Electrical Load Grouping for Shared Power Overload Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical load management systems struggle to efficiently distribute power to multiple electrical loads when the common power source is insufficient, leading to inadequate device performance and activation of protection circuitry, such as circuit breakers tripping or voltage fold-back, especially in scenarios like laptop charging stations where multiple devices are used simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An electrical load management system that includes a controller, current sensors, and switches to measure and group electrical loads based on a switched current limit, applying power to the loads in a sequence to prevent overload, ensuring that the sum of currents in each group does not exceed the available power capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple electrical loads are connected to a common power source that does not supply sufficient power, then the number of powered devices increases, but the power source activates protection circuitry (circuit breaker tripping, voltage fold-back) causing reduced or no power to loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the electrical loads into multiple groups based on their power requirements and characteristics. The controller divides the total load into manageable segments that can be powered sequentially or simultaneously without exceeding the power source capacity, preventing protection circuitry activation while maximizing the number of powered devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts power distribution by continuously monitoring load conditions and automatically switching between different power configurations. The controller real-time optimizes which loads receive power based on available capacity, enabling adaptive power management that maintains reliability while serving maximum number of loads.
2Power
If the power source capacity is increased to adequately power all electrical loads simultaneously, then all loads can operate at full performance, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the power source and multiple loads, intelligently managing power allocation. This intermediary component enables a single power source to effectively serve multiple loads without requiring the power source itself to be oversized, thereby avoiding the complexity and cost of upgrading the main power infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by dynamically adjusting which loads are powered and at what power levels. Rather than requiring a high-power source to run all loads at full capacity, the controller varies power delivery parameters to match actual needs, achieving full performance for active loads without requiring excessive total power capacity.
3Ease of operation
If manual switching is used to distribute power among multiple loads, then the power distribution can be controlled, but the ease of operation decreases and user intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring load conditions and making power distribution decisions without user intervention. The controller autonomously determines which loads to power based on available capacity and load priorities, eliminating the need for manual switching while maintaining optimal power distribution and improving operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors power consumption and load status, then automatically adjusts power distribution accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to changing conditions in real-time without user input, maximizing automation while ensuring reliable power delivery to the appropriate loads.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads can include coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system, measuring an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads and comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value. When the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value, increase a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads, sequentially apply power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods, sequentially measure at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups, and sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value.