Data Center Bus Expansion With Plug-In Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data center expansions require extensive re-planning and reconstruction due to fixed power device locations, leading to dense cables, increased construction costs, and prolonged downtime.
Innovation Solution
A data center design with plug-in nodes on power modules allows for seamless expansion by disconnecting existing power devices and adding new ones without additional cables, utilizing existing infrastructure for power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a new power device is added during data center expansion using conventional fixed cabling mode, then the power capacity of the data center is increased, but cables become excessively dense and construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bus is segmented into multiple independent segments through plug-in nodes, allowing each segment to be independently connected or disconnected. This enables flexible reconfiguration of power distribution paths when expanding power capacity, avoiding the need to add numerous individual cables to each computing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus structure with plug-in nodes serves multiple functions: it acts as a power distribution backbone, enables flexible expansion interfaces, and provides reusable connection segments. This universal structure handles both initial power distribution and future expansions without requiring separate dedicated cables for each scenario.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed cabling mode is used for data center expansion, then power devices can be added, but extensive re-planning and reconstruction are required
Solution Approach 1:
The plug-in nodes and modular bus structure are pre-configured during initial data center construction, creating ready-to-use expansion interfaces. When expansion is needed, new power devices can be quickly connected to available plug-in nodes without requiring re-planning or reconstruction of the existing cabling infrastructure.
3Power
If device power is increased through hardware upgrades, then computing capability is improved, but existing power devices may no longer support the increased power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The power distribution system transitions from a static fixed-cabling configuration to a dynamic modular architecture. The bus with plug-in nodes allows the system to adapt its power distribution capacity to match the evolving power requirements of upgraded computing devices, maintaining compatibility as device power increases.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5A
AI summary
A data center and an expansion method are provided, to avoid a phenomenon of dense cables during data center expansion. In the data center, a first power device is connected to a computing device by using a bus, and a plug-in node and an idle electrical connection end are pre-disposed on the bus. In this way, when expansion is required, a second power device for expansion is directly added to the idle electrical connection end, and the bus is disconnected by using the plug-in node. In this way, the first power device and the second power device for expansion respectively supply power to the computing device by using two parts of the disconnected bus. According to this mode, no additional cable is required during the data center expansion, but an existing cable is directly disconnected to support power supply of a power device for expansion. Therefore, provided that cables of the data center are not dense before the expansion, cables after the expansion also do not become excessively dense. This mode helps resolve a problem of dense cables during the data center expansion.