UPS Redundancy via Unique Load Group Combinations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-capacity uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems require multiple UPS units for redundancy, leading to complex configurations and potential common failure points, especially when load exceeds a single transformer's power capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system with n power source units and t load groups, where each load group receives power from a unique combination of i power source units, ensuring N+X redundancy with minimal UPS units, and allowing for physical separation of UPSs to localize failures and eliminate common failure points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple UPS units are connected in parallel to a single bus for redundancy, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and common failure points are created
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the load into multiple load groups, where each load group is served by a unique combination of UPS units. This segmentation eliminates the single-bus architecture and distributes connections across multiple isolated paths, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
Load groups act as intermediaries between UPS units and the ultimate load. Instead of direct UPS-to-bus connections, power flows through load group interfaces that manage the unique combination connections, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing common failure points.
2Reliability
If N+1 redundancy is implemented with parallel UPS configuration, then power continuity is ensured, but the number of UPS units required increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each UPS unit is designed to serve multiple load groups simultaneously through the unique combination connection scheme. A single UPS unit can be part of different combinations serving different load groups, allowing the same hardware to perform multiple redundancy functions and reducing the total number of units needed.
3Ease of operation
If UPS outputs are directly connected to a common bus, then power distribution is simplified, but common failure points are created reducing system resilience
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power distribution architecture by eliminating the common bus and creating isolated connection paths through load groups. Each load group has its own unique combination of UPS connections, physically separating failure domains and preventing cascade failures while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system for supplying power to a site having a load. The system comprises a number n of power source units, the value of n being greater than or equal to 3. The system further comprises a number t≦tmax of loads groups, each load group having a number i of inputs. The value of i is greater than or equal to 2 and less than the value of n. Each load group receives power from i power source units, such that each load group is connected to a unique combination of i power source units. tmax is such that every possible combination of i power source units is connected to a unique load group.