METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUSTAINABLE SCALE-OUT DATACENTERS

摘要

Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for providing additional power supply to a datacenter receiving power from a power distribution unit (PDU) that provides utility power. The additional power supply can be provided by a renewable power source, such as one or more solar panels. Embodiments can add additional energy storage capacity with the additional power supply and can add additional server(s) with the additional power supply. Embodiments can incorporate a power control hub that controls the delivery of either AC power received from the PDU, or AC power converted from DC power received from the renewable power source and/or DC power received from additional energy storage devices that provide the additional storage capacity to the additional server(s), to the additional server(s).

主权项

1. A datacenter, comprising:
a plurality of power control hubs (PCH's), wherein each PCH of the plurality of PCH's is configured to connect to one or more power distribution unit (PDU) such that the each PCH receives PDU AC power from the one or more PDU; a corresponding plurality of server clusters, wherein each server cluster comprises at least one server, wherein each server cluster of the plurality of server clusters is connected to a corresponding PCH of the plurality of PCH's; a corresponding plurality of energy storage devices (ESD's), wherein each ESD of the plurality of ESD's is connected to a corresponding PCH of the plurality of PCH's; and a corresponding plurality of renewable power supplies (RPS's), wherein each RPS of the plurality of RPS's is connected to a corresponding PCH of the plurality of PCH's, wherein each PCH of the plurality of PCH's comprises:
a switch;a converter/inverter, wherein the converter/inverter is configured to:(i) receive ESD DC output power from the corresponding ESD, convert the ESD DC output power to ESD AC output power, and provide the ESD AC output power to the switch; and/or(ii) receive RPS DC output power from the corresponding RPS, convert the RPS DC output power to RPS AC output power, and provide the RPS AC output power to the switch,wherein the switch is configured to switchably either:
(a) provide the PDU AC power to the corresponding server cluster when the switch is in a first switch position; or(b) provide the RPS AC output power and/or the ESD AC output power to the corresponding server cluster when the switch is in a second position; anda controller, wherein the controller is configured such that,
when the switch is in the first switch position, the controller switches the switch from the first switch position to the second switch position if a first at least one criterion is met, andwhen the switch is in the second switch position, the controller switches the switch from the second position to the first position if a second at least one criterion is met.