IP Library Granted Patent US 12,531,422
Granted Patent B2
US 12,531,422 · App. 18/736,086 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Flexible load stabilization modes for a power distribution system

Inventors: Sowmya Nagesh (Peoria, IL); Gregory Scott Hasler (Pekin, IL); Ronald Christopher Gayles (Peoria, IL)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
H02J3/388H02J3/007H02J3/46
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,531,422
App. No.
18/736,086
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power distribution system includes a macrogrid controller configured to control one or more first loads associated with a macrogrid, wherein the one or more first loads include a microgrid comprising one or more second loads and a plurality of energy resource systems; and a microgrid controller configured to receive one or more control signals from the macrogrid controller and control a power connection of the microgrid to the macrogrid based on the one or more control signals. The microgrid controller is configurable in a grid-connected mode, during which the microgrid is connected to the macrogrid, and a stand-alone mode, during which the microgrid is disconnected from the macrogrid, and wherein the microgrid controller is configured to operate in the grid-connected mode or in the stand-alone mode based on the one or more control signals.

Claims (62)

1 . A power distribution system, comprising:

a macrogrid controller configured to control one or more first loads associated with a macrogrid, wherein the one or more first loads include a microgrid comprising one or more second loads and a plurality of energy resource systems; and

a microgrid controller configured to;

receive one or more control signals, from the macrogrid controller, indicating a microgrid power limit that defines a total amount of power that the microgrid is permitted to draw from the macrogrid, and

control a power connection of the microgrid to the macrogrid based on the one or more control signals,

wherein the microgrid controller is configurable in a grid-connected mode, during which the microgrid is connected to the macrogrid when the microgrid power limit is greater than zero, and a stand-alone mode, during which the microgrid is disconnected from the macrogrid when the microgrid power limit is equal to zero.

2 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, based on the one or more control signals, operate in the grid-connected mode and configure one or more power interfaces of the microgrid to receive power from the macrogrid.

3 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, during the grid-connected mode, regulate a number of second loads connected to a power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy the microgrid power limit.

4 . The power distribution system of claim 3 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, during the grid-connected mode, decrease the number of second loads drawing power from the power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy the microgrid power limit.

5 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, during the grid-connected mode, regulate a number of energy resource systems connected to a power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy the microgrid power limit.

6 . The power distribution system of claim 5 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, during the grid-connected mode, increase the number of energy resource systems supplying power to the power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy the microgrid power limit.

7 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, during the grid-connected mode, regulate a number of second loads connected to a power distribution network of the microgrid and a number of energy resource systems supplying power to the power distribution network to satisfy the microgrid power limit and a total load demand on the microgrid.

8 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, based on the one or more control signals, operate in the grid-connected mode and configure one or more power interfaces of the microgrid to supply power to the macrogrid.

9 . The power distribution system of claim 8 ,

wherein the one or more control signals includes a power export request for the microgrid controller to supply the power to the macrogrid.

10 . The power distribution system of claim 9 ,

wherein the power export request includes an amount of power requested, and

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to regulate a number of energy resource systems connected to a power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy the amount of power requested.

11 . A microgrid controller of a microgrid, comprising:

one or more communication interfaces configured to receive one or more first control signals from a macrogrid controller of a macrogrid, provide one or more second control signals for controlling a power connection of the microgrid to the macrogrid, provide one or more third control signals for controlling a plurality of loads associated with the microgrid, and provide one or more fourth control signals for controlling a plurality of energy resource systems associated with the microgrid,

wherein the one or more first control signals indicate a microgrid power limit that defines a total amount of power that the microgrid is permitted to draw from the macrogrid, and

wherein the microgrid controller is configurable in a grid-connected mode, during which the microgrid is connected to the macrogrid when the microgrid power limit is greater than zero, and a stand-alone mode, during which the microgrid is disconnected from the macrogrid when the microgrid power limit is equal to zero; and

one or more processors configured to:

process the one or more first control signals,

control the power connection of the microgrid to the macrogrid based on the one or more first control signals,

generate, based on controlling the power connection, the one or more second control signals, the one or more third control signals, and the one or more fourth control signals based on the microgrid controller operating in the grid-connected mode or in the stand-alone mode.

12 . The microgrid controller of claim 11 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to, based on the one or more first control signals, operate in the grid-connected mode and generate the one or more second control signals to configure one or more power interfaces of the microgrid to receive power from the macrogrid.

13 . The microgrid controller of claim 12 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, during the grid-connected mode, generate the one or more third control signals to regulate a number of second loads connected to a power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy the microgrid power limit and a total load demand on the microgrid, and

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to, during the grid-connected mode, generate the one or more fourth control signals to regulate a number of energy resource systems supplying power to the power distribution network to satisfy the microgrid power limit and the total load demand on the microgrid.

14 . The microgrid controller of claim 11 ,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to, based on the one or more first control signals, operate in the grid-connected mode and generate the one or more second control signals to configure one or more power interfaces of the microgrid to supply power to the macrogrid.

15 . The microgrid controller of claim 14 ,

wherein the one or more first control signals include a power export request for the microgrid controller to supply the power to the macrogrid,

wherein the power export request includes an amount of power requested, and

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to generate the one or more fourth control signals to regulate a number of energy resource systems connected to a power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy the amount of power requested.

16 . A control method, comprising:

receiving, by a microgrid controller of a microgrid, one or more first control signals from a macrogrid controller of a macrogrid,

wherein the one or more first control signals indicate a microgrid power limit that defines a total amount of power that the microgrid is permitted to draw from the macrogrid, and

wherein the microgrid controller is configurable in a grid-connected mode, during which the microgrid is connected to the macrogrid when the microgrid power limit is greater than zero, and a stand-alone mode, during which the microgrid is disconnected from the macrogrid when the microgrid power limit is equal to zero;

operating, by the microgrid controller, in the grid-connected mode or in the stand-alone mode;

based on operating in the grid-connected mode or the stand-alone mode, generating, by the microgrid controller, one or more second control signals for controlling a power connection of the microgrid to the macrogrid;

based on operating in the grid-connected mode or the stand-alone mode, generating, by the microgrid controller, one or more third control signals for controlling a plurality of loads associated with the microgrid; and

based on operating in the grid-connected mode or the stand-alone mode, generating, by the microgrid controller, one or more fourth control signals for controlling a plurality of energy resource systems associated with the microgrid.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

generating, based on the microgrid controller operating in the grid-connected mode, the one or more second control signals to configure one or more power interfaces of the microgrid to receive power from the macrogrid or to configure the one or more power interfaces of the microgrid to supply power to the macrogrid;

generating, based on the microgrid controller operating in the grid-connected mode, the one or more third control signals to regulate a number of loads connected to a power distribution network of the microgrid to satisfy at least one of the microgrid power limit, a total load demand on the microgrid, or a power export request; and

generating, based on the microgrid controller operating in the grid-connected mode, the one or more fourth control signals to regulate a number of energy resource systems supplying power to the power distribution network to satisfy at least one of the microgrid power limit, the total load demand on the microgrid, or the power export request.

18 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to assign different priorities to the one or more second loads, and during the grid-connected mode, drop at least one of the one or more second loads to satisfy the microgrid power limit based on the priorities.

19 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to reduce a power rate of at least one of the one or more second loads relative to a maximum power consumption rate based on the microgrid power limit.

20 . The power distribution system of claim 1 ,

wherein the microgrid controller is configured to reduce a power output rate of at least one of the plurality of energy resource systems relative to a maximum power output rate based on the microgrid power limit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2024
From: NAGESH, SOWMYA; HASLER, GREGORY SCOTT; GAYLES, RONALD CHRISTOPHER
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 067659/0939 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250379449A1 · Dec 11, 2025
References Cited (17)
US 11501389B2 · Forbes, Jr. et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11581741B2 · Campus et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11749990B2 · Sanders et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20160313716A1 · Chen · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20190148941A1 · Wang et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190267838A1 · Majumder · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190341781A1 · Marchegiani et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210359521A1 · Gayles et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220131381A1 · Sergott et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220131388A1 · Sergott et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220302712A1 · Srinivasan · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230316068A1 · Roy et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230396067A1 · Manikfan et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
EP 4354686A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
IN 202241039576A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020023998A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion and International Search Report for Int'l. Patent Appln. No. PCT/US2025/030485, mailed Oct. 7, 2025 (13 pgs). [cited by applicant]