2066 results about "Electric power distribution" patented technology

A power distribution system / method implementing Internet based access to hybrid home automation networks is disclosed. The system utilizes a smart gateway power controller (SGPC) configured for single / multi-gang wallplate installation to selectively switch an AC power source to a load device under switched control and / or local / remote network commands that may be routed through a variety of network interfaces and protocols present within a home or other structure-local communications network. SGPC configurations may be nested within a home automation network to permit separation of control for load devices within a common home automation environment. Present invention methods may include routing protocols between disparate home automation networks as well as remote access protocols that permit control of disparate home automation networks via the Internet using a wide variety of remote access interfaces including mobile devices, tablet computers, laptops, desktop computers, and the like.

A system, method and computer program product for processing utility data of a power grid is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a datamart comprised of a plurality of physical databases storing utility data, a plurality of applications comprising an automated meter application configured to process power usage data from a plurality of automated meters, a power outage application configured to identify a location of a power outage, and a power restoration application configured to identify a location of a power restoration. The system may include an analysis engine comprising a plurality of analysis objects with each analysis object configured to process data to provide a specific analysis, wherein said analysis engine is accessible via one or more of the plurality of applications, and the system may include a report module configured to receive an output from the analysis engine and to output a report. The plurality of applications may also include a fault analysis application, a transformer analysis application, a theft detection application, a power flow application, a substation automation application, a load shed application and others.

A system for providing an automated, on-line forward market for the exchange and scheduling of electrical power and for the auctioning of fixed transmission rights (FTRs) on a power generation and distribution system. The system provides an on-line interface to multiple, remotely located market participants who can offer to buy or sell energy for next-day scheduling. Settlement of scheduled transactions can be done on a day-ahead as well as on a real-time basis. Scheduled transactions can also be modified on an hour-ahead basis. The market participants can also take part in a monthly auction of FTRs. The market system operates in conjunction with the control facilities of the power system. Both the day-ahead market and the FTR auction are carried out by the system as part of a process which ensures the secure and efficient operation of the power system.

A power line coupler for communicating data signals between a communication device and a power distribution system having one or more overhead energized medium voltage power line conductors is provided. One embodiment comprises a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first power line conductor and the second end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a first terminal of the communication device. The embodiment further includes a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to a second power line conductor, and the second end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a second terminal of the communication device.

An intelligent power distribution system including one or more intelligent power strips. The power strips can each include an elongated housing that may be adapted for mounting in an equipment rack. The housing can include a first end, a second end and plurality of power outlets mounted thereon. The first end can have a number of apertures that enable power and signal conductors to enter an interior region of the housing. The second end can include a first and a second communication port. The first communication port may be adapted to enable a computer to communicate with the power the strip. The second communication port may be adapted to enable the power the strip to be daisy chained with a second intelligent power strip. The power strip further includes power management circuitry that can power-on and power-off the power outlets in accordance with an operator defined sequence and delays. The power management circuitry can further sense electrical current drawn by the power strip and control operation of the power strip based on the sensed electrical current to minimize branch circuit breaker tripping.

A plug-in hybrid propulsion system includes a fast energy storage device that preserves battery life, where the energy storage elements of the hybrid drive train may be charged with externally supplied electricity as well as energy from the engine or regenerative braking. Electronic switches, passive electronics, an enclosure, controller circuitry, and / or control algorithms are used to manage the flow of power between a fuel powered engine, a battery, a fast energy storage system, traction motors; a charger, ancillary systems, an electrical distribution system, and / or a drive train.

A device for use in locating a fault on a power line of a power distribution system includes: at least one sensor for measuring at least one property of the power line, and at least one output device in operative connection with the sensor to signal a state of the power line. The signaled state of the power line is determined from the measured property and indicates whether a fault has occurred in the power line. The output device can, for example, signal a current state or a previous state of the power line. The device can further include a controller in operative connection with the output device to control the operation of the output device based upon at least one of the current state or the past state of the power line. A device for use in measuring a property of power line of a power distribution system includes: a connector adapted to place the device in operative connection with the power line in the power distribution system without taking the power line out of operation; a sensor for measuring a property of the power line, and an output device in operative connection with the sensor to transmit a signal representative of the measured property.

The present invention is directed to an electrical device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system between a source of electrical power and an electrical load. The electrical distribution system includes at least one line hot conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a line ground conductor. The line neutral conductor is connected to the line ground conductor at a termination point in the electrical distribution system. The electrical load includes at least one load hot conductor, a load neutral conductor, and a load ground conductor. The device includes a grounding confirmation circuit that includes at least one signal generator that directs at least one test signal into a current path that includes at least the line ground conductor. The grounding confirmation circuit is configured to determine a ground continuity status of the current path based on at least one ground continuity measurement. The circuit interrupter is prevented from entering the reset state if the at least one ground continuity measurement does not meet a predefined quality threshold. The at least one ground continuity measurement being a function of the at least one electrical load parameter after the circuit interrupter is in the reset state.

A method and system is provided for optimizing the performance of a power generation and distribution system by forecasting very short term load forecasts through the use of historical load data, demand patterns and short term load forecasts.

A signaling system for detecting power line discontinuity in a power distribution system having a local power generator in a feeder line employs a signal generator that provides a local generator control signal with a preset protocol continuously and is located in the power distribution system upstream of said local power generator. A power detector terminates the local generator control signal and a signal detector in said feeder line detects the presence of the signal and triggers the shutdown of the local generator when the signal is not detected by the signal detector for a predefined period of time.

A system and method for determining the relative phase of each of a plurality of load meters connected to a three-phase power distribution system. The system includes a gateway that communicates information to and from each of the individual load meters. The gateway generates a timing pulse that is received by each of the load meters. Based upon the delay from the receipt of the timing pulse to the next zero crossing of the single phase power supply received by the meter, the utility can determine the phase of the individual meter. The system can include a feeder meter connected to each phase of the electrical supply system to determine the energy consumption for each of the meters connected to a specific phase. The utility can compare the energy consumption information from the feeder meter to all of the load meters connected to the same phase to determine whether any energy theft is occurring.

A system, computer program product and method to provide information related to a power distribution system based on information provided by a plurality of network elements electrically connected to a plurality of power lines of the power distribution system at a plurality of locations is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a notification from a group of network elements that have detected a voltage signature indicating an imminent power outage, determining location information of the power outage, outputting the location information of the power outage, receiving a live notification from a first network element of the group of network elements indicating a first power restoration at a location of the first network element, determining location information of the first power restoration, and outputting the location information of the first power restoration.

An electric power load management system and method that uses a multiplicity of remote power supplies in a controlled manner such that the aggregate system has the capacity to offset critical power company peak electric demand periods thereby preventing severe and detrimental power shortages and interruptions.

An electric power generator system or a motor comprising a doubly-fed asynchronous generator or motor comprising a stator and a rotor, a transformer having a first winding and a second winding, the first winding having a first end and a second end; and wherein the stator and the transformer are connectable in series with an electric power distribution grid.

net-metering in a power distribution system that includes a DRG system that is capable of providing power to a local load, an electric utility, and one or more batteries for storage, where net-metering is carried out iteratively during operation of the power distribution system and includes: creating, by a decision control engine, a local load and generation profile for a predefined period of time; deciding, by the decision control engine in accordance with revenue optimizing decision criteria and in dependence upon the local load and generation profile, present and projected utility power purchase prices, and a present state of charge of the batteries, whether to sell or store locally generated power; providing locally generated power to the electric utility if the decision control engine decides to sell locally generated power; and charging batteries with locally generated power if the decision control engine decides to store locally generated power.

A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device.

A stabilized electric distribution system for use in a vehicle having electric assist. The system electrically couples an electric assist bus to an accessory load bus while protecting the first electrical bus from electric assist and regenerative braking induced voltage variations. An energy management controller selectively controls each of a electric motor / generator, a DC / DC converter, and an alternator to affect electric energy distribution within the system. Preferably, the electric energy distribution is controlled to maintain the first electrical bus voltage within a predefined voltage range.

A fault is located in a power distribution system having a line frequency. The power distribution system includes a plurality of phases, at least one feeder, and each feeder includes at least one segment. The fault is located by detecting a faulted phase from the plurality of phases of the power distribution system. A measurement signal having a measurement frequency is injected into the detected faulted phase, the measurement frequency being a different frequency than the line frequency. The fault location is determined for a selected segment based on at least one measured residual current corresponding to the injected signal and a predetermined relative impedance of the power distribution system.

The instant invention relates to a mobile intelligent metering and charging system for charging uniquely identifiable chargable vehicle destinations (V) and method for employing the same. The system includes at least a power distribution system limb and a power consumption control and recordation limb. A vehicle system meter and at least one programmable command and control system identify unique vehicles, batteries, user accounts or other predetermined locations for charging and accounting purposes. Both the at least one programmable command and control system and the vehicle system meter are in communication with both the power distribution system limb and the power consumption control and recordation limb, and the at least one programmable command and control system controls the transmission of power through the vehicle system meter according to a predetermined and programmable algorithm, resulting in charging of the uniquely identifiable chargable vehicle destination.

A plurality of end-user locations are served by a commercial utility grid. More than one and less than all of the end-user locations are themselves interconnected by a feeder, the feeder not metallically connected to the utility grid. The end-user locations each have a local AC bus that is not metallically connected to the utility grid or to the feeder, but that is linked by a coupler to both the utility grid and to the feeder. None of the local AC buses or the feeder is required to have the same phase or frequency as the utility grid. Locally generated electric power may be passed by means of the feeder to other end-user locations that are on the feeder. Each local AC bus has two or more inverters powering the bus.

A system and method for managing an electrical distribution system in a facility is disclosed. In one aspect, the method may include receiving at a computer system from a monitoring system data related to actual energy use of components of the electrical distribution system, receiving at the computer system a request for a modification to the electrical distribution system, using the computer system, providing a revised electrical distribution system design based on the request and the data related to actual energy use using a system optimization function for the electrical distribution system, modifying the electrical distribution system in accordance with the revised electrical distribution system design to provide a modified electrical distribution system in the facility, and receiving at the computer system from the monitoring system data related to actual energy use of components of the modified electrical distribution system.

The present invention provides a system and method for operating a power line communications system for communicating via an underground residential distribution power system. One embodiment of the present invention includes an aggregation point, which may be co-located with a point of presence, communicatively coupled to one or distribution points. The distribution points are communicatively coupled to one or more medium voltage interface devices. The medium voltage interface devices are communicatively coupled to one or more power line bridges via URD medium voltage power lines. The power line bridges may be co-located with a URD distribution transformer and provide communications to the user devices communicatively coupled to the LV power lines of the distribution transformer.

A system and method for providing full-duplex data communications between an electric power distribution station and a power consumer via the power distribution line providing electric power is provided. A first information transmitter, coupled to the power distribution circuit, provides first information signals concurrently with the power signal to the power consumer via the power distribution line. A first information receiver, coupled to a power consumer device powered by the electrical power signal, receives the first information signals via the electric power distribution line. A second information transmitter coupled to the power consumer device provides second information signals concurrently with the electrical power signal. A second information receiver, coupled to the power distribution circuit, receives the second information signals via the electric power distribution line. The information signals transmitted on the power distribution line can be transmitted at a frequency lower than the frequency of the transmitted power signal.

The present invention is directed to an electrical device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system between a source of electrical power and an electrical load. The electrical distribution system includes at least one line hot conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a line ground conductor. The line neutral conductor and the line ground conductor are connected to earth ground at a termination point in the electrical distribution system. The electrical load includes at least one load hot conductor, a load neutral conductor, and a load ground conductor. The device comprises a power supply coupled to the power input mechanism. The power supply comprises at least one DC voltage output terminal and a reference terminal coupled to the line ground termination element. A voltage parameter detection circuit is configured to take a first voltage reading from a first termination element of the plurality of line termination elements and a second voltage reading from a second termination element of the plurality of line termination elements to derive at least one voltage parameter therefrom. The first voltage reading and the second voltage reading are referenced to the reference terminal. The circuit interrupter is driven into the tripped state if the at least one voltage parameter does not meet a predetermined condition, the voltage parameter detection circuit being operational when the reference terminal is not at an earth ground potential.

A system and method distributes data and power in a robust manner for a large scale LED display. Master modules of the display are capable of receiving a data stream on any one of four data ports. The master modules extract the data for its module and an associated group of slave modules from a data stream received on one port and send the received data stream to three other master modules via the other three data ports. Unregulated D.C. power is distributed from one or more power hubs to the master modules which in turn distribute regulated D.C. power to their associated slave modules.

A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided to provide a point of electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The powered rail(s) are electrically interconnected with a power source, which typically is a battery mounted in the butt stock of the weapon.

A network system and computer component device rack having an integrated AC power distribution system is provided. The device rack and power distribution system includes a device rack frame having a plurality of locations for receiving network system and computer component devices within. The plurality of locations stacks network system and computer component devices one over another in a generally vertical orientation. A pair of AC power sequencers are mounted on an inner side panel, and a pair of power strips is provided along a rear edge. A plurality of compound angle AC jumper cords are provided for connecting network system and computer component devices to a plurality of power outlet receptacles on the pair of power strips.

An electric power line communication system operates with an electric power distribution system to provide through premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among power line communication devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines. Each power line communication device associated with a set of premises power distribution lines has an identification address. A master code identifies the power line communication devices as members of a system domain of power line communication devices associated with the set of premises power distribution lines. Association of the master code with the identification addresses renders the member power line communication devices capable of operation without unintended communication with power line communication devices associated with a separate, different set of premises power distribution lines.