Abstract:
A method for supplying power includes supplying power to at least one critical device, supplying power to at least one essential device, and remotely removing power to the essential device while maintaining power to the critical device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to distributed power delivery systems and, more particularly, to remote monitoring and diagnosing distributed power delivery systems. 
   At least some entities have both essential power requirements and critical power requirements. For example, a call center typically has heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) requirements that are essential but not critical to the call center&#39;s operation. The call center also has computer and communication power requirements that are critical to the call center&#39;s operation. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, a method for supplying power is provided. The method includes supplying power to at least one critical device, supplying power to at least one essential device, and remotely removing power to the essential device while maintaining power to the critical device. 
   In another embodiment, an energy management system is provided. The system includes a generation module and at least one power distribution unit remote from the generation module and communicatively coupled to the generation module. The system also includes a master control system remote from the generation module and the power distribution unit, the master control system is communicatively coupled to the generation module and the power distribution unit. 
   In a further embodiment, an energy management system is provided that includes a generation module comprising at least two power sources. The system also includes at least two power distribution units remote from the generation module and communicatively coupled to the generation module, at least one of the power distribution units is connected to at least one critical device, at least one of the power distribution is unit connected to at least one essential device. The system also includes master control system remote from the generation module and the power distribution unit, the master control system is communicatively coupled to the generation module and the power distribution unit. The master control system is configured to remotely monitor the generation module and instruct the power distribution unit connected to the essential device to stop supplying power to the essential device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a remote monitoring and diagnostic system. 
       FIG. 2  is an alternative embodiment of a remote monitoring and diagnostic system substantially similar to the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a power module control panel for the power module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a remote monitoring and diagnostic system  10  including a master control system  12 , at least one power module  14 , and a control/data gathering system  16 . Master control system  12 , power module  14 , and control/data gathering system  16  are operationally coupled together such that master control system  12 , power module  14 , and control/data gathering system  16  communicate therebetween. Master control system  12  includes a modem  18 , a human machine interface (HMI)  20 , and at least one network interface card (NIC)  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, system  10  includes a dual NIC  22 . Power module  14  includes a generation module  24  and a conditioning module  26  operationally coupled to generation module  24 . Generation module  24  includes a generator  28  coupled to an engine  30 . Generator  28  is controlled by an automatic voltage regulator  32  coupled to a digital synchronizer and load control module (DSLC)  34 . DSLC  34  is also coupled to a governor  36  for engine  30 . Generation module  24  also includes an uninterrupted power supply (UPS)  38  coupled to an UPS ouput bus  40  connecting multiple power modules  14  together. In one embodiment, instead of including an UPS  38 , generation module  24  includes a connection to an utility company. Additionally, in another embodiment, generation module  24  includes UPS  38  and a connection to the utility company. 
   Conditioning module  26  includes a programmable logic controller (PLC)  42  such as, for example, but not limited to, a 90-30 series PLC available from GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. Charlottesville Va. PLC  42  includes an Input Output module (I/O)  44  coupled to DSLC  34  and UPS  38 . PLC  42  is coupled to an Ethernet redundant transceiver  46  via an Ethernet switch  48 . An Ethernet gateway  50  couples at least one power information device  52  to Ethernet switch  48 . Power information devices  52  include power quality monitoring devices, generator management relays (such as a 489 relay and a 750 relay both available from the General Electric Company, Schenectady N.Y.), UPS&#39;s, flywheel energy storage systems (FESS), and MicroVersaTrip®&#39;s (such as MicroVersaTrip® Pm and MicroVersTrip® Pro both also available from the General Electric Company). 
   Control/data gathering system  16  includes redundant PLC&#39;s  54  connected to field I/O&#39;s  56  for other equipment and systems  58 . Redundant PLC&#39;s  54  are connected to a plurality of remote systems  60  via an Ethernet  62  and redundant transceivers  63 . Each remote system  60  includes an Ethernet gateway  64  connected to transfer switches  66  and power distribution units (PDU)  68 . System  10  is configured to monitor critical data from all system  10  components and provide alarms and warnings when appropriate. System  10  also records and analyzes power waveforms, and performs statistical process control analysis of critical values. System  10  is also configured to record historical data, generate reports, and track data trending. Specifically, redundant PLC&#39;s  54  in control/data system  16  are in remote communication with one or more power modules  14  and are programmed to perform the above mentioned functions. Control/data gathering system  16  is controlled by master control system  12 . For example, an operator utilizes HMI  20  to interface with redundant PLC&#39;s  54  to view power data. Additionally, the operator can program redundant PLC&#39;s  54  via HMI  20 . 
   In use, system  10  provides power to a plurality of PDU&#39;s  68  wherein at least one PDU  68  supplies power to critical equipment and at least one PDU  68  supplies power to essential equipment. Critical equipment as used herein refers to equipment that is typically mandatory for a successful operation of a particular business. For example, computers and telephone systems are critical to a call center, while routers are critical to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Essential equipment as used herein refers to equipment that is not typically mandatory for the successful operation of a particular business. For example, HVAC equipment is not typically mandatory for a call center. 
   System  10  monitors power availability from generator  28  and UPS  38 , and power consumption by PDU&#39;s  68 . When electrical loads should be shed, system  10  sheds essential loads while keeping critical loads. Specifically, the PDU  68  supplying power to essential equipment ceases to supply the essential equipment with power. The PDU  68  supplying power to the critical equipment continues to supply the critical equipment with power. Additionally, when not supplying power to the essential equipment, system  10  stores power in the FESS. 
     FIG. 2  is an alternative embodiment of a remote monitoring and diagnostic system  100  substantially similar to system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and components in system  100  that are identical to components in system  10  are identified in  FIG. 2  using the same reference numerals used in  FIG. 1 . System  100  includes a control/data gathering circuit  102  including a plurality of remote field I/O&#39;s  104 . System  100  operates substantially similar to system  10  but in system  100  PLC  42  performs the monitoring and control that redundant PLC&#39;s  54  do in system  10 . For example, system  100  monitors power availability from generator  28  and UPS  38 , and power consumption by PDU&#39;s  68 , PLC  42  directs the PDU  68  supplying power to essential equipment to cease supplying the essential equipment with power. When the available power returns to normal levels, PLC  42  directs the PDU  68  supplying power to the essential equipment to resume supplying the essential equipment with power. 
     FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a power module control panel  150  for power module  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Panel  150  includes a panel light  152 , a nameplate  154 , and a first annunciator  156 . Panel  150  also includes a generator bus volts amp reactive (VAR) meter  158 , a generator bus frequency meter  160 , and a second annunciator  162 . Panel  150  also includes a system mode selector switch  164 , a generator breaker control switch  166 , and a generator breaker lockout relay  168 . Panel  150  further includes an amperage meter phase selection switch  170 , a load test switch  172 , and a generator control switch  174 . Panel  150  also includes a acknowledge/reset biased actuator  176 , a light/annunciator test biased actuator  178 , a initiate transfer biased actuator  180 , and a emergency stop biased actuator  182 . In an exemplary embodiment, actuators  176 ,  178 ,  180 , and  182  are push buttons. Panel  150  further includes a generator bus amperage meter  184 , a generator bus voltage meter  186 , a generator bus watt meter  188 , and a utility breaker lockout relay  190 . Panel  150  also includes a utility breaker control switch  192 , a voltage meter phase selection switch  194 , a generator voltage adjust switch  196 , and a generator speed load switch  198 . Panel  150  also includes a feeder management relay  200 , a generator management relay  202 , a synchronous check relay  204 , and an annunciator horn  206 . 
   While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.