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OCP High Voltage DC

OCP High Voltage Dual Connectivity (DC) (HVDC) is an Open Compute Project initiative that defines and promotes open hardware and facility design specifications for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power distribution in data centers and related infrastructure (data center power architecture).

  • Open hardware and facility specifications for high-voltage DC power distribution in data centers (data center power infrastructure).
  • Standardization of HVDC distribution architectures from facility entry to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) racks and equipment (power distribution standards).
  • Design guidance for interoperability between rectifiers, busways, protection, and IT equipment using HVDC (electrical integration).
  • Reference specifications and design documents to support deployment of HVDC-based data center power systems (technical reference documentation).
  • Collaboration framework within OCP for vendors, operators, and integrators working on HVDC-based facilities (industry collaboration framework).

More About OCP High Voltage DC

OCP High Voltage DC (HVDC) is a project under the Open Compute Project that addresses the use of HVDC for power distribution in data centers and similar technical facilities (data center power architecture). The project focuses on defining open, vendor-neutral specifications and design practices for distributing DC power at higher voltages inside facilities, from power conversion equipment through to racks and ICT loads.

The project’s primary purpose is to provide a framework for deploying HVDC in data centers, including how AC grid power is converted, how DC is distributed, and how ICT equipment interfaces with that DC distribution (facility power engineering). HVDC within this context typically concerns centralized rectification, busway or cabling distribution systems, and compatible rack-level power interfaces, with the objective of establishing repeatable and interoperable design patterns.

Key capabilities of the OCP HVDC project include publication of specifications and design documents for HVDC power architectures, covering elements such as rectifier systems, distribution topologies, protection concepts, and interface definitions for ICT equipment (technical specifications). The project also aligns with the broader OCP model of open hardware and facility designs, connecting HVDC work with other OCP initiatives around racks, power shelves, and data center facilities (open hardware ecosystem).

In enterprise and institutional environments, OCP HVDC materials are used by data center designers, operators, and equipment vendors when evaluating or implementing DC power distribution schemes (enterprise infrastructure planning). The specifications provide common reference points that can inform procurement, facility layout, and integration of IT hardware that is compatible with HVDC-based infrastructures.

From an architectural perspective, OCP HVDC deals with end-to-end power paths within data centers, including upstream conversion from AC sources, DC distribution at higher voltages, branch protection, and interfaces to racks and IT loads (power system architecture). The project fits within categories such as data center power infrastructure, energy and power engineering, and open hardware standards.

OCP HVDC also contributes to interoperability and ecosystem alignment by giving manufacturers and operators a shared set of design expectations and parameters (interoperability framework). Within a technical directory or catalog, OCP High Voltage DC is appropriately categorized under data center power infrastructure standards, open hardware and facility specifications, and electrical power distribution architectures for ICT environments.