Patent Application
20050134239
This invention relates generally to the field of power distribution systems. More particularly, this invention relates to power distribution systems that provide redundancy against input power failure.
The need to interface between power sources and loads to be powered has always been basic to applied electricity. The most common power sources in use are AC and DC. Many equipments are designed to operate from one or the other, but other equipment is designed to operate from a plurality of power sources, primarily to provide protection against power source failure.
This use of dual power sources is used in the art for systems which must provide reliable operation for extended periods of time. Examples can be found in space flight applications, military systems, and central telecommunications exchanges.
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Multiple AC power sources are probably most common, examples being the use of AC with backup UPS and enterprise servers designed for high availability and reliability. Multiple DC power sources are found in telecommunications centers and military applications. By comparison AC-DC power source operation is rare.
In the computer and telecommunications industry most sites have access to both AC power and to −48V DC power. If an extended reliability system is installed, an additional AC (or DC) power system may have to be installed. An example of this would be an enterprise server that requires multiple AC power inputs for redundancy.
The present invention relates generally to dual or multiple power source equipments.
In accordance with certain embodiments, an equipment operable to receive and operate on both AC and DC input power is described. It comprises of an AC distribution system which receives and distributes AC input power, a DC distribution system which receives and distributes DC input power, one or more AC/DC converters which receive AC input power from the AC distribution system and produce one or more DC outputs, one or more DC/DC converters operable to receive DC input power from the DC distribution system and to produce one or more DC outputs, and an output combining element operable to couple one or more converter outputs to one or more loads.
In accordance with certain other embodiments, a method of operating with dual or multiple input power sources, comprising converting AC input power received by an equipment to one or more AC converted voltages, converting DC input power received by the equipment to one or more second DC converted voltages, and combining the one or more first DC converted voltages and the one or more second DC converted voltages to derive one or more DC equipment voltages.
The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention relates generally to multiple power source equipments, systems, and methods of using thereof. Objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention.
A method and structure for achieving power source redundancy is presented in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. This is a feature of the present invention which allows AC-DC equipments to be utilized, thereby saving additional infrastructure costs and time.
A method and structure for designing the input power section of AC-DC powered equipment is presented in accordance with certain other embodiments of the present invention. This is a feature of the present invention, allowing input power sections similar to both AC-AC and DC-DC equipments to be combined.
A method and structure for extending the power input sections to include load-sharing converters in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. This is a feature of the present invention, and allows sophisticated power conversions to accept AC-DC input power.
Many variations, equivalents and permutations of these illustrative exemplary embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the description that follows. The particular examples above should not be considered to define the scope of the invention. For example, a UPS may be utilized either in place of or as an adjunct to AC power. Another example of a variation which does not depart from the spirit of the invention would be placing the AC-DC powered equipment in systems containing other equipment powered differently, such as AC, DC, AC-AC, and DC-DC. A further example would be the use of intelligent power switching in systems as a way to control power changeover timing.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.
For purposes of this document, the exact mechanical and electrical parameters of equipments are unimportant to an understanding of the invention, and many different types of electrical and mechanical components may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention. An example is that the required electrical capacity of converters will depend upon the application at hand and may vary between otherwise similar equipments in the same system. This document uses generalized descriptions by way of example only. Many variations for these constituent items are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention envisions diverse AC sources such as substation feeds, inverters, motor-generator sets, and uninterruptible power systems, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition the AC source may consist of a multiplicity of AC sources, such that (not shown) a first equipment may be connected to one source and a second equipment connected to the same or a different AC source. It is also clear that the electrical characteristics of system equipments 305 . . . 315 are operationally compatible with the selected AC source(s).
FIG.4 is an exemplary illustration of the input power section of equipment designed for AC-DC in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Equipment 500 may be any one of the 305, 310 . . . 315 equipments, wherein the power conversion section is depicted as power distribution block 600, converter block 700, and DC output block 800. Output block 800 may comprise active or passive circuitry, based upon system requirements. Output block 800 may include communications with one or more processors internal or external to the output block.
AC source 405 is routed to power distribution block 600. Power distribution block 600 distributes AC source 405 to the AC power inputs of AC/DC converters 705, 710 . . . 715. This is illustrated by AC distribution path 605. The number of AC/DC converters 705, 710 . . . 715 needed depends on the internal design requirements of equipment 500. Conditioning to include filtering, fusing, step-up, step-down, and regulation of AC source 405 may be utilized internal or external to equipment 500 without departing from the scope of the invention.
DC source 410 is routed to power distribution block 600. Power distribution block 600 distributes DC source 405 to the DC power inputs of DC/DC converters 720, 725 . . . 730. This is illustrated by DC distribution path 610. The number of DC/DC converters 720, 725 . . . 730 depends on the internal design requirements of equipment 500. Conditioning to include filtering, fusing, and regulation of DC source 410 may be utilized internal or external to equipment 500 without departing from the scope of the invention.
The DC outputs of AC/DC converters 705, 710 . . . 715 and DC/DC converters 720, 725 . . . 730 are combined by DC distribution element 805. DC distribution 805 may consist of a simple diode OR'ing arrangement (diode combining); it may consist of an active combining arrangement (not shown); or it may consist of a feedback arrangement with individual converters for load management and control with or without internal or external processor control. Such variations are within the scope of the present invention, and other methods of integrating the converters with each other and with the output distribution for power control purposes are allowable without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The output of DC distribution 805 is final DC output 900. The value of DC output 900 will be determined by system requirements internal to equipment 500. By way of example, a common requirement for DC output 900 is +48 VDC for enterprise servers and other types of computing and telecom equipment.
It is a feature consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that the AC input converter section, consisting of AC/DC converters 705, 710 . . . 715, may employ any method of redundancy to achieve higher reliability for equipment 500.
It is a further feature consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that the DC input converter section, consisting of DC/DC converters 720, 725 . . . 730, may employ any method of redundancy to achieve higher reliability for equipment 500.
It is a further feature consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that both the AC input converter section, consisting of AC/DC converters 705, 710 . . . 715, and the DC input converter section, consisting of DC/DC converters 720, 725 . . . 730, may employ any method of separate or joint redundancy to achieve higher reliability for equipment 500. Examples of such redundancy would be load sharing between converters, and standby hot converters (N+1 approach).
It is also an advantage consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that DC source 410, which commonly exists in, for example, telecommunications facilities, may be utilized in lieu of installing facility infrastructure necessary to provide a secondary AC input to achieve higher reliability of the overall system. It is another advantage consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that AC source 405, which commonly exists in facilities, may be utilized in lieu of installing facility infrastructure necessary to provide a secondary DC input to achieve higher reliability of the overall system. Moreover, in certain embodiments it is a further advantage of the present invention that a tightly regulated DC output may be obtained with the high reliability operation from both AC and DC, as described above.
It is a characteristic that consistent with certain embodiments a power system is described which is inline and achieves the intent of the UPTime Institute Certification guideline for High Availability systems.
An advantage consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention is that, within a facility system, the AC and DC power sources applied to any particular equipment may be of different origins from those applied to other equipments in the system. This is of benefit if different sources are limited in power or located in different facility areas.
FIG.5 is an exemplary illustration 400 of the input power section of equipment designed for AC-DC in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. In this system, equipment 500 may be any one of the 305, 310 . . . 315 equipments, wherein the power conversion section is depicted as power distribution block 600, converter block 700, and DC output blocks 800, 830 . . . 860. Output blocks 800, 830 . . . 860 may comprise active or passive circuitry depending on system requirements. Output blocks 800, 830 . . . 860 may include communications with one or more processors internal or external to the output blocks.
AC source 405 is routed to power distribution block 600. Power distribution block 600 distributes AC source 405 to the AC power inputs of AC/DC converters 705, 715 . . . 725. This is illustrated by AC distribution path 605 which routes AC source 405 to AC/DC converter inputs 709, 719, and 729. The number of AC/DC converters 705, 710 . . . 715 needed depends on the internal design requirements of equipment 500. Conditioning to include filtering, fusing, step-up, step-down, and regulation of AC source 405 may be utilized internal or external to equipment 500 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
DC source 410 is routed to power distribution block 600. Power distribution block 600 distributes DC source 405 to the DC power inputs of DC/DC converters 735, 745 . . . 755. This is illustrated by DC distribution path 610 which routes DC source 410 to DC/DC converter inputs 739, 749, and 759. The number of DC/DC converters 735, 745 . . . 755 depends on the internal design requirements of equipment 500. Conditioning to include filtering, fusing, and regulation of DC source 410 may be utilized internal or external to equipment 500 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The DC outputs of AC/DC converters 705, 715 . . . 725 and DC/DC converters 735, 745 . . . 755 are combined by DC distribution elements 805, 835, and 865. DC distribution elements 805, 835, and 865 may consist of a simple diode OR'ing arrangements (diode combining), active combining arrangements (not shown), or it may consist of feedback arrangements between individual converters for load management and control, with or without internal or external processor control to the converters. Connections between converters are shown by the interconnection of ports 710, 720 . . . 730 and 740, 750 . . . 760. Any combination of these ports may be utilized. Details of signal flow formats between ports will depend on system requirements. Feedback for load management and control may also be implemented from the DC outputs back to the converters. Voltage detectors/monitors 810, 840, and 870 serve to relay information relative to the output powers 900, 905 . . . 910 to the converters, via ports 711, 721 . . . 731 and 741, 751 . . . 761. Details of signal flow formats between ports and voltage detectors/monitors depends on system requirements. Such variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and other methods of integrating the converters with each other and with the output distribution for power control purposes are allowable without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Each converter may be capable of multiple outputs. Such outputs may provide a multiplicity of voltages, or supplemental current capability. AC/DC converter 705 may have multiple outputs 706, 707 . . . 708. AC/DC converter 715 may have multiple outputs 716, 717 . . . 718. AC/DC converter 725 may have multiple outputs 726, 727 . . . 728. DC/DC converter 735 may have multiple outputs 736, 737 . . . 738. DC/DC converter 745 may have multiple outputs 746, 747 . . . 748. DC/DC converter 755 may have multiple outputs 756, 757 . . . 758. For example, multiple outputs may consist of +5 VDC, −12 VDC and +12 VDC, and single outputs may be +5 VDC or −24 VDC. Each converter may have multiple or single outputs. Each converter may be the same as or different from any other converter, in terms of its voltage outputs.
The multiplicity of voltage outputs available are routed to DC output blocks 800, 830 . . . 860. These output blocks serve to combine similar voltages into a single output. Output block 800 receives converter outputs 706, 716 . . . 726 and 736, 746 . . .756 as inputs. These inputs are combined by DC distribution element 805 to provide output power 900. Output block 830 receives converter outputs 707, 717 . . . 727 and 737, 747 . . . 757 as inputs. These inputs are combined by DC distribution element 835 to provide output power 905. Output block 860 receives converter outputs 708, 718 . . . 726 and 738, 748 . . . 758 as inputs. These inputs are combined by DC distribution element 865 to provide output power 910.
It is a feature consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that any number of converters may contribute to a specific output voltage, and there may be any number of specific output voltages. For example, the outputs may be +5, +12, −12, +15, −24 and +3.3 VDC, wherein 2 converters may contribute to +5, 4 converters may contribute to +12, 5 converters may contribute to −12, 2 converters may contribute to −24, and 3 converters may contribute to +3.3 VDC. The control of each output voltage may be accomplished within a given converter, by a combination of converters sharing feedback, by feedback from the output back to one or more converters, or any combination thereof. Thus, in certain embodiments an advantage is gained with respect to loss of power, either by loss of source power or converter failure, because multiple power paths can exist for a given output power. Load sharing and partitioning between active converters is achievable, depending on system requirements. DC source 410 is also routed to output blocks 800, 830 . . . 860 in the event that output power 900, 905 . . . 910 is close in voltage to DC source 410 such that the DC source may be substituted as a particular power output should the normally utilized converters fail.
The value of the DC outputs will be determined by system requirements internal to equipment 500. By way of example and not limitation, a common requirement for a DC power output is +48 VDC for enterprise servers and other types of computing and telecom equipment.
It is a feature consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that the AC input converter section, consisting of AC/DC converters 705, 715 . . . 725, may employ any method of redundancy to achieve higher reliability for equipment 500.
It is a further feature consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that the DC input converter section, consisting of DC/DC converters 735, 745 . . . 755, may employ any method of redundancy to achieve higher reliability for equipment 500.
It is a further feature consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention that both the AC input converter section, consisting of AC/DC converters 705, 715 . . . 725, and the DC input converter section, consisting of DC/DC converters 735, 745 . . . 755, may employ any method of separate or joint redundancy to achieve higher reliability for equipment 500.
DC source 410, which commonly exists in, for example, telecommunications facilities, may be utilized in lieu of installing facility infrastructure necessary to provide a secondary AC input to achieve higher reliability of the overall system in certain embodiments. AC source 405, which commonly exists in facilities, may be utilized in lieu of installing facility infrastructure necessary to provide a secondary DC input to achieve higher reliability of the overall system in certain embodiments. A tightly regulated DC output may be obtained with high reliability operation from both AC and DC power inputs, as described above.
It is a characteristic of the present invention that a power system is described which is inline and achieves the intent of the UPTime Institute Certification guideline for High Availability systems.
Consistent with certain embodiments, within a facility system the AC and DC power sources applied to any particular equipment may be of different origins from those applied to other equipments in the system. This is of benefit if different sources are limited in power or located in different facility areas.
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Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other circuit and system configurations can be readily devised to accomplish the desired end without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the foregoing description. By way of example and not limitation, the overall system may contain any combination of AC/AC, AC/DC, and DC/DC power input equipments without departing from the invention. Many other variations are also possible. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
