Technology development for 48V input voltage regulator for next generation data center power systems

下一代数据中心电源系统48V输入电压调节器的技术开发

• 批准号: 501420-2016
• 负责人: Liu, YanFei
• 金额: $ 3.5万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=618724
• 关键词: Technology; development; 48V; input; voltage

Data centers consume 91 Billion kW-Hours electricity in 2013 and it is estimated that they will consume 140 Billion kW-Hour electricity by the year 2020. CPU and DRAM memory consume around 80% of the total server power at peak load, and this power need is increasing in future designs. Current data center power systems use 12V DC as the rack level distribution voltage, which is then converted to lower voltage, such as 1V for CPU and 1.2V for RAM. As the power increases, the copper loss in the 12V distribution cables increases significantly as the copper loss is proportional to the square of the current. It is estimated that using a 48V rack distribution system, the distribution loss can be reduced by 2%. With a 48V distribution system, the 48V is converted into 12V using a switching power converter, which is then converted to lower voltages. The efficiency of 48V to 12V conversion stage is low, at around 94%, which means that 6% energy is lost. This project will be based on the "Virtually-Zero-Inductor Switching Converter" technology that can achieve 99%+ efficiency for the 48V to 12V power conversion at significantly smaller size. This increases the efficiency by 5%, or equivalently reduces the loss by 84%.The project will achieve two major objectives: (1) Design a 48V to 12V bus converter with highest efficiency (99%+) and highest power density (5 times higher) and (2) Design a 48V to 1V Voltage Regulator with highest efficiency and fastest dynamic response for next generation data center application.The successful completion of this project will significantly improve the competitive advantages of the industry sponsor, a small company located in the Toronto area, by enabling it to develop the world highest efficiency and highest power density power modules for 48V to 12V application and for 48V to 1V voltage regulator for data center applications. In addition, 8 Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) will be trained in the project.

数据中心在2013年消耗了910亿千瓦时的电力，预计到2020年将消耗1400亿千瓦时的电力。CPU和DRAM内存在峰值负载时消耗约80%的服务器总功率，并且在未来的设计中，这种功率需求会增加。目前的数据中心电源系统使用12V DC作为机架级配电电压，然后将其转换为较低的电压，例如CPU的1V和RAM的1.2V。随着功率的增加，12V配电电缆中的铜损显著增加，因为铜损与电流的平方成比例。据估算，采用48V机架式配电系统，配电网损耗可降低2%。对于48V配电系统，使用开关电源转换器将48V转换为12V，然后将其转换为较低的电压。48V至12V转换级的效率较低，约为94%，这意味着损失了6%的能量。该项目将基于“虚拟零电感开关转换器”技术，该技术可以在显著更小的尺寸下实现48V至12V电源转换的99%以上效率。这将使效率提高5%，或相当于减少84%的损失。该项目将实现两个主要目标：（1）设计一个48V到12V总线转换器，具有最高效率（99%+）和最高功率密度（5倍）和（2）为下一代数据中心应用设计具有最高效率和最快动态响应的48V至1V稳压器。该项目的成功将大大提高行业赞助商的竞争优势，这是一家位于多伦多地区的小公司，使其能够开发世界上最高效率和最高功率密度的电源模块，用于48 V至12 V应用和48 V至1 V电压调节器，用于数据中心应用。此外，8名高素质人员将接受该项目的培训。