1. EDISON vs. TESLA IN THE WORLD OF DATA CENTERS A Grand Challenge Revived
Kanad Ghose
Professor, Dept. of Computer Science and
Site Director, Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems

2. The Center for Energy-Smart Electronics Systems (ES2)
NSF IUCRC focused exclusively on technologies and solutions for reducing the power consumption of data centers
Relevance: Data centers consume about 3% of the Nation’s electric power annually and this percentage is growing
IoTs and Intelligence/Analytics applications will drive demands up
Research addresses all major sources of power consumption in data centers and their interactions
IT technologies/systems, control, power delivery systems
Thermal and cooling system issues: technologies, efficiency improvement and control
ES2 is a multi-site IUCRC led by SUNY-Binghamton:
Sites: Binghamton, UT-Arlington, Villanova, VIT (India)
Collaborating site: Georgia Tech
Potential new sites: Northeastern (recvd planning grant award), Keio university (Japan)
11/27/2018

3. Grand Challenge Addressed & Relevance
Demonstrate advantages of DC-Powered Data Centers against AC-powered counterparts and address technology challenges to exploit the full advantages of DC power and bring it to the mainstream
Some Facts:
DC power is used extensively in organizations that develop their systems from ground-up (Facebook, Google, China, Japan)
A large segment of data center operators that use COTs components are left out: this is a missed opportunity!
Our grand challenge solutions aim to bring DC-powered data centers that use COTs servers to the mainstream
Encourage ecosystem development
Provide a neutral demonstration of advantages to spur adoption
11/27/2018

4. The Origins
Within 3 years of ES2’s operation, we realized that power distribution losses in data centers was not being addressed within the center
Recognized that DC-powered data centers have some potential advantages (next slide)
This IS Edison’s comeback against Tesla!
Recognized controversy that was in place and pushed by opposing sides on AC vs DC power in data centers
Clear need to see through the fog and develop technologies and fair demonstrations
11/27/2018

5. AC-Powered Data Center
Multiple AC-DC conversions typical
More components, larger footprint, multiple points of failure
Integration of local power sources complicated – may require conversions
11/27/2018

6. DC-Powered Data Center
Fewer conversion steps
Fewer components in power delivery chain, smaller footprint,
Integration of local power sources relatively easier – esp. DC power
Safety issues need to be addressed
Significant improvements can be made – relatively young
11/27/2018

7. The Participants
Lead IUCRC: Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems (ES2)
Expertise: IT, Thermal and Workload Management, Control Software
IUCRC: GRid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems (GRAPES)
Expertise: Power Electronics for grid integration and distribution
Collaborating Site: Georgia Tech
Expertise: Power distribution
Collaborating Research Center: Integrated Electronics Engineering Center (IEEC)
Expertise: Failure and reliability analysis
Collaborating Research Center: Lawrence Berkley National Lab (LBNL)
Expertise: DC-powered systems and data center knowledge base
Expertise: Industry-perspective, oversight and mentorship
Specific company members:
Emerson Network Power, ARDA Power Systems, dcFusion, SteelORCA, VICOR
Transformative Research Projects Addressing Sub-challenges:
Automated, holistic management of DC data centers
Reliability Analysis, fast-arc detection
Switching devices and systems for DC power distribution in data centers
Control of hybrid power systems for DC-powered data centers
Technology Assessment and Demonstrations:
AC vs, DC-powered data centers
Demonstrations of developed technologies
The grand challenge cluster, collaboration needs and arrangements, projects and demonstrations that solve sub-challenges
11/27/2018

8. Specific Challenges Addressed
Address controversy regarding AC vs DC power and demonstrate specific advantages in a scaled data center setup to do apples-to-apples comparison and convince skeptics
Address power distribution challenges for reliability and availability, peak load capping: develop switching, distribution and management techniques, assess reliability against AC- powered counterparts.
Address the challenge of accommodating multiple DC power sources: Investigate and develop switching solutions based on emerging SiC devices for integrating locally sourced, utility AC-derived and renewable sources for powering data center
Address lack of modeling and design tools for DC-powered data centers
11/27/2018

9. A Rough Start
Demonstration tested was to be set up in a portion of a data center operated by a hosting company
Soon after the award was announced, this company went out of business
ES2 scrambled to relocate the demonstration facility within a 4000 sq ft, 60-rack fully-instrumented data center lab at Binghamton
Donations from member companies, members of the Emerge-alliance and additional funds received at Binghamton saved the day, but a late start was inevitable
11/27/2018

10. Status
Demonstrations of AC-powered Blade racks and Hybrid AC/DC-powered Blade racks with identical configuration and full real-time instrumentation completed
Advantages in terms of supporting unconstrained virtualization with live migration and energy-efficiency gains demonstrated
Power distribution methodologies have been developed and evaluated using component models that use data from real components, reliability evaluations in progress
SiC based switching solutions and other technologies for safety improvement (esp. arcing in switching devices) have been developed
11/27/2018