Electric power control system and process

• US 9,274,513 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Utilidata, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Utilidata, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US14/201,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/1878 using tap changing or phase shifting transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/30 Reactive power compensation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling electric power supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Measurements of the supplied electricity are detected. Estimated deviant voltage levels that the supplied electricity will not drop below or exceed as a result of varying electrical consumption by the one or more electrical devices is computed based on a predetermined confidence level and the detected measurements. A voltage level output of the electricity supplied to the electrical device is adjusted based on the computed deviant voltage level.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, measurements of electricity supplied to an electrical device via a voltage regulator;

identifying, by the controller, a predetermined confidence level corresponding to a probability distribution indicative of a characteristic of the electricity supplied to the electrical device;

determining, by the controller, a deviant voltage level based on electrical consumption by the electrical device, the measurements, and the predetermined confidence level; and

adjusting, via the controller, a voltage level supplied to the electrical device based on the determination of the deviant voltage level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the controller, from a meter, the measurements of electricity supplied to the electrical device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the voltage level supplied to the electrical device by selecting one of a plurality of tap settings of a voltage regulator.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the deviant voltage level based on varying electrical consumption by the electrical device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a low-pass spectral behavior of one or more observed voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device, with a spectral cutoff frequency consistent with a voltage adjustment decision period.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

estimating a dispersion or variance of each observed voltage level.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

applying weighting factors to the estimated dispersions consistent with configured confidence specifications to estimate a voltage deviation that will not be exceeded with the specified confidence level.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a tap setting and a regulator load voltage of one or more taps of a voltage regulator supplying electricity to the electrical device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

incrementing or decrementing a voltage integrator based on the deviant voltage.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining an amount to increment or decrement the voltage regulator based on a decision boundary corresponding to the deviant voltage level.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device;

determining a forecast minimum voltage for one or more voltages of the voltage time selecting a forecast minimum voltage from the determined forecast minimum voltage for the one or more voltages; and

determining the deviant voltage level based on the selected forecast minimum voltage.

12. A system comprising:

a voltage signal processing circuit configured to receive measurements of electricity supplied to an electrical device via a voltage regulator;

an adjustment decision processing circuit configured to identify a predetermined confidence level corresponding to a probability distribution indicative of a characteristic of the electricity supplied to the electrical device, and determine a deviant voltage level based on electrical consumption by the electrical device, the measurements, and the predetermined confidence level; and

a controller configured to adjust a voltage level supplied to the electrical device based on the determination of the deviant voltage level.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the voltage signal processing circuit is further configured to:

receive, from a meter, the measurements of electricity supplied to the electrical device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

adjust the voltage level supplied to the electrical device by selecting one of a plurality of tap settings of a voltage regulator.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:

determine the deviant voltage level based on varying electrical consumption by the electrical device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:

estimate a low-pass spectral behavior of one or more observed voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device, with a spectral cutoff frequency consistent with a voltage adjustment decision period.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

estimate a dispersion or variance of each observed voltage level.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:

apply weighting factors to the estimated dispersions consistent with configured confidence specifications to estimate a voltage deviation that will not be exceeded with the specified confidence level.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:

determine a tap setting and a regulator load voltage of one or more taps of a voltage regulator supplying electricity to the electrical device.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:

identify a voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device;

determine a forecast minimum voltage for one or more voltages of the voltage time select a forecast minimum voltage from the determined forecast minimum voltage for the one or more voltages; and

determine the deviant voltage level based on the selected forecast minimum voltage.