WO2017060327A1

WO2017060327A1 - Power distribution module for a rack for electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2017060327A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/073833
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre-Olivier SALLA
Original assignee: Eaton Industries (France) Sas
Priority date: 2015-10-07
Filing date: 2016-10-06
Publication date: 2017-04-13
Also published as: GB201517676D0; GB201804806D0; GB2558105A; GB2558105B

Abstract

The invention relates to a power distribution module (16) for a rack (10) for electronic equipment comprising at least one power network (12), and at least one connector for electrically connecting the at least one power network to at least one power network (12', 12'') of a power distribution module (16', 16'') of another rack (10', 10''), wherein the at least one connector is located at a side of the power distribution module (16) such that it is coupled to a corresponding connector of the power distribution module (16', 16'') of the other rack (10', 10'') if both racks (10, 10', 10'') are placed side by side.

Description

EATON IN DUSTRI ES (FRANCE) SAS

DESCRI PTION

TITLE

Power distribution module for a rack for electronic equipment

TECHNICAL FI ELD

The invention relates to a power distribution module for a rack for electronic equipment, particularly for a computing rack for IT (Information Technology) equipment such as server computers. The invention is particularly provided for data centers having many of racks for housing IT equipment.

BACKGROUND

In data centers or small IT rooms, IT equipment such as server computers is usually housed in (computing) racks. The racks are arranged in rows such that the front door of each rack and the IT equipment can easily be operated by IT personnel. In a row of these racks, several networks distribute electric power to supply the IT equipment. Networks can be the mains, some protected power network provided by different UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) outputs, DC voltage, etc. The electric power is distributed, from power sources to IT equipment, from one rack to another, by electric cables fixed in the terminal blocks of different equipment. Usually, an electrician or a specialist is needed to install or remove electric cables in a rack and it's very difficult for IT personnel to know where their IT equipments are connected. Also, the electric power distribution can become very complex if the availability of the system increases, particularly in case where several UPSs are needed to supply different protected power networks

The US patent US8,836, 175B1 discloses an electric power distribution system for rack-mounted equipment within a single rack and allows to avoid a complex and understandable power network cable system manageable only by an electrician or a specialist. Also this system ensures a maximum of availability for each protected power network. Thus, IT personnel can manage electric power easily with the same availability level than a large data center.

SUMMARY OF I NVENTION It is an object of the present invention to propose a novel solution for the power supply of racks for electronic equipment, particularly for computing racks for IT equipment.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further embodiments are shown by the dependent claims. The present invention is based on the idea to equip racks with distribution modules comprising power networks and to provide a connector of the power network(s) at a side of the power distribution module, which can be coupled to a corresponding connector of a power distribution module of another rack if both racks are placed side by side. Thus, the power networks power distribution modules located in side by side placed racks can be easily coupled through their connectors so that only one power distribution module of a rack on a row of side by side placed racks equipped with power distribution modules, the power networks of which are coupled by the connectors, must be connected to mains electricity in order to supply electric power to the power distribution modules of all racks of the row. The invention allows to easily and quickly connecting the power distribution modules of all racks of a row of side by side placed racks to the mains panel.

An embodiment of the invention relates to a power distribution module for a rack for electronic equipment comprising at least one power network and at least one connector for electrically connecting the at least one power network to at least one power network of a power distribution module of another rack, wherein the at least one connector is located at a side of the power distribution module such that it is coupled to a corresponding connector of the power distribution module of the other rack if both racks are placed side by side. Particularly, the connectors of the power distribution modules are implemented to safely and reliably couple the power networks of the one module to the other module. The electric coupling of power networks of power distribution modules of racks placed side by side through the connectors allows reducing the electric cabling between racks and from racks to the mains panel. The power distribution module may comprise several standardized power sockets, into which corresponding power plugs of electronic equipment can be plugged. The power distribution module can installed horizontally in a rack, and extending from one side of the rack to the other side of the rack. The power distribution module is particularly suitable to be installed in existing racks in order to enable the creation of common power distribution networks among a row of racks placed side by side.

The at least one power network may comprise at least one first power network for mains electricity and at least one second power network for protected power supply of electronic equipment. Particularly, the second power networks can be provided for supplying electronic equipment sensitive to voltage fluctuations or power failures. The power distribution module may comprise a first and a second connector, wherein the first connector is located at the left side of the power distribution module and the second connector is located at the right side of the power distribution module. This allows locating a rack equipped with such a power distribution module in the middle of a row of several racks each being equipped with such a power distribution module with racks placed on both sides so that the at least one power network is coupled via the first and second connector to the power networks of the neighbored racks.

The at least one connector may be further configured for connecting the at least one power network to at least one power network of another rack via at least one electric cable. This allows bridging a gap or space between two racks equipped with the power distribution modules placed side by side when the connectors of both modules cannot be coupled due to the gap or space.

The power distribution module may comprise a top plate having markings for the electrical lines of the at least one power network. The markings assist personnel in connecting electronic equipment placed in the rack to the correct power network. For example, if a module comprises three different power networks, personnel may easily and quickly determine by the markings the suitable power network and connect the respective electronic equipment to the determined power network. The markings may be printed lines on the top plate, wherein each printed line has am assigned color and the colors of all lines are different. This makes it easier for the personnel to determine the suitable power network and avoid wrong cabling.

A further embodiment of the invention relates to a rack for electronic equipment comprising a power distribution module of the invention and as described herein, wherein the power distribution module is located in the rack such that at least one connector may be located at the lower left and/or right edge of the rack. The power distribution module may be located at the bottom plate of the rack. This can help to reduce the cabling effort.

The rack may comprise at least one power distribution unit (PDU) connected to the at least one power network. The at least one power distribution unit may extending vertically from the bottom to the top of the rack and provided for supply electronic equipment placed in the rack.

The rack may comprise at least one uninterruptible power supply (UPS) being supplied with electricity from the at least one power network. The at least one UPS can avoid interruption of the operation of electronic equipment placed in the rack if the rack is separated from mains electricity. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments. However, the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a row of embodiments of four racks according to the invention, wherein the racks are placed side by side such that their power networks are coupled to one common power networks;

Figs. 2 to 9 show different embodiments racks according to the invention, which are placed side by side in a row and are equipped with power distribution modules according to the invention; Figs. 10 and 1 1 show an embodiment of a power distribution module with printing for the electrical lines of its power networks according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, functionally similar or identical elements may have the same reference numerals. Absolute values are shown below by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

In a row of racks, several networks distribute electrical power to supply electronic equipment such as IT products. Networks could be the mains, different UPS outputs, DC voltage... In general, these different power networks are distributed by electric cables from one product to another through the row of racks. An electrician or a specialist is needed to install or remove electric cables in a rack. IT personnel cannot do it by themselves if they are not qualified. With the present invention, these different power networks are made available in each rack by means of inventive power distribution modules, which comprise one or more power networks, which can be connected from a rack to another by one or more connectors of the modules. The invention allows anybody to install or disconnect electric power networks in a raw of rack by themselves safety and easily without needing to be qualified. Electric power networks of racks become "plug and play".

The principle of the present invention is explained now with reference to Fig. 1 , which shows a row of four racks 10 to 10"' for IT products such as server computers located in a data center. Each of the racks 10 to 10"' is equipped with three power networks 12, 12', 12", 12"' located at the bottom of the racks and extending from the left side to the right side of each rack. The three power networks comprise the Mains power supply 121 and two protected power supplies, Feed A 122 and Feed B 123. The racks are places side by side. The power networks 12-12"' are part of power distribution modules, which comprise connectors (not shown) for coupling the power networks of all racks 10 to 10"' to one common power network. The connectors of the power distribution modules are located at the same places at each rack. The connectors are designed such that a connector of one module can be coupled to the connector of another module if both racks comprising the respective modules are placed side by side. Thus, the connector can couple the power networks if the racks are placed side by side; if one rack is removed from the row, the common power network is interrupted at the place of the removed rack. In Fig. 2, each of the racks 10 to 10"' is equipped with an inventive power distribution module 16 to 16"' and comprises an UPS 20 to 20"', which powers the two protected power supplies Feed A 122 and Feed B 123 of the respective power distribution module 16 to 16"'. The system of these four racks 10 to 10"' can be powered with only one cable for mains power supply since the mains power networks of the power distribution modules 16 to 16"' is coupled by the connectors of the modules, which are coupled together by the racks 10 to 10"' being placed side by side.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the racks 10 to 10"' with the inventive power networks distribution modules (PNDM) 16 to 16"' comprising the power distribution networks 12 to 12"' located at the bottom plates 14 to 14"' of the racks. Each PNDM 16 to 16"' comprises connectors on its left and on its right side for connecting with another PNDM of a rack, standing side by side to the own rack. The PNDMs 16 to 16"' can comprise sockets for power cables to be connected to equipment located in the racks 10 to 10"' such as PDUs 18 to 18"' and UPSs 20 to 20"', as shown in Fig. 4. The PDUs 18 to 18"' extend for example vertically on one side of the rack 10 to 10"' from its bottom plate 14 to 14"' to its top and can comprise sockets for power cables to be connected to equipment located in the racks 10 to 10"' such as servers, switches, hubs.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment where two spaced racks can be connected by electrical cables 22. In detail, the connectors of the PNDMs of the spaced racks are connected with the cables 22. As shown in Fig. 6, the system comprising four racks 10 to 10"', with each being equipped with the inventive power distribution modules 16 to 16"', can be easily and quickly connected via a single cable to the mains panel, either though the top or the bottom, in single phase, or in three phases. Optionally, one cable can be provided per rack to use smaller breakers in the mains panel or to use two different mains to increase the reliability. It is also possible to use as many UPSs 20 to 20"' as needed and to plug them in where required.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment for high availability with two different protected power networks feed A and feed B and with several UPSs in parallel to each feed. With this configuration, the best reliability as possible can be obtained: 2 x (2N + 1 ). This availability can be further improved by installing for example two different mains feeds.

One of the advantages of the invention is the fact that one can quickly and easily follow both feed A and B as well as track the feeds across multiple racks 10 to 10" right up to the IT equipment 26, as shown in Fig. 8. One can plug IT equipment 26 in safely and securely. One can check the connection of server power supplies at a glance.

As shown in Fig. 9, an invisible data bus (dotted line) can be provided to connect all UPSs and PDUs together and allows connecting an unique HMI to display and control completely the power system.

Figs. 10 and 1 1 shows a further embodiment, where differently colored lines 24, 24', 24" or 24"', 24"" are printed on the top plates 26, 26' of power distribution modules 17, 17' placed at the bottom of racks 10, 10' as markings for clarifying the connections between IT products and electrical power networks and to give clear visibility to the power wiring. The lines can be for example colored yellow, red and blue. With these colored lines, users can quickly and easily follow the different power networks across multiple racks right up to the IT equipment. They can plug in their IT equipment safely and securely and check for example a server power supply at a glance. Printed lines can be drawn between each component supplied by the same electric power network. Components could be a product, a connector, a fuse, a breaker, a light... A line could be drawn on the rack, on a product, on a component. It can cross a row of racks without discontinuity to follow it from one rack to another, as shown in Figs. 10 and 1 1 . Fig. 10 shows two racks 10, 10' with their power networks connected together, wherein the power networks comprise three different electric power networks: dark blue for UPS1 (Feed A 24'), light blue for UPS2 (Feed B 24") and red for the MAINS (24). For the user, the electric power wiring becomes clear and correct and assists her/him in connecting the power supplies of IT equipment placed in the racks 10, 10' (e.g. storage and server).

Claims

1 . A power distribution module (16) for a rack (10) for electronic equipment

comprising

• at least one power network (12), and

• at least one connector for electrically connecting the at least one power network to at least one power network (12', 12") of a power distribution module (16', 16") of another rack (10', 10"), wherein the at least one connector is located at a side of the power distribution module (16) such that it is coupled to a corresponding connector of the power distribution module (16', 16") of the other rack (10', 10") if both racks (10, 10', 10") are placed side by side.

2. The power distribution module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one power

network (12) comprises at least one first power network (121 ) for mains electricity and at least one second power network (122, 123) for protected power supply of electronic equipment.

3. The power distribution module of claim 1 or 2, comprising a first and a second connector, wherein the first connector is located at the left side of the power distribution module and the second connector is located at the right side of the power distribution module.

4. The power distribution module of claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the at least one

connector is further configured for connecting the at least one power network to at least one power network of another power distribution module via at least one electric cable (22).

5. The power distribution module of any of the preceding claims, comprising a top plate (26) having markings (24, 24', 24") for the electrical lines of the at least one power network.

6. The power distribution module of claim 7, wherein the markings are printed lines (24, 24', 24") on the top plate (26), wherein each printed line has am assigned color and the colors of all lines are different.

7. A rack (10) for electronic equipment comprising a power distribution module (16) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the power distribution module

(16) is located in the rack (10) such that the at least one connector is located at the lower left and/or right edge of the rack.

8. The rack of claim 7, wherein the power distribution module (16) is located at the bottom plate (14) of the rack.

9. The rack of claim 7 or 8, comprising at least one power distribution unit (18, 18', 18", 18"') connected to the at least one power network of the power distribution module (16, 16', 16", 16"').

10. The rack of claim 7, 8 or 9, comprising at least one uninterruptible power supply (20, 20', 20", 20"') being supplied with electricity from the at least one power network.