Power factor correction system

• US 8,330,293 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Brown, David, Weigert, Norman J., Kissel, Gery J., Bellino, George D., Ouwerkerk, David B., Lawrence, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fauth, Justen
• Application Number:
  US12/757,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/48
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00012 using an auxiliary transmission line
• 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 3/18 Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks for adjustment of voltage H02J3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• 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: Y02E 40/30 Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/22 Flexible AC transmission systems [FACTS] or power factor or reactive power compensating or correcting units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

A charging system of the present invention is connectable to a power grid having a monitoring device. The monitoring device monitors the power delivered to a plurality of loads and determines a power factor and a power factor correction value associated with the loads. The power factor correction value indicates the difference between the power factor and unity. The charging system includes an electrical device, a charger in communication with the electrical device, a charging controller, a power factor correction circuit, a communication device, and a controller. The communication device of the charger receives a data signal from the monitoring device indicative of the power factor correction value associated with the plurality of loads. The power factor correction circuit is configured to communicate an input current to and from the power grid, which adjusts the power factor of the associated loads to about unity.

Claims

1. A charging system connectable to a power grid having a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device monitors the power delivered to a plurality of loads and determines a power factor and a power factor correction value associated with the loads, wherein the power factor correction value indicates the difference between the power factor and unity, comprising:

an electrical device;

a charger in communication with the electrical device for supplying power to the electrical device, the charger supplying an output voltage to the electrical device;

a charging controller in communication with the charger and the electrical device, wherein the charging controller calculates a target output signal for charging the electrical device;

a power factor correction circuit selectively connectable to the power grid and configured to communicate an input voltage and an input current to the charger from the power grid, and wherein the power factor correction circuit is configured to communicate the input current from the electrical device to the power grid;

a communication device configured to receive a data signal from the monitoring device wherein the data signal is indicative of the power factor correction value associated with the plurality of loads monitored by the monitoring device; and

a controller in communication with the power correction factor circuit, the communication device, the charging controller, and the charger, wherein the controller includes;

a first control logic for monitoring the input voltage, the input current, the output voltage, the target output signal, and the data signal indicative of the power factor correction value from the communication device;

a second control logic for calculating a target input current that adjusts the power factor to unity, wherein the target input current is dependent on the input voltage and the power factor correction value;

a third control logic for calculating a controller command signal that is communicated to the power factor correction circuit, wherein the controller command signal is based on the target input current, the output voltage and the target output signal; and

a fourth control logic for commanding the power factor correction circuit to change the input current to a value that causes the power factor to change to about unity.

2. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a fifth control logic for calculating an achieved power factor correction of the power grid that is based on the power factor and the power factor correction value, wherein the achieved power factor correction is created by the power factor correction circuit changing the input current to the value that causes the power factor to change to about unity.

3. The charging system of claim 2 wherein the achieved power factor correction indicates the duration and amount of input current communicated to and from the power grid.

4. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the controller command signal is based on a charging mode of the charger.

5. The charging system of claim 4 wherein the charging mode is one of trickle charging, rapid charging, and balancing.

6. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the electrical signals indicating the power factor correction value are one of Broadband Over Power Line (BPL), Power Line Communications (PLC), Fixed Radio Frequency (RF) networks, wireless networks, and public networks.

7. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the monitoring device is one of a smart meter and a utility AMI.

8. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the communication device is configured to receive electrical signals from the monitoring device indicating a relative magnitude of a harmonic distortion current of the power grid.

9. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the controller and the power factor correction circuit are integrated into a single module.

10. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the electrical device is one of a rechargeable NiCd battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, and a lithium ion battery.

11. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the target output signal is one of a target output voltage and a target output current.

12. An electrical system, comprising:

a power grid having a monitoring device and a plurality of loads, wherein the monitoring device monitors the power delivered to the plurality of loads and determines a power factor and a power factor correction value associated with the loads, wherein the power factor correction value indicates the difference between the power factor and unity; and

a charging system connectable to the power grid, comprising;

an electrical device;

a charger in communication with the electrical device for supplying power to the electrical device, the charger supplying an output voltage to the electrical device;

a charging controller in communication with the charger and the electrical device, wherein the charging controller calculates a target output signal for charging the electrical device;

a power factor correction circuit selectively connectable to the power grid and configured to communicate an input voltage and an input current to the charger from the power grid, and wherein the power factor correction circuit is configured to communicate the input current from the electrical device to the power grid;

a communication device configured to receive a data signal from the monitoring device wherein the data signal is indicative of the power factor correction value associated with the plurality of loads monitored by the monitoring device; and

a controller in communication with the power correction factor circuit, the communication device, the charging controller, and the charger, wherein the controller includes;

a first control logic for monitoring the input voltage, the input current, the output voltage, the target output signal, and the data signal indicative of the power factor correction value from the communication device;

a second control logic for calculating a target input current that adjusts the power factor to unity, wherein the target input current is dependent on the input voltage and the power factor correction value;

a third control logic for calculating a controller command signal that is communicated to the power factor correction circuit, wherein the controller command signal is based on the target input current, the output voltage, a charging mode of the charger, and the target output signal; and

a fourth control logic for commanding the power factor correction circuit to change the power factor correction circuit to a value that causes the power factor to change to about unity.

13. The electrical system of claim 12 wherein the controller includes a fifth control logic for calculating an achieved power factor correction of the power grid that is based on the power factor and the power factor correction value, wherein the achieved power factor correction changing the input current to the value that causes the power factor to change to about unity.

14. The electrical system of claim 12 wherein the monitoring device is one of a smart meter and a utility AMI.

15. The electrical system of claim 12 wherein the power grid is a residential utility system.

16. The electrical system of claim 12 wherein the monitoring device of the power grid is in communication with a second power grid including a second monitoring device, wherein the second electrical power system includes a second power factor.

17. The electrical system of claim 16 wherein the power correction factor circuit of the power grid changes the second power factor of the second power grid to be about unity.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of calculating an achieved power factor correction of the power grid based on the power factor and the power factor correction value, wherein the achieved power factor correction is created by the power factor correction circuit changing the input current to the value that causes the power factor to change to about unity.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of basing the controller command signal on a charging mode of the charger.

18. A method of correcting a power factor in a power grid by a charging system, comprising the steps of:

connecting the power grid to the charging system;

monitoring the power delivered to a plurality of loads by a monitoring device of the power grid, wherein the monitoring device determines a power factor and a power factor correction value associated with the loads, and wherein the power factor correction value indicates the difference between the power factor and unity;

transmitting a data signal from the monitoring device to a communication device of the charging system that is configured to receive the data signal, wherein the data signal is indicative of the power factor correction value associated with the plurality of loads monitored by the monitoring device;

delivering an input voltage and an input current to the charging system through a power factor correction circuit and to a charger, wherein the power factor correction circuit is configured to communicate the input current to and from the power grid;

supplying power from the charger to an electrical device, wherein the charger supplies an output voltage to the electrical device, wherein a charging controller that is in communication with the charger and the electrical device calculates a target output signal for charging the electrical device;

monitoring the input voltage, the input current, the output voltage, the target output signal, and the data signal indicative of the power factor correction value from the communication device by a controller;

calculating a target input current by the controller, wherein the target input current adjusts the power factor to unity, and where the target input current is dependent on the input voltage and the power factor correction value;

calculating a controller command signal that is communicated from the controller to the power factor correction circuit, wherein the controller command signal is based on the target input current, the output voltage and the target output signal; and

commanding the power factor correction circuit to cause the power factor correction circuit to change the input current to a value that causes the power factor to change to about unity.