Method and system to automatically reduce generated power

• US 20020130558A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Jackson
• Original Assignee: Richard Jackson
• Inventors: Wattenburg, Willard H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,670,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/147
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Consumer use of 240 VAC power can be reduced automatically by a power utility. A switch, remotely controllable by the power utility, can break the normal T1-P1 and T2-P2 power connections, and instead allow T1 to float, and coupled P1 and P2 together and via a current limiter to T2. The result is that in-phase 120 VAC is available from P1 or P2, but no 240 VAC is provided, thus eliminating power consumption by 240 VAC appliances. When the need to reduce 240 VAC power consumption has passed, the switch is reconfigured to again connect T1-P1 and T2-P2. The switch may be disposed on a power utility pole, or at a consumer'"'"'s premises, before, after, or indeed within the consumer'"'"'s power meter.

Claims

1. A method to reduce consumer power consumption in a system that includes a first line T1 carrying 120 VAC that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P1 line, a second line T2 carrying 120 VAC that is substantially 180°

out-of-phase with said first line and that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P2 line, and a neutral line T3 that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P3 line, the method comprising the following steps;

(a) during power conservation mode, interrupting an electrical connection selected from a group consisting of (i) connection between T1 and P1, and (ii) connection between T2 and P2.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) includes allowing one of P1 and P2 to float electrically.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) interrupts electrical connection between T1 and P1; and

further including;

(b) electrically coupling P1 to P2.

4. The method of claim 3, further including:

(c) series-coupling a current limiter between T2 and a junction of P1 and P2.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) interrupts electrical connection between T2 and P2; and

further including;

(b) electrically coupling P1 to P2.

6. The method of claim 5, further including:

(c) series-coupling a current limiter between T1 and a junction of P1 and P2.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) includes providing a double pole double throw switch that in a normal mode couples T1 to P1 and T2 to P2, but during said power conservation mode couples P1 to P2, allowing T1 to float electrically, and couples a junction of P1 and P2 to T2.

8. The method of claim 7, further including:

(b) series-coupling a current limiter between T2 and said junction of P1 and P2.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein step (a) includes providing a switch selected from a group consisting of (i) a mechanical switch, (ii) a remotely-controllable mechanical switch, (iii) a solid state switch, and (iv) a remotely controllable solid state switch.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) includes providing a double pole double throw switch that in a normal mode couples T1 to P1 and T2 to P2, but during said power conservation mode couples P1 to P2, allowing T2 to float electrically, and couples a junction of P1 and P2 to T1.

11. The method of claim 10, further including:

(b) series-coupling a current limiter between T1 and said junction of P1 and P2.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein step (a) includes providing a switch selected from a group consisting of (i) a mechanical switch, (ii) a remotely-controllable mechanical switch, (iii) a solid state switch, and (iv) a remotely controllable solid state switch.

14. The method of claim 13, further including:

(b) series-coupling a current limiter between T2 and said junction of P1 and P2.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said P1 is coupled to said consumer'"'"'s Bank 1 to provide 120 VAC.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) includes selecting said switch from a group consisting of (i) a mechanical switch, (ii) a remotely-controllable mechanical switch, (iii) a solid state switch, and (iv) a remotely controllable solid state switch.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said switch is disposed at a location selected from a group consisting of (i) on a utility pole carrying at least one of said T1, T2, T3, (ii) on a distribution transformer outputting 120 VAC carried by said T1 and T2, (iii) at a consumer location whereat power is to be conserved, (iv) at a consumer location whereat power is to be conserved before a power meter, (v) at a consumer location whereat power is to be conserved after a power meter, and (vi) at a consumer location whereat power is to be conserved within a power meter.

19. The system of claim 18, further including:

a current limiting device series-coupled between said junction of P1 and P2 and T2.

20. The system of claim 18, further including:

a switch controller unit, functionally coupled to said switch, to reconfigure said switch from normal mode operation to power consumption mode operation upon receipt of a remotely issued command.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said switch is selected from a group consisting of (i) a mechanical switch, (ii) a remotely-controllable mechanical switch, (iii) a solid state switch, and (iv) a remotely controllable solid state switch.

13. A method to reduce consumer power consumption in a system that includes a first line T1 carrying 120 VAC that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P1 line, a second line T2 carrying 120 VAC that is substantially 180°

out-of-phase with said first line and that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P2 line, and a neutral line T3 that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P3 line, the method comprising the following steps;

(a) proving a switch that during power conservation mode interrupts electrical connection between T1 and P1, connects P1 and P2, and couples a junction of P1 and P2 to t2.

18. A system to reduce consumer power consumption generated by a power utility that distributes power via a first line T1 carrying 120 VAC that is normally coupled to the consumer'"'"'s P1 line, via a second line T2 carrying 120 VAC that is substantially 180°

out-of-phase with said first line and that is normally coupled to the consumer'"'"'s P2 line, and via a neutral line T3 that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P3 line, the system including;

a switch that during power conservation mode interrupts electrical connection between T1 and P1, connects P1 and P2, and couples a junction of P1 and P2 to T2.

22. A system to reduce consumer power consumption generated by a power utility that distributes power via a first line T1 carrying 120 VAC that is normally coupled to the consumer'"'"'s P1 line, via a second line T2 carrying 120 VAC that is substantially 180°

out-of-phase with said first line and that is normally coupled to the consumer'"'"'s P2 line, and via a neutral line T3 that is normally coupled to a consumer'"'"'s P3 line, the system including;

means for interrupting, during power conservation mode, electrical connection between T1 and P1, for connecting P1 and P2, and for coupling junction of P1 and P2 to T2; and

means for limiting current, coupled in series between said junction of P1 and P2, and T2.

23. The system of claim 22, further including:

means for configuring said means for interrupting, for connecting, and for coupling between a normal mode and a power conservation mode, said means for reconfiguring responsive to a remotely issued command to reconfigure.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said means for connecting, for connecting, and for coupling includes a switch selected from a group consisting of (i) a mechanical switch, (ii) a remotely-controllable mechanical switch, (iii) a solid state switch, and (iv) a remotely controllable solid state switch.