Wireless control of power transfer switches for electrical load management
First Claim
1. Apparatus of connecting a secondary power source to electrical loads that are designated for removal from a primary power source during times requiring load reduction, comprising:
- a remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switch;
logic that enables the remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switch to operate only when primary power is available and when commanded to do so; and
a command process for sending a command for one or more remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switches that is transferred to the logic of the one or more remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switches to cause them to connect a secondary power source to electrical loads coupled thereto that are designated for disconnection from the primary power source during times requiring load reduction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus that couple standby power to certain non-critical loads to implement load reduction and avoid power shortages and resultant blackouts. A primary power source is coupled to an electrical breaker panel that distributes power to a plurality of loads including non-critical loads, critical loads, and load reduction loads. A secondary power source is coupled to an automatic transfer switch that distributes power to the critical loads from the secondary power source if power is not available from the primary power source. A load reduction transfer switch, wired in parallel to the automatic transfer switch, distributes power from the secondary power source to the load reduction loads to reduce power demand on the primary source only when power from the primary power source is available and during times requiring load reduction. Preferably, the load reduction transfer switch is wirelessly controlled to permit simultaneous load reduction at multiple sites.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus of connecting a secondary power source to electrical loads that are designated for removal from a primary power source during times requiring load reduction, comprising:
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a remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switch;
logic that enables the remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switch to operate only when primary power is available and when commanded to do so; and
a command process for sending a command for one or more remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switches that is transferred to the logic of the one or more remotely controllable secondary load reduction transfer switches to cause them to connect a secondary power source to electrical loads coupled thereto that are designated for disconnection from the primary power source during times requiring load reduction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrical power distribution system comprising:
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a primary power source;
an electrical breaker panel that distributes power to a plurality of loads comprising non-critical loads, critical loads, and load reduction loads;
a secondary power source;
an automatic transfer switch for distributing power to the critical loads from the secondary power source if power is not available from the primary power source;
a load reduction transfer switch, wired in parallel to the automatic transfer switch, for distributing power to the load reduction loads to reduce power demand on the primary power source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing load reduction in a system that supplies power from a primary power source to multiple sets of loads and supplies power from a secondary power source by way of a first transfer switches to a subset of critical loads if power from the primary power source is unavailable, the method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a remotely controllable second transfer switch between the secondary power source and a subset of load reduction loads that are to be disconnected from the primary power source during times requiring load reduction; and
remotely controlling the second load reduction transfer switch to supply power from the secondary power source to the subset of load reduction loads in lieu of supplying power from the primary power source when power from the primary power source is available and during times requiring load reduction. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of providing load reduction in a system that supplies power from a primary power source to multiple sets of loads, comprising the steps of:
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coupling a first transfer switch between the primary power source and the loads. and between a secondary power source and a subset of critical loads;
coupling a remotely controllable second transfer switch between the primary power source and the loads, and between the secondary power source and a subset of load reduction loads that are to be removed from the power grid during times requiring load reduction;
remotely controlling the first transfer switch to supply power from the secondary power source to the subset of critical loads if power from the primary power source is unavailable; and
remotely controlling the second load reduction transfer switch to supply power from the secondary power source to the subset of load reduction loads in lieu of supplying power from the primary power source thereto when power from the primary power source is available and during times requiring load reduction. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification