Methods and apparatus for providing and distributing standby power

• US 7,418,314 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Neil, Colucci, David A., Ziegler, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US11/593,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/65, 307/70, 307/73, 307/76, 700/286, 700/297, 361/193
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/018 Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply circuits in H02J9/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• 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

Aspects of the invention are directed to power distribution systems and methods for distributing power from a primary power source and a backup power source to a load. In one particular aspect, a power distribution system includes a first input to receive input power from the primary power source, a second input to receive input power from the backup power source, an output that provides output power from at least one of the primary power source and the backup power source, a first switch operatively coupled to the first input and the output and operative to selectively couple the first input to the output, a second switch operatively coupled to the second input and the output and operative to selectively couple the second input to the output, and a controller operatively coupled to the first switch and to the second switch and configured to control the first switch and the second switch to provide an electrical interlock.

Claims

1. A system for providing control of power to a plurality of devices in a facility, the system comprising:

a facility controller;

a power distribution device having a first input to receive power from a utility power source, a second input to receive power from a backup power source and an output that provides power from at least one of the utility power source and the backup power source, wherein the power distribution device is contained within a housing; and

an uninterruptible power supply coupled to the output of the power distribution device and configured to provide output power derived from one of the utility power source, the backup power source, and a battery power source;

wherein the facility controller is external to the housing of the power distribution device, is coupled to the power distribution device and the uninterruptible power supply using a network, and is configured to receive operational data related to status of the utility power source, the backup power source, and the uninterruptible power supply over the network, and to control distribution of power to the plurality of devices based on the operational data received.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controllable power switch, external to the housing operatively coupled to the facility controller and to the output of the power distribution device, wherein the controllable power switch includes a plurality of power outlets that are controlled based on signals from the facility controller to implement power shedding based on a detection of a loss of utility power.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is an air conditioning unit, and wherein the facility controller is configured to detect a temperature in the facility and control the air conditioning unit based on the temperature detected and an operational state of the utility power and the backup power source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the backup power source is a generator, and wherein the power distribution device includes a controller contained within the housing configured to communicate status of the generator and the utility power to the facility controller.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller of the power distribution device is configured to determine remaining run time of the generator and communicate data regarding the remaining run time to the facility controller.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the power distribution device further includes:

a first switch operatively coupled to the first input and the output and operative to selectively couple the first input to the output; and

a second switch operatively coupled to the second input and the output and operative to selectively couple the second input to the output;

wherein the controller of the power distribution device is operatively coupled to the first switch and to the second switch and configured to control the first switch and the second switch to provide an electrical interlock.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first switch and the second switch has an open position and a closed position, and wherein the controller of the power distribution device is configured to control the first switch to switch from the closed position to the open position, if the second switch is switched from the open position to the closed position.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first switch and the second switch has an open position and a closed position, and wherein the controller of the power distribution device is configured to control the first switch to switch from the closed position to the open position a predetermined period of time after the second switch is switched from the open position to the closed position.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the utility source provides voltage having a voltage waveform with a first voltage level and a first frequency, and the generator provides voltage having a voltage waveform with a second voltage level and a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency, and wherein the controller is configured to change a source of output power for the power distribution device when the first voltage level is approximately equal to the second voltage level.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller of the power distribution device is configured to change the source of output power for the power distribution device when both the first voltage level and the second voltage level are approximately zero.

11. A method for providing control of power to a plurality of devices in a facility from at least one of a utility power source and a generator, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is coupled to an uninterruptible power supply, the method comprising:

coupling the utility power source and the generator to a power distribution device contained within a housing in a facility;

receiving from the power distribution device over a network at a facility controller operational data related to status of the utility power source, the backup power source, and the uninterruptible power supply; and

controlling from the facility controller over the network distribution of power to the plurality of devices based on the operational data received.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling a controllable power switch to implement power shedding based on a detection of a loss of utility power.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is an air conditioning unit, and wherein the method further includes detecting a temperature in the facility and controlling the air conditioning unit based on the temperature detected and an operational state of the utility power and the generator.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining remaining run time of the generator.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising implementing an interlock scheme to limit the application of power at the plurality of devices from both the utility power source and the generator.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein implementing an interlock scheme includes allowing application of power at the plurality of devices from both the utility power source and the generator for a predetermined period of time.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the utility power source provides voltage having a voltage waveform with a first voltage level and a first frequency, and the generator provides voltage having a voltage waveform with a second voltage level and a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency, and wherein the method further comprises changing a source of output power for the plurality of devices when the first voltage level is approximately equal to the second voltage level.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising changing the source of output power for the load when both the first voltage level and the second voltage level are approximately zero.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving an emergency power off signal, and switching off power from both the generator and the utility power source.