System for remotely controlling energy distribution at local sites

• US 7,324,876 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yingco Electronic Incorporated
• Inventors: Ying, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US11/012,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700295-296, 337/16
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/02 wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/32 Insulating body insertable between contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/262 involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 involved in a protection system
• 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: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A power management system and associated method includes provision of local wireless energy control units at remote sites for controlling power delivery to customer loads, and a central station with a wireless transmitter for broadcasting commands to the wireless energy control units. The wireless energy control units each comprise a bank of switches for controlling power delivery to electrical loads at each local site. The controllable switches preferably have a deformable bimetal member controlled by a heated coil for engaging and disengaging electrical contacts. Each wireless energy control unit is capable of being pre-configured so as to specify the order or priority in which electrical loads are disengaged, in response to commands to reduce power consumption received from the central station. The central station issues power reduction commands according to different priority levels or alert stages, causing the local wireless energy units to disengage local loads accordingly.

Claims

1. A power management system, comprising:

a plurality of power switch control circuits, each of said power switch control circuits configured to selectively disengage one or more electrical loads;

a plurality of wireless receivers, each connected to one of said power switch control circuits;

at least one wireless transmitter; and

a central station, said central station causing messages to be transmitted by said at least one wireless transmitter to said power switch control circuits, said power switch control circuits responding thereto by disengaging electrical loads according to locally configurable settings;

wherein one or more of said power switch control circuits comprises a set of controllable switches interposed between a power supply line and said plurality of electrical loads;

wherein said controllable switches are switched according to a locally configurable priority to disengage the electrical loads; and

wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member that is normally closed thereby allowing current to flow to the electrical load associated therewith, said bimetal member being deformed by a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in the opening of the controllable switch and stoppage of said current flow.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein said power switch control circuits are located at remote, geographically disparate locations.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein said set of controllable switches of one or more of said power switch control circuits is connected in series with a plurality of circuit breakers, one circuit breaker provided in series connection with a controllable switch for each of said electrical loads, wherein each of said circuit breakers operative independent of its respective controllable switch to break a circuit connection to its electrical load in response to an over-current condition at the electrical load.

4. The power management system of claim 1, wherein each of said power switch control circuits comprises a processor for receiving said messages via its respective wireless receiver, and a memory for storing program instructions for said processor according to which the processor controls said controllable switches, wherein said processor and wireless receiver are located in a common housing with said controllable switches.

5. The power management system of claim 1, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined at least in part by manual switch settings.

6. The power management system of claim 1, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined by programmable parameters stored at each of the power switch control circuits via a local user interface.

7. The power management system of claim 1, wherein said central station causes an early warning message to be transmitted by said wireless transmitter, prior to said messages causing said power switch control circuits to selectively disengage their electrical loads.

8. The power management system of claim 7, wherein one or more of said power switch control circuits comprises a display indicating that said early warning message has been received.

9. The power management system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said power switch control circuits comprises a display indicating whether any of its respective electrical loads have been disengaged.

10. The power management system of claim 1, wherein said power switch control circuits are interposed between power lines from a power utility and said electrical loads, and wherein said power switch control circuits draw operational power from said power lines through a decoupling element.

11. The power management system of claim 10, wherein said decoupling element comprises a capacitor and does not include a transformer.

12. The power management system of claim 10, wherein said decoupling element comprises a transformer.

13. The power management system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said power switch control circuits comprises a local wireless transmitter, and wherein said central station comprises a wireless receiver for receiving transmissions from said one or more of said power switch control circuits, to effectuate bi-directional wireless communication between said central station and said one or more of said power switch control circuits.

14. The power management system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said power switch control circuits comprises a memory for storing historical data regarding the power switch control circuit'"'"'s response to said messages from said central station.

15. The power management system of claim 1, wherein said messages can be targeted to specific groups of said power switch control circuits.

16. The power management system of claim 15, wherein said messages are targeted to specific groups of said power switch control circuits by use of distinct group addresses, frequencies, codes, and/or encoding schemes.

17. A method for power management, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from a central station via a wireless transmitter, messages directed to a plurality of power switch control circuits, each of said power switch control circuits interposed between a power supply line and a plurality of local electrical loads;

receiving said messages at said power switch control circuits; and

at one or more of said power switch control circuits, in response to said messages, disengaging the local electrical loads according to locally configurable settings;

wherein each of said power switch control circuits comprises a set of controllable switches interposed between the power supply line and a local electrical loads, each controllable switch; and

wherein said step of disengaging the local electrical loads according to locally configurable settings comprises the step of disengaging said controllable switches according to a locally configurable priority; and

wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member that is normally closed thereby allowing current to flow to the electrical load associated therewith, said bimetal member being deformed by a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in the opening of the controllable switch and stoppage of the current flow.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said power switch control circuits are located at remote, geographically disparate locations.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said set of controllable switches for at least one of said power switch control circuits is connected in series with a plurality of circuit breakers, one circuit breaker provided for each of the electrical loads.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein each of said power switch control circuits comprises a wireless receiver for receiving said messages from said central station, a processor for interpreting and responding to said messages, and a memory for storing program instructions for said processor according to which the processor controls said controllable switches, wherein said processor and wireless receiver are located in a common housing with said controllable switches.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined at least in part by manual switch settings.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined by programmable parameters stored at each of said power switch control circuits via a local user interface.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of transmitting from said central station, via said at least one wireless transmitter, an early warning message prior to said messages causing said power switch control circuits to selectively disengage their electrical loads.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of displaying at one or more of said power switch control circuits an indication that said early warning message has been received.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of displaying at one or more of said power switch control circuits an indication of which electrical loads, if any, have been disengaged.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein said power switch control circuits are interposed between power lines from a power utility and said electrical loads, and wherein said power switch control circuits draw operational power from said power lines through a decoupling element.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said decoupling element comprises a capacitor and does not include a transformer.

28. The method claim 26, wherein said decoupling element comprises a transformer.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of conducting bi-directional communication between said central station and said one or more of said power switch control circuits, said central station comprising a wireless receiver, and one or more of said power switch control circuits comprising a local wireless transmitter.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of storing, at one or more power switch control circuits having a memory for data storage, historical data regarding the power switch control circuit'"'"'s response to said messages from said central station.

31. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of targeting said messages to specific groups of said power switch control circuits.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said messages are targeted to specific groups of said power switch control circuits by use of distinct group addresses, frequencies, codes, and/or encoding schemes.

33. A method for power management, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from a central station via a wireless transmitter, messages directed to a plurality of power switch control circuits, each of said power switch control circuits interposed, along with an associated series-connected circuit breaker, between a power supply line and a plurality of local electrical loads;

receiving said messages at said power switch control circuits;

at one or more of said power switch control circuits, in response to said messages, disengaging the local electrical loads according to locally configurable settings; and

placing said power switch control circuits in a designated alert stage level, from among a plurality of alert stage levels, in response to at least one of the messages transmitted by said central station;

wherein the circuit breaker is operative independent of the controllable switch to break a circuit connection to the controllable switch'"'"'s electrical load in response to an over-current condition at the electrical load; and

wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member that is normally closed thereby allowing current to flow to the electrical load associated therewith, said bimetal member being deformed by a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in the opening of the controllable switch and stoppage of said current flow.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said alert stage levels are ordered from a lowest alert stage level to a highest alert stage level, and wherein said method further comprises the step of configuring said power switch control circuits, via said locally configurable settings, to disengage more electrical loads at higher alert stage levels than at lower alert stage levels.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of

transmitting, from said central station via said at least one wireless transmitter, a delay period command in connection with at least one of said messages;

and

waiting, at said power switch control circuits, a delay period indicated by said delay period command prior to disengaging said electrical loads.

36. A system for reducing power consumption in a power distribution system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless energy control units, each of said wireless energy control units comprising a wireless receiver and controlling power flow from incoming power wires through a set of circuit breakers to one or more local electrical loads;

at least one wireless transmitter; and

a central station, said central station transmitting messages via said at least one wireless transmitter to said wireless energy control units, said messages instructing said wireless energy control units to switch among a non-alert stage level and a plurality of alert stage levels, said wireless energy control units responding thereto by selectively modifying the power flow to their respective local electrical loads according to the alert stage level instructed by the central station;

wherein each of said energy control units comprises a plurality of controllable switches each interposed, along with a series-connected circuit breaker from said set of circuit breakers, between the power wires and the plurality of local electrical loads, said controllable switches capable of causing said power wires to be individually connected to or disconnected from the plurality of local electrical loads; and

wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member that is normally closed thereby allowing current to flow to the electrical load associated therewith, said bimetal member being deformed by a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in the opening of the controllable switch and stoppage of said current flow.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said wireless energy control units are located at remote, geographically disparate locations.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the controllable switches of one or more of said wireless energy control units are connected in series with a plurality of circuit breakers, one circuit breaker provided for each of the local electrical loads.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein each of said wireless energy control units comprises a processor for interpreting said messages and responding thereto, and a memory for storing program instructions for said processor according to which the processor controls said controllable switches.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein said controllable switches are disengaged according to a locally configurable priority.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined at least in part by manual switch settings.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined by programmable parameters stored at each of the wireless energy control units via a local user interface.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein heating of the bimetal member is caused by heating a resistive coil.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein said central station transmits via said at least one wireless transmitter an early warning message prior to said messages instructing said wireless energy control units to switch among said non-alert stage level and said one or more alert stage levels.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein said alert stage levels are ordered from a lowest alert stage level to a highest alert stage level, and wherein said wireless energy control units can be configured, via said locally configurable settings, to disengage more electrical loads at higher alert stage levels than at lower alert stage levels.

46. The system of claim 36, wherein said central station transmits a delay period command in connection with at least one of said messages, and wherein said wireless energy control units wait for a delay period indicated by said delay period command prior to modifying the power flow to their electrical loads.

47. The system of claim 36, wherein one or more of said wireless energy control units comprises a local wireless transmitter, and wherein said central station comprises a wireless receiver for receiving transmissions from said one or more of said wireless energy control units, to effectuate bi-directional wireless communication between said central station and said one or more of said wireless energy control units.

48. The system of claim 36, wherein said central station can target said messages to specific groups of said wireless energy control units.

49. The system of claim 36, wherein said messages are targeted to specific groups of said wireless energy control units by use of distinct group addresses, frequencies, codes, and/or encoding schemes.

50. The system of claim 36, wherein decisions to switch between said non-alert stage level and said one or more alert stage levels are made by comparing total customer power demand to one or more power usage threshold levels.

51. The system of claim 36 wherein the controllable switches at a local site are collocated in a common housing.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the controllable switches at a local site are collocated with said circuit breakers in a common electrical panel.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the power switch control circuit is controlled by a programmable digital processor in said common housing, and further comprises an associated wireless interface integral with said common housing.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the processor is collocated with the controllable switches in said common housing.

55. A method for reducing power demand within a power distribution system, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from a central station via a wireless transmitter, messages directed to a plurality of wireless energy control units, each of said wireless energy control units controlling power flow from incoming power supply wires to one or more local electrical loads;

receiving said messages at said wireless energy control units, said messages instructing said wireless energy control units to switch among a non-alert stage level and a plurality of different alert stage levels; and

at one or more of said power switch control circuits, in response to said messages, selectively modifying the power flow to the respective local electrical loads based upon the alert stage level instructed by the central station;

wherein each of said energy control units comprises a plurality of controllable switches interposed, along with an associated circuit breaker, between the power wires and the plurality of local electrical loads, said controllable switches capable of causing said power wires to be individually connected to or disconnected from the plurality of local electrical loads;

wherein each circuit breaker is operative independent of the controllable switch to break the circuit connection to its electrical load in response to an over-current condition at the electrical load; and

wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member that is normally closed thereby allowing current to flow to the electrical load associated therewith, and wherein said method further comprises deforming said bimetal member by a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in the opening of the controllable switch and stoppage of said current flow.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said wireless energy control units are located at remote, geographically disparate locations.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the controllable switches of one or more of said wireless energy control units are connected in series with a plurality of circuit breakers, one circuit breaker provided for each of the local electrical loads.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein each of said wireless energy control units comprises a processor for interpreting said messages and responding thereto, and a memory for storing program instructions for said processor according to which the processor controls said controllable switches.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein said step of selectively modifying the power flow to the respective local electrical loads based upon the alert stage level instructed by the central station comprises the step of disengaging said controllable switches according to a locally configurable priority.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined at least in part by manual switch settings.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said locally configurable priority is determined by programmable parameters stored at each of the wireless energy control units via a local user interface.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein heating of the bimetal member is caused by heating a resistive coil.

63. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of transmitting from said central station transmits via said at least one wireless transmitter an early warning message prior to said messages instructing said wireless energy control units to switch among said non-alert stage level and said one or more alert stage levels.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein said alert stage levels are ordered from a lowest alert stage level to a highest alert stage level, and wherein said wireless energy control units can be configured, via said locally configurable settings, to disengage more electrical loads at higher alert stage levels than at lower alert stage levels.

65. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of comparing total customer power demand to one or more power usage threshold levels to arrive at decisions to switch between said non-alert stage level and said one or more alert stage levels.

66. The method of claim 55, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting from said central station to said wireless energy control units, via said at least one wireless transmitter, a delay period command in connection with at least one of said messages;

at said wireless energy control units, waiting for a delay period indicated by said delay period command prior to modifying the power flow to the electrical loads.

67. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of conducting bi-directional communication between said central station and one or more of said wireless energy control units, said central station comprising a wireless receiver, and one or more of said wireless energy control units comprising a local wireless transmitter.

68. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of targeting said messages to specific groups of said wireless energy control units.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said messages are targeted to specific groups of said wireless energy control units by use of distinct group addresses, frequencies, codes, and/or encoding schemes.

70. The method of claim 55 wherein the controllable switches at a local site are collocated in a common housing.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the controllable switches at a local site are collocated with said circuit breakers in a common electrical panel.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein the power switch control circuit is controlled by a programmable digital processor in said common housing, and further comprises an associated wireless interface integral with said common housing.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the processor is collocated with the controllable switches in said common housing.