SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AN EFFICIENCY OF A POWER DEVICE

• US 20100250192A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Schultz, Lynn Ernest, Spitaels, James S., Deokar, Vishwas Mohaniraj, Rodenhiser, Fred W., Brookshire, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A method for estimating an efficiency of a power device includes identifying a state of operation of the power device, measuring power-related information produced by the power device, and determining an estimated efficiency of the power device based in part on the state of operation of the power device and power loss parameters associated with the power device by using the measured power-related information. Other methods and devices for measuring efficiency are further disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for estimating an efficiency of a power device, the method comprising:

identifying a state of operation of the power device;

measuring power-related information produced by the power device; and

determining an estimated efficiency of the power device based in part on the state of operation of the power device and power loss parameters associated with the power device by using the measured power-related information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power device is an uninterruptible power supply.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the state of operation is one of a trim mode, a single boost mode, a double boost mode and a green mode.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the estimated efficiency includes determining estimated power losses from a look-up table.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the estimated efficiency further includes calculating an estimated input power by adding the current load and the estimated power losses.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining estimated power losses further includes measuring battery charging power loss when the battery is not fully charged.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the estimated input power includes adding the battery charging power loss, if any.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein calculating the estimated input power further includes adding other losses associated with the uninterruptible power supply, if any.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the power device is in a mode in which no losses are calculated.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the estimated efficiency.

11. A method for estimating an efficiency of a power device, the method comprising:

identifying a state of operation of the power device;

measuring power-related information of the power device;

determining estimated power losses based on the state of operation, power loss parameters associated with the power device, and the measured power-related information of the power device;

calculating an estimated input power by adding power from the power-related information and the estimated power losses; and

dividing the output power by the estimated input power.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the power device is an uninterruptible power supply.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the state of operation is one of a trim mode, a single boost mode, a double boost mode and a green mode.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising measuring battery charging power loss when a battery of the uninterruptible power supply is not fully charged.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein calculating the estimated input power includes adding the battery charging power loss, if any.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein calculating the estimated input power further includes adding other losses associated with the uninterruptible power supply, if any.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining whether the uninterruptible power supply is in a mode in which no losses are calculated.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising displaying the estimated efficiency.

19. A power device comprising:

an input to receive estimated input power;

a power supply circuit, coupled to the input, to provide power;

an output, coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide output power derived from the power supply circuit; and

a controller, coupled to the power supply circuit, the controller being configured to retrieve at least one stored procedure corresponding to estimating the efficiency of the power device, the stored procedure being configured to

identify a state of operation of the power device,

measure power-related information of the power device,

determine estimated power losses based on the state of operation, power loss parameters associated with the power device, and the measured power-related information,

calculate an estimated input power by adding power from the power-related information and the estimated power losses, and

divide the output power by the estimated input power.

20. The power device of claim 19, wherein the power device is an uninterruptible power supply.

21. The power device of claim 20, wherein the state of operation is one of a trim mode, a single boost mode, a double boost mode and a green mode.

22. The power device of claim 21, wherein the stored procedure is further configured to measure battery charging power loss when a battery of the uninterruptible power supply is not fully charged.

23. The power device of claim 20 wherein the stored procedure is further configured to calculate the estimated input power by adding the battery charging power loss, if any.

24. The power device of claim 23, wherein the stored procedure is further configured to calculate the estimated input power by adding other losses associated with the uninterruptible power supply, if any.

25. The power device of claim 20, wherein the stored procedure is further configured to determine whether the uninterruptible power supply is in a mode in which no losses are calculated.

26. The power device of claim 19 further comprising a display to display the estimated efficiency.

27. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

an input to receive estimated input power;

a power supply circuit, coupled to the input, to provide power;

an output, coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide output power derived from the power supply circuit; and

a controller, coupled to the power supply circuit, the controller being configured to retrieve at least one stored procedure corresponding to estimating the efficiency of the uninterruptible power supply by

identifying a state of operation of the uninterruptible power supply,

measuring the power-related information of the uninterruptible power supply, and

determining estimated power losses from a look-up table based on the measured power-related information.

28. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 27, wherein the state of operation is one of a trim mode, a single boost mode, a double boost mode and a green mode.

29. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 27 further comprising a user interface, coupled to the controller, to display the information obtained from the controller, including the estimated efficiency of the uninterruptible power supply.

30. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 27 further comprising a battery, coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide battery power to the power supply circuit when estimated input power to the input is terminated.

31. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 30, wherein the stored procedure is further configured to measure battery charging power loss when the battery is not fully charged.

32. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 31, wherein the stored procedure is further configured to add the battery charging power loss, if any.

33. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 27, wherein the stored procedure is further configured to determine whether the uninterruptible power supply is in a mode in which no losses are calculated.

34. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

an input to receive estimated input power;

a power supply circuit, coupled to the input, to provide power;

an output, coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide output power derived from the power supply circuit; and

means for estimating an efficiency of the uninterruptible power supply by identifying a state of operation of the uninterruptible power supply, measuring the power-related information of the uninterruptible power supply, and determining estimated power losses from a look-up table based on the measured power-related information.