ADDING AND SHEDDING LOADS USING LOAD LEVELS TO DETERMINE TIMING

• US 20130116847A1
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discovery Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Frampton, Isaac S., Bornemann, Kenneth R., Chiu, Harrison C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,991,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/04 in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 UPS systems or standby or emergency generators

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a method of adding and shedding loads that are connected to a generator. The method includes determining whether a plurality of loads is being supplied with power by the generator and then determining the total load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads. The method further includes determining whether to change a number of the loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load L that is being supplied by the generator. The method further includes determining an amount of time T in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator.

Claims

1. A method of adding and shedding loads that are connected to a generator, the method comprising:

determining whether a plurality of loads is being supplied with power by the generator;

determining the load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads;

determining whether to change a number of the loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator; and

determining an amount of time in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a plurality of loads are being supplied with power by the generator includes monitoring the position of an automatic transfer switch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a plurality of loads are being supplied with power by the generator includes monitoring the generator load.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring the generator load includes measuring the generator operating frequency.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring the generator load includes measuring the generator operating voltage.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring the generator load includes measuring the generator current.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring the generator load includes monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator includes measuring fuel injection time duration within the generator.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator includes measuring the intake manifold pressure within the generator.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator includes measuring a position of a throttle within the generator.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads includes measuring the current that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads includes measuring the generator operating frequency.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads includes measuring the generator operating voltage.

14. The method of claim 1, determining the load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads includes monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator includes measuring fuel injection time duration within the generator.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator includes measuring the intake manifold pressure within the generator.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein monitoring the torque of a prime mover within the generator includes measuring a position of a throttle within the generator.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of time in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator includes increasing the number of loads based on an available load capacity of the generator.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the available load capacity of the generator is a difference between a maximum loading threshold of the generator and a generator load at a particular point in time.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the maximum loading threshold of the generator is adjustable by a user.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the maximum loading threshold of the generator is based on a rating provided by a manufacturer of the generator.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the amount of time to increase the number of loads will increase as the available load capacity decreases.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of time in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator includes decreasing the number of loads based on an overload of the generator.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the overload of the generator is a difference between a generator load at a particular point in time and a maximum loading threshold of the generator.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the maximum loading threshold of the generator is adjustable by a user.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the maximum loading threshold of the generator is based on a rating provided by a manufacturer of the generator.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the amount of time to decrease the number of loads will decrease as the generator overload increases.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of time in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator includes decreasing the number of loads based on generator operating frequency.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the amount of time to decrease the number of loads will decrease as the generator operating frequency decreases.

30. A method of adding and shedding loads that are connected to a generator, the method comprising:

determining whether a plurality of loads is being supplied with power by the generator;

determining the load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads;

determining whether to change a number of the loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator;

changing the number of loads in the plurality of loads; and

determining an amount of time in which to further change the number of loads in the plurality of loads, wherein the amount of time is determined by whether the number of loads increases or decreases during the previous change of the number of loads.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein determining an amount of time in which to further change the number of loads in the plurality of loads includes increasing the amount of time to decrease the number of loads in the plurality of loads when the previous change of the number of loads increased the number of loads.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein determining an amount of time in which to further change the number of loads in the plurality of loads includes decreasing the amount of time to increase the number of loads in the plurality of loads when the previous change of the number of loads increased the number of loads.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein determining an amount of time in which to further change the number of loads in the plurality of loads includes decreasing the amount of time to decrease the number of loads in the plurality of loads when the previous change of the number of loads decreased the number of loads.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein determining an amount of time in which to further change the number of loads in the plurality of loads includes increasing the amount of time to increase the number of loads in the plurality of loads when the previous change of the number of loads decreased the number of loads.