Systems and methods for operation of an AC power supply distribution circuit

• US 9,997,913 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tri T
• Application Number:
  US13/373,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,409 Days
• Field of Search: 700286
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/54 according to a pre-established time schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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

Systems and methods for operation of an AC power supply distribution circuit that has a limited supply capacity rely on dynamically measured available load capacity to regulate operation of the AC power supply circuit, and existing and potential loads, to avoid fault or damage.

Claims

1. A supervisory system comprising:

a sensing circuit configured to dynamically determine the available load capacity of an AC power supply circuit downstream of a substation of a high-voltage power transmission and distribution grid, the AC power supply circuit having a limited capacity for supplying power to one or more electrical loads;

a reporting circuit configured to report the dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit;

a controller configured to respond to the reported dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit; and

an input/output communication interface communicatively linking the controller with one or more electrical loads, potential electrical loads, and/or other devices on the AC power supply circuit;

wherein the reporting circuit is configured to send information to a first load or device in a first time period, wait for a second time period, and then send information to a second load or device in a third time period.

2. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to be wired in the AC power supply circuit.

3. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to be wired in a circuit breaker, fuse, or transformer.

4. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the input/output communication interface supports electrical wire, wireless and/or optical communications.

5. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the reporting circuit is further configured to report the dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit and/or the effects of a proposed action by an existing or potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit substantially simultaneously or sequentially to a select group of electrical loads or devices.

6. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit configured to reassess, during the second time period, changes in the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit due to actions by or changes in the first load or device, and then send information to the second load or device in the third time period.

7. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the reporting circuit is configured to send information selectively only to those load(s) or device(s) that request information.

8. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the reporting circuit is configured, while communicating with a set of load(s) or device(s), to transmit “

hold”

messages or a busy signal to other loads or devices.

9. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to dynamically determine the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit at a sequence of time points.

10. The supervisory system of claim 9, wherein the sequence of time points is based on a schedule and/or dynamically measured electrical characteristics of the circuit.

11. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to dynamically determine the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit in response to a request from external source or a present or potential load on the AC power supply circuit.

12. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to determine one or more electrical characteristics of the AC power supply circuit.

13. The supervisory system of claim 12, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to dynamically sample or measure one or more of a voltage, current, frequency, and/or phase characteristic of the AC power supply circuit.

14. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes processing circuits configured to determine the AC power supply circuit load capacity with reference to fuse and/or circuit breaker characteristics.

15. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes a processing circuit configured to determine the AC power supply circuit load capacity with reference to a database, historical data, and/or external input data.

16. The supervisory system of claim 1, further comprising a prediction circuit configured to predict effects of a potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit.

17. The supervisory system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to respond to the reported dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit and the predicted effects of a potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit.

18. The supervisory system of claim 16, wherein the prediction circuit is further configured to determine the tolerable characteristics of the potential electrical load that can be supplied with power by the AC power supply circuit within its safe operating margin.

19. The supervisory system of claim 16, where the prediction circuit is further configured to determine the tolerable characteristics of the potential electrical load that can be supplied with power by the AC power supply circuit within its safe operating margin.

20. The supervisory system of claim 19, wherein the tolerable characteristics of the potential electrical load that can be supplied with power by the AC power supply circuit within its safe operating margin include one or more of an acceptable current, reactance, thermal, and/or frequency characteristic.

21. The supervisory system of claim 20, wherein the reporting circuit is further configured to report the tolerable characteristics of the potential electrical load that can be supplied with power by the AC power supply circuit within the latter'"'"'s safe operating margin to the controller and/or the potential load.

22. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically respond to the reported dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit.

23. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control power draw by individual existing or potential electrical loads.

24. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to deny or postpone connection to a potential electrical load if its operation would exceed the available load capacity of AC power supply circuit.

25. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively drop one or more existing loads to supply power to a potential load having a higher priority.

26. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to schedule actions by the loads to maintain a steady power supply to as many electrical loads as possible without tripping hard circuit breakers.

27. The supervisory system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to preemptively shut down the AC power supply circuit in a planned manner to avoid damage to existing loads or the AC power supply circuit itself if the predicted effects of an action by a load indicate that safe operating margins will be exceeded.

28. A method, comprising:

dynamically determining an available load capacity of an AC power supply circuit downstream of a substation in a high-voltage power transmission and distribution grid, the AC power supply having a limited total capacity for supplying power to one or more electrical loads;

reporting the dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit to one or more present electrical loads, potential electrical loads, and/or other devices connected to the AC power supply circuit; and

controlling operations of one or more components of the AC power supply circuit and/or the existing or potential electrical loads in response to the dynamically available load capacity information;

wherein the reporting includes sending information to a first load or device in a first time period, waiting for a second time period, and then sending information to a second load or device in a third time period.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein determining the dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit includes deploying a sensing circuit wired in the AC power supply circuit.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein reporting the dynamically available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit includes reporting via electrical wire, wireless and/or optical communication links.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the reporting includes sending information selectively only to those load(s) or device(s) that request information.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the reporting includes while communicating with a set of load(s) or device(s) transmitting a “

hold”

message or a busy signal to other loads or devices.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein dynamically determining the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit includes determining the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit in response to a request from external source or a present or potential load on the AC power supply circuit.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein dynamically determining the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit includes determining one or more electrical characteristics of the AC power supply circuit.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein dynamically determining the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit includes predicting effects of a proposed action by an existing or potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the dynamically determining the available load capacity of the AC power supply circuit includes predicting effects of a potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the predicting includes predicting effects of a potential electrical load on the AC power supply circuit includes determining if the effects of the potential electrical load are within a safe margin of operation of the AC power supply circuit.