Power management system and method of operating the same

• US 8,324,755 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Stair, Kenny J., Batzler, Brandon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fauth, Justen
• Application Number:
  US12/399,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/23
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 UPS systems or standby or emergency generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A power management system connectable to a primary power source and a secondary power source, and a method of operating the power management system. A transfer switch is electrically connected to the primary and secondary power sources, and a plurality of branch circuits are electrically connected to the transfer switch. The plurality of branch circuits includes a plurality of electrical outlets. The system includes a controller wirelessly coupled to a plurality of portable receptacles, which are coupled between respective electrical outlets and managed devices. The controller manages the receptacles, and consequently the managed devices, during the second power source powering the transfer switch.

Claims

1. A load management system for managing a plurality of devices, the plurality of managed devices being connected to a distribution panel via a plurality of branch circuits having a circuit breaker and an electrical outlet, the distribution panel being powered by at least one of utility power and a backup generator, the load management system being connectable to a device controller to control a first managed device, the system comprising:

a portable receptacle electrically connectable in circuit between the electrical outlet and a second managed device, the portable receptacle including

a first antenna,

a switch to electrically couple the electrical outlet to the second managed device; and

circuitry electrically coupling the first antenna and the switch, the circuitry controlling the switch based on a signal received by the first antenna; and

a load management controller connectable to the device controller, the load management controller including a processor, a memory having instructions executable by the processor, and a second antenna coupled to the processor, the processor executing the instructions to receive a control signal from the device controller and to manage the first and second managed devices based on the control signal and a value representing a draw on the generator;

wherein the load management controller includes a second switch electrically connected between the device controller and the first managed device, and wherein the processor manages the first managed device through executing further instructions to initiate a signal to the second switch that at least one of permits and prevents the control signal to the first managed device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first managed device is an air conditioner, and the control signal includes a call for conditioned air.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable receptacle further includes an input, the circuitry further couples to the input, and the circuitry controls the switch further based on a setting received via the input.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the input includes a user-movable switch to set a priority.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the circuitry includes a filter to filter a wireless signal received by the first antenna based on the priority.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor manages the second managed device through executing further instructions to initiate a wireless signal to the portable receptacle via the first antenna, the wireless signal having a parameter based on the priority of the second managed device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor manages the second managed device through executing further instructions to initiate a wireless signal to the portable receptacle via the first antenna.

8. A backup power system for powering a plurality of managed devices connected to a distribution panel via a plurality of branch circuits, the plurality of branch circuits having a circuit breaker and an electrical outlet, the distribution panel being powered by at least one of utility power and a backup generator, a first managed device includes an air conditioner controlled by a thermostat, the system comprising:

a transfer switch electrically connectable to receive power from at least one of the utility power and the generator, the transfer switch electrically connectable in circuit with the distribution panel to provide the power to the distribution panel;

a portable receptacle electrically connectable in circuit between the electrical outlet and a second managed device, the portable receptacle including

a first antenna,

a switch to electrically couple the electrical outlet to the second managed device;

an input, and

circuitry coupling the first antenna, the switch, and the input, the circuitry controlling the switch based on a signal received by the first antenna and a user-defined setting received via the input;

a load management controller connectable to the thermostat, the load management controller including a processor, a memory having instructions executable by the processor, and a second antenna electrically coupled to the processor, the processor executing the instructions to receive a control signal from the thermostat and to manage the first and second managed devices based on the control signal and a value representing a draw on the generator;

wherein the load management controller includes a second switch electrically connected between the thermostat and the first managed device, and wherein the processor manages the first managed device through executing further instructions to initiate a signal to the second switch that at least one of permits and prevents the control signal to the first managed device.

9. A backup power system for powering a plurality of managed devices connected to a distribution panel via a plurality of branch circuits, the plurality of branch circuits having a circuit breaker and an electrical outlet, the distribution panel being powered by at least one of utility power and a backup generator, a first managed device includes an air conditioner controlled by a thermostat, the system comprising:

a transfer switch electrically connectable to receive power from at least one of the utility power and the generator, the transfer switch electrically connectable in circuit with the distribution panel to provide the power to the distribution panel;

a portable receptacle electrically connectable in circuit between the electrical outlet and a second managed device, the portable receptacle including

a first antenna,

a switch to electrically couple the electrical outlet to the second managed device;

an input, and

circuitry coupling the first antenna, the switch, and the input, the circuitry controlling the switch based on a signal received by the first antenna and a user-defined setting received via the input;

a load management controller connectable to the thermostat, the load management controller including a processor, a memory having instructions executable by the processor, and a second antenna electrically coupled to the processor, the processor executing the instructions to receive a control signal from the thermostat and to manage the first and second managed devices based on the control signal and a value representing a draw on the generator;

wherein the input includes a user-movable switch to set a priority.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the circuitry includes a filter to filter a wireless signal received by the antenna based on the priority.

11. A method of managing a plurality of devices of a building with a load management system configured to be powered by a backup generator, the plurality of devices including an air conditioner and a managed device, the air conditioner being controlled by a device controller, the building including a plurality of branch circuits having an electrical outlet, the load management system having a portable receptacle including a first antenna, the portable receptacle being electrically coupled in circuit between the electrical outlet and the managed device, the load management system further having a load management controller including a second antenna, the method comprising:

receiving a call for conditioned air;

monitoring a first value representing a draw on the generator;

obtaining a second value representing an expected draw on the generator by the air conditioner;

determining whether the generator can power the air conditioner based on the second value;

determining whether the generator can power the air conditioner and the managed device based on the first and second values; and

managing the managed device and the air conditioner based on the determinations, the managing step including wirelessly communicating with the portable receptacle via the first antenna and the second antenna;

wherein the plurality of devices includes a second managed device, the load management system includes a second portable receptacle coupled to the second managed device, wherein the portable receptacle includes an identity different from the second portable receptacle, and further comprising;

wherein the wirelessly communicating step includes wirelessly transmitting a signal from the second antenna, wirelessly receiving the signal at the first antenna, and determining whether the signal is intended for the portable receptacle based on the identity.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising:

changing the identity of the portable receptacle.

13. A method of managing a plurality of devices of a building with a load management system configured to be powered by a backup generator, the plurality of devices including an air conditioner and a managed device, the air conditioner being controlled by a device controller, the building including a plurality of branch circuits having an electrical outlet, the load management system having a portable receptacle including a first antenna, the portable receptacle being electrically coupled in circuit between the electrical outlet and the managed device, the load management system further having a load management controller including a second antenna, the method comprising:

receiving a call for conditioned air;

monitoring a first value representing a draw on the generator;

obtaining a second value representing an expected draw on the generator by the air conditioner;

determining whether the generator can power the air conditioner based on the second value;

determining whether the generator can power the air conditioner and the managed device based on the first and second values; and

managing the managed device and the air conditioner based on the determinations, the managing step including wirelessly communicating with the portable receptacle via the first antenna and the second antenna;

and further comprising;

wherein the wirelessly communicating step includes wirelessly transmitting a signal having a parameter associated with an identifier for the portable receptacle, wirelessly receiving the signal at the portable receptacle, and analyzing the signal at the portable receptacle for the parameter.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:

wherein analyzing the signal includes filtering the signal at a defined frequency range associated with the identifier.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising controlling the receptacle based on a control signal in the defined frequency range.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor manages the second managed device through executing further instructions to initiate a wireless signal to the portable receptacle via the first antenna, the wireless signal having a parameter based on the priority of the second managed device.

16. A load management system for managing a plurality of devices, the plurality of managed devices being connected to a distribution panel via a plurality of branch circuits having a circuit breaker and an electrical outlet, the distribution panel being powered by at least one of utility power and a backup generator, the load management system being connectable to a device controller to control a first managed device, the system comprising:

a portable receptacle electrically connectable in circuit between the electrical outlet and a second managed device, the portable receptacle including

a first antenna,

a switch to electrically couple the electrical outlet to the second managed device;

a user-controllable input to set a priority; and

circuitry electrically coupling the first antenna, the user-controllable input, and the switch, the circuitry controlling the switch based on a signal received by the first antenna and further based on a setting received via the user-controllable input; and

a load management controller connectable to the device controller, the load management controller including a processor, a memory having instructions executable by the processor, and a second antenna coupled to the processor, the processor executing the instructions to receive a control signal from the device controller and to manage the first and second managed devices based on the control signal and a value representing a draw on the generator.