Method and power distribution unit for limiting a total delivered power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020021106-A1
Application number	US-201916505990-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2019
Priority date	Jul 12, 2018
Publication date	Jan 16, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of limiting a total power delivered by a power distribution unit having a plurality of output connectors is disclosed. A configurable power threshold is assigned for each of the output connectors so that a sum of the configurable power thresholds of the output connectors does not exceed a maximum rated power for the power distribution unit. A power level of a given output connector is sensed. A delivery of power by the given output connector is stopped when the power level of the given output connector exceeds the configurable power threshold for the given output connector. Power delivery may be resumed in response to receiving a user command to rearm the given output connector. A power distribution unit adapted to limit its total power delivery is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of limiting a total power delivered by a power distribution unit (PDU) having a plurality of output connectors, comprising:
assigning a power threshold for each of the plurality of output connectors; sensing a power level of a given one of the plurality of output connectors; and stopping a delivery of power by the given one of the plurality of output connectors when the power level of the given one of the plurality of output connectors exceeds the assigned power threshold for the given one of the plurality output connectors; wherein the power thresholds for each of the plurality of output connectors are assigned so that a sum of the power thresholds assigned to the plurality of output connectors does not exceed a maximum rated power for the PDU, the maximum rated power of the PDU being less than a sum of power limits of the plurality of output connectors.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein sensing the power level of the given one of the plurality of output connectors comprises:
sensing a power parameter selected from a voltage, a current, an effective current, an instantaneous power, an instantaneous active power, an instantaneous reactive power, a phase angle of the voltage relative to the current, and a combination thereof; and calculating the power level of the given one of the plurality of output connectors based on the sensed power parameter.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a first visual indication in proximity to the given one of the plurality of output connectors when stopping the delivery of power by the given one of the plurality of output connectors.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a second visual indication in proximity to one of the plurality of output connectors having an assigned power threshold of zero.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein different power thresholds are assigned to at least a subset of the plurality of output connectors.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the power threshold for each of the plurality of output connectors comprises assigning a current limit for each of the plurality of output connectors.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting from the PDU, over a power line, an indication of the power level of the given one of the plurality of output connectors.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the indication of the power level of the given one of the plurality of output connectors is transmitted over the power line using a power line communication (PLC) protocol.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a user command to rearm the given one of the plurality of output connectors; and resuming the delivery of power by the given one of the plurality of output connectors in response to the user command.

10 . A power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:
an input connector; a plurality of output connectors; a plurality of circuits, each circuit being adapted to selectively connect the input connector to a corresponding one of the plurality of output connectors, each circuit comprising a sensor adapted to sense a power level of the corresponding one of the plurality of output connectors; and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of circuits, the controller being adapted to:
assign a power threshold to each of the plurality of output connectors,
cause a disconnection of a given one of the plurality of output connectors from the input connector by a corresponding one of the plurality of circuits when the power level of the given one of the plurality of output connectors exceeds the assigned power threshold for the given one of the plurality output connectors, and
assign the power thresholds to each of the plurality of output connectors so that a sum of the power thresholds assigned to the plurality of output connectors does not exceed a maximum rated power for the PDU, the maximum rated power of the PDU being less than a sum of power limits of the plurality of output connectors.

11 . The PDU of claim 10 , wherein:
the sensor of each of the plurality of circuits is selected from a voltmeter, an ammeter, a power meter and a combination thereof; and the controller is further adapted to calculate a power level of each of the output connector based on a power parameter provided by the sensor.

12 . The PDU of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of circuits comprises a relay, the controller causing the relay of the corresponding one of the plurality of circuits to disconnect the given one of the plurality of output connectors from the input connector.

13 . The PDU of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of circuits comprises a detector operatively connected to a respective sensor, each detector being further adapted to detect when a respective power level exceeds a fixed power limit and to cause the relay of a respective circuit to disconnect a respective one of the plurality of output connectors from the input connector.

14 . The PDU of claim 13 , wherein the detector of each of the plurality of circuits enforces a same fixed power limit greater than any one of the assigned power thresholds.

15 . The PDU of claim 10 , further comprising a power line communication (PLC) protocol modem operatively connected to the controller and adapted to transmit an indication of the power level of at least one of the output connectors over a power line connected to the input connector.

16 . The PDU of claim 10 , further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the controller, wherein the controller is further adapted to:
receive a user command from the user interface; and cause the plurality of circuits to reconnect the given one of the plurality of output connectors to the input connector when receiving a user command from the user interface.

Assignees

• OVH

Inventors

• Thibaut Christophe Maurice
• Klaba Miroslaw Piotr

Classifications

• H02H7/262

  involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders · CPC title

• H02H7/263

  involving transmissions of measured values (comparison of currents or voltages using pilot wires H02H3/30) · CPC title

• H02J3/00 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for AC mains or AC distribution networks · CPC title

• G06F2200/261

  PC controlled powerstrip · CPC title

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title