Resilient Energy-Based Control for DC Data Centers under Grid and Load Disturbances

Authors

Lizhi Wang, Fei Feng, Ella Chou, Yashen Lin

Abstract

This paper presents a passivity-based control framework for AC/DC converters supplying non-passive Information Technology(IT) rack loads in DC data centers. Unlike conventional cascaded proportional–integral (PI) controllers that ensure stability only near nominal operating points, the proposed method is derived from the system’s total energy balance using the Port-Hamiltonian (PH) formulation. By shaping the stored energy and injecting virtual damping through a lossless interconnection with a PH controller, the converter behaves as a passive system even when interfaced with non-passive loads or under grid disturbances. The closed-loop system guarantees asymptotic voltage regulation and strict energy dissipation without assuming constant grid voltage or frequency. Simulation studies under realistic load and fault scenarios validate that the proposed controller achieves smaller voltage deviations, faster recovery, and superior robustness, demonstrating its suitability for future high-efficiency DC data-center architectures.

Citation

• Journal: 2026 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM)
• Year: 2026
• Volume:
• Issue:
• Pages: 1–5
• Publisher: IEEE
• DOI: 10.1109/pesgm58988.2026.11693392

BibTeX

@inproceedings{Wang_2026,
  title={{Resilient Energy-Based Control for DC Data Centers under Grid and Load Disturbances}},
  DOI={10.1109/pesgm58988.2026.11693392},
  booktitle={{2026 IEEE Power \& Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM)}},
  publisher={IEEE},
  author={Wang, Lizhi and Feng, Fei and Chou, Ella and Lin, Yashen},
  year={2026},
  pages={1--5}
}

Download the bib file

References

• Davenport, Ai, data centers and the coming us power demand surge. Goldman Sachs (2024)
• Diablo 400 Project: Rack and Power — Base Specification, Version 0.5.2. (2025)
• Krein PT (2017) Data Center Challenges and Their Power Electronics. CPSS TPEA 2(1):39–46. https://doi.org/10.24295/cpsstpea.2017.00005 – 10.24295/cpsstpea.2017.00005
• Beheshtaein S, Cuzner RM, Forouzesh M, Savaghebi M, Guerrero JM (2024) DC Microgrid Protection: A Comprehensive Review. IEEE J Emerg Sel Topics Power Electron :1–1. https://doi.org/10.1109/jestpe.2019.2904588 – 10.1109/jestpe.2019.2904588
• Characteristics and Risks of Emerging Large Loads. (2025)
• Zhang P (2021) Networked Microgrids – 10.1017/9781108596589
• Gui Y, Han R, M. Guerrero J, C. Vasquez J, Wei B, Kim W (2021) Large-Signal Stability Improvement of DC-DC Converters in DC Microgrid. IEEE Trans Energy Convers 36(3):2534–2544. https://doi.org/10.1109/tec.2021.3057130 – 10.1109/tec.2021.3057130
• Zhong Q-C, Stefanello M (2022) A Port-Hamiltonian Control Framework to Render a Power Electronic System Passive. IEEE Trans Automat Contr 67(4):1960–1965. https://doi.org/10.1109/tac.2021.3069389 – 10.1109/tac.2021.3069389
• Kong L, Xue Y, Qiao L, Wang F (2024) Control Design of Passive Grid-Forming Inverters in Port-Hamiltonian Framework. IEEE Trans Power Electron 39(1):332–345. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpel.2023.3319966 – 10.1109/tpel.2023.3319966
• Camlibel MK, van der Schaft AJ (2023) Port-Hamiltonian Systems Theory and Monotonicity. SIAM J Control Optim 61(4):2193–2221. https://doi.org/10.1137/22m1503749 – 10.1137/22m1503749