Welding system having a power grid interface
First Claim
1. A welding system comprising:
- a welding power supply comprising power conversion circuitry configured to receive power from a power grid and to convert the power received from the power grid to welding power suitable for a welding operation, wherein the welding power supply comprises;
a power generation device configured to produce electrical power for the welding operation;
a grid interface configured to communicate data to a grid-side monitor or controller in one or more components of an energy producer or distributor and to receive data from the grid-side monitor or controller; and
control circuitry coupled to the grid interface and configured to control operation of the power conversion circuitry based at least partially upon the data received from the grid-side monitor or controller, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to apply generated or stored power from the power generation device to the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Welding system and method permit exchange of data with Smart Grid monitors and/or controllers. The welding systems include a welding power supply configured to convert power between the power grid and the welding power supply. A grid interface cooperates with control circuitry to transmit data to and/or from the grid monitors and/or controllers on the grid side. The control circuitry may control operation of the welding power supply based upon data from the grid. The system may include power generation devices (e.g., engine-drive generators) and energy storage devices (e.g., batteries). The control circuitry may control operation of such devices, the exchange of power between them, and the draw of power from the grid or the application of power to the grid based upon the data exchanged with the grid monitors and/or controllers.
55 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A welding system comprising:
a welding power supply comprising power conversion circuitry configured to receive power from a power grid and to convert the power received from the power grid to welding power suitable for a welding operation, wherein the welding power supply comprises; a power generation device configured to produce electrical power for the welding operation; a grid interface configured to communicate data to a grid-side monitor or controller in one or more components of an energy producer or distributor and to receive data from the grid-side monitor or controller; and control circuitry coupled to the grid interface and configured to control operation of the power conversion circuitry based at least partially upon the data received from the grid-side monitor or controller, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to apply generated or stored power from the power generation device to the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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8. A welding system comprising:
a welding power supply comprising power conversion circuitry configured to receive power from a power grid and to convert the power received from the power grid to welding power suitable for a welding operation, wherein the welding power supply comprises; a grid interface configured to communicate data to a grid-side monitor or controller in one or more components of an energy producer or distributor and to receive data from the grid-side monitor or controller; at least one of a power generation device configured to produce electrical power for the welding operation or an energy storage device configured to store energy for use by the welding operation; and control circuitry coupled to the grid interface and to the at least one of the power generation device or the energy storage device, and configured to control operation of the power conversion circuitry and the at least one of the power generation device or the energy storage device based at least partially upon the data received from the grid-side monitor or controller, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to apply generated or stored power from the at least one power generation device or the energy storage device to the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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12. A welding system comprising:
a welding power supply comprising power conversion circuitry configured to receive power from a power grid and to convert the power received from the power grid to welding power suitable for a welding operation, wherein the welding power supply comprises; a grid interface configured to communicate data to a grid-side monitor or controller in one or more components of an energy producer or distributor and to receive data from the grid-side monitor or controller; a power generation device configured to produce electrical power for the welding operation and an energy storage device configured to store energy for use by the welding operation; and control circuitry coupled to the grid interface, to the power generation device, and to the energy storage device, and configured to control operation of the power conversion circuitry, the power generation device, and the energy storage device based at least partially upon the data received from the grid-side monitor or controller, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command the welding power supply to apply generated or stored power from the power generation device or the energy storage device to the power grid based at least partially upon data received from the grid-side monitor or controller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
Specification