Methods and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power

• US 8,604,640 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Masciarelli, Francis J., Mutabdzija, Srdan, Demissie, Eyob, Ingemi, Michael J., Charlantini, Donald Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/437,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads

Abstract

Power supply systems and methods are provided. In one aspect, a power supply system includes a frame, a power input to receive input power from a power source, a power output to provide output power to a load, at least one battery module mounted in the frame and having a battery output that provides battery power, at least one power module mounted in the frame and coupled to the power input to receive the input power, coupled to the battery output to receive the battery power, and coupled to the power output to provide the output power from at least one of the battery power and the input power, a first controller coupled to the at least one power module, and a second controller.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

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

a power output to provide output power to a load;

a backup up power input to receive backup power;

power circuitry coupled to the power input to receive the input power, coupled to the backup power input to receive the backup power, and coupled to the power output to provide the output power from at least one of the backup power and the input power;

a first controller coupled to the power circuitry; and

a second controller coupled to the first controller, and coupled to the power circuitry;

wherein each of the first controller and the second controller is configured to determine operational parameters of the power supply system and store a first set of parameters determined by the first controller and a second set of parameters determined by the second controller.

2. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the first controller functions as a main controller in the power supply system and controls the output power of the power circuitry, and wherein the first controller and the second controller are configured to allow the second controller to control the output power upon failure of the first controller.

3. The power supply system of claim 2, wherein the power circuitry includes a plurality of power modules.

4. The power supply system of claim 1, further comprising a communications bus coupled to the first controller, to provide duplex communication between the first controller and the second controller;

wherein the first controller is configured to function as master of the communications bus and control communications on the bus, and the second controller is configured to function as master of the communications bus upon failure of the first controller.

5. The power supply system of claim 4, wherein each of the first controller and the second controller includes a main processor, an internal communications bus coupled to the communications bus through a relay, and a memory device, coupled to the internal communications bus, that stores operational parameters of the power supply system, and wherein the main processor in the second controller is configured to open the relay in the second controller and send updated operational parameters to the memory device over the internal communications bus.

6. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the power input is configured to receive input power having a first input phase line, a second input phase line and a neutral input line, wherein the first controller is coupled to the power input and configured to detect an input phase difference between the first input phase line and the second input phase line, and to control the power circuitry to provide output power having a first output phase line, a second output phase line and a neutral output line, with an output phase difference between the first output phase line and the second output phase line substantially equal to the input phase difference.

7. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein each of the first controller and the second controller includes a cold start button, and wherein the power supply system is configured to be powered on from backup power with no input power present when one of the cold start buttons is activated by a user.

8. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the first controller is coupled to the power input and is configured to detect input voltage and input current, and to reduce input current draw of the power supply system upon detection that the input voltage is less than a predetermined threshold.

9. A method of providing redundant control of a power supply having a first controller and a second controller, the method comprising:

determining a first set of values corresponding to operational parameters of the power supply using the first controller;

determining a second set of values corresponding to the operational parameters of the power supply using the second controller;

storing the first set of values and the second set of values in memory associated with the first controller;

storing the first set of values and the second set of values in memory associated with the second controller;

controlling output power of the power supply using the first controller; and

upon failure of the first controller, controlling the output power of the power supply using the second controller.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the power supply includes a communications bus, and the method further comprising:

controlling communications on the communications bus using the first controller; and

upon failure of the first controller, controlling communications on the communications bus using the second controller.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the power supply has a power input that is configured to receive input power having a first input phase line, a second input phase line and a neutral input line, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting an input phase difference between the first input phase line and the second input phase line; and

providing output power at a first output phase line, a second output phase line and a neutral output line, with an output phase difference between the first output phase line and the second output phase line substantially equal to the input phase difference.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the first controller and the second controller includes a cold start button, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the power supply to be powered on from battery power with no input power present when one of the cold start buttons is activated by a user.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting input voltage and input current to the power supply; and

reducing input current draw of the power supply upon detection that the input voltage is less than a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein reducing input current draw includes reducing battery charging current in the power supply.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the power supply includes an output fuse and wherein the method further comprises detecting a voltage across the output fuse to check the status of the fuse during operation of the power supply.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

sensing an output voltage at an output of the power supply; and

comparing the output voltage with upper and lower threshold levels derived from data contained in the memory associated with the first controller to determine if the output voltage is within a predetermined range.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sensing an output current at the output;

comparing the output current with a short circuit current value;

comparing the output voltage with an output short circuit voltage value, and

providing indication of a short circuit present at the output if the output current exceeds the short circuit current value and the output voltage is less than the output short circuit voltage value.

18. A method of controlling a power supply system having a first controller, a second controller, and a communications bus coupled between the first controller and the second controller, the method comprising:

controlling output power of the power supply and communications over the communications bus using the first controller; and

upon failure of the first controller, controlling the output power and communications over the communications bus using the second controller.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the power supply has a power input that is configured to receive input power at a first input phase line, a second input phase line and a neutral input line, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting an input phase difference between the first input phase line and the second input phase line; and

providing output power at a first output phase line, a second output phase line and a neutral output line, with an output phase difference between the first output phase line and the second output phase line substantially equal to the input phase difference.