Method and apparatus for controlling loads in electric power systems by reduction of peak loads
First Claim
1. A load management system for reducing the load in an electrical power distribution network having at least one remotely located distribution transformer that is capable of supplying electrical power to at least one associated transformer load by means of at least one alternating current distribution line, said system comprising:
- power monitor means for monitoring the power load on said distribution transformer, said power monitor means comprising a current transformer means for measuring current flow within said alternating current distribution line, said current transformer means being operable to produce a secondary current which is related to the measured current flow and transducer means for converting said secondary current into a reading representation of the load on said distribution transformer, said transducer means being comprised of a bimetal spiral coil, said bimetal spiral coil being electrically coupled with said current transformer means such that said secondary current is caused to flow through said coil to vary the temperature of said coil in accordance with the magnitude of said secondary current, said bimetal spiral coil having one end rigidly anchored and the other end free to move in accordance with the temperature of said coil to provide said reading representation of the load on said distribution transformer;
first switch means for producing an activation signal whenever said reading is above a preset control point; and
means for reducing the power load on said distribution transformer in response to said activation signal.
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Abstract
This invention discloses a load management system for reducing the peak load in an electrical power distribution network. This invention monitors, records and reduces the peak load present in an electrical distribution network by deferring power service from and cycling power service to preselected transformer loads during periods of peak power demand. The peak load control function of the present invention is controlled by a power monitor which is located at the distribution transformer. The power monitor measures the ambient temperature and the power load on an associated distribution transformer and initiates the peak load control function whenever the product of the temperature factor and the measured load rises above a preset control point. Initiation of the peak load control function completely defers power service from a first group of low priority loads and activates a timing and switching mechanism which cycles power service among selected groups of controlled loads in a preselected order. As the peak load decreases, the peak load control function is terminated and full service is returned to all of the transformer loads. The point at which the control operation is initiated is a function of the maximum magnitude of the uncontrolled load and is automatically set and retained to provide a control point at which the peak load control function will be initiated in the future.
83 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A load management system for reducing the load in an electrical power distribution network having at least one remotely located distribution transformer that is capable of supplying electrical power to at least one associated transformer load by means of at least one alternating current distribution line, said system comprising:
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power monitor means for monitoring the power load on said distribution transformer, said power monitor means comprising a current transformer means for measuring current flow within said alternating current distribution line, said current transformer means being operable to produce a secondary current which is related to the measured current flow and transducer means for converting said secondary current into a reading representation of the load on said distribution transformer, said transducer means being comprised of a bimetal spiral coil, said bimetal spiral coil being electrically coupled with said current transformer means such that said secondary current is caused to flow through said coil to vary the temperature of said coil in accordance with the magnitude of said secondary current, said bimetal spiral coil having one end rigidly anchored and the other end free to move in accordance with the temperature of said coil to provide said reading representation of the load on said distribution transformer; first switch means for producing an activation signal whenever said reading is above a preset control point; and means for reducing the power load on said distribution transformer in response to said activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A load management system for reducing the load in a three-phase alternating current distributing network capable of providing electrical service to at least one network load by means of three separate phase conductor lines, said system comprising:
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signal generator means for generating a control signal; means for injecting said control signal into said three separate phase conductor lines, said injecting means comprising means for separating said control signal into a first control signal, a second control signal and a third control signal, each control signal being separated in phase from the other two control signals by a set amount and a three-phase coupling transformer for introducing each of the three phase shifted control signals into a different phase conductor line, said coupling transformer having three separate primary coils, each primary coil being arranged to receive a different one of the phase shifted control signals, said coupling transformer also having three separate secondary coils, each secondary coil being electrically coupled with a different phase conductor line; receiver means for detecting the presence of said control signal on said three separate phase conductor lines and for interrupting electrical service to said at least one network load in response to said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A load management system for reducing the load in an electrical power distribution network having at least one remotely located distribution transformer that is capable of supplying electrical power to at least one associated transformer load by means of at least one alternating current distribution line, said system comprising:
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power monitor means for monitoring the power load on said distribution transformer, said power monitor means comprising a current transformer means for measuring current flow within said alternating current distribution line, said current transformer means being operable to produce a secondary current which is related to the measured current flow and transducer means for converting said secondary current into a reading representative of the load on said distribution transformer, said transducer means being comprised of a first rotatable shaft and a bimetal spiral coil, said bimetal spiral coil being electrically coupled with said current transformer means such that said secondary current is caused to flow through said coil to vary the temperature of said coil in accordance with the magnitude of said secondary current, said bimetal spiral coil having one end connected to said first rotatable shaft and the other end anchored so that said coil is effective to rotate said first rotatable shaft in response to the temperature of said coil to provide said reading representative of the load on said distribution transformer; switch means for producing an activation signal whenever said reading is above a preset control point; and means for reducing the power load on said distribution transformer in response to said activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A load management system for reducing the load in an electrical power distribution network having at least one remotely located distribution transformer that is capable of supplying electrical power to at least one associated transformer load by means of at least one alternating current distribution line, said system comprising:
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power monitor means for monitoring the power load on said distribution transformer, said power monitor means comprising a current transformer means for measuring current flow within said alternating current distribution line, said current transformer means being operable to produce a secondary current which is related to the measured current flow and sensor means electrically coupled with said current transformer means such that said secondary current flows through said sensor means, said sensor means being operable to cause a forward voltage drop across said sensor means, said forward voltage drop being a nonlinear function of the magnitude of said secondary current;
means for measuring the forward voltage drop across said sensor means, said mesuring means being operable to generate an output signal representative of the measured forward voltage drop; and
means for converting said output signal into a reading representative of the load on said distribution transformer;switch means for producing an activation signal whenever said reading is above a preset control point; and means for reducing the power load on said distribution transformer in response to said activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification