Method and apparatus for preventing overloads of power distribution networks
First Claim
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1. A system for monitoring power in a power distribution system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of power monitoring devices, each located in the power distribution system to measure at least one characteristic of power provided to a respective branch of the power distribution system, and each having an output to provide a value of the characteristic measured; and
a controller having an input to receive the value measured and an output that couples to a first device powered by the branch of the power distribution system to send a power signal to the first device to command the first device to operate at a predetermined percentage of maximum power.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring power in power distribution systems are provided. In one aspect, a system for monitoring power includes a power monitoring device that measures a value of at least one characteristic of power provided to a branch of a power distribution system. The power monitoring device includes an output that provides the value measured. The system further includes a controller having an input to receive the value measured and an output that couples to a first device powered by the branch to send a maximum power signal to the first device to command the first device to operate at a percentage of maximum power.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring power in a power distribution system, the system comprising:
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a plurality of power monitoring devices, each located in the power distribution system to measure at least one characteristic of power provided to a respective branch of the power distribution system, and each having an output to provide a value of the characteristic measured; and
a controller having an input to receive the value measured and an output that couples to a first device powered by the branch of the power distribution system to send a power signal to the first device to command the first device to operate at a predetermined percentage of maximum power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system that has a plurality of circuit branches for providing power to a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
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controlling a first device on a first circuit branch to operate at a predetermined percentage of maximum power;
detecting a first value for a characteristic of power provided to the first circuit branch using a first power monitoring device;
controlling a second device on a second circuit branch to operate at a predetermined percentage of maximum power;
detecting a second value for a characteristic of power provided to the second circuit branch using a second power monitoring device;
adding the first value to the second value to obtain a total value;
comparing the total value to an overload value to detect an overload condition;
indicating an alarm condition when the total value exceeds the overload value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
communicating with the first device and the second device over a first communications network; and
communicating with power detection devices over a second communications network.
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28. The method of claim 26, wherein the power distribution system further includes an uninterruptible power supply, and wherein the method further includes steps of:
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detecting when the uninterruptible power supply is operating in a battery mode; and
controlling at least one of the plurality of devices to operate in a reduced power mode upon detection of the battery mode.
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29. The method of claim 28, further comprising interrupting power to at least one of the plurality of devices upon detection of the battery mode.
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30. The method of claim 29, wherein the power distribution system is at least partially contained within a facility, and wherein the method further includes steps of:
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measuring air temperature at a plurality of locations within the facility;
comparing at least one value of air temperature measured with a predetermined value to detect an over temperature condition; and
controlling at least one of the plurality of devices to operate in a reduced power mode upon detection of the over temperature condition.
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31. The method of claim 30, further comprising interrupting power to at least one of the plurality of devices upon detection of the over temperature condition.
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32. The method of claim 25, wherein the power distribution system is at least partially contained within a facility, and wherein the method further includes steps of:
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measuring air temperature at a plurality of locations within the facility;
comparing at least one value of air temperature measured with a predetermined value to detect an over temperature condition; and
controlling at least one of the plurality of devices to operate in a reduced power mode upon detection of the over temperature condition.
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33. The method of claim 32, further comprising interrupting power to at least one of the plurality of devices upon detection of the over temperature condition.
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34. The method of claim 22, wherein the first device and the second device are controlled to simultaneously operate at the predetermined percentage of maximum level, and the method further comprises steps of:
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measuring the combined maximum power draw for the first circuit branch and the second circuit branch;
and comparing the measured combined maximum draw with the total overload value.
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35. The method of claim 22, wherein the characteristic measured is electrical current.
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36. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
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communicating with the first device and the second device over a first communications network; and
communicating with power detection devices over a second communications network.
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37. The method of claim 22, wherein the predetermined percentage of maximum power is 100 percent.
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38. The method of claim 26, wherein the predetermined percentage of maximum power is 100 percent.
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39. A system for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system that has a plurality of circuit branches for providing power to a plurality of devices, the system including:
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means for controlling each of the plurality of devices to operate at a predetermined percentage of maximum power;
means for detecting a value of a characteristic of power provided to each of the plurality of circuit branches. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification