Abstract:
An interruptible power supply module, located at a customer&#39;s premise, functions to reduce the demand on a power utility company. As a power utility senses a critical power supply demand situation, it sends an “interrupt power” control signal through an alternative communications network (a telecommunications network, for example), to each subscribing customer. Upon receipt of the “interrupt” control signal, a switch is activated in the customer&#39;s interruptible power supply module to remove a pre-defined “interruptible” load for a predetermined period of time (perhaps not to exceed 15 minutes in any hour). The module may also be used to “gracefully” add interruptible loads back onto the system after a complete power outage.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an interruptible power supply module and, more particularly, to a customer-based module for designating certain loads as “interruptible” and thus capable of being turned off by the power company when necessary.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    With increasing regularity, electric power utility companies have initiated “black outs”, “brown outs”, and “rolling blackouts” to cope with a condition of too little available energy and too much demand. Increases in energy prices coupled with worsening pollution levels add to the problems associated with the unrelenting demand for electrical energy.  
           [0003]    In many cases, un-announced blackouts (from an extreme over-demand) on the supply cause havoc within affected businesses, as well as within the residential community. Pro-active “brownouts”, where the utility company schedules the brownouts in advance, provides some relief in terms of giving an advanced warning to the affected customers, but is still an inconvenience.  
           [0004]    Thus, a need remains for a system of providing the necessary decrease in power demand during shortfall situations that does not unduly hamper the power company customer base.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The need remaining in the prior art is addressed by the present invention, which relates to an interruptible power supply module and, more particularly, to a customer-based module for designating certain loads as “interruptible” and thus capable of being turned off by the power company when necessary.  
           [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, an interruptible power supply module is configured by a customer to designate certain loads as “interruptible”. In the residential environment, such loads may include, for example, water heaters, clothes dryers, dehumidifiers, and the like. The remainder of the customer&#39;s load is then defined as “firm” and not subject to possible interruption (for example, refrigerators, stoves, water pump, computers, etc.). The interruptible power supply module is activated by a control signal transmitted by the power company through an alternative communication network (i.e., a network other than the power company transmission lines and already providing communication to the residence) and functions to remove the designated interruptible load from the input power supply line.  
           [0007]    In operation, when the electric power company senses a generation/supply problem, an “interrupt” control signal is sent from the power company, via the alternative network, to selected interruptible power modules, requesting the modules to cut off power to the customer-designated interruptible loads. The “interrupt” is relatively short (for example, 15-20 minutes), then the loads are brought back on line. The customer base of “interruptible” loads are divided into groups, where each group is selected to be interrupted on a “rolling” basis. In a preferred embodiment, the customer base is divided into four groups, each group experiencing a 15 minute interruption during the course of an hour. In this fashion, the utility company has the benefit of a load reduction for a full hour, but any one customer only experiences a 15 minute outage on their interruptible load.  
           [0008]    It is an advantage of the present invention that when a sustained power failure has occurred, the interruptible power module can be used to further extend the outage of the interruptible loads beyond the time the rest of the loads are brought up when power is restored. That is, the module can be used to extend the power failure associated with the interruptible loads for an additional 15 to 30 minutes (for example).  
           [0009]    During a situation such as underfrequency load shedding, this same advantage can be used to cut power to the interruptible loads to avoid the need for prolonged, scattered and widespread blackouts in the community.  
           [0010]    Other and further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Referring now to the drawings,  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, an exemplary arrangement for implementing the interruptible power supply feature of the present invention for a plurality of electric power company customers;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing, in more detail, a portion of the exemplary arrangement of FIG. 1, depicting in particular a pair of interruptible power supply modules;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 includes a module schematic and wiring diagram for an exemplary interruptible power supply;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary wiring diagram for an interruptible power supply module of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the interruptible power supply module of FIG. 4, including an interruption blocking timer for preventing the interruptible load from being disconnected too many times during a predetermined time period; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention, including a cold load inrush feature which prevents a designated interruptible load from coming back on line for an additional period of time following a power outage. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network arrangement  10  for deploying the interruptible power supply technique of the present invention. Included in this arrangement is a plurality of customers  12   1 - 12   N , where each customer has selected certain loads within its premises that may be subject to “interruptible power”, these loads designated  14   1 - 14   N , with the remaining loads defined as “firm power” and designated  16   1 - 16   N . Each customer&#39;s existing power panel  18   1 - 18   N  may be associated with the “firm power” load, and a separate power panel  20   1 - 20   N  associated with the pre-selected “interruptible power” loads.  
         [0019]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a utility call center  22  is included in the arrangement and functions to react to changes in load conditions experienced by the power company and determine when the need arises to clip the load of power being distributed to customers  12   1 - 12   N . When call center  22  is directed to shed load, it sends a control signal S to an element in an alternative communication network  24 . Network  24  includes a plurality of communication paths  26   1 - 26   N  which are connected to interruptible power loads  14   1 - 14   N , respectively. Therefore, when control signal S is received by network  24 , a set of “interrupt” signals I will be transmitted along paths  26  to the plurality of interruptible power loads  14 , turning “off” these loads for a predetermined period of time.  
         [0020]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the “interrupt” may be for a period not to exceed fifteen minutes each hour. Thus, the interruptible loads for be available for use by the customer for 75% of the time, yet the power company will recognize a considerable saving, as will be discussed in detail below, in each instance that it can reduce the total load on the system.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 illustrates, in more detail, a pair of exemplary interruptible power supply modules  30   1  and  30   N , connected to alternative communication network  24  in order to control the activation of the customers&#39; interruptible loads. As discussed above, a control signal S from utility call center  22  will be sent to network  24  when it is desired to deactivate the predetermined interruptible loads. Separate “interrupt” signals I are sent along communication paths  26  to each customer and applied as an input to interruptible power supply module  30 . As mentioned above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the in-place telecommunications network may be used to supply this “interrupt” input signal to module  30 , where path  26  comprises the subscriber&#39;s in-place telephone line. The existing electric power line  32  is also applied as an input to module  30 , as illustrated by the dashed line input. Power line  32  is then split between the “firm” power load  34 , including a firm power meter  36 , and an “interruptible” power load  38 , including an (optional) interruptible power meter  40 .  
         [0022]    Exemplary “firm” loads may comprise necessary electrical appliances such as refrigerators, electric stoves, room lighting, microwave ovens, clothes washers, computers and their accessories, televisions, radios and water pumps. Exemplary “interruptible” loads may comprise appliances that can be interrupted with minimal impact to the user, such as water heaters, space heaters, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, clothes dryers, oil burner motors. In general, the designation between “firm” and “interruptible” is a design choice of each individual subscriber, who can delineate which loads in his particular facility are to be defined as “firm” and which other loads can be defined as “interruptible”.  
         [0023]    Referring back to FIG. 2, interrupt control signal I is applied as an input to a load interrupting actuating device  42 , which is then used to control the action of an interruptible power supply switch  44  (which is normally closed). Therefore, when an “interrupt” signal I is received by actuating device  42 , a signal will be sent to switch  44 , opening switch  44  and removing the interruptible power load from the demand on power line  32 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates in more detail a wiring diagram associated with the input of interrupt control signal I and electrical power to an exemplary interruptible power supply module  30 . As shown, the three conductor (red, neutral, black) power line input  32  may first pass through an existing power meter  50 , and then be applied as three separate inputs to module  30 . The three conductors are coupled in parallel to both firm power meter  36  and interruptible power meter  40 , where it is to be understood that the use of both “firm” and “interruptible” meters is optional, and indeed, the original, single meter may be used in its place, as long as the interruptible load terminates on a separate panel that can be switched out of service. The three-conductor output from interruptible power meter  40  is then applied as an input to interruptible power switch  44 . As discussed above, “interrupt” control signal I, coming as an input along path  26  from an alternative communication network, is applied as an input to load interrupting actuating device  42 , which then sends an “open switch” signal to interruptible power switch  44 , disconnecting the interruptible load from power lines  38 , removing this load from the demand on the power utility company. As shown in FIG. 3, communication path  26  may also continue beyond module  30 , and eventually be coupled into its usual customer-based equipment. When communication path  26  comprises an input telephone line, for example, path  26  would then be connected to the customer&#39;s network interface unit. The presence of the power supply interrupt signal on the communication line will not interfere with the conventional use of this signal path and can, in fact, be filtered out at the network interface unit.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 illustrates, in detail, a wiring diagram associated with the operation of interruptible power supply switch  44 , as well as the operation of load interrupting actuating device  42 . In its “quiescent” state (i.e., in the absence of an “interrupt” signal from load interrupting actuating device  42 ), a power contact (PC) hold coil  60  will be energized, closing contacts  62  and  64  on the “red” and “black” power lines on interruptible power supply input  38 , allowing the input power on line  32  to flow into the interruptible power supply panel (not shown). Upon receipt of an “interrupt” signal I by load interrupting actuating device  42 , a time-delay drop-out (TDDO) coil  66  will be energized and used to open a normally-closed load interrupting actuating device auxiliary (LIADX) contact  68 . The closing of contact  68  functions to de-energize coil  60 , thus opening power contacts  62  and  64  on the power conductors into interruptible load interface module  44 , cutting off the transmission of power to the interruptible power supply panel, in accordance with the present invention. Thus, the opening of contacts  62 ,  64  is sufficient to remove the customer-designated interruptible load and reduce the demand on the power utility.  
         [0026]    An aspect of the present invention is to control the length of the power outage for these interruptible loads. For example, a timer can be included with LIADX coil  66  so that the coil remains de-energized for only a predetermined time interval (for example, for fifteen minutes). In this case, therefore, the consumer will not be extremely inconvenienced by having these interruptible loads unavailable for extended periods of time.  
         [0027]    An additional feature of the interruptible power supply module of the present invention is that an interruption blocking timer (IBT)  70 , as shown in FIG. 5, can be used with the circuitry of interruptible power switch  44  to assure that loads are not interrupted more than once during a predetermined time period, as controlled by the host utility. The inclusion of IBT  70  can be utilized to ensure that the “interruptible” loads are not interrupted more than once during a one hour time period (alternatively, the time period may extend to two hours, the time period being under the control of the host utility). In the arrangement of FIG. 5, timer  70  includes an energized coil  72  and “normally closed” power contact  74 . Thus, when coil  72  is energized, an IBT contact  76 , disposed in parallel with LIADX contact  68 , will ensure that the power contacts  62 ,  64  will not be re-opened during the predetermined time period.  
         [0028]    When distribution lines are out of service of extended periods of time, load diversity is lost and (in conventional arrangements) all loads turn on as soon as power becomes available, causing significant peaking problems (“cold load inrush”). In accordance with the present invention, the interruptible power supply module of the present invention may be configured to allow for the interruptible loads to remain open once the main power has been restored, and stay open for a random period of time between 15 and 45 minutes (for example) after firm load restoration. This allows for load diversity to be maintained during load re-energization without relying on the utility company to manually stagger the turn-on of different customer loads.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention that incorporates this cold load inrush feature with the action of interruptible power supply switch  44 . As shown, a cold load timer coil  80  is disposed in parallel with interruption blocking timer coil  72  and remains in its energized state. Cold load timer (CLT) coil  80  functions to control a cold load timer contact  82  disposed in series with the parallel arrangement of LIADX contact  68  and IBT contact  76 , as shown. As long as CLT coil  80  remains energized, CLT contact  82  will remain closed. However, on loss of power, coil  80  will be de-energized and can be controlled by a “time delay pick up” (TDPU) timer so that it will not re-energize for a predetermined period of time after the main power has been restored. For example, TDPU may be set to allow for an additional thirty minutes to transpire prior to re-energizing coil  80 . Once coil  80  is re-energized, CLT contact  82  will re-close and allow for PC coil  60  to re-energize and close power contacts  62  and  64 , restoring the interruptible power supply loads to the line.  
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the interruptible power supply module of the present invention may also be used in situations where the module has not yet been connected to an alternative communications network. In this case, a power utility may activate the module by initiating a quick trip-quick reclose of the feeder at the substation. This action will be sensed by the load interrupting actuating device and perform as described above to interrupt the power supplied to the interruptible load.  
         [0031]    Load and air pollution reductions are a function of market penetration, percent load interrupted, and the total system load. Load reductions for a market penetration of 10% of the customer base to 60% of the customer base, with a 50% load interruption factor (i.e., each customer designating half of its load as “interruptible”, and the customer base divided into four groups, each group rolled through sequential 15 minute interruptions) are shown in the table included below, for systems with a peak demand of 2500MW, 5000MW, 10,000MW, 20,000MW and 30,000MW:  
                                                                                                     Projected Load Reduction Using       Interruptible Power Supply Modules (in MW)            Peak   Market Penetration (%); 50% Interruption Factor            Load   10%   20%   30%   40%   50%   60%                      2500 MW   31   62   93   125   156   187         5000 MW   62   125   187   250   312   375       10,000 MW   125   250   375   500   625   750       20,000 MW   250   500   750   1000   1250   1500       30,000 MW   375   750   1125   1500   1875   2250                  
 
         [0032]    While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Indeed, the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the claims as appended hereto.