Intelligent Distributor Strip for Data Center Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing management systems for electrical energy distribution in data centers, particularly those with fewer than 50 server cabinets, are oversized and require disproportionately high management and investment, making them inefficient for smaller and medium data centers.
Innovation Solution
A distributor strip with integrated communications and information management modules that allow data retrieval and communication with remote sensors and actuators via a network, eliminating the need for a separate external management server and providing a web interface for user access, thereby enabling efficient management within the distributor strip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate external management server is provided for managing energy supply and monitoring in data centers, then comprehensive management functionality and data retrieval capability are improved, but device complexity and investment cost increase disproportionately for smaller data centers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the management server functionality directly into the distributor strip by incorporating a control unit that can retrieve sensor data and communicate with actuators. This merging eliminates the need for a separate external management server, reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive management capabilities for smaller data centers
2Loss of information
If a separate external management server is provided for managing energy supply and monitoring in data centers, then data retrieval and communication capability are improved, but investment cost and management overhead increase disproportionately for smaller data centers
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit within the distributor strip is equipped with communication interfaces that enable direct data retrieval from sensors and communication with actuators through the network. This integrated approach maintains full data retrieval capability while eliminating the need for separate server infrastructure, thereby reducing system complexity and investment costs
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a master distributor strip for distributing electrical energy for equipment and/or server cabinets, comprising a plurality of connection means that are provided on a face of the master distributor strip, and to which electrical loads can be connected for the purpose of energy supply. Furthermore, sensors for determining data at least relating to the status of the master distributor strip and/or of the plurality of connection means are provided. The invention is characterized in that a communications module is provided, which module is configured to retrieve and/or receive the data of the sensors, and to communicate with at least one sensor and/or actuator that is remote from the master distributor strip, by means of a communications network. The master distributor strip furthermore comprises an information and management module which is configured to provide the data of the sensors, retrieved and received by the communications module, directly to a user, via a communications network interface.