Thermostat device with line under frequency detection and load shedding capability

• US 7,242,114 B1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cannon Technologies, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cannon Technologies, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Cannon, Joel R., Cox, Robert, Ockert, William R., Allmaras, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/824,825
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 307/29, 307/30, 307/31, 307/129, 361/96, 361/78
• US Class Current: 307/129
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/52 The controlling of the operation of the load not being the total disconnection of the load, i.e. entering a degraded mode or in current limitation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/54 according to a pre-established time schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• 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 detecting line under frequency (LUF) events and initializing load shedding of loads located near the electrical disturbance without customer and utility intervention is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the LUF detection system measures the time period of each power line cycle and then compares the measured time period to a utility-configurable trigger period. If the cycle length is greater than or equal to the trigger period, a counter is incremented. If the cycle is less than the trigger period, the counter is decremented. If the counter is incremented to a counter trigger, an under-frequency condition is detected and the LUF response either controls the load or temporarily disconnects it. A restore response is initialized after the frequency rises above a restore value and an under-frequency counter counts down to zero.

Claims

1. A method of responding to an under frequency event in an electrical delivery system that provides power to an electrical appliance, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a time period of each power line cycle of a power source;

comparing the measured time period to a trigger period,

if a cycle time period is greater than or equal to the trigger period, an under frequency counter is incremented,

if the cycle time period is less than the trigger period, the under frequency counter is decremented;

detecting an under frequency condition and initializing the line under frequency (LUF) response when the counter is incremented to a counter trigger level; and

initializing a restore response after the frequency rises above a restore valve that triggers the under frequency counter to count down until it reaches zero, thereafter indicating that the under frequency event has ceased.

2. The method of claim 1, after the step of detecting an under frequency condition further comprising the step of measuring the time period of the power line cycle while in a state of under frequency;

comparing the measured time period of the under frequency line to a restore period,

if the under frequency cycle time period is greater than or equal to the restore period, the counter is incremented,

if the under frequency cycle time period is less then the restore period, the counter is decremented.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of incrementing the under frequency counter if the under frequency counter is less than the counter trigger level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the LUF response comprises the step of controlling the load.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the LUF response comprises the step of temporarily disconnecting the load from the power source.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the restore response comprises the step of restoring all loads powered by the electrical delivery system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing a restore response further comprises initiating an out response when the under frequency counter reaches zero.

8. A system for responding to an under frequency event in an electrical delivery system that provides power to an electrical appliance, the system comprising:

means for measuring a time period of each power line cycle of a power source;

means for comparing the measured time period to a trigger period,

if a cycle time period is greater than or equal to the trigger period, an under frequency counter is incremented,

if the cycle time period is less than the trigger period, the under frequency counter is decremented;

means for detecting an under frequency condition and initializing the line under frequency (LUF) response when the counter is incremented to a counter trigger level; and

means for initializing a restore response after the frequency rises above a restore value that triggers the under frequency counter to count down until it reaches zero, thereafter indicating that the under frequency event has ceased.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein time measuring means is also adapted to measure the under frequency power line and comparing means is also adapted to compare the measured time period and with a restore period to determine if the power line is out of an under frequency state.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein means for initializing the LUF response is adapted to control the load or temporarily disconnect the load from the power source when the counter is incremented to the counter trigger level.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein mean for initializing the restore response is adapted to initiate an out response when the under frequency counter reaches zero.