IP Library Granted Patent US 10,742,030
Granted Patent B2
US 10,742,030 · App. 15/870,846 · Granted Aug 11, 2020

Dynamic load balancing

Inventor: Bahman Sharifipour (Newington, NH)
Assignee: KATERRA INC.
H02J3/14G01R19/2513G05F1/66H02J3/38H02J13/0017G05B15/02H02J3/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,742,030
App. No.
15/870,846
Granted
Aug 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments relate to power distribution systems. A power distribution system may include a switching unit configured to receive power from a plurality of sources, each source of the plurality of sources configured to supply power at a phase offset from a phase of every other source. The power distribution system may also include a plurality of loads. Furthermore, the power distribution system may include at least one monitoring unit configured to selectively couple, via the switching unit, each load of the plurality of loads to a source of the plurality of sources based on at least one of a current power demand of the plurality of loads and a predicted demand of the plurality of loads.

Claims (27)

1. A power distribution system, comprising:

a switching system including a first plurality of switches and a second plurality of switches, the first plurality of switches configured to receive power from a plurality of sources that includes a plurality of grid sources and the second plurality of switches each configured to receive power from a different one of the first plurality of switches and at least one alternative energy source, the switching system configured to selectively couple each load of a plurality of loads to any one of the plurality of sources and each load when coupled to one of the plurality of sources is electrically coupled only to the one of the plurality of sources and electrically isolated from the other of the plurality of sources, wherein each grid source of the plurality of grid sources is configured to supply power at a phase offset from a phase of every other grid source and the at least one alternative energy source includes one or more of: solar power, wind power, and geothermal power;

a plurality of power sensors, each of the plurality of sensors coupled in series between one of the first plurality of switches and one of the second plurality of switches, the plurality of power sensors configured to determine sensor information including a current level of one or more characteristics of power flowing between the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches;

a plurality of slave monitoring devices, each of the plurality of slave monitoring devices coupled in series between one of the second plurality of switches and one of the plurality of loads, the plurality of slave monitoring devices configured to determine monitor information including a current level of one or more characteristics of power flowing between the plurality of second switches and the plurality of loads; and

a master monitoring unit configured to:

select a source of the plurality of sources for each load of the plurality of loads based on the sensor information, the monitor information and at least one of: a predicted amount of power generated by the at least one alternative energy source and a predicted power demand of the plurality of loads, and

direct the switching system to selectively couple each load of the plurality of loads to the selected source of the plurality of sources.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical grid including the plurality of sources, wherein each grid source of the plurality of grid sources is configured to supply power 120 degrees out of phase with power supplied from other grid sources of the plurality of grid sources.

3. The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the master monitoring unit is configured to

predict an amount of power to be consumed by each load of the plurality of loads.

4. A method of supplying electrical power to loads, comprising:

selectively coupling power at a first phase to a first load of a plurality of loads such that the first load is electrically coupled only to the first phase and electrically isolated from a second phase of the power, a third phase of the power, and at least one alternative energy source, the selectively coupling the power at the first phase performed by a first plurality of switches coupled to the first, second, and third phases of the power and a second plurality of switches coupled to the at least one alternative energy source and in series between the first load and the first plurality of switches;

selectively coupling power at a second phase, offset from the first phase, to a second load of the plurality of loads such that the second load is electrically coupled only to the second phase and electrically isolated from the first phase of the power, the third phase of the power, which is offset from each of the first phase and the second phase, and the at least one alternative energy source, the selectively coupling the power at the second phase performed by the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches;

obtaining sensor information including a current level of one or more characteristics of power flowing between the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches from one or more of a plurality of sensors coupled in series between the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches;

obtain monitor information including a current level of one or more characteristics of power flowing between the plurality of second switches and the first load and the second load from one or more of a plurality of slave monitoring devices coupled in series between the second plurality of switches and the first and second loads; and

selectively coupling power at the second phase, power at the third phase, or power from the at least one alternative energy source, to the first load via the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches based on a determination by a master monitoring device coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of slave monitoring devices, the master monitoring device making the determination based on the sensor information, the monitor information and at least one of: a predicted amount of power generated by the at least one alternative energy source and a predicted power demand of the one or more loads.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising selectively coupling power at the third phase to a third load of the plurality of loads such that the third load is electrically coupled only to the third phase and electrically isolated from the first phase of the power, the second phase of the power, and the at least one alternative energy source.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein selectively coupling power at the second phase, power at the third phase, or power from the at least one alternative energy source comprises selectively coupling, via the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches, the first load to either the second source supplying power at the second phase, a third source supplying power at the third phase, or the at least one alternative energy source.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the predicted power demand comprises predicting a power demand of the plurality of loads based on at least one of historical data for one or more of the plurality of loads, a time of day, a time of year, and weather conditions.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable media having computer instructions stored thereon that, in response to being executed by a processing device of a system, cause the system to perform or control performance of operations comprising:

selectively coupling power at a first phase to a first load of a plurality of loads such that the first load is electrically coupled only to the first phase and electrically isolated from a second phase of the power, a third phase of the power, and at least one alternative energy source, the selectively coupling the power at the first phase performed by a first plurality of switches coupled to the first, second, and third phases of the power and a second plurality of switches coupled to the at least one alternative energy source and in series between the first load and the first plurality of switches;

selectively coupling power at a second phase, offset from the first phase, to a second load of the plurality of loads such that the second load is electrically coupled only to the second phase and electrically isolated from the first phase of the power, the third phase of the power, which is offset from each of the first phase and the second phase, and the at least one alternative energy source, the selectively coupling the power at the second phase performed by the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches;

obtaining sensor information including a current level of one or more characteristics of power flowing between the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches from one or more of a plurality of sensors coupled in series between the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches;

obtain monitor information including a current level of one or more characteristics of power flowing between the plurality of second switches and the first load and the second load from one or more of a plurality of slave monitoring devices coupled in series between the second plurality of switches and the first and second loads; and

selectively coupling power at the second phase, power at the third phase, or power from the at least one alternative energy source, to the first load via the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches based on a determination by a master monitoring device coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of slave monitoring devices, the master monitoring device making the determination based on the sensor information, the monitor information and at least one of: a predicted amount of power generated by the at least one alternative energy source and a predicted power demand of the one or more loads.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , the operations further comprising selectively coupling power at the third phase to a third load of the plurality of loads such that the third load is electrically coupled only to the third phase and electrically isolated from the first phase of the power, the second phase of the power, and the at least one alternative energy source.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein selectively coupling power at the second phase, power at the third phase, or power from the at least one alternative energy source comprises selectively coupling, via the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches, the first load to either the second source supplying power at the second phase, a third source supplying power at the third phase or the at least one alternative energy source.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: KATERRA INC. AND KATERRA CONSTRUCTION LLC
To: VBC TRACY LLC
Reel/Frame 058008/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 57261/0035 Recorded Sep 23, 2021
From: SB INVESTMENT ADVISERS (UK) LIMITED,
To: KATERRA, INC.
Reel/Frame 057594/0944 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 11, 2021
From: KATERRA INC.
To: SB INVESTMENT ADVISERS (UK) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057261/0035 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2020
From: SHARIFIPOUR, BAHMAN
To: KATERRA INC.
Reel/Frame 053007/0265 →
Continuity (1)
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