Electric power control system and process
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for controlling electric power supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Measurements of the supplied electricity are detected. Estimated deviant voltage levels that the supplied electricity will not drop below or exceed as a result of varying electrical consumption by the one or more electrical devices is computed based on a predetermined confidence level and the detected measurements. A voltage level output of the electricity supplied to the electrical device is adjusted based on the computed deviant voltage level.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a controller, measurements of electricity supplied to an electrical device via a voltage regulator;
identifying, by the controller, a predetermined confidence level corresponding to a probability distribution indicative of a characteristic of the electricity supplied to the electrical device;
determining, by the controller, a deviant voltage level based on electrical consumption by the electrical device, the measurements, and the predetermined confidence level; and
adjusting, via the controller, a voltage level supplied to the electrical device based on the determination of the deviant voltage level.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the controller, from a meter, the measurements of electricity supplied to the electrical device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting the voltage level supplied to the electrical device by selecting one of a plurality of tap settings of a voltage regulator.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the deviant voltage level based on varying electrical consumption by the electrical device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
estimating a low-pass spectral behavior of one or more observed voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device, with a spectral cutoff frequency consistent with a voltage adjustment decision period.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
estimating a dispersion or variance of each observed voltage level.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
applying weighting factors to the estimated dispersions consistent with configured confidence specifications to estimate a voltage deviation that will not be exceeded with the specified confidence level.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a tap setting and a regulator load voltage of one or more taps of a voltage regulator supplying electricity to the electrical device.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
incrementing or decrementing a voltage integrator based on the deviant voltage.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining an amount to increment or decrement the voltage regulator based on a decision boundary corresponding to the deviant voltage level.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device;
determining a forecast minimum voltage for one or more voltages of the voltage time selecting a forecast minimum voltage from the determined forecast minimum voltage for the one or more voltages; and
determining the deviant voltage level based on the selected forecast minimum voltage.
12. A system comprising:
a voltage signal processing circuit configured to receive measurements of electricity supplied to an electrical device via a voltage regulator;
an adjustment decision processing circuit configured to identify a predetermined confidence level corresponding to a probability distribution indicative of a characteristic of the electricity supplied to the electrical device, and determine a deviant voltage level based on electrical consumption by the electrical device, the measurements, and the predetermined confidence level; and
a controller configured to adjust a voltage level supplied to the electrical device based on the determination of the deviant voltage level.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the voltage signal processing circuit is further configured to:
receive, from a meter, the measurements of electricity supplied to the electrical device.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
adjust the voltage level supplied to the electrical device by selecting one of a plurality of tap settings of a voltage regulator.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:
determine the deviant voltage level based on varying electrical consumption by the electrical device.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:
estimate a low-pass spectral behavior of one or more observed voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device, with a spectral cutoff frequency consistent with a voltage adjustment decision period.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
estimate a dispersion or variance of each observed voltage level.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:
apply weighting factors to the estimated dispersions consistent with configured confidence specifications to estimate a voltage deviation that will not be exceeded with the specified confidence level.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:
determine a tap setting and a regulator load voltage of one or more taps of a voltage regulator supplying electricity to the electrical device.
20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the adjustment decision processing circuit is further configured to:
identify a voltage time series of the electricity supplied to the electrical device;
determine a forecast minimum voltage for one or more voltages of the voltage time select a forecast minimum voltage from the determined forecast minimum voltage for the one or more voltages; and
determine the deviant voltage level based on the selected forecast minimum voltage.