Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for charging and discharging an energy storage device connected to an electrical power distribution system. In one exemplary embodiment, a controller monitors electrical characteristics of an electrical power distribution system and provides an output to a bi-directional charger causing the charger to charge or discharge an energy storage device (e.g., a battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)).

The controller can help stabilize the electrical power distribution system by increasing the charging rate when there is excess power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid exceeds an average value), or by discharging power from the energy storage device to stabilize the grid when there is a shortage of power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid is below an average value).

A centralized voltage controller connected, via a communication network, to local voltage control units controlling voltage controllers, which are connected to a distribution line of a distribution system and control voltage of the distribution line, has: a voltage distribution determination unit calculating a controlled amount for each first voltage controller to be controlled among the plurality of voltage controllers, based on a measured value of voltage at each point of the distribution line; a tap position determination unit generating a command value to be given to each local voltage control unit based on the controlled amount; and a control state determination unit determining whether each voltage controller is a second voltage controller that fails to perform control according to the command value, and setting the voltage controllers except the second voltage controller to be the first voltage controller.

A cloud connected lighting system may include a wireless lighting network of coordinated lighting devices and a bridge to provide connectivity to external devices such as a cell phone, home automation system or security system. The cloud connected lighting system may be implemented locally with a cell phone communicating with the bridge for control, status and alerts. The cloud connected lighting system may operate over the cloud via an Internet connection allowing the bridge to communicate with a server on the Internet that may implement software for the interface with the wireless lighting network and to capture data regarding activity detected by motion sensor associated with the wireless lighting network.

Devices, systems, and methods for modifying an existing electrical circuit to enable a conventional mechanical switch to integrate with and operate smart devices, while also providing continuous power supply and cooperating with external operation of the smart devices (e.g., via a mobile device application, smart controller, etc.). The smart device thus is operable both via the physical switch and via a home automation system, without loss of power to the smart device computer and transmitter components caused by use of the wall switch. This may be done via a replacement switch or faceplate which effectively bypasses the physical switch to ensure continuous power to the smart device while also inferring and transmitting the toggle state of the switch by measuring an amount of current through the faceplate.

A system of monitoring and/or maintaining remotely located autonomously powered lights, security systems, parking meters, and the like is operable to receive data signals from a number of the devices, and provide a comparison with other similar devices in the same geographic region to detect a default condition of a particular device, and/or assess whether the defect is environmental or particular to the specific device itself. The system includes memory for storing operating parameters and data, and outputs modified control commands to the devices in response to sensed performance, past performance and/or self-learning algorithms. The system operates to provide for the monitoring and/or control of individual device operating parameters on an individual or regional basis, over preset periods.

To control a power state of a power system properly according to a communication state. A system for controlling a power system includes a plurality of sensor devices configured to output measurement data; a first control apparatus configured to estimate a first power state of the power system by using the measurement data obtained by the plurality of sensor devices, calculate a first controlled variable according to the estimated first power state, and output the calculated first controlled variable; and at least a second control apparatus configured to execute a predetermined control operation according to either the first controlled variable calculated in the first control apparatus, or a second controlled apparatus calculated in the second control apparatus. When it is not able to obtain part of the measurement data, the first control apparatus estimates the first power state by using predetermined measurement data among the obtained measurement data.

A micro grid system comprises an adapter, a power controller, and secondary energy source. The adapter is in communication with an electric grid and configured to connect and disconnect a connection between the electric grid and a micro grid. The power controller is in communication with the adapter and configured to receive first AC power from the electric grid via the adapter, obtain grid information, and control the adapter to connect and disconnect the connection between the electric grid and the micro grid. The power controller controls the adapter to disconnect the connection in response to determining that the electric grid is abnormal based on the grid information. The secondary energy source is in communication with the power controller and is configured to generate DC power and to supply the DC power to the power controller.

The present system relates to a power topology mapping system for identifying which one of one or more equipment components are being powered from a specific phase of a multi-phase AC power source. The system makes use of a plurality of power receiving subsystems which each receive an AC power signal from at least one phase of the multi-phase AC power source. Each power receiving subsystem has a communications card, an identification designation unique to it, and a controller. One of the power receiving subsystems is designated as a reference power domain component. The controllers each carry out phase angle measurements associated with the AC power signal being received by its power receiving subsystem. A topology mapping subsystem is included which analyzes phase angle measurement data reported by the power receiving subsystems and determines which subsystem is being powered by which phase of the multi-phase AC signal.

Disclosed herein are system and method embodiments for a power tracking and control architecture. An embodiment operates by compiling a data telegram, wherein the data telegram comprises a plurality of blocks; sending, by a first communication path of the controller, the data telegram to a second tier of the tiered network, wherein at least one power asset of the second tier of the tiered network is configured to update a power profile according to at least one block of the data telegram; and receiving, by a second communication path of the tiered network, an update from the at least one power asset of the second tier of the tiered network.

A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system used to optimally control the independent voltage and capacitor banks using a linear optimization methodology to minimize the losses in the EEDCS and the EUS. An energy validation process system (EVP) is provided which is used to document the savings of the VCC and an EPP is used to optimize improvements to the EEDCS for continuously improving the energy losses in the EEDS. The EVP system measures the improvement in the EEDS a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state determining the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system. In addition the VCC system monitors pattern recognition events and compares them to the report-by-exception data to detect HVL events. If one is detected the VCC optimizes the capacity of the EEDS to respond to the HVL events by centering the piecewise linear solution maximizing the ability of the EDDS to absorb the HVL event.