METERING ASSEMBLY AND CUSTOMER LOAD PANEL FOR POWER DELIVERY

• US 20090150100A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OP Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Office Power, Inc.
• Inventors: Edwards, Andrew J., Pifer, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for alternate power delivery are provided. A metering assembly includes a power meter module. The power meter module includes a power control module and a power monitor. The power control module is coupled to a transfer switch that receives both primary power and alternate power. The transfer switch has an output coupled to an electrical circuit load. The power control module is configured to receive a request from the transfer switch for the alternate power to be supplied through the transfer switch to the electrical circuit load. The power control module is configured to enable the transfer switch to supply the alternate power to the electrical circuit load in response to the request. The power monitor is configured to determine an amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load. The power control module is configured to enable the alternate power to be decoupled from the electrical circuit load if the determined amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load is greater than a power trip setpoint. A plurality of metering assemblies may be provided to monitor a corresponding number of transfer switches coupled to electrical circuit loads in a facility.

Claims

1. A metering assembly, comprising:

a power meter module that includes a power control module, wherein the power control module is communicatively coupled to a transfer switch, wherein the transfer switch has a first input terminal coupled to a source of a first power, a second input terminal coupled to a source of an alternate power, and an output terminal coupled to an electrical circuit load;

wherein the power control module is configured to receive a request from the transfer switch for the alternate power to be supplied through the transfer switch to the electrical circuit load; and

wherein the power control module is configured to enable the transfer switch to supply the alternate power to the electrical circuit load in response to the request.

2. The metering assembly of claim 1, wherein the transfer switch is a break before make type switch configured to switch the output terminal from the first input terminal to the second input terminal in the event of a loss of the first power when enabled by the power control module.

3. The metering assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate with a supervisory entity, wherein the communication interface is coupled to the power meter module.

4. The metering assembly of claim 3, wherein the supervisory entity is communicatively coupled to a plurality of power meter modules of corresponding metering assemblies;

wherein the power meter modules are communicatively coupled to a plurality of transfer switches; and

wherein the transfer switches are coupled to a plurality of electrical circuit loads.

5. The metering assembly of claim 4, wherein the supervisory entity is configured to determine an order in which to enable the plurality of transfer switches to supply the alternate power to the plurality of electrical circuit loads in the event of loss of the first power,

wherein the power control module receives timing information from the supervisory entity through the communication interface;

and

wherein the power control module transmits a signal to the transfer switch based on the received timing information to enable the alternate power to be supplied to the electrical circuit load according to the determined order.

6. The metering assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of electrical circuit loads is distributed through a corresponding portion of a building, wherein the source of the first power is an electric utility, and wherein the source of the alternate power is located in the building.

7. The metering assembly of claim 1, wherein the power meter module further comprises a power monitor coupled to the power control module;

wherein the power monitor is configured to determined an amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load;

wherein the power control module is configured to compare the determined amount of alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load to a power trip setpoint; and

wherein the power control module is configured to enable the alternate power to be decoupled from the electrical circuit load if the power monitor determines that the amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load is greater than the power trip setpoint.

8. The metering assembly of claim 7, wherein the power control module is configured to transmit a signal to a circuit breaker coupled between the transfer switch and the source of the alternate power to open the circuit breaker to decouple the alternate power from the electrical circuit load.

9. The metering assembly of claim 7, wherein the power control module is configured to transmit a signal to the transfer switch to inhibit the alternate power from being supplied to the electrical circuit load to decouple the alternate power from the electrical circuit load.

10. The metering assembly of claim 7, wherein the power monitor is configured to measure a voltage received from the alternate power source, to measure a current provided through the transfer switch to the electrical circuit load, and to calculate the amount of power provided to the electrical circuit load based on the measured voltage and the measured current.

11. The metering assembly of claim 10, wherein the power monitor is configured to calculate the amount of power provided to the electrical circuit load for single and three phases of power supplied by the alternate power source.

12. The metering assembly of claim 4, wherein the supervisory entity is configured to determine a sum of the amounts of alternate power provided to the plurality of electrical circuit loads through the transfer switches;

and

wherein the power control module is configured to enable the alternate power to be decoupled from the electrical circuit load according to a received instruction from the supervisory entity if the supervisory entity determines that the sum is greater than a maximum allowable output power of the alternate power source.

13. The metering assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a user interface configured to enable an operator of the metering assembly to determine the power trip setpoint; and

a storage device;

wherein the storage device is configured to store the determined power trip setpoint.

14. The metering assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

a display coupled to the power meter module;

a keypad coupled to the power meter module;

a storage device coupled to the power meter module; and

a housing that contains the power meter module, the storage device, and the communication interface, and that mounts the display and the keypad.

15. A power delivery system, comprising:

a first cabinet that houses a plurality of metering assemblies; and

a second cabinet that houses a load panel;

wherein each metering assembly includes a power meter module that includes a power control module and a power monitor;

wherein each power control module is communicatively coupled to a corresponding transfer switch of a plurality of transfer switches, each transfer switch having a first input terminal coupled to a source of a first power, a second input terminal coupled to a source of an alternate power, and an output terminal coupled to a corresponding electrical circuit load of a plurality of electrical circuit loads;

wherein each power control module is configured to enable the corresponding transfer switch to supply the alternate power to the corresponding electrical circuit load in response to a request from the corresponding transfer switch;

wherein the load panel mounts a plurality of circuit breakers, wherein each power control module is communicatively coupled to a corresponding circuit breaker of the plurality of circuit breakers, wherein each circuit breaker is coupled between the alternate power source and a corresponding transfer switch; and

wherein the power monitor is configured to monitor an amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load through a corresponding transfer switch.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each electrical circuit load of the plurality of electrical circuit loads is distributed through a corresponding portion of a building, wherein the source of the first power is an electric utility, and wherein the source of the alternate power is located in the building.

17. A method for power delivery to an electrical circuit load through a transfer switch, the transfer switch having a first input terminal coupled to a source of a first power, a second input terminal coupled to a source of an alternate power, and an output terminal coupled to the electrical circuit load, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the transfer switch for the alternate power to be supplied through the transfer switch to the electrical circuit load; and

enabling the alternate power to be supplied to the electrical circuit load through the transfer switch in response to the request.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said enabling comprises:

enabling the alternate power to be sequentially supplied to a plurality of electrical circuit loads through corresponding transfer switches.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving the request from the transfer switch at a supervisory entity; and

wherein said enabling the alternate power to be sequentially supplied to a plurality of electrical circuit loads through corresponding transfer switches in response to the request comprises;

determining at the supervisory entity an order in which to enable the transfer switches,

transmitting timing information from the supervisory entity to each of a plurality of metering assemblies for enabling corresponding transfer switches, and

transmitting signals based on the timing information from the plurality of metering assemblies to the transfer switches to enable the alternate power to be supplied to the plurality of electrical circuit loads according to the determined order.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of electrical circuit loads is distributed through a corresponding portion of a building, wherein the source of the first power is an electric utility, and wherein the source of the alternate power is located in the building, the method further comprising:

receiving the first power at the building from the electric utility; and

generating the alternate power in the building.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

monitoring an amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load;

determining whether the amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load is greater than a power trip setpoint; and

enabling the alternate power to be decoupled from the electrical circuit load if the determined amount of the alternate power provided to the electrical circuit load is greater than the power trip setpoint.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said enabling the alternate power to be decoupled from the electrical circuit load by the transfer switch comprises:

transmitting a signal to a circuit breaker coupled between the transfer switch and the source of the alternate power to open the circuit breaker.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said enabling the alternate power to be decoupled from the electrical circuit load by the transfer switch comprises:

transmitting a signal to the transfer switch to inhibit the alternate power from being supplied to the electrical circuit load.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said monitoring is performed by a metering assembly, the method further comprising:

enabling an operator of the metering assembly to determine the power trip setpoint; and

storing the determined power trip setpoint in the metering assembly.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the alternate power is enabled to be supplied to a plurality of electrical circuit loads through corresponding transfer switches, the method further comprising:

determining an amount of the alternate power provided to each electrical circuit load of the plurality of electrical circuit loads to determine a plurality of amounts of the alternate power provided to the plurality of electrical circuit loads;

summing the determined plurality of amounts of the alternate power;

determining whether the sum is greater than a maximum allowable output power of the source of the alternate power; and

enabling the alternate power to be decoupled from at least one electrical circuit load of the plurality of electrical circuit loads if the sum is determined to be greater than the maximum allowable output power of the source of the alternate power.