Rack Power Limiting via Battery Backup for PSU Failure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power management systems in Internet Data Centers (IDCs) face limitations in rack density due to fixed power budgets, leading to underutilization of rack space and increased costs, as they struggle to handle peak power demands and PSU failures effectively.
Innovation Solution
A smart battery backup system (BBS) that supplements peak power during normal operation and manages power distribution by adjusting input power limits based on PSU failure indicators, allowing for more servers and higher thermal design power CPUs, while ensuring the total rack power remains within the predetermined limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of servers in the rack is increased to improve rack density, then rack space utilization is improved, but the power system becomes overstressed when extra power is demanded by the servers
Solution Approach 1:
A battery backup system (BBS) is introduced as an intermediary power source between the grid power and the servers. The BBS supplements grid power during peak demand periods, absorbing excess power when available and providing power during peaks, thereby mediating the relationship between limited grid power capacity and high server power demand, enabling increased rack density without overstressing the power system
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the input power limit to the rack based on BBS state of charge and grid power availability. When grid power is abundant, the input power limit is increased to allow more servers; when grid power is limited or BBS is depleted, the limit is reduced to maintain stability, thus adapting the power parameters to match actual system capacity
2Quantity of substance
If the input power limit to the rack is increased to accommodate more servers, then rack density is improved, but the power budget set from the IDC level is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The input power limit to the rack is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors grid power availability, BBS state of charge, and server power demand, adjusting the input power limit in real-time. This allows the rack to consume more power when BBS is charged and grid power is abundant, while consuming less when BBS is depleted, thereby accommodating more servers on average without consistently exceeding the IDC power budget
Solution Approach 2:
The battery backup system is pre-charged from grid power during periods of low demand or excess grid power availability. This preliminary energy storage enables the system to later support higher power consumption when needed, allowing increased rack density without requiring a permanent increase in the IDC power budget
3Reliability
If the BBS is kept fully charged to maximize survival time during grid outage, then power supply reliability during outage is improved, but the BBS does not supplement grid power when available, limiting rack density
Solution Approach 1:
The battery backup system is designed to perform multiple functions: (1) supplement grid power during normal operation to enable increased rack density, (2) provide full backup power during grid outages to maintain reliability, and (3) buffer power fluctuations. This multi-functionality allows the BBS to both increase rack density during normal operation and maintain power supply reliability during outages, resolving the contradiction between these two goals
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a control unit is configured to control a computer server rack having a first grid power source, a second grid power source, and a battery backup system. The control unit is adapted to monitor a failed status of one or more power supply units in the computer server rack, to determine location information relating to the one or more power supply units having the failed status, to determine input power of the one or more power supply units having the failed status, to adjust an input power of the first grid power source based on the determined input power, and to adjust an input power of the second grid power source based on the determined input power.