rod 202. The gap may be bare (e.g., always exposed to the external environment) or covered (e.g., covered by a shutter (not shown) when not in use).

[0104] Figures 3B and 3C show alternative perspective cross-sectional views of the above-mentioned busbar 122 in the isolated phase configuration of Figure 3A, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0105] Figure 4A shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the generatrix 122 in a sandwich configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The sandwich configuration allows coupling to the generatrix 122 at discrete positions 408.

[0106] In some embodiments, the multiple conductor rods 202 are in a sandwich configuration such that each conductor rod 202 is sandwiched adjacent to at least one adjacent conductor rod 202, except for one or more solid layers. The one or more solid layers may include one or more solid electrical insulating layers 402 to prevent electrical coupling, one or more layers for corrosion prevention (e.g., paint), one or more adhesive layers (e.g., adhesive), and / or similar. However, the one or more solid layers may be thermally conductive so that the conductor rods 202 are in a thermally conductive state (e.g., configured to transfer heat to each other). In some embodiments, the sum of the thicknesses of the one or more solid layers between any two conductor rods 202 is less than the thickness of a single conductor rod 202.

[0107] Each of the two or more positions 408 along the second direction described above, configured to be detachably coupled to the output connector 212, may be discrete and distinct positions and may include a discrete bus output interface 410.

[0108] Figure 4B shows an end section view of the busbar 122 in the sandwich configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 4C shows an enlarged perspective view of the busbar output interface 410 of the busbar 122 in the sandwich configuration according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0109] Each bus output interface 410 may include six or more individual terminals 412 (e.g., isolated ports, openings, engageable connectors). For example, each bus output interface 410 may include seven or more, or eight or more, individual terminals 412. Each individual terminal 412 may be electrically coupled to and arranged on a corresponding conductor rod 202 of a plurality of conductor rods 202. Each individual terminal 412 may be configured to accept a corresponding conductive element (e.g., tip, pin, engageable connector, or similar) of an output connector 212 (e.g., a turnout). The bus output interface 410 may include non-conductive outward-facing surfaces 418 (e.g., cover plates) that extend, clarify, and isolate the individual terminals 412. Any portion of the conductor rods 202 other than the terminals 412 may be covered with a plate, paint, or similar material to prevent accidental electric shock. In some embodiments, the terminals 412 themselves may be covered for safety.

[0110] The six or more individual terminals 412 described above may be arranged in any suitable configuration. In some embodiments, the six or more individual terminals 412 are arranged in three or more columns. Each column may be spaced apart from adjacent columns in the second direction described above. Each terminal 412 in a particular column may be spaced apart from adjacent terminals 412 in the first direction described above (e.g., vertically).

[0111] For example, as shown in the figure, each terminal 412 in a particular row may be coupled to a first conductor rod that is shifted by three positions (i.e., two intervening conductor rods) from the other conductor rod coupled to the adjacent terminal 412 in the same row. This three-position shift arrangement would not be achievable in a three-phase system.

[0112] The above three-position staggered arrangement is uniquely made possible by the increased number of conductor rods in the six-phase configuration. For example, this spacing can provide enhanced electrical isolation between terminals 412 within a single row, reducing the risk of arcing during hot-swapping operations where output connectors 212 are inserted or removed while busbars 122 are energized. The above-mentioned increased physical isolation between energized terminals 412 within the same row can enlarge the terminal contact area, which can reduce contact resistance and associated heating at the above-mentioned connection points. Furthermore, this arrangement can allow for the use of more robust insulating barriers between terminals 412, improving the safety margin for maintenance personnel. This staggered configuration can also promote more efficient heat dissipation by distributing thermal hotspots at different vertical positions rather than clustering adjacent terminals near the same height. In addition, the three positional offsets described above may offer a mechanical advantage by distributing the insertion force between conductor rods of different heights when the output connector 212 is coupled to the busbar output interface 410, thereby potentially reducing the mechanical load on the individual conductor rods 202 and their support structure.

[0113] For example, as shown in the diagram, terminals 412 in the first row may be coupled to the first (e.g., highest) conductor rod, the fourth conductor rod, and the seventh conductor rod. Terminals 412 in a different row (e.g., the third row) may be coupled to the second conductor rod, the fifth conductor rod, and the eighth conductor rod. Terminals 412 in another row (e.g., the second row) may be coupled to the third conductor rod and the sixth conductor rod. This configuration may offer advantages such as the maximum possible spacing between terminals 412 in a configuration with three rows and eight or more terminals. This may allow for closer conductor rods (e.g., thinner, smaller conductor rod sandwich designs).

[0114] As shown in Figure 4C, the phases of the terminals and / or conductor rods described above may be such that the first (e.g., highest) conductor rod of the first row is L3, the fourth conductor rod is L3O, and the seventh conductor rod is N (e.g., neutral). Terminals 412 of a different row (e.g., the third row) may have the second conductor rod as N (e.g., neutral), the fifth conductor rod as L1, and the eighth conductor rod as L1O. Terminals 412 of another row (e.g., the second row) may have the third conductor rod as L2, and the sixth conductor rod as L2O. Throughout this disclosure, “O,” e.g., L1O, means “opposite phase” or “a 180° shift within each Lx / LxO pair.” Thus, L1 / L1O, L2 / L2O, and L3 / L3O, collectively provide six phases. The two Ns described above may be neutral or of the same kind as neutral.

[0115] In the embodiment, each busbar output interface 410 may include an additional terminal 414, which may be configured as, for example, a protective earth (PE) terminal. For example, the additional terminal 414 may be electrically coupled to the housing 204 (e.g., the main trunk 312) rather than to the multiple conductor rods 202. In another example, the additional terminal 414 may be coupled to an additional conductor rod (e.g., a third, PE conductor rod). The additional terminal 414 may be configured as a first-make / last-break terminal, which is the first to electrically couple with the output connector 212 when coupled and the last to disconnect when uncoupled. For example, the additional terminal 414 may have a different shape from the other terminals 412. For example, the additional terminal 414 may include a relatively shallow hole or similar, so that the electrical contact is configured differently to ensure the desired first-make / last-break behavior.

[0116] In the embodiment, the uppermost and lowermost conductor rods 202 may be coupled to a heatsink 404 of the housing 204, respectively. Each heatsink 404 may extend over at least a portion of the width of the conductor rods 202 along the third direction. Each heatsink 404 may include a plurality of outward-facing protruding fins 406 which may be configured to dissipate heat.

[0117] Figure 4D shows a perspective view of the bus output interfaces 410 on each side of the busbar 122 coupling in the sandwich configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 4E shows a perspective view of the cover 416 of the busbar 122 coupling 216 in the sandwich configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 4F shows a zoomed-out perspective view of the busbar 122 in the sandwich configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0118] As shown in Figure 4F, any number of bus output interfaces 410 may be used, for example, six or more for each section 210.

[0119] Figure 5 shows the electrical configuration of busbar 122 in Figure 500 and waveform 502 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0120] As shown in phase diagram 500 and symmetric sinusoidal waveform 502, the conducting rod 202 may be configured for a six-phase voltage, having paired 180° counterparts (e.g., X / X0, Y / Y0, Z / Z0) and being 60° separated equiamplitude sinusoidal waves, forming a set of regular hexagons that produce a near-zero neutral current under a balanced load, and enabling ripple reduction during rectification of multiple waves. Phase diagram 500 may also show two three-phase star configurations that collectively provide the above six-phase distribution, shifted by 30° electrical phase from each other. When coupled, these two three-phase systems may form the illustrated hexagonal phase configuration, where each phase pair may maintain 180° opposition, and the three phase pairs may be shifted by 120° from each other. This configuration may result in each adjacent phase being separated by an electrical angle of 60°. Waveform 502 may indicate that, at any specified point in time, under balanced load conditions, the vector sum of all six-phase currents can approach zero, thereby significantly reducing or eliminating the flow of neutral current through the neutral conductor rod.

[0121] Figure 6 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 600 for providing a busbar 122 configured for six-phase power, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that the embodiments and implements described herein should be interpreted as extending to method 600 in the context of system 100. Furthermore, it should be noted that the steps of method 600 may be implemented in whole or in part in system 100. However, it should be further recognized that method 600 is not limited to system 100, in that additional or alternative system-level embodiments may perform all or in part of the steps of method 600.

[0122] In step 610, a busbar 122 configured for six-phase power may be provided. The busbar 122 may include one or more busbar sections 210. Each busbar section 210 may include a housing 204. Each busbar section 210 may include a plurality of conductor rods 202 spaced apart in a first direction. The plurality of conductor rods 202 may include six or more conductor rods 202 and thus be configured for the above six-phase power. The plurality of conductor rods 202 may be at least partially enclosed by the housing 204. Each busbar section 210 may be configured to be detachably coupled to two or more output connectors 212.

[0123] In step 620, the busbar 122 may be coupled to a power input 140 configured to supply the six-phase power described above. For example, the busbar 122 may be coupled to any component of the power transmission mechanism 130, such as the PDU 118.

[0124] In step 630, the above six-phase power may be transmitted through the power input 140. For example, the entire capacity of the data center 132 may be turned on (e.g., activated) via the controller 134. Thus, the above six-phase power may be transmitted from the power input 140 through the busbar 122.

[0125] As described above, conventional, high-ampere-capacity three-phase distribution systems are typically used for power distribution for floor-standing and rack-mounted PDUs supporting the high power demands of computer servers or PSUs coupled thereto used for HPC and / or AI work processing. However, the above-mentioned arrangement and termination of large cross-sectional area current conductors, as well as the above-mentioned safety requirements for the minimum functional insulation distance between adjacent exposed bare conductors and termination elements, become limiting factors for power density and the construction of enclosures for distribution and support equipment (e.g., in systems requiring a supply of 240 / 415Vac to distribute more than 200kVA).

[0126] Figures 7 to 13 relate to the use of six-phase power in a data center, such as near a floor-level PDU, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0127] Systems and methods configured to provide high-phase power distribution in data centers would be desirable. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to use a high-phase (HPO) PDU system configured to arrange at least six current conductors (e.g., with or without a neutral) configured for six-phase power for greater power density than a three-phase system. Additionally or alternatively, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to provide power transfer equivalence using proportionally reduced functional isolation spacing and reduced cross-sectional area current conductors.

[0128] It should be noted that being configured for six-phase power may mean being configured for all six-phase power and / or for composite three-phase power. Composite three-phase power may include being configured to transmit two separate three-phase outputs that collectively approximate a six-phase power source. In embodiments, any number and rows of composite three-phase, all six-phase, or other phase configurations may be used along any length of the power transmission mechanism, e.g., PDU 118. For example, a three-phase input may be converted to a six-phase output using transformer 150, and then the power, as described above, after passing through one or more components of the power transmission mechanism, undergoes a conversion to a composite three-phase approximating six-phase power and then back to that, or similar. Such changes in phase configuration may allow for the use of selected phases in the selection stage of the power transmission mechanism, thereby improving efficiency and providing interoperability with existing components such as components configured for six-phase, composite three-phase, and / or three-phase.

[0129] In a six-phase PDU system, the electric field strength between electrically displaced current conductors at 60° can be 1.73 times lower than in a 120° three-phase system, resulting in the line voltage becoming equal to the phase voltage (e.g., as can be expressed by the formulas and calculations described herein). Therefore, the minimum required spacing between parallel and adjacent, 60° phase-shifted conductors and termination elements may be based on a lower operating voltage. Thus, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to utilize an improved six-phase voltage equal to the three-phase line voltage (e.g., in compliance with electrical engineering standards and applicable safety standards) and provide increased power density (e.g., up to 73% or other appropriate value) with the same cross-sectional area of ​​current conductors and functional insulation spacing.

[0130] With a scale comparable to that of a three-phase power supply, a high-phase PDU system (e.g., six-phase) converted from a three-phase power supply using transformer 150 (e.g., a double-star transformer as shown in Figure 7, or other suitable transformer) can be located independently or within floor PDU 118, reducing the cross-sectional area, weight, and cost per conductor in terms of placement and termination. This can result in design and construction efficiency benefits for many components, including multi-conductor power whips, busbar structures and associated elements, termination blocks, reduction in the volume of busbars in overhead and rack PDUs to allow for reduced grounding burden and accommodation of cable bending radii, reduction in voltage and current sensing elements, reduction in the size of overcurrent protection devices (OCPDs) protecting the above-mentioned containers, or similar. Additionally or alternatively, six-phase power distribution can offer a combination of options for low-voltage (e.g., less than 600V) multiphase power distribution in rack PDUs for both information technology (IT) and computing equipment, with different PSU input voltages, by utilizing oblique and cross-phase conductors (e.g., a 240 / 415Vac supply can nominally configure 240Vac, 415Vac, and 480Vac, and a 277 / 480Vac supply can nominally configure 277Vac, 480Vac, and 554Vac).

[0131] The transformer 150 may include a primary winding 702 positioned in close proximity to the secondary winding 704. For example, the secondary winding 704 may include at least six current-carrying conductors (e.g., electrically conductive materials such as cables or similar materials) configured to carry six-phase power.

[0132] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to use three smaller voltage values ​​and a smaller number of current sensing elements (e.g., for reduced computational resources, lower costs, and increased space savings) for energy measurement in a suitable three-phase four-wire receptacle (e.g., 480V NEMA L16-20R). The systems and methods described herein may be configured to use the impedance of a six-phase transformer 150 to reduce downstream short-circuit fault currents.

[0133] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to provide thermal performance advantages over a 100 kVA rack PDU reference design (e.g., as shown in Figure 8), resulting in a temperature reduction of more than -10°C measured in the case of a 20A OCPD compared to the case of a 30A OCPD when operating in an ambient environment of 60°C (e.g., within a hot aisle of a data center) under their respective upper load conditions.

[0134] Additionally or alternatively, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to use a thermal interface material (TIM) formulation between the OCPD case and an internal metal structure for the chassis or heat sink (e.g., this may provide a temperature reduction of -8°C). The systems and methods described herein may be configured to use current conductors with reduced cross-sectional area to maintain power transfer comparable to that of three phase, but using an improved phase voltage that takes advantage of the increased power density (e.g., compared to a low-current rated OCPD) and accordingly reduced Joule heat (I 2 This generates R), which can eliminate the need for TIM by providing a low-cost and less complex construction.

[0135] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to change the three-phase power supply from 240 / 415Vac to 330 / 575Vac using a newly configured UPS for increased power supply capacity (e.g., 44%), for low power consumption relating to converting the output of the above-mentioned floor PDU for six-phase 240 / 415Vac distribution in order to increase power transmission capacity (e.g., 73%). Additionally or alternatively, the six-phase configuration provides an alternative high-power-density solution for white space for HPC / AI for power conversion equipment operating with a wide range of low voltage inputs (e.g., 220Vac < V < 600Vac for open compute (OCP) compliant power racks). In some embodiments, to provide greater compatibility for the various voltage input requirements of power conversion equipment sharing the same rack space, up to six combinations of two-phase lines, two combinations of 120° three-phase lines, and a single 180° split-phase line may be available in the above-mentioned rack PDU. These wiring configurations are shown in Figures 10 to 12. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to provide a reduction in the volume of components for power distribution (e.g., 25% or other appropriate value) by reducing the functional isolation spacing and / or the cross-sectional area of ​​the current-conducting conductors when using improved phase voltages. The above phase voltages may be defined as follows for a three-phase system: V l =Vp∠O°-Vp∠(-120°) (Formula 1) V l =Vp(1∠0°-1∠(-120°)) (Formula 2) V l =Vp(1+j0-(cos(-120°)+jsin(-120°))) (Equation 3) V l =Vp(1+0.5+j0.866) (Formula 4) |V l |=|Vp|√(1.5 2 +0.8662)...(Formula 5) |V l |=1.736 × |Vp| ∴ 1.73 × phase voltage ≡ line voltage ···(Equation 6)

[0136] And, according to the six-phase system, the phase voltage may be defined as follows. V l =Vp∠0° - Vp∠(-60°) ···(Equation 7) V l =Vp(1∠0° - 1∠(-60°)) ···(Equation 8) V l =Vp(1 + j0 - (cos(-60°) + jsin(-60°))) ···(Equation 9) V l =Vp(1 - 0.5 + j0.866) ···(Equation 10) |V l | = |Vp|√(0.5 2 + 0.866 2 ) ···(Equation 11) |V l | = |Vp| ∴ Phase voltage ≡ Line voltage ···(Equation 12)

[0137] In some embodiments, the above-described systems and methods described in the present disclosure may be configured to convert three phases to six-phase power distribution near the above-described power source or the first-stage sub-feed circuit division (e.g., floor PDU 118 or other suitable power distribution unit) using a suitable transformer. The above-described systems and methods described in the present disclosure may be configured to deploy at least six conductive current-carrying conductors including a protective earth (PE) conductor along an overhead bus or cable tray to one or more racks including in-rack equipment 128 (e.g., IT and computing equipment). The above-described systems and methods described in the present disclosure may be configured to use one or more rack PDU buses for the division of the final-stage branch circuit to provide poly-phase power distribution to the above-described equipment power inputs. The above-described systems and methods described in the present disclosure may be configured to utilize a configurable voltage output range and an increased power density achievable through a reduction in the size and / or number of distribution and termination elements and a reduction in the computing resources required by the rack PDU 124 for energy measurement.

[0138] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be configured to use the HPO technology within the gray and / or white space of a data center. The systems and methods described herein may be configured to provide six-phase power distribution to achieve high power density in compact designs of power distribution and equipment enclosures. The systems and methods described herein may be configured to allow for two additional conductors and the volume of their arrangement and termination. The rack PDU 124 may include a 2-pole or 4-pole OCPD with a multiphase receptacle for complete wire-to-ground fault protection.

[0139] Referring to Figure 13, a six-phase power distribution can provide up to 73% (e.g., or other appropriate value) greater power density with improved phase voltages for the same volume of conductors and insulation spacing. A six-phase power distribution can provide up to 25% (e.g., or other appropriate value) reduction in insulation spacing for miniaturized designs of power distribution and equipment enclosures at the same phase voltages. The systems and methods described herein may be configured to utilize both oblique and cross-phase conductors to provide a combination of multiphase power distribution options for both IT and computing equipment in a rack PDU 124.

[0140] As used herein, the letters following a reference number are intended to refer to entities that have features or features similar to, but not necessarily identical to, the aforementioned elements or features with the same reference number (e.g., 1, 1a, 1b). Such abbreviations are used for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting this disclosure in any way unless explicitly stated to the contrary.

[0141] Furthermore, unless explicitly stated to mean the opposite, "or" refers to logical OR, not exclusive OR. For example, condition A or B is satisfied if one of the following is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), or both A and B are true (or exist).

[0142] In addition, singular descriptions are used to describe the basic elements and components of embodiments of the present disclosure, and this is for convenience only, and unless otherwise clearly intended, they include "one" or "at least one," and the singular is intended to include the plural as well.

[0143] Finally, any reference to “in an embodiment” or “some embodiment” as used in this disclosure means that any particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in relation to that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. The phrase “in some embodiment” appearing in various places in this specification does not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, and an embodiment may include one or more features expressly described in this disclosure or inherently present, or any combination or subcombination of two or more such features, together with any other features of this immediate disclosure that may not necessarily be expressly described or inherently present.

[0144] It should be understood that embodiments of the above-described methods of this disclosure may include one or more of the above-described steps. Furthermore, such steps may be performed in any desired order, and two or more of those steps may be performed simultaneously with one another. Two or more of the above-described steps of this disclosure may be combined into a single step, and in some embodiments, one or more of the above-described steps may be performed as two or more substeps. Furthermore, other steps or substeps may be performed in addition to or as alternatives to one or more of the steps of this disclosure.

[0145] While the concept of the invention is described with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, equivalents and substitutions may be adopted and substituted in this disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims. The components illustrated and described in this disclosure are merely examples of systems / devices and components that may be used to implement embodiments of the concept of the invention and may be substituted with other devices and components without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, any dimensions, frequencies, and / or numerical ranges provided in this disclosure should be understood as non-limiting examples unless otherwise specified in the claims.

Claims

1. A power distribution system in a data center, The system includes a transformer configured to convert three-phase power to six-phase power, and the transformer is configured to be located near the power source. Here, the transformer is a system comprising a secondary winding having at least six current-conducting conductors.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a floor-mounted power distribution unit.

3. The at least six current-conducting conductors of the secondary winding are configured to be arranged in one or more racks housing one or more rack-mounted equipment via at least one, one or more busbars or one or more insulated electrical cables. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more busbars or the one or more insulated electrical cables is configured to be used to provide multiphase power to the power input of the one or more rack-mounted devices.

4. A system configured for six-phase power, A busbar is provided, and the busbar comprises one or more busbar sections. Each busbar section is: A housing having a corresponding surface configured to receive a support element configured to suspend the busbar in a hypothetical data center configuration, It comprises multiple conductor rods spaced apart in the first direction, Here, the plurality of conductor rods comprises six or more conductor rods and is therefore configured for six-phase power. Here, the plurality of conductor rods are at least partially surrounded by the housing, Here, each of the plurality of conductors is arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to each of the other conductors among the plurality of conductors. Here, each busbar section is configured to be detachably coupled to two or more output connectors at two or more coupling points along the second direction, Herein, the two or more output connectors are configured to be inserted from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, in a system.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductor rods comprises seven or more conductor rods, including a first neutral conductor rod.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductor rods comprises eight or more conductor rods, including a first neutral conductor rod and a second neutral conductor rod.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductors are configured in an isolated phase configuration such that each conductor of the plurality of conductors is individually physically isolated from each adjacent conductor of the plurality of conductors by at least one, one or more air gaps or each cell wall of the housing, and the respective corresponding cell walls are configured to be electrically grounded.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein each conductor rod is electrically insulated from an adjacent cell wall by an electrical insulating element surrounding at least three sides of each conductor rod, the electrical insulating element being configured to accept a portion of an output connector.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of conductors is in a sandwich configuration sandwiched next to at least one adjacent conductor of the plurality of conductors, except for one or more solid layers, where the one or more solid layers comprise one or more solid electrical insulating layers.

10. Each of the two or more locations along the second direction, configured to be detachably coupled to an output connector, is a discrete and separate location and includes a discrete bus output interface. Here, each bus output interface is equipped with six or more individual terminals, Here, each individual terminal is electrically coupled to the corresponding conductor rod of the plurality of conductor rods. The system according to claim 9, wherein each individual terminal is configured to receive the corresponding conductive element of the output connector.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the six or more individual terminals are arranged in three or more rows spaced apart in the second direction.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the upper and lower parts of the plurality of conductor rods are each coupled to a heat sink of the housing, where each heat sink extends over at least a portion of the width of the plurality of conductor rods along the third direction.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein each heatsink comprises a plurality of outward-facing protruding fins configured to dissipate heat.

14. It is a method, We provide busbars configured for six-phase power. The busbar comprises one or more busbar sections, Each busbar section is: A housing having a corresponding surface configured to receive a support element configured to suspend the busbar in a hypothetical data center configuration, It comprises multiple conductor rods spaced apart in the first direction, Here, the plurality of conductor rods comprises six or more conductor rods and is therefore configured for the six-phase power, Here, the plurality of conductor rods are at least partially surrounded by the housing, Here, each of the plurality of conductors is arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to each of the other conductors among the plurality of conductors. Here, each busbar section is configured to be detachably coupled to two or more output connectors at two or more coupling points along the second direction, Here, the two or more output connectors are configured to be inserted from a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. The busbar is coupled to a power input configured to provide the six-phase power, and, A method for transmitting the six-phase power to the busbar via the power input.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of conductor rods comprises seven or more conductor rods, including a first neutral conductor rod.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of conductor rods comprises eight or more conductor rods, including a first neutral conductor rod and a second neutral conductor rod.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of conductors are configured in an isolated phase configuration such that each conductor of the plurality of conductors is individually physically isolated from each adjacent conductor of the plurality of conductors by at least one, one or more air gaps or each cell wall of the housing, and the respective corresponding cell walls are configured to be electrically grounded.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein each conductor rod is electrically insulated from an adjacent cell wall by an electrical insulating element surrounding at least three sides of each conductor rod, the electrical insulating element being configured to accept a portion of an output connector.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of conductors is in a sandwich configuration sandwiched next to at least one adjacent conductor of the plurality of conductors, except for one or more solid layers, where the one or more solid layers comprise one or more solid electrical insulating layers.

20. Each of the two or more locations along the second direction, configured to be detachably coupled to an output connector, is a discrete and separate location and includes a discrete bus output interface. Here, each bus output interface is equipped with six or more individual terminals, Here, each individual terminal is electrically coupled to the corresponding conductor rod of the plurality of conductor rods. The method according to claim 19, wherein each individual terminal is configured to receive the corresponding conductive element of the output connector.

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