System and method for load sharing in multi-module power supply systems
View Patent ↗A load sharing, multi-module power supply system for supplying power to a load. The system may involve: a first power supply module having a controller, and having a first per unit capacity (pu-c); a second power supply module having a controller, and having a second per unit capacity (pu-c); the controller of the first power supply module adapted to implement a reduction in an output power of the first power supply module upon the detection of an operating event, where a portion of the load being handled by the first power supply module is shed by a percentage, and such that the first power supply module remains operating during the operating event but at a reduced power output level; and upon the occurrence of the operating event the controller of the second power supply module is adapted to increase a power output of the second power supply module sufficient to accommodate the portion of the load that has been shed by the first power supply module.
1. A load sharing, multi-module power supply system for supplying power to a load, the system comprising:
a first power supply module having a controller and having a first per unit capacity (pu-c);
a second power supply module having a controller and having a second per unit capacity (pu-c);
a third power supply module having a controller and having a third per unit capacity (pu-c);
said controller of said first power supply module adapted to implement a reduction in an output power of said first power supply module upon the detection of an operating event, where a portion of said load being handled by said first power supply module is shed by a determined percentage, and such that said first power supply module remains operating during said operating event but at a reduced power output level; and
upon the occurrence of said operating event, said controllers of said second and third power supply modules being adapted to increase their respective said power outputs so that each of said second and third power supply modules accommodates a subportion of said portion of said load that has been shed by said first power supply module, and when needed, such that said controllers of said second and third power supplies increase the power outputs of their respective said power supply modules by different amounts, when needed, such that said second and third power supply modules assume different additional percentages of the load that was shed by the first power supply module.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said operating event comprises a temperature increase of a component of said first power supply module beyond a predetermined temperature threshold.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said controllers of said second and third power supply modules determine a level of said subportion that each will accommodate based in part on their respective per unit capacities.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a communications bus for enabling said controllers of said first, second and third power supply modules to communicate with one another.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of said controllers of said power supply modules includes load sharing software for assisting in determining a portion of said load that its respective said power supply module may accommodate.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each said power supply module further comprises:
a plurality of temperature sensors for monitoring a plurality of components thereof; and
each of said temperature sensors being in communication with said controller.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said plurality of components of each said power supply module comprises:
an input magnetics subsystem;
an AC to DC converter;
a DC to AC converter;
an output magnetics subsystem for generating said output power; and
a bypass switch coupled across an input side of said input magnetics subsystem and an output side of said output magnetics subsystem, and controlled by said controller, for bypassing its respective said power supply module.
8. A method for load sharing using a multi-module power supply (UPS) system, the method comprising:
using a first power supply module, and having a first per unit capacity (pu-c), to handle a portion of said load;
using a second power supply module having a controller, and having a second per unit capacity (pu-c), to handle a second portion of said load;
using a third power supply module having a controller, and having a third per unit capacity (pu-c), to handle a third portion of said load;
when an operating event is detected by said first power supply module, reducing a power output of said first power supply module so that a percentage of said portion of said load being handled by said first power supply module is shed, but further such that said first power supply module remains operating during said operating event but at a reduced power output level; and
upon the occurrence of said operating event, using said controllers of said second and third power supply modules to increase their respective said power outputs so that each of said second and third power supply modules accommodates a subportion of said portion of said load that has been shed by said first power supply module, and further such that said controllers of said second and third power supply modules increase their respective power outputs by different amounts, when needed, such that said second and third power supply modules assume different additional percentages of the load that was shed by the first power supply module.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said subportions of said load being accommodated by said second and third power supply modules after the occurrence of said operating event are equal subportions.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said controllers of said second and third power supply modules use said per unit capacity ratings of their respective said power supply modules in determining what percentage of said portion of said load being shed by said first power supply module that each of said second and third power supply modules is able to accommodate.