Multiphase electrical power construction and assignment at minimal loss

• US 8,774,977 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stem, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Lynn, Reineccius, Stacey
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US13/339,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 700/287, 700/292, 700/295, 700/297, 324/76.52, 324/76.77
• US Class Current: 700/292
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 5/00 Systems for regulating electric variables by detecting deviations in the electric input to the system and thereby controlling a device within the system to obtain a regulated output
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/26 Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/50 Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks

Abstract

In a multiphase electrical power construction and assignment, a processor: determines a phase and voltage configuration for bi-directional power device pairs; determines a given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to a given phase connection based on the configuration; determines whether the given bi-directional power devices in the given bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to each other; confirms that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections; couples the given bi-directional power device pair to the given phase connections, where power signals of the given bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal of the given phase connection; and in response to determining that the given bi-directional power devices are to be coupled to each other, couples each of the bi-directional power devices to a short bus.

Claims

1. A method for multiphase electrical power construction and assignment comprises:

(a) determining a phase and voltage configuration for a plurality of bi-directional power device pairs by a processor;

(b) determining by the processor at least one of a given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to at least one given phase connection of a plurality of phase connections based on the configuration;

(c) determining by the processor whether the given bi-directional power devices in the given bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to each other;

(d) confirming by the processor that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections;

(e) coupling the given bi-directional power device pair to the at least one given phase connections by the processor, wherein power signals of the given bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal of the at least one given phase connection; and

(f) in response to determining that the given bi-directional power devices are to be coupled to each other, coupling each of the bi-directional power devices to a short bus by the processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the given bi-directional power device pair comprises a given AC power source/load device pair, wherein the determining (b) comprises:

(b1) determining by the processor that at least one of the given AC power source/load device pair is to be connected to at least one target phase;

(b2) determining by the processor whether the given AC source/load devices in the given AC power source/load device pair are to be coupled to each other; and

(b3) placing the given AC power source/load device pair into an idle mode by the processor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a plurality of switches is coupled between the given AC power source/load device pair and the plurality of phase connections, wherein the confirming (d), the coupling (e), and the coupling (f) comprise:

(d1) determining by the processor whether the given AC power source/load device pair is in a connected state;

(d2) in response to determining that the given AC power source/load device pair is in the connected state, issuing a command by the processor to place each of the plurality of switches in an open state;

(d3) confirming by the processor that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state;

(e1) in response to confirming that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state, issuing commands to the given AC power source/load device pair by the processor so that power signals of the given AC source/load device pair will be synchronized with the at least one target phase;

(e2) closing at least one given switch of the plurality of switches corresponding to the at least one target phase by the processor; and

(f1) in response to determining that the AC power source/load devices are to be coupled to each other, closing second given switches of the plurality of switches corresponding to the short bus by the processor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the issuing (e1), the closing (e2), and the closing (f1) comprise:

(e1i) determining by the processor a frequency and zero crossing point of the at least one target phase;

(e1ii) issuing timing and control commands to the given AC power source/load device pair by the processor so that frequencies of the power signals of the given AC source/load device pair will be synchronized with the frequencies of the at least one target phase;

(e2i) issuing a command by the processor to first fixed logics coupled to the plurality of switches to close the at least one given switch corresponding to the at least one target phase at the zero crossing point of the at least one target phase; and

(f1i) issuing a command to second fixed logics coupled to the plurality of switches to close the second given switches corresponding to the short bus by the processor.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(g) confirming by the processor that each of the plurality of switches are in an appropriate state; and

(h) in response to confirming that each of the plurality of switches are in the appropriate state by the processor, instructing the given AC power source/load device pair to begin providing or drawing power.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the coupling (e) further comprises:

(e3) in response to confirming that one of the plurality of switches is not in the open state, issuing a fault by the processor.

7. A computer program product for multiphase electrical power construction and assignment, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code configured to;

determine a phase and voltage configuration for a plurality of bi-directional power device pairs;

determine at least one of a given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to at least one given phase connection of a plurality of phase connections based on the configuration;

determine whether the given bi-directional power devices in the given bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to each other;

confirm that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections;

couple the given bi-directional power device pair to the at least one given phase connections, wherein power signals of the given bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal of the at least one given phase connection; and

in response to determining that the given bi-directional power devices are to be coupled to each other, couple each of the bi-directional power devices to a short bus.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the given bi-directional power device pair comprises a given AC power source/load device pair, wherein the computer readable program code configured to determine that the at least one of the given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to the at least one given phase connection is further configured to:

determine that at least one of the given AC power source/load device pair is to be connected to at least one target phase;

determine whether the given AC source/load devices in the given AC power source/load device pair are to be coupled to each other; and

place the given AC power source/load device pair into an idle mode.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein a plurality of switches is coupled between the given AC power source/load device pair and the plurality of phase connections, wherein the computer readable program code configured to confirm that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections, to couple the given bi-directional power device pair to the at least one given phase connections, and to couple each of the bi-directional power devices to the short bus, are further configured to:

determine whether the given AC power source/load device pair is in a connected state;

in response to determining that the given AC power source/load device pair is in the connected state, issue a command to place each of the plurality of switches in an open state;

confirm that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state;

in response to confirming that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state, issue commands to the given AC power source/load device pair so that power signals of the given AC source/load device pair will be synchronized with the at least one target phase;

close at least one given switch of the plurality of switches corresponding to the at least one target phase; and

in response to determining that that the AC power source/load devices are to be coupled to each other, close second given switches of the plurality of switches corresponding to the short bus.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program code configured to issue commands to the given AC power source/load device pair, to close at least one given switch of the plurality of switches corresponding to the at least one target phase, and to close the second given switches of the plurality of switches corresponding to the short bus, are further configured to:

determine a frequency and zero crossing point of the at least one target phase;

issue timing and control commands to the given AC power source/load device pair so that frequencies of the power signals of the given AC source/load device pair will be synchronized with the frequencies of the at least one target phase;

issue a command to first fixed logics coupled to the plurality of switches to close the at least one given switch corresponding to the at least one target phase at the zero crossing point of the at least one target phase; and

issue a command to second fixed logics coupled to the plurality of switches to close the second given switches corresponding to the short bus.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program code is further configured to:

confirm that each of the plurality of switches are in an appropriate state; and

in response to confirming that each of the plurality of switches are in the appropriate state, instruct the given AC source/load device pair to begin providing or drawing power.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program code configured to couple the given bi-directional power device pair to the at least one given phase connections is further configured to:

in response to confirming that one of the plurality of switches is not in the open state, issue a fault.

13. A system, comprising:

a plurality of power phase connections coupled to a multiphase premise power source;

a plurality of bi-directional power device pairs;

a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of bi-directional power device pairs and the plurality of power phase connections; and

a processor operationally coupled to a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program configured to;

determine a phase and voltage configuration for the plurality of bi-directional power device pairs;

determine at least one of a given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to at least one given phase connection of the plurality of phase connections based on the configuration;

determine whether the given bi-directional power devices in the given bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to each other;

confirm that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections;

couple the given bi-directional power device pair to the at least one given phase connections, wherein power signals of the given bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal of the at least one given phase connection; and

in response to determining that the given bi-directional power devices are to be coupled to each other, couple each of the bi-directional power devices to a short bus.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the bi-directional power device comprises an AC power source/load device, wherein the computer readable program code configured to determine that the at least one of the given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to the at least one given phase connection is further configured to:

determine that at least one of the given AC power source/load device pair is to be connected to at least one target phase;

determine whether the given AC source/load devices in the given AC power source/load device pair are to be coupled to each other; and

place the given AC power source/load device pair into an idle mode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program code configured to confirm that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections, to couple the given bi-directional power device pair to the at least one given phase connections, and to couple each of the bi-directional power devices to the short bus, are further configured to:

determine whether the given AC power source/load device pair is in a connected state;

in response to determining that the given AC power source/load device pair is in the connected state, issue a command to place each of the plurality of switches in an open state;

confirm that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state;

in response to confirming that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state, issue commands to the given AC power source/load device pair so that power signals of the given AC source/load device pair will be synchronized with the at least one target phase;

close at least one given switch of the plurality of switches corresponding to the at least one target phase; and

in response to determining that that the AC power source/load devices are to be coupled to each other, close second given switches of the plurality of switches corresponding to the short bus.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of fixed logics coupled to the plurality of switches and the processor, wherein the computer readable program code configured to issue commands to the given AC power source/load device pair, to close at least one given switch of the plurality of switches corresponding to the at least one target phase, and to close the second given switches of the plurality of switches corresponding to the short bus, are further configured to:

determine a frequency and zero crossing point of the at least one target phase;

issue timing and control commands to the given AC power source/load device pair so that frequencies of the power signals of the given AC source/load device pair will be synchronized with the frequencies of the at least one target phase;

issue a command to first fixed logics coupled to the plurality of switches to close the at least one given switch corresponding to the at least one target phase at the zero crossing point of the at least one target phase; and

issue a command to second fixed logics coupled to the plurality of switches to close the second given switches corresponding to the short bus.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer readable program code is further configured to:

confirm that each of the plurality of switches are in an appropriate state; and

in response to confirming that each of the plurality of switches are in the appropriate state, instruct the AC source/load device pair to begin providing or drawing power.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer readable program code configured to couple the given bi-directional power device pair to the at least one given phase connections is further configured to:

in response to confirming that one of the plurality of switches is not in the open state, issue a fault.