Power grid remote access

• US 9,535,481 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HDT Expeditionary Systems, Inc. (HDT Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Electric Company (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Vaum, Christopher J., Frohman, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/772,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/287, 700/290, 700/291, 307/20, 307/21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/58 The condition being electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/06 Controlling transfer of power between connected networks; Controlling sharing of load between connected networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

The techniques described herein include for forming a power grid array with multiple power generators coupled to a power distribution unit. The power distribution unit is adapted to monitor operational data from each of the power generators to perform load balancing among the generators and to optimize the performance of the power grid array. A microgrid network is also provided within the power grid array to enable communication among the power distribution unit and the multiple generators in the array. This communication facilitates monitoring of the power grid as well as receiving and storing the operational data from each of the generators in the grid. The microgrid network can then be used to communicate the operational data over one or more connected networks allowing users to remotely access the power grid and to monitor and control the operational characteristics of the generators.

Claims

1. A method of using a power distribution unit, the method comprising:

forming a microgrid network for a power grid array having a plurality of power generators coupled with a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the microgrid network provides a means of communication among the plurality of power generators in the array, and wherein the PDU includes a display device;

requesting operational data from at least one of the plurality of power generators, the operational data including at least one of oil pressure data, water temperature data, or fuel level data;

receiving the operational data from the at least one of the plurality of power generators;

storing the operational data received from the at least one of the plurality of power generators in a memory of the computer of the power distribution unit;

formatting the operational data in a predetermined format;

generating a graphical interface on the display device, the graphical interface including the formatted operational data;

communicating the operational data over a network via a network port coupled with the computer for remote monitoring from a data processing device of a user; and

performing load balancing among the plurality of power generators based on the operational data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the microgrid network is coupled with the network port using a hardwire connection or a wireless router for remote access.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the microgrid network is accessed via a wireless network to view or download the operational data wirelessly from the user'"'"'s data processing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network port exposes the operational data as a web server that can be accessed on the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network port is implemented as a grid monitoring Ethernet connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network port is further adapted to receive commands for controlling the generators from the user'"'"'s data processing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the microgrid network is accessed using an Internet Protocol address of the power grid array.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer of the power distribution unit is accessed by its Internet Protocol address.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer of the power distribution unit is accessible to users without preloading any software onto the user'"'"'s data processing device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processing device of the user is a mobile computer or mobile communications device.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein load balancing includes increasing an amount of power a first power generator of the plurality of power generators contributes to the electrical load based on the operational data from a second power generator of the plurality of power generators, wherein the electrical load is shared between the plurality of power generators.

11. A power distribution unit comprising:

a plurality of inputs adapted to receive power from a plurality of power generators coupled together in a power grid array, wherein the plurality of power generators share an overall electrical load of the power grid array;

a plurality of outputs corresponding to the plurality of inputs to provide power to the electrical load;

a built-in computer configured to;

monitor the power grid array and to

request, receive, and store operational data from each of the plurality of power generators, wherein the operational data includes at least one of oil pressure data, water temperature data, or fuel level data; and

perform load balancing among the plurality of power generators based on the operational data; and

a network port coupled with the computer and adapted to communicate the operational data over a network for remote monitoring from a data processing device of a user.

12. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the plurality of power generators forms a micro-gird network that provides a means of communication among the computer and the plurality of power generators in the power grid array.

13. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the microgrid network is coupled with the network port for remote access using a hardwire connection or a wireless router.

14. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the microgrid network is accessed via a wireless network to view or download the operational data wirelessly from the user'"'"'s data processing device.

15. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the network port exposes the operational data as a web server that can be accessed on the Internet.

16. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the network port is implemented as a grid monitoring Ethernet connection.

17. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the network port is further adapted to receive commands remotely from the user'"'"'s data processing device.

18. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the microgrid network is accessed using an Internet Protocol address of the power grid array.

19. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the computer of the power distribution unit is accessed by its Internet Protocol address.

20. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the computer of the power distribution unit is accessible to users without preloading any software onto the user'"'"'s data processing device.

21. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the data processing device of the user is a mobile computer or mobile communications device.

22. A method of remote monitoring of a power grid array, the method comprising:

monitoring the power grid array from a user'"'"'s data processing device, wherein the power grid array comprises a plurality of power generators coupled with a power distribution unit;

accessing a microgrid network communicatively coupled with the power grid from the user'"'"'s data processing connected to the power distribution via a network connection;

receiving operational data at the user'"'"'s data processing device from each of the plurality of power generators within the microgrid network over the network, the operational data including at least one of oil pressure data, water temperature data, or fuel level data;

communicating commands for controlling one or more functions of the power generators coupled with the microgrid network from the user'"'"'s data processing device over the network connection; and

performing load balancing among the plurality of power generators based on the operational data.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the microgrid network is coupled with the network port of the power distribution unit by a hardwire connection or a wireless router for remote access.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the microgrid network provides a means of communication among the plurality of power generators in the array.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the microgrid network is accessed via a wireless network to view or download the operational data wirelessly from the user'"'"'s data processing device.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the network port exposes the operational data as a web server that can be accessed on the Internet.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the microgrid network is accessed using an Internet Protocol address of the power grid array.