SMART GRID WELDING SYSTEM

• US 20110180522A1
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Bunker, Thomas A., Albrecht, Bruce Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,089,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.21
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1043 characterised by the electric circuit B23K9/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1056 by using digital means B23K9/1068 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1075 Parallel power supply, i.e. multiple power supplies or multiple inverters supplying a single arc or welding current

Abstract

Welding system and method permit exchange of data with Smart Grid monitors and/or controllers. The welding systems include a welding power supply configured to convert power between the power grid and the welding power supply. A grid interface cooperates with control circuitry to transmit data to and/or from the grid monitors and/or controllers on the grid side. The control circuitry may control operation of the welding power supply based upon data from the grid. The system may include power generation devices (e.g., engine-drive generators) and energy storage devices (e.g., batteries). The control circuitry may control operation of such devices, the exchange of power between them, and the draw of power from the grid or the application of power to the grid based upon the data exchanged with the grid monitors and/or controllers.

Claims

1. A welding system comprising:

a welding power supply configured to convert power from a power grid to power for a welding operation;

a grid interface configured to communicate power-related data to and/or from a grid-side monitor or controller; and

control circuitry coupled to the grid interface and to the welding power supply and configured to control operation of the welding power supply based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

2. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the grid interface is configured to transmit data relating to operation of the welding power supply to the grid-side monitor or controller.

3. The welding system of claim 1, comprising a power generation device configured to produce electrical power for the welding operation, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of the power generation device based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

4. The welding system of claim 3, wherein the power generation device comprises an engine-generator.

5. The welding system of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to draw power only from the power generation device or only from the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

6. The welding system of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to apply generated, or stored power to the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

7. The welding system of claim 3, comprising an energy storage device configured to store energy for use by the welding operation, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control charging and/or discharging of the energy storage device based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

8. The welding system of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to draw power only from the power generation device and the energy storage device or only from the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

9. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the grid interface is configured to transmit data to and/or from a grid-side monitor or controller during an arc welding operation.

10. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the grid interface is incorporated into the welding power supply.

11. A welding system comprising:

a welding power supply configured to convert power from a power grid to power for a welding operation;

a grid interface configured to communicate power-related data to and/or from a grid-side monitor or controller;

a power generation device configured to produce electrical power for the welding operation or an energy storage device configured to store energy for use by the welding operation; and

control circuitry coupled to the grid interface, the welding power supply and the power generation device or the energy storage device, and configured to control operation of the welding power supply and the power generation device or energy storage device based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

12. The welding system of claim 11, comprising a power generation device and an energy storage device, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of both the power generation device and the energy storage device based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

13. The welding system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command exchange of electrical power between the welding power supply, the power generation device and the energy storage device.

14. The welding system of claim 11, wherein the grid interface is configured to transmit data relating to operation of the welding power supply to the grid-side monitor or controller.

15. The welding system of claim 11, wherein the grid interface is configured to transmit data to and/or from a grid-side monitor or controller during an arc welding operation.

16. The welding system of claim 11, wherein the grid interface is incorporated into the welding power supply.

17. A welding system comprising:

a welding power supply configured to convert power from a power grid to power for a welding operation;

a grid interface configured to communicate power-related data to and/or from a grid-side monitor or controller;

a power generation device configured to produce electrical power for the welding operation and an energy storage device configured to store energy for use by the welding operation; and

control circuitry coupled to the grid interface, the welding power supply and the power generation device or the energy storage device, and configured to control operation of the welding power supply, the power generation device and energy storage device based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.

18. The welding system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command exchange of electrical power between the welding power supply, the power generation device and the energy storage device.

19. The welding system of claim 17, wherein the grid interface is configured to transmit data relating to operation of the welding power supply to the grid-side monitor or controller.

20. The welding system of claim 19, wherein the grid interface is configured to transmit data to and/or from a grid-side monitor or controller during an arc welding operation.

21. The welding system of claim 17, wherein the grid interface is incorporated into the welding power supply.

22. The welding system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to apply generated power to the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.