Abstract: Various embodiments of a DC plant. In one embodiment, the DC plant includes (1) power sources couplable to a common DC bus, (2) rectifiers and DC-DC converters associated with the power sources and (3) a DC plant controller. The DC plant controller includes a source identifier configured to identify the power sources, a source prioritizer coupled to the source identifier and configured to prioritize the power sources based on at least one criterion, and an output characteristic assigner coupled to the source prioritizer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a DC plant controller and methods of selecting among multiple power sources. In one embodiment, the DC plant controller includes: (1) a source identifier configured to identify power sources couplable to a common DC bus, (2) a source prioritizer coupled to the source identifier and configured to prioritize the power sources based on at least one criterion, (3) an output characteristic assigner coupled to the source prioritizer and configured to place ones of the power sources on standby based on a calculated battery holdup time.

Abstract: Included herein is a DC power plant, a DC power system, a method charging a remote battery system and a battery charging controller. In one embodiment, the DC power plant includes: (1) a rectifier system including an AC power input and a DC power output, the rectifier system configured to receive an AC input voltage at the AC power input and produce a DC output voltage at the DC power output and (2) a controller configured to determine a permitted charging current for a remote battery system coupled to the rectifier system and dynamically adjust the DC output voltage to provide the permitted charging current for the remote battery system.

Abstract: A system for increasing parallel rectifier DC power system efficiency. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a controller configured to sense and classify a load magnitude change into groups including large load transients and moderate load transients and (2) at least one rectifier coupled to the controller and configured to transition from a stand-by mode to an active mode upon an occurrence of one of a large load transient and a moderate load transient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wiring degradation detector for use with telephone wire-pairs providing electric power. In one embodiment, the wiring degradation detector includes a transmission section configured to transmit load power over the telephone wire-pairs. Additionally, the wiring degradation detector also includes a test section coupled to the transmission section and configured to provide a load power test signal that determines a condition of the telephone wire-pairs. In an alternative embodiment, the wiring degradation detector further includes a degradation monitoring section coupled to the test section and configured to track values of the condition of the wiring over time.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a DC plant controller and methods of selecting among multiple power sources.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a DC plant. In one embodiment, the DC plant includes (1) power sources couplable to a common DC bus, (2) rectifiers and DC-DC converters associated with the power sources and (3) a DC plant controller. The DC plant controller includes a source identifier configured to identify the power sources, a source prioritizer coupled to the source identifier and configured to prioritize the power sources based on at least one criterion, and an output characteristic assigner coupled to the source prioritizer.

Abstract: A system for increasing parallel rectifier DC power system efficiency. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a controller configured to sense and classify a load magnitude change into groups including large load transients and moderate load transients and (2) at least one rectifier coupled to the controller and configured to transition from a stand-by mode to an active mode upon an occurrence of one of a large load transient and a moderate load transient.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a DC plant controller, methods of selecting among multiple power sources and DC plants incorporating the DC plant controller or the method. In one embodiment, the DC plant controller includes: (1) a source identifier configured to identify power sources couplable to a common DC bus, (2) a source prioritizer coupled to the source identifier and configured to prioritize the power sources based on at least one criterion and (3) an output characteristic assigner coupled to the source prioritizer and configured to assign output characteristics to the power sources that differ from one another as a function of the priority.

Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet having one or more equipment envelops for holding electrical component modules therein and an interior passageway that is configured to accommodate DC vertical bus bars within the cabinet. The interior passageway is also configured such that the vertical bus bars can be positioned outside of lateral perimeters of the equipment envelops and the vertical bus bars can substantially traverse an entire interior long axis length of the cabinet.

Abstract: Provided herein is a controller for a low voltage disconnect (LVD), a method of protecting and providing a maximum or substantially maximum battery reserve coupled to a DC load bus and a power system manager. In one embodiment, the LVD controller includes an adaptive disconnect system configured to determine a variable LVD threshold voltage value and instruct the LVD to disconnect a battery reserve from a DC load bus based thereon. The variable LVD threshold voltage is determined based on a current of the battery reserve during a battery-discharge event.

Abstract: Included herein is a DC power plant, a DC power system, a method charging a remote battery system and a battery charging controller. In one embodiment, the DC power plant includes: (1) a rectifier system including an AC power input and a DC power output, the rectifier system configured to receive an AC input voltage at the AC power input and produce a DC output voltage at the DC power output and (2) a controller configured to determine a permitted charging current for a remote battery system coupled to the rectifier system and dynamically adjust the DC output voltage to provide the permitted charging current for the remote battery system.

Abstract: Included herein is a DC power plant, a DC power system and a method of reducing battery current. In one embodiment, the DC power plant includes: (1) a rectifier system including an AC power input and a DC power output, the rectifier system configured to receive an AC input voltage at the AC power input and produce a DC output voltage at the DC power output and (2) a controller configured to monitor a battery current associated with a battery distribution conductor coupled to the rectifier system for a remote battery system and dynamically adjust the DC output voltage to maintain the battery current at substantially zero amperes.

Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a cabinet having one or more equipment envelops for holding electrical component modules therein and an interior passageway that is configured to accommodate DC vertical bus bars within the cabinet. The interior passageway is also configured such that the vertical bus bars can be positioned outside of lateral perimeters of the equipment envelops and the vertical bus bars can substantially traverse an entire interior long axis length of the cabinet.

Abstract: Provided herein is a controller for a low voltage disconnect (LVD), a method of protecting and providing a maximum or substantially maximum battery reserve coupled to a DC load bus and a power system manager. In one embodiment, the LVD controller includes an adaptive disconnect system configured to determine a variable LVD threshold voltage value and instruct the LVD to disconnect a battery reserve from a DC load bus based thereon. The variable LVD threshold voltage is determined based on a current of the battery reserve during a battery-discharge event.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a DC plant controller, methods of selecting among multiple power sources and DC plants incorporating the DC plant controller or the method. In one embodiment, the DC plant controller includes: (1) a source identifier configured to identify power sources couplable to a common DC bus, (2) a source prioritizer coupled to the source identifier and configured to prioritize the power sources based on at least one criterion and (3) an output characteristic assigner coupled to the source prioritizer and configured to assign output characteristics to the power sources that differ from one another as a function of the priority.

Abstract: The present invention provides a central current share coordinator for use with remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers coupled to an output bus. In one embodiment, the central current share coordinator includes a rectifier current resolver configured to determine an existing current share condition for the remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers. Additionally, the central current share coordinator also includes a load share adjuster coupled to the rectifier current resolver and configured to adjust an output current of the remotely controllable rectifiers toward a target current share distribution on the output bus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a site-adaptive current manager for use with a rectifier. In one embodiment, the site-adaptive current manager includes a current limit programmer configured to set an AC input current limit for the rectifier corresponding to a site-restricted current capability. The site-adaptive current manager also includes an input current sensor coupled to the current limit programmer and configured to determine an AC input current of the rectifier. The site-adaptive current manager further includes a rectifier current coordinator coupled to the current limit programmer and configured to restrict the AC input current based on the AC input current limit.

Abstract: For use with a battery plant coupled to a source of electrical power and having a power bus coupled to a load, the battery plant including a battery string coupled across a pair of rails of said power bus, a battery management system, method of operation therefor and battery plant employing the same. In one embodiment, the battery management system includes a DC/DC converter, couplable in series with the battery string, adapted to condition a voltage provided to the battery string as a function of a characteristic of the battery string. The battery management system also includes a switching circuit, coupled across the DC/DC converter, adapted to selectively decouple the DC/DC converter from the battery string thereby allowing the battery string to power the load.

Abstract: A central contactor controller for a battery plant containing a power supply couplable to a source of AC power and a battery via a bus, the bus further couplable to a load to supply power thereto, and a method of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) a sensor that senses operational states of the power supply and the battery and (2) central control circuitry, coupled to the sensor and couplable to distributed contactors associated with the battery and the load, that provide control information to distributed control circuitry associated with the distributed contactors in response to the operational states, the distributed control circuitry employing the control information to control the distributed contactors selectively to couple the battery and the load to the bus.