Power factor correction using hierarchical context of a power monitoring system
First Claim
1. An automatic power factor correction analysis method, comprising:
- automatically determining a hierarchy of an electrical system, the hierarchy indicating how a number of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) are linked to one another in the electrical system, each of the IEDs monitoring electrical characteristics;
automatically storing a data representation of the hierarchy;
automatically identifying from the automatically determined hierarchy a main IED that is monitoring a main power supply in the hierarchy;
receiving maximum power data from corresponding current and voltage signals monitored by the main IED and an associated power factor that is coincident with the maximum power data;
determining a reactive power value coincident with the maximum power data by receiving the reactive power value from the main IED or by deriving the reactive power value from the maximum power data or from data representing the current and voltage signals and the power factor coincident with the maximum power data; and
calculating, based on the coincident power factor, an amount of positive or negative reactive power to supply to improve the coincident power factor toward a unity value, and, responsive thereto, storing a recommendation indicating at least a location and a size of one or more capacitors to be added in the automatically determined hierarchy for producing at least the amount of the reactive power such that the reactive power value is offset by the amount of the reactive power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Automated power factor correction analysis methods based on an automatically determined hierarchy representing how IEDs and transformers are linked together in an electrical system for reducing a utility bill, releasing capacity to the electrical system, reducing losses, and/or improving voltages. The automatically determined hierarchy places the system elements in spatial context and is exploited by the power factor correction analysis methods to identify power factor correction opportunities. Recommendations are made as to sizing and location of capacitors within the hierarchy where power factor improvements can be achieved. Harmonic distortion levels can be checked first to determine whether safe levels exist for capacitor banks. Recommendations are also checked to avoid leading power factors anywhere in the system due to the addition of capacitor banks. Capacitor bank location is tailored to the end-user'"'"'s goal for power factor correction. Cost savings and payback periods associated with any ameliorative power factor correction activities are also determined.
18 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An automatic power factor correction analysis method, comprising:
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automatically determining a hierarchy of an electrical system, the hierarchy indicating how a number of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) are linked to one another in the electrical system, each of the IEDs monitoring electrical characteristics; automatically storing a data representation of the hierarchy; automatically identifying from the automatically determined hierarchy a main IED that is monitoring a main power supply in the hierarchy; receiving maximum power data from corresponding current and voltage signals monitored by the main IED and an associated power factor that is coincident with the maximum power data; determining a reactive power value coincident with the maximum power data by receiving the reactive power value from the main IED or by deriving the reactive power value from the maximum power data or from data representing the current and voltage signals and the power factor coincident with the maximum power data; and calculating, based on the coincident power factor, an amount of positive or negative reactive power to supply to improve the coincident power factor toward a unity value, and, responsive thereto, storing a recommendation indicating at least a location and a size of one or more capacitors to be added in the automatically determined hierarchy for producing at least the amount of the reactive power such that the reactive power value is offset by the amount of the reactive power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An automatic power factor correction analysis method, comprising:
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automatically determining a hierarchy of an electrical system, the hierarchy indicating how a number of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) are linked to one another in the electrical system, each of the IEDs monitoring electrical characteristics; automatically storing a data representation of the hierarchy; identifying a transformer in the hierarchy; identifying from the automatically determined hierarchy a first IED that is upstream of the transformer; determining a coincident power factor from power data monitored by the first IED; calculating, based on the coincident power factor, a corrected power factor that would release an amount of volt-amps capacity of the transformer to cause the transformer to be loaded at a reduced volt-amps capacity; calculating, based on the amount of volt-amps capacity, a corresponding corrective reactive power value to be supplied by a capacitor bank; and storing a recommendation indicating a size and a location of the capacitor bank, wherein the size is related to the corrective reactive power value and the location is downstream of the transformer in the automatically determined hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An automatic power factor correction analysis method, comprising:
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automatically determining a hierarchy of an electrical system, the hierarchy indicating how a number of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) are linked to one another in the electrical system, each of the IEDs monitoring electrical characteristics; automatically storing a data representation of the hierarchy; receiving a selection of a first of the IEDs; receiving from the first IED power data measured by the first IED; calculating a loss reduction factor as a function of a power factor based on the power data and a desired power factor; calculating a loss reduction improvement value representing an improvement in loss reduction of the electrical system and storing the loss reduction improvement value; calculating a size of one or more capacitors that will correct the power factor to the desired power factor; and storing a recommendation indicating the size of the one or more capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification