Patent Application
20110317337
This application claims priority of German Patent Application No. 20 2010 009 423.2, filed Jun. 23, 2010, herein incorporated by reference.
This disclosure relates to a rack housing having a plurality of plug-in positions for receiving plug-in components and, in particular, to a connection device for such a rack housing.
Rack housings are widely known. In particular, in the field of telecommunications and information technology, for reasons of simpler serviceability and increase of component density, plug-in components with electrical or electronic components are often mounted in common rack housings. The rack housing takes over, in addition to the simple task of holding the plug-in components, in part, also central tasks, such as the supply of an operating voltage, cooling of the plug-in components, or connection of the plug-in components to external networks.
In particular, in data-processing centers, a plurality of plug-in components in the form of server computers are often arranged in a common rack housing, for example, in 19″ format. In larger data-processing centers, in particular, in so-called “server farms,” several rack arrangements are also arranged in rows one next to the other or one behind the other.
One disadvantage of known rack housings is that they usually must be delivered in different variants for different countries. In particular, for the connection of the rack housing to a power network, there are often differences between the local standards of individual countries that require modifications to the rack housing. In particular, the plug standard, the voltage, the maximum operating current, as well as the number of phases of a multi-phase, AC mains power network supplied by the local power provider or of another energy source vary.
If the plug-in components are connected directly to the power network, then the individual plug-in components must be adapted to the corresponding conditions of the local power network. The provision of different, localized versions of plug-in components on one hand and/or of rack housings on the other hand generates considerable extra costs for the manufacturer of the rack systems. There is also the risk that the reliability of the function cannot be guaranteed under all connection conditions.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a connection arrangement for a rack housing or a rack housing with a connection arrangement that is suitable for use in different regions with different power networks and other energy sources. It could also be helpful to have the greatest possible functional reliability of components held therein under as many connection conditions as possible.
We provide a connection arrangement for a rack housing with a plurality of load zones, including at least one internal connection device each having at least one phase conductor and one neutral conductor for each of the plurality of load zones, and a distributor device that electrically couples the internal connection devices with at least two external lines that are electrically independent from each other for connection to different phases and/or different energy sources, wherein each of the internal connection devices is coupled directly to the distributor device independent of the other internal connection devices, and the distributo device for distribution of a voltage of the at least two external lines to the individual load zones of the rack housing is arranged so that a voltage failure of an individual external line does not lead to failure of all of the load zones.
We also provide a rack housing including the connection device and a plurality of plug-in positions, each for holding one plug-in component, wherein the plug-in positions are electrically connected to different internal connection devices so that plug-in components held therein are allocated to different load zones.
It will be appreciated that the following description is intended to refer to specific examples of structure selected for illustration in the drawings and is not intended to define or limit the disclosure, other than in the appended claims.
We provide a connection arrangement for a rack housing with a plurality of load zones. The connection arrangement has at least one internal connection device each with at least one phase conductor and one neutral conductor for each of the plurality of load zones. The connection arrangement also has a distributor device for the electrical coupling of the internal connection devices with at least two external lines electrically independent from each other for connection to different phases and/or different energy sources. Each of the internal connection devices is coupled directly with the distributor device independent of the other internal connection devices, and the distributor device is designed for the distribution of the voltage of the at least two external lines to the individual load zones of the rack housing so that failure of one individual external line does not lead to failure of all of the load zones.
Through the distributor device, the internal connection devices for the supply of the plurality of load zones and two external lines for connection of the rack housing to at least one energy source, in particular, a power network, are decoupled from each other. In addition, division of the rack housing into a plurality of load zones allocated to the different external lines permits prevention of a simultaneous failure of components arranged in different load zones. Through the plurality of load zones, a distribution of the input current to the multiple external lines can also be generated simultaneously.
The at least two external lines may be contained in different mains lines for independent connection to at least two energy sources, wherein the distributor device is designed such that failure of one of the energy sources or separation of one of the different mains lines does not lead to failure of all of the load zones. Through the use of two mains lines that are independent from each other, line and source redundancy can be achieved.
The connection arrangement has at least two external lines that may be different phase lines of one multi-phase mains line, wherein the distributor device is designed such that failure of one of the phases does not lead to failure of all of the load zones. Through a connection by a multi-phase mains line and distribution of the load to different phases of the multi-phase mains line, phase redundancy can be created for the connection arrangement.
The source redundancy and phase redundancy can also be combined with each other.
The connection arrangement may be designed for connection to different supply voltages, wherein the distributor device is designed to combine the different supply voltages with each other so that for use in a different power network, the plurality of internal connection devices of the load zones are supplied with an essentially uniform operating voltage. Through a different combination of the individual phases, for example, with respect to a common neutral conductor or with respect to another phase, for example, a phase that is adjacent or opposite in the phase diagram, an essentially uniform operating voltage for operation of the internal plug-in component can be generated from supply voltages of different magnitudes. The use of locally modified plug-in components in the rack arrangement can then be eliminated.
The problem stated above is likewise addressed with a rack housing having a plurality of plug-in positions each for reception of a plug-in component, wherein the plug-in positions are electrically connected to different internal connection devices so that plug-in components held therein are allocated to different load zones.
The rack housing may have at least two additional plug-in positions to hold redundant auxiliary components, wherein the at least two additional plug-in positions are electrically connected to different internal connection devices so that auxiliary components held therein are allocated to different load zones. By holding redundant auxiliary components in different load zones, in particular, total failure of the server system arranged in the rack housing can be avoided.
The rack housing may have at least one additional plug-in position to hold an auxiliary component, wherein the at least one additional plug-in position is electrically connected to at least two different internal connection devices so that an auxiliary component held therein is allocated to at least two different load zones. Through the simultaneous allocation of an auxiliary component to two different load zones, operational reliability with respect to a particularly important auxiliary component of the rack housing can be achieved.
Additional constructions are disclosed in the examples described below. Our connection arrangements will be explained in detail below using different examples with reference to the drawings.
In
In addition, the rack housing 1 has six additional plug-in positions 3. The plug-in positions 3 are used for reception of auxiliary components 13 to control the plug-in components 12 of the plug-in positions 2. For example, network switches or control devices can be held in the additional plug-in positions 3, with these network switches or control devices switching or controlling the data streams between the individual plug-in components 12 held in the plug-in positions 2.
On the rack housing 1, a removable cooling device 4 with two fan units 5 is arranged. The cooling device 4 is used for central cooling of the plug-in components 12 held in the plug-in positions 2. Optionally, it is likewise used for cooling the auxiliary components 13 held in the additional plug-in positions 3.
The rack housing 1 has, in this example, six load zones A to F independent of each other. The individual plug-in components 12, auxiliary components 13, and other components of the rack housing 1, such as, for example, the fan units 5, are allocated to the load zones A to F.
The plug-in positions 2 each have a plug connector not shown in
The plug-in positions 2 are divided into blocks 6a to 6f allocated to the load zones A to F. In that example, the blocks 6a and 6b each comprise six plug-in positions 2 and the remaining blocks 6c to 6f each comprise seven plug-in positions 2. In that example, the two fan units 5a and 5b are allocated to the different load zones A and D of the rack housing 1.
Each of the additional plug-in positions 3 is allocated to two different load zones B and E or C and F. With the illustrated allocation, a source redundancy for auxiliary components with two redundant network units is established. Alternatively, for the use of auxiliary components 13 with two redundant network units, for example, it is also possible to allocate one network unit to load zone A and another network unit to load zone E, wherein, in this way, as discussed later, both a phase redundancy and also an energy source redundancy of the associated auxiliary component 13 can be achieved. Obviously, a functional redundancy could also be established by doubling the auxiliary components, as implemented with respect to conventional plug-in components 12 with, as a rule, only one network unit.
The different load zones A to F are in competition with each other to the extent that, in particular, simultaneous failure of certain load zones is to be avoided. In that example, in particular, simultaneous failure of spatially adjacent, logically competing, and/or functionally complementary load zones should be avoided. In particular, not all components of the same type or with the same task should fail simultaneously.
In
In the example according to
Within the distributor device 7, the phase lines L1 to L3 of the power network are distributed to the connection lines 10a to 10f for supplying the individual load zones A to F. Each phase line L1 to L3 is allocated to two different load zones A and D, B and E, and also C and F.
Under consideration of the load zones shown in
An advantage of the provision of separate mains lines 8a and 8b, as well as mains plugs 9a and 9b, is allowing yet a further increase in operational reliability. In particular, even for the unintentional separation of one of the mains plugs 9a or 9b, the rack housing 1 can continue to operate with a part of the plug-in components 12 arranged therein.
In addition, it is possible to connect the rack housing 1 simultaneously to two different energy sources, for example, to different sub-power networks of a building installation or to a power network and an emergency power supply, such as, for example, an emergency power generator or an uninterruptible power supply unit (USV [UPS]). Even in the case of the failure of one of the energy sources, for example, if a safety device is triggered, the rack housing 1 can continue to operate with the plug-in components 12 arranged therein. In this respect, in addition to the phase redundancy, a redundancy with respect to the different energy sources is created.
For the electrical operational reliability of the rack housing 1, however, this allocation plays no role, because, in particular, there is no direct connection between the different, adjacent neutral conductors of the internal connection lines 10a to 10f of the load zones A to F on one hand or the external mains lines 8a to 8f on the other hand.
The connection schematics shown in
This connection schematic repeats itself for the other connection lines 10d to 10f of the fourth to sixth load zones D to F, wherein the individual phases of the same or another energy source are provided by a second NEMA mains plug 9b and a second mains line 8b. In this way it is produced, as explained with reference to
As previously explained with reference to
In three-phase, three-conductor power networks with a rated nominal voltage of approximately 100 V to 150 V for each phase, as are typical, for example, in the United States of America or Japan, by the shown wiring, an operating voltage of approximately 200 V can be tapped between two adjacent phases. In this way, a connection of a mid-point, neutral, or outer conductor of the three-conductor systems typical there is not necessary.
Therefore, an internal supply voltage for operation of the plug-in components 12 of approximately 200 V is provided by the distributor devices 7 shown in
Indeed, the generated internal operating voltage of approximately 200 V does not completely match the mains voltage typical in Europe of 235 V for each phase line. This can be compensated for, however, in that the plug-in components 12 are equipped with network units that exhibit a tolerance with respect to such a voltage deviation. For example, combinational circuit parts are known that operate reliably and efficiently in a supply-voltage range from approximately 180 to 270 V.
As follows from
Adaptation of the connection device to the local power network can be realized, for example, as shown in
To be able to perform the adaptation in an especially simple and safe way, according to one alternative, a multi-pole plug connector is used between the connection block 11 and the mains line 8. The plug connector takes over, on the side of the mains line 8, both the connection of the individual phase lines L1 to L3 to the correct connection of the connection block 11 and also bridging of the individual connections of the connection block 11.
To establish electrical safety, in all of the connection schematics, an additional protective conductor PE can be provided in the mains lines 8, the mains plugs 9, the internal connection lines 10, and/or the distributor device 7. This is indicated in each of
Due to the most uniform possible distribution of the load zones A to F to the different phase lines L1 to L3 of one or more circuits of a building installation, the provision of additional, rack-internal safety devices can also be avoided. This has the advantage, in particular, that access to the distributor device in the interior of the rack housing 1 is not required. The rack housing 1 or its distributor device 7 uses the safety measures of the respective local energy source.
Although the apparatus and has been described in connection with specific forms thereof, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of equivalents may be substituted for the specified elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as described in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 2010 009 423.2 | Jun 2010 | DE | national |
