Smart circuit breaker

• US 20130113285A1
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,093,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/35
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/54 according to a pre-established time schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A smart circuit breaker for an AC power supply circuit that has a limited capacity for supplying power to one or more electrical loads. Smart circuit breaker includes a sensing circuit to dynamically determine the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit. A reporting circuit reports the dynamically available load capacity to a controller, an existing electrical load, and/or a potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit. The AC power supply circuit, the existing electrical load, and/or the potential electrical load can adjust operations based on the reported availability of load capacity.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for an AC power supply circuit stepped down or downstream from a high-voltage power transmission line, wherein the AC power supply circuit that has a limited capacity for supplying power to one or more electrical loads, the monitoring device comprising:

a sensing circuit configured to dynamically determine the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit; and

a reporting circuit configured to report the dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit, wherein the reporting circuit includes an input/output interface for communications with a controller, an existing electrical load, and/or a potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, which is configured to be wired in the AC power supply circuit.

3. The monitoring device of claim 2, which is configured to be wired in a circuit breaker, fuse, or transformer.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the input/output interface supports electrical wire, wireless, and/or optical communications.

5. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to dynamically determine the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit at a sequence of time points.

6. The monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the sequence of time points is based on a schedule and/or measured electrical characteristics of the circuit.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the schedule is related to the electrical frequency of the circuit.

8. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to dynamically determine the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit in response to a user request from external source, or from a present or potential load on the AC power supply circuit.

9. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to determine one or more electrical characteristics of the AC power supply circuit.

10. The monitoring device of claim 9, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to dynamically sample or measure one or more of a voltage, current, frequency, and/or phase [between current and voltage] characteristic of the AC power supply circuit.

11. The monitoring device of claim 9, wherein the sensing circuit includes processing circuits configured to determine the AC power supply circuit load capacity with reference to fuse and/or circuit breaker characteristics.

12. The monitoring device of claim 9, wherein the sensing circuit includes a processing circuit configured to determine the AC power supply circuit load capacity with reference to a database, historical data, and/or external input data.

13. The monitoring device of claim 9, further comprising, a prediction circuit configured to predict effects of a potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit.

14. The monitoring device of claim 13, wherein the prediction circuit is further configured to determine if the effects of the potential electrical load are within a safe margin of operation of the AC power supply circuit.

15. The monitoring device of claim 13, wherein the prediction circuit is further configured to determine the effects of the potential electrical load of the AC power supply circuit on an existing load of the AC power supply circuit.

16. The monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the prediction circuit is further configured to determine if the effects on the existing load are within a safe operation of margin with respect to one or more of voltage, current, phase and/or frequency of operation.

17. The monitoring device of claim 13, where the prediction circuit is further configured to determine the tolerable characteristics of the potential electrical load that can be supplied with power by the AC power supply circuit within its safe operating margin.

18. The monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the tolerable characteristics of the potential electrical load that can be supplied with power by the AC power supply circuit within its safe operating margin include one or more of an acceptable current, reactance, thermal, and/or frequency characteristic.

19. The monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the reporting circuit is further configured to report the tolerable characteristics of the potential electrical load that can be supplied with power by the AC power supply circuit within the latter'"'"'s safe operating margin to an external controller and/or the potential electrical load.

20. The monitoring device of claim 13, where the prediction circuit is further configured to predict effects of a proposed action by an existing or potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit.

21. The monitoring device of claim 20, wherein the proposed action includes projected power demand versus time information.

22. The monitoring device of claim 20, wherein the proposed action includes a change in operating conditions by the existing or potential electrical load.

23. The monitoring device of claim 22, wherein the change in operating conditions includes changes in one or more of reactance, sourcing or sinking current requirements, and connection/disconnection state.

24. The monitoring device of claim 20, wherein the prediction circuit is further configured to determine whether the predicted effects of the proposed action by the existing or potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit are within the latter'"'"'s safe operating margin.

25. The monitoring device of claim 20, wherein the reporting circuit is further configured to report the predicted effects of the proposed action by the electrical load on the AC power supply circuit to an external controller, the existing or potential electrical load and/or other electrical loads or devices.

26. The monitoring device of claim 1 further coupled to one or more control circuits that are configured to respond to available load capacity information, wherein the control circuits are disposed in the AC power supply circuit and/or existing or potential electrical loads.

27. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the control circuits are configured to control power draw by individual existing or potential electrical loads.

28. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the control circuits are configured to deny or postpone connection to a potential electrical load if its operation would exceed the available load capacity of AC power supply circuit.

29. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the control circuits are configured to selectively drop one or more existing loads to supply power to a potential load having a higher priority.

30. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the control circuits are configured to schedule actions by the loads to maintain a steady power supply to as many electrical loads as possible without tripping hard circuit breakers.

31. The monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the control circuits are configured to preemptively shut down power supply over AC power supply circuit in a planned manner to avoid damage to existing loads or the AC power supply circuit itself if the predicted effects of an action by load indicate that safe operating margins will be exceeded.