Power asset command and control architecture

• US 9,965,016 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Power Supply AD
• Original Assignee: International Power Supply AD
• Inventors: Trifonov, Stoil Rangelov, Rangelov, Filip Stoilov, Rangelov, Alexander Stoilov
• Primary Examiner(s): VON BUHR, MARIA N
• Application Number:
  US15/065,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20170262037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system and method embodiments for a power tracking and control architecture. An embodiment operates by compiling a data telegram, wherein the data telegram comprises a plurality of blocks; sending, by a first communication path of the controller, the data telegram to a second tier of the tiered network, wherein at least one power asset of the second tier of the tiered network is configured to update a power profile according to at least one block of the data telegram; and receiving, by a second communication path of the tiered network, an update from the at least one power asset of the second tier of the tiered network.

Claims

1. A power management control system comprising:

a plurality of power assets arranged in a tiered network having a tree architecture, wherein each power asset of the plurality of power assets comprises a first signal line communicatively coupled with a first communication path of the tiered network and a second signal line communicatively coupled with a second communication path of the tiered network, wherein each power asset of the plurality of power assets is configured to perform communication via at least one of its respective first signal line and its respective second signal line, wherein the communication comprises at least one of sending and receiving at least one data telegram;

a first tier comprising a first controller power asset configured to output transmit a power profile data telegram via the first communication path, the power profile data telegram configured to communicate a desired electrical power characteristic of an output of at least one power generation source communicatively coupled with the plurality of power assets in the tiered network;

a second tier comprising a first power asset configured to;

receive, via the first communication path, the power profile data telegram;

ascertain a present location and role of the first power asset within the tiered network, in response to receiving, via the first communication path of the tiered network, an indication of a malfunctioning power asset of the plurality of power assets, wherein the role of the first power asset comprises at least one power asset type, wherein the at least one power asset type identifies the first power asset as being configured to perform at least one of storing electrical charge, controlling electrical charge, regulating electrical power output, rectifying electrical power output, and inverting electrical power output;

adjust an electrical power characteristic of the output of the at least one power generation source according to the desired electrical power characteristic in the power profile communicated by the power profile data telegram, in response to the indication of the malfunctioning power asset of the plurality of power assets; and

report, via the second communication path of the tiered network, an updated power profile to the first tier; and

a third tier comprising a second power asset configured to receive, via the first communication path of the tiered network, the power profile data telegram from the second tier.

2. The system of claim 1, the first power asset of the second tier further configured to:

convert the output of the at least one power generation source to a current load type according to the power profile data telegram.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power profile data telegram comprises data relating to an electrical current requirement for a plurality of loads.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of loads comprises at least one alternating-current load and at least one direct-current load.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of loads require a plurality of electrical current requirements.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power assets comprises at least one hot-swappable module.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the hot-swappable module is configured to perform at least one of storing electrical charge, controlling electrical charge, regulating electrical power output, rectifying electrical power output, and inverting electrical power output.

8. The system of claim 1, the first power asset further configured to adjust the electrical power characteristic of the output of the power generation source according to at least one environmental condition comprising solar irradiance or air mass.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the malfunctioning power asset has been at least one of deactivated, disabled, disconnected, or malfunctioned.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the indication is an alert.

11. In a tiered network comprising a controller and a plurality of power assets arranged in a tree architecture, wherein each power asset of the plurality of power assets comprises a first signal line communicatively coupled with a first communication path of the tiered network and a second signal line communicatively coupled with a second communication path of the tiered network, wherein each power asset of the plurality of power assets is configured to perform communication via at least one of its respective first signal line and its respective second signal line, wherein the communication comprises at least one of sending and receiving at least one data telegram, a system comprising:

in a first power asset of a second tier of the tiered network, at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to;

receive, via the first communication path, a power profile data telegram, wherein the power profile data telegram is configured to communicate a desired power characteristic of an output of at least one power generation source;

ascertain a present location and role of the first power asset within the tiered network, in response to receiving, via the first communication path of the tiered network, an indication of a malfunctioning power asset of the plurality of power assets, wherein the role of the first power asset comprises at least one power asset type, wherein the at least one power asset type identifies the first power asset as being configured to perform at least one of storing electrical charge, controlling electrical charge, regulating electrical power output, rectifying electrical power output, and inverting electrical power output;

adjust the output of the at least one power generation source to the desired power characteristic according to the power profile data telegram, in response to the indication of the malfunctioning power asset, received via the first communication path of the tiered network;

report, via the second communication path of the tiered network, an updated power profile to the first tier of the tiered network; and

send, by the first communication path of the tiered network, the power profile data telegram to a third tier of the tiered network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, to adjust the output, the at least one processor is further configured to:

change a power characteristic of a load connected to the power generation source according to the power profile data telegram.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the data telegram comprises an electrical current requirement for a plurality of loads comprising at least one alternating-current load and at least one direct-current load.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the power profile data telegram comprises data relating to a power requirement of a power storage.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of power assets comprises any combination of at least one of a charge controller, a charge storage device, a power rectifier, a power inverter, a power regulator, or a power controller.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of power assets comprises at least one hot-swappable module.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the power generation source comprises at least one photovoltaic element.

18. The system of claim 11, the first power asset further configured to adjust the electrical power characteristic of the output of the power generation source according to at least one environmental condition comprising solar irradiance or air mass.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the role further comprises at least one power profile sent to the at least one power asset from the controller.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the malfunctioning power asset has been at least one of deactivated, disabled, disconnected, or malfunctioned.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the indication is an alert.

22. In a tiered network comprising a controller in a first tier of the tiered network and a plurality of power assets arranged in a tree architecture, wherein each power asset of the plurality of power assets comprises a first signal line communicatively coupled with a first communication path of the tiered network and a second signal line communicatively coupled with a second communication path of the tiered network, wherein each power asset of the plurality of power assets is configured to perform communication via at least one of its respective first signal line and its respective second signal line, wherein the communication comprises at least one of sending and receiving at least one data telegram, a method comprising:

compiling a power profile data telegram, wherein the power profile data telegram comprises a plurality of blocks;

sending, via the first communication path of the tiered network, the power profile data telegram from the first tier to a second tier of the tiered network, wherein a first power asset of the second tier of the tiered network is configured to update a power profile according to at least one block of the power profile data telegram, wherein the power profile comprises at least one updated electrical power characteristic of the first power asset of at least one further tier other than the first tier of the tiered network;

ascertaining a present location and role of the first power asset within the tiered network, in response to the indication of a malfunctioning power asset of the plurality of power assets; and

adjusting the output of the power generation source to the updated electrical power characteristic according to the power profile data telegram, in response to an indication, received by the first communication path of the tiered network, of the malfunctioning power asset of the plurality of power assets;

receiving, via the second communication path of the tiered network, an updated power profile from the first power asset of the second tier of the tiered network.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first power asset of the second tier of the tiered network is further configured to:

send, via the first communication path of the tiered network, the power profile data telegram to a third tier of the tiered network.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first power asset of the second tier of the tiered network comprises a maximum power point tracker.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the update comprises a further update to the power profile, wherein the further update is calculated by the maximum power point tracker in response to the power profile data telegram.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining the tier of a power asset of the tiered network based upon data flows of the first communication path of the tiered network and the second communication path of the tiered network.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one tier of the tiered network comprises a plurality of electrical charge storage devices, wherein the electrical charge storage devices are charged according to at least one block of the power profile data telegram.

28. The method of claim 22, the first power asset further configured to adjust the electrical power characteristic of the output of the power generation source according to at least one environmental condition comprising solar irradiance or air mass.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the malfunctioning power asset has been at least one of deactivated, disabled, disconnected, or malfunctioned.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the indication is an alert.