Rack Backup Power Architecture for Shared Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing large-scale computing systems face inefficiencies in power sharing during AC power outages, as backup power architectures often isolate individual components, leading to compromised power distribution and potential system failures.
Innovation Solution
A rack system with a backup power architecture that distributes and shares power among components using a main bus bar, a backup power path, and a controller to activate the shared power path during AC power outages, ensuring power continuity from batteries to all components until AC power is restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup power is isolated to individual computing devices, then each device has dedicated backup power, but power sharing efficiency is compromised and system-wide power distribution is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously isolated backup power systems into a unified shared power architecture. The common bus bar connects multiple computing devices to a shared backup power source, allowing power to be distributed system-wide rather than device-by-device. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through centralized power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup power system is designed with universal connectivity through the common bus bar, allowing the same power distribution infrastructure to serve multiple functions: individual device backup, shared power redistribution, and system-wide power management. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate isolated backup systems for each device.
2Reliability
If backup power is provided only to individual devices, then each device maintains power independently, but other devices without sufficient backup power cannot receive power during outages
Solution Approach 1:
The common bus bar acts as an intermediary element that enables power sharing between devices. During AC power outages, devices with sufficient backup power can redistribute their excess power through the bus bar to devices that need it, achieving system-wide power continuity and adaptability without requiring direct device-to-device connections.
3Productivity
If a shared power path is activated during AC power outages, then power can be distributed from backup batteries to the main bus bar, but additional circuit complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shared power path and switching mechanisms are pre-configured and ready before AC power outages occur. When an outage is detected, the system can immediately activate the shared power path without requiring complex real-time decision-making or reconfiguration, thereby improving power distribution efficiency while keeping the control logic relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient power sharing among rack components during outages, maintaining system functionality by providing backup power to all devices from batteries via the main bus bar, thereby preventing component failures and ensuring continuous operation until AC power is restored.
Implementation Method 1
a battery, a backup power path coupled to the battery and the computing device
Implementation Method 2
AC power is input to the rack and converted to DC power by rectifiers
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device is associated with a circuit for sharing and distributing backup power. During normal operating conditions, a main bus bar provides power to each computing device in a rack via a main power bus of the corresponding circuit. In the event of an AC power outage, the main power bus is deactivated and a backup power path of the circuit is activated. Backup power is provided to the device from a battery of the circuit via the backup power path. A shared power path is also activated in the circuit such that backup power may be provided from the battery to the main bus bar. By providing backup power to the main bus bar, the other computing devices in the rack that do not have sufficient backup power may receive backup power from the main bus bar until AC power is restored.