Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising: detecting a NERC disturbance in an electrical power system; determining a first corrective action to return the electrical power system to a pre-disturbance level within a predetermined disturbance recovery time; determining a second corrective action to cause the electrical power system to meet one or more predefined NERC CPS compliance target values; and providing a corrective control signal to the electrical power system.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for optimizing the performance of a power generation and distribution system that monitors the performance of a power system, detects disturbances and calculates statistical information, uses historical performance data and economic factors to analyze and control the production of power. Load demands are predicted by utilizing very short term load forecasts that are based on historical load data, demand patterns and short term load forecasts. Generating units are each assigned a temporal trajectory of output power over consecutive time intervals. The allocation of available resources is assigned so as to minimize costs associated with meeting changing loads.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising: providing system electrical load information for an electric power system to one or more neural networks; and via the one or more neural networks, predicting a system electrical load for a predetermined immediate future period.

Abstract: An ANSI Type A voltage regulator that eliminates the need for a potential transformer is disclosed. A control unit finds an output voltage by constantly monitoring the input voltage across the utility windings and the stored tap position. The value of the output voltage is further fine tuned by taking into account the effect of the impedance of the voltage regulator itself on the output voltage. The impedance is calculated using the instantaneous current through the regulator, the maximum rated current of the voltage regulator, the instantaneous voltage through the voltage regulator, the instantaneous Power Factor, and the tap position of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for optimizing security constrained unit commitment in the day ahead wholesale electricity market using mixed integer linear programming techniques. The wholesale electricity market uniquely requires the submission of offers to supply energy and ancillary services at stated prices, as well as bids to purchase energy, and known operating and security constraints. The present invention address the above noted needs by providing a SCUC engine to support and implement the requirements via a computer system implementation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for optimizing security constrained unit commitment in the day ahead wholesale electricity market using mixed integer linear programming techniques. The wholesale electricity market uniquely requires the submission of offers to supply energy and ancillary services at stated prices, as well as bids to purchase energy, and known operating and security constraints. The present invention address the above noted needs by providing a SCUC engine to support and implement the requirements via a computer system implementation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for optimizing security constrained unit commitment in the day ahead wholesale electricity market using mixed integer linear programming techniques. The wholesale electricity market uniquely requires the submission of offers to supply energy and ancillary services at stated prices, as well as bids to purchase energy, and known operating and security constraints. The present invention address the above noted needs by providing a SCUC engine to support and implement the requirements via a computer system implementation.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for optimizing security constrained dispatch and pricing for the wholesale energy trading market. The imbalance market uniquely requires a real-time market for bidding and for providing the energy generation adjustments required to satisfy the imbalance. The present invention address the above noted needs by providing a real-time imbalance engine to support and implement the equitable imbalance requirement via a computer system implementation. Additionally, the present invention allows the market generators and loads to provide electronic bids for resolution while considering constraints on the demand and supply system.

Abstract: An electricity meter includes a current sensor, an analog to digital (A/D) converter coupled to the current sensor, and a processor coupled to the A/D converter. The current sensor and the A/D converter cooperate to generate a digital current signal having a waveform representative of the current waveform on the power lines connected to the electricity meter. The processor is operable to analyze a digital current waveform signal produced by the current sensor and A/D converter to detect a rectified (DC) load. In particular, the processor perform analysis on the digital current signal to generate a peak positive current value and a peak negative current value, and then detect the presence of a rectified load coupled to the power network based on said peak positive current value and said peak negative current value.

Abstract: An arrangement for adaptive time keeping in a utility meter includes a timing circuit and a controller. The timing circuit is operable to generate timing signals. The controller is operably coupled to the timing circuit to receive timing signals therefrom. Further, the controller is operable to: generate a first real-time value based at least in part on an externally generated first reference time value; derive a subsequent second real-time value, based at least in part on the first real-time value, the timing signals, and a timing circuit calibration value; obtain an externally generated second reference time value; determine a rate adjustment based at least in part on a difference between the second real-time value and the second reference time value; and generate a subsequent real-time value based at least in part on the timing signals, the timing circuit calibration value, and the rate adjustment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and arrangement for use in an electrical utility meter, the electrical utility meter operable to be connected to a plurality of electrical service types. The arrangement is operable to identify a present service type, the present service type being one of the plurality of electrical service types to which the electrical utility meter is connected. The arrangement comprises: conversion circuit for obtaining measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data for a plurality of phases in a polyphase electrical system; a memory; and a processor connected to said memory and said conversion circuit. The processor is operable to execute programming steps stored in the memory to receive the measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data from the conversion circuit and identify the present electrical service type based on the measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter for generating samples at a first sample rate includes a noise generator, a summing circuit, a conversion circuit, and a low pass filter. The noise generator is configured to generate a noise signal having a signal bandwidth, the signal bandwidth including a high frequency that exceeds the first sample rate. The summing circuit is configured to sum the noise signal with an input signal in order to generate a composite signal. The conversion circuit is configured to convert the composite signal to a first digital signal, the conversion circuit using a sampling rate that exceeds the first sample rate. The low pass filter is operable to filter the first digital signal and to generate a second digital signal having the first sample rate.

Abstract: A high power dc power regulator utilizes a voltage sourced inverter connected on the ac side in series with a large inductance to an ac power system through a coupling transformer. The dc side of the inverter is connected to the dc load. The inductance is sized such that the voltage at the ac terminals of the inverter can be varied from zero to a maximum specified value for use, for example, in melting ice on transmission lines. As there is only infrequent need for ice melting operation, the large inductance can be shunted and the dc load disconnected so that the inverter may be operated for the majority of the time as a conventional STATCOM to provide reactive compensation for the ac power system.

Abstract: An electrical energy meter includes a voltage digitizing circuit, a current digitizing circuit, a metering circuit, a clock circuit, and a source of externally-generated time standard information. The voltage digitizing circuit is operable to obtain analog line voltage information and generated digital line voltage information therefrom. Similarly, the current digitizing circuit is operable to obtain analog line current information and generate digital line current information therefrom. The metering circuit is operable to receive the digital line voltage information and the digital line current information and generate metering information therefrom. The clock circuit is operable to generate calendar/clock information, said clock circuit having a calibration input for receiving precision time calibration information. The source of externally-generated time standard information is operably coupled to provide precision time calibration information to the calibration input of the clock circuit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for providing communication between a utility meter and a remote station via any of a plurality of RF modulation schemes and communication protocols over any of a plurality of carrier frequencies. The utility meter includes adaptive radio circuitry that is preferably programmably configured to receive and process any format of incoming signals, and generate and send any format of outgoing signals. The adaptive radio circuitry includes a DSP, filters, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, a tunable broad-band up/down converter and other processing circuitry. A main processor and memory provides control over the adaptive radio module.

Abstract: A watt-hour meter employs a power factor compensation technique that inserts a delay into the digitized current or voltage sample stream. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic watt-hour meter comprising a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a conversion circuit, and a processing circuit: The voltage sensor generates a voltage measurement signal responsive to a voltage provided to a load. Similarly, the current sensor generates a current measurement signal responsive to a current provided to a load. The conversion circuit further comprises: a first converter connected to the voltage sensor for generating sampled voltage data stream based on said voltage measurement signal; a second converter connected to the current sensor for generating a sampled current data stream based on said current measurement signal, and a phase correction circuit.

Abstract: A controller for a voltage regulator has an input keypad for designating selected operating parameters of the voltage regulator. The keypad is formed with a dedicated function portion and a menu navigation portion, and the parameters are divided into first and second categories. The controller has a display for displaying the parameters, and a computer is connected to the input and to the display for controlling the display in response to activation of the keypad. Any parameter in the first category can be displayed on the display by activation of the dedicated function portion of the keypad. Any parameter in the second category can be displayed by activation of the menu navigation portion. The menu navigation portion can optionally also be used to control display of parameters in the first category.

Abstract: A contact structure for a switch that switches capacitors into multi-phase, high voltage transmission lines. There is one capacitor switch for each phase of the transmission line, and each switch has two contacts, a stationary contact and a movable contact. All of the switches begin the transition from the open to closed position at substantially the same time, and all of the movable contacts move towards their respective stationary contacts at substantially the same velocity. Each stationary contact is positioned at a predetermined distance from its movable contact when the switch is in an open position so that the time it will take for each switch is transition between the open and closed position is known. The synchronous timing of closing each switch, and therefore switching-in each capacitor into its respective high-voltage line, is achieved based on the positioning of the stationary contacts.

Abstract: An arrangement for electrically connecting an electrical utility revenue meter to a meter base includes at least two current blades that have a width that is less than the standard predefined current blade width. The meter base has one of first and second vertical alignment mechanisms, said first and second vertical alignment mechanisms cooperating with electrical utility revenue meters having current blades of a standard predefined width for effecting proper registration of the electrical utility meter with respect to the meter base. The arrangement of the present invention includes at least first, second, third and fourth current blades. At least two current blades each have a first edge aligned in registration with the first vertical alignment mechanism, and at least two current blades each have a second edge aligned in registration with the second vertical alignment mechanism.

Abstract: A high voltage inverter cascades a plurality of multiple voltage level inverter modules each fed by an isolated dc energy unit to reduce the number of stages of the inverter required to generate a desired ac voltage. Thus, where the dc energy unit includes the secondary winding of an ac transformer, the number of each winding needed is reduced. By using active rectifiers operated in a boost mode to convert the transformer secondary voltage to dc for powering the inverter modules, regenerative operation can be achieved.