SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REGULATING VOLTAGE IN A LOW VOLTAGE POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20170250542A1
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Panosyan, Ara, Wijekoon, Piniwan Thiwanka Bandara, Schroeder, Stefan, Baerthlein, Eva-Maria
• Granted Patent: US 10,211,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

A power distribution system for providing a desired value of voltage regulation is presented. The system includes at least one power source, at least one sink, a distribution feeder configured to couple the at least one power source to the at least one sink. The system includes a plurality of modular voltage regulation units coupled to the distribution feeder, where each of the plurality of modular voltage regulation units includes a transformer including a primary winding having a first end and a second end and a secondary winding having a first end and a second end; and at least one switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer, where the first end of the secondary winding is coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of the primary winding via the at least one switch. A method of operating a power distribution system is also presented.

Claims

1. A power distribution system for providing a desired value of voltage regulation, the system comprising:

at least one power source;

at least one sink;

a distribution feeder configured to couple the at least one power source to the at least one sink;

a plurality of modular voltage regulation units coupled to the distribution feeder, wherein each of the plurality of modular voltage regulation units comprises;

a transformer comprising a primary winding having a first end and a second end and a secondary winding having a first end and a second end; and

at least one switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer, wherein the first end of the secondary winding is coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of the primary winding via the at least one switch.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to one or more of the plurality of modular voltage regulation units and configured to control operation of the plurality of modular voltage regulation units to provide the desired value of voltage regulation.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises an electrical parameter sensing subunit, a processing subunit, or both.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformer comprises at least one of a single phase transformer and a three phase transformer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one switch comprises a solid state electronic switch.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular voltage regulation units is configured to modify a voltage corresponding to one or more locations along the distribution feeder based on the desired value of voltage regulation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular voltage regulation units is disposed in one or more distribution casings.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more distribution casings comprise one or more fuse bases, one or more cable connectors, one or more busbars, one or more racks, or combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of modular voltage regulation units is coupled to the one or more racks.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the distribution feeder comprises at least one phase conductor and a neutral conductor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of modular voltage regulation units is coupled in series directly, via the at least one phase conductor and the neutral conductor of the distribution feeder, or a combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second end of the secondary winding of the transformer of one of the plurality of modular voltage regulation units is coupled to the first end of the secondary winding of the transformer of another modular voltage regulation unit directly, via the at least one phase conductor, or a combination thereof.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the primary winding of the transformer is coupled to at least one of the phase conductor and the neutral conductor via the at least one switch.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication channel configured to communicatively couple the plurality of modular voltage regulation units.

15. A method of operating a power distribution system to provide a desired value of voltage regulation, wherein the power distribution system comprises a distribution feeder and a plurality of modular voltage regulation units, the method comprising:

measuring, using a controller, one or more voltages corresponding to one or more locations along the distribution feeder, wherein the distribution feeder is configured to couple at least one power source to at least one sink, and wherein each of the plurality of modular voltage regulation units is coupled to the distribution feeder and comprises;

a transformer comprising a primary winding having a first end and a second end and a secondary winding having a first end and a second end;

at least one switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer, wherein the first end of the secondary winding is coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of the primary winding via the at least one switch;

comparing, using the controller, the measured one or more voltages to a corresponding determined threshold;

determining, using the controller, a switching pattern of the at least one switch based on the comparison; and

regulating, using the controller, a voltage at one or more locations along the distribution feeder based on the switching pattern to provide the desired value of voltage regulation.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively switching the at least one switch based on the determined switching pattern to provide the desired value of voltage regulation.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the determined threshold comprises a range of values around a determined set point of voltage.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein comparing the measured voltage to the determined threshold further comprises determining a deviation of the measured voltage from the range of values around the determined set point of voltage for a determined period of time.

19. A distribution casing, comprising:

a housing comprising one or more racks, one or more fuse bases, one or more cable connectors, one or more busbars, or combinations thereof;

at least one modular voltage regulation unit disposed in the housing, wherein the at least one modular voltage regulation unit is coupled in series with at least one other modular voltage regulation unit, wherein the at least one other modular voltage regulation unit is disposed within the housing or external to the housing, and wherein at least one modular voltage regulation unit comprises;

a transformer comprising a primary winding having a first end and a second end and a secondary winding having a first end and a second end; and

at least one switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer, wherein the first end of the secondary winding is coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of the primary winding via the at least one switch.

20. The casing of claim 19, wherein the at least one modular voltage regulation unit is configured to provide a desired voltage regulation.