Device and process for detecting and mitigating reverse power-flow
OwnerDean Hatsuo Motoyamainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power sensing and switching circuit, using voltage and current sensors, integrated circuits and logic gates that detects reverse power flow, from reactive loads, non-linear loads or dispersed electrical generators, and mitigates reverse power flow by functioning as a power factor correction device and by diverting the reverse power flow as recycled power to storage, local usage, or remote usage via a recovery line that mitigates distribution grid instability and speeds up the growth of dispersed electrical generators.
Claims5
A process for mitigating reverse power flow in an alternating current circuit having a power source and a load, wherein said power source provides an alternating current that alternates according to a current waveform and has a cyclically varying voltage that alternates according to a voltage waveform between a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage with a voltage middle crossing point midway between said minimum voltage and said maximum voltage, at a frequency that defines a cycle duration, whereby changes in current flow direction define current middle crossing points, whereby said load changes said current waveform so said current waveform fluctuates, may vary in periodicity, and may differ from said voltage waveform, and whereby noise is introduced into said alternating current by extraneous sources or said load, comprising:
- detecting times of reverse power flow in said circuit, wherein said detecting step is performed by detecting polarities of current and voltage in said circuit and determining reverse power flow at times when said current and voltage are of opposite polarities,
- wherein polarity of said voltage is determined with respect to said voltage middle crossing point plus said noise by generating a voltage representative voltage signal with approximately said voltage waveform, and using a voltage hysteresis circuit to generate a high voltage trigger point voltage representing a positive polarity in response to a voltage-representative voltage signal higher than said voltage middle crossing point plus said noise, and a low voltage trigger point voltage representing a negative polarity in response to a voltage-representative voltage signal lower than said voltage middle crossing point minus said noise;
- and
- wherein polarity of said current is determined with respect to said current middle crossing points by generating a current representative voltage signal with approximately said current waveform, with a current middle-crossing voltage at said current middle points, and using a current hysteresis circuit, to generate a high current trigger point voltage representing a positive current in response to a current-representative voltage signal higher than said current middle crossing voltage plus said noise, and a low current trigger point voltage representing a negative current in response to a current-representative voltage signal lower than said current middle crossing voltage minus said noise;
- and
- diverting any reverse power flow away from said circuit at times of said reverse power flow to create recycled power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.