Abstract:
A universal system used to monitor external conditions, particularly including environmental conditions, to preemptively activate secondary power sources and isolate electric loads from a main power source such as an electric utility&#39;s power grid for the purpose of protecting the load from dangerous power conditions brought about by the external condition. The system includes a universal control module capable of communicating with a variety of external stimuli sensors and automatic transfer switches that switch a load&#39;s power source from one source to another upon activation, which results in the isolation of the load from the main (or another) power source.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/997,535, entitled “System for Controlling Automated Transfer Switches in Response to External Stimuli,” filed Oct. 4, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of this invention generally relate to systems used to monitor external conditions, particularly including environmental conditions, and control the activation of isolated secondary power sources, such as generators. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Every year environmental conditions cause billions of dollars of damage to valuable electronic and electrical gear and data. Lightning strikes, high winds, earthquakes, and other environmental conditions can cause unstable and dangerous power line conditions including high voltage surges, sags, and power loss in power grids, which endanger downstream mission critical systems and other sensitive electrical and electronic gear and data. Since many electronic and electrical devices are highly sensitive, these voltage vagaries can have damaging effects on the devices connected to power grids. Various surge protection devices are available that attempt to protect electronic equipment from electrical surges and other undesirable electrical phenomenon that result from destructive environmental conditions. 
         [0004]    However, these surge protection devices are unreliable. Most surge protection devices leave a conductive path in place, eliminating their ability to deal with large surges. Many other protection devices use sacrificial components, which creates the possibility of inopportune power interruptions. The preferred way to protect critical electrical and electronic systems is to electrically isolate them. Devices that will automatically isolate circuits in response to lightning threats been have devised. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,625, entitled “Lightning Protection Systems,” was designed to prevent high voltage charge from crossing its insulative barrier. 
         [0005]    While lightning is a major threat to electronic and electrical gear and systems, it is by no means the only threat to reliable line power. Any of several environmental conditions can greatly affect the quality of line power. For example, ice storms create havoc by weighing down the power lines and causing branches and trees to fall onto the lines. High winds and seismic activity can cause power lines to fall, or to swing into contact with adjacent lines creating dangerous power conditions. Additionally, flooding and temperature extremes can also greatly affect power quality. As such, there are devices that monitor for these types and other similar types of conditions that can initiate the isolation of electrical or electronic devices. 
         [0006]    While these devices do provide some protection, they come with several drawbacks. First, the protection devices protect individual electronic and electrical devices. If there are multiple electronic and electrical devices spread throughout a home or office that require protection, several protection devices are needed. Therefore, each protection device requires a specific connection to the electric or electronic device. Second, although there are several monitoring devices for various conditions, each device can only monitor one condition. Thus, several different devices must be used in order to provide protection from different environmental conditions. As such, connecting multiple devices can be an arduous and expensive task. As such, there is a need to efficiently and effectively isolate electric loads. 
         [0007]    In addition to causing power surges that can damage valuable electronic and electrical equipment, environmental conditions can lead to a loss of power. Secondary power sources, such as generators, can be used to provide power in times when the power utility&#39;s electrical grid system has failed as a result of these environmental causes. Many secondary power sources include a transfer switch which allows switching from a primary power source, like a utility power grid, to a secondary or tertiary power source, such as a generator. These transfer switches may be manual or automatic, or a combination of both. Automatic transfer switches (ATS) can monitor incoming utility power and, upon sensing an interruption, activate the secondary power source and switch to it. However, there is often a delay before the secondary power source is activated. This is particularly the case when using a gasoline or diesel generator, which may take 10 seconds or more to bring the auxiliary power online. 
         [0008]    This loss of power, while temporary, can have a tremendous impact. For example, may types of manufacturing deal with molten materials such as metals, glass, ceramics, PVC, or fiber optic material. The loss of power for these processes permits the material to cool and/or harden within the production facility, which ruins the material batch and frequently damages the manufacturing equipment. Hospitals are another area where a temporary loss of power can lead to disastrous results, including the loss of life. This concern is so great that many hospitals employ individuals to watch for storms or other environmental conditions that could lead to power failure and bring auxiliary power sources online before the loss of power occurs in order to prevent any interruptions of power. 
         [0009]    To combat this problem, a wide variety of processes and devices have been utilized to activate and deactivate ATS-based electrical power systems to prevent the loss of power. For example, and as discussed above, manual on-site means have been employed to activate ATS&#39;s. Localized lightning detectors and lightning detection networks have been used to activate ATS-based electrical power systems as well. However, in each case, the sensing devices and/or their interface connections to the ATS must be custom-designed for the specific type of ATS system. If more threat-monitoring devices are desired, the user must initiate another custom-designed system. The task of customizing the sensor devices and their connections is cumbersome and expensive, especially when upgrading their electrical power systems as new generations of ATS systems appear. 
         [0010]    Given the problems discussed above, there is a need for a device that is compatible with a broad range of ATS and other switching systems. Additionally, such a device should be able to communicate with a broad range of sensor devices that provide protection from a wide variety of conditions that threaten the integrity and/or quality of an electrical power supply. Also, the device should provide a means of initiating a preemptive secondary power source to eliminate any loss of power, as well as isolating loads from possible power surges. The device should provide a means of sensing when the threat condition has passed and reliable utility line power has been restored, and automatically transferring the loads back to utility line power. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Embodiments of this invention provide a universal system used to monitor external conditions, particularly including environmental conditions, to activate secondary power sources and isolating electric loads through the connection to a switching device, such as an ATS, from a main power source such as an electric utility&#39;s power grid. The system includes a universal control module capable of easily connecting to and communicating with a variety of ATS&#39;s, as well as other switch-controlling devices. The universal control module includes a controller that generates, sends, and receives various control signals. The universal control module also communicates with a variety of sensors that measure for potential threats to an electrical system. These threats include environmental conditions, such as lightning strikes, high winds, high water levels, seismic activity, ice, snow, extreme temperatures, as well as certain localized equipment conditions, including power quality, voltage, excessive vibration, localized temperature build up, and current levels. The universal control module also includes a transformer that converts power outputs of a variety of ATS&#39;s in order to power the universal control module. Additionally, the universal control module may communicate with other devices, such as alarms, telephones, computers, networks, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. 
         [0012]    When a threatening condition is sensed, a sensor sends a control signal to the controller of the universal control module. The controller generates and sends a switching signal to the ATS, initiating the secondary power source. Once power from the secondary power source is established, the ATS switches the electrical connection from the main source to the secondary source, isolating the electrical load from the main power source, which otherwise could deliver damaging voltages caused by the threatening condition. This action creates an additional benefit by preemptively establishing the secondary power prior to the possibility of a power loss due to the threatening conditions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a universal system for controlling automated transfer switches according to one embodiment of this invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a universal system for controlling automated transfer switches according to another embodiment of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Embodiments of this invention provide a system with a universal control device that can communicate with a wide range of ATS systems. The universal control device provides a means to control the functionality of the ATS system through the monitoring of a wide range of environmental threats. Additionally, the universal control device provides a means, through the ATS system, to protect electrical and electronic equipment, and other electrical loads, from power surges by isolating the load from electric utility power grids during environmental and system threats. 
         [0016]    The universal control module (UCM)  100  of  FIG. 1  is designed to work with a number of different ATS systems  200 . These ATS systems  200  may be associated with multiple power sources  210  and  220  or other systems where electrical switching may occur. The UCM  100  communicates with external or internal sensors  300  through wired means (ports  130 ) or wireless communication means ( 1160  as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to monitor environmental, and mechanical, external conditions. The UCM  100  determines whether or not to activate the ATS system  200  to switch to from the main power source  210 , such as a utility&#39;s power grid, to an alternative power source  220  based upon what the sensors report. The sensors  300  send signals and data to the UCM&#39;s controller  110  through the sensor ports  130 . Upon receiving the signals and data, the controller  110  then can generate a signal to activate the ATS system  200  through the ATS port  120 . By activating the ATS system  200  and switching the power source from the main power source  210  to a secondary power source  220 , the electric load  500  is isolated from the power grid  210  and protected from power surges. Additionally, the controller  110  can generate additional signals to activate various devices  400 , as well as send data to these devices, connected through the device ports  140  or through wireless communication means  1160  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). An electrical transformer  150  allows the UCM  100  to run off voltage generated by the ATS system  200 . Each component and its role in protecting the electrical systems will be discussed in further detail below. 
         [0017]    The UCM  100  may be a single self-contained device that can be installed or incorporated within the ATS system&#39;s housing. The UCM  100  can also be mounted adjacent to or on the outside of the ATS housing with various mounting means. In other embodiments, the UCM may be a modular device having a controller module, a transceiver module, and various other functional modules that can be connected to the controller module. 
         [0018]    The UCM is powered by the power supply of the ATS. However, the voltage supplied can vary from one ATS to another. Therefore, the UCM  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , can include a transformer  150  that can convert a wide range of voltages into the voltage required to run the UCM  100 , allowing the UCM  100  to be used with a wide range of ATS&#39;s. ATS systems  200  typically produce direct current. Therefore, herein “transformers” means that the transformer  150  can be an inverter or any other device that converts an available power input into a desired power output. Also, the transformer  150  could be a conventional alternating current transformer that steps up or steps down an alternating current voltage from the ATS  200 . In addition to drawing power from the ATS  200 , the UCM  100  is capable of being powered by direct line voltage or from independent low-voltage battery systems and fuel cells. 
         [0019]    The UCM  100  is configured to communicate with a wide variety of sensors and warning systems. The sensors  300  can measure a variety of environmental conditions, such as, but not limited to, dangerous atmospheric conditions including: lightning strikes, high winds, blizzards, ice, snow, hail, and extreme temperatures; seismic activity resulting from earthquakes, rising water levels, and various other conditions that can lead to a disruption of an electric utility&#39;s power grid. Many environmental sensors are already commercially available. For example, Vaisala, Outdoors Technologies, and Skyscan provide lightning sensors, Oregon Scientific and Weather Hawk provide anemometers, and Steiner Industries provides seismometers. Sensors that monitor certain localized equipment conditions, such as, but not limited to, temperature levels of transformers and other critical utility components, power quality, electrical surges, high voltage levels, excessive vibration, and rolling blackouts, may be connected as well. Additionally, the UCM  100  may be connected to various warning systems. For example, the UCM  100  may receive encoded broadcasts from the National Weather Services Specific Area Message Encoded (SAME) broadcasts, or similar encoded broadcasts, to provide the UCM and the user with specific  100  weather information. 
         [0020]    The sensors  300  continuously monitor their associated condition, collect data, and generate a control signal to send to the UCM  100  through the sensor ports  130  when a condition&#39;s threshold is reached. For example, if a sensor measuring wind speed senses air moving at a particular speed threshold, the sensor  300  will generate a control signal that notifies the UCM  100  that the threshold level has been detected. In some embodiments, these threshold points may be predetermined. In other embodiments, the threshold points may be user-selectable set points allowing a user to determine what constitutes a threat condition for their particular ATS system and to change the threshold point from time to time. 
         [0021]    The sensors  300  can also generate a control signal to alert the UCM  100  when a threshold condition has subsided, indicating that the threat has past. However, even when the condition that created the threat has passed, there is no guarantee that quality power from the main source  210  is present. Therefore the UCM  100  may utilize sensors monitoring the main power source  210  to determine if the ATS  200  should be switched back to the main power source  210 . In some instances, the ATS  200  may monitor the main power source  210  and communicate the results to the UCM  100 . In other instances, separate sensors may monitor the main power source. However, it may be desirable to require that the ATS  200  be re-set manually. In addition to control signals, the sensors  300  may produce other transmittable data for the use of the UCM  100 . This data can include current monitoring levels and can be sent independently of any control signals. In some embodiments, the sensors  300  may only monitor and report the existing conditions. In these embodiments, the UCM  100  compares the data to stored threshold points. 
         [0022]    The UCM  100  can communicate with the sensors  300  in a variety of ways. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the UCM  100  includes a number of sensor ports  130 . These sensor ports  130  allow a number of different sensors  300  to have a line connection with the UCM  100 . These connections may include, but are not limited to, electrical wire, cable, and fiber-optics. In other embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIG. 2 , the UCM  1100  includes a radio frequency, infrared, microwave, or other transceiver  1160 , allowing the sensors  1300  to communicate wirelessly with the UCM  1100 . The transceiver  1160  may be tunable or fixed-frequency. The transceiver  1160  may be internally incorporated within the UCM  1100  or be externally located and connected to the UCM  1100  through a port or other connection. The transceiver  1160  may be able to receive and transmit pager, wireless internet, cellular, mesh network, or other wireless signals as appropriate to the sensors  1300 . In some other embodiments, a variety of sensors may be integrated within the UCM. 
         [0023]    The data and signals received by the UCM  100  from the sensors  300  is communicated to the controller  110 . The controller  110  may be a programmable interface controller (PIC). However, in other embodiments, the controller  110  may be other devices, such as, but not limited to, small computers. The controller  110  interprets the signals and data to generate additional control signals. Upon receiving a control signal indicating that a threshold level has been reached, the controller  110  generates and sends a switching signal to activate the ATS  200 . The switching signal may be transmitted through the ATS port  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a transceiver  1160 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In response to the received control signal, the switching signal generated by the controller  110  causes the ATS  200  to either switch from the main power source  210  to the secondary power source  220  or vice versa. 
         [0024]    In addition to initiating switching signals, the controller  110  can generate other signals to initiate other actions and processes based upon the functionality desired by the user. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the UMC  100  has device ports  140  to which numerous devices  400  can be connected. For example, the controller  110  can activate an alarm upon receiving the control signal from a sensor  300 . Additionally, the controller  110  can activate a connected computer to create a log of events and data received from the sensors  300 , as well as reporting the status of the sensors  300 . The data logging option can be of great importance, allowing a company to correlate environmental threat data collected by the sensors with actual damage encountered to power systems to help them make more informed decisions in the future. Other optional devices include, but are not limited to, telephones, networks, and SCADA systems. In other embodiments, the tunable transceiver  1160  may communicate wirelessly to additional devices  1400 . 
         [0025]    The UCM  100 , through the use of the ATS  200 , also provides a way to isolate a load from power surges. An ATS acts as an intermediary between power sources and electrical loads. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the ATS  200  is connected to a UCM  100 , a main power source  210 , a secondary power source  220 , and a load  500 . At any given time, the ATS  200  is only connected to either the main power source  210  or the secondary power source  220 . By connecting the load  500  to the ATS  200 , the load  500  does not have a permanent direct connection to the main power source  210 . When a sensor  300  senses a threatening condition that could result in a power surge from the main power source  210 , the ATS  200  is switched to a secondary source  220 , terminating the connection of the ATS  200  to the main power source  210 . Since the load  500  is connected to the ATS  200 , the connection between the load  500  and the main power source  210  is terminated as well, preventing any electrical surge damage from occurring to the load  500 . The separation is critical in protecting the load  500  from a surge. Voltages that are produced by surges can easily arc across minimal distances. The physical separation here between the loads  500  and the main power source  210  is great enough to minimize the chances of the surge arcing and affecting the load. 
         [0026]    The UCM  100  is not limited to use with ATS systems associated with a secondary power source. The UCM  100  may be used directly by a power utility at its substation relays. Substation relays monitor for fault conditions occurring on the branch circuits to which they are connected. When a power line has been severed, or shorted out, a fault will be registered. For safety reasons, the substation relay will allow the fuse associated with that branch circuit to blow, interrupting power to that circuit. However, storms often cause temporary fault conditions. For instance, storms can cause adjacent lines to come in contact with one another briefly, or can cause tree limbs to fall on power lines. Both of these situations, however, can be self-correcting given enough time: the lines may disconnect, and the limb may fall or burn off the line. In such cases, allowing the fuse to blow is extremely wasteful, requiring an expensive repair, and inconveniences many power users. In response to these possibilities, the substation relays may be switched to a mode that allows for a period of self correction before blowing the fuse. This mode is often called storm mode, initiated when there is a threat of a storm. Most utilities require a person, either at the substation or related control system, to switch the relays into this storm mode. The UCM  100  can take the place of the individual to activate the substation, preventing human error and saving labor. 
         [0027]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. As the alternatives discussed above show, further modifications and adaptations to these embodiments may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.