Managing power feeds through waveform monitoring

• US 9,692,231 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Huyen Van
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/020,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20150074431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 700292
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/16 The load or loads being an Information and Communication Technology [ICT] facility
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/0073 for providing alternative feeding paths between load and source when the main path fails, e.g. transformers, busbars
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof

Abstract

Managing power feeds includes monitoring a waveform of a high-voltage power feed supplied to an electrical load to detect potential interruption of the high-voltage power feed and switching to another power feed to supply power to the electrical load in response to identifying the waveform pattern. Monitoring a waveform includes processing the waveform to determine if one or more waveform patterns are present in the waveform. A waveform pattern indicates, by its presence in a waveform of a power feed, a power event associated with the power feed, and some waveform patterns indicate potential interruption of the power feed. Switching to another power feed in response to determining potential interruption of the power feed based on waveform monitoring enables an uninterrupted power supply.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a data center configured to operate based on a supply of low-voltage power;

an electrical substation electrically coupled to the data center, the electrical substation comprising;

a transformer configured to step down high-voltage power into low-voltage power supplied to the data center, and

at least one switching device configured to selectively route high-voltage power to the transformer from one of a primary utility power source and an alternate utility power source; and

a power waveform monitoring system configured to;

monitor at least a primary waveform associated with high-voltage power received from the primary utility power source for a first waveform pattern indicating potential interruption of high-voltage power received from the primary utility power source, and monitor an alternate waveform associated with the alternate utility power source for an alternate waveform pattern indicating potential interruption of high-voltage power from the alternate utility power source;

in response to identifying the first waveform pattern while monitoring the primary waveform without identifying the alternate waveform pattern while monitoring the alternate waveform, direct the switching device to switch from selectively routing high-voltage power from the primary utility power source to selectively routing high-voltage power from the alternate utility power source, such that switching occurs prior to an interruption of high voltage power from the primary utility power source, and further such that operations of the data center are uninterrupted due to the switching; and

in response to identifying the first waveform pattern and identifying the alternate waveform pattern indicating potential interruption of high-voltage power from the primary utility power source and from the alternate utility power source, determine whether the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the primary utility power source and the alternate utility power source is associated with an interruption duration such that an uninterruptible power source can supply backup power during the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the primary utility power source and the alternate utility power source by expending less than a predetermined fraction of uninterruptible power source capacity, and in response to determining that the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the primary utility power source and the alternate utility power source is associated with the interruption duration, isolate the data center from both the primary utility power source and the alternate utility power source and supply low-voltage power to the data center from the uninterruptible power source.

2. The system of claim 1, the power waveform monitoring system further configured to:

subsequent to the switching and in response to identifying a second waveform pattern in the primary waveform, the second waveform pattern indicating uninterrupted receipt of high-voltage power, direct the switching device to switch from selectively routing high-voltage power from the alternate utility power source to selectively routing high-voltage power from the primary utility power source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data center and the electrical substation are controlled by a common entity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power waveform monitoring system is further configured to:

in response to determining that the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the primary utility power source and the alternate utility power source is not associated with the interruption duration, direct another switching device to switch from forwarding either of the primary utility power source and the alternate utility power source to forwarding a backup power feed supplied by a backup power device.

5. A system comprising:

at least one computing device comprising;

a waveform analysis module configured to;

monitor a first waveform associated with high-voltage power received from a first high-voltage power feed to identify a first waveform pattern that indicates potential interruption of high voltage power from at least the first high-voltage power feed of a plurality of high-voltage power feeds received at an electrical substation, wherein the electrical substation transforms at least one of the plurality of high-voltage power feeds to a low-voltage power output supplied to a low-voltage power load of a data center, and

monitor a second waveform associated with high-voltage power received from a second high-voltage power feed of the plurality of high-voltage power feeds to identify a second waveform pattern indicating potential interruption of high-voltage power from the second high voltage power feed; and

a control module configured to;

in response to identification by the waveform analysis module of the first waveform pattern while monitoring the first waveform without identification of the second waveform pattern while monitoring the second waveform, direct a switching device to switch from selectively routing high-voltage power from the first high-voltage power feed to selectively routing high-voltage power from the second high-voltage power feed, such that switching occurs prior to an interruption of high-voltage power from at least the first high voltage power feed, and further such that operations of the data center are uninterrupted due to the switching; and

in response to identifying the first waveform pattern and identifying the second waveform pattern indicating potential interruption of high-voltage power from the first high-voltage power feed and from the second high-voltage power feed, determining whether the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed is associated with an interruption duration such that an uninterruptible power source can supply backup power to the low-voltage power load during the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed by expending less than a predetermined fraction of uninterruptible power source capacity, and in response to determining that the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed is associated with the interruption duration, isolate the low-voltage power load from both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed and supply low-voltage power to the low-voltage power load from the uninterruptible power source.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein, to identify the first waveform pattern, the waveform analysis module is configured to determine a correlation between the first waveform of at least the first high-voltage power feed and pattern identification data associated with at least one known power event.

7. The system of claim 6 comprising a waveform pattern recognition module configured to:

monitor both performance of at least the first high-voltage power feed and the first waveform associated with at least the first high-voltage power feed, wherein monitoring performance includes identifying an occurrence of at least one known power event in the first high-voltage power feed and monitoring the first waveform includes identifying at least the first waveform pattern; and

based at least in part on the monitoring, establish at least an association between the at least first waveform pattern and the at least one known power event; and

in response to establishing the association, establish pattern identification data configured to correlate the first waveform pattern with the at least one known power event.

8. The system of claim 7, the waveform pattern recognition module further configured to:

based at least in part on the monitoring, establish associations between a plurality of known waveform patterns and the at least one known power event; and

establish a standardized pattern identification data associated with the at least one known power event, wherein the standardized pattern identification data is developed based at least in part on the plurality of known waveform patterns.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the waveform analysis module is configured to continuously monitor waveforms of at least some of the plurality of high-voltage power feeds.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to respond to identification, by the waveform analysis module, of a subsequent waveform pattern associated with the first waveform of at least the first high-voltage power feed, wherein, to respond to the identification, the control module is configured to direct at least a part of the electrical substation to switch from transforming at least the second high-voltage power feed to transforming at least the first high-voltage power feed.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the control module is further configured to:

in response to determining that the potential interruption of high-voltage power from both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed is not associated with the interruption duration, direct another switching device to switch from forwarding either of the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed to forwarding a backup power feed supplied by a backup power device.

12. A method, comprising:

performing, by at least one computing device;

determining potential interruption of a first high-voltage power feed based on monitoring a first waveform associated with the first high-voltage power feed for a first waveform pattern that indicates the potential interruption of the first high-voltage power feed;

in response to the determined potential interruption of the first high voltage power feed, directing a first switching device to switch from forwarding the first high-voltage power feed to forwarding a second high-voltage power feed;

determining potential interruption of both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed based on monitoring both the first waveform associated with the first high-voltage power feed for the first waveform pattern and monitoring a second waveform associated with the second high-voltage power feed for a second waveform pattern that indicates a potential interruption of the second high-voltage power feed; and

in response to determining the potential interruption of both feeds, determining whether the potential interruption of both feeds is associated with an interruption duration, such that an uninterruptible power source can supply backup power during the potential interruption of both feeds by expending less than a predetermined fraction of power supply capacity associated with the uninterruptible power source; and

in response to determining that the potential interruption of both feeds is associated with the interruption duration, isolating downstream low-voltage loads from both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed and supplying low-voltage power to the low-voltage loads from the uninterruptible power source.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining potential interruption of a particular one of a plurality of high-voltage power feeds based upon monitoring a plurality of waveforms, wherein each of the plurality of waveforms is associated with a separate one of the plurality of high-voltage power feeds; and

in response to determining potential interruption of the particular one of a plurality of high-voltage power feeds, directing the first switching device to switch from forwarding the particular one high-voltage power feed to forwarding an alternate high voltage power feed of the plurality of high-voltage power feeds, wherein the alternate high-voltage power feed is selected based upon a comparison of relative performances of the plurality of high-voltage power feeds.

14. The method of claim 12, determining potential interruption of the first high-voltage power feed comprising:

identifying the first waveform pattern in the first waveform; and

associating the first waveform pattern with a power interruption event indicating potential high-voltage power feed interruption based upon a correlation between the first waveform pattern and data associated with the power interruption event.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising:

in response to determining stability of the first high-voltage power feed, based on monitoring the first waveform, directing the first switching device to switch back to forwarding the first high-voltage power feed, wherein

determining stability of the first high-voltage power feed comprises identifying a third waveform pattern associated with high-voltage power feed stability in the first waveform.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to determining potential interruption of both the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed:

in response to determining that the potential interruption of both feeds is not associated with the interruption duration, directing a second switching device to switch from forwarding either of the first high-voltage power feed and the second high-voltage power feed to forwarding a backup power feed supplied by a backup power device.

17. The method of claim 12 comprising:

identifying the first waveform pattern in the first waveform associated with the first high-voltage power feed;

associating the first waveform pattern with a power disturbance event indicating unstable high-voltage power feed receipt based upon a correlation between the first waveform pattern and data associated with the power disturbance event; and

in response to the associating, maintaining a forwarding of the first high-voltage power feed and initializing a backup power device into a standby state for a period of time, the backup power device configured to supply a backup power feed.