Autonomous management of distribution transformer power load

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9403441-B2
Application number	US-201213590937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2012
Priority date	Aug 21, 2012
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A load-managing electricity service (LMES) system for managing and controlling electricity-consuming loads supplied by a common distribution transformer. The LMES system includes: a communicative distribution transformer (CDT) sensor that includes a transceiver, a sensing circuit and a processor configured to determine whether a power load of the transformer exceeds an upper threshold. The LMES system also includes a load-control device (LCD) configured to communicate with the CDT sensor, and to selectively decrease or increase the power load of the distribution transformer by managing the electricity-consuming leads at consumer premises.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load-managing electricity service (LMES) system for managing and controlling electrical loads supplied by a common distribution transformer, comprising:
a communicative distribution transformer (CDT) sensor arranged integral to the common distribution transformer, including:
a transmitter configured to transmit a load-management data message over a local communication network;
a sensing circuit configured to sense an operating characteristic of the common distribution transformer supplying a plurality of electrical loads on a common electricity service network, the operating characteristic indicative of a power load of the common distribution transformer;
a processor in electrical communication with the transmitter and the sensing circuit, the processor configured to determine whether the operating characteristic exceeds an upper threshold; and

a load-control device (LCD) arranged at the common distribution transformer, wherein the LCD is configured to communicate with the CDT sensor, the LCD including:
a transceiver configured to receive the load-management data message;

a load-sensing circuit configured to sense one of the plurality of electrical loads supplied by the common distribution transformer;
a control device configured to cause a reduction in electricity supplied to the one of the plurality of electrical loads; and
a processor in electrical communication with the transceiver, the load-sensing circuit and the control device, the processor responsive to the load-management data message to cause the control device to reduce electricity supplied to the one of the plurality of electrical lead loads, thereby decreasing the power load of the common distribution transformer;

wherein the CDT sensor is configured to automatically associate with the LCD; and
the LCD is integrated into the LMES system based on a characterization event, wherein the characterization event includes transmitting a power cycling data message to the control device of the LCD upon initial connection of the LCD to one of the plurality of electrical loads supplied by the common distribution transformer to generate a power cycling event and detecting a change in the operating characteristic of the common distribution transformer in response to the power cycling event.

2. The LMES system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical loads comprises an electric vehicle having a charging station.

3. The LMES system of claim 2 , wherein the LCD is integrated into the charging station.

4. The LMES system of claim 3 , wherein the charging station outputs a variable supply of electricity and the LCD is configured to cause a reduction in the supply of electricity to the electrical load by causing the charging station to reduce its variable output supply of electricity.

5. The LMES system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical loads comprises a compressor of an air-conditioning unit.

6. The LMES system of claim 1 , wherein the control device configured to cause a reduction in electricity supplied to the one of the plurality of electrical loads comprises a switching device configured to open and close an electrical connection supplying power to the one of the plurality of electrical loads, the switching device removing power from the one of the plurality of electrical loads when in an open position.

7. The LMES system of claim 1 , wherein the CDT sensor further comprises a receiver configured to receive data over a long-haul communications network.

8. The LMES system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing circuit of the CDT sensor comprises at least one of a current sensor, power sensor, or temperature sensor.

9. The LMES system of claim 1 , wherein the operating characteristic comprises at least one of an electrical current, electrical power, or transformer temperature.

10. The LMES system of claim 1 , wherein the upper threshold comprises a predetermined electrical current, electrical power, or transformer temperature.

11. A communicative distribution transformer (CDT) sensor for use in a load-managing electricity service (LMES) system for managing and controlling a plurality of electrical loads supplied by a common distribution transformer, including:
a transceiver configured to transmit a load-management data message over a local communication network;
a sensing circuit arranged integral to the common distribution transformer and configured to sense an operating characteristic of a the common distribution transformer supplying the plurality of electrical loads on a common electricity service network, the operating characteristic indicative of a power load of the common distribution transformer; and
a processor in electrical communication with the transceiver and the sensing circuit, the processor configured to determine whether the operating characteristic exceeds a threshold;
wherein the processor is configured to cause the transceiver to transmit the load-management data message to a load-control device (LCD) arranged at the common distribution transformer and associated with one of the plurality of electrical loads, thereby causing the LCD to reduce an amount of electricity supplied to the electrical load ; and
wherein the CDT sensor is configured to automatically associate with the LCD; and
the LCD is integrated into the LMES system based on a characterization event, wherein the characterization event includes transmitting a power cycling data message to the LCD upon initial connection of the LCD to one of the plurality of electrical loads supplied by the common distribution transformer to generate a power cycling event and detecting a change in the operating characteristic of the common distribution transformer in response to the power cycling event.

12. The LMES system of claim 11 , wherein the CDT sensor further comprises a receiver configured to receive data over a long-haul communications network.

13. The LMES system of claim 11 , wherein the sensing circuit of the CDT sensor comprises at least one of a current sensor, power sensor, or temperature sensor.

14. The LMES system of claim 11 , wherein the operating characteristic comprises at least one of an electrical current, electrical power, or transformer temperature.

15. A load-control device (LCD) for use in a load-managing electricity service (LMES) system for managing and controlling electrical loads supplied by a common distribution transformer, the LCD including:
a transceiver configured to receive a load-management data message transmitted from a communicative distribution transformer sensor (CDT) arranged integral to the common distribution transformer;
a load-sensing circuit configured to sense an electrical load receiving power from the common distribution transformer;
a control device arranged at the common distribution transformer and configured to cause a reduction in electricity supplied to the electrical load; and
a processor in electrical communication with the transceiver, the load-sensing circuit and the control device, the processor responsive to the load-management data message to cause the control device to reduce electricity supplied to the electrical load, thereby decreasing an overall power load of the common distribution transformer; and
wherein the LCD is automatically associated with a CDT sensor and
the LCD is integrated into the LMES system based on a characterization event, wherein the characterization event includes transmittal of a power cycling data message by the CDT sensor to the control device of the LCD upon initial connection of the LCD to one of the electrical loads suppli

Assignees

• Ashworth Nicholas
• Cox Robert J
• Childs Joseph E
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Ashworth Nicholas
• Cox Robert J
• Childs Joseph E

Classifications

• Y02T90/163

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y04S10/126

  the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G] · CPC title

• Y02T90/128

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02T10/7005

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02E60/721

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic