System for controlling power distribution to customer loads

• US 4,419,667 A
• Filed: 08/06/1982
• Issued: 12/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sangamo Weston, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sangamo Weston, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Bruce J., Gurr, George P.
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/406,094
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/825.71, 340/310 A, 340/310 R, 307/39, 364/492, 364/493
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• 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 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A method and apparatus which permits a power utility to have direct control of customers loads (CD) with a view toward facilitating enablement of a load management philosophy which includes peak shaving and load deferral. A master control station (MCS), which comprises a programmable microprocessor-based central controller, is in two-way communication with a plurality of substation injection units (SIU), one of each of which is positioned at a separate substation of the power utility. Each substation injection unit (SIU), under the control of its own microprocessor, responds to master control signals from the master control station (MCS) to inject a pulse code signal onto the power lines of the utility. The system includes a plurality of remote receiver units (RRU) which are positioned at and connected to control the on and off times of customer loads (CD). Each remote receiver unit (RRU) is preset to respond to particular pulse code signals from the substation injection units (SIU) to carry out the desired command functions, which can be implemented either automatically or manually on a fixed or dynamic-cycle basis as the need arises. The system utilizes a command signal and pulse code signal verification technique to insure system integrity and reliability.

Claims

1. A system for permitting an electric power utility to control the distribution of its power along its power lines from a substation to a plurality of customer loads, which comprises:

a master control station including first programmable digital data processor means and input/output devices under the control of an operator for generating master control signals;

at least one substation injection unit located at said substation in communication with said master control station and operating under the control of second programmable digital data processor means for injecting, in response to certain of said master control signals, pulse code signals onto said power lines; and

a plurality of remote receiver units each connected to a particular load device and to said power lines for receiving said pulse code signals, each of said remote receiver units responsive to one of said pulse code signals for connecting or disconnecting its load from said power lines; and

wherein said substation injection unit further comprises;

means for converting the frequency of a standard three-phase power line voltage signal generated by said utility at said substation to a preselected frequency desired for said pulse code signals;

means responsive to said second data processor means for controlling the output of said frequency converting means to generate said pulse code signals; and

means for injecting said pulse code signals onto said power lines for transmission to said remote receiver units; and

wherein said frequency converting means comprises;

three-phase rectifier means including a plurality of conduction controlled solid state devices under the control of said second data processor means for receiving said three-phase power line voltage signal and for developing a DC voltage signal of a predetermined level; and

three-phase inverter means including a plurality of conduction controlled solid state devices under the control of said second data processor means for receiving said DC voltage signal from said rectifier means and for converting same to said pulse code signal at said preselected frequency; and

wherein said substation injection unit further comprises;

means connected to said power lines for detecting each pulse in said pulse code signals; and

means in said second data processor means for determining whether the outputs of said pulse detecting means consist of a properly timed pulse.