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US 12,191,639 B2Granted
Split bus electrical panel for microgrid applications
AssigneeSchneider Electric USA, Inc.
InventorTimothy Phillips
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus provides a single split-bus electrical panel with back-feed circuit breakers arranged to allow connection of a Microgrid Interconnection Device (MID) for isolation of a critical loads section from a standards loads section during back-up operation due to a utility power outage. A first panel section of the split-bus electrical panel supplies power to non-critical standards loads in a residence. A second panel section of the split-bus electrical panel supplies power to critical loads in the residence, which must continue to be powered during a utility power outage.
Claims20
An apparatus for isolation of electrical loads to be powered by a back-up system, from standard electrical loads during a utility power outage, comprising:
- an electrical panel comprising:
- a first panel section configured to supply power to a first set of electrical loads, and
- a second panel section configured to supply power to a second set of electrical loads by a back-up system;
- a first circuit breaker in the first panel section connected to a first bus bar and a second bus bar of the first panel section, the first bus bar and second bus bar connected to a utility power source configured to conduct utility power from the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the first panel section to a relay;
- a second circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to a first bus bar and a second bus bar of the second panel section, the second circuit breaker connected to the relay, configured to conduct the utility power from the relay to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section when there is no utility power outage, and to be isolated by the relay from the first panel section when there is a utility power outage;
- a third circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section, connected to a first power source of the back-up system, and configured to conduct power to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section;
- and
- a fourth circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section, connected to a second power source of the back-up system, and configured to conduct power to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section to supplement the first power source.
5 more elements
An apparatus for isolation of critical electrical loads to be powered by a back-up system, from non-critical electrical loads during a utility power outage, comprising:
- an electrical panel including a first panel section configured to supply power to a set of non-critical electrical loads and a second panel section configured to supply power to a set of critical electrical loads by a back-up system;
- a first circuit breaker in the first panel section, a first bus bar in the first panel section and a second bus bar in the first panel section, the first circuit breaker connected to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the first panel section, wherein the first bus bar and second bus bar are connected to a utility power source, and wherein the first circuit breaker is configured to conduct utility power from the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the first panel section to a relay;
- a second circuit breaker in the second panel section, a first bus bar in the second panel section and a second bus bar in the second panel section, the second circuit breaker connected to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section, wherein the second circuit breaker is further connected to the relay, wherein the second circuit breaker is configured to be isolated by the relay from the first panel section during the utility power outage;
- and
- a third circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section, wherein the third circuit breaker is connected to a first renewable energy power source and a second renewable energy power source of the back-up system and configured to conduct power to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section, wherein power conducted from the second renewable energy power source is used to supplement power conducted from the first renewable energy power source when the utility power outage is detected.
2 more elements
A system for isolation of electrical loads to be powered by a back-up system, from standard electrical loads during a utility power outage, comprising:
- an electrical panel including a first panel section configured to supply power to a first set of electrical loads and a second panel section configured to supply power to a second set of electrical loads by a back-up system;
- a first circuit breaker in the first panel section connected to a first bus bar and a second bus bar of the first panel section, the first bus bar and second bus bar connected to a utility power source;
- a relay connected to the first circuit breaker in the first panel section, configured to be closed and conduct utility power from the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the first panel section, when there is no utility power outage and to be open when there is a utility power outage;
- a second circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to a first bus bar and a second bus bar of the second panel section, the second circuit breaker connected to the relay, configured to conduct the utility power from the relay to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section when there is no utility power outage, and to be isolated by the relay from the first panel section when there is a utility power outage;
- a third circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section, further connected to a first power source of the back-up system and configured to conduct power to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section;
- a fourth circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section, further connected to a back-up power source of the back-up system, and configured to conduct power to the first bus bar and the second bus bar of the second panel section to supplement the power conducted from the first power source when a utility power outage is detected;
- and
- an outage detector associated with the back-up power source, configured to detect whether there is a utility power outage and to send an outage signal to the relay to open when a utility power outage is detected.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.