SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MONITORING BRIDGING TIME

• US 20150331437A1
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Scneider Electric USA Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Gorp, John C., Eggink, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,678,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

According to one aspect, embodiments described herein provide a system and a method for managing an electrical distribution system for a facility having at least one load. In one example, the method comprises receiving data related to transfer performance of a plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system, the plurality of energy sources including a first energy source and a second energy source, converting the data into transfer parameter values, receiving predefined transfer performance indicators related to the plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system, comparing the transfer parameter values with predefined transfer performance indicators to produce a comparison result assessing transfer performance of the plurality of energy sources, and managing transfer of the at least one load between the first energy source and the second energy source based on the comparison result.

Claims

1. A method for managing an electrical distribution system for a facility having at least one load, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computer system connected to a monitoring system, data related to transfer performance of a plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system, the plurality of energy sources including a first energy source and a second energy source;

using the computer system, converting the data into transfer parameter values;

receiving, at the computer system, predefined transfer performance indicators related to the plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system;

using the computer system, comparing the transfer parameter values with predefined transfer performance indicators to produce a comparison result assessing transfer performance of the plurality of energy sources; and

managing transfer of the at least one load between the first energy source and the second energy source based on the comparison result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data further comprises receiving data relating to the plurality of energy sources including at least one of at least one bridging energy source, at least one primary energy source, and at least one backup energy source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the data includes converting the data into the transfer parameter values including at least one of energy capacity value, status of the energy sources, remaining run time, total transfer time, safety margin time, recharge time and power draw value of loads.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving includes receiving the predefined transfer performance indicators including at least one of nominal run times under different loads, and historical measured performance values.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining a start and an end of transfer criteria for the first energy source and the second energy source.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting one of a begin test signal and an end test signal to one of the first energy source and the second energy source.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the monitoring system to monitor data related to electrical and status parameters of components in the electrical distribution system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data further includes receiving data relating to a plurality of uninterruptable power supplies disposed in parallel with the at least one load, including a first uninterruptable power supply having a first run time and a second uninterruptable power supply having a second run time.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a redundancy level for the plurality of uninterruptable power supplies;

comparing the determined level of redundancy to a selected level of redundancy; and

determining an impact on a run time capacity of the plurality of energy sources.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising iteratively calculating remaining run time capacity for the plurality of uninterruptable power supplies, upon indication that a run time capacity of the first uninterruptable power supply is exhausted.

11. A system for managing an electrical distribution system in a facility having at least one load, the system comprising:

a monitoring system having a plurality of electrical monitors coupled to a plurality of energy sources associated with the electrical distribution system, the plurality of energy sources including a first energy source and a second energy source; and

a controller coupled to the monitoring system and configured to;

receive data related to transfer performance of the plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system;

convert the data into transfer parameter values;

receive predefined transfer performance indicators related to the plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system;

compare the transfer parameter values with predefined transfer performance indicators to produce a comparison result assessing transfer performance of the plurality of energy sources; and

manage transfer of the at least one load between the first energy source and the second energy source based on the comparison result.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of energy sources includes at least one of at least one bridging energy source, at least one primary energy source, and at least one backup energy source.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the transfer parameter values include at least one of energy capacity value, status of the energy sources, remaining run time, total transfer time, safety margin time, recharge time and power draw value of loads.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the predefined transfer performance indicators include at least one of nominal run times under different loads, and historical measured performance values.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a start and an end of transfer criteria for the first energy source and the second energy source.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit one of a begin test signal and an end test signal to one of the first energy source and the second energy source.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of energy sources further includes a plurality of uninterruptable power supplies disposed in parallel with the at least one load, including a first uninterruptable power supply having a first run time and a second uninterruptable power supply having a second run time,

wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a redundancy level for the plurality of uninterruptable power supplies;

compare the determined level of redundancy to a selected level of redundancy; and

determine an impact on a run time capacity of the plurality of energy sources.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to iteratively calculate remaining run time capacity for the plurality of uninterruptable power supplies, upon indication that a run time capacity of the first uninterruptable power supply is exhausted.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instruction including instructions that will cause a processor to:

receive from a monitoring system, data related to transfer performance of a plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system, the plurality of energy sources including a first energy source and a second energy source;

convert the data into transfer parameter values;

receive predefined transfer performance indicators related to the plurality of energy sources in the electrical distribution system;

compare the transfer parameter values with predefined transfer performance indicators to produce a comparison result assessing transfer performance of the plurality of energy sources; and

manage transfer of at least one load between the first energy source and the second energy source based on the comparison result.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of energy sources further includes a plurality of uninterruptable power supplies disposed in parallel with the at least one load, wherein the sequences of instruction include instructions that will cause a processor to:

determine a redundancy level for the plurality of uninterruptable power supplies;

compare the determined level of redundancy to a selected level of redundancy; and

determine an impact on a run time capacity of the plurality of energy sources.