Rack-Level Battery Backup Unit for Data Center Power Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center power infrastructure requires large, expensive batteries and equipment to provide uninterruptible AC power, which is costly, difficult to cool, and occupies valuable space.
Innovation Solution
A modular and scalable power infrastructure system that includes a battery back-up unit (BBU) within a rack-level power distribution unit (PDU), allowing for uninterruptable power at the rack level, reducing the need for external UPS systems and minimizing power conditioning costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large batteries and equipment are used to provide uninterruptible AC power at the data center level, then power reliability is improved, but cost, cooling difficulty, and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power backup system into rack-level modules, where each rack contains its own battery backup unit. This segmentation allows power reliability to be provided locally at each rack rather than requiring a single large centralized battery system, thereby reducing the overall space occupation while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a centralized data center-level power backup approach to a distributed rack-level approach. This dimensional change in system architecture allows the same power reliability function to be achieved with significantly reduced space requirements by utilizing the vertical rack structure and localizing backup power sources.
2Reliability
If large batteries and equipment are used to provide uninterruptible AC power, then power reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the power backup system into smaller rack-level units, the patent reduces the total quantity of batteries and equipment needed. Each rack requires only enough backup capacity for its own load, eliminating the need for oversized centralized batteries that would be required to backup the entire data center, thereby reducing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements power backup with local quality by providing it at the rack level rather than uniformly across the entire data center. This allows each rack to have backup power sized appropriately for its specific needs, avoiding the waste of providing excessive backup capacity to all racks uniformly, thus reducing overall cost.
3Reliability
If large batteries and equipment are used to provide uninterruptible AC power, then power reliability is improved, but cooling difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery backup systems into small rack-level units distributed throughout the data center, rather than concentrating them in a single large room. This segmentation distributes the heat generation across many small locations that can be easily cooled by existing rack cooling infrastructure, eliminating the need for specialized cooling systems for large battery rooms.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rack-level battery backup unit is designed to be self-cooling or easily integrated with the rack's existing cooling system. The small size of each unit allows it to dissipate heat naturally or through simple fans, making the system self-sufficient regarding cooling and eliminating the need for additional centralized cooling infrastructure.
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 provides an efficient and cost-effective uninterruptable power source within the data center, reducing the need for extensive battery systems and improving power efficiency by conditioning power at the rack level.
Implementation Method 1
A battery may be disposed within the chassis
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for providing a battery back-up unit (BBU) for a rack-level power infrastructure is described. The system may include a chassis sized to fit within a commodity power supply unit (PSU) slot in a power distribution unit (PDU). A battery may be disposed within the chassis, and at least one power module coupled to the battery. The system may also include a power module controller coupled to the at least one power module, and a form-factor connector coupled to the power module controller and the at least one power module.