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Title:
UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY CHARGE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/131665
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
In one example, a system can include a number of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs). The system can include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions executable by a processing resource to control charging of the number of UPSs. The number of UPSs can be charged in an order based on a power load on each of the number of UPSs. The number of UPSs can be charged in an order based on a state of charge (SOC) of each of the number of UPSs.

Inventors:
NGUYEN HAI NGOC (US)
BANERJEE ABHISHEK (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2016/015127
Publication Date:
August 03, 2017
Filing Date:
January 27, 2016
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
HEWLETT PACKARD ENTPR DEV LP (US)
International Classes:
H02J7/00; G06F1/30; H02J9/06
Domestic Patent References:
WO2015088569A12015-06-18
Foreign References:
US20150137765A12015-05-21
JP2013115898A2013-06-10
US20110068630A12011-03-24
US20130154377A12013-06-20
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
FEBBO, Michael A. et al. (US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
What is claimed:

1. A system, comprising:

a number of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs); and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions executable by a processing resource to control charging of the number of UPSs;

wherein the number of UPSs are charged in an order based on:

a power ioad on each of the number of UPSs; and

a state of charge (SOC) of each of the number of UPSs.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the number of UPSs have a different power load,

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a one of the at least two of the number of UPSs that has a greater power load is ordered to be charged ahead of another of the at least two of the number of UPSs.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the number of UPSs have a different SOC and a different power load.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a one of the at least two of the number of UPSs with:

a greater deficit of charge due to a lower SOC than another of the at least two of the number of UPSs; and

a greater power load than the another of the at least two of the number of UPSs; is ordered to be charged ahead of the another UPS.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

determine a state of charge (SOC) of a number of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs);

determine a power ioad on each of the number of UPSs; calculate an order for charging the number of UPSs based on the determined SOC and the power load of each of the number of UPSs.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the

instructions are executable by the processor to change an order of charging of the number of UPSs in response to a power load of a UPS changing for at least one of the number of UPSs.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the

instructions are executable by the processor to move the UPS with the changed power load to a position in the order to be charged sooner in response to the associated power load increasing.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the

instructions are executable by the processor to move the UPS with the changed power load to a position in the order to be charged later in response to the associated power load decreasing.

10. A method, comprising:

determining a state of charge (SOC) of each of a number of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs);

determining a power load of each of the number of UPSs;

calculating an order to be charged for each of the number of UPSs; and recalculating the order based on at least one of the power loads corresponding to at least one of the number of UPSs changing.

1 1. The method of claim 10, comprising determining whether an SOC of at least one of the number of UPSs has changed.

12. The method of claim 1 1 , wherein the recalculating of the order is based on the determined change of the SOC of the at least one of the number of UPSs.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising determining whether a power load of at least one of the number of UPSs has changed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the recalculating of the order is based on the determined change of the power load of the at least one of the number of UPSs.

15. The method of claim 10, comprising switching charging power from at least one of the number of UPSs to an additional one of the number of UPSs based on at least one of the SOC and the power load of the additional one of the number of UPSs changing independent of a charge of the at least one of the number of UPSs completing charging.

Description:
Background

[0001] A computing data center can include a number of power supplies (e.g., uninterruptible power supplies (UPSes)). The UPSs can be charged with a particular amount of power and a particular power load can drain their power at a particular rate. The UPSs can be sequentially charged in a designated order independent of a state of charge (SOC) and a power load for each of the sequentially ordered UPSes. For example, the UPSes can be ordered to be charged prior to a power load depleting the SOC of each of the UPSes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0002] Figure 1 illustrates a diagram of an example of a system for uninterruptible power supply charge consistent with the present disclosure.

[0003] Figure 2 illustrates a diagram of an example of a system for uninterruptible power supply charge consistent with the present disclosure.

[0004] Figure 3 illustrates a diagram of an example computing system consistent with the present disclosure.

[0005] Figure 4 illustrates a flow chart of an example computing device consistent with the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0006] A number of examples for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) charge are described herein. A UPS is an electrical apparatus that can provide emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically mains power, fails. A UPS can be different than an auxiliary and/or emergency power system or standby generator. The UPS can provide near-instantaneous protection from input power interruptions by supplying energy stored in batteries, supercapacitors, and/or flywheels. A UPS can be used to protected hardware such as computers, data centers, telecommunication equipment and/or other electrical equipment.

[0007] in some examples, a number of UPSes of a datacenter can be charged based on a load-dependent determination. For example, an UPS can have a particular state of charge (SOC) at a particular time during an operation of a datacenter and/or associated computing devices and/or servers. The UPS can have a particular power load on the UPS that drains the SOC. The UPS can be ordered in an order of a number of UPSes that need to be charged based on that particular power load and the current SOC of the UPS. The number of UPSes can be ordered based on a power load and a current SOC for each of the number of UPSes to determine a most efficient order.

[0008] An order of the UPSes for charging can be predetermined prior to the SOC and power load determinations and/or altered after the determinations or the order can be initially determined based on the SOC and power load determinations. Either way, the order of charging of the UPSes can be altered based on a changing SOC of each of the UPSes and/or a changing power loaded on each of the UPSes.

[0009] Figure 1 illustrates a diagram of an example of a system 101 for uninterruptible power supply charge consistent with the present disclosure. The system 101 can include a number of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSes) 1 10-1 , 1 10-2. While two UPSes 1 10-1 , 1 10-2 are illustrated, examples are not so limited. Any number of UPSes can be used in a computing datacenter structure. A first UPS 1 10-1 can include a number of battery packs 1 12-1 , 1 12-2, 1 12-3, 1 12-4, 1 12-5, ... 1 12-M, referred to herein as battery packs 1 12. The battery packs 1 12 can be coupled to a power distributing device 1 16-1 that distributes power to a computing device 122 and to the battery packs 1 12 when recharging. [0010] A second UPS 1 10-1 can include a number of battery packs 1 14-1 , 14-2, 1 14-3, 1 14-4, 1 14-5, ... 1 14-N, referred to herein as battery packs 1 14. The battery packs 1 14 can be coupled to a power distributing device 1 8-2 that distributes power to a computing device 123 and to the battery packs 1 14 when recharging. Power distributed to the computing device 122, illustrated as arrow 1 18 (and similarly to computing device 123, illustrated as arrow 1 19) can include an AC mode distribution of power. The AC distribution of power can provide power 1 18 to the computing device 122 while the battery packs 1 12 are being charged.

[0011] in at least one example, a first set of battery packs 1 12 of UPS 1 10-1 can have a first state of charge (SOC) and a second set of battery packs 1 14 can have a second SOC. in response to the first SOC being more than the second SOC, the battery packs 1 14 of UPS 1 10-1 can be charged, illustrated by arrow 120, instead of battery packs 1 12. This can occur by a termination of charging of battery packs 1 12 or termination of charging of additional battery packs from an additional UPS (not pictured). For example, a third set of battery packs of a third UPS can be charging and, when the charging of the third set of battery packs has completed, the second set of battery packs 1 14 can be charged 123 before the first set of battery packs 1 12 are charged. The first set of battery packs 1 12 may have been first in order to be charged next but a determination that the second set of battery packs 1 14 has a lower SOC could reorder the battery packs in relation to which gets charged next. That is, priority can be given to a UPS with a higher depletion of charge (greater power load), lower SOC, greater rate of discharge, etc. and a previous ordering of UPS charging can be altered to accommodate this priority.

[0012] Figure 2 illustrates a diagram of an example of a system 202 for uninterruptible power supply charge consistent with the present disclosure. The system 202 can include a number of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSes) 210-1 , 210-2. While two UPSes 210-1 , 210-2 are illustrated, examples are not so limited. Any number of UPSes can be used in a computing datacenter structure. A first UPS 210-1 can include a number of battery packs 212-1 , 212-2, 212-3, 212-4, 212-5, ... 2 2-M, referred to herein as battery packs 212. A second UPS 210-1 can include a number of battery packs 214-1 , 214-2, 214-3, 214-4, 214-5, ... 214-N, referred to herein as battery packs 214. The battery packs 1 12 can be coupled to a power distributing device 216-1 that distributes power to a computing device 222 and to the battery packs 212 when recharging.

[0013] In at least one example, a first load of a first computing device 222 associated with UPS 210-1 can be using a first amount of power (e.g., a first power load) from a first set of battery packs 212. A second computing device 223 associated with UPS 210-2 can be using a second amount of power (e.g., a second power load) from a second set of battery packs 214. The first load can be greater than the second load. In response to the first load being greater, the battery packs 212 of UPS 210-1 can be charged prior to the battery packs 214 of UPS 210-2 being charged. If the UPS 210-2 is being charged, the charge of UPS 210-2 can be terminated and switched to UPS 210-1 , If an additional UPS (not illustrated) is being charged, the charge of the additional UPS can be terminated and/or when the additional UPS has been fully charged, the UPS 210-1 can be next in the order to be charged ahead of UPS 210-2.

[0014] Figure 3 and 4 illustrate examples of a system and computing device 214 consistent with the present disclosure. Figure 3 illustrates a diagram of an example computing system consistent with the present disclosure. The system can include a database 340, a UPS charge system 342, and/or a number of engines (e.g., determine SOC engine 344, determine power load engine 346, calculate engine 348, recalculate engine 350). The UPS charge system 342 can be in communication with the database 340 via a communication link, and can include the number of engines (e.g., determine SOC engine 344, determine power load engine 346, calculate engine 348, recalculate engine 350). The UPS charge system 343 can include additional or fewer engines than are illustrated to perform the various functions as will be described in further detail in connection with Figures 1 -2.

[0015] The number of engines (e.g., determine SOC engine 344, determine power load engine 346, calculate engine 348, recalculate engine 350) can include a combination of hardware and programming, but at least hardware, that is configured to perform functions described herein (e.g., determine an SOC of each of a number of UPSes, determine a power load of each of a number of UPSes, calculate an order to be charged for each of the number of UPSes, recalculate the order based on at least one of the power loads corresponding to at least one of the number of UPSes changing, etc.) stored in a memory resource (e.g., computer readable medium, machine readable medium, etc.) as well as hard-wired program (e.g., logic).

[0016] The determine SOC engine 344 can include hardware and/or a

combination of hardware and programming, but at least hardware, to determine an SOC of each of a number of UPSes. The SOC of each of the number of UPSes can be determined based on subtracting an amount of power drained from the UPS and an original SOC prior to the UPS being drained. The SOC of each of the number of UPSes can be determined by an indicator that indicates a current SOC of each of the number of UPSes, such as an SOC meter, etc.

[0017] The determine power load engine 346 can include hardware and/or a combination of hardware and programming, but at least hardware, to determine a power load of each of a number of UPSes. The power load of each of the number of UPSes can be determined based on a particular computing device draining power from the UPS. For example, a computing device can include a particular type of server and the particular type of server can include a known power load characteristic that is added into the power load determination. The power load can be determined based on a current SOC being subtracted from an original SOC and determining an amount of charge drained during a particular time period to determine the power load. Additional methods for determining the SOC and/or the power load that are not described herein can be used.

[0018] The calculate engine 348 can include hardware and/or a combination of hardware and programming, but at least hardware, to calculate an order for charging each of the number of UPSes. The calculation of an order for charging can be based on a power load and/or an SOC for each of the number of UPSes. For example, a UPS with a greater power load and a lower SOC can be put at a beginning of the order for charging. A UPS with a lower power load and a higher SOC can be toward a bottom of the order for charging. A UPS with a greater power load and a higher SOC can be calculated to be at a lower charge than a UPS with a greater power load and a lesser SOC based on the greater power load outweighing the difference in SOC of the UPSes. That is, a lower SOC may not necessarily put a UPS to be charged ahead of a UPS with a higher SOC if the difference in power load changes the calculation of power drain and how close a UPS will be to draining a particular amount (e.g., all, a majority, at least more than half, etc.) of charge.

[0019] The recalculate engine 350 can include hardware and/or a combination of hardware and programming, but at least hardware, to recalculate the order based on at least one of the power loads corresponding to at least one of the number of UPSes changing. For example, a power load corresponding to at least one of the number of UPSes can change based on a computing device being charged from the UPS being switched. The computing device can be switched from one drawing a greater power load to one drawing a lesser power load and therefore the corresponding UPS can be lowered in the order of UPSes to be charged. Vice versa, if the computing device that the UPS is switched to draws a greater power load, then the corresponding UPS can move up higher in the order of UPSes to be charged.

[0020] in at least some examples, a determination of whether an SOC of at least one of the number of UPSs has changed. When a determined change of the SOC is indicated, a recalculation can include changing the order based on the determined SOC change, in at least some examples, charging can be switched from at least one of the number of UPSs to an additional one of the number of UPSs based on at least one of the SOC and the power load of the additional one of the number of UPSs changing independent of a charge of the at least one of the number of UPSs completing charging. For example, a first UPS can be charged while a second UPS has a change in its SOC and/or its power load. The charging can be switched to the second UPS independent of the first UPS completing charging, thereby avoid a threshold depletion of the number of UPSes.

[0021] Figure 4 illustrates a diagram of an example computing device 452 consistent with the present disclosure. The computing device 452 can utilize software, hardware, firmware, and/or logic to perform functions described herein. The computing device 452 can be any combination of hardware and program instructions configured to share information. The hardware, for example, can include a processing resource 454 and/or a memory resource 458 (e.g., computer-readable medium (CRM), machine readable medium (MRM), database, etc.). A processing resource 454, as used herein, can include any number of processors capable of executing instructions stored by a memory resource 458.

[0022] Processing resource 454 may be implemented in a single device or distributed across multiple devices. The program instructions (e.g., computer readable instructions (CRI)) can include instructions stored on the memory resource 458 and executable by the processing resource 454 to implement a function (e.g., determine an SOC of each of a number of UPSes, determine a power load of each of a number of UPSes, calculate an order to be charged for each of the number of UPSes, recalculate the order based on at least one of the power loads corresponding to at least one of the number of UPSes changing, etc.).

[0023] The memory resource 458 can be in communication with a processing resource 454. A memory resource 458, as used herein, can include any number of memory components capable of storing instructions that can be executed by processing resource 454. Such memory resource 458 can be a non-transitory CRM or MRM.

Memory resource 458 may be integrated in a single device or distributed across multiple devices. Further, memory resource 458 may be fully or partially integrated in the same device as processing resource 454 or it may be separate but accessible to that device and processing resource 454. Thus, it is noted that the computing device 452 may be implemented on a participant device, on a server device, on a collection of server devices, and/or a combination of the participant device and the server device.

[0024] The memory resource 458 can be in communication with the processing resource 454 via a communication link (e.g., a path) 456. The communication link 218 can be local or remote to a machine (e.g., a computing device) associated with the processing resource 454. Examples of a local communication link 456 can include an electronic bus internal to a machine (e.g., a computing device) where the memory resource 458 is one of volatile, non-volatile, fixed, and/or removable storage medium in communication with the processing resource 454 via the electronic bus.

[0025] A number of modules (e.g., determine SOC module 460, determine power load module 462, calculate module 464, recalculate module 466) can include CRI that when executed by the processing resource 454 can perform functions. The number of modules (e.g., determine SOC module 460, determine power load module 462, calculate module 464, recalculate module 466) can be sub-modules of other modules. For example, the determine SOC module 460 and the determine power load module 464 can be sub-modules and/or contained within the same computing device. In another example, the number of modules (e.g., determine SOC module 460, determine power load module 462, caicuiate module 464, recalculate module 466) can comprise individual modules at separate and distinct locations (e.g., CRM, etc.).

[0026] Each of the number of modules (e.g., determine SOC module 460, determine power load module 462, caicuiate module 464, recalculate module 466) can include instructions that when executed by the processing resource 454 can function as a corresponding engine as described herein. For example, the determine SOC module 460 can include instructions that when executed by the processing resource 454 can function as the determine SOC engine 344.

[0001] As used herein, "logic" is an alternative or additional processing resource to perform a particular action and/or function, etc, described herein, which includes hardware, e.g., various forms of transistor logic, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc., as opposed to computer executable instructions, e.g., software firmware, etc., stored in memory and executable by a processor. Further, as used herein, "a" or "a number of something can refer to one or more such things. For example, "a number of widgets" can refer to one or more widgets.

[0002] The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the method and applications, and use of the system and method of the present disclosure. Since many examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the system and method of the present disclosure, this specification merely sets forth some of the many possible example configurations and implementations.