Control distribution transformer and method of making same

• US 8,340,833 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hershey, John Erik, Hartman, Michael James, King, Robert Dean, Zinser, Richard Louis, Ross, John Anderson Fergus, Dell'Anno, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/751,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295, 700/296
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communications module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convey the first low voltage electricity along a low voltage line to an electrical device. The communications module is configured to transmit a load reduction request along the low voltage line to the electrical device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a distribution transformer comprising a communications module, the distribution transformer configured to;

convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity;

convey the first low voltage electricity along a low voltage line to an electrical device;

receive a second low voltage electricity from the low voltage line, wherein the second low voltage electricity is provided by the electrical device;

convert the second low voltage electricity to a second high voltage electricity; and

convey the second high voltage electricity to the high voltage distribution line;

wherein the communications module is configured to transmit a load reduction request along the low voltage line to the electrical device

wherein the communications module is further configured to transmit time of day information and geographic information along the low voltage line to the electrical device, and wherein the geographic information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer;

wherein the distribution transformer further comprises a global positioning module configured to calculate the geographic location of the distribution transformer;

wherein the global positioning module is further configured to determine a difference between the calculated geographic location and a verified geographic location of the distribution transformer; and

wherein the distribution transformer is further configured to wirelessly broadcast a geographic correction based on the difference.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising the electrical device, wherein the electrical device is a load balancing module configured to:

convey electrical power from the distribution transformer to a plurality of additional electrical devices;

independently control power conveyed to each of the plurality of electrical devices;

receive the load reduction request transmitted along the low voltage line; and

reduce power to at least one of the plurality of electrical devices in response to reception of the load reduction request.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the distribution transformer further comprises a radiation sensor configured to detect nuclear radiation.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power line communication (PLC) module configured to receive a transmit command transmitted along the high voltage distribution line, wherein the transmission of the load reduction request along the low voltage line is carried out by the PLC module in response to reception of the transmit command.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a load sensing module configured to:

determine a load on the distribution transformer; and

compare a value of the load to a threshold value.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the transmission of the load reduction request is based on the comparison of the value of the load to the threshold value.

7. A method of manufacturing an electrical system comprising:

assembling a distribution transformer capable of stepping down high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line and conveying stepped down electricity along a low voltage line to power an electrical device, wherein the distribution transformer comprises a global positioning module, and wherein the high voltage distribution line is configured to transfer a higher voltage electricity than the low voltage line; and

coupling a communications module to the distribution transformer and to the low voltage line, and configuring the communications module to;

convey a request along the low voltage line to the electrical device, wherein the request is a request to reduce a load drawn from the distribution transformer by the electrical device;

receive low voltage electricity from the electrical device on the low voltage line;

convert the low voltage electricity to a high voltage electricity;

convey the high voltage electricity to the high voltage distribution line; and

transmit time of day information and geographic information along the low voltage line to the electrical device, wherein the geographic information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer;

configuring the global positioning module to calculate the geographic location of the distribution transformer and to determine a difference between the calculated geographic location and a verified geographic location of the distribution transformer; and

configuring the distribution transformer to wirelessly broadcast a geographic correction based on the difference.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising assembling the electrical device comprising a load balancing module capable of reducing a load drawn on the distribution transformer.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising assembling the electrical device comprising a load balancing module configured to:

receive the request;

independently control power conveyed to a plurality of additional electrical devices and supplied via the distribution transformer; and

reduce power conveyed to at least one electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices based on the request.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein assembling the communications module further comprises assembling the communications module configured to convey local time information and geographic location information along the low voltage line to the electrical device, wherein the geographic information comprises a geographic location of the distribution transformer.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein assembling the communications module comprises assembling a power line communications (PLC) module configured to convey the request along the low voltage line to the electrical device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein assembling the PLC module further comprises assembling the PLC module configured to send information received from the electrical device to a party of interest via the high voltage distribution line.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a distribution transformer configured to;

step down electricity received from a high voltage distribution power line;

provide the stepped down electricity to an electrical device via a low voltage power line;

step up electricity received from the electrical device via the low voltage power line; and

provide the stepped up electricity to the high voltage power line;

a communications system coupled to the distribution transformer and configured to transmit a request along the low voltage line to the electrical device, wherein the request is a request to reduce a load on the distribution transformer;

wherein the communications module is further configured to transmit time of day information and geographic information along the low voltage line to the electrical device, wherein the geographic information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer;

wherein the distribution transformer further comprises a global positioning module configured to calculate the geographic location of the distribution transformer;

wherein the global positioning module is further configured to determine a difference between the calculated geographic location and a verified geographic location of the distribution transformer; and

wherein the distribution transformer is further configured to wirelessly broadcast a geographic correction based on the difference.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the distribution transformer comprises a processor configured to:

determine if a load on the distribution transformer is greater than or equal to a threshold level; and

initiate the transmsission of the request if the load on the distribution transformer is greater than or equal to the threshold level.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the communications system is further configured to receive a transmit command from a remote source, wherein the transmission of the request is based on reception of the transmit command.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the communications system is configured as one of a wired communications system configured to receive the transmit command via the high voltage distribution line and a wireless communications system configured to receive the transmit command wirelessly.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the communications system is configured to transmit temperature data along the high voltage distribution power line to a party of interest, and wherein the temperature data is representative of the temperature of the distribution transformer.

18. A system comprising:

a distribution transformer comprising a communications module, the distribution transformer configured to;

convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity;

convey the first low voltage electricity along a low voltage line to an electrical device;

transmit time of day information and geographic information along the low voltage line to the electrical device;

wherein the communications module is configured to transmit a load reduction request along the low voltage line to the electrical device;

wherein the geographic information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer;

wherein the distribution transformer further comprises a global positioning module configured to;

calculate the geographic location of the distribution transformer; and

determine a difference between the calculated geographic location and a verified geographic location of the distribution transformer; and

wherein the distribution transformer is further configured to wirelessly broadcast a geographic correction based on the difference.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising the electrical device, wherein the electrical device is a load balancing module configured to:

convey electrical power from the distribution transformer to a plurality of additional electrical devices;

independently control power conveyed to each of the plurality of electrical devices;

receive the load reduction request transmitted along the low voltage line; and

reduce power to at least one of the plurality of electrical devices in response to reception of the load reduction request.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising a power line communication (PLC) module configured to receive a transmit command transmitted along the high voltage distribution line, wherein the transmission of the load reduction request along the low voltage line is carried out by the PLC module in response to reception of the transmit command.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising a load sensing module configured to:

determine a load on the distribution transformer; and

compare a value of the load to a threshold value.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the transmission of the load reduction request is based on the comparison of the value of the load to the threshold value.