Modular power management system and method

• US 5,786,642 A
• Filed: 03/07/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nextek Power Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nextek Power Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilhelm, William George
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/606,219
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/18, 307/19, 307/20, 307/21, 307/22, 307/23, 307/24, 307/25, 307/26, 307/27, 307/28, 307/29, 307/31, 307/38, 307/39, 307/43, 307/44, 307/45, 307/46, 307/48, 307/66, 307/64, 307/80, 307/85 , 307/86, 307/87, 307/149, 307/150, 307/72, 307/75, 361/601, 361/602, 361/611, 361/622, 361/627, 361/641, 361/648, 361/652, 361/728
• US Class Current: 307/72
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/02 Arrangements for reducing harmonics or ripples
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• 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

An electrical distribution system and method has storage battery mechanism of very large equivalent capacitance providing excellent ripple filtering and an ideal path to ground, and filter capacitor mechanism of microfarad size providing DC blocking and limited AC path to ground. The storage battery entity is maintained as to its charge by DC supply which provides regulated DC power in which switching regulation may be involved. The system and method provides dual voltage capability, both DC and AC in which circuit breakers may be ganged for simultaneous tripping, and in which intrinsic DC circuit(s) may be looped to increase current-carrying capability.

Claims

1. A modular power management system having common wiring for allowing both AC and DC power therethrough comprising:

an electrical distribution panel capable of receiving both AC and DC power simultaneously;

a system of busses housed within the panel including electrical power buss means, neutral buss means and ground buss means;

a module unit including DC power supply means external to the panel connected across said neutral buss means and said ground buss means within said panel;

means for delivering AC power to said power, neutral, and ground buss means within said panel;

means for delivering AC and DC power from said panel comprising an electric outlet having one receptacle connected to said AC power buss means, a second receptacle connected to said neutral buss means, and a third receptacle connected to said ground buss means;

means for selectively withdrawing AC or DC power for an external load from said electric outlet connecting said load to selected receptacles within said electric outlet; and

circuit breaker means protecting said external load including circuit breakers ganged for simultaneous tripping of both AC power and DC power to receptacles connected to said neutral and AC power busses.

2. In a modular power management system as defined in claim 1 including said DC power supply means includes storage battery means.

3. In a modular power management system as defined in claim 2 wherein said DC power supply means further comprises a voltage regulator means for maintaining said DC power supply means within a desired voltage range.

4. In a modular power management system as defined in claim 2 wherein said DC power supply means is converter means.

5. A method of electrical distribution at a site which comprises the steps of:

providing both an AC and a DC power capability at said site,

providing a common wiring system within said site having electrical lines sharing AC power and DC power passing therethrough,

providing storage battery means for storing DC energy, supplying said storage battery means with DC power for maintaining the voltage level of said storage battery means not greater than fully charged as defined by the float potential of the storage battery used,

providing circuit breaker means in said site ganged for simultaneous tripping of both AC power and DC power, and

delivering AC power and/or DC power simultaneously through said common wiring at said site, and,

selectively withdrawing AC and/or DC power for at least one external load at said site.

6. The method of electrical distribution at a site as defined in claim 5 further including the step of providing filter capacitor means in electrical parallel with said storage battery means,

measuring the battery equivalent capacitance of said storage battery means so that the battery equivalent capacitance of said storage battery means is very large consistent with an ideal AC path to ground and the capacitance of said filter capacitor means is very small consistent with a limited AC path to ground but large enough to pass sufficient current to keep fault currents as determined by the ratings of the circuit breakers from constituting a shock hazard and to allow sufficient current flow to trip relevant circuit breakers during a short circuit, and

passing current therethrough.

7. In a power management system, the combination of storage battery means and filter capacitor means for providing both an AC conduction path to ground and a DC isolation path from ground, said combination of storage battery means and filter capacitor means carrying AC power while isolating DC current and means for controlling a charge level of said storage battery means, said filter capacitor means providing a capacitance sized to carry AC current at 60 Hz and to insure a low impedance path to ground at 60 Hz and said storage battery means providing a capacitance sized to insure conduction to ground in either direction of current flow therethrough.

8. In a power management system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for controlling said charge level of said storage battery means is a voltage regulator means with rectifier means providing DC input to said voltage regulator means.

9. In a power management system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for controlling said charge level of said storage battery means is a converter means with rectifier means providing DC input to said converter means.

10. A power management system comprising the combination of an electrical distribution box and a modular unit, said electrical distribution box containing a common wiring system sharing separately or together at the same time both AC power and DC power therethrough, said box also housing power buss means, neutral buss means, ground buss means and an AC bypass filter capacitor means of relatively small capacitance and bulk connected between said neutral buss means and said ground buss means;

said modular unit housing storage battery means for providing a battery equivalent capacitance and bulk which is very much greater than the capacitance and bulk of said AC bypass filter capacitor means and said storage battery means being housed within said modular unit and connected across said neutral buss means and said ground buss means.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 including DC power supply means for supplying said storage battery means with DC energy, and DC load means connected between said ground buss means and said neutral buss means for supply by said storage battery means.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 including ganged circuit breaker means ganged for simultaneous tripping of both high and low sides of AC voltage and DC power.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said DC power supply means includes a device selected from the group consisting of fuel sourced electrical power generating means, photo-voltaic means, fuel cells, wind powered DC sources and hydro-electric DC sources.

14. The combination as defined in claim 10 including voltage regulator means for maintaining a charge level on said storage battery means and rectifier means for providing DC input to said regulator means.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 including ganged circuit breaker means ganged for simultaneous tripping at both AC power and DC power.

16. The combination as defined in claim 15 wherein said DC power supply means includes a device selected from the group consisting of fuel sourced electrical power generating means, photo-voltaic means, fuel cells, wind powered DC sources, hydro-electric DC sources and energy converters that produce DC power.

17. The combination as defined in claim 10 including converter means for maintaining a charge level on said storage battery means and rectifier means for providing DC input to said converter means.

18. The combination as defined in claim 17 including ganged circuit breaker means ganged for simultaneous tripping.

19. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein said DC power supply means includes a device selected from the group consisting of fuel sourced electrical power generating means, photo-voltaic means, fuel cells, wind powered DC sources, hydro-electric DC sources and energy converters that produce DC power.

20. In a power management system, the combination of DC power supply means and filter capacitor means for sharing both an AC conduction path to ground and a DC from ground, said combination of DC power supply means and filter capacitor means carrying AC power while isolating DC current, a common wiring system providing both AC power and DC power therethrough, said common wiring system sharing said AC and DC power separately or sharing both said AC power and DC power together at the same time, and means for controlling a voltage level of said DC power supply means, said filter capacitor means providing a capacitance sized to insure a low impedance path to ground at 60 Hz and said DC power supply means providing a capacitance sized to insure conduction to ground in either direction of current flow therethrough, said means for controlling said voltage level of said DC power supply means being effective to maintain said AC conduction path to ground if a storage battery means is not utilized within the system.

21. In a power management system as defined in claim 20 wherein said means for controlling said voltage level comprises a further DC power source means.

22. In a power management system as defined in claim 21 wherein said means for controlling said voltage level includes voltage regulator means.

23. In a power management system as defined in claim 21 wherein said means for controlling said voltage level includes converter means in which high frequency AC is generated as an intermediate process in the flow of energy.

24. In a power management system as defined in claim 23 including special filter capacitor means for absorbing voltage spikes of said high frequency AC.