Methods and apparatus for providing and distributing standby power

• US 8,670,872 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Neil, Ziegler, William, Colucci, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US13/185,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/297, 361/193, 307/70, 307/73, 307/76
• 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 power distribution system for distributing power from a first power source and a-second power source to a load, the power distribution system comprising:

a first input to receive input power from the first power source;

a second input to receive input power from the second power source;

an output that provides output power from at least one of the first power source and the second 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 in a first mode of operation to provide an open transfer of power at the output from the first power source to the second power source, and in a second mode of operation to provide a closed transfer of power from the first power source to the second power source;

wherein the first power source is a generator, wherein the power distribution system is configured to receive a DC voltage from a battery of the generator, and wherein power for the controller is derived from the DC voltage from the battery.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein each of the first switch and the second switch is a multi-mode switch having at least three operational states, and wherein the controller is configured to control switching of the first switch and the second switch between the at least three operational states.

3. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein each of the first switch and the second switch has an open position and a closed position, and wherein the controller is configured in the second mode of operation to control the first switch to switch from the closed position to the open position a predetermined period of time greater than zero after the second switch is switched from the open position to the closed position.

4. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the first power source provides voltage having a voltage waveform with a first voltage level and a first frequency, and the second power source 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 system when the first voltage level is approximately equal to the second voltage level.

5. The power distribution system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to change the source of output power for the system when both the first voltage level and the second voltage level are approximately zero.

6. The power distribution system of claim 1, further comprising an input to receive an emergency power off signal, and wherein the controller is configured to switch both the first switch and the second switch to an open position upon receipt of the emergency power off signal.

7. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive data related to operational status of the generator and to control the first switch and the second switch based on the data.

8. The power distribution system of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure, and wherein the first switch, the second switch and the controller are mounted within the enclosure.

9. A power distribution system for distributing power from a first power source and a-second power source to a load, the power distribution system comprising:

a first input to receive input power from the first power source;

a second input to receive input power from the second power source;

an output that provides output power from at least one of the first power source and the second 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 in a first mode of operation to provide an open transfer of power at the output from the first power source to the second power source, and in a second mode of operation to provide a closed transfer of power from the first power source to the second power source;

wherein the controller is configured to receive UPS data related to operational status of at least one uninterruptible power supply and to control the first switch and the second switch based on the UPS data;

wherein the second power source is a generator, and wherein the output includes a plurality of outputs, at least one of which is configured to provide power to the generator.

10. A method for distributing power from a first power source and a second power source to a load, the method including:

receiving input power at a first switch from the first power source;

providing power to the load from the first switch;

receiving input power at a second switch from the second power source;

controlling the first switch and the second switch to provide a closed transfer of power at the output from the first switch and the second switch such that the first switch and the second switch are simultaneously in a closed position;

wherein the second power source is a generator, and wherein the method further includes receiving a DC voltage from a battery of the generator, and powering a controller for the first switch and the second switch from the DC voltage from the battery.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising controlling the first switch to switch from the closed position to an open position a predetermined period of time greater than zero after the second switch is switched from an open position to the closed position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first power source provides voltage having a voltage waveform with a first voltage level and a first frequency, and the second power source 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 load when the first voltage level is approximately equal to the second voltage level.

13. The method of claim 12, 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.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving data related to operational status of the generator and controlling the first switch and the second switch based on the data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data related to operational status of the generator includes a fuel level of the generator, and wherein the method further includes determining a run time of the generator based on the fuel level.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the first switch and the second switch includes controlling the first switch and the second switch using a controller, and wherein the method further comprises manually operating the first switch and the second switch to transfer a source of power at the load from the first power source to the second power source.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising using a controller, controlling transfer of power at the load from the first power source to the second power source using an interlock scheme that prevents both the first switch and the second switch from simultaneously being in a closed position.