Staggered Power Device Switching for Inrush Current Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backup systems in data centers experience inrush currents during power switching, leading to upstream circuit breaker tripping and server power failures, necessitating a reduction and dispersion of these currents to enhance reliability and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A power system with a set of power devices and an addressing line, where power devices are electrically connected to both main and standby power sources and a server node, using different addressing signals to switch power sources at varying times to reduce and disperse inrush currents, thereby preventing instantaneous overloads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup system uses main/standby power supply switching, then power supply reliability is improved, but inrush current causes upstream circuit breaker to trip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power device switching process by introducing multiple power devices (first power device, second power device, third power device) that switch at different times. The first power device switches immediately upon detecting main power failure, the second power device switches after a first time period, and the third power device switches after a second time period. This temporal segmentation disperses the inrush current that would otherwise occur simultaneously, preventing upstream circuit breaker tripping while maintaining power supply reliability.
2Speed
If power devices switch simultaneously during backup activation, then power transfer is fast, but inrush current causes power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by introducing time delays between power device switching events. The first power device switches immediately, the second power device switches after a first time period, and the third power device switches after a second time period. This staged, periodic switching approach balances fast power transfer with inrush current mitigation, ensuring power supply stability while maintaining acceptable transfer speed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a power system that includes a set of power devices and addressing lines. The set of power devices are electrically connected to a main power source, a standby power source and a server node. The addressing lines are electrically connected to the set of power devices, so that the set of power devices can correspond to a plurality of different addressing signals respectively. The set of power devices are switched at different times based on the different addressing signals, so that one of the main power source or the standby power source supplies power to the server node though the set of power devices.