System and method of dynamic and distributed control with topology discovery in an isolated power grid

A power distribution grid, the grid comprising:

• an AC generator;
• a source module electrically connected to the AC generator and connected to the power distribution grid, the source module comprising:
• a microprocessor;
• a memory;
• a power handling unit converting AC power to high voltage DC power,
• wherein, the source module receives AC generated power from the generator and outputs DC high voltage power;
• at least one load module electrically connected to the source module and connected to the power distribution grid, the at least one load module comprising;
• a microprocessor;
• a memory;
• a power handling unit converting the DC high voltage DC power to AC power;
• at least one AC outlet;
• at least one pair of a first cable and a second cable electrically connecting the source module to an at least one load module;
• wherein, the source module outputs DC high voltage power on the first cable, and wherein the at least one load module receives DC high voltage power from the source module on the first cable;
• wherein the second cable transmits communications between the source module and the at least one load module;
• a load connected to an at least one AC outlet;
• a microprocessor in every source module connected to the power distribution grid, respectively;
• a microprocessor in every load module connected to the power distribution grid, respectively;
• a memory in the every source module, respectively;
• a memory in the every load module, respectively;
• and
• wherein, the microprocessor of the source module autonomously discovers a topology of the power grid upon initial start up of the power grid;
• and further comprising:
• wherein, the power distribution grid lacks a central command module;
• and the microprocessor in the every source module and the every load module execute independent control without utilizing logic distributed across the power distribution grid.

A method of controlling a power distribution grid, the method comprising:

• using an at least one source module connected to the power distribution grid;
• using an at least two load modules connected to the power distribution grid;
• electrically connecting one of the at least one source modules to at least one of the two load modules via a pair of cables;
• electrically connecting each of the at least two load modules to the at least one source module or the other of the two load modules via another pair of cables;
• incorporating in and dedicating a microprocessor and a memory into every source module and into every load module connected to the power distribution grid, respectively;
• executing a network discovery algorithms in a microprocessor in the source module and in each of the two load modules and in the microprocessor of any module connected to the system, respectively without utilizing logic distributed across the power distribution grid;
• independently generating an adjacency map comprising module ID and connection data in the microprocessor of each respective module;
• storing a copy of the independently generated adjacency map in a memory of the respective modules;
• transmitting the generated adjacency map across a first cable of the pair of cables to connected modules;
• receiving transmitted adjacency maps and independently merging received adjacency maps with the stored copy of the generated adjacency map;
• exchanging merged maps across connected modules;
• and
• if exchanged maps agree, transitioning to a steady state and independently controlling connected modules via the respective microprocessor in the source module and in each of the two load modules, respectively, controlling the power distribution grid.

A method of determining a network topology in a power distribution grid, the method comprising:

• reading a configuration file at a microprocessor of a source module;
• sending a cable sense message out of each source module port;
• if a response to the sent cable sense message is received, performing a power test;
• if a cable passes the power test, closing a distribution relay;
• if the performed power test fails, performing a coordinated cable test;
• if the performed coordinated cable test passes, closing a distribution relay;
• If the performed coordinated cable test fails, setting a distribution relay to open;
• sending a connection request via the closed distribution relays to connected ports
• receiving the connection request at the connected ports and sending module identification and port data to a connected source module port;
• entering a receiving adjacency maps phase;
• receiving adjacency maps at respective ports and accepting qualified received adjacency maps;
• merging the accepted qualified adjacency map data entries;
• entering a full maps phase;
• exchanging full maps across connected ports;
• comparing exchanged full maps for consistency;
• when exchanged full maps are consistent, entering a map agreement state for respective connected ports;
• determining the network topology from a full map when all ports having closed distribution relays have entered the map agreement state;
• and
• incorporating in and dedicating to every source module and every load module connected to the power distribution grid a microprocessor, respectively;
• generating a full map in the microprocessor of the every respective load module;
• generating a full map in the microprocessor of the every respective source module;
• exchanging full maps across connected ports of all load modules and across all ports of source modules connected to the power distribution grid;
• independently comparing exchanged full maps for consistency in the microprocessor of the every respective module;
• when exchanged and independently compared full maps are consistent, independently entering a map agreement state for respective connected ports without utilizing logic distributed across the power distribution grid.