Emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric loads

• US 6,239,513 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Design Power Solutions International
• Original Assignee: Design Power Solutions International
• Inventors: Metts, Kenneth R., Dean, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/513,276
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/68, 307/84, 290/7, 290/4 R, 322/9, 322/4, 322/32
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

An emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid, including a first Variable speed drive, a second Variable speed drive, a first asynchronous motor powered from the first Variable speed drive for turning a fly-wheel attached thereto to ramp-up and maintain a level of expendable kinetic energy in the fly-wheel, the fly-wheel coupled to a first synchronous alternating current generator for driving the generator in a no-load, standby condition, a second asynchronous motor coupled to a second synchronous alternating current generator, in combination, and interposed the second Variable speed drive and the critical electric equipment load, a prime mover including a coupling between the prime mover to the second asynchronous motor/second synchronous alternating current generator combination, and, a computer processor interconnected all elements for maintaining the frequency of alternating current output from the first synchronous alternating current generator slightly above the frequency of the commercial power on the grid wherein, the emergency contactor, is arranged to close upon the sagging or outage of incoming grid power to the critical load and allow the kinetic energy in the rotating fly-wheel to drive the first synchronous alternating current generator and produce a decaying alternating current.

Claims

1. An emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid, comprising:

a) a variable speed drive with input from said commercial power grid in parallel with the critical electric equipment load;

b) an asynchronous motor powered from said variable speed drive for turning a fly-wheel attached thereto to build and maintain a level of expendable kinetic energy in said fly-wheel;

c) means for coupling said fly-wheel to a synchronous alternating current generator for driving said generator in a no-load, standby condition;

d) first and second normally-closed commercial power contactors, for opening and isolating the commercial power grid and for opening and isolating said variable speed drive upon commercial power interruption, and a third normally-open interrupt contactor;

e) a computer processor controller interconnected said first, second, and third contactors, said variable speed drive, and said synchronous alternating current generator, for maintaining the frequency of alternating current output from said synchronous alternating current generator slightly above the frequency of the commercial power on the grid and in a ready condition for input to the critical electric equipment load;

f) said third interrupt contactor, interposed the output of said synchronous alternating current generator and the critical electric equipment load, arrange to close upon interruption of the commercial electric power and opening of said first and second contactors, to allow the kinetic energy in said rotating fly-wheel to drive said synchronous alternating current generator, without further input power from said variable speed drive or said synchronous motor, and pass a regulated alternating current and voltage and a decaying frequency from said synchronous alternating current generator to the load.

2. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 1 wherein said first and said second normally-closed commercial power contactors remain closed and said third interrupt contactor remains open during commercial power input to the load.

3. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 1 wherein said fly-wheel includes a fly-wheel loading of kinetic energy sufficient for the appropriate synchronous alternating current generator to power the critical electric equipment load for a time period needed for an orderly shutdown of the critical equipment upon commercial power outage.

4. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 1 wherein said means for coupling said asynchronous motor to said fly-wheel and said means for coupling said fly-wheel to said synchronous alternating current generator include at least one clutch.

5. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 1 further including a second variable speed drive interposed said first and said second normally-closed commercial power contactors and the critical electric equipment load for rectifying the incoming alternating current, from the commercial power grid or said synchronous alternating current generator, to direct current and then inverting the direct current to a frequency-specific alternating current for powering the critical electric equipment load.

6. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 5 wherein said second variable speed drive obtains commercial power from the grid during normal operations of commercial power.

7. An emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid, comprising:

a) a first variable speed drive with input from said commercial power grid;

b) a second variable speed drive interposed in series with the commercial power grid and the critical electric equipment load;

c) an asynchronous motor powered from said first variable speed drive for tuning a fly-wheel attached thereto to build and maintain a level of expendable kinetic energy in said fly-wheel;

d) means for coupling said fly-wheel to a synchronous alternating current generator for driving said generator in a no-load, standby condition;

e) first and second normally-closed commercial power contactors, for opening and isolating the commercial power grid and for opening and isolating said first variable speed drive upon commercial power interruption, and a third, normally-open interrupt contactor;

f) a computer processor controller interconnected said first, second, and third contactors, said first variable speed drive, and said synchronous alternating current generator, for maintaining the frequency of alternating current output from said synchronous alternating current generator slightly above the frequency of the commercial power on the grid and in a ready condition for input to said second variable speed drive to provide clean, conditioned power to the critical electric equipment load;

g) said third interrupt contactor, interposed the output of said synchronous alternating current generator and the input of said second synchronous drive, arranged to close upon interruption of the commercial electric power and opening of said first and second contactors, to allow the kinetic energy in said rotating fly-wheel to drive said synchronous alternating current generator, without further input power from said first variable speed drive or said synchronous motor, and pass a regulated alternating current and voltage and a decaying frequency from said synchronous alternating current generator to said second variable speed drive for input to the critical electric equipment load,

h) wherein the input feed line of said second interrupt contactor, interposed said synchronous alternating current generator and said second variable speed drive, is separate from the input feed line of said power grid so that, power from said rotating fly-wheel drives said synchronous alternating current generator and produces a regulated alternating current and a decaying frequency from said synchronous alternating current generator to said second variable speed drive for supplementing the commercial power to the load.

8. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 7 wherein said first and second normally-closed commercial power contactors, for opening and isolating the commercial power grid and for opening and isolating said variable speed drive upon commercial power interruption, and a third interrupt contactor, remain closed during commercial power input to the load and open during outage of the commercial power and when said third interrupt contactor remains open during commercial power input to the load and closes during outage of the commercial power.

9. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 7 wherein said fly-wheel includes a fly-wheel loading of sufficient kinetic energy sufficient for the appropriate synchronous alternating current generator, the critical electric equipment load, and the time required for an orderly shutdown of the equipment upon commercial power outage.

10. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 7 wherein said means for coupling said asynchronous motor to said fly-wheel and means for coupling said fly-wheel to said synchronous alternating current generator includes a mechanical clutch.

11. An emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid, comprising:

a) a first variable speed drive in parallel with the critical electric equipment load;

b) a second variable speed drive interposed the commercial power grid and the critical electric equipment load;

c) a first asynchronous motor powered from said first variable speed drive for turning a fly-wheel attached thereto to ramp-up and maintain a level of expendable kinetic energy in said fly-wheel;

d) means for coupling said fly-wheel to a first synchronous alternating current generator for driving said generator in a no-load, standby condition;

e) a second asynchronous motor coupled to a second synchronous alternating current generator, in combination, and interposed said second variable speed drive and the critical electric equipment load;

f) computer processor control means interconnected said first and second variable speed drives, said synchronous alternating current generator, said second asynchronous motor/second synchronous alternating current generator combination, and an emergency contactor for maintaining the frequency of alternating current output from said synchronous alternating current generator slightly above the frequency of the commercial power on the grid and in a ready condition for input to said second variable speed drive;

g) said emergency contactor, interposed the output of said first synchronous alternating current generator and said second variable speed drive, and arranged for closing upon the sagging or outage of incoming grid power to the critical electric equipment load, allows the kinetic energy in said rotating fly-wheel to drive said first synchronous alternating current generator and produces a separate decaying alternating current frequency from said first synchronous alternating current generator to said second variable speed drive and through said second asynchronous motor/synchronous generator combination for supplementing the sag or outage of power from the commercial power grid to the load.

12. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 11 further including a first grid input interrupt contactor interposed the power grid and the critical electric equipment load that remains closed during commercial power input to the load and that opens during outage of the commercial power and when said emergency contactor closes.

13. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 11 wherein said fly-wheel includes a fly-wheel loading of sufficient kinetic energy sufficient for said appropriate synchronous alternating current generator, the critical electric equipment load, and the time required for an orderly shutdown of the equipment upon commercial power outage.

14. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 11 wherein said coupling between said second asynchronous motor and said second synchronous generator is a mechanical clutch.

15. An emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid, comprising:

a) a first variable speed drive in parallel with the critical electric equipment load;

b) a second variable speed drive interposed in series with the commercial power grid and the critical electrical equipment load and separately from said first synchronous alternating current generator;

c) a first asynchronous motor powered from said first variable speed drive for turning a fly-wheel attached thereto to ramp-up and maintain a level of expendable kinetic energy in said fly-wheel;

d) means for coupling said fly-wheel to a first synchronous alternating current generator for driving said first generator in a no-load, standby condition;

e) a second asynchronous motor coupled to a second synchronous alternating current generator, in combination, and interposed said second variable speed drive and the critical electric equipment load; and

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f) computer processor control means interconnected said first and second variable speed drives, said first synchronous alternating current generator, said second motor/generator combination and an emergency contactor for maintaining the frequency of alternating current output from said first synchronous alternating current generator slightly above the frequency of the commercial power on the grid and in a ready condition for input to said second variable speed drive and to the critical equipment load; and

,

g) the input line of said emergency contactor, interposed the output of said first synchronous alternating current generator and said second variable speed drive, is separate from the input line of said power grid so that, power from said rotating fly-wheel drives said first synchronous alternating current generator and produces a separate decaying alternating current frequency from said first synchronous alternating current generator to said second variable speed drive and through said second asynchronous motor—

synchronous generator combination for providing clean conditioned power with total isolation from the commercial power grid supplementing the sag or outage of power from the commercial power grid to the load.

16. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 15 further including a first grid input interrupt contactor interposed the power grid and the critical electric equipment load that remains closed during commercial power input to the load and that opens during interruption of the commercial power and when said emergency contactor closes.

17. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 15 wherein said fly-wheel includes a fly-wheel loading of sufficient kinetic energy sufficient for the appropriate synchronous alternating current generator, the critical electric equipment load, and the time required for an orderly shutdown of the equipment upon commercial power failure.

18. An emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid, of comprising:

a) a first variable speed drive in parallel with the critical electric equipment load,

b) a second variable speed drive interposed in series with the commercial power grid and the critical electric equipment load;

c) a first asynchronous motor powered from said first variable speed drive for turning a fly-wheel attached thereto to ramp-up and maintain a level of expendable kinetic energy in said fly-wheel;

d) means for coupling said fly-wheel to a first synchronous alternating current generator for driving said generator in a no-load, standby condition;

e) a second asynchronous motor coupled to a second synchronous alternating current generator, in combination, and interposed said second variable speed drive and the critical electric equipment load;

f) a prime mover including means for coupling said prime mover to said second asynchronous motor/second synchronous alternating current generator combination; and

,

g) a computer processor interconnected said first and second variable speed drives, said first synchronous alternating current generator, said second asynchronous motor/second synchronous alternating current generator combination, said prime mover, and an emergency contactor for maintaining the frequency of alternating current output from said first synchronous alternating current generator slightly above the frequency of the commercial power on the grid and in a ready condition for input to said second variable speed drive;

h) wherein, said emergency contactor, interposed the output of said first synchronous alternating current generator and said second variable speed drive, is arranged to close upon the sagging or outage of incoming grid power to the critical load and allow the kinetic energy in said rotating fly-wheel to drive said first synchronous alternating current generator and produce a decaying alternating current frequency from said synchronous alternating current generator to said second variable speed drive for supplementing the sag or outage in the commercial power grid to the load for a period sufficient to allow said prime mover to start and come up to a speed necessary to couple with said second asynchronous motor and provide lasting supplemental power to the load.

19. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 18 further including a first grid input interrupt contactor interposed the power grid and the critical electric equipment load that remains closed during commercial power input to the load and that opens during outage of the commercial power and when said emergency contactor closes.

20. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 18 wherein said fly-wheel includes a fly-wheel loading of sufficient kinetic energy sufficient for the appropriate synchronous alternating current generator, the critical electric equipment load, and the time required for an orderly shutdown of the equipment upon commercial power failure.

21. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 18 wherein said means for coupling said fly-wheel to said synchronous alternating current generator is a clutch.

22. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 18 wherein the power grid feed and the feed from said first synchronous generator into said second variable speed device are separate.

24. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 18 wherein said fly-wheel includes a fly-wheel loading of sufficient kinetic energy sufficient for the appropriate synchronous alternating current generator, the critical electric equipment load, and the time required for an orderly shutdown of the equipment upon commercial power outage.

23. An emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid, comprising:

a) a variable speed drive in parallel with the critical electric equipment load;

b) an asynchronous motor powered from said variable speed drive for turning a fly-wheel attached thereto to build and maintain a level of expendable kinetic energy in said fly-wheel;

c) means for coupling said fly-wheel to a synchronous alternating current generator for driving said generator in a no-load, standby condition;

d) a prime mover including means for coupling said prime mover to said synchronous alternating current generator;

e) computer processor control means interconnected said variable speed drive, said synchronous alternating current generator, and an emergency contactor for maintaining the frequency of alternating current output from said synchronous alternating current generator slightly above the frequency of the commercial power on the grid and in a ready condition for use with the critical equipment load; and

,

f) an emergency generator contactor interposed the output of said synchronous alternating current generator and the critical equipment load, to allow the kinetic energy in said rotating fly-wheel to drive said synchronous alternating current generator, without further input power from said variable speed drive, and produce a decaying alternating current voltage and frequency from said synchronous alternating current generator to the load for a period sufficient to allow said prime mover to start and to come up to a speed necessary to couple with said synchronous generator and provide lasting supplemental power to the load.

25. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 23 wherein said means for coupling said fly-wheel to said synchronous alternating current generator is a clutch.

26. The emergency supplemental power supply for outage protection of critical electric equipment load powered from a commercial power grid of claim 23 wherein the power grid feed and the feed from said first synchronous generator into said second variable speed device are separate.