Method for adaptively managing a plurality of loads

• US 20070010916A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexander Filippenko, Andy Haun, Barry Rodgers, Gary Kuzkin, Gary Scott, Julius Liptak, Mark Kocher, Robert Dwulet, Scott Brown
• Original Assignee: Alexander Filippenko, Andy Haun, Barry Rodgers, Gary Kuzkin, Gary Scott, Julius Liptak, Mark Kocher, Robert Dwulet, Scott Brown
• Inventors: Filippenko, Alexander, Scott, Gary, Brown, Scott, Kuzkin, Gary, Rodgers, Barry, Kocher, Mark, Liptak, Julius, Haun, Andy, Dwulet, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/520,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20070010916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

An intelligent power management system that includes a circuit breaker containing a PLC module that spans open contacts of the circuit breaker to provide a communication path for PLC messages between the line and load sides of the circuit when the contacts are open. The contacts are motorized to permit remote operation through PLC messaging. Coupled to the PLC module is a controller, which controls the opening and closing of the motorized contacts under user control or via an adaptive load management algorithm that reduces peak power consumption and adapts a set of loads to changed power supply conditions. The controller can also dynamically alter operational current and fault threshold levels on a real-time basis based upon circuit requirements or environmental conditions. The algorithm runs a state machine and also manages loads in a limited power source environment such as when loads are powered by a generator.

Claims

1. A method for adaptively managing a plurality of loads, comprising:

prioritizing, using a controller coupled to a plurality of circuit breakers connectable to a respective plurality of loads, at least some of the loads connectable to said circuit breakers based on at least one criterion; and

causing contacts of at least one of said plurality of circuit breakers to be remotely moved between an open position and a closed position based on said prioritizing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a set of historical data reflecting a usage criterion of at least one prioritized load.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising predicting future consumption of a load based on said set of historical data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching from a first power source to a second power source different from said first power source in response to a changed power supply condition.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a state of at least one of the prioritized loads.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a first load is an interruptible load and a second load is a load having a high in-rush current requirement, further comprising shutting down said first load to provide additional power to start said second load.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a pre-determined set of loads which are turned on responsive to a backup power source being switched on, and determining said pre-determined set of loads based on at least a priority of a load according to said prioritizing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering a limited power source mode that maximizes the number of loads online while maintaining the total consumed power under a pre-determined power source limit.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of an adverse weather condition; and

communicating a signal to a controller of one of said circuit breakers to cause contacts thereof to open thereby protecting loads connected to said one of said circuit breakers from effects of said adverse weather condition.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting a communications interface across contacts of one of said circuit breakers such that said communications interface is connectable between the line side and the load side of the circuit to which said one of said circuit breakers is connected; and

configuring said communications interface to pass signals between the line side and the load side regardless of whether said contacts of said one of said circuit breakers are open or closed.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting which of at least two states said contacts are in, said at least two states being open and closed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically altering a fault threshold level of one of said circuit breakers.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically altering an operational current threshold level of said circuit breaker.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically adjusting a trip threshold of said circuit breakers.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an imminent brownout condition on the line side of the circuit and, in response thereto, causing contacts of at least one of said circuit breakers to open.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting the behavior of at least one of said loads using a neural network predictor algorithm.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said prioritizing and said causing are carried out regardless of the source of a request for changes in power supply conditions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said source is selected from the group consisting of a utility power source, an alternate power source, and a backup power source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said alternate power source includes solar panels.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said backup power source includes a generator.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said backup power source includes an uninterruptible power supply.