METERING ASSEMBLY AND CUSTOMER LOAD PANEL FOR POWER DELIVERY

• US 20120267951A1
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Office Power, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Office Power, Inc.
• Inventors: Pifer, John S., Edwards, Andrew J.
• Application Number:
  US13/469,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20120267951A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/23
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for power delivery to a load through a transfer switch are provided. 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 the load. A request is received from the transfer switch for the alternate power to be supplied through the transfer switch to the load. The alternate power is enabled to be supplied to the load through the transfer switch in response to the request. A power delivery system may include a first cabinet that houses a plurality of metering assemblies and a second cabinet that houses a load panel. Each metering assembly includes a power meter module that includes a power control module and a power monitor, with each power control module coupled to a corresponding transfer switch.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The system of claim 1, 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.

3. 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.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said enabling comprises:

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

5. The method of claim 4, 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.

6. The method of claim 5, 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.

7. The method of claim 3, 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.

8. The method of claim 7, 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.

9. The method of claim 7, 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.

10. The method of claim 7, 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.

11. The method of claim 3, 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.