DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claims 1-23 are pending in this Application.
Priority
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/126,724, filed Mar. 27, 2023, now patent 12,107,422, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/460,530, filed Jul. 2, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,626,735; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/993,181, filed Jan. 12, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,367,354, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/102,324 filed on Jan. 12, 2015, which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Claim Objections
Claims are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the predetermined lagging power factor setpoint…and the predetermined leading power factor setpoint" in lines 22 and 24, respectively. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
This seems to be -- a predetermined lagging power factor setpoint…and a predetermined leading power factor setpoint --
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the plurality of distribution locations" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
This seems to be --a plurality of distribution locations--
Claim 12 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 1 recites “the energy deliver”. This seems an inadvertent typographical error. It seems to be --the energy delivery—
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the plurality of distribution locations" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
This seems to be --a plurality of distribution locations--
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the deficit to target" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
This seems to be --a deficit to target--
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the surplus to target" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
This seems to be --a surplus to target--. Also, claim 17 recites “different that”. This seems an inadvertent typographical error. It seems to be --different than--
Claim 20 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 1 recites “a emergency”. This seems an inadvertent typographical error. It seems to be –an emergency--
Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Current Application 18806089
US Patent 12,107,422
A control system for an electric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supply electric power to a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:
a supply point for generating electrical power;
a plurality of nodes;
at least one supply point sensor, wherein the at least one supply point sensor is located at or between the supply point and the plurality of nodes and configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power from the supply point;
a plurality of sensors downstream from the at least one supply point sensor, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power at the respective plurality of sensors and to generate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power (distribution locations reads in downstream from the supply point sensor);
a controller configured to receive the measurement data from the plurality of sensors, to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor, different than the system power factor, at each of the plurality of nodes, and to generate an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR); and
at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter,
wherein the controller is further configured to operate in a normal mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step):
H1) from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading when in the normal mode; and
H2) from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging when in the normal mode;
wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
a target close or open VARs is reached if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when in the normal mode;
J) wherein the controller is configured to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor, the normal mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to order the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes (also see claim 6, claim 9 of the patent).
The system of claim 1, wherein a lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point and
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading when in the lag mode.
The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a deficit to target mode is reached when in the lag mode.
The system of claim 1, wherein a lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when in the lead mode.
The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a surplus to target mode is reached when in the lead mode (see claim 1) .
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is closed or opened (see patent claim 2).
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system power factor represents the power factor for the power supplied to the plurality of nodes and the plurality of distribution locations within the plurality of nodes (see patent claim 3).
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a first node VAR adjusting device within a first node and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first node VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated within a second node different than the first node (see patent claim 4).
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a second node VAR adjusting device within the second node and the controller is configured to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated at the second VAR adjusting device (see patent claim 5).
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in at least a first and a second operating modes and the first operating mode is configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within a single node when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node (see patent claim 7).
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second operating mode is configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node (see patent claim 8).
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery parameter is further based on at least one node power factor(see patent claim 18).
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes (see patent claim 19).
14. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point (see patent claim 10).
15. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point (see patent claim 14).
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the deficit to target in the emergency lag mode is different than a deficit to target mode in a lag mode (implicitly taught).
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the surplus to target mode in the emergency lead mode is different that a surplus to target in a lead mode (implicit).
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the deficit to target is an emergency lag target close VARs and the controller is configured to close one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the controller is configured to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order (see claim 11-12).
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lag target close VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor (se claim 13).
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the surplus to target is a emergency lead target open VARs and the controller is configured to open one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs is reached, and to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order (see claims 15-16).
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lead target open VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
22. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of a plurality of substations.
23. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of VAR adjusting devices.
A control system for an electric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supply electric power to a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:
A) a supply point for generating electrical power;
B) a plurality of nodes;
C) at least one supply point sensor, wherein the at least one supply point sensor is located at or between the supply point and the plurality of nodes and configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power from the supply point;
D) a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is located at a respective one of a plurality of distribution locations on the distribution grid, and wherein each sensor is configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power at the respective distribution location and to generate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power;
E) a controller configured to receive the measurement data from the plurality of sensors, to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes, and
to generate an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR); and
F) at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter,
G) wherein the controller is further configured to determine (in a determine target step):
a deficit to target mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point (claim 11 wherein the deficit to target mode is an emergency lag target close VARs or a deficit to target mode is reached when in the lag mode);
a surplus to target mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point ( a surplus to target mode is reached when in the lead mode or … 15 wherein the surplus to target mode is an emergency lead target open VARs); and
a target close or open VARs if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when the determined system power factor is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point (This is for normal mode; see 0091-0092; this makes the system to operate in the normal mode);
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step):
from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
H1) from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point (this is the normal mode); and
H2) from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point (this is the normal mode);
I) wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
the deficit to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
the surplus to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point;
the target close or open VARs is reached if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when the determined system power factor is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point (e.g. normal mode).
In Step G) determines different modes, and the conditions of one corresponds to the normal mode based on the determined system power factor
In step H) the controller order the nodes differently depending on the modes determined.
See claim 1 above, step G) wherein the controller is further configured to determine (in a determine target step):… a deficit to target mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point (this is the lag mode)
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step): from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point (the lag mode is when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point);
see claim 1, “I) wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until … the deficit to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
See claim 1 above, step G) wherein the controller is further configured to determine (in a determine target step):… the surplus to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point; (this is the lead mode)
…order the nodes from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point.
See claim 1 above, steps I) wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: the surplus to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point (this is during the lead mode)
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is closed or opened.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system power factor represents the power factor for the power supplied to the plurality of nodes and the plurality of distribution locations within the plurality of nodes.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a first node VAR adjusting device within a first node and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first node VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated within a second node deficit than the first node.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a second node VAR adjusting device within the second node and the controller is configured to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated at the second VAR adjusting device.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to operate in at least a first and a second operating modes and the first operating mode is configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within a single node when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second operating mode is configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
9. The system of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured to order the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy deliver parameter is further based on at least one node power factor.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured determine the system mode of operation is emergency lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured determine the system mode of operation is emergency lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point.
See claim 10, claim 10 teaches an emergency lag mode. The deficit to target is a value of a deficit or necessary power/VARs to reach a target desired threshold range or target normal mode M3. Claim 10 includes a plurality of different modes, wherein each is associated with a different deficit to target. Thus, it is implicitly taught that “wherein the deficit to target in the emergency lag mode is different than a deficit to target mode in a lag/different mode”.
See claim 15, wherein the surplus to target mode is an emergency lead target open VARs, thus, teaches an emergency lead mode. The surplus to target mode in the emergency lead mode is a value of a surplus or necessary power/VARs to reach a target desired threshold range or target normal mode M3. Claim 15 also includes that the system operates in different modes, wherein each is associated with a different surplus to target. Thus, it is implicitly taught that “wherein the surplus to target mode in the emergency lead mode is different that a surplus to target in a lead mode”.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the deficit to target mode is an emergency lag target close VARs.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to close one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the controller is configure to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lag target close VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the surplus to target mode is an emergency lead target open VARs.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to open one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs is reached, and to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lead target open VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
20. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of a plurality of substations.
21. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of VAR adjusting devices.
Claims 1-23 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-21 of the prior U.S. Patent No. 12,107,422. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-21 of the patent encompasses claims 1-21 of the current application.
Claim 1 of the patent is narrower than the instant application claim 1. Therefore, it has been held in court that the generic patented invention has been anticipated by the species. See In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Also, Claim 9 of the patent encompasses all the limitations of claim 1 of the instant application in a more explicit manner for the last limitation J).
Claims 2-23 of the instant application are encompassed by claims 2-21 of the patent (in other words claims 1-21 of the patent recite equivalent limitations to claims 2-23 of the patent as clearly correlated in the table above).
Instant Application 18806089
US Patent 11,626,735
A control system for an electric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supply electric power to a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:
a supply point for generating electrical power;
a plurality of nodes;
at least one supply point sensor, wherein the at least one supply point sensor is located at or between the supply point and the plurality of nodes and configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power from the supply point;
a plurality of sensors downstream from the at least one supply point sensor, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power at the respective plurality of sensors and to generate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power (distribution locations reads in downstream from the supply point sensor);
a controller configured to receive the measurement data from the plurality of sensors, to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor, different than the system power factor, at each of the plurality of nodes, and to generate an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR); and
at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter,
wherein the controller is further configured to operate in a normal mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step):
H1) from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading when in the normal mode; and
H2) from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging when in the normal mode;
wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
a target close or open VARs is reached if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when in the normal mode;
J) wherein the controller is configured to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor, the normal mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to order the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein a lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point and
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most lagging to least lagging and
then least leading to most leading when in the lag mode.
The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a deficit to target mode is reached when in the lag mode.
4. the system of claim 1, wherein a lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when in the lead mode.
The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a surplus to target mode is reached when in the lead mode (see claim 1) .
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is closed or opened (see patent claim 2).
The system of claim 1, wherein the system power factor represents the power factor for the power supplied to the plurality of nodes and the plurality of distribution locations within the plurality of nodes.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a first node VAR adjusting device within a first node and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first node VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated within a second node different than the first node.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a second node VAR adjusting device within the second node and the controller is configured to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated at the second VAR adjusting device.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in at least a first and a second operating modes and the first operating mode is configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within a single node when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second operating mode is configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery parameter is further based on at least one node power factor.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes,
14. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the deficit to target in the emergency lag mode is different than a deficit to target mode in a lag mode.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the surplus to target mode in the emergency lead mode is different that a surplus to target in a lead mode.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the deficit to target is an emergency lag target close VARs and the controller is configured to close one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the controller is configured to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lag target close VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the surplus to target is an emergency lead target open VARs and the controller is configured to open one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs is reached, and to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lead target open VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
22. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of a plurality of substations.
23. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of VAR adjusting devices.
1. A control system for an electric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supply electric power to a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:
a supply point for generating electrical power;
a plurality of nodes;
at least one supply point sensor, wherein the at least one supply point sensor is located at or between the supply point and the plurality of nodes and configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power from the supply point;
a plurality of sensors downstream from the at least one supply point sensor, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power at the respective plurality of sensors and to generate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power (distribution locations reads in downstream from the supply point sensor);
a controller configured to receive the measurement data from the plurality of sensors, to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor, different than the system power factor, at each of the plurality of nodes, and to generate an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR); and
at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter,
wherein the controller is further configured to operate in a normal mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step):
H1) from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading when in the normal mode; and
H2) from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging when in the normal mode;
I)wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
a target close or open VARs is reached if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when in the normal mode;
J)wherein the controller is configured to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor, the normal mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to order the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein a lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point and
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most lagging to least lagging and
then least leading to most leading when in the lag mode.
The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a deficit to target mode is reached when in the lag mode.
4. the system of claim 1, wherein a lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when in the lead mode.
The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a surplus to target mode is reached when in the lead mode.
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is closed or opened.
The system of claim 1, wherein the system power factor represents the power factor for the power supplied to the plurality of nodes and the plurality of distribution locations within the plurality of nodes.
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a first node VAR adjusting device within a first node and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first node VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated within a second node different than the first node.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a second node VAR adjusting device within the second node and the controller is configured to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated at the second VAR adjusting device.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in at least a first and a second operating modes and the first operating mode is configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within a single node when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second operating mode is configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery parameter is further based on at least one node power factor.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes,
14. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the deficit to target in the emergency lag mode is different than a deficit to target mode in a lag mode.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the surplus to target mode in the emergency lead mode is different that a surplus to target in a lead mode.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the deficit to target is an emergency lag target close VARs and the controller is configured to close one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the controller is configured to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lag target close VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the surplus to target is an emergency lead target open VARs and the controller is configured to open one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs is reached, and to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lead target open VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
22. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of a plurality of substations.
23. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of VAR adjusting devices.
1. A control system for an electric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supply electric power to a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:
A) a supply point for generating electrical power;
B) a plurality of nodes downstream of the supply point, wherein each node includes a substation configured to supply electrical power from the supply point to a plurality of user locations, wherein the substation includes a load tap change (LTC) transformer located or included within the substation downstream of the supply point;
C) at least one supply point sensor, wherein the at least one supply point sensor is located at or between the supply point and the plurality of nodes and configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power from the supply point
D) a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is located at a respective one of a plurality of distribution locations on the distribution grid at or between the nodes and at least one of the plurality of user locations, and wherein each sensor is configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power at the respective distribution location and to generate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power;
E) a controller configured to receive the measurement data from the plurality of sensors, to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes, and to generate an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR); and
F) at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter,
G) wherein the controller is further configured to determine (in a determine target step):
a deficit to target mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point;
a surplus to target mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point; and
a target close or open VARs if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when the determined system power factor is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point (This is for normal mode; see 0091-0092; this makes the system to operate in the normal mode);
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step):
from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
H1) from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point; and
H2) from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
I) wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
the deficit to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
the surplus to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point;
the target close or open VARs is reached if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when the determined system power factor is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point (e.g. normal mode).
In Step G) determines different modes, and the conditions of one corresponds to the normal mode based on the determined system power factor
In step H) the controller order the nodes differently depending on the modes determined.
See claim 1 above, step G) wherein the controller is further configured to determine (in a determine target step):… a deficit to target mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point (this is the lag mode)
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step): from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point (the lag mode is when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point);
see claim 1, “I) wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until … the deficit to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
See claim 1 above, step G) wherein the controller is further configured to determine (in a determine target step):… the surplus to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point; (this is the lead mode)
from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
see claim 1 above, steps I) wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: the surplus to target mode is reached when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point (this is during the lead mode)
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is closed or opened.
1…to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes (a system power factor at the supply point represents the pF for the whole system being power fed by the supply point)
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a first node VAR adjusting device within a first node and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first node VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated within a second node different than the first node.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a second node VAR adjusting device within the second node and the controller is configured to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated at the second VAR adjusting device.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to operate in at least a first and a second operating modes and the first operating mode is configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within a single node when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second operating mode is configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to determine the operating mode between a plurality of lagging operating modes, a plurality of leading operating modes, and a target operating mode based on the determined system power factor, and the controller is configured to order the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the node power factor determined at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of the plurality of substation transformers.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the node power factor determined at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of the plurality of substation transformers.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the node power factor determined at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of the plurality of VAR adjusting devices.
11. A method of controlling an electric power transmission and distribution grid having A) supply point and B) a plurality of nodes downstream of the supply point , each node including a substation configured to supply electric power from the supply point to a plurality of user locations, wherein the substation includes a load tap change (LTC) transformer located or included within the substation downstream of the supply point, the method comprising:
D) receiving from a plurality of sensors measurement data based on a sensed component of the power, wherein each sensor is located at a respective one of a plurality of distribution locations on the distribution grid at or between the supply point and at least one of the plurality of user locations;
receiving the measurement data from the plurality of sensors;
determining a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes;
(see below ) “generating an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor to optimize or adjust the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR);
at least one VAR adjusting device configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter wherein adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device comprises adjusting one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order”
determining (in a determine target step):
determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point;
responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point, determining a deficit to target mode;
determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point; responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point, determining a surplus to target mode; and
determining that the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when the determined system power factor is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when the determined system power factor is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point, determining a target close or open VARs; and
ordering the nodes (in an ordering step):
determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point, ordering the nodes from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading;
determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point; responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point, ordering the nodes from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging;
determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point; responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point, ordering the nodes from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging;
determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point, ordering the nodes from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading;
determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point; responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point, ordering the nodes from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging;
generating an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor to optimize or adjust the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR); and
adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter wherein adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device comprises adjusting one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
the deficit to target mode is reached responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
the surplus to target mode is reached responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point;
the target close or open VARs is reached responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively and the determined system power factor is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is adjusted.
See claim 11 above, determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point, ordering the nodes from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading;
See claim 11, “adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter wherein adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device comprises adjusting one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
the deficit to target mode is reached responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than the predetermined lagging power factor set point;
see claim 11, “determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;…
responsive to the determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point, ordering the nodes from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging;
see claim 11, adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device configured to add or subtract … until:
the surplus to target mode is reached responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than a predetermined leading power factor set point;
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is adjusted.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the system power factor determined represents the power factor for the power supplied to a plurality of nodes.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of nodes includes the at least one VAR adjusting device and the at least one VAR adjusting device is adjusted based on measurement data generated outside the one of the plurality of nodes
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is in a first node and the at least one VAR adjusting device is adjusted based on measurement data generated in a second node different than the first node.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting the at least one VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated at a second VAR adjusting device.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising operating in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising operating in a first operating mode configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within any single node.
21. The method of claim 19, further comprising operating in a second operating mode configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy deliver parameter is further based on at least one node power factor.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of determining the system mode of operation is emergency lag mode responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point.
27. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of determining the system mode of operation is emergency lead mode responsive to determining that the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point.
22. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining the operating mode between a plurality of lagging operating modes, a plurality of leading operating modes, and a target operating mode based on the determined system power factor, wherein ordering the nodes comprises ordering the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes (different modes implicitly require different deficits or surplus to target values).
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the deficit to target mode is an emergency lag target close VARs.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising closing one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the nodes are selected in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the emergency lag target close VARs is determined based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the surplus to target mode is an emergency lead target open VARs.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising opening one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs is reached, wherein the nodes are selected in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the emergency lead target open VARs is determined based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
See claim 11 and 14 “each node including a substation …determining a node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes;.. wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes.
See claim 11, determining a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes… adjusting one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until.
Claims 1-13 and 22-23 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-10 of the prior U.S. Patent No. 11, 626, 735. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-10 of the patent encompasses claims 1-13 and 22-23 of the current application
Claims 1-23 are also rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 11-30 of the prior U.S. Patent No. 11, 626, 735. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 11-30 of the patent encompasses claims 1-23 of the current application.
For instance, Claim 1 of the patent is a system and claim 1 of the instant invention is a system. However, claim 1 of the patent is narrower than the instant application claim 1. Therefore, it has been held in court that the generic patented invention has been anticipated by the species. See In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); Claims 2-13 and 22-23 of the instant application are encompassed by claims 1-10 of the patent (in other words claims 2-13 and 22-23 recite equivalent limitations to claims 1-10 of the patent as clearly correlated in the table above).
Furthermore, Claim 11 of the patent is a method while claim 1 of the instant invention is a system. The only difference is that the method of the patent is missing a controller to perform the functions of the method. However, this is an obvious limitation implicitly taught in the method of the instant invention.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before effective filing date of the claimed invention to which said subject matter pertains to have modified the patent claim 1 to include a controller to perform the method functions in order to automatize the control of the grid (apparatus and methods are obvious variant of each other when the system and method perform the same functions).
Claims 2-23 are encompassed by claims 11-30 of the patent (in other words claims 2-23 recite equivalent limitations to claims 11-30 as clearly correlated in the table above).
Instant Application 18806089
US Patent 10, 367, 354
1. A control system for an electric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supply electric power to a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:
A) a supply point for generating electrical power;
B) a plurality of nodes;
C) at least one supply point sensor, wherein the at least one supply point sensor is located at or between the supply point and the plurality of nodes and configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power from the supply point;
D) a plurality of sensors downstream from the at least one supply point sensor, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power at the respective plurality of sensors and to generate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power (distribution locations reads in downstream from the supply point sensor);
E) a controller configured to receive the measurement data from the plurality of sensors, to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor, different than the system power factor, at each of the plurality of nodes, and to generate an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR); and
F) at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter,
G) wherein the controller is further configured to operate in a normal mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined lagging power factor set point or when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
H) wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step):
H1) from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading when in the normal mode; and
H2) from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging when in the normal mode;
I) wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
a target close or open VARs is reached if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when in the normal mode;
J) wherein the controller is configured to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor, the normal mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to order the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein a lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point and
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most lagging to least lagging and
then least leading to most leading when in the lag mode.
The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a deficit to target mode is reached when in the lag mode.
4. the system of claim 1, wherein a lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is further configured to operate in the lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than the predetermined leading power factor set point;
the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in the ordering step) from most leading to least leading and then least lagging to most lagging when in the lead mode.
The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until: a surplus to target mode is reached when in the lead mode.
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid when the at least one VAR adjusting device is closed or opened.
The system of claim 1, wherein the system power factor represents the power factor for the power supplied to the plurality of nodes and the plurality of distribution locations within the plurality of nodes.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a first node VAR adjusting device within a first node and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first node VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated within a second node different than the first node.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device includes a second node VAR adjusting device within the second node and the controller is configured to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device based on measurement data generated at the second VAR adjusting device.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in at least a first and a second operating modes and the first operating mode is configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within a single node when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second operating mode is configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor when determining whether or not to adjust the at least one VAR adjusting device within the single node.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery parameter is further based on at least one node power factor.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes,
14. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lag mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein an emergency lead mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to operate in an emergency lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the deficit to target in the emergency lag mode is different than a deficit to target mode in a lag mode.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the surplus to target mode in the emergency lead mode is different that a surplus to target in a lead mode.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the deficit to target is an emergency lag target close VARs and the controller is configured to close one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the controller is configured to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lag target close VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the surplus to target is an emergency lead target open VARs and the controller is configured to open one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs is reached, and to select the nodes in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to determine the emergency lead target open VARs based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
22. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes is determined at each of a plurality of substations.
23. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the node power factor at each of the plurality of VAR adjusting devices.
1. A method of controlling an electric power transmission and distribution grid having a plurality of nodes, each node having a substation configured to supply electric power from a supply point upstream of the plurality of nodes to a plurality of user locations, the method comprising:
C-D) receiving from a plurality of sensors measurement data based on a sensed component of the power, wherein each sensor is located at a respective one of a plurality of distribution locations on the distribution grid at or between the supply point and at least one of the plurality of user locations;
receiving the measurement data from the plurality of sensors;
E) determining a system power factor at the supply point and a location power factor at each of a plurality of distribution locations;
generating an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor to optimize or adjust the system power factor and thus also the system volt-amperes reactive (VAR);
operating in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor; determining the operating mode between a plurality of lagging operating modes, a plurality of leading operating modes, and a target operating mode based on the determined system power factor;
F) adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter;
and
at least one of the following:
(a) determining the system mode of operation is emergency lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point and determining a deficit to target mode, wherein the deficit to target mode is an emergency lag target close VARs;
(b) determining the system mode of operation is emergency lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point and determining a surplus to target mode, wherein the surplus to target mode is an emergency lead target open VARs;
(c) determining the system mode of operation is lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point and less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point and determining a deficit to target mode, wherein the deficit to target mode is a lag target close VARs;
(d) determining the system mode of operation is lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined emergency leading power factor set point and less than a predetermined leading power factor set point and determining a surplus to target mode, wherein the surplus to target mode is a lead target open VARs; and
G) (e) determining the system mode of operation is target mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined leading power factor set point or leading and greater than a predetermined leading power factor set point and further comprising determining a target mode close VARs if the determined system power factor is lagging and determining a target mode open VARs if the determined system power factor is leading.
28. The method of claim 1, further comprising sorting all lagging nodes from most lagging to least lagging and sorting all leading nodes from most leading to least leading when the system mode of operation is determined to be target mode.
29-32 The method of claim 28, further comprising, when the system power factor is lagging, for each VAR adjusting device of each node, determining a target mode close percentage and determining whether the target mode close percentage is greater than a target mode close hurdle set point for the respective VAR adjusting devices of each node; and
when the system power factor is leading, for each VAR adjusting device of each node, determining a target mode open percentage and determining whether the target mode open percentage is greater than a target mode open hurdle set point for the respective VAR adjusting devices of each node.
See claim 1 above “operating in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor;
determining the operating mode between a plurality of lagging operating modes, a plurality of leading operating modes, and a target operating mode (normal mode) based on the determined system power factor;
see claim 1 above, (c) determining the system mode of operation is lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is greater than the predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point and less than a predetermined lagging power factor set point and determining a deficit to target mode, wherein the deficit to target mode is a lag target close VARs.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising ordering the nodes from most lagging to least lagging and then least leading to most leading if the system power factor is lagging (similar to A).
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising closing one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the nodes are selected in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order (deficit to target mode is emergency lag target close).
See claim 1 above, “(d) determining the system mode of operation is lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is greater than the predetermined emergency leading power factor set point and less than a predetermined leading power factor set point and determining a surplus to target mode, wherein the surplus to target mode is a lead target open VARs;
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising opening one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs (this is the surplus target define in claim 1 above) is reached, wherein the nodes are selected in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order (similar to G) surplus to target is also emergency lead).
See claim 1 above, “adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter…”
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system power factor determined represents the power factor for the power supplied to a plurality of nodes.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is in a first node and the at least one VAR adjusting device is adjusted based on measurement data generated in a second node different than the first node.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one VAR adjusting device is in a first node and the at least one VAR adjusting device is adjusted based on measurement data generated in a second node different than the first node.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating in a first operating mode configured to prioritize the system power factor over a power factor determined from within any single node.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating in a second operating mode configured to prioritize a power factor determined from within a single node over the system power factor.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy deliver parameter is based on the system power factor and at least one node power factor.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distribution locations are the plurality of nodes
See claim 1 above, “…(a) determining the system mode of operation is emergency lag mode when the determined system power factor is lagging and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency lagging power factor set point and determining a deficit to target mode, wherein the deficit to target mode is an emergency lag target close VARs;
See claim 1 above, (b) determining the system mode of operation is emergency lead mode when the determined system power factor is leading and is less than or equal to a predetermined emergency leading power factor set point and determining a surplus to target mode, wherein the surplus to target mode is an emergency lead target open VARs;
See claim 1 above, steps a and c
See claim 1 above, steps b and d
See claim 1 above, steps a and see
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising closing one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lag target close VARs is reached, wherein the nodes are selected in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in lagging to leading order (similar to F) deficit to target mode is emergency lag).
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the emergency lag target close VARs is determined based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
See claim 1 step b “wherein the surplus to target mode is an emergency lead target open VARs…
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising opening one VAR adjusting device per node until the emergency lead target open VARs is reached, wherein the nodes are selected in the order of the sorting of the plurality of nodes in leading to lagging order
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the emergency lead target open VARs is determined based on an amount of system VARs, a system power load, and the system power factor.
See claim 1 above, each node has substation, node power factor is determined
See claim 1 above, each node has substation, node power factor is determined at each node and
see 8. The method of claim 5, further comprising adjusting at least one VAR adjusting device per node until a first determined VAR set point is reached (one Var device per node).
Claims 1-23 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 3-5, 9-19, 28-32 of the prior U.S. U.S. Patent No. 10,367354. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1, 3-5, 9-19, 28-32 of the patent encompasses claims 1-23 of the current application.
For instance, Claim 1 of the patent is a method and claim 1 of the instant invention is a system. However, claims 1, 3-5, 9-19, 28-32 of the patent includes all the limitations of the instant application claim 1-23 and includes further limitations making the claims narrower. The only difference is that the method of the patent is missing a controller to perform the functions of the method. However, this is an obvious limitation implicitly taught in the method of the instant invention.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before effective filing date of the claimed invention to which said subject matter pertains to have modified the patent claim 1 to include a controller to perform the method functions in order to automatize the control of the grid (apparatus and methods are obvious variant of each other when the system and method perform the same functions).
Relevant Art Cited by Examiner
The following prior art made of record (Cited in IDs) and not relied upon is cited to stablish the level of skill the in the applicant's art and those arts considered reasonably pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. See MPEP 707.05(c). No prior art rejection has bene given to the claims.
The prior art of record cited in the IDS:
Powell et al (US 20130030591) teaches a system a control system for an electric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supply electric power to a plurality of user locations, the system comprising:
a supply point for generating electrical power; plurality of nodes; a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is located at a respective one of a plurality of distribution locations on the distribution grid, and wherein each sensor is configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power at the respective distribution location and to generate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power; at least one supply point sensor, wherein the at least one supply point sensor is located at or between the supply point and the plurality of nodes and configured to sense a component of a supplied electric power from the supply point; a controller configured to receive the measurement data from the plurality of sensors, to determine a system power factor at the supply point and a node power factor at each of the plurality of nodes, and to generate an energy delivery parameter based on the system power factor and/or a system volt-amperes reactive (VAR)l and at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter.
Deaver, SR (US 20110169461), teaches among other things a system comprising at least one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of nodes configured to add or subtract VARs to the electric power transmission and distribution grid in response to the energy delivery parameter
Hauf et al (US 20100250018), teaches a system for ordering or sorting values measured from sensors in ascending and descending order.
Vukojevic et al (US 20130024032), teaches a system wherein priority was given so system measurements than to local measurements when controlling VAR devices, sorting available capacitor banks in ascending order based on average voltage in a feeder and lowest voltage.
Teichmann et al (US 20110144817) teaches a system wherein several operating modes such as leading or lagging where detected.
However, none of these references alone or in combination neither anticipates nor renders obvious the recited combinations of claim 1 including:
“wherein the controller is further configured to order the nodes (in an ordering step):
from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging and then from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading when in the normal mode; and
from most leading to least leading if the nodes are leading and then from most lagging to least lagging if the nodes are lagging when in the normal mode;
wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one VAR adjusting device per each of the plurality of the nodes in the order from the ordering step until:
a target close or open VARs is reached if the determined system power factor is lagging or leading, respectively, when in the normal mode;
wherein the controller is configured to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes based on the determined system power factor, the normal mode is one of the plurality of different operating modes, and the controller is configured to order the nodes differently between at least two of the operating modes”.
Conclusion
When responding to this Office Action, Applicant is advised to clearly point out the patentable novelty which he or she thinks the claims present, in view of the state of the art disclosed by the references cited or the objections made. Applicant must also show how the amendments avoid or differentiate from such references or objections. See 37 CFR 1.111 (c).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OLVIN LOPEZ ALVAREZ whose telephone number is (571) 270-7686 and fax (571) 270-8686. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Robert Fennema, can be reached at (571) 272-2748. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/O. L./
Examiner, Art Unit 2117
/DARRIN D DUNN/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2117
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