Microcomputer controlled power regulator system and method
First Claim
1. A method for operating an A.C. power distribution substation for centralized control of a plurality of distribution circuits, each circuit having regulator means and associated control means for connecting a common voltage to first and second sides of drive means for selectively raising and lowering a regulator voltage of the circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
- (b) sensing the regulator voltage;
(c) sensing an output current of the regulator means;
(d) repetitively producing digital voltage and current data corresponding to the sensed regulator voltage and output current;
(e) determining, based on the voltage and current data, and actual circuit voltage and a change in the output current;
(f) detecting whether the actual circuit voltage is within a deadband about a desired circuit voltage, the deadband being variably offset with respect to the desired circuit voltage in response to the change in the output current for selectively producing a raise command and a lower command; and
(g) selectively driving the first and second sides of the drive means to the common voltage in response to the raise command and the lower command for regulating the actual circuit voltage at approximately the desired circuit voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load-compensating power distribution regulator system includes a plurality of circuit regulators interfaced to a single microcomputer, the microcomputer sensing for each circuit a regulator voltage and an output current. The microcomputer compares a computer line-drop compensated actual circuit voltage with a dynamically determined desired circuit voltage using a variably offset deadband for controlling regulator action depending on whether the output current is changing favorably for bringing the actual circuit voltage toward the desired circuit voltage. The number of regulator actions in a time period is also monitored for adjusting the magnitude of the deadband to limit wear-and-tear of the regulator.
67 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for operating an A.C. power distribution substation for centralized control of a plurality of distribution circuits, each circuit having regulator means and associated control means for connecting a common voltage to first and second sides of drive means for selectively raising and lowering a regulator voltage of the circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
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(b) sensing the regulator voltage; (c) sensing an output current of the regulator means; (d) repetitively producing digital voltage and current data corresponding to the sensed regulator voltage and output current; (e) determining, based on the voltage and current data, and actual circuit voltage and a change in the output current; (f) detecting whether the actual circuit voltage is within a deadband about a desired circuit voltage, the deadband being variably offset with respect to the desired circuit voltage in response to the change in the output current for selectively producing a raise command and a lower command; and (g) selectively driving the first and second sides of the drive means to the common voltage in response to the raise command and the lower command for regulating the actual circuit voltage at approximately the desired circuit voltage.
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2. A method for controlling an A.C. power distribution substation for centralized control of a plurality of distribution circuits, each circuit having regulator means and associated control means for connecting a common voltage to first and second sides of drive means for selectively raising and lowering a regulator voltage of the circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing the regulator voltage of the regulator means; (b) sensing an output current of the regulator means; feeding the sensed voltage and current to a digital computer for repetitively producing in the computer digital voltage and current data corresponding to the sensed regulator voltage and output current; (d) determining, based on the voltage and current data, an actual circuit voltage and a change in the output current; (e) detecting whether the actual circuit voltage is within a predetermined deadband about a desired circuit voltage, the deadband being variably offset with respect to the desired circuit voltage in response to the change in the output current for selectively producing a raise command and a lower command; and
first(f) selectively connecting the first and second sides of the drive means to the common voltage in response to the raise command and the for regulating the actual circuit voltage at approximately the desired circuit voltage.
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3. A load compensating power regulator system for a plurality of A.C. power distribution circuits, each circuit being connected to a source of power at a source voltage, each circuit having a feedpoint and a customer point located thereon, the regulator comprising:
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(a) regulator means connected between the source and the circuit for varying a regulator voltage of the circuit; (b) control means for the regulator means for changing the regulator voltage in response to a control signal; (c) means for sensing the regulator voltage; (d) means for sensing an output current of the regulator means; (e) means for sensing a phase relationship between the regulator voltage and the output current; (f) a digital computer; (g) interface means for repetitively producing in the computer digital voltage, current, and phase data corresponding respectively to the sensed regulator voltage, output current, and phase relationship; (h) means in the computer for calculating a desired feedpoint voltage at the feedpoint as a function of the digital regualtor voltage, output current, and phase data; (i) means in the computer for referencing digital deadband data with respect to the desired feedpoint voltage; and (j) means for generating the control signal for the control means for changing the output voltage for conforming the output voltage with the desired feedpoint voltage when the output voltage corresponds to a voltage outside of the deadband. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A load compensating power regulator system for at least one A.C. power distribution circuit, the circuit being connected to the source of power at a source voltage, the circuit having a feedpoint and a customer point located thereon, the system comprising:
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(a) regulator means connected between the source and the circuit for varying a regulator voltage of the circuit; (b) control means for the regulator means for changing the regulator voltage in response to a control signal; (c) means for sensing the regulator voltage; (d) means for sensing an output current of the regulator means; (e) a digital computer; (f) interface means for repetitively producing in the computer digital voltage and current data corresponding respectively to the sensed regulator voltage and output current; (g) means in the computer for determining, based on the digital voltage and current data, an actual circuit voltage; (h) means in the computer for determining, based upon the digital current data, a change in the output current; (i) means in the computer for detecting whether the actual circuit voltage is within a deadband about a desired circuit voltage, the deadband being variably offset with respect to the desired circuit voltage in response to the change in the output current; and (j) means for generating the control signal for conforming the actual circuit voltage with the desired circuit voltage in response to the detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. The system of claim further comprising means for sensing a phase relationship between the regulator voltage and the output current, wherein the interface means includes means for repetitively producing in the computer digital phase data corresponding to the sensed phase relationship, and the means for calculating the actual and desired feedpoint voltages include means for determining a power factor corresponding to the phase data.
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20. A load compensating power regulator system for a plurality of A.C. power distribution circuits, each circuit being connected to a source of power at a source voltage, each circuit having a feedpoint and a customer point located thereon, the system comprising:
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(a) regulator means connected between the source and the circuit for varying a regulator voltage of the circuit; (b) control means for the regulator means for changing the regulator voltage in response to a control signal; (c) means for sensing the regulator voltage; (d) means for sensing an output current of the regulator means; (e) means for sensing a phase relationship between the regulator voltage and the output current; (f) a digital computer; (g) interface means for repetitively producing in the computer digital voltage, current, and phase data corresponding respectively to the sensed regulator voltage, output current, and phase relationship; (h) means in the computer for calculating a desired feedpoint voltage at the feedpoint as a function of the digital regulator voltage, output current, and phase data; (i) means in the computer for referencing digital deadband data with respect to the desired feedpoint voltage; (j) means in the computer for determining, based upon the digital output current data, changes in the output current; (k) means in the computer for offsetting the digital deadband data with respect to the desired feedpoint voltage in response to the changes in the output current; and (l) means for generating the control signal for the control means for changing the output voltage for conforming the output voltage with the desired feedpoint voltage when the output voltage corresponds to a voltage outside of the deadband. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification