Data Center Server Power Control for Variable Renewable Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

In data centers relying on renewable energy, unstable power supply can lead to power deficiencies, necessitating large power storage facilities or discarding excess energy when these facilities are insufficient.

Innovation Solution

A power supply control device that determines power supply excess or deficiency for each server in a data center and adjusts the number of operating servers or their power settings to stabilize the power supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If renewable energy is used as the main power source, then environmental sustainability is improved, but power supply stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy utilization efficiencyVSAvoidpower supply stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts server power consumption based on real-time renewable energy availability. When renewable energy supply is sufficient, servers operate at normal power levels. When supply becomes insufficient, the control unit automatically reduces server power consumption to match available energy, thereby maintaining system reliability without sacrificing energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit continuously monitors the power supply state of renewable energy facilities and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustment of server operations according to actual energy availability, resolving the contradiction between using renewable energy and maintaining stable power supply

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If power storage facilities are increased to stabilize power supply, then power supply stability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidpower storage facility scale

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying on external power storage facilities, the system enables servers to self-adjust their power consumption based on available renewable energy. The control unit monitors energy supply status and automatically modifies server operations, allowing the system to stabilize power supply without adding complex storage infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of servers (power consumption levels) in response to varying renewable energy availability. By adjusting server power settings rather than adding storage capacity, the system achieves power supply stability while avoiding increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If server operations are maintained at high power levels, then productivity is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserver operation efficiencyVSAvoidserver power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Server power consumption is dynamically adjusted based on renewable energy availability rather than maintaining fixed high power levels. The control unit modulates server operations to match energy supply, ensuring optimal productivity at each moment while adapting power consumption to available renewable energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12206551B2Power control device, power control method, and power control program

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A power control device includes a supply power prediction unit that determines excess or deficiency of a power supply state according to a power supply and demand situation for each server deployed in a data center that changes at least one of a total number of servers operating in the data center and a power setting of each server in operation so as to eliminate excess or deficiency of the power supply state. The power control unit further changes disposition on a server of a service program operating on each server depending on the power supply state.