Multiphase electrical power construction and assignment at minimal loss

• US 9,600,046 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• 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:
  US14/324,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20140324241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 700/287, 700/292, 700/295, 700/297
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 processor-implemented method for coupling power devices to phase connections, the method comprising:

determining a phase and voltage configuration for a bi-directional power device pair;

determining, via a processor, that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional device pair is to be coupled to at least one phase connection included in a plurality of phase connections; and

if the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any phase connection, coupling the at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair to at least one phase connection, wherein one or more power signals associated with the bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal associated with the at least one phase connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional power device pair comprises an alternating current (AC) power source/load device pair, and determining that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled comprises:

determining that at least one device included in the AC power source/load device pair is to be coupled to at least one target phase; and

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

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, via the processor, that the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any phase connections included in the plurality of phase connections wherein determining that the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled comprises:

determining that the AC power source/load device pair is in a connected state;

issuing a command to place each of a plurality of switches coupled between the AC power source/load device pair and the plurality of phase connections in an open state; and

confirming that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, after confirming, issuing one or more commands to the AC power source/load device pair that synchronizes one or more power signals associated with the AC source/load device pair with the at least one target phase.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein issuing one or more commands comprise:

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

issuing one or more timing and control commands to the AC power source/load device pair to synchronize one or more frequencies associated with the one or more power signals associated with the AC source/load device pair with one or more frequencies associated with the at least one target phase.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein issuing one or more timing and control commands further comprises issuing a command to first fixed logic coupled to the plurality of switches to close at least one switch corresponding to the at least one target phase at the zero crossing point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the bi-directional power devices included in the bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to one another, and closing a switch included in a plurality of switches and is associated with a short bus.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after coupling, confirming that each of a plurality of switches coupled between the bi-directional power device pair and the plurality of phase connections is in a desired state; and

in response, instructing the bi-directional power device pair to begin providing or drawing power.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to couple power devices to phase connections, by performing the steps of:

determining a phase and voltage configuration for a bi-directional power device pair;

determining that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional device pair is to be coupled to at least one phase connection included in a plurality of phase connections; and

if the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any phase connection, coupling the at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair to at least one phase connection.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the bi-directional power device pair comprises an alternating current (AC) power source/load device pair, and determining that at least one bi-directional power device included in the bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled comprises:

determining that at least one device included in the AC power source/load device pair is to be coupled to at least one target phase; and

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

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising determining that the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any phase connections included in the plurality of phase connections, wherein determining that the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled comprises:

determining that the AC power source/load device pair is in a connected state;

issuing a command to place each of a plurality of switches coupled between the AC power source/load device pair and the plurality of phase connections in an open state; and

confirming that each of the plurality of switches is in the open state.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising, after confirming, issuing one or more commands to the AC power source/load device pair that synchronizes one or more power signals associated with the AC source/load device pair with the at least one target phase.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein issuing one or more commands comprise:

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

issuing one or more timing and control commands to the AC power source/load device pair to synchronize one or more frequencies associated with the one or more power signals associated with the AC source/load device pair with one or more frequencies associated with the at least one target phase.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein issuing one or more timing and control commands further comprises issuing a command to first fixed logic coupled to the plurality of switches to close at least one switch corresponding to the at least one target phase at the zero crossing point.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising determining that the bi-directional power devices included in the bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to one another, and closing a switch included in a plurality of switches and is associated with a short bus.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

after coupling, confirming that each of a plurality of switches coupled between the bi-directional power device pair and the plurality of phase connections is in a desired state; and

in response, instructing the bi-directional power device pair to begin providing or drawing power.

17. A system, comprising:

a bi-directional power device pair that includes a first bi-directional power device and a second bi-directional power device;

a plurality of switches configured to couple the bi-directional power device pair to a plurality of phase connections; and

a processor configured to execute program code and, upon executing, perform the steps of;

determining a phase and voltage configuration for the bi-directional power device pair,

determine that the first bi-directional power device is to be coupled to at least one phase connection included in the plurality of phase connections based on the phase and voltage configuration,

determining that the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any phase connections included in the plurality of phase connections, and

after determining that the bi-directional power device pair is not coupled, coupling the first bi-directional power device to at least one phase connection, wherein one or more power signals associated with the bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal associated with the at least one phase connection.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the bi-directional power device pair comprises an alternating current (AC) power source/load device pair.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising first fixed logic coupled to the plurality of switches and configured to close at least one switch corresponding to at least one target phase at a zero crossing point of the at least one target phase.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a short bus configured to couple the first bi-directional power device to the second bi-directional power device, wherein, when the first bi-directional power device is coupled to the second bi-directional power device via the short bus, the first bi-directional power device and the second bi-directional power device operate in series.