Hybrid Distributed Low Voltage Power Systems

• US 20160308370A1
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Andrews, James Christopher, Walma, Kenneth Dale
• Granted Patent: US 10,193,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies

Abstract

A hybrid distributed low voltage power system can include a first primary power source that distributes line voltage power during a first mode of operation. The system can also include a first secondary power source that receives an input signal during the first mode of operation and distributes a reserve signal during the second mode of operation, where the reserve signal is generated from the input signal. The system can further include a PDM coupled to the first primary power source and the first secondary power source. The system can also include at least one first LV device coupled to the first output channel of the PDM, where the at least one LV device operates using the first LV signal during the first mode of operation, and where the at least one first LV device receives a reserve LV signal during the second mode of operation.

Claims

1. A hybrid distributed low voltage power system, comprising:

a first primary power source that distributes line voltage power during a first mode of operation and fails to distribute the line voltage power during a second mode of operation;

a first secondary power source that receives an input signal during the first mode of operation and distributes a reserve signal during the second mode of operation, wherein the reserve signal is generated from the input signal;

a power distribution module (PDM) coupled to the first primary power source and the first secondary power source, wherein the PDM comprises a first power transfer device and a first output channel, wherein the PDM receives the line voltage power from the first primary power source during the first mode of operation, and wherein the first power transfer device generates a first low-voltage (LV) signal using the line voltage power during the first mode of operation;

at least one first LV device coupled to the first output channel of the PDM, wherein the at least one LV device operates using the first LV signal generated by the PDM during the first mode of operation, and wherein the at least one first LV device receives a reserve LV signal based on the reserve signal during the second mode of operation.

2. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the input signal is the line voltage power distributed by the first primary power source, and wherein the reserve signal is reserve primary power delivered by the secondary power source to the power transfer device of the PDM, and wherein the line voltage power is received by the first secondary power source directly from the first primary power source.

3. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the input signal is the line voltage power distributed by the first primary power source, and wherein the reserve signal is reserve primary power delivered by the secondary power source to the power transfer device of the PDM, and wherein the line voltage power is received by the first secondary power source directly from the PDM.

4. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the input signal is the line voltage power distributed by the first primary power source, and wherein the reserve signal is the reserve LV signal generated by an alternative power transfer device of the secondary power source using the line voltage power, and wherein the reserve LV signal is received by the at least one LV device directly from the PDM.

5. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 4, wherein the first secondary power source is disposed within a housing of the at least one first LV device.

6. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the input signal is the LV signal distributed by the PDM, and wherein the reserve signal is a reserve LV signal delivered by the secondary power source to the PDM.

7. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the input signal is the LV signal distributed by the PDM, and wherein the reserve signal is a reserve LV signal delivered by the secondary power source to the at least one LV device.

8. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second secondary power source that receives the input signal during the first mode of operation and distributes an alternative reserve signal during the second mode of operation, wherein the alternative reserve signal is generated from the input signal; and

at least one second LV device coupled to a second output channel of the PDM, where in the at least one second LV device operates on a second LV signal generated by the PDM during the first mode of operation, and wherein the at least one second LV device receives and operates on an alternative reserve LV signal based on the alternative reserve signal during the second mode of operation.

9. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the first secondary power source is disposed within a housing of the PDM.

10. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the PDM determines when to change between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, and wherein the PDM sends control signals to the first secondary power source to control operation of the first secondary power source during the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

11. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, further comprising a second primary power source coupled to the first secondary power source, wherein the second primary power source provides alternative line voltage power to the first secondary power source.

12. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation occurs during off-peak power periods, and wherein the second mode of operation occurs during on-peak power periods.

13. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the first secondary power source comprises a local controller that controls activity of the at least one first secondary power source.

14. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 13, wherein the input signal of the first secondary power source is the primary power, wherein the local controller determines a level of charge of the first secondary power source, wherein the local controller prevents the first secondary power source from receiving the line voltage power when the level of charge is above an upper threshold voltage, and wherein the local controller allows the first secondary power source to receive the line voltage power when the level of charge falls below a lower threshold voltage.

15. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the first LV signal is direct current power.

16. The hybrid distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first LV device qualifies as a Class 2 device.

17. A secondary power source, comprising:

at least one input channel configured to receive an input signal from a primary power source;

a storage portion coupled to the at least one input channel, wherein the storage portion stores the input signal, wherein the storage portion converts the input signal to a reserve signal;

at least one output channel coupled to the storage portion and device power distribution module (PDM), wherein the at least one output channel is configured to deliver the reserve signal to the PDM for use by at least one LV device.

18. The secondary power source of claim 17, further comprising:

a power transfer device electrically coupled to and disposed between the storage potion and the at least one output channel, wherein the power transfer device is configured to generate a reserve low-voltage (LV) signal based on the reserve signal.

19. The secondary power source of claim 17, further comprising:

a local controller configured to determine a level of charge of the storage portion, wherein the local controller prevents the storage portion from receiving the input signal when the level of charge is above an upper threshold voltage, and wherein the local controller allows the storage portion to receive the first input signal when the level of charge falls below a lower threshold voltage.

20. A power distribution module, comprising:

an input channel configured to receive a line voltage power from a primary power source during a first mode of operation;

a secondary channel configured to receive a reserve signal from a secondary power source during a second mode of operation;

a power transfer device coupled to the input channel and the secondary channel, wherein the power transfer device generates a low voltage (LV) signal using the line voltage power during the first mode of operation, and wherein the power transfer device generates a reserve LV signal using the reserve signal during the second mode of operation; and

an output channel coupled to the power transfer device, wherein the output channel is configured to send the LV signal to at least one first LV device during the first mode of operation, and wherein the output channel is configured to send the reserve LV signal to the at least one first LV device during the second mode of operation.