Power Management System for Data Center Load Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face inefficiencies in power management due to servers operating at low load levels, leading to increased operating costs and reduced efficiency, especially with power supply redundancy systems that are not optimized for varying load conditions.
Innovation Solution
A power management system that combines server loads to create a power sharing network, using pass-through modules and power system control units to distribute power efficiently and maintain redundancy, allowing power supplies to operate at more efficient load ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power supply redundancy is provided for each server, then reliability is improved, but power efficiency deteriorates because power supplies operate at low load levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power supplies from multiple servers into shared power modules. Instead of each server having dedicated redundant power supplies operating at low individual loads, power supplies are consolidated into shared modules that serve multiple servers, allowing them to operate at higher, more efficient load levels while maintaining redundancy capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared power modules can serve multiple servers and can dynamically allocate power capacity across different servers based on actual demand. A single power module can back up multiple servers, and the same infrastructure serves both primary and backup functions across the server farm.
2Power
If power supplies are sized for worst-case scenarios, then power availability is improved, but operating efficiency deteriorates due to underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically allocates power capacity from shared power modules to servers based on actual load conditions. Power modules can adjust their output and capacity allocation in real-time, allowing power supplies to operate at optimal efficiency points while still providing sufficient capacity for peak demands and failover scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of power supplies by consolidating them into shared modules that can operate at higher load factors. This shifts the operating point from low-efficiency individual server levels to high-efficiency shared module levels, while maintaining the ability to provide full power availability when needed.
3Reliability
If dedicated power supplies are provided for each server, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power supply function into separate modular components: shared power modules that provide power capacity and individual power delivery mechanisms that connect to servers. This segmentation allows the complex redundancy management to be handled at the module level while keeping server-level complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared power modules act as intermediaries between the power source and individual servers. They manage the complexity of redundancy and load balancing, while presenting a simplified interface to servers that need power without needing to understand or manage the underlying redundancy infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a power management system comprising at least one power management subsystem. Each power management subsystem comprises a first power module coupled to a first load and comprising at least one first power supply for supplying power to the first load; a second power module coupled to a second load and comprising at least one second power supply, wherein at least one second power supply is retractably installed in the second power module and selectively coupled to the second load; and a pass-through module comprising at least one pass-through unit retractably installed in the second power module to replace with the at least one second power supply and selectively connecting the first power module to the second load for allowing the first power module to supply power to the second load.