US20110148207A1 - Hybrid architecture for dc power plants and a method of minimizing battery conductor current - Google Patents
Hybrid architecture for dc power plants and a method of minimizing battery conductor current Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110148207A1 US20110148207A1 US12/965,501 US96550110A US2011148207A1 US 20110148207 A1 US20110148207 A1 US 20110148207A1 US 96550110 A US96550110 A US 96550110A US 2011148207 A1 US2011148207 A1 US 2011148207A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- power
- battery
- current
- recited
- distribution
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/02—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
- H02J7/04—Regulation of charging current or voltage
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J9/00—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
- H02J9/04—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source
- H02J9/06—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source with automatic change-over, e.g. UPS systems
- H02J9/062—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source with automatic change-over, e.g. UPS systems for AC powered loads
Definitions
- the invention is related, in general, to electrical power sources, and, more specifically to DC power plants for providing power to telecommunication systems.
- Telecommunication and data switching systems are used to route tens of thousands of calls and data connections per second.
- the failure of such a system, due to either an equipment breakdown or a loss of power, is generally unacceptable since it would result in a loss of millions of voice and data communications along with its corresponding revenue.
- the traditionally high reliability of telecommunication systems, that users have come to expect, is partially based on the use of redundant equipment including power supplies.
- DC Power plants are used in the telecommunications industry to provide large amounts of DC power to critical loads and insure un-interrupted operation through the use of batteries or other energy storage media.
- DC Power plants typically include rectifiers that receive and rectify AC power to produce DC power for powering external equipment (i.e., loads) during normal operation. When an AC source is unable to provide power for the rectifiers to produce DC power for the loads, DC power plants can utilize the batteries as back-up to provide DC power for the equipment.
- the power plant includes: (1) a rectifier system including an AC power input and a DC power output, the rectifier system configured to receive an AC input voltage at the AC power input and produce a DC output voltage at the DC power output and (2) a controller configured to monitor a battery current associated with a battery distribution conductor coupled to the rectifier system for a remote battery system and dynamically adjust the DC output voltage to maintain the battery current at substantially zero amperes.
- a DC power system in another aspect, includes: (1) a DC power bus, (2) a battery system coupled to the DC power bus, (3) a battery charger coupled to the DC power bus, (4) primary DC distribution interrupting devices coupled to the DC power bus, and (5) a power plant coupled to the DC power bus through the primary DC distribution interrupting devices, the power plant located remotely from the DC power bus, the battery system and the battery charger.
- a method of reducing a battery current associated with a rectifier system of a DC power plant includes: (1) receiving a sensed current from a location on a battery distribution conductor connecting the DC power plant to a remote battery system and (2) dynamically adjusting a DC output voltage of the DC power plant based on the sensed current to reduce the battery current to substantially zero amperes.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram of an embodiment of a DC power system constructed according to the principles of the disclosure
- FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a DC power plant constructed according to the principles of the disclosure
- FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a DC power system constructed according to the principles of the disclosure
- FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a DC power system constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of reducing a battery current carried out according to the principles of the disclosure.
- DC power systems may be structured in different configurations.
- a centralized architecture the power plants and batteries are positioned at a central location. Often, this may be the basement of a central office of a telecommunications company.
- DC power is then provided through battery distribution conductors to loads, such as telecommunications equipment, that are remotely located from the central location.
- loads such as telecommunications equipment
- DC losses associated with the remote location of the power plants to the loads can occur.
- batteries and power plants are split into smaller units and positioned proximate the loads. While this may reduce the DC losses, the distributed architecture also can also be costlier due to the cost of suitable batteries with chemistry compatible with load equipment co-location.
- the present disclosure provides a DC power system that allows centrally located batteries and also reduces DC losses associated with battery distribution conductors between the centrally located batteries and remote loads.
- the disclosed DC power system advantageously employs cost efficient battery technology that can be centrally located with DC power plants that can be co-located with the load equipment to provide DC efficiency.
- the disclosed DC power systems place the disclosed DC power plants close to load equipment, eliminating the resistive losses associated with the long battery distribution conductors from the central power plant.
- the central located batteries incur or essentially incur conductor loss only when in discharge mode.
- the disclosed DC power plant includes a rectifier system (i.e., a rectifier or rectifiers) that receives an AC input voltage and produces a DC output voltage. Additionally, the DC power plant includes a controller that monitors and controls the operation of the rectifier system and reduces battery current during normal operation between the DC power plant and the distal batteries that are centrally located.
- the individual DC power plants that are powering the loads are equipped with a battery current elimination feature to reduce the current flowing from the DC power plants to the batteries to substantially zero (which includes zero) during normal operation. In one embodiment, this is achieved by monitoring the battery current using a traditional resistance current shunt, and dynamically adjusting the DC power plant voltage to force the current to zero amperes. This occurs when the voltages on either side of the shunt are the same.
- the resistance of the battery distribution conductor may also be used. Reducing the current flowing in the battery distribution conductors insures that there are minimal losses in these conductors during normal operation and also enables the battery charging power plant to optimize the battery charging voltage.
- the disclosure also provides a battery charger located proximate with the batteries that is dedicated to charge the centrally located batteries.
- the battery charger can be sized and optimized to provide battery charging current for the battery system.
- the remotely located DC power plants do not have to be used to charge the battery system. Accordingly, the distributed DC power plants do not have to cooperate to provide the optimum charging current for the battery system that is remotely located from the DC power plants. Additionally, DC losses are not incurred over the battery distribution conductors during the charging process. Instead, the battery charger that is proximate the batteries can be dedicated just for charging allowing the battery charger to be optimized for providing battery charging current for the battery system.
- the disclosed DC power system architecture moves rectifiers closer to loads, preserves existing battery room investments, avoids the costs of re-cabling a DC infrastructure while maintaining a low risk battery location and minimizes DC operating losses.
- DC output voltage of the disclosed DC power plants can be dynamically controlled to reduce current on battery distribution conductors to zero and minimize losses.
- a battery charger can be dedicated to charging the centrally located battery system allowing an optimized voltage being set for charging.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram of an embodiment of a DC power system 100 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.
- the DC power system 100 includes a DC power bus 110 , a battery system 120 , a battery charger 130 , primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 , DC power plants 150 and 155 , DC power distribution centers 160 and 165 , battery distribution conductors 170 and DC distribution connections 180 , 185 .
- the DC power bus 110 may be a conventional DC bus that is used in a DC power system having a centralized architecture.
- the battery system 120 and the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 may also be conventional devices that are used in conventional centralized architecture DC power systems.
- the battery system 120 may be conventional lead acid batteries. In other embodiments, the battery system 120 may include another type of battery used for storing energy.
- the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 may be conventional DC switches. In other embodiments, the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 may be another type of device for interrupting DC load such as a circuit breaker or a fuse.
- the DC power bus 110 , the battery system 120 and the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 may all be located in a single location. For example, these devices may be centrally located in a basement or single room. In some embodiments, the DC power bus 110 , the battery system 120 and the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 may be centrally located in a central office of a telecommunications company.
- the battery charger 130 may also be located proximate the DC power bus 110 , the battery system 120 and the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 at a single location.
- the battery charger 130 receives an AC power and generates DC power.
- the battery charger 130 can provide a DC battery charging current.
- the AC power may be supplied from a commercial utility company or even an emergency AC source.
- the battery charger 130 is coupled to the DC power bus 110 and, therethrough provides a charging current for the battery system 120 .
- the battery charger 130 may be a DC power plant that is specifically sized and designated to provide the battery charging current for the battery system 120 .
- the battery charger 130 includes sufficient capacity (e.g., rectifiers) to produce the needed battery charging current for the battery system 120 .
- the battery charger 130 is not needed to provide DC power for loads. As such, the battery charger 130 can be sized only for generating the needed battery charging current for the battery system 120 .
- the battery charger 130 , along with the battery system 120 and the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 may be coupled to the DC power bus 110 via conventional connectors, cables or bus bar.
- the battery distribution conductors 170 may be battery distribution cables, bus bars or other current carrying components that may be typically used in a DC power system having a centralized architecture.
- the battery distribution conductors 170 electrically couple the DC power plants 150 , 155 , to the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 .
- the battery distribution conductors 170 are sized to provide DC power to loads when the AC power supply is unavailable for the DC power plants 150 , 155 .
- the size of the battery distribution conductors 170 therefore, may vary depending on the needed capacity and the distance between the primary DC distribution interrupting devices 140 and the DC power plants 150 , 155 , which are located proximate to the loads.
- the DC power plants 150 , 155 receive an AC power supply and produce DC power.
- the DC power plants 150 , 155 include a rectifier system that receives the AC power supply and generates the DC power. However, the DC power plants 150 , 155 , do not include a battery for storing the generated DC power.
- the rectifier system may be a conventional rectifier or rectifiers.
- the DC power plants 150 , 155 also include controllers that monitor and direct the operation of the rectifier systems. The controllers and rectifier systems are not denoted in FIG. 1 but are illustrated in FIG. 2 and correspondingly discussed below.
- the DC power plants 150 , 155 may be located in cabinets 151 , 156 .
- the DC power plants 150 , 155 provide DC for the loads.
- the battery system 120 is not discharging or in a discharge mode.
- the DC power is provided to the loads from the DC power plants 150 , 155 , via the DC distribution connections 180 , 185 , and the power distribution centers 160 , 165 .
- the DC distribution connections 180 , 185 may be conventional cables or bus for transmitting DC power.
- the power distribution centers 160 , 165 may be conventional devices used to provide secondary fusing, switching or circuit breaking for DC power delivered to equipment.
- the power distribution centers 160 , 165 can provide battery redundancy to the loads through the use of multiple load buses.
- either of the power distribution centers 160 , 165 may be a Battery Distribution Fuse Bay (BDFB) available from Lineage Power Corporation of Plano, Tex.
- BDFB Battery Distribution Fuse Bay
- BDCBB Battery Distribution Circuit Breaker Bay
- the battery distribution conductors 170 may also provide redundancy between the DC power bus 110 and the DC power plants 150 , 155 .
- the battery distribution conductors 170 do not need to provide DC power to the loads since this is handled by the DC power plants 150 , 155 .
- the controller is configured to monitor the battery current (i.e., distal battery current) on the battery distribution conductors 170 .
- the battery current on the battery distribution conductors 170 includes current generated by the rectifier system of the DC power plants 150 , 155 , via a DC bus of the DC power plants 150 , 155 .
- the controllers of the DC power plants 150 , 155 dynamically adjust the DC output voltage from the rectifier systems to maintain the distal battery current at substantially zero amperes.
- the accuracy of measuring circuits or control circuits employed with the DC power system 100 may determine how close to zero amperes the distal battery current can be maintained. Accordingly, the battery distribution conductors 170 may only incur resistive losses when in discharge mode (i.e., when the battery system 120 is providing DC power to the loads).
- FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a DC power plant 200 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.
- the DC power plant 200 includes a rectifier system 210 , a controller 220 , a DC bus 230 , a remote battery connection 240 and a proximate load connection 250 .
- the rectifier system 210 includes an AC power input 212 and a DC power output 216 . Coupled to the rectifier system 210 is the controller 220 .
- the controller 220 is configured to monitor and manage the operation of the rectifier system 210 .
- the controller 220 includes a processor 222 and a current sensing interface 226 .
- the controller 220 may include additional components and interfaces that are typically included in a power plant controller.
- the rectifier system 210 is configured to receive an AC input voltage at the AC power input 212 and produce a DC output voltage at the DC power output 216 .
- the rectifier system 210 may be a conventional AC to DC rectifier or rectifiers.
- the DC output voltage 216 may be at +24 volts and ⁇ 48 volts. Of course, in other embodiments, the DC output voltage may vary.
- Coupled to the DC power output is a DC bus 230 .
- Connected to the DC bus 230 are a remote battery connection 240 and a proximate load connection 250 .
- the DC bus 230 includes a positive bus bar and relative thereto, a negative bus bar.
- the DC bus 230 may be a typical DC bus included in a conventional power plant.
- the remote battery connection 240 is sufficiently sized to physically and electrically couple a battery distribution conductor to the DC bus 230 .
- the remote battery connection 240 is sized for the battery distribution conductor that connects the DC power plant 200 to a central battery system that is distal.
- the DC power plant is located proximate a load instead of the battery system.
- the proximate load connection 250 is sufficiently sized to physically and electrically connect DC distribution connections to the DC bus 230 .
- the processor 222 includes the necessary hardware and software to direct the operation of the DC power plant 200 including the rectifier system 210 .
- the processor 222 may be a digital data processor that is programmed or stores executable programs of sequences of software instructions to perform one or more of the described functions.
- the software instructions of such programs may be encoded in machine-executable form on conventional digital data storage media, e.g., magnetic or optical disks, random-access memory (RAM), magnetic hard disks, flash memories, and/or read-only memory (ROM), to enable various types of digital data processors or computers to perform one, multiple or all of the described functions of the controller 220 .
- the processor 222 is configured to monitor a distal battery current generated by the rectifier system 210 for a remote battery system and dynamically adjust the DC output voltage to maintain the distal battery current at substantially zero amperes.
- the distal battery current would be located on a battery distribution conductor connected to the DC bus 230 via a remote battery connection 240 .
- the processor 222 may be configured to dynamically adjust the DC output voltage based on the sensed current representing the distal battery current. As such, the processor 222 may generate control signals to direct the operation of the rectifier system 210 .
- the controller 220 may receive the sensed current via the current sensing interface 226 .
- the sensed current may represent the different sides of a resistance current shunt coupled to the battery distribution conductor.
- the processor 222 is configured to use the sensed current to determine the voltages on the two different sides of the resistor of the current shunt.
- the processor 222 is then configured to adjust the DC output voltage so that the two voltages match (i.e., are substantially the same). As such, the distal battery current is reduced to zero or substantially zero amperes.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a DC power system 300 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.
- the schematic diagram of FIG. 3 illustrates how currents may be sensed to zero out battery current on the battery distribution conductors between DC power plants and centrally located battery systems during normal operation.
- the DC power system includes a DC power bus 310 , a battery charger 320 , a battery system 330 , three DC power plants 340 , 342 , 344 , battery distribution conductors 350 connecting the DC power plants 340 , 342 , 344 , to the DC power bus 310 and three resistance current shunts 360 , 362 and 364 .
- the resistance current shunts 360 , 362 , 364 allow currents to be sensed in each battery conductor. Employing the resistance current shunts 360 , 362 , 364 , also allows a calibrated reading of the battery current on the battery distribution conductors 350 .
- the DC power plants 340 , 342 , 344 receive the sensed currents and determine the voltage on either side of the current shunt resistance.
- the DC power plants 340 , 342 , 344 (i.e., the controller thereof) then dynamically determine the voltage needed on the power plant side of the resistance current shunts 360 , 362 , 364 , for the voltages on either side of the current shunt resistance to match or at least substantially match.
- the DC power plants 340 , 342 , 344 then dynamically adjust the DC voltage and, therefore, substantially reduce the battery current on the battery distribution conductors 350 to obtain or at least substantially approach zero amperes.
- the resistance current shunts 360 , 362 , 364 allow a calibrated reading of the battery currents.
- the resistance current shunts 360 , 362 , 364 can be eliminated and the resistance of the battery distribution conductors themselves can be used.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a DC power system 400 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure that uses the resistance of the battery conductors instead of resistance current shunts for zeroing-out current on the battery conductors.
- the DC power system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be configured as the DC power system 300 or the DC power system 400 for reducing the battery current on the battery distribution conductors.
- the DC power system 400 does not include resistance current shunts.
- the DC power plants 340 , 342 , 344 employ the resistance of the battery distribution conductors 350 to determine how to dynamically adjust the DC voltage output to reduce the battery current to zero.
- the value of the resistance is not relevant since the control circuit (i.e., processor of the controller) in the DC power plants 340 , 342 , 344 , is being used to force the current to zero instead of to a calibrated value as done when using a resistance current shunt.
- the control circuit i.e., processor of the controller
- FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method 500 of reducing a distal battery current carried out according to the principles of the disclosure.
- the method 500 may be carried out by a DC power plant located proximate with a load to prevent battery current from the DC power plant to a remote battery system during normal operation.
- a controller of a DC power plant including a processor may include the necessary circuitry and sequence of operating instructions to perform the method 500 .
- the processor may be directed by the stored sequence of operating instructions to perform the method 500 or at least a portion thereof when the sequence is initiated.
- the method 500 begins in a step 505 .
- a sensed current is received from a location on a battery distribution conductor connecting the DC power plant to a remote battery system.
- the remote battery system is a centrally located battery system that is distal from the DC power plant and the load or loads proximate the DC power plant.
- the sensed current may be received from a resistance current shunt associated with the battery distribution conductor.
- the location may be on the DC power plant side of the resistance current shunt.
- resistance of the battery distribution conductor may be used to distinguish between the sensed currents.
- a DC output voltage of the DC power plant is dynamically adjusted based on the sensed current to reduce the distal battery current to substantially zero amperes.
- dynamically adjusting includes matching voltages on either side of the resistance as determined from the sensed current to reduce the battery current to zero. As such, the DC output voltage of the DC power plant is dynamically adjusted to match the voltage on the other side of the resistance.
- the method 500 then ends in a step 530 .
- the present disclosure provides a DC power plant architecture that employs cost efficient battery technology with the DC efficiency obtained by co-locating the DC power plants with the load equipment. Additionally, the DC power plants are configured to reduce current on the battery distribution conductors to ideally zero amperes during normal operation. Furthermore, a dedicated battery charger is provided to allow easier optimization of the charging current.
- the disclosed architecture of the DC power system also allows for the DC power plants to be placed in load cabinets.
- the DC power plant 200 may be located in a cabinet with the load to further reduce DC distribution losses. While this may be used for new installations, the disclosed architecture can also be implemented with existing centralized architectures without significant changes to distribution and load wiring. Accordingly, installation costs and potential service interruptions can be minimized.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
- Secondary Cells (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present application is related to and claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/287,322, filed by Davis, et al., on Dec. 17, 2009, entitled “Hybrid Power Architecture for DC Power Plants,” commonly owned herewith and incorporated herein by reference.
- The invention is related, in general, to electrical power sources, and, more specifically to DC power plants for providing power to telecommunication systems.
- Telecommunication and data switching systems are used to route tens of thousands of calls and data connections per second. The failure of such a system, due to either an equipment breakdown or a loss of power, is generally unacceptable since it would result in a loss of millions of voice and data communications along with its corresponding revenue. The traditionally high reliability of telecommunication systems, that users have come to expect, is partially based on the use of redundant equipment including power supplies.
- DC Power plants are used in the telecommunications industry to provide large amounts of DC power to critical loads and insure un-interrupted operation through the use of batteries or other energy storage media. DC Power plants typically include rectifiers that receive and rectify AC power to produce DC power for powering external equipment (i.e., loads) during normal operation. When an AC source is unable to provide power for the rectifiers to produce DC power for the loads, DC power plants can utilize the batteries as back-up to provide DC power for the equipment.
- This disclosure provides a power plant. In one embodiment, the power plant includes: (1) a rectifier system including an AC power input and a DC power output, the rectifier system configured to receive an AC input voltage at the AC power input and produce a DC output voltage at the DC power output and (2) a controller configured to monitor a battery current associated with a battery distribution conductor coupled to the rectifier system for a remote battery system and dynamically adjust the DC output voltage to maintain the battery current at substantially zero amperes.
- In another aspect, a DC power system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the DC power system includes: (1) a DC power bus, (2) a battery system coupled to the DC power bus, (3) a battery charger coupled to the DC power bus, (4) primary DC distribution interrupting devices coupled to the DC power bus, and (5) a power plant coupled to the DC power bus through the primary DC distribution interrupting devices, the power plant located remotely from the DC power bus, the battery system and the battery charger.
- In still another aspect, a method of reducing a battery current associated with a rectifier system of a DC power plant is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) receiving a sensed current from a location on a battery distribution conductor connecting the DC power plant to a remote battery system and (2) dynamically adjusting a DC output voltage of the DC power plant based on the sensed current to reduce the battery current to substantially zero amperes.
- For a more complete understanding of the disclosure, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram of an embodiment of a DC power system constructed according to the principles of the disclosure; -
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a DC power plant constructed according to the principles of the disclosure; -
FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a DC power system constructed according to the principles of the disclosure; -
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a DC power system constructed according to the principles of the disclosure; and -
FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of reducing a battery current carried out according to the principles of the disclosure. - DC power systems may be structured in different configurations. In a centralized architecture, the power plants and batteries are positioned at a central location. Often, this may be the basement of a central office of a telecommunications company. DC power is then provided through battery distribution conductors to loads, such as telecommunications equipment, that are remotely located from the central location. As a result of high currents flowing in the long conductors, DC losses associated with the remote location of the power plants to the loads can occur. In a distributed architecture, batteries and power plants are split into smaller units and positioned proximate the loads. While this may reduce the DC losses, the distributed architecture also can also be costlier due to the cost of suitable batteries with chemistry compatible with load equipment co-location.
- The present disclosure provides a DC power system that allows centrally located batteries and also reduces DC losses associated with battery distribution conductors between the centrally located batteries and remote loads. The disclosed DC power system advantageously employs cost efficient battery technology that can be centrally located with DC power plants that can be co-located with the load equipment to provide DC efficiency. Thus, the disclosed DC power systems place the disclosed DC power plants close to load equipment, eliminating the resistive losses associated with the long battery distribution conductors from the central power plant. As such, the central located batteries incur or essentially incur conductor loss only when in discharge mode.
- The disclosed DC power plant includes a rectifier system (i.e., a rectifier or rectifiers) that receives an AC input voltage and produces a DC output voltage. Additionally, the DC power plant includes a controller that monitors and controls the operation of the rectifier system and reduces battery current during normal operation between the DC power plant and the distal batteries that are centrally located. The individual DC power plants that are powering the loads are equipped with a battery current elimination feature to reduce the current flowing from the DC power plants to the batteries to substantially zero (which includes zero) during normal operation. In one embodiment, this is achieved by monitoring the battery current using a traditional resistance current shunt, and dynamically adjusting the DC power plant voltage to force the current to zero amperes. This occurs when the voltages on either side of the shunt are the same. Instead of using the resistance from the shunt, the resistance of the battery distribution conductor may also be used. Reducing the current flowing in the battery distribution conductors insures that there are minimal losses in these conductors during normal operation and also enables the battery charging power plant to optimize the battery charging voltage.
- The disclosure also provides a battery charger located proximate with the batteries that is dedicated to charge the centrally located batteries. The battery charger can be sized and optimized to provide battery charging current for the battery system. The remotely located DC power plants do not have to be used to charge the battery system. Accordingly, the distributed DC power plants do not have to cooperate to provide the optimum charging current for the battery system that is remotely located from the DC power plants. Additionally, DC losses are not incurred over the battery distribution conductors during the charging process. Instead, the battery charger that is proximate the batteries can be dedicated just for charging allowing the battery charger to be optimized for providing battery charging current for the battery system.
- As discussed in more detail below, the disclosed DC power system architecture moves rectifiers closer to loads, preserves existing battery room investments, avoids the costs of re-cabling a DC infrastructure while maintaining a low risk battery location and minimizes DC operating losses. Additionally, DC output voltage of the disclosed DC power plants can be dynamically controlled to reduce current on battery distribution conductors to zero and minimize losses. Furthermore, a battery charger can be dedicated to charging the centrally located battery system allowing an optimized voltage being set for charging.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram of an embodiment of aDC power system 100 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. TheDC power system 100 includes aDC power bus 110, abattery system 120, abattery charger 130, primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140,DC power plants power distribution centers battery distribution conductors 170 andDC distribution connections - The DC
power bus 110 may be a conventional DC bus that is used in a DC power system having a centralized architecture. Thebattery system 120 and the primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 may also be conventional devices that are used in conventional centralized architecture DC power systems. Thebattery system 120, for example, may be conventional lead acid batteries. In other embodiments, thebattery system 120 may include another type of battery used for storing energy. The primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 may be conventional DC switches. In other embodiments, the primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 may be another type of device for interrupting DC load such as a circuit breaker or a fuse. - The
DC power bus 110, thebattery system 120 and the primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 may all be located in a single location. For example, these devices may be centrally located in a basement or single room. In some embodiments, theDC power bus 110, thebattery system 120 and the primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 may be centrally located in a central office of a telecommunications company. - The
battery charger 130 may also be located proximate theDC power bus 110, thebattery system 120 and the primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 at a single location. Thebattery charger 130 receives an AC power and generates DC power. As such, thebattery charger 130 can provide a DC battery charging current. The AC power may be supplied from a commercial utility company or even an emergency AC source. Thebattery charger 130 is coupled to theDC power bus 110 and, therethrough provides a charging current for thebattery system 120. Thebattery charger 130 may be a DC power plant that is specifically sized and designated to provide the battery charging current for thebattery system 120. As such, thebattery charger 130 includes sufficient capacity (e.g., rectifiers) to produce the needed battery charging current for thebattery system 120. With theDC power system 100, thebattery charger 130 is not needed to provide DC power for loads. As such, thebattery charger 130 can be sized only for generating the needed battery charging current for thebattery system 120. Thebattery charger 130, along with thebattery system 120 and the primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 may be coupled to theDC power bus 110 via conventional connectors, cables or bus bar. - The
battery distribution conductors 170 may be battery distribution cables, bus bars or other current carrying components that may be typically used in a DC power system having a centralized architecture. Thebattery distribution conductors 170 electrically couple theDC power plants distribution interrupting devices 140. Thebattery distribution conductors 170 are sized to provide DC power to loads when the AC power supply is unavailable for theDC power plants battery distribution conductors 170, therefore, may vary depending on the needed capacity and the distance between the primary DCdistribution interrupting devices 140 and theDC power plants - The
DC power plants DC power plants DC power plants DC power plants FIG. 1 but are illustrated inFIG. 2 and correspondingly discussed below. TheDC power plants cabinets - During normal operation (i.e., when there is AC power and the rectifier system is producing DC power therefrom) the
DC power plants battery system 120 is not discharging or in a discharge mode. The DC power is provided to the loads from theDC power plants DC distribution connections DC distribution connections - As illustrated, the
battery distribution conductors 170 may also provide redundancy between theDC power bus 110 and theDC power plants battery distribution conductors 170 do not need to provide DC power to the loads since this is handled by theDC power plants battery distribution conductors 170 during normal operation, the controller is configured to monitor the battery current (i.e., distal battery current) on thebattery distribution conductors 170. The battery current on thebattery distribution conductors 170 includes current generated by the rectifier system of theDC power plants DC power plants DC power plants DC power system 100 may determine how close to zero amperes the distal battery current can be maintained. Accordingly, thebattery distribution conductors 170 may only incur resistive losses when in discharge mode (i.e., when thebattery system 120 is providing DC power to the loads). -
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of aDC power plant 200 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. TheDC power plant 200 includes arectifier system 210, acontroller 220, aDC bus 230, aremote battery connection 240 and aproximate load connection 250. - The
rectifier system 210 includes anAC power input 212 and aDC power output 216. Coupled to therectifier system 210 is thecontroller 220. Thecontroller 220 is configured to monitor and manage the operation of therectifier system 210. Thecontroller 220 includes aprocessor 222 and acurrent sensing interface 226. Thecontroller 220 may include additional components and interfaces that are typically included in a power plant controller. - The
rectifier system 210 is configured to receive an AC input voltage at theAC power input 212 and produce a DC output voltage at theDC power output 216. Therectifier system 210 may be a conventional AC to DC rectifier or rectifiers. In one embodiment, theDC output voltage 216 may be at +24 volts and −48 volts. Of course, in other embodiments, the DC output voltage may vary. Coupled to the DC power output is aDC bus 230. Connected to theDC bus 230 are aremote battery connection 240 and aproximate load connection 250. TheDC bus 230 includes a positive bus bar and relative thereto, a negative bus bar. TheDC bus 230 may be a typical DC bus included in a conventional power plant. Theremote battery connection 240 is sufficiently sized to physically and electrically couple a battery distribution conductor to theDC bus 230. Unlike DC power plants that are located proximate to a central battery system (e.g., in a central architecture), theremote battery connection 240 is sized for the battery distribution conductor that connects theDC power plant 200 to a central battery system that is distal. In contrast, the DC power plant is located proximate a load instead of the battery system. As such, theproximate load connection 250 is sufficiently sized to physically and electrically connect DC distribution connections to theDC bus 230. - The
processor 222 includes the necessary hardware and software to direct the operation of theDC power plant 200 including therectifier system 210. For example, theprocessor 222 may be a digital data processor that is programmed or stores executable programs of sequences of software instructions to perform one or more of the described functions. The software instructions of such programs may be encoded in machine-executable form on conventional digital data storage media, e.g., magnetic or optical disks, random-access memory (RAM), magnetic hard disks, flash memories, and/or read-only memory (ROM), to enable various types of digital data processors or computers to perform one, multiple or all of the described functions of thecontroller 220. As such, theprocessor 222 is configured to monitor a distal battery current generated by therectifier system 210 for a remote battery system and dynamically adjust the DC output voltage to maintain the distal battery current at substantially zero amperes. The distal battery current would be located on a battery distribution conductor connected to theDC bus 230 via aremote battery connection 240. - The
processor 222 may be configured to dynamically adjust the DC output voltage based on the sensed current representing the distal battery current. As such, theprocessor 222 may generate control signals to direct the operation of therectifier system 210. Thecontroller 220 may receive the sensed current via thecurrent sensing interface 226. The sensed current may represent the different sides of a resistance current shunt coupled to the battery distribution conductor. To reduce the battery current to substantially zero amperes, theprocessor 222 is configured to use the sensed current to determine the voltages on the two different sides of the resistor of the current shunt. Theprocessor 222 is then configured to adjust the DC output voltage so that the two voltages match (i.e., are substantially the same). As such, the distal battery current is reduced to zero or substantially zero amperes. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of aDC power system 300 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. The schematic diagram ofFIG. 3 illustrates how currents may be sensed to zero out battery current on the battery distribution conductors between DC power plants and centrally located battery systems during normal operation. The DC power system includes aDC power bus 310, abattery charger 320, abattery system 330, threeDC power plants battery distribution conductors 350 connecting theDC power plants DC power bus 310 and three resistancecurrent shunts current shunts current shunts battery distribution conductors 350. TheDC power plants DC power plants current shunts DC power plants battery distribution conductors 350 to obtain or at least substantially approach zero amperes. As noted above, the resistancecurrent shunts current shunts -
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of aDC power system 400 constructed according to the principles of the disclosure that uses the resistance of the battery conductors instead of resistance current shunts for zeroing-out current on the battery conductors. TheDC power system 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 may be configured as theDC power system 300 or theDC power system 400 for reducing the battery current on the battery distribution conductors. As illustrated, theDC power system 400 does not include resistance current shunts. Instead, theDC power plants battery distribution conductors 350 to determine how to dynamically adjust the DC voltage output to reduce the battery current to zero. In this embodiment, the value of the resistance is not relevant since the control circuit (i.e., processor of the controller) in theDC power plants -
FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of amethod 500 of reducing a distal battery current carried out according to the principles of the disclosure. Themethod 500 may be carried out by a DC power plant located proximate with a load to prevent battery current from the DC power plant to a remote battery system during normal operation. A controller of a DC power plant including a processor may include the necessary circuitry and sequence of operating instructions to perform themethod 500. The processor may be directed by the stored sequence of operating instructions to perform themethod 500 or at least a portion thereof when the sequence is initiated. Themethod 500 begins in astep 505. - In a
step 510, a sensed current is received from a location on a battery distribution conductor connecting the DC power plant to a remote battery system. The remote battery system is a centrally located battery system that is distal from the DC power plant and the load or loads proximate the DC power plant. The sensed current may be received from a resistance current shunt associated with the battery distribution conductor. In one embodiment, the location may be on the DC power plant side of the resistance current shunt. In some embodiments, resistance of the battery distribution conductor may be used to distinguish between the sensed currents. In astep 520, a DC output voltage of the DC power plant is dynamically adjusted based on the sensed current to reduce the distal battery current to substantially zero amperes. Whether employing a resistance current shunt or employing the battery conductor resistance, dynamically adjusting includes matching voltages on either side of the resistance as determined from the sensed current to reduce the battery current to zero. As such, the DC output voltage of the DC power plant is dynamically adjusted to match the voltage on the other side of the resistance. Themethod 500 then ends in astep 530. - The present disclosure provides a DC power plant architecture that employs cost efficient battery technology with the DC efficiency obtained by co-locating the DC power plants with the load equipment. Additionally, the DC power plants are configured to reduce current on the battery distribution conductors to ideally zero amperes during normal operation. Furthermore, a dedicated battery charger is provided to allow easier optimization of the charging current.
- The disclosed architecture of the DC power system also allows for the DC power plants to be placed in load cabinets. Thus, the
DC power plant 200 may be located in a cabinet with the load to further reduce DC distribution losses. While this may be used for new installations, the disclosed architecture can also be implemented with existing centralized architectures without significant changes to distribution and load wiring. Accordingly, installation costs and potential service interruptions can be minimized. - Those skilled in the art to which the invention relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/965,501 US20110148207A1 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2010-12-10 | Hybrid architecture for dc power plants and a method of minimizing battery conductor current |
US13/086,031 US8816649B2 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2011-04-13 | Systems and methods for charging using a permitted charging current |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US28732209P | 2009-12-17 | 2009-12-17 | |
US12/965,501 US20110148207A1 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2010-12-10 | Hybrid architecture for dc power plants and a method of minimizing battery conductor current |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/086,031 Continuation-In-Part US8816649B2 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2011-04-13 | Systems and methods for charging using a permitted charging current |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110148207A1 true US20110148207A1 (en) | 2011-06-23 |
Family
ID=44150029
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/965,501 Abandoned US20110148207A1 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2010-12-10 | Hybrid architecture for dc power plants and a method of minimizing battery conductor current |
US13/086,031 Active 2031-11-03 US8816649B2 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2011-04-13 | Systems and methods for charging using a permitted charging current |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/086,031 Active 2031-11-03 US8816649B2 (en) | 2009-12-17 | 2011-04-13 | Systems and methods for charging using a permitted charging current |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20110148207A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109257950A (en) * | 2016-05-24 | 2019-01-22 | 松下知识产权经营株式会社 | charging system |
GB2552777B (en) * | 2016-07-21 | 2022-06-08 | Petalite Ltd | A battery charging system and method |
Citations (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5570002A (en) * | 1994-02-18 | 1996-10-29 | Ergo Mechanical Systems, Incorporated | Universal power-supply connection system for multiple electronic devices |
US6295216B1 (en) * | 2000-04-06 | 2001-09-25 | Powerware Corporation | Power supply apparatus with selective rectifier harmonic input current suppression and methods of operation thereof |
US20010052760A1 (en) * | 2000-06-19 | 2001-12-20 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Automobile and power supply system therefor |
US6452364B1 (en) * | 1999-04-09 | 2002-09-17 | Fujitsu Limited | Battery charge control circuit, battery charging device, and battery charge control method |
US6605879B2 (en) * | 2001-04-19 | 2003-08-12 | Powerware Corporation | Battery charger control circuit and an uninterruptible power supply utilizing same |
US6738692B2 (en) * | 2001-06-25 | 2004-05-18 | Sustainable Energy Technologies | Modular, integrated power conversion and energy management system |
US20040108835A1 (en) * | 2002-12-02 | 2004-06-10 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Method and apparatus to charge a plurality of batteries |
US6753622B2 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2004-06-22 | Powerware Corporation | Uninterruptible power supply systems and methods using rectified AC with current control |
US6917124B2 (en) * | 2000-10-27 | 2005-07-12 | Liebert Corporation | Uninterruptible power supply |
US20080084185A1 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2008-04-10 | Densei-Lambda Kabushiki Kaisha | Uninterruptible power supply system |
US20080272739A1 (en) * | 2004-10-04 | 2008-11-06 | Carrier David A | Battery monitoring arrangement having an integrated circuit with logic controller in a battery pack |
US20090091300A1 (en) * | 2007-10-04 | 2009-04-09 | Broadcom Corporation | Collapsing Adaptor Battery Charger |
US20100049457A1 (en) * | 2004-01-23 | 2010-02-25 | American Power Conversion Corporation | Method and apparatus for monitoring energy storage devices |
US20100164289A1 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2010-07-01 | Linear Technology Corporation | Method and system for voltage independent power supply load sharing |
US7759822B2 (en) * | 2003-04-04 | 2010-07-20 | Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd. | Uninterruptible power supply device with circuit for degradation judgment of storage battery |
US7868483B2 (en) * | 2007-09-06 | 2011-01-11 | O2Micro, Inc. | Power management systems with current sensors |
US8227937B2 (en) * | 2008-07-02 | 2012-07-24 | Nnw Ventures, Llc | Uninterruptible power supplies, solar power kits for uninterruptible power supplies and related methods |
-
2010
- 2010-12-10 US US12/965,501 patent/US20110148207A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2011
- 2011-04-13 US US13/086,031 patent/US8816649B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5570002A (en) * | 1994-02-18 | 1996-10-29 | Ergo Mechanical Systems, Incorporated | Universal power-supply connection system for multiple electronic devices |
US6452364B1 (en) * | 1999-04-09 | 2002-09-17 | Fujitsu Limited | Battery charge control circuit, battery charging device, and battery charge control method |
US6295216B1 (en) * | 2000-04-06 | 2001-09-25 | Powerware Corporation | Power supply apparatus with selective rectifier harmonic input current suppression and methods of operation thereof |
US20010052760A1 (en) * | 2000-06-19 | 2001-12-20 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Automobile and power supply system therefor |
US6917124B2 (en) * | 2000-10-27 | 2005-07-12 | Liebert Corporation | Uninterruptible power supply |
US6753622B2 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2004-06-22 | Powerware Corporation | Uninterruptible power supply systems and methods using rectified AC with current control |
US6605879B2 (en) * | 2001-04-19 | 2003-08-12 | Powerware Corporation | Battery charger control circuit and an uninterruptible power supply utilizing same |
US6738692B2 (en) * | 2001-06-25 | 2004-05-18 | Sustainable Energy Technologies | Modular, integrated power conversion and energy management system |
US20040108835A1 (en) * | 2002-12-02 | 2004-06-10 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Method and apparatus to charge a plurality of batteries |
US7759822B2 (en) * | 2003-04-04 | 2010-07-20 | Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd. | Uninterruptible power supply device with circuit for degradation judgment of storage battery |
US20100049457A1 (en) * | 2004-01-23 | 2010-02-25 | American Power Conversion Corporation | Method and apparatus for monitoring energy storage devices |
US20080272739A1 (en) * | 2004-10-04 | 2008-11-06 | Carrier David A | Battery monitoring arrangement having an integrated circuit with logic controller in a battery pack |
US20080084185A1 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2008-04-10 | Densei-Lambda Kabushiki Kaisha | Uninterruptible power supply system |
US7535201B2 (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2009-05-19 | Densei-Lambda Kabushiki Kaisha | Uninterruptible power supply system |
US7868483B2 (en) * | 2007-09-06 | 2011-01-11 | O2Micro, Inc. | Power management systems with current sensors |
US20090091300A1 (en) * | 2007-10-04 | 2009-04-09 | Broadcom Corporation | Collapsing Adaptor Battery Charger |
US8227937B2 (en) * | 2008-07-02 | 2012-07-24 | Nnw Ventures, Llc | Uninterruptible power supplies, solar power kits for uninterruptible power supplies and related methods |
US20100164289A1 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2010-07-01 | Linear Technology Corporation | Method and system for voltage independent power supply load sharing |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20110187331A1 (en) | 2011-08-04 |
US8816649B2 (en) | 2014-08-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US10568232B2 (en) | Modular uninterruptible power supply apparatus and methods of operating same | |
US8736112B2 (en) | Multi-terminal DC transmission system and method and means for control there-of | |
US11196288B2 (en) | Direct current power supply system | |
US10164464B1 (en) | Modular uninterruptible power supply | |
US10609836B2 (en) | DC bus architecture for datacenters | |
US10014713B1 (en) | Redundant secondary power support system | |
US6281602B1 (en) | Backup battery recharge controller for a telecommunications power system | |
US11804973B2 (en) | Apparatus and systems for providing DC power using communication networks | |
WO2019217211A1 (en) | Dc bus architecture for datacenters | |
CN106030952A (en) | Converter module and switchgear assembly for ac and dc power distribution | |
CN110417081B (en) | Power supply circuit and uninterrupted power supply UPS system | |
US20140268943A1 (en) | Arc prevention in dc power systems | |
EP3817182B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for controlling battery module, power supply device and system | |
US20190267811A1 (en) | Method and system for generation and distribution of high voltage direct current | |
US20110148207A1 (en) | Hybrid architecture for dc power plants and a method of minimizing battery conductor current | |
CN110690755A (en) | Communication power supply system | |
CN115398765A (en) | Power supply system | |
CN114899936A (en) | Power distribution circuit, method for controlling power supply of power distribution circuit and power supply system | |
US6420850B1 (en) | Telecommunication power distribution systems and apparatuses and methods of supplying power to a telecommunication device | |
CN209544829U (en) | Distribution system | |
CN201061090Y (en) | DC distributing equipment and communication cabinet | |
US6885879B1 (en) | Battery reconnect system for a telecommunications power system | |
Lisy et al. | Three case studies of commercial deployment of 400V DC data and telecom centers in the EMEA region | |
US20210313829A1 (en) | Power strip with integrated automatic transfer switch | |
CN111987791B (en) | Battery module control device and method, power supply equipment and system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: LINEAGE POWER CORPORATION, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DAVIS, ROY J.;SMITH, PAUL;REEL/FRAME:025491/0610 Effective date: 20101210 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GE POWER ELECTRONICS, INC., TEXAS Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LINEAGE POWER CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:029647/0262 Effective date: 20120101 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GE POWER ELECTRONICS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:029697/0592 Effective date: 20130122 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |