Sensor-based Energy Management Housing and Distributed Energy Resource Management Based on Sensor Data

Abstract

The present invention discloses a power system at a customer premises. The power system includes a circuit breaker and a current sensor. The circuit breaker is used to supply power to a circuit, and the current sensor is installed near a connection member of the circuit breaker. The current sensor generates data, and a controller uses the data to calculate the current consumption of the circuit fed by the circuit breaker. Based on the current consumption information, the controller can determine how much active power and reactive power each circuit consumes. The controller can use the information to trigger the power converter adjustment operation to change the operation quadrant of the current vector.

Description

[0001] Priority

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 780,879, filed Dec. 17, 2018. Technical Field

[0003] The present description generally relates to power grids, and more particularly to distributed management in power grids. Background Art

[0004] A growing number of so-called "smart meters" have been introduced to provide enhanced control of a customer premise or customer location. Smart meters are designed to provide information about power usage in a customer premise. The traditional information flow for a customer premise is to use power and receive a bill at the end of the month indicating what power has been used. Smart meters propose to use periodic monitoring to provide information. However, smart meters remain power grid meters, which means that from the perspective of the power grid or power grid management (such as a utility), control still comes from in front of the meter. Any information collected by the smart meter is subject to power grid control, which ultimately attempts to control the customer premise based on how the utility views power consumption from the grid at the point of entry into the customer premise. Even when the smart meter takes into account the energy generation capabilities of the customer premise, the smart meter still measures and makes all decisions on how to control power consumption or power production based on the grid-side view of the point of common coupling (PCC).

[0005] A customer premise may or may not include a solar installation or other local power production. Traditional solar attempts to meet the needs of the customer, but at the cost of power grid stability. Traditional solar only provides active power. Attempts to provide reactive power using solar power by changing the reactive power load in a customer premise typically result in inefficient power usage. Whether the reactive load is changed to be more inductive or more capacitive, the end result in either case is an increase in reactive power consumption in the customer premise to improve active power transfer. Net metering provides a financial incentive to the customer for excess power generated locally, which is power that the customer does not use. However, since the power company may be required to pay the customer or prosumer for unwanted power, or power of the wrong type that could disrupt power grid stability, net metering creates a conflict between the customer and the power company or service provider.

[0006] In addition, customer expectations to reduce dependence on grid operators have motivated increased solar deployment. However, installing more solar on the grid can increase grid instability due to the generation of excess active power. In addition to generating excess active power, the grid also needs to increase reactive power generation to provide grid support for stabilizing the grid. Reactive power generated from central grid locations results in increased inefficiencies on the grid, thus pushing reactive power support miles away to power lines. Solar deployment penetration beyond a certain level can lead to "solar saturation", where the amount of solar resources on the grid can generate excess active power beyond the ability of utility operators to effectively handle the excess solar or provide sufficient reactive power support. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The following description includes a discussion of the drawings that illustrate specific embodiments by way of example. The drawings should be understood by way of example and not limitation. As used herein, reference to one or more examples should be understood to describe a particular feature, structure, or characteristic included in at least one specific embodiment of the invention. Phrases such as "in one example" or "in an alternative example" presented herein provide examples of specific embodiments of the invention and do not necessarily all refer to the same specific embodiment. However, they are not necessarily mutually exclusive either.

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of a circuit breaker box or housing for a smart grid operating system.

[0009] Figure 2 represents an example of a circuit breaker circuit for a housing for a smart grid operating system.

[0010] Figure 3 represents an example of a current sensor installed below a circuit breaker on a charging plate of a circuit breaker housing.

[0011] Figure 4 represents an example of a current sensor in a circuit breaker housing for a smart grid operating system.

[0012] Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of an example of a circuit breaker circuit for a housing for a smart grid operating system.

[0013] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an example of a system with an internal current sensor.

[0014] Figure 7A is a block diagram of an example of a housing with multiple meters.

[0015] Figure 7B represents an example of a 4 - quadrant meter.

[0016] Figure 8It is a block diagram of an example of a system with a four - quadrant meter for monitoring one or more power converter strings.

[0017] Figure 9 It is a flowchart of an example of a process for controlling current using a housing with a current sensor.

[0018] Figure 10 It is a flowchart of an example of a process for controlling current using a system with two internal meters.

[0019] Figure 11 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a sensor placed near the connection point of a circuit breaker and a circuit board.

[0020] Figure 12 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where the monitored channels are not loaded.

[0021] Figure 13 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where all the monitored channels are loaded.

[0022] Figure 14 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is loaded and channel 2 is not loaded.

[0023] Figure 15 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is not loaded and channel 2 is loaded.

[0024] Figure 16 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is loaded, channel 2 is not loaded and channel 2 is not powered on.

[0025] Figure 17 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where both of the monitored channels are loaded and channel 2 is not powered on.

[0026] Figure 18 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is not loaded, channel 2 is loaded and channel 1 is not powered on.

[0027] Figure 19 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where both of the monitored channels are loaded and channel 1 is not powered on.

[0028] Figure 20A graphical representation of an example of a current component in a system, where the current vector is a combination of a primary current component and a harmonic current component.

[0029] Figure 21 A graphical representation of an example of a current component in a system, where the harmonic component of the current has an angular offset relative to the primary current component.

[0030] Figure 22 A graphical representation of an example of a grid current vector mapped relative to a local system current vector.

[0031] Figure 23 A block diagram of an example of a metering device for monitoring power at a PCC.

[0032] Figure 24 A block diagram of an example of a system for transferring power from a local source to a grid-connected load using reactive power injection.

[0033] The following description of certain details and specific implementations, including a non-limiting description of the drawings, which may illustrate some or all of the examples, as well as other possible specific implementations. Detailed Description

[0034] As provided herein, the system provides post-metering control of local power generation. The post-metering control can be based on local sensors within the breaker enclosure. The breaker box can include sensors as well as controls or intelligence for altering the internal operation of the system. The internal control allows the system to change the mix of active and reactive power through VAR injection, rather than increasing or changing the reactive power impedance or changing the reactive power load.

[0035] In one example, a power system located at a user's premises includes a circuit breaker for providing power to a circuit and a current sensor mounted near the connection of the circuit breaker. The system can be a housing or include a housing. In one example, the system includes a gateway system that manages the power flow and power usage at the user's premises. The current sensor generates data that a controller uses to calculate the current consumption of the circuit fed by the circuit breaker. The controller can be a controller for the gateway and can be located within the housing including the circuit breaker, or outside the housing and communicatively coupled to the housing. Based on the current consumption information, the controller can determine how much active and reactive power each circuit controlled by a different circuit breaker consumes using the sensors at each breaker. The controller can use this information to trigger power converter adjustment operations to change the operating quadrant of the current vector.

[0036] Even without local power production, the system can convert active power into reactive power for reactive power injection within the meter. Thus, when providing reactive power within the system, the system can appear to only consume active power in the power grid. Such operations can be performed in response to local sensor monitoring and internal metering.

[0037] In one example, a power system includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is used to monitor the current flowing out to a point of common coupling (PCC) connected to the power grid, and the second sensor is used to monitor the current flowing into the local system, which may include a combination of loads, storage, and generation. Not all systems include storage. Not all systems include generation. Whether including storage or generation, or both storage and generation, or neither, the system can adjust the operation of the power system to operate at a desired current vector. The first sensor can monitor a first current waveform of the connection to the PCC, and the second sensor can monitor a second current waveform of the connection to the local system. The power system includes a controller that is used to calculate the operating quadrant of the second current waveform, which refers to the current waveform of the local system as seen when flowing into the local system. The controller can calculate the desired operating quadrant of the second current waveform based on the operating quadrant of the first current waveform.

[0038] The desired operating quadrant refers to the current on the four-quadrant unit circle and can be set to align with a desired offset relative to the first current waveform. Thus, the system can set how the current of the local system operates relative to the grid current. Instead of simply trying to match the phase of the current with the grid to control the power factor, the system can calculate the current vectors of the grid and the local system and perform vector calculations to determine how to adjust the local current for favorable operation relative to the current.

[0039] Figure 1 It is a block diagram of an example of a circuit breaker box or housing for a smart grid operating system. System 100 represents a power system for a user's premises. In one example, system 100 includes a housing 130, which represents a housing including a circuit breaker for the user's premises. The circuit breaker is represented as circuit breaker 140.

[0040] Power grid 110 represents a power grid controlled by a utility. Power grid 110 can include any typical power grid infrastructure, which generally includes at least one centralized power grid operation management or power grid control, and at least one centralized power generator. Traditional power grid infrastructure generates most of the electricity at a central generator and delivers the electricity to users through power lines via a substation. Distributed energy can also be operated by the utility to make energy production physically closer to energy users. PCC (Point of Common Coupling) 120 represents the connection point or entry point of the user's premises to power grid 110.

[0041] The grid meter 112 measures the amount of energy consumed by consumers connected to the PCC 120. The grid meter 112 measures what is supplied from the grid to the user. Typically, the grid meter 112 is installed just before the distribution box or circuit breaker box at the monitored user premises. The system 100 does not necessarily show the power lines entering the housing 130 from the grid, but the line from the grid meter 112 to the PCC 120 represents the monitoring of the power delivery. The line from the meter 132 to the PCC 120 represents the monitoring after the meter or after the grid meter 112. After the meter means the operation on the user side or inside the PCC 120 after the point monitored by the grid meter 112. The operation after the meter in the system 100 can affect what the grid meter 112 sees and monitors, without being under the management guidance of the grid 110. In one example, the operation after the meter can be in response to a dispatch or control command from the grid management, but can occur with the equipment inside the PCC. The grid meter 112 does not see or monitor or know what is happening with the electrical operation along a particular circuit path originating from the housing 130. Instead, the grid meter 112 sees the effect at the PCC 120 at the monitoring point.

[0042] In one example, the housing 130 includes two meters or current sensors, namely the meter 132 and the meter 134. The meters 132 and 134 are internal meters that monitor the conditions after the meter. It should be understood that the coupling point or node "flowing into" the electrical system will give different results depending on which side of the node the flow is from. In one example, the meter 132 monitors the electrical conditions of the grid 110 flowing into the PCC 120 from the perspective after the meter or from the user premises. The electrical characteristics flowing out of the PCC 120 measured by the meter 132 may be different from the electrical characteristics flowing into the user premises through the PCC 120 seen by the grid meter 112. In one example, the meter 132 measures the same electrical conditions as the grid meter 112 so that the system 100 can know how to operate to present a desired condition to the grid 110. More details will be set out throughout the description.

[0043] In one example, meter 134 monitors local conditions, which includes one or more transducers and may include energy production and energy storage. Meter 134 measures one or more electrical conditions as seen within the user premise. Although referred to as a "meter", it should be understood that meter 132 for monitoring grid conditions and meter 134 for monitoring local conditions are separate from grid meter 112. Grid meter 112 represents a utility meter, which can be any type or form of energy meter or smart meter that the utility uses to charge the user for the electricity or power delivered from grid 110 to the user premise. Thus, meters 132 and 134 are separate from grid meter 112 that measures power from the grid side of PCC 120.

[0044] Grid meter 112 is used by the power company to charge the user for the electricity delivered from grid 110 to the user premise. In one example, meter 132 and meter 134 are located inside housing 130. In one example, meter 132 and meter 134 have or have installed thereon a display on the outer cover of housing 130 (such as on the enclosure cover of the housing) or below a circuit breaker box. Local system 170 monitored by meter 134 may include local loads and local production or generation equipment.

[0045] In one example, local system 170 includes one or more power converters represented by converter 172. Converter 172 represents power conversion hardware for local energy production of system 100. In one example, local system 170 includes energy production 174 representing a power generation resource. Carbon-based power generation equipment (such as a diesel generator) may be used, but generally, local power generation equipment represents equipment such as a solar system or a wind energy system. In one example, local system 170 includes local energy storage device 176. Utility energy storage includes batteries. Other types of energy storage devices may be used. In one example, local system 170 includes converter 172 for energy storage device 176, which can control how the energy storage device is charged and can control discharge to actively generate reactive energy. In one example, local system 170 through converter 172 can perform reactive energy injection by locally generating reactive energy, which is electrically similar to a conventional rotating generator. In one example, converter 172 is a virtual rotating generator, which can allow for the active generation of reactive energy from a non-rotating circuit.

[0046] In one example, meter 132 is a four-quadrant meter. In one example, meter 134 is a four-quadrant meter. In one example, both meters are four-quadrant meters. Meters 132 and 134 can provide measurement data to controller 150. In one example, controller 150 is a gateway system represented by gateway 160 or is part of it. Controller 150 includes grid operating system intelligence, such as by executing an intelligent grid operating system (iGOS). In one example, controller 150 provides control to one or more converters 172 for operation based on decisions made by iGOS. In one example, controller 150 in housing 130 operates in conjunction with a separate controller of gateway 160 at the user's premises.

[0047] In one example, gateway 160 is included within housing 130. In one example, housing 130 represents a circuit breaker box replacement that enables installation at the user's premises to automatically convert the user's premises into a smart end. The smart end can provide power management and power savings relative to a traditional system based on being monitored by sensors in the system (described below), based on controller 150 executing iGOS, and based on the operation of converter 172 located at the user's premises and communicatively coupled to housing 130. The converter can execute the decisions of iGOS to adjust the operation of the electrical system based on post-meter monitoring.

[0048] Traditional systems include a grid-controlled electricity meter 112 that measures usage at the user's premises over a month or other time period, and then the user receives a bill. Such methods provide data that is too vague to be very useful for controlling usage at the premises. In contrast, system 100 provides real-time information and can generate real-time control based on real-time data, enabling the system to adjust the dynamic conditions of the power grid and the local system in real time.

[0049] It should be understood that although local system 170 is not specifically shown as connected to the PCC, it is electrically connected to the PCC. Converter 172 is coupled to an electrical node within system 100 that enables the injection of reactive power from the user side of PCC 120. Typically, converters 172 are electrically coupled together through circuit breakers for grid connection. Energy generation can include solar, wind, or other local power generation.

[0050] In one example, the housing 130 includes a plurality of circuit breakers 140, such as a conventional circuit breaker box. In addition to the mounts for the conventional circuit breakers, the housing 130 also includes current sensors 142 to monitor the real-time activity on each circuit. In one example, each circuit breaker 140 is monitored by at least one current sensor 142. The current sensors 142 can detect the real-time current and power operation of the system. In one example, the current sensors 142 can detect specific current signatures to specifically identify one or more loads operating on the circuit. Using the current signature information, the system 100 can respond with energy management operations specific to the exact power consumption and generation situation of the local system 170.

[0051] In one example, the converter 172 can generate active power and reactive power, or any mix or combination of active power and reactive power. In one example, the converter 172 utilizes reactive power injection to generate reactive power to actively generate reactive power to inject into a connection point or node in the system and thus into the power grid 110 through the PCC 120, as opposed to passively attempting to filter the power factor. Conventional power factor regulation involves the reactive load of the system, so the power phase delivered to the customer premises is in phase with the grid voltage at the PCC 120. Reactive power injection provides energy as reactive power rather than filtering to absorb energy to adjust the reactive power situation at the node. Filtering can also be referred to as adjusting the reactive power load, which only changes the way power is consumed, consuming more power without generating reactive power.

[0052] The current sensors 142 provide data back to the control system to enable the controller 150 or the gateway 160 to adjust the operating conditions based on the real-time data. In one example, the controller 150 or the gateway 160 can include a filter for the current sensor data. As explained in more detail below, the current sensors 142 can be affected by the power consumption on nearby circuits. In one example, the system 100 can adjust the sensor readings to obtain accurate current readings for use as data input for iGOS.

[0053] In one example, housing 130 further includes one or more environmental sensors 136. Environmental sensors 136 can include a CO (carbon monoxide) or CO2 (carbon dioxide) sensor, a seismic sensor, or other sensors or combinations. For example, a CO2 sensor can be used to determine overall air quality or pollution. Determining air quality can enable the system to consider air quality in power usage decisions. As another example, a seismic sensor can be used to provide data related to the occurrence or likelihood of an earthquake. Since such sensors are distributed throughout the housing 130 of the entire community in various user premises, a large amount of information can be built into the infrastructure of the community without additional devices. Additionally, monitoring of air quality can provide community information based on the spread of sensors across the community. Such community information can be provided back to regulatory agencies, or other groups or institutions that utilize this data to provide public information or services.

[0054] In one example, gateway 160 includes analysis based on metering. In one example, gateway 160 also has security and a connection to the utility. In one example, gateway 160 or controller 150 is capable of dispatching control from the power grid 110. In addition to control based on analysis of local sensor data, gateway 160 is also capable of applying grid-level control to user-based systems.

[0055] Typically, utilities want to control grid support and set configurations, such as setting the power factor, based on what they see downstream. When viewed from the grid side, the utility is interested in knowing whether the configuration of the PCC meets requirements. Traditionally, the grid obtains status and issues dispatch information. Depending on the appearance of the grid, the utility can determine that it wants to see certain loads or certain power sources removed from the grid. Such methods can result in power outages on the grid rather than using available power. Compared to traditional systems, system 100 can identify the specific needs of user premises, address the needs after the grid meter 112, and present compliance with the grid at the PCC 120. By internally processing reactive power requirements and presenting a specific current vector at the PCC 120, system 100 can handle compliance after the meter in a different way from the dispatch information of grid control.

[0056] In one example, the gateway 160 learns when the system 100 operates at its peak load and its peak production. It can learn when to use a particular load based on the monitoring of the current sensor 142. The gateway 160 can learn over time how to customize for a particular user, from one client to another, which usages will be different. Different usage scenarios are defined by usage profiles and assets, rates, and tiers. In one example, the system is capable of local scheduling control, which can be understood as behind-the-meter control, to complement scheduling control based on data-driven decisions. The decisions are based on data locally collected by the current sensor 142 and potentially by other sensors.

[0057] In one example, the gateway 160 can control the entire customer premises for the dynamic phase angle change seen from the PCC 120 and adjust the operation of multiple converters 172 to achieve the desired output. In one example, the gateway 160 can perform a disconnect of the entire customer premises in response to an anti-islanding event. Thus, several signals to the gateway 160 can disconnect the entire customer premises connection, rather than requiring each converter 172 to detect and respond to the anti-islanding event.

[0058] Figure 2 An example of a circuit breaker circuit representing a housing for a smart grid operating system. Circuit 200 represents a circuit that can be implemented in the housing of the system 100.

[0059] Circuit 200 includes a hot (high voltage) connection point and a neutral connection point. The hot connection refers to the electrical connection to the customer's high voltage line of the power grid (usually 120V or 240V). The neutral connection point is the voltage of the reference voltage (circuit ground) or the reference high voltage. The hot wire 210 represents a board or connector to the high voltage. The neutral wires 222 and 224 represent connectors to the reference voltage. A circuit breaker, or simply "breaker", is bridged between the high voltage power supply and the high voltage circuit wire. As shown, breaker 1 is connected to connector 212 and bridged between the hot wire 210 and circuit 1 high. Breaker 2 is connected to a different connector 212 and bridged between the hot wire 210 and circuit 2 high. The dashed lines show where additional breakers can be located in circuit 200. There can be more breaker rows than shown in circuit 200.

[0060] The neutral lines of the two circuits are connected to the neutral wire 224. The neutral wires 222 and 224 are coupled to each other and appear on different sides of the circuit 200, only for connection to the circuits controlled by the breakers. If a circuit through the breaker attempts to draw too much current, the breaker trips in response to the excessive current flowing through the breaker.

[0061] In one example, circuit 200 includes current sensors located near each circuit breaker. As shown, sensor 1 monitors the current of circuit breaker 1, and sensor 2 monitors the current of circuit breaker 2. The current passing through the circuit breaker is the current of the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker.

[0062] It should be understood that if the live wire 210 is a board or conductor to provide an electrical connection from the circuit breaker to the grid power supply, the current will flow out from the connection point of the grid to the electrical conductor of the live wire 210. Considering the grid connection at the top of the illustration, as shown in circuit 200, as indicated by the arrow marked "GRID". If the current flows out from the point of the arrow, the current will flow along the live wire 210 to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker at the bottom of circuit 200 will have a longer circuit path along the live wire 210 before connection. In one example, sensor 1 monitors the current consumed by circuit breaker 1. Similarly, sensor 2 monitors the current consumed by circuit breaker 2. Sensor 2 can be considered to monitor the current of both circuit breaker 1 and circuit breaker 2 because the current flows downward. If the current flows downward, sensor 1 cannot measure the current passing through circuit breaker 2. In one example, the controller can determine the current passing through circuit breaker 2 by subtracting the reading of sensor 1 from the reading of sensor 2. It should be understood that a similar method can be adopted for other sensors (not specifically shown).

[0063] In one example, there is no direct flow of current through each sensor. In one example, the system can calibrate the sensor readings. For example, the system can measure sensor 1 when there is no current consumption in circuit 1, and then use a known load. The system can also measure sensor 2 when there is no load in circuit 2 while loading circuit 1 to see if the readings change. Similarly, the system can measure other sensors with different known load currents in one or more other circuits in a similar manner. In this way, the system can be calibrated to ignore interference by normalizing the readings of each sensor based on calibration or training.

[0064] In one example, the system takes into account different currents across different sensors. For example, the system can identify the specific current of a specific circuit by comparing the current measured by one sensor with the current measured by another sensor. In one example, the system performs calibration by running a test current through different lines to determine how they affect the current in other sensors. The calibration can determine the sensor noise floor when other currents are flowing. The system calibrates the induced current and can consider these currents in subsequent measurements. In one example, the system is calibrated during manufacturing to determine how different currents affect different sensors. In one example, the system is calibrated after being installed at the user's premises. The calibration can enable the system to consider the effects of current measurements at the sensors, which are caused by EM (electromagnetic) waves generated when the current flows in different circuits.

[0065] Figure 3 An example of a current sensor below a circuit breaker mounted on a charging board within a circuit breaker housing is shown. Circuit 300 provides an example of a circuit breaker circuit for circuit 200 according to Figure 1 Circuit 300 provides an example of a circuit breaker circuit that can be implemented within housing 130 of system 100.

[0066] Circuit 300 is shown in a side view. Relative to circuit 200, circuit 300 can be shown in a side view of examples of circuit breakers 362 (as circuit breaker 1) and circuit breaker 364 (as circuit breaker 2). Circuit breakers 362 and 364 will extend into the page to bridge between the hot contact and the neutral contact to provide a protected hot connection near the neutral.

[0067] In one example, circuit 300 is implemented within a housing where layer 310 represents the back of the housing. The back of the housing is the portion where the circuit breaker circuit is mounted. In one example, there is a gap 320 between housing 310 and electrical board 330, and this gap represents a conductor connected to a grid connection. Gap 320 electrically isolates the grid high voltage from the housing box. The circuit breaker circuit is mounted by providing means for electrical isolation between housing 310 and the high voltage source.

[0068] In one example, circuit 300 includes an insulator 340 between board 330 and the current sensor. In one example, insulator 340 can be a circuit board on which the sensor is mounted. In one example, insulator 340 is an electrical insulator covering a high voltage conductor. In one example, insulator 340 represents an electrical insulator covering a high voltage conductor, and there is also a circuit board on which the current sensor is mounted, and this circuit board is below the circuit breaker.

[0069] The current sensors are shown as sensors 352 and 354. In one example, each sensor has a separate circuit board. In one example, both sensors are on the same circuit board. In one example, a single circuit board is below all the circuit breakers in the system. Thus, the unlabeled sensor below circuit breaker 364 can potentially also be on the same circuit board.

[0070] Connector 332 represents a connector from board 330 to circuit breaker 362. A similar connector exists for circuit breaker 364. In one example, the current sensors are placed as close as possible to the connector. Thus, sensors 352 and 354 can be physically mounted close to connector 332. If the sensors are mounted too close, significant noise may exist. Mounting them too far away may reduce the accuracy of the readings. The proximity will depend on the potential current flowing through the circuit as well as the type of sensor and the physical layout and configuration of the housing.

[0071] The connector 332 represents a contact for the power supply to the circuit breaker 362. This contact provides a connection to the board 330 to connect to the power grid to supply power to the circuit when connected. In one example, the current sensors are all integrated circuit (I / C) devices mounted near the connector 332. The sensors generate current sensing data for the circuit that can be sent to the controller. Depending on the sensors used, in one example, sensors 352 and 354 can provide data to indicate the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the circuit. Generally speaking, the current sensors can provide data related to the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of their corresponding circuits. Although one circuit is shown and described in detail, it should be understood that one or more sensors can be mounted under the circuit breaker 364 for its circuit, and so on for other circuit breakers.

[0072] Based on the data provided by the current sensors, the controller can calculate the active power information and reactive power information of each circuit. Based on the combined data from multiple sensors, the controller can determine the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the entire user premises. In one example, according to the current based on the physical layout of the circuit, the reading of one sensor can be adjusted based on the reading of another sensor to calculate the current. For example, consider that sensor 354 monitors the current of circuit breaker 360, and sensor 352 monitors the current of another circuit breaker (not shown) that is also connected to the same connector 332. The system can be calibrated to account for the influence of one circuit on another sensor. Therefore, the current vectors of different circuits can be calculated by adjusting the readings relative to another sensor. Additionally, the sensor readings can be adjusted based on interference from other circuits.

[0073] Figure 4 An example of a current sensor in a circuit breaker housing for a smart grid operating system is shown. Circuit 400 provides an example of a circuit breaker circuit according to Figure 1 circuit 200. Circuit 400 provides an example of a circuit breaker circuit that can be implemented in the housing 130 of system 100. Circuit 400 shows an example of a circuit according to circuit 300, where a high-voltage line is divided into two high-voltage lines to accommodate multiple phases.

[0074] The lighter shaded shapes represent high-voltage buses (commonly referred to as "hot" lines). The darker shaded shapes represent neutral-biased conductors, and the neutral line in the circuit is usually connected to the biased line. The hot line 432 is the lightest shaded shape, and the main line 434 is darker than the hot line 432 and lighter than the neutral bias. The neutral biases 442 and 444 have the same shading to indicate that they are usually bundled. In different embodiments, they can be separate neutral lines. In one example, the hot line 432 is a phase separated from the hot line 434.

[0075] The high-voltage circuit wire is connected to the circuit breaker. When the current exceeds the threshold of the circuit breaker, the circuit breaker trips to disconnect the circuit. As is well known, different circuit breakers have different thresholds. The neutral-biased wire is typically connected to the main neutral line, which is not shown for simplicity. Similarly, the high-voltage conductor is connected to the main high-voltage line, which is not shown for simplicity. Different buses can be different phases, but in one example, all circuits can be tied to the same phase.

[0076] Circuit 400 shows a plurality of dashed boxes, which represent the positions of circuit breakers 410. When installed, the circuit breakers 410 are located at the top or above the shown circuit. The circuit breakers 410 will connect between the corresponding live connectors and neutral connectors. As shown, the main unit 432 is phase 1, and the conductor has an arm that extends below the circuit breaker. Circuit 400 specifically shows contacts 422, which can provide a contact for one circuit breaker 410 from the live wire 432 towards the neutral bias 442. Another circuit breaker 410 will connect to the contact 422 (e.g., another post on the contact) and span towards the neutral bias 444. It should be understood that the circuit breaker may be only electrically connected to the main unit line, and the neutral bias conductor provides a location to connect the circuit neutral line near the position where the circuit live wire is connected to the circuit breaker to provide a consistent current path. Otherwise, in theory, any neutral line can be used, but differences in the circuit path can create unexpected connection problems.

[0077] In one example, the circuit includes a PCB or other circuit board to mount current sensing I / C (integrated circuit) devices, such as sensor 450. The dashed line shows an example of the outline of the circuit board with a cutout section with contacts that can be used. The illustrated shape is only for illustration and does not necessarily represent the correct scale. In one example, the circuit board can be used to provide the correct spacing for the sensor 450 to the contacts, similar to that described previously, and will vary with different devices and system architectures.

[0078] In one example, the sensor 450 is implemented as an independent I / C device (such as discrete components) or circuit directly integrated onto the circuit board or substrate board. In one example, the live conductors 432 and 434 each include a plurality of arms that are connected to the contacts in the middle, as shown. In one example, each arm includes contacts for one circuit breaker to connect towards the neutral line on the right and one circuit breaker to connect towards the neutral line on the left. As shown, the contact 422 is connected to the live wire 432, and the contact 424 is connected to the live wire 434. Both the contact 422 and the contact 424 have two contact points for the circuit breaker to straddle in each direction. As is understood in the art, the neutral circuit breaker can be installed and wired as different circuits.

[0079] In one example, each arm includes contacts for one or more circuit breakers. In the example shown, each arm of the high voltage conductor supports connections to two circuit breakers, one on the left and one on the right. In one example, circuit 400 includes one or more current sensors 450 below or above the high voltage conductor (hot wire 432 or hot wire 434). In one example, sensor 450 is a Hall effect I / C. Other integrated current sensors may be used. Generally speaking, integrated current sensors utilize the Hall effect to detect current based on EM radiation emitted from the wire. In one example, sensor 450 is placed as close as possible to the contacts (e.g., 422, 424), which can provide more accurate readings. In one example, multiple sensors 450 are used and the controller compares the measurements to provide more accurate readings. In one example, multiple sensors 450 are used and different sensors measure different circuits. Other configurations of sensors may be used. Generally speaking, current sensors 450 are placed near the connections to provide measurements sufficient to identify the current signature of one circuit relative to another.

[0080] Sensor 450 may be affected by the current consumed by other circuits on the same phase. As shown, circuit 400 includes pairs of sensors 450, with a pair of sensors on each arm of each high voltage conductor. In one example, one sensor 450 measures the circuit extending to the right and the other sensor measures the current of the circuit extending to the left from the same contact. For example, the two sensors 450 identified in circuit 400 measure different circuits 470 from the same contact 422. One sensor measures the current of circuit 470 to the left and the other sensor measures the current of circuit 470 to the right. The current from another circuit may affect each sensor, and their readings may be calibrated and adjusted as needed to filter out interference from adjacent circuits.

[0081] In addition, sensors 450 on one arm of one phase may be affected by the current consumed by another circuit. The arrows indicate the possible interfering EM radiation received from other circuits. Interference 462 represents the potential interference from one or more circuits connected to contact 422. Interference 464 represents the potential interference from one or more circuits connected to the contact of the other arm connected to hot wire 432. This interference affects the sensors that measure the current of the circuit at contact 424 of the arm connected to hot wire 434.

[0082] In one example, a technician calibrates each sensor 450 by subsequently loading each circuit to determine how the sensors respond to different interference signals. In one example, the sensors 450 include an identifier or other location indication to indicate one or more circuits they monitor. The system can set an offset for the sensors based on the identifier to adjust a particular measurement or reading to account for different circuit interferences. Thus, each sensor 450 can provide an accurate reading of the current to the system to determine how the current flows through the housing to various circuits. Based on this information, the meter and iGOS can perform calculations to determine how to operate the local power converter.

[0083] Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of an example of a circuit breaker circuit for a housing of an intelligent grid operating system. Circuit 500 provides an example of a circuit breaker circuit according to Figure 1 of Circuit 200. Circuit 500 provides an example of a circuit breaker circuit that can be implemented in housing 130 of system 100. Circuit 500 shows an example of a circuit according to Circuit 300, where a high-voltage line is split into two high-voltage lines to accommodate multiple phases.

[0084] The circuit breaker is shown bridging between the power supply and the neutral line. The circuit breaker provides circuit breaker protection for the circuit and extends the high-voltage line to a connector on the circuit breaker to obtain a high voltage. In one example, the circuit breaker also has a contact connected to the neutral line to allow the neutral connection of a particular circuit. Thus, both the high voltage (protected line) and the neutral line can be connected to the same circuit breaker for the circuit.

[0085] Circuit 500 shows plate 510 that is the live wire for Phase 1 and plate 520 that is the phase for Phase 2. In one example, all high-voltage plates are connected to a single phase. Neutral line 542 is shown on one side and neutral line 544 is shown on the other side. Neutral line 544 will be understood to be shielded by the circuit breaker.

[0086] Circuit 500 shows sensors 552 and 554 near contact 512. Circuit breaker 532 is connected to contact 512 and bridges between plate 510 and neutral line 544. Another circuit breaker can be installed to connect to contact 512 to bridge between plate 510 and neutral line 542. Sensors 552 and 554 measure the current of the circuit of circuit breaker 532 and another circuit breaker connected to contact 512. In one example, sensor 554 monitors the circuit of a missing circuit breaker that will be connected to contact 512 (to extend towards neutral line 542), and sensor 552 monitors the circuit of circuit breaker 532. In one example, the two sensors measure two circuits, and the controller calculates the current vector based on the sum and difference of the sensor data.

[0087] Circuit 500 also shows sensors 556 and 558 below the circuit breaker. Sensors 556 and 558 are mounted on or near the arms of board 520 that includes contacts 522 to which circuit breaker 534 is connected. The description of sensors 552 and 554 can be similarly applied to sensors 556 and 558 on the other side. In addition to the circuit from the circuit breaker that is connected to the same contacts that have an electrical impact on the current sensors, in one example, adjacent circuits of different contacts can also affect the current sensors. For example, either or both of sensors 556 or 558 can be affected by the current consumed through circuit breaker 532, even when it can be connected to a different high voltage phase. Calibration can take this interference as well as the same contact interference into account.

[0088] In one example, the current sensors represent sensor I / C. In one example, the current sensor I / C is a passive sensor. Quadrant meters can be considered active sensors because they generate data by monitoring. The current sensors can be related to data of a specific current consumed on a specific circuit. The meters can provide overall current and voltage readings for the system. These sensors together provide data to the controller to monitor the current flowing through the circuit.

[0089] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an example of a system having an internal current sensor. System 600 provides an example of a power system. System 600 can be an example of a system according to system 100.

[0090] Power grid 610 represents a utility power grid that provides power from one or more grid-managed generators to a user premises, and these generators can include distributed generators. Connection 612 represents a substation or a power transformer or other infrastructure to step down the extremely high voltage transmission lines of power grid 610 to the user high voltage (e.g., 120V, 220V).

[0091] Power grid meter 620 represents a power grid meter as described above. The utility charges the user based on the measurements made by power grid meter 620 to monitor the power delivered from power grid 610 to the user premises through PCC 622.

[0092] Housing 630 represents the electrical housing of the user premises. Circuit 632 represents a connection circuit for receiving the utility connection. In one example, the circuit can be a simple transmission line connection. Alternatively, isolation hardware or other circuits can be included.

[0093] The plate 640 of the housing 630 represents an electrical conductor to supply grid power to a plurality of circuit breakers represented by the circuit breakers 660. The circuit breakers 660 represent any number of circuit breakers that may be included in the housing 630. In one example, the housing 630 includes sensors 642 and 644 to measure the current of the circuits provided by the circuit breakers 660. These sensors may be according to any example herein.

[0094] In one example, the housing 630 includes a sensor 634 to monitor the connection to the power grid 610. The sensor 634 may be referred to as grid-facing because it measures the current waveform as seen flowing into the grid connection. In one example, the housing 630 includes a sensor 636 to monitor the connection to the electronic components at the user's premises. Thus, the sensor 636 may be considered user-facing because it measures the current waveform as seen flowing into the local system at the user's premises. In one example, there are multiple user-facing sensors 636. The sensor 634 and the sensor 636 may be referred to as meters because they monitor the power usage at the user's premises. However, they should be understood as separate from the grid meter 620. Additionally, the grid meter 620 generally tracks the measurements used to determine the power usage, while the sensors 634 and 636 may be used to generate current waveform data. The current waveform data may enable the system 600 to operate in different current regions based on the comparison of the local current waveform with the grid waveform.

[0095] The system 600 includes a load 662, which represents the local load at the user's premises. A load is any device that consumes power to operate (e.g., lights, heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, electronics, or others). The source 680 represents any power generation device, which is a device that generates energy when operating, such as a solar or wind generator. The storage device 690 represents a device that stores the energy to be used in a time-delayed manner, such as a battery.

[0096] In one example, the system 600 includes a power converter 670, which represents a power converter according to any of the examples. In one example, each storage device 690 has at least one associated power converter 670. In one example, each source 680 has at least one associated power converter 670. In one example, the power converter 670 supplies energy back into the housing 630 for distribution to one or more circuits of the circuit breakers 660.

[0097] In one example, system 600 includes a gateway 650 to manage power usage at a user's premises. In one example, some or all of the gateway 650 is integrated into a housing 630. In one example, the gateway 650 has a separate electrical box with components communicatively coupled to the housing 630. The gateway 650 includes at least one processor device represented by a controller 652. In one example, the controller 652 represents an embedded computer. The controller 652 performs calculations to generate a current waveform and performs calculations to determine how to control the operation behind the meter at the user's premises to control the power consumption seen by the grid meter 620 at the PCC 622. The controller 652 represents the hardware for executing iGOS.

[0098] The dashed lines illustrate the communications in the system 600. In one example, the gateway 650 or the controller 652 receives sensor data from a sensor 634 to provide grid status and receives sensor data from a sensor 636 to provide local status. In one example, the gateway 650 or the controller 652 receives information from sensors 642 and 644 to indicate the current information of various specific circuits in the user's premises. In one example, the gateway 650 or the controller 652 provides one or more commands to one or more power converters 670 to change the operation of a selected power converter. As seen from the grid side, the change in the operation of the selected power converter can change the power consumption. The change in operation can generate reactive energy to inject into the circuit to meet the reactive power demand, or inject reactive power outside the grid 610.

[0099] In one example, the controller 652 calculates the operating quadrant of the current waveform of the local system. The controller 652 can calculate the desired operating quadrant of the local current waveform based on the operating quadrant of the current waveform of the grid. If the current waveform of the local system is not as desired, the controller can send one or more commands to the power converter 670 to adjust the operation. The power converter 670 can adjust the mix of active power and reactive power to shift the local current waveform into the desired operating quadrant. In one example, the power converter only converts more active power into reactive power. In one example, the power converter converts more generated energy from a source 680 into reactive energy to inject back into the system. In one example, the power converter converts stored energy from a storage device 690 into a mix of active energy and reactive energy to inject back into the system. Any one of these actions or a combination of these actions can change the operation of the local current waveform to the desired quadrant.

[0100] In one example, one or more loads 662 (e.g., air conditioners) may have a power converter 670 to manage the power consumption of a particular load. For example, some loads 662 have high reactive power requirements. In one example, the power converter 670 may consume active power from the power grid 610 and locally convert the active power into reactive power. Thus, unlike conventionally changing the reactive load at the user's premises, the power converter 670 may only consume active power from the power grid, which is electrically isolated from its output. Thus, the power grid meter 620 will only see the active power consumption at the user's premises. However, the electrical isolation between the input and output of the power converter 670 may provide a local reactive power output to meet the requirements of a particular load 662. Thus, the reactive load may appear in the power grid as only consuming active power. Thus, although the connection line extends from the load 662 to the circuit breaker 660, in one example, at least one load 662 may be coupled to the circuit breaker 660 through the power converter 670.

[0101] Figure 7A is a block diagram of an example of a housing having multiple meters. System 710 represents a system according to System 600. System 710 includes a housing 720 having a meter 730 and a meter 740. System 710 also includes a gateway 750.

[0102] According to the above, the housing 720 may include electrical distribution hardware for the user's premises. It should be understood that for ease of description, the meter 730 and the meter 740 are labeled as meters, but may not be considered meters in the traditional sense because they do not monitor power usage for billing the user. In one example, in the same sense as the power company's power meter, the meter 730 and the meter 740 do not measure power consumption. In one example, the meter 730 and the meter 740 sense data to calculate current vectors, respectively representing the conditions of the power grid and the local system.

[0103] In one example, the meter 730 generates a data reading of the current of the power grid 732 as seen by the inflow to the PCC 734, which is the connection point between the user's premises and the power grid. Based on the data reading, the controller may calculate the current vector of the current seen at the PCC 734. The current vector has a magnitude and a direction, which in one example are mapped to a 4-quadrant unit circle. Mapping the current vector to the unit circle may identify the combination of active (x-axis) power and reactive (y-axis) power. In one example, the controller may set the power grid current vector to the unit of the circle.

[0104] In one example, meter 740 generates a data reading of the current of local system 742 as seen flowing into connection point 744. Connection point 744 represents a node within a user's premises. The controller can calculate the current vector of the local system to compare with the grid vector. In one example, the controller maps the vector onto a unit circle. The magnitude can represent the amount of resources that the local system can use to adjust local operations to change what the grid sees.

[0105] In one example, meters 730 and 740 provide their data to gateway 750 that implements iGOS 752. In one example, gateway 750 includes controls 754 that represent a controller for performing calculations. Controls 754 can also represent control signals to be sent to one or more power converters (not shown) at the user's premises.

[0106] Figure 7B An example of a four - quadrant meter is shown. Illustration 760 shows an internal meter 762 with inputs and outputs. The internal meter in any of the previous systems can be a four - quadrant meter. The four - quadrant meter receives measurement data from a monitored point. The monitored point can be or include a solar system or other power generation. The monitored point can be coupled to a battery or other storage device. The monitored point can include a power converter. The meter can provide output data to gateway 750. Gateway 750 represents a controller or “intelligent box” that includes computer controls 754 for managing energy generation and implementing intelligence such as iGOS 752.

[0107] Meter 762 represents an example of meter 730 or meter 740 or both meters 730 and 740. Meter 762 receives sensor data measurements of the monitored node as input 770, as described in the previous paragraphs. Depending on whether meter 762 is implemented facing the grid or the user, node 772 represents the monitored node. Meter 762 generates an output 780 representing the generated measurements. In one example, meter 762 generates current vector information. Meter 762 can provide output data to gateway 750. In one example, meter 762 provides output to a controller in a breaker housing box.

[0108] In one example of the housing, there are two meters implemented according to meter 762: a meter for local power generation and a meter for the PCC. In one example, the system includes additional meters for the battery subsystem. In one example, each meter provides four-quadrant monitoring of current to the monitored node, generating current vector information to be provided to the iGOS, thereby controlling the operation of the system to control how power appears at each monitored node. By making measurements after the grid meter, the system can change the operating quadrant after the meter so that the grid sees different operations at the user premises when viewed from the grid side of the PCC 734.

[0109] In one example, the four-quadrant meter can utilize a peripheral device interface bus (e.g., SPI bus) instead of a serial port, as in traditional metering components. The SPI allows the meter to transfer information on a message basis rather than on a byte-by-byte basis. The message allows the meter to provide more or less information than one byte. In one example, meter 762 accumulates information and provides more than one byte of information at a time. Meter 762 can still service each byte of the message but allows for the transfer of more information. The additional information can allow the system to obtain more data on what is happening, while byte-by-byte communication in a serial port may not provide enough information in a timely enough manner to perform the calculations required to track specific current information. Thus, meter 762 can provide more information to the system compared to traditional meters.

[0110] In one example, meter 762 includes a timer set up with a DMA (Direct Memory Access) service function to provide data directly to memory. Such a setup with a timer and DMA can allow certain parts of the processing stack to be bypassed. When configured as described above to allow message communication for sending messages, meter 762 can directly measure information into memory through the processor implementing the measurement code for analysis at the meter. This setup enables the transfer of more metering data within the processing window, providing more time to perform calculations on the metering data. Thus, the system can utilize fine-grained metering controls within the system to make decisions regarding the operation of the converter and the generation of reactive power after the grid meter.

[0111] In one example, the SPI interface is a synchronous interface. In one example, the DMA is implemented as a circular buffer. The code control meter 762 can rewrite the settings of the timer to know when to read data from the DMA buffer. The code can continuously track the start and stop of the metering data externally. The continuous external tracking of the start and stop can be achieved through an abstraction layer added to the metering algorithm. In this way, the code can organize the metering data into bytes, where the data bytes can represent readings, for example. This method can collect power data much faster than traditional methods. The increased speed can enable the accumulation and averaging of power information at the meter without the need to use an external controller.

[0112] In one example, the meter 762 stores data for transmission to the iGOS controller (whether at the local circuit box or not), or to an external gateway, or both. In one example, the meter 762 has a log builder that goes through the meter. The log can store thresholds for storing data. For example, if certain data exceeds certain thresholds, it can be marked as an anomaly and dumped, for example, when the data looks like a peak compared to other surrounding data. In one example, the iGOS can poll the meter 762. In one example, the meter 762 pushes data to the iGOS. In one example, the meter 762 follows a schedule for data transmission to the iGOS system.

[0113] Figure 8 is a block diagram of an example of a system having a 4 - quadrant meter for monitoring one or more power converter strings. System 800 provides a system according to Figure 1 system 100 or a system having Figure 6 system 600. System 800 specifically shows a meter 810 coupled to a plurality of power converter strings.

[0114] The meter 810 represents an internal meter or internal sensor according to any of the examples. In one example, the meter 810 is a 4 - quadrant meter. In one example, the meter 810 is a meter in a housing with circuit breakers that have current sensors. In one example, the meter 810 provides sensor data to the iGOS control 820, which can communicate with the power converter. The dashed line represents the communication from the iGOS control 820 to the power converter. The line from the meter 810 to the iGOS control 820 represents the current vector information that can be provided by the meter.

[0115] Node 830 represents the connection point of the power converter to the meter 810. The power converter represents a power converter for controlling energy generation and may provide reactive power injection. System 800 shows string 840 having power converter 842 and string 850 having power converter 852. Power converter 842 and power converter 852 may be the same as or at least comparable to each other.

[0116] In one example, the power converters are in strings within the system. For the purpose of communicating with the iGOS control, the strings can be in series. In one example, the converters communicate with each other to detect their neighbors and perform position detection. In one example, each converter has a unique identifier such as a unique MAC address and can thus be uniquely identified. Power converter 842 can be connected in string 840 to facilitate communication with the power converter and to understand the resources to which it is connected. Similarly, power converter 852 can be connected in a separate string 850. Communication with the power converter can include determining its position based on its string and its position within that string.

[0117] In one example, power converters 842 and 852 know the strings to which they belong and the string positions they have within those strings. Power converters 842 and 852 can know which phase or feeder they are connected to. In one example, system 800 can control export on a feeder-by-feeder basis. For different feeders, the load and reactive power requirements may be different. By knowing which converters are on which feeders and on which strings, the controller can instruct different converters to perform different operations.

[0118] Figure 9 is a flowchart of an example of a process for controlling current using a housing having a current sensor. Process 900 represents a process for controlling the response to current operation in a housing having a current sensor. Process 900 can be performed by a controller or gateway device as described herein.

[0119] A current sensor inline with the conductor of the housing generates current sensing data. At 902, the controller receives the current sensing data from the inline sensor. The sensor can be referred to as inline because it is along the path of the current, even if it is not part of the circuit. In one example, the sensor represents a sensor l / C that generates an output voltage based on the current passing below or above l / C.

[0120] In one example, the current reading can be affected by adjacent circuits. The adjacent circuits can be monitored by additional sensors to monitor the current along the path of the adjacent circuits. In one example, if there are adjacent sensors and the branch at 904 is "Yes", then at 906, the controller can receive current sensing data from the adjacent sensors or otherwise access the data. The controller can use the adjacent sensor data to adjust the readings of the sensors of the circuit of interest based on calibration data. Thus, the readings can reflect the actual current usage of the circuit.

[0121] If there is no adjacent circuit affecting the reading or there are no adjacent sensors, the branch at 904 is "No", or after considering the adjacent sensors at 906, at 908, the controller can calculate the current waveform based on the sensor input. In one example, the controller performs vector calculations based on the current vector representation of the current waveform.

[0122] In one example, at 910, the controller calculates the operating quadrant of the local system. In one example, the controller does not need to calculate the operating quadrant because the current sensor can generate data for indicating the operating quadrant. The controller can determine whether the current vector reading is in the desired quadrant. If the current vector of the local system is in the desired quadrant and the branch at 912 is "Yes", then at 914, the system can simply continue operating.

[0123] If the current vector of the local system is not in the desired quadrant and the branch at 912 is "No", then in one example, at 916, the controller calculates the current vector to achieve the desired operating quadrant. In one example, the calculation is the vector calculation as described herein. The controller can determine the adjustment required for the active power or the reactive power or a combination of the active power and the reactive power to shift the local system vector into the desired quadrant. More specifically than the quadrant, in one example, based on the calculation, the controller can determine the exact vector angle on the unit circle that will place the local system vector in the desired position to achieve the desired connection to the power grid. The desired connection will present the reactive power offset that the power grid desires for the local system to conform to the operating parameters of the power grid.

[0124] In one example, at 918, the controller can identify the current state of one or more power converters and adjust the operation of the power converters to meet the target local system vector. In one example, at 920, the controller sends commands to the selected power converters to change their operation such that the local system current vector is shifted to the desired quadrant or a specific position on the unit circle.

[0125] Figure 10A flowchart of an example of a process for controlling current using a system having two internal meters. Process 1000 represents a process for controlling the response to current operation in a housing having a current sensor. Process 1000 may be performed by the housing and the iGOS system as described herein.

[0126] At 1002, the housing including the power distribution hardware for the user premises includes a first internal meter or internal sensor for monitoring grid-side conditions. At 1004, the system may determine the grid conditions based on the monitoring. In one example, the sensor or meter itself generates a representation of the grid conditions by generating a grid vector to represent the complex current vector seen at the PCC. In one example, the sensor or meter sends data to a controller that may determine the grid conditions based on the data.

[0127] At 1006, the housing includes a second internal meter or internal sensor for monitoring user-side conditions. At 1008, similar to the grid-side information, the system may determine the user-side conditions based on the monitoring. In one example, the sensor or meter itself generates a representation of the conditions of the local system by generating a local vector to represent the complex current vector as seen flowing into the local system. In one example, the sensor or meter sends data to a controller that may determine the local conditions based on the data.

[0128] In one example, at 1008, the controller calculates the operating quadrant of the local system. In one example, the controller does not need to calculate the operating quadrant because the current sensor may generate data for indicating the operating quadrant. In one example, at 1010, the controller calculates the desired operating quadrant or a specific angle on the unit circle to present to the grid at the PCC. Presenting different operating states to the grid means adjusting the operation after the meter such that at the PCC, the grid sees what it wants to see, such as consumption within certain parameters of reactive power. This operation may be adjusted within the system itself in such a way that the grid management that has requested a reduction of the reactive load may still operate, but from the perspective of the grid, the operation will disappear because no reactive power will be consumed from the grid.

[0129] The controller may determine whether the current vector reading is in the desired quadrant. If the current vector of the local system is in the desired quadrant, the "yes" branch at 1012, then starting at 1002, the system may continue normal operation, thereby monitoring the grid and location conditions.

[0130] If the current vector of the local system is not in the desired quadrant, for the "No" branch at 1012, then in one example, at 1014, the controller calculates the current vector to achieve the desired operating quadrant. In one example, the calculation is a vector calculation as described herein. The controller may determine the adjustment required for the active power or the reactive power or a combination of the active power and the reactive power to shift the local system vector into the desired quadrant. More specifically than the quadrant, in one example, based on the calculation, the controller may determine the exact vector angle on the unit circle that will place the local system vector in the desired position to achieve the desired connection with the power grid. The desired connection will present a reactive power offset that the power grid desires for the local system to conform to the operating parameters of the power grid.

[0131] In one example, at 1016, the controller may identify the current state of one or more power converters and adjust the operation of the power converters to meet the target local system vector. In one example, at 1018, the controller sends commands to selected power converters to change their operation such that the local system current vector is shifted to the desired quadrant or specific location on the unit circle. Starting at 1002, the system may then continue to monitor the operation.

[0132] Figure 11 Is a representation of an example of the voltage reading of a sensor placed near the connection point of the circuit breaker and the circuit board. Diagrams 1110, 1120, and 1130 show the voltage readings of sensors placed near the connection point of the circuit breaker and the circuit board, such as the examples previously described.

[0133] Diagram 1110 shows the minimum voltage reading when there is no load condition. A no-load condition refers to the condition when the sensor monitors a circuit that is not consuming power. The background noise is shown as approximately 2 mV, no load. Figure 1120 shows a voltage waveform with a signal that swings to approximately + / −5 mV when the monitored circuit consumes 0.9 amperes. Diagram 1130 shows a voltage waveform with a signal that swings to approximately + / −90 mV when the circuit consumes 11.8 amperes.

[0134] Such measurements can be used to calibrate the system. After calibration, measurements such as those shown can be used to determine the behavior of the system. As shown, a complete waveform can be determined, which enables the system to determine the phase and amplitude of the current. Based on such information, the system controller can calculate the current vector for vector calculation to determine the quadrant.

[0135] Figure 12A representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where the monitored channels are not loaded. Illustration 1200 shows an example where channels 1 and 2 are not loaded (which results in the minimum readings). It will be observed that even when not loaded, the background noise of different sensors can be different, as channel 1 has a background noise of 10.77 mV and channel 2 has a background noise of 4.473 mV. Such differences can be used for future calculations of current waveforms.

[0136] Figure 13 A representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where the monitored channels are all loaded. Illustration 1300 shows an example where channel 1 and channel 2 are loaded. In one example, illustration 1300 shows equal loads on both channels, which results in different readings depending on the monitored sensors. For example, the sensor on channel 2 can be affected more by channel 1 than the sensor on channel 1 is affected by channel 2. Thus, channel 2 shows a reading of 100.1 mV while channel 1 shows a reading of 75.13 mV.

[0137] Figure 14 A representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is loaded and channel 2 is not loaded. Illustration 1400 shows an example where channel 1 is loaded and channel 2 is not loaded. Channel 1 shows a waveform of 77.12 mV, which is comparable to the waveform in illustration 1300. Channel 2 shows a waveform of 4.900 mV, which is comparable to the waveform in illustration 1200.

[0138] Figure 15 A representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is not loaded and channel 2 is loaded. Illustration 1500 shows an example where channel 2 is loaded and channel 1 is not loaded. Channel 2 shows a waveform of 101.6 mV, which is comparable to the waveform in illustration 1300. Channel 1 shows a waveform of 11.14 mV, which is comparable to the waveform in illustration 1200.

[0139] Figure 16 A representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is loaded and channel 2 is not loaded and channel 2 is not powered. Illustration 1600 shows an example where channel 1 is loaded and channel 2 is not loaded. The sensor for channel 1 (circuit board 1) is powered, and the sensor for channel 2 (circuit board 2) is not powered. In such an example, there is no reading for channel 2, and the reading for channel 1 is 74.67 mV, comparable to the previous readings.

[0140] Figure 17It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where both monitored channels are loaded and channel 2 is not powered. Illustration 1700 shows an example where both channel 1 and channel 2 are loaded. Similarly, the sensors of channel 1 (circuit board 1) are powered, and the sensors of channel 2 (circuit board 2) are not powered. In this example, there is no reading for channel 2, and the reading for channel 1 is 74.89 mV, which is comparable to the previous reading. Although the readings are comparable, they can show the differences that can occur when calculating current vector information. Each system may have a different noise tolerance to determine how much the readings should be adjusted.

[0141] Figure 18 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where for the monitored channels, channel 1 is not loaded and channel 2 is loaded and channel 1 is not powered. Illustration 1800 shows an example where channel 1 is not loaded and channel 2 is loaded. The sensors of channel 1 (circuit board 1) are not powered, and the sensors of channel 2 (circuit board 2) are powered. In this example, there is no reading for channel 1, and the reading for channel 2 is 92.04 mV. It will be observed that the reading for channel 2 is lower than the previous reading, which may indicate a noise difference due to different load conditions.

[0142] Figure 19 It is a representation of an example of voltage readings of a system with multiple sensors, where both monitored channels are loaded and channel 1 is not powered. Illustration 1900 shows an example where both channel 1 and channel 2 are loaded. Similarly, the sensors of channel 1 (circuit board 1) are not powered, and the sensors of channel 2 (circuit board 2) are powered. In this example, there is no reading for channel 1, and the reading for channel 2 is 90.78 mV, which is also lower than the previous reading. Multiple such readings can be made to perform calibration to determine how to interpret the sensor readings.

[0143] Figure 20 It is a graphical representation of an example of current components in a system, where the current vector is a synthesis of the primary current component and the harmonic current component. Illustrations 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040 show the component parts of the complex current vectors that can be calculated and used according to system 100 or system 600. As shown, illustration 2010 represents the primary current vector 2012. The primary current includes an x-component and a y-component and defines the reference frame for the harmonics.

[0144] Illustration 2020 represents a first harmonic vector 2022, which includes an x-component, a y-component, and an angular offset 2024. Illustration 2030 represents a third harmonic vector 2032, which includes an x-component, a y-component, and an angular offset 2034. Illustration 2040 represents a fifth harmonic vector 2042, which includes an x-component, a y-component, and an angular offset 2044. The primary current 2012 and each of the various harmonics (2022, 2032, 2042) are shown as a two-dimensional "power triangle" representation, which is conventionally expected for each of them. However, the harmonics often have an angular offset relative to the primary current component vectors, so the resulting combined current vector may not be in the same plane as the primary current vector 2012.

[0145] Instead, consider the power triangle of the combined current vector as a triangle within a three-dimensional box. Illustration 2050 provides a simple illustration of this concept. It will be observed that the primary current vector 2012 lies on the face of the three-dimensional box in Illustration 2050. The harmonics somehow "push" the triangle of the combined current into the box. The combined current vector 2052 is larger in magnitude and is angularly offset relative to the primary current vector 2012. The offset 2054 represents the angular offset. It should be understood that the primary current vector 2012 and the combined current vector 2052 define the "shape" of the box. Depending on the amount of harmonic contribution, the box shape will be different. The combined current vector 2052 can be a characteristic stored by the metering device. The reference plane of the primary current 2012 can be defined as the plane of the grid power (referring to the power condition seen at the grid via the PCC).

[0146] Regarding the generated noise and harmonics, it should be understood that there are generally regulations for switched-mode power supplies and magnetic resonance. The compliance of each device is tested (e.g., UL certification). When each device or load works individually as designed and tested, each device or load will meet the specified requirements. However, when there are multiple loads and / or devices coupled together, they tend to produce unexpected resonances. The inventors have measured the contributions to the energy triangle from the first harmonic up to the fortieth harmonic. Therefore, a large amount of harmonic noise typically appears on the power line. Harmonic suppression has traditionally included filters targeted at specific noise components. However, the noise components can continue to change as different devices are turned on and off, and the electrical resonance structure of the network is constantly changing. In one example, the meter detects the characteristics of each load or group of loads. The characteristics can be referred to as the signature of the harmonics.

[0147] In one example, a power meter or an energy meter can detect such displacements as the angular shift of a harmonic current vector by measuring the energy contribution. The power converter can compensate for the actual synthesized current by providing the reactive power required to match the load and / or the PCC to the power grid. Thus, the current at the load can be regulated by the converter so that the synthesized current is aligned with the power grid, not only in terms of the power factor but also in terms of the complex vector. This operation will naturally eliminate or at least reduce the harmonic distortion caused by the load on the power grid.

[0148] In one example, what is described with reference to the load can also be performed with reference to energy generation. In one example, the meter can determine the energy characteristics at the PCC and calculate what current will be required to shift the power grid to a desired shift (in the case where a power factor other than unity power factor is required) and / or match the power grid in the case where unity power factor is required. The converter can adjust its operation to regulate the power output so as to not only match the reactive power demand but also match the complex current vector displacement and more effectively match the interface between the power grid and downstream of the PCC.

[0149] It should be understood that the energy triangle represented in FIG. 2050 can be expressed as a mathematical representation of the effect seen when looking at the current components of the power consumed by the load or the user. This effect is wasted energy, which typically manifests itself as heat. Traditionally, the problem is that the system does not match well and there are significant noise components. In one example, the control node not only matches the impedance but also matches the noise or harmonic correction to provide a connection to the specific energy characteristics of the power grid. Thus, whether power is output to the power grid or received from the power grid, the control node can provide a "cleaner" connection to the power grid network with respect to the power interface.

[0150] Figure 21 is a graphical representation of an example of the current components in the system, where the harmonic components of the current have an angular shift with respect to the primary current component.

[0151] FIG. 2110 provides a complex vector representation of the current. The vector has a magnitude and a direction. In one example, a meter (such as the meter according to meter 762) can monitor the power as an energy characteristic including a representation of the complex power vector, rather than simply measuring the power as is traditionally done. In one example, each characteristic identifies the properties used to define the characteristic. Each characteristic includes a complex vector representation that provides the vector of the primary current and the vectors of one or more harmonics.

[0152] The vector 2120 is the vector of the primary current. In a typical representation, the x - coordinate is the vector component that extends from left to right across the page. The y - component extends from the bottom to the top of the page. It should be understood that, although not shown here for simplicity, the vector can have a negative y - component. The x - y coordinates define the end - point of the vector. Now assume that the x - coordinate and y - coordinate of the primary current vector 2120 define a plane. According to the research and work done by the inventors, the most correct way to envision harmonics is to represent harmonics as three - dimensional vectors. Thus, if the x - y coordinates of the vector 2120 define a reference plane, one or more of the harmonics can have an angular offset with respect to the plane of the primary current vector.

[0153] For example, consider the example of the illustration 2110. The first harmonic is shown as having a vector 2130 that includes an x - component and a y - component, where the magnitudes of the components can be any magnitudes with respect to the primary current components. In addition to the x - coordinate and y - coordinate, the first - harmonic vector 2130 includes a z - coordinate component that defines an angular offset 2152 of the current vector with respect to the reference plane of the primary current vector 2120. It should be understood that the starting points of the primary current and the harmonics are the same. Thus, the third dimension of the harmonic vector or complex vector is not necessarily an absolute z - coordinate component, but rather an angular offset with respect to the primary current.

[0154] As shown, the third - harmonic vector 2140 also has an x - component and a y - component, as well as an angular offset 2154 that can be different (greater or less) than the angular offset 2152 of the first - harmonic vector 2130. The angular displacement of the angular offset represents the magnetic effect on the current. The inventors have measured a significant effect on power consumption up to the fortieth harmonic. Thus, the contribution of the harmonic offset should not be underestimated. Due to the different resonant effects of the magnetic flux when trying to move the current, the harmonics are shifted with respect to the angular offset. The primary current vector 2120 is the current that the user expects to see. However, the harmonic components can increase significant (measurable) power consumption. The offset of the harmonics can shift a simple desired two - dimensional current vector into a three - dimensional current vector (complex current vector). The traditional power triangle does not fully address the user's power - usage problem because additional power will be required to overcome the magnetic components represented by the shifted or offset harmonic components.

[0155] In one example, the controller or gateway system performs current calculations based on the representation of the current in vector form according to the illustration 2110. In one example, a meter based on the meter 762 generates a vector representation of the current of the monitored node and provides the data to the controller. The controller can not only identify the characteristics of different loads or different circuits, but also identify the comparison between the grid - current vector and the local - current vector. The controller can send a request to the power converter to adjust the operation of the output so as to shift the local - current vector to a desired state based on the position of the grid vector on the 4 - quadrant unit circle.

[0156] Figure 22 It is a graphical representation of an example of a grid current vector relative to a local system current vector mapping. Circle 2200 provides a representation of the current vector. In one example, circle 2200 shows the graphical information generated by the controller to map the grid vector 2210 onto circle 2200.

[0157] In one example, the grid vector is obtained by measuring the grid current at the PCC. In one example, the grid vector is a reference vector, so circle 2200 can be normalized to the magnitude of vector 2210. Circle 2200 can be normalized to different units, such as the peak power at the user's premises or the peak output capacity of the user's premises, where, for example, vector 2210 can represent the consumption of the user's premises as seen at the PCC.

[0158] Circle 2200 includes two different local vectors, vector 2220 and vector 2230, for discussion purposes. In one example, the user's premises will only have one local vector. For example, the user's premises includes multiple vectors based on different phases or different feeds provided to the user's premises.

[0159] Vector 2220 can represent the location where the current of the user system is generated at the time of measurement. In one example, iGOS wants to shift vector 2220 to the dashed line to cancel vector 2210. This may be true when vector 2210 represents consumption and vector 2220 represents generation. In another representation, if, for example, the representation shows the vectors that should be aligned for maximum efficiency, the system may want to shift vector 2220 from quadrant 4 (Q4) to quadrant 2 (Q2) to align with vector 2210. In one example, the user's premises may have a current vector 2230 in quadrant 1, and the system may want this vector to be shifted to a different quadrant, such as inline with vector 2210 in quadrant 2.

[0160] It should be understood that different representations can be formed by the grid vector and the local vector or only the local vector. The alignment or offset of these vectors can vary according to different operations. For example, it may be that the system wants to intentionally move a local vector out of phase with the grid vector to ensure that the system provides reactive power support. Regardless of the representation or the desired quadrant (which can be even more specific to a particular angle within the desired quadrant on circle 2200), it should be understood that understanding the magnitude and angle of the vectors can allow the system to determine whether the power converter should convert active power to reactive power, whether it should adjust the mix of active and reactive power of the system, or otherwise how to transform the operation.

[0161] In one example, as shown by circle 2200, the controller may perform calculations to determine the operation of the power converter by performing vector calculations. Thus, the system may represent the measured current waveform in vector form and perform vector calculations to determine how to adjust the operation of the system to achieve a desired result. The system may calculate vector calculations to determine the mix of active and reactive power required, or determine the mix of active and reactive power that the power converter should output to transform the operation of the system.

[0162] Figure 23 FIG. is a block diagram of an example of a metering device that monitors power at the PCC. The metering device 2300 may be an internal meter or internal sensor according to any example herein. In one example, the metering device 2300 is a sensor in a housing such as according to system 100 or system 600.

[0163] The metering device 2300 includes hardware components for interconnecting to a management system such as a gateway device or other iGOS system. In one example, the metering device 2300 includes a node interface 2320, which represents the hardware that enables the metering device to measure or monitor the energy usage or generation of a circuit, or both energy usage and energy generation. In one example, the metering device 2300 includes voltage sensing hardware 2324 and current sensing hardware 2322. The current sensing hardware 2322 may measure the current consumed at the monitored node or the energy supplied to the node and may include hardware capable of measuring the harmonic components of the measured power. The current sensing hardware 2322 may include the magnitude, phase shift (e.g., power factor), frequency, or other electrical characteristics of the current waveform at the monitored node. In one example, the metering device 2300 may generate an energy signature and compare this energy signature calculation to a stored energy signature 2332. The metering device 2300 may also store the new energy signature calculated as signature 2332. The voltage sensing hardware 2324 may measure the voltage including the phase, frequency, magnitude, or other electrical characteristics of the voltage waveform at the monitored node.

[0164] The processor 2310 represents the control logic or controller for the metering device 2300. The processor 2310 may be configured or programmed to perform energy monitoring. The processor 2310 may be configured to perform calculations to calculate an energy signature, generate a complex current vector, or compare current and voltage readings to an energy signature or other current vectors. In one example, the processor 2310 determines how the current may be adjusted to compensate for harmonics, grid conditions, or other conditions to place the monitored node at a desired current vector position on the unit circle.

[0165] The metering device 2300 includes an external I / O 2340 to enable the metering device 2300 to connect to other metering devices or to a management system for the customer premises where the metering device 2300 is implemented. In one example, the external I / O 2340 enables the metering device 2300 to send data to a gateway device.

[0166] In one example, the metering device 2300 includes a storage repository represented as storage device 2330, such as a memory or a hard disk drive or a solid state storage device. In one example, the metering device 2300 stores features or vectors for local use by the metering device or for sending as data to an external controller. The features or vectors are represented as features 2332 in the metering device 2300, which may simply represent waveform data of a monitored node. The waveform data may include data representing or available for calculating a complex current vector, which represents the condition of the current waveform at the monitored node.

[0167] In one example, the processor 2310 accesses one or more compliance information items 2334. In one example, the compliance information 2334 is stored in the storage device 2330. In one example, the compliance information 2334 is received via the external I / O 2340. In one instance, the processor 2310 calculates a desired current waveform phase and shape for a given power demand scenario or power generation scenario based on the compliance information 2334. Thus, the compliance information 2334 can affect how the metering device 2300 operates. In one example, the external I / O 2340 enables the metering device 2300 to couple to one or more associated converters. In one example, based on calculations performed by the processor 2310, the metering device 2300 can signal to the power converter how to operate to achieve the desired current. In one example, the metering device 2300 simply indicates the desired current to the power converter, which can then calculate alone how to generate the current. In one example, the metering device 2300 calculates specific parameters that are inputs to the power converter device to cause it to adjust its operation for the desired current vector.

[0168] Figure 24 is a block diagram of an example of a power converter capable of reactive power injection. The system 2400 shows a power converter 2420 that couples an input to an output. The power converter 2420 can be a power converter according to any of the descriptions herein.

[0169] Basically, the power converter 2420 has electrical isolation between the output and the input. The electrical isolation enables the power converter 2420 to perform impedance matching with the source at the input while also performing impedance matching with the load at the output. The impedance matching at both the input and the output can be achieved through an internal node that isolates the input to allow the power converter to simply match any input that the source can provide and floats the output to any voltage of the load.

[0170] The system 2400 includes an energy source 2410, which represents any DC (direct current) power source. The energy source 2410 can be any example of energy generation, such as a solar cell / array, a wind turbine, or other time-varying or green power sources. The energy source 2410 is coupled to hardware 2430 that electrically isolates the energy source from the output.

[0171] The hardware 2430 includes a DC / DC converter 2432 to convert the DC input into an isolated DC source. The hardware 2430 includes a DC / AC inverter 2424 to convert the isolated DC power into alternating current (AC) to provide as an output. The DC / AC inverter 2424 can generate an output with any desired phase, as described below.

[0172] The DC-to-DC (or DC / DC) converter 2422 electrically isolates the source from the output. The DC / DC converter 2422 has a dashed line to indicate an internal node that can float on either side to match the electrical connection. For example, the DC / DC converter 2422 can have an input transformer coupled to an independent output transformer, where the inductive wires of the transformers are coupled to each other at the internal node. Then, the internal node can simply float to any desired voltage through which current passes between the transformers. The input transformer isolates the input, and the output transformer isolates the output.

[0173] The input and the output are internally isolated from each other by a floating node that is charged with magnetic flux by high-frequency switching of the input DC voltage. Thus, the internal node can simply float and receive any energy provided by the source and deliver all available energy to the output at any voltage at which the output operates. The output will simply float to the load voltage and deliver current.

[0174] The hardware 2430 can achieve impedance matching by changing the operation of the input interface of the DC / DC converter 2432 to maximize the energy transfer from the source 2410 without fixing the input voltage or current to a specific value. Instead, the input is allowed to float to any voltage generated by the source 2410, and the current will match based on any total power generated. Similarly, at the output, the hardware 2430 achieves impedance matching by changing the operation of the output interface of the DC / AC inverter 2434 to the load, allowing the load to draw any required power at any voltage of the load operation. Thus, the output of the hardware 2430 can float to match the voltage of the load (e.g., load 2402), and generate current to match the available total power.

[0175] The hardware 2430 can generate the output current waveform of the DC / AC inverter 2434, where the magnitude is determined by how much energy is available and the position of the load. Thus, the output floats to match the load and is not fixed at a specific current or specific voltage. The internal node between the DC / DC converter 2432 and the DC / AC inverter 2434 can act as an energy reservoir, where input impedance matching enables the internal node to be effectively charged, and output impedance matching enables the load to draw energy from the internal node.

[0176] The controller 2440 represents the control hardware or CPU (Central Processing Unit) or processor of the power converter 2420. The parameter (param) 2442 can control the input operation, and the parameter (param) 2444 can control the output operation. Both the input and output operations can be controlled by a switching device that has a configured duty cycle to control access to the energy of the internal node. In one example, the controller 2440 receives input characteristic information from the energy source 2410 to set the parameters 2442 and 2444.

[0177] In one example, the power converter 2420 includes a table 2450 that provides a table-based mechanism for generating the output current. The table-based mechanism can provide an idealized output current instead of simply trying to generate current based on the grid voltage as is usually done. The idealized waveform of the table 2450 enables the output hardware to generate a waveform with an idealized shape without harmonic distortion, and this waveform can be generated with any desired phase shift relative to the grid voltage. Thus, the idealized waveform enables the power converter 2420 to output power that is electrically isolated from the input at any phase angle relative to the connected system. Therefore, the power converter 2420 can actually generate reactive power instead of simply providing a reactive load to change the power factor. Thus, the power converter 2420 operates as a virtual rotating generator that can generate an output current at any desired phase relative to the grid voltage.

[0178] Table 2450 may include entries based on input conditions measured from the system to achieve a desired mix of active and reactive power. Feedback from the output may include voltage zero crossings, voltage amplitudes, and current waveform information. With this information, controller 2440 may use table 2450 to adjust the operation of DC / DC converter 2432 or DC / AC inverter 2434 or both. These tables may include set values that provide an idealized output signal that the system attempts to create. Better system performance may be achieved by matching output performance with an idealized representation of input power than traditionally attempting to filter and adjust output.

[0179] Controller 2440 may monitor the AC current removed from DC / AC inverter 2434 and the target voltage of a load such as load 2402 or a grid (not specifically shown). Controller 2440 controls at least one electrical parameter of the interface of hardware 2430 to control its operation. Parameters 2442 and 2444 represent controls from controller 2440 to control the operation of hardware 2430 within converter 2420. In one example, parameter 2442 may include a duty cycle of a switching signal for power extraction of DC / DC converter 2432. , which changes the input impedance matching, which in turn controls the charging of the internal nodes. In one example, parameter 2444 may represent a duty cycle or other control signal for changing the operation of DC / AC inverter 2434, which changes the output impedance matching, which in turn controls the outflow of energy from the internal nodes. The modification of each parameter may depend on the quality of the monitored current and voltage. When properly regulated power is available for use by load 2402, controller 2440 also controls switch device S2426 to couple the load to the power generated by power converter 2420.

[0180] The power converter 2420 includes a switching device S2426 (e.g., a relay) to selectively connect the hardware 2430 to the load 2402. When the power converter 2420 is grid connected, the output can also be connected to the grid through S2426. Under normal operation, DC power is consumed from the source 2410 and is extracted, inverted, and dynamically processed by the power converter 2420 to dynamically produce a maximum AC current that is relatively free of harmonic distortion and fluctuations and is in a desired phase with respect to an AC voltage signal from the grid or from the load 2402.

[0181] In one example, the power converter 2420 may generate an AC current somewhat intentionally out of phase with respect to the AC voltage signal of the power grid. Thus, a single power converter 2420 may generate reactive power to deliver power at any desired phase shift to meet the load 2402 or to compensate for conditions on the power grid. In one example, multiple power converters 2420 may operate in parallel at the same interface. When coupled to the same interface, these power converters may still operate independently to output power at a specified phase for each output, thereby generating any ratio of active power and reactive power from each power converter or from the group of power converters.

[0182] In one example, the system 2400 may be applied without a specific energy source 2410. For example, the power converter 2420 may be coupled to receive power from the power grid and generate an output to the load 2402 that provides any mix of active power and reactive power required by the load 2402. In this example, the power converter may operate in reverse by connecting to the power grid as a source for the DC / AC inverter 2434 and outputting to the load via the DC / DC converter 2432.

[0183] Generally speaking, relative to the description herein, in one example, a device includes: contacts to a power source of a circuit breaker for providing power to the circuit when connected, and an integrated circuit (I / C) sensor mounted near the contacts to generate current sensing data of the circuit when connected, the current sensing data including data for indicating the active power and reactive power consumption of the circuit.

[0184] In one example, a circuit breaker includes a first circuit breaker, a circuit includes a first circuit, a sensor includes a first sensor, and current sensing data includes first current sensing data; and the apparatus further includes a second circuit breaker and a second I / C sensor, the second circuit breaker being coupled to contacts of the second circuit breaker to provide power to the second circuit upon connection; the second I / C sensor being mounted near the contacts to generate second current sensing data of the second circuit upon connection, the second current sensing data including data for indicating the active power and reactive power consumption of the second circuit. In one example, the apparatus further includes: a controller configured to receive the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data and to calculate the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit, respectively. In one example, the controller calculates the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the second circuit as the difference between the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data. In one example, the controller calculates the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit based on the first current sensing data, including adjusting the calculation to normalize interference from the second circuit calculated using the second current sensing data. In one example, the controller is configured to calculate the combined active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit. In one example, the controller will send commands to a power converter coupled to the apparatus to cause the power converter to adjust the ratio of the active power and the reactive power to be provided to the first circuit. In one example, the contacts include first contacts, the power supply includes a first power supply, the circuit breaker includes a first circuit breaker, the circuit includes a first circuit, the sensor includes a first sensor, and the current sensing data includes first current sensing data; and the apparatus further includes contacts to a second power supply of the second circuit breaker to provide power to the second circuit upon connection, the second power supply being out of phase with respect to the first power supply; and the apparatus includes a second circuit breaker and a second l / C sensor, the second circuit breaker being coupled to contacts of the second circuit breaker to provide power to the second circuit upon connection, and the second l / C sensor being mounted near the contacts to generate second current sensing data of the second circuit upon connection, the second current sensing data including data for indicating the active power and reactive power consumption of the second circuit. In one example, the apparatus further includes: a controller configured to receive the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data and to calculate the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit, respectively. In one example, the controller calculates the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit based on the first current sensing data, including adjusting the calculation to normalize interference from the second circuit calculated using the second current sensing data.

[0185] Generally speaking, relative to the description of this article, in one example, a device includes: a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller; the first sensor is used to monitor a first current waveform connected to a point of common coupling (PCC) for connecting to a power grid; the second sensor is used to monitor a second current waveform connected to a local system for coupling to the PCC, the local system including a local load and a local power converter; the controller is used to calculate the operating quadrant of the second current waveform, calculate the desired operating quadrant of the second current waveform based on the operating quadrant of the first current waveform, and send a command to cause the local power converter to adjust the operation of the second current waveform to the desired operating quadrant.

[0186] In one example, the first sensor includes a first internal power meter, and the second sensor includes a second internal power meter. In one example, the connection to the local system includes a circuit breaker. In one example, the controller will send a command to cause the local power converter to adjust the ratio of the active power to the reactive power generated by the local power converter to change the operation of the second current waveform to the desired quadrant. In one example, the controller will send a command to cause the local power converter to adjust the ratio of the active power to the reactive power generated by the energy stored in the local energy storage device to change the operation of the second current waveform to the desired quadrant.

[0187] The flowcharts shown herein provide examples of sequences of various process actions. The flowcharts may indicate operations to be performed by software or firmware routines, as well as physical operations. The flowcharts may show examples of specific implementations of the states of a finite state machine (FSM), which may be implemented in hardware and / or software. Although shown in a specific order or sequence, unless otherwise specified, the order of the actions may be modified. Therefore, the illustrated diagrams should only be understood as examples, and the processes may be executed in a different order, and some actions may be performed in parallel. Additionally, one or more actions may be omitted; thus, not all specific implementations will perform all actions.

[0188] For the various operations or functions described herein, they may be described or defined as software code, instructions, configurations, and / or data. The content may be in a directly executable form ("object" or "executable" form), source code, or differential code ("delta" or "patch" code). The software content in the content described herein may be provided via an article of manufacture having the content stored thereon, or via a method of operating a communication interface to send data via the communication interface. A machine-readable storage medium may cause a machine to perform the functions or operations, and includes any mechanism that stores information in a machine-accessible form (e.g., a computing device, an electronic system, etc.), such as a recordable / non-recordable medium (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.). A communication interface includes any mechanism that engages with a medium such as a hardwired medium, a wireless medium, an optical medium, etc. to communicate with another device, such as a memory bus interface, a processor bus interface, an Internet connection, a disk controller, etc. The communication interface may be configured by providing configuration parameters and / or sending signals to prepare the communication interface to provide a data signal describing the software content. The communication interface may be configured by providing configuration parameters and / or sending signals to prepare the communication interface to provide a data signal describing the software content. The communication interface may be accessed via one or more commands or signals sent to the communication interface.

[0189] The various components described herein may be means for performing the operations or functions. Each component described herein includes software, hardware, or a combination thereof. A component may be implemented as a software module, a hardware module, dedicated hardware (e.g., application-specific hardware, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), etc.), an embedded controller, hardwired circuitry, etc.

[0190] In addition to the content described herein, various modifications may be made to the disclosure and specific implementations of the present invention without departing from the disclosure and specific implementations of the present invention. Accordingly, the descriptions and examples herein should be understood as illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the present invention should be measured only by reference to the following claims.

Claims

1. A power monitoring device, comprising: Contacts to the power supply of the circuit breaker to supply power to the circuit when the circuit breaker is connected to the contacts; A conductive plate connecting the power supply to the contacts; An integrated circuit (I / C) sensor mounted near the contacts to generate current sensing data of the circuit when the circuit breaker is connected, the current sensing data including data for indicating the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the circuit, the I / C sensor being mounted above the conductive plate and below the circuit breaker; And An insulator layer between the conductive plate and the I / C sensor, the I / C sensor being mounted on the insulator layer.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker includes a first circuit breaker, the circuit includes a first circuit, the I / C sensor includes a first I / C sensor, and the current sensing data includes first current sensing data; and further includes A second circuit breaker coupled to the contacts to supply power to a second circuit when connected; and A second I / C sensor mounted near the contacts to generate second current sensing data of the second circuit when connected, the second current sensing data including data for indicating the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the second circuit.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising: A controller for receiving the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data and respectively calculating the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the second circuit as the difference between the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit based on the first current sensing data, including adjusting the calculation to normalize for interference from the second circuit calculated using the second current sensing data.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the combined active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to send commands to a power converter coupled to the device to cause the power converter to adjust the ratio of the active power and reactive power to be supplied to the first circuit.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the contacts include first contacts, the power supply includes a first power supply, the circuit breaker includes a first circuit breaker, the circuit includes a first circuit, the I / C sensor includes a first I / C sensor, and the current sensing data includes first current sensing data; and further includes a second contact to a second power supply that is out of phase with respect to the first power supply, for the second circuit breaker to supply power to a second circuit when connected; a second circuit breaker coupled to the second contact to supply power to a second circuit when connected; and a second I / C sensor mounted near the second contact to generate second current sensing data for the second circuit when connected, the second current sensing data including data for indicating the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the second circuit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a controller configured to receive the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data, and calculate the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit, respectively.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit based on the first current sensing data, including adjusting the calculation to normalize for interference from the second circuit as calculated using the second current sensing data.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The I / C sensor includes a first I / C sensor, the current sensing data includes first current sensing data, and further comprises: a second I / C sensor mounted on the insulator layer, the second I / C sensor mounted near the contact to generate second current sensing data for the circuit when the circuit breaker is connected; and a controller configured to calculate the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the circuit as the difference between the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, The contact includes a first contact, the circuit breaker includes a first circuit breaker, the circuit includes a first circuit; and further comprises: a second contact to a second power supply, the second power supply being out of phase with respect to the power supply; a second circuit breaker connected to the second contact to supply power to a second circuit when the second circuit breaker is connected; a third I / C sensor mounted near the second contact to generate third current sensing data for the second circuit when connected, the third current sensing data including data for indicating the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the second circuit; and a fourth I / C sensor mounted near the second contact to generate fourth current sensing data for the second circuit when the second circuit breaker is connected; wherein the controller calculates the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the second circuit as the difference between the third current sensing data and the fourth current sensing data.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein, The insulator layer includes a first insulator layer, and further comprises: a second insulator layer located between the conductive plate and the third I / C sensor and the fourth I / C sensor, the third I / C sensor and the fourth I / C sensor being mounted on the second insulator layer.

14. A power monitoring method, comprising: providing, through a conductive plate, an electrical connection for a circuit from a power supply to a circuit breaker mounted on a contact; and An integrated circuit (I / C) sensor generates current sensing data of the circuit. The I / C sensor is mounted near the contact. The I / C sensor is mounted above the conductive plate and below the circuit breaker. The I / C sensor is mounted on an insulator layer between the conductive plate and the circuit breaker. The current sensing data includes data for indicating the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the circuit.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the circuit includes a first circuit, the circuit breaker includes a first circuit breaker, the I / C sensor includes a first I / C sensor, and the current sensing data includes first current sensing data; and further includes: Providing a second electrical connection for a second circuit from the power supply to a second circuit breaker mounted on the contact through the conductive plate; and Generating second current sensing data of the second circuit through a second I / C sensor. The second I / C sensor is mounted near the contact. The second I / C sensor is mounted above the conductive plate and below the second circuit breaker. The second current sensing data includes data for indicating the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the second circuit.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprises: Receiving the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data at a controller; And respectively calculating the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit. Wherein, calculating the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption includes: calculating the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the first circuit based on the first current sensing data, including adjusting the calculation to normalize for interference from the second circuit calculated using the second current sensing data.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: Receiving the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data at a controller; And respectively calculating the active power current consumption and reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit, further including: sending a command to a power converter to cause the power converter to adjust the ratio of the active power and reactive power to be provided to the first circuit.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the contact includes a first contact, the power supply includes a first power supply, the conductive plate includes a first conductive plate, the circuit breaker includes a first circuit breaker, the circuit includes a first circuit, the I / C sensor includes a first I / C sensor, and the current sensing data includes first current sensing data; and the method further includes: Providing a second electrical connection for a second circuit from a second power supply to a second circuit breaker mounted on a second contact through a second conductive plate, the second power supply being out of phase with respect to the first power supply; and Generating second current sensing data of the second circuit through a second I / C sensor. The second I / C sensor is mounted near the second contact. The second I / C sensor is mounted above the conductive plate and below the second circuit breaker. The second current sensing data includes data for indicating the active power consumption and reactive power consumption of the second circuit.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: receiving, at a controller, the first current sensing data and the second current sensing data; and respectively calculating the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit and the second circuit.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein Calculating the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption includes: calculating the active power current consumption and the reactive power current consumption of the first circuit based on the first current sensing data, including adjusting the calculation to normalize for interference from the second circuit calculated using the second current sensing data.

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