System and method for allocating power to loads

• US 7,514,815 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Deokar, Vishwas Mohaniraj, Donalds, James H., Haines, Lance Palmer, Paik, Nam Wook, Manganese, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wallis; Michael Rutland
• Application Number:
  US10/952,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/66
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/018 Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply circuits in H02J9/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/58 The condition being electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• 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 20/20 End-user application control systems
• 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

A system and method for adaptive control of power among a plurality of loads based on a categorization of the loads as either delayable or non-delayable, wherein the non-delayable loads are preferably supplied power over the delayable loads. In one aspect, the system may be used to allocate limited power from a backup power source.

Claims

1. A system for controlling power to a plurality of loads from a plurality of power sources, wherein at least one of the plurality of power sources is a primary power source and at least one of the power sources is a back-up power source, the system comprising:

a first input to receive power from the primary power source;

a second input to receive power from the back-up power source;

a plurality of outputs to provide output power to the plurality of loads;

a plurality of controllable switches each coupled to the first input, the second input and at least one of the plurality of outputs; and

a controller adapted to control the plurality of controllable switches, wherein the controller is configured to detect a loss of primary power and to control the plurality of controllable switches based on a categorization of the plurality of loads as delayable or non-delayable, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively turn on and off delayable loads based on available power from the back-up power source, and wherein the controller is programmable to set a maximum delay time for each of the delayable loads.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third input to receive power from a second back-up source, and wherein the third input is coupled to at least one of the plurality of controllable switches.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to control the plurality of switches to allocate back-up power to the non-delayable loads before allocating power to the delayable loads.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is adapted to detect an overload condition after a loss of primary power and to control one of the plurality of switches to terminate power to one of the delayable loads.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted to monitor the plurality of loads and to dynamically allocate back-up power to the delayable loads without diverting power from any non-delayable loads.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further adapted to characterize each load in terms of peak power and steady-state power, and to allocate power to each of the plurality of loads based on the peak power and the steady-state power of each load.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured to couple to a generator at the second input and to a UPS at the third input and the controller is configured to categorize at least one of the loads as a UPS only load and to couple the UPS only load to the third input to receive power from the UPS after a loss of primary power.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control output coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to provide output commands at the control output to control a generator.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input coupled to the controller to receive an input from a generator to allow the controller to monitor at least one parameter of the generator.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the output commands includes a command to power down the generator.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communications output coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to provide status of the system at the communications output to allow a remote user to monitor the system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to receive a load type for each of the plurality of loads, and to categorize each load as delayable or non-delayable based on the load type.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further adapted to receive an input from a user to modify a categorization of at least one of the plurality of loads.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to receive a load type for each of the plurality of loads, and wherein the controller is further adapted to set default values for electrical parameters for each load based on the load type.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electrical parameters include a surge power rating and a steady state power rating.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to receive an input from a user to change the default values for the electrical parameters.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to update values of the electrical parameters based on measured values.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the output commands include a command to power up the generator.

20. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted to provide a warning to a user of an existence of an overload condition and to receive an input from a user to change at least one non-delayable load to a delayable load to relieve the overload condition.

21. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured to couple to a generator at the second input and to a UPS at the third input and the controller is configured to detect an overload condition of the UPS and to switch at least one load from the UPS to the generator.

22. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured to couple to a generator at the second input and to a UPS at the third input and the controller is configured to detect an overload condition of the generator and to switch at least one load from the generator to the UPS.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to contain parameters for the plurality of loads and to modify the parameters based on at least one of seasonal changes and inputs from a user.

18. A system for controlling power to a plurality of loads from a plurality of power sources, wherein at least one of the plurality of power sources is a primary power source and at least one of the power sources is a back-up power source, the system comprising:

a first input to receive power from the primary power source;

a second input to receive power from the back-up power source;

a plurality of outputs to provide output power to the plurality of loads;

a plurality of controllable switches each coupled to the first input, the second input and at least one of the plurality of outputs; and

a controller adapted to control the plurality of controllable switches, wherein the controller is configured to detect a loss of primary power and to control the plurality of controllable switches based on a categorization of the plurality of loads as delayable or non-delayable, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively turn on and off delayable loads based on available power from the back-up power source;

wherein the controller is adapted to receive data indicative of power draw by each of the plurality of loads while the plurality of loads are operating from the primary power source, and wherein the controller is adapted to provide a recommendation for a proper type for a back up source for each of the plurality of loads based on the power draw.

24. A system for controlling back-up power to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads including a first group of loads categorized as delayable loads and a second group of loads categorized as non-delayable loads, the system comprising:

a first input to receive power from a primary power source;

a second input to receive power from a first back-up power source;

a plurality of outputs to provide power to the plurality of loads; and

means for controlling the system upon loss of primary power to allocate the back-up power such that non-delayable loads will be powered before delayable loads, including means for selectively turning on and off delayable loads based on available power from the back-up power source, and including means for setting a maximum delay time for each of the delayable loads.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for detecting an overload condition and for terminating power to at least one delayable load to correct the overload condition.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for determining steady state power and peak power for each of the plurality of loads and allocating back-up power based on the steady state power and peak power determined for each of the loads.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of loads is categorized as a UPS only load, and wherein the system further comprises a third input to receive power from a UPS and means for coupling the UPS only load to the third input to receive power from the UPS after a loss of primary power.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for controlling a generator coupled to the second input.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for monitoring a generator coupled to the second input.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the means for controlling the generator include means for issuing a start command to start the generator upon loss of primary power.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the means for controlling the generator include means for issuing a stop command to stop the generator.

32. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for allowing a remote user to monitor and control the system.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for controlling the system includes means for dynamically allocating power to the loads to maximize power draw from the back-up source in a back-up mode without exceeding an output capacity of the back-up source.

33. A system for controlling back-up power to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads including a first group of loads categorized as delayable loads and a second group of loads categorized as non-delayable loads, the system comprising:

a first input to receive power from a primary power source;

a second input to receive power from a first back-up power source;

a plurality of outputs to provide power to the plurality of loads;

means for controlling the system upon loss of primary power to allocate the back-up power such that non-delayable loads will be powered before delayable loads, including means for selectively turning on and off delayable loads based on available power from the back-up power source; and

means for monitoring power draw by each of the plurality of loads while operating on primary power, and means for recommending a proper type for a back-up power source for each of the plurality of loads based on the power draw.

35. A system for controlling power to a plurality of loads from a plurality of power sources, wherein at least one of the plurality of power sources is a primary power source and at least one of the power sources is a back-up power source, the system comprising:

a first input to receive power from the primary power source;

a second input to receive power from the back-up power source;

a plurality of outputs to provide output power to the plurality of loads;

a plurality of controllable switches each coupled to the first input, the second input and at least one of the plurality of outputs; and

a controller adapted to control the plurality of controllable switches, wherein the controller is configured to detect a loss of primary power and to control the plurality of controllable switches based on a categorization of the plurality of loads as delayable or non-delayable, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively turn on and off delayable loads based on available power from the back-up power source;

wherein a plurality of delayable loads each having an associated maximum delay time, and wherein the controller is configured to power on the at least one delayable load if the delayable load has been powered off for a time that exceeds the maximum delay time, and wherein the controller is programmable to set a maximum delay time for at least one of the delayable loads.

36. A system for controlling back-up power to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads including a first group of loads categorized as delayable loads and a second group of loads categorized as non-delayable loads, the system comprising:

a first input to receive power from a primary power source;

a second input to receive power from a first back-up power source;

a plurality of outputs to provide power to the plurality of loads; and

means for controlling the system upon loss of primary power to allocate the back-up power such that non-delayable loads will be powered before delayable loads, including means for selectively turning on and off delayable loads based on available power from the back-up power source;

wherein at least one delayable load has an associated maximum delay time, and wherein the system includes means for powering on the at least one delayable load if the delayable load has been powered off for a time that exceeds the maximum delay time, and means for setting a maximum delay time for each of the delayable loads.