UPS Power Shifting Across Redundant PDUs to Cut Conversion Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems waste unnecessary power due to conversion inefficiencies, especially when used for utility redundancy in datacenters, leading to significant power loss during normal operation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing intelligent power shifting in UPS systems by determining subsets of power supply units (PSUs) coupled to redundant Power Distribution Units (PDUs), and shifting a predefined amount of main power signal to PSUs not powered by the UPS, reducing UPS power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UPS is used for utility redundancy in a datacenter, then power supply reliability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly due to conversion inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power distribution into multiple independent PDUs, where each PDU can be selectively powered through the UPS or directly from utility power. This allows the UPS to serve only critical loads while non-critical loads receive power directly, reducing overall conversion losses while maintaining reliability for essential systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically shifts power sources based on operational conditions. During normal operation, non-critical loads are powered directly from utility to minimize UPS usage. During utility failures, the system automatically transitions these loads to UPS power, maintaining reliability while optimizing energy consumption through adaptive source selection.
2Reliability
If all PDUs are powered through the UPS for maximum redundancy, then system reliability is improved, but energy waste increases due to unnecessary conversion stages
Solution Approach 1:
Different quality levels of power supply are applied to different loads based on their criticality. Critical loads receive conditioned UPS power with full protection and conversion, while non-critical loads receive direct utility power. This local differentiation maintains necessary reliability for essential systems while eliminating wasteful conversion for tolerant systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of individual PDUs based on load criticality and utility conditions. Each PDU can independently switch between UPS-powered mode and direct utility mode, allowing dynamic adjustment of conversion efficiency parameters while maintaining appropriate reliability levels for different system components.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the UPS operates continuously to maintain redundancy, then power availability is improved, but operational cost increases due to constant power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts non-critical loads from the UPS power path and connects them directly to utility power. This separation removes unnecessary conversion stages for loads that do not require UPS protection, eliminating continuous operational power losses while maintaining power availability for critical systems that remain connected through the UPS.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments provide methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing intelligent power shifting in an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) system for enhanced system efficiency. Disclosed embodiments implement intelligent power shifting to decrease UPS power consumption during normal system operation in the presence of a main power signal, increasing system efficiency, while providing redundancy in the absence or a disruption of the main power signal. Power shifting is based on an intelligent algorithm for controlling current through power supply units (PSUs) of the UPS system to shift a substantial portion of the main power signal through PSUs that are connected to power distribution units (PDU) not powered through the UPS, reducing power consumption by the UPS.