Circuit Controller for Selective Power Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current residential AC power systems often fail to meet demand, leading to brown-outs, black-outs, or partial power outages, with standard UPS systems only protecting critical loads like computers while ignoring other essential electrical devices like interior lighting and televisions.
Innovation Solution
An electrical power restoration system that includes a circuit controller and conditioner, which selectively activates an uninterruptible power supply to provide alternative AC power to electrical loads, using a current usage monitor to determine when to switch between AC and alternative AC power, ensuring continuous power supply to all loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard UPS system is used to protect critical loads, then computers and telecommunication equipment can remain running during power outages, but other essential electrical loads like interior lighting and televisions are ignored and not protected
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit conditioner is designed to serve multiple electrical loads simultaneously through a single circuit breaker connection. The system can condition power for various types of loads (computers, lighting, televisions) through one unified interface, making the power restoration capability universal across different load types rather than requiring separate UPS systems for each device or load category.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the electrical circuit into controllable portions using the circuit controller positioned along the circuit assembly. The circuit controller can selectively activate the circuit conditioner for specific portions of the circuit based on monitored current usage, allowing different segments of the electrical system to receive conditioned power independently while others operate normally or are protected.
2Reliability
If the circuit conditioner is continuously activated to provide alternative AC power to all loads, then all electrical loads receive uninterrupted power during outages, but energy consumption increases and operational duration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit controller dynamically adjusts the activation state of the circuit conditioner based on real-time monitoring of current usage. The system transitions between active and inactive states, and between serving different load segments, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining power reliability when needed. This dynamic control prevents continuous operation and allows the system to adapt its energy usage to actual circuit conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit controller monitors current passing through the first hot conductor and uses this feedback to determine whether to activate the circuit conditioner. The system continuously measures current usage and adjusts its operation accordingly, activating power restoration only when current drops indicate an outage condition, and deactivating when normal power is restored, thereby optimizing energy consumption based on real-time feedback.
3Reliability
If the circuit controller continuously monitors current usage to determine when to switch power sources, then seamless transition between AC and alternative AC power is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit controller performs self-monitoring of current usage through the first hot conductor and automatically makes decisions about circuit conditioner activation without external intervention. The system serves itself by detecting power outage conditions through current monitoring and autonomously switching between AC power and alternative AC power from the circuit conditioner, eliminating the need for complex external control systems or manual intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system seamlessly transitions between AC and alternative AC power, ensuring that all electrical loads receive power during outages, minimizing disruption and extending the operational period of critical devices.
Implementation Method 1
the uninterruptible power supply generates DC power that flows through an inverter to become the alternative AC power
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical power restoration system for a circuit assembly having a circuit breaker, an electrical load and a circuit conditioner, includes a circuit controller that is positioned along the circuit assembly between the circuit breaker and the electrical load. The circuit controller is electrically connected to and selectively controls activation and/or deactivation of the circuit conditioner. The circuit conditioner is positioned along the circuit assembly between the circuit controller and the electrical load. The electrical power restoration system can further include a first hot conductor that selectively conducts AC power from the circuit breaker to the circuit controller. The circuit controller monitors a current passing through the first hot conductor to determine whether the current passing through the first hot conductor is at or above a predetermined threshold level. The circuit conditioner can include an uninterruptible power supply that selectively provides alternative AC power to the electrical load.