Distributed power delivery system

• US 7,155,320 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gee, Mikel
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US09/683,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/297, 307/18, 307/21, 307/29, 307/38, 307/59, 307/64, 307/65, 307/68, 307/85, 307/66, 307/86
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/66 one of the loads acting as master and the other or others acting as slaves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A method for supplying power includes supplying power to at least one critical device, supplying power to at least one essential device, and remotely removing power to the essential device while maintaining power to the critical device.

Claims

1. A method for supplying power, said method comprising:

supplying power to at least one critical device;

supplying power to at least one essential device;

remotely removing power to the at least one essential device while maintaining power to the at least one critical device, wherein said remotely removing power comprises remotely discontinuing power on receiving an instruction via the Ethernet to remotely remove power;

storing power supplied by at least one of a generator and a utility power source in an energy storage system when a supply of power to the at least one essential device is discontinued; and

resuming supply of power to the at least one essential device upon determining that power supplied by the generator and an uninterrupted power supply is returned to a level.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein remotely removing power comprises remotely removing power to the at least one essential device while maintaining power to the at least one critical device based on remotely monitoring the supplied power to the at least one critical device and the supplied power to the at least one essential device.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising:

capturing a waveform for the power supplied to the at least one critical device; and

capturing a waveform for the power supplied to the at least one essential device.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storing power comprises storing power with a flywheel energy storage system when a supply of power to the at least one essential device is discontinued.

4. A method for supplying power, said method comprising:

supplying power to at least one critical device;

supplying power to at least one essential device;

remotely removing power to the at least one essential device while maintaining power to the at least one critical device, wherein said remotely removing power comprises remotely discontinuing power on receiving an instruction via the Ethernet to remotely remove power and comprises remotely removing power to the at least one essential device while maintaining power to the at least one critical device based on remotely monitoring the supplied power to the at least one critical device and the supplied power to the at least one essential device;

storing power in a storage device when a supply of power to the at least one essential device is discontinued;

capturing a waveform for the power supplied to the at least one critical device;

capturing a waveform for the power supplied to the at least one essential device;

logging data relating to the power supplied to the at least one critical device;

logging data relating to the power supplied to the at least one essential device; and

trending the data relating to the power supplied to the at least one critical device, the data relating to the power supplied to the at least one essential device, and the captured waveforms to determine when to remove power from the at least one essential device.

6. An energy management system comprising:

a generation module including at least one of a utility power source and a generating power source;

a first set of at least one power distribution unit remote from said generation module and communicatively coupled to said generation module, wherein at least one of said at least one power distribution unit in the first set is connected to at least one essential device;

a master control system remote from said generation module and said at least one power distribution unit in the first set, said master control system communicatively coupled to said generation module and said at least one power distribution unit in the first set;

an energy storage system configured to store power supplied by at least one of said utility power source and said generating power source when said at least one power distribution unit in the first set discontinues supplying power to the at least one essential device; and

a programmable logic controller configured to direct said at least one power distribution unit in the first set to resume supply of power to the at least one essential device upon determining that power supplied by said generation module is returned to a level.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said generation module comprises at least two power sources, said master control system configured to remotely monitor and diagnose said at least two power sources.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said system further comprises a second set of at least two power distribution units remote from said generation module and communicatively coupled to said generation module, at least one of said at least two power distribution units within the second set connected to at least one critical device, said master control system configured to remotely monitor said generation module and instruct said at least one power distribution unit in the first set connected to the at least one essential device to stop supplying power to the at least one essential device.

9. A system in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a conditioning module communicatively coupled to said generation module and said master control system, said master control system configured to remotely condition power from said generation module.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said generation module comprises at least two power sources, said master control system configured to remotely manage which of the at least two power sources provides power.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least two power sources comprises said utility power source and said generating power source.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a flywheel energy storage system coupled to at least one of said at least two power sources.

13. A system in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a flywheel energy storage system coupled to said generation module.

14. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said generation module comprises at least two power sources, said master control system configured to remotely manage which of the at least two power sources provides power to said at least one power distribution unit within the first set and said at least two power distribution units within the second set.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said at least two power sources comprises said utility power source and said generating power source.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a flywheel energy storage system coupled to at least one of said at least two power sources.

17. A system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising an uninterrupted power supply.

18. An energy management system comprising:

a generation module comprising at least two power sources comprising a generator and a utility power source;

at least two power distribution units remote from said generation module and communicatively coupled to said generation module, at least one of said power distribution units connected to at least one critical device, remaining of said power distribution units connected to at least one essential device;

a master control system remote from said generation module and said power distribution units, said master control system communicatively coupled to said generation module and said power distribution units, said master control system configured to remotely monitor said generation module and instruct the remaining of said power distribution units connected to the at least one essential device to stop supplying power to the at least one essential device;

an energy storage system configured to store power supplied by at least one of said generator and said utility power source when the remaining of said power distribution units connected to the at least one essential device is not supplying power to the at least one essential device; and

a programmable logic controller configured to direct at least one of the remaining of said power distribution units to resume supply of power to the at least one essential device upon determining that power supplied by said generating module is returned to a level.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said master control system configured to remotely monitor said generation module using a plurality of programmable logic controllers (PLC'"'"'s).