Power Supply Recovery Current Limiting Based on History
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Solution Overview
Problem
Datacenters and similar facilities face high costs and inefficiencies due to the need for over-designed power infrastructure to handle maximum recovery currents after power interruptions, which can lead to excessive capacity and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power supply unit (PSU) with dynamic recovery current limiting logic that monitors and adjusts based on historic and present power usage, allowing recovery currents to flow while limiting them to prevent exceeding the infrastructure's capacity, thereby reducing the required capacity and cost of the power infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power infrastructure is designed to handle maximum recovery currents after power interruptions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to excessive capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic recovery current limiting that adjusts the maximum recovery current based on the actual pre-interruption power draw. The system monitors historical power consumption data and dynamically sets appropriate limiting values, transforming the static fixed-capacity infrastructure into a dynamic adaptive system that matches actual needs rather than worst-case scenarios.
2Reliability
If power infrastructure capacity is increased to handle full inrush currents, then power supply reliability is improved, but loss of energy increases due to excessive capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of maximum recovery current from a fixed high value to a dynamically adjusted value based on actual power draw. By monitoring and adjusting this parameter according to historical data, the system prevents energy waste associated with oversized infrastructure while maintaining sufficient capacity for actual recovery needs.
3Reliability
If power infrastructure is over-designed to handle maximum recovery currents, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and recording of power draw patterns before power interruptions occur. By having this historical data available in advance, the system can pre-determine appropriate recovery current limits, eliminating the need for costly over-design while ensuring sufficient capacity is available when needed.
4Ease of operation
If fixed maximum power draw is used for all PSUs, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability decreases for facilities with varying loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual power draw and using this information to adjust recovery current limits. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adapt to varying load conditions without requiring manual reconfiguration, maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability to different facility requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply unit (PSU) dynamically limits total recovery current. The PSU includes at least a power input, a power output, a historic maximum power draw memory, an update logic, and a recovery current limiting logic. Some implementations include a latest power measurement register, an hourly max power register, and a rolling max register, and controlling firmware. The update logic monitors a power level. The update logic updates the historic maximum power draw memory to match the monitored level. After a power interruption, the recovery current permitted to flow into the PSU is limited based on the historic usage. The recovery current may be limited in a constant, stepped, or ramped manner. The PSU may also provide power distribution. Multiple PSUs may be treated as a group, allowing an individual PSU to exceed its historic usage while the group's recovery currents are limited to the sum of historic usage levels.