WO2023138772A1

WO2023138772A1 - Uninterruptible power supply system

Info

Publication number: WO2023138772A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/051229
Authority: WO
Inventors: Domagoj TALAPKO; Robert Turner; Joshua G W EGBERS; Fabian Keller; Erik SOLAK
Original assignee: Abb Schweiz Ag
Priority date: 2022-01-20
Filing date: 2022-01-20
Publication date: 2023-07-27

Abstract

Embodiments of present disclosure relate to a UPS system. The UPS system comprises a first UPS set (201) comprising a first number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module; and a second UPS set (202) connected in parallel with the first UPS set and comprising a second number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module, wherein each of the UPS modules comprises at least one breaker at its input and at least one breaker at its output, wherein each of the first UPS set and the second UPS set is configured to provide a half of power required by a load during a normal state, and to provide the whole power required by the load during an outage state of the other UPS set, and wherein when one of the UPS modules fails, the UPS set comprising the failed UPS module is in the outage state, and the failed UPS module is isolated from other UPS modules in the same UPS set through its breakers, and the redundant UPS module in the same UPS set is connected to the other UPS modules in the same UPS set through its breakers. With these embodiments, the Tier IV classification can be achieved with fewer UPS modules as compared with the conventional Tier IV implementations, thereby reducing the cost of the UPS system.

Description

UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM

FIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system, and more particularly, to a UPS system for a. data, center

BACKGROUND

[0002] UPS systems are widely used to improve power availability of a data center. The Uptime Institute defines different availability levels known as “tiers”, of data center power availability, among which Tier IV is the highest classification. Conventional Tier IV implementations consist of two completely independent parallel supply paths, and a rated power of each supply path has to be 100 percent of the power required by the data center. The coin cntional Tier IV implementations pro\ ide the utmost reliability. However, it comes at a high cost such that two times a number of UPSs are required.

SUMMARY

[0003] In view of the foregoing problems, various example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a UPS system capable of achieving the Tier IV classification with a better UPS utilization than the conventional Tier IV implementations.

[0001 ] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a UPS system. The UPS system, comprises a first UPS set comprising a first number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module; and a second UPS set connected in parallel with the first UPS set and comprising a second number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module, wherein each of the UPS modules comprises at least one breaker at its input and. at least one breaker at its output, wherein, each, of the first 'UPS set and. the second UPS set is configured, to provide a half of power required by a load during a normal state, and. to provide the whole power required, by the load during an outage state of the other UPS set, and wherein when one of the UPS modules fails, the UPS set comprising the failed UPS module is in the outage state, and the failed UPS module is isolated from other UPS modules in the same UPS set through its breakers, and the redundant UPS module in the same UPS set is connected to the other UPS modules in the same UPS set through its breakers. With these embodiments, the Tier IV classification can be achieved with fewer UPS modules as compared with the conventional Tier IV implementations, thereby reducing the cost of the UPS system.

[0002] In some embodiments, each of the first UPS set and the second UPS set is further configured to reliably run in an overload mode for a time necessary to isolate the failed UPS module in the other UPS set during the outage state of the other UPS set With these embodiments, the reliability of the UPS system can be further improved.

[0003] In some embodiments, an input of the first UPS set is coupled to a first power supply through a first main switchgear, and an input of the second UPS set is coupled to a second power supply through a second main switchgear. With these embodiments, circuit breakers in the main switchgears will provide protection against faults and other abnormal conditions, such that the reliability of the UPS system can be further improved.

[0004] In some embodiments, the first power supply comprises a first utility source, and the second power supply comprises a second utility source, With these embodiments, the power availability of the UPS system can be improved.

[0005] In some embodiments, a third power supply is coupled to either of the first main switchgear and the second main switchgear. With these embodiments, the power availability of the UPS system can be further improved.

[0006] In some embodiments, the third power supply comprises a plurality of generators. With these embodiments, a long-term power backup can be provided in the event of a utility outage, which further improves the power availability of the UPS system.

[0007] In some embodiments, an output of the first UPS set is coupled to the load through a first distribution switchboard, and an output of the second UPS set is coupled to the load through a second distribution switchboard. With these embodiments, the power on each UPS set can be distributed properly.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first number of UPS modules are coupled to the first distribution switchboard through a plurality of first output switchboards, and the second number of UPS modules are coupled to the second distribution switchboard through a plurality of second output switchboards, wherein the plurality of first output switchboards connected to the first distribution switchboard together, and the plurality of second output switchboards are connected the second distribution switchboard together. With these embodiments, the power delivery of the load will not be influenced after the failed UPS module is isolated.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first distribution switchboard is coupled to the load through a first power distribution unit, and the second distribution switchboard is coupled to the load through a second power distribution unit. With these embodiments, protection is provided to the individual loads.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first number equals to the second number. With these embodiments, the control of the UPS sets will be simplified.

[0011] In some embodiments, each UPS module has a same rated power. With these embodiments, the manufacturing process of the UPS modules will be simplified.

[0012] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Through the following detailed descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above and other objectives, features and advantages of the example embodiments disclosed herein will become more comprehensible. In the drawings, several example embodiments disclosed herein will be illustrated in examples and in a non-limiting manner, wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional UPS system; and

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a UPS system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference symbols are used to indicate the same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to several example embodiments shown in the drawings. Though example embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that the embodiments are described only to facilitate those skilled in the art to better understand and thereby implement the present disclosure, rather than to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

[0018] The term “comprises” or “includes” and its variants are to be read as open terms that mean “includes, but is not limited to.” The term “or” is to be read as “and/or” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “based on” is to be read as “based at least in part on.” The term “being operable to” is to mean a function, an action, a motion or a state that can be achieved by an operation induced by a user or an external mechanism. The term “one embodiment” and “an embodiment" are to be read as “at least one embodiment.” The term “another embodiment” is to be read as

“at least one other embodiment.” The terms “first,” “second,” and the like may refer to different or same objects. Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below. A definition of a term is consistent throughout the description unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0019] First of all, operational principles of a conventional UPS system will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional UPS system.

[0020] As shown in FIG.l, the conventional UPS system 100 of Tier IV classification comprises two completely independent parallel supply paths connected to a data center. Each supply path comprises a UPS set having a plurality of UPS modules connected between a utility source and the data center.

[0021] Under normal conditions, both supply paths are active, and each supply path carries no more than a half of the rated load of the data center. During an outage of one of the supply paths due to a failure on the supply path, for example, a short circuit in one of the UPS modules, the other supply path carries the full rated load of the data center until the outage of the supply path ends.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1 , if the full rated load of the data center is 20 MW, and one UPS module can carry a power of 1 .25 MW, each supply path will need 16 UPS modules to carry 20 MW during an outage of the other supply path in order to achieve Tier IV classification. That is, a total of 32 UPS modules are required for the UPS system.

[0023] Although the conventional UPS systems provides the utmost reliability, it comes at a high cost such that two times a number of UPS modules are required, which causes the conventional UPS system very expensive.

10024] Thus, there is a need to improve the UPS utilization to reduce the cost of the UPS system while satisfying the request of Tier IV classification.

[0025] Hereinafter, the structure of a UPS system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a UPS system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the UPS system comprises a first UPS set 201 in the first supply path and a second UPS set 202 in the second supply path. The first UPS set 201 comprises a first number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module, and the second UPS set 202 comprises a second number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module. Each of the UPS modules comprises at least one breaker at its input and at least one breaker at its output.

[0027] Under normal conditions, both supply paths are active, and each supply path carries no more than a half of the rated load of the data center, similar to the conventional UPS system.

[0028] When one UPS module fails, for example, when the UPS module is short- circuited, the supply path comprising the failed UPS module is offline and in an outage state. The UPS modules in the other supply path operate in an overload mode, and carry the full rated load of the data center. At the same time, the failed UPS module is detected and is isolated from other UPS module in the same UPS set through the breakers at the input and output of the failed UPS module, and the redundant UPS module is connected to the other UPS module in the same UPS set through the breakers at the input and output of the redundant UPS module to replace the flailed UPS module.

[0029] After the failed UPS module is replaced in a few seconds, the supply path is back online, the UPS modules in the other supply path come back to a normal mode from the overload mode, and each supply path carries no more than a half of the rated load of the data center again.

|0030] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the first UPS set 201 and the second UPS set 202 each comprises 8 UPS modules and one redundant UPS module. Compared with the conventional UPS system, the UPS system in present application saves almost a half of the number of UPS modules.

[0031] With above structures, the UPS utilization of the UPS system is improved, the cost of the UPS system is reduced, and the requirements of the Tier IV are still satisfied.

[0032] In other embodiments, the first UPS set 201 and the second UPS set 202 each can comprise more than one redundant UPS modules, for example, two redundant UPS modules, or three redundant UPS modules. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0033] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the first UPS set 201 and the second UPS set 202 have the same number of UPS modules. In other embodiments, the first UPS set 201 and the second UPS set 202 can have different number of UPS modules.

The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0034] In some embodiments, each UPS module has a same rated power, for example, 1.25 MW. In other embodiments, different UPS modules may have different rated powers. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the UPS system further comprises a first main switchgear 204 and a second main switchgear 206. An input of the first UPS set 201 is coupled to a first power supply 203 through the first main switchgear 204, and an input of the second UPS set 202 is coupled to a second power supply 205 through the second main switchgear 206. The first power supply 203 and the second power supply 205 are used to provide power to the load. The first main switchgear 204 and the second main switchgear 206 are used to distribute the power to the first UPS set 201 and the second UPS set 202 respectively.

[0036] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the first power supply 203 comprises a first utility source, and the second power 205 comprises a second utility source. In other embodiments, the first power supply 203 and the second power 205 can be other types of power supply. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the UPS system further comprises a third power supply 209, which is coupled to the first switchgear 204 and the second switchgear 206. The third power supply 209 provides a long-term power backup in the event of an outage of the first power supply 203 or the second power supply 205.

[0038] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the third power supply 209 comprises a plurality of generators. In other embodiments, the third power supply 209 can be other types of power supply. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the UPS system further comprises a plurality of first input switchgears 207 and a plurality of second input switchgears 208. The inputs of the first number of UPS modules are coupled to the first main switchgear 204 through the first input switchgears 207, and the inputs of the second number of UPS modules are coupled to the second main switchgear 206 through the second input switchgears 208. The first switchgears 207 and the second input switchgears 208 are used to distribute the power to the UPS modules.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the UPS system further comprises a first distribution switchboard 210 and a second distribution switchboard 211. An output of the first UPS set 201 is coupled to the load through the first distribution switchboard 210, and an output of the second UPS set 202 is coupled to the load through the second distribution switchboard 211. The first distribution switchboard 210 and the second distribution switchboard 211 are used to distribute the power on each of the supply paths to be half of the power required by the load. [0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the UPS system further comprises a plurality of first output switchgears 212 and a plurality of second output switchgears 213. The outputs of the first number of UPS modules are coupled to the first distribution switchboard 210 through the first output switchboards 212, and the outputs of the second number of UPS modules are coupled to the second distribution switchboard 211 through the second output switchboards 213. The first output switchgears 212 and the second output switchgears 213 are used to distribute the power to the load.

[0042] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the first output switchboards 212 are connected to the first distribution switchboard 210 together, and the second output switchboards 213 are connected to the second distribution switchboard 211 together. This connection always operates with one segment open, i.e., the redundant UPS module segment, but when a UPS module fails, the connection is reconfigured to isolate the failed UPS module.

[0043] In other embodiments, the first output switchboards 212 and the second output switchboards 213 can be connected in other manner, for example, connected in a ring. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited in this respect.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the UPS system further comprises a first power distribution unit 214 and a second power distribution unit 215. The first distribution switchboard 210 is coupled to the load through the first power distribution unit 214, and the second distribution switchboard 211 is coupled to the load through a second power distribution unit 215. Power distribution units (PDUs) are comprised of circuit breakers, metering units and, in North America, LV transformers, to further distribute the power to the IT racks as well as provide protection and measure the power (voltage and current) to the individual loads.

[0045] It is to be understood that the UPS system described above can be used to provide power to other electrical devices or facilities besides the data center.

[0046] While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A UPS system (200), comprising: a first UPS set (201) comprising a first number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module; and a second UPS set (202) connected in parallel with the first UPS set (201) and comprising a second number of UPS modules having at least one redundant UPS module, wherein each of the UPS modules comprises at least one breaker at its input and at least one breaker at its output, wherein each of the first UPS set (201) and the second UPS set (202) is configured to provide a half of power required by a load during a normal state, and to provide the whole power required by the load during an outage state of the other UPS set, and wherein when one of the UPS modules fails, the UPS set comprising the failed UPS module is in the outage state, and the failed UPS module is isolated from other UPS modules in the same UPS set through its breakers, and the redundant UPS module in the same UPS set is connected to the other UPS modules in the same UPS set through its breakers.

2. The UPS system according to claim 1, wherein each of die first UPS set (201) and the second UPS set (202) is further configured to reliably run in an overload mode for a time necessary to isolate the failed UPS module in the other UPS set during the outage state of the other UPS set.

3. The UPS system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an input of the first UPS set (201) is coupled to a first power supply (203) through a first main switchgear

(204), and an input of the second UPS set (202) is coupled to a second power supply

(205) through a second main switchgear (206).

4. The UPS system according to claim 3, wherein the first power supply (203) comprises a first utility source, and the second power supply (205) comprises a second utility source.

5. The UPS system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a third power supply (209) is coupled to either of the first main switchgear (204) and the second main switchgear (206).

6. The UPS system according to claim 5, wherein the third power supply (209) comprises a plurality of generators.

7. The UPS system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an output of the first UPS set (201) is coupled to the load through a first distribution switchboard (210), and an output of the second UPS set (202) is coupled to the load through a second distribution switchboard (211).

8. The UPS system according to claim 7, wherein the first number of UPS modules are coupled to the first distribution switchboard (210) through a plurality of first output switchboards (212), and the second number of UPS modules are coupled to the second distribution switchboard (211) through a plurality of second output switchboards (213), wherein the plurality of first output switchboards (212) are connected to the first distribution switchboard (210) together, and the plurality of second output switchboards (213) are connected to the second distribution switchboard (211) together.

9. The UPS system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first distribution switchboard (210) is coupled to the load through a first power distribution unit (214), and the second distribution switchboard (211) is coupled to the load through a second power distribution unit (215).

10. The UPS system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first number equals to the second number.

11. The UPS system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each UPS module has a same rated power.