Latching DC Contactor Isolation for Longer Substation Battery Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current substation batteries are sized for only 8 hours of operation during power outages, necessitating alternative power sources when outages exceed this duration, straining equipment and manpower availability, especially during extended events like extreme weather.
Innovation Solution
A latching DC contactor system with a digital controller is introduced to isolate DC load panels from batteries and chargers, allowing the contactor to disconnect loads when auxiliary AC power is absent, thereby reducing battery discharge and extending battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If batteries are sized for 8 hours of operation, then battery capacity is minimized, but battery life is insufficient for extended outages requiring alternative power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the DC load into two categories: essential loads (battery-powered relay panels) and non-essential loads (DC load panels). By physically separating these loads through contactors, the system allows the battery to power only essential functions during extended outages, effectively extending battery life without increasing battery capacity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If alternative power sources are provided for extended outages, then battery life is extended, but equipment and manpower availability is strained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts non-essential DC loads from the battery-powered system by introducing contactors that can disconnect these loads during outages. This extraction allows the battery to sustain essential functions for extended periods without requiring alternative power sources, thereby reducing system complexity and resource requirements.
3Reliability
If DC load panels are continuously powered from batteries, then load reliability is maximized, but battery discharge rate increases reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control through contactors that can switch between different power sources (battery, charger, or disconnected) based on AC power availability. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize battery usage by disconnecting non-essential loads during outages while maintaining power to essential functions, thereby extending battery life without compromising essential load reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for extending battery backup power to an electrical substation include or utilize a latching direct current contactor having a current input and a current output, and a controller configured to monitor all alternating current inputs to an electrical substation, and to trip the latching direct current contactor when all alternating current inputs and auxiliary power to the electrical substation are dead, whereby direct current does not flow through the latching direct current contactor when supplied loads in the substation, such as relaying and communications, are not needed, and to close the latching direct current contactor when at least one alternating current input or auxiliary power is live, whereby direct current flows through the latching direct current contactor when the direct current supplied loads are needed.