CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Israel patent application No. 290585 filed on February 13, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of the supply of power, and more particularly to the management of the supply of power into a load from a plurality of power sources.

BACKGROUND

[0003] It is commonly known that in order to supply the current needs of a single load under a constant voltage supply, it may be necessary to utilize a plurality of power supplies. That is, the current provided to a current consuming load receives the current supply through a circuit that combines the currents received from the plurality of power supplies, while maintain an essentially constant voltage. The current requirements of a load may change over time, to a point where it is sufficient to use a single power source. In other times, when more than one power source is necessary, control of supply is required.

[0004] Existing solutions for multiple power supply applications face do not adequately account for the actual power supply profile of each of the power supplies. An example graph 100 depicting a power efficiency curve 140 of a power supply is shown in Fig. 1. The X-axis indicates the percent of power generated by the power supply, which may be in the range of 0% to 100% of the power supply capabilities of the power supply shown in the graph 100. The Y-axis 120 indicates the ratio between the amount of energy provided by the power supply, measured for example in kilowatts (KW), divided by the fuel consumption necessary to achieve that level of supply, measured for example in liters. The power efficiency curve 140 is shown with respect of various points 130-a through 130-gthat show a range, for example range 130-a, by which the characteristic may fluctuate with respect to a given percent of power usage from the power supply. [0005] The power efficiency curve 140 for a particular power supply has a peak efficient range, possibly from around 25% to 75% of the full power that the power supply may be able to provide, in which the power supply is most efficient, i.e., the highest, or essentially highest KW/Fuel ratio for power generated by the power supply. In the example shown in Fig. 1 this peak efficiency range extends from, for example, 130-c to 130-f. The points prior to the peak efficiency range, for example 130-a and 130-b, and beyond the peak efficiency range, for example 130-g, provide lower KW/Fuel and therefore are less desirable for operation of the power source.

[0006] Existing combinators and control systems are deficient in taking into account the power supply characteristics in general, and in particular taking into account the operation of a plurality of such power supplies simultaneously. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that overcomes the deficiencies of the existing solutions.

SUMMARY

[0007] A non-limiting summary of several example embodiments of the disclosure follows. This summary is provided for the convenience of the reader to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments and does not wholly define the breadth of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. This summary’s sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. For convenience, the terms “some embodiments” or “certain embodiments” may be used herein to refer to a single embodiment or multiple embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0008] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a method for setting power supplies by a plurality of power supplies to a single load having a power demand, the method comprising: receiving by a power control system a power demand for the load from a power combiner; checking by the power control system which of a plurality of power supplies communicatively connected to the power control system are available to provide power to the load; retrieving by the power control system power efficiency information for each of the available power supplies of the plurality of power supplies; selecting by the power control system, based on at least the power efficiency information, a plurality of power supplies from the available power supplies of the plurality of power supplies, such that each of the selected power supplies operates within its respective peak efficiency range; determining by the power control system power setting for each of the selected power supplies; and, sending by the power control system the power settings to each of the selected power supplies. An aspect of these embodiments is a non- transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing a processing circuitry to execute the method as described hereinabove.

[0009] Further, certain embodiments the present disclosure include a power control system for providing power from a plurality of power sources to a load, the power control system that comprises of: a processing circuitry; a first interface communicatively connected to the processing circuitry, the first interface adapted to communicatively connect to the plurality of power supplies; a second interface communicatively connected to the processing circuitry, the second interface adapted to communicatively connect to at least a power combiner, wherein the combiner is configured to receive power from the plurality of power supplies and provide a combined power to the load; a database communicatively connected to the processing circuitry and containing therein at least power efficiency information for each of the power supplies of the plurality of power supplies; and a memory communicatively connected to the processing circuitry and containing therein at least instructions that when executed by the processing circuitry configure the power control system to: receive via the second interface a power demand for the load from a power combiner; check which of a plurality of power supplies communicatively connected to the power control system via the first interface are available to provide power to the load; retrieve from the database power efficiency information for each of the available power supplies of the plurality of power supplies; select, based on at least the power efficiency information, a plurality of power supplies from the available power supplies of the plurality of power supplies, such that each of the selected power supplies operates within its respective peak efficiency range; determining by the power control system power setting for each of the selected power supplies; and, send via the first interface the power settings to each of the selected power supplies. [0010] Example advantages and effects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description takin in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein certain embodiments are set forth by way of illustration and example. The examples described herein are just a few example aspects of the disclosure. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are example and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The subject matter disclosed herein is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Figure 1 is a graph depicting a power efficiency curve of a power supply;

[0013] Figure 2 is a system adapted to operate according to an embodiment;

[0014] Figure 3 is a control system according to an embodiment; and

[0015] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the control system according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Below, example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings so as to be easily realized by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art. The example embodiments may be embodied in various forms without being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Descriptions of well- known parts are omitted for clarity, and like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Relative dimensions of elements in drawings may be exaggerated for clarity. Relative orientation of components and/or sub-components shown in the drawings may vary without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0017] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides for adapting a system controller to determine an optimal setting for each of a plurality of power supplies to deliver power to a single load. Accordingly, in some embodiments, based on the power demands of the single load and the power efficiency curve of each of a plurality of power suppliers, the system controller determines the specific settings of each power supplier to ensure the necessary power supply to the load.

[0018] Various disclosed embodiments utilize diverse techniques for the purpose of determining the specific settings to each power supply. In some embodiments, such techniques are used to specifically set the level of RPM (revolutions per minute) of an engine in order to produce a specific amount of power. In some other embodiments, diverse techniques can be utilized to optimize the efficiency, e.g., in case of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, when the load characteristic changes.

[0019] In some embodiments use is made of one or more techniques to combine diverse power supply sources, e.g., a combination including two or more types of power supply sources such as, but not limited to, photovoltaic cells, wind systems, and/or generators producing electrical power. The diverse power supply sources are combined in order to supply the power demands of the single load. The power supplies to be used are determined such that the highest possible number of power supplies operating within their respective peak efficiency range.

[0020] Reference is now made to Fig. 2 that depicts an example system 200 adapted to operate according to an embodiment. A load 210 is electrically connected to a combiner circuitry 220, that is adapted to receive power from a plurality of power supplies 230, for example power supplies 230-1 through 230-N, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The combiner 220 is adapted to combine the received currents in such a way that the total current requirement of the load 210 is met while maintaining essentially the same voltage supply (e.g., when each power supply provides a different voltage level and the combiner 220 combines the sources into a voltage range that is within the load 210 allowable voltage range) that is required by the load 210. In an embodiment the combiner 220 is a voltage regulator adapted to receive power from a plurality of power supplies 230 and to provide power to the load 210. In yet another embodiment, the combiner 220 comprises a distributed voltage regulator that is associated or integrated with each power supply 230 and the outputs of each power supply are regulated and provided in combination to the load 210. Each component of the distributed power combiner 220 is adapted to be controlled by the power control 240 as further discussed herein. In an embodiment the power supplied by each of the power supplies 230 is provided over a power bus.

[0021] Further, in some implementations, the load 210 is typically designed to operate within a given voltage range and it may therefore be hazardous to operate outside this predefined range. In such implementations, this hazardous circumstance may be avoided by having the combiner 220 regulate the voltage supplied to the load 210 to be regulated within the voltage range to which the load 210 is designed for. The load 210 may be any kind of an electrical power consumer, including, without limitation, a battery or batteries being charged by the supplied electrical power or a power consuming network, for example a collection of power consumers. The power sources 230 may be generators such as, but not limited to, gas powered electrical generators, coal powered electrical generators, fossil energy powered generators and the like, as well as the like of photovoltaic (PV) cells, wind powered electrical generators, wave powered electrical generators and the like.

[0022] Each of the power supplies 230, may have identical or different power efficiency curve 140 characteristics as compared to any or all of the other power supplies 230. Each of the power supplies 230, e.g., power supplies 230-1 through 203-N, may be communicatively connected to a power control system 240.

[0023] Thus, in some embodiments, the power control system 240 can be adapted to receive information from the power supplies 230 and provide control information thereto, for example as further described in greater detail with respect to Figs. 3 and 4. Accordingly, information provided to the power control system 240 may be, but is not limited to, power efficiency curve of each power supply 230 as well as current operational parameters such as temperature, environmental temperature, amount of fuel available, one or more alarms provided by a power supply 230, and the like. Alarms include, but are not limited to, overheat, low heat, oil pressure, low airflow pressure, high air pressure, and the like. Alarms may be generated also as a result of meeting a specific predetermined condition, for example, but not by way of limitation, setting an alarm as a result of a high temperature combined with low RPM of the engine, or a combination of a low airflow (e.g., an airflow below a threshold value) and high engine temperature (e.g., a temperature above a threshold value). [0024] The power control system 240 may be further communicatively connected to the combiner 220 to receive information about the power requirements of the load 210 and the actual power supply provided by each of the power supplies 230, and receive control information, for example connection or disconnection of one or more of the power supplies 230 for the purpose of providing power to the load 210.

[0025] Fig. 3 is an example power control system 240 according to an embodiment. A processing circuitry 240-10 is communicatively connected using, for example, a bus 240- 50, to a memory 240-20. The processing circuitry 240-10 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, programmable circuits, and the like, combinations thereof, including without limitation processors connected for parallel processing, and which may be further field-programmable. The bus 240-50 may be one or more wires providing connectivity between elements of the control system 240, and may be serial, parallel, or any combination thereof, as well as using one or more standard or unique communication protocols.

[0026] The bus 240-50 may have some wires thereof which are bidirectional while other may be unidirectional, and any combinations thereof. The memory 240-20 may comprise non-volatile memory, for example random access memory (RAM), as well as non-volatile memory (NVM), for example read only memory (ROM), Flash memory, and the like, or any combination thereof. The memory 240-20 may have a certain portion thereof dedicated to a code memory 240-25 that contains therein a plurality of instructions. When the plurality of the instructions stored in the code memory 240-25 are executed by the processing circuitry 240-10, the system controller 240 becomes configured to operate as described herein. While the disclosure is described in connection with a processing circuitry 240-10 executing instructions stored in code memory 240-24, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that the functions described herein may be further achieved by replacing the processing circuitry 240-10 and the code memory 240-25 by dedicated logic configured to perform the tasks described herein, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0027] To the bus 240-50 there may be further communicatively connected a first interface circuitry 240-40 adapted to communicatively connect with a plurality of power supplies 230, for example, power supplies 230-1 through 230-N. The processing circuitry 240-10, executing instructions stored in code memory 240-20 may send and/or receive signals from each of the plurality of power supplies 230 to allow for the control of the power supplies 230 as further described herein.

[0028] The first interface circuitry allows to send and receive information to and from each of the plurality of power supplies 230, and as further described herein. Further, a second interface circuitry 240-45 is communicatively connected to the bus 240-50 adapted to at least communicatively connect to the combiner circuitry 220. The second interface circuitry 240-45 allows to send and receive information to and from the combiner 220, and as further described herein.

[0029] In an embodiment, a database (DB) 240-30 is communicatively connected, for example, to the bus 240-50. In an embodiment the DB 240-30 may connect to the control system 240 as an external device, for example using an interface circuit such as interface circuitry 240-45. The DB 240-45 may contain therein operational profiles corresponding to each of the plurality of the power supplies 230, and in particular their respective power efficiency curves. In an embodiment, the power control system 240 monitors the characteristics of each of the plurality of the power supplies 230, and periodically adapts their power efficiency curve 140. One of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that each of the plurality of power supplies 230 may have a power efficiency curve 140 which is temperature dependent, that is, the curve differs between temperatures and hence the temperature of the power supply itself, the environmental temperature, or both, may be taken into account when establishing which power efficiency curve 140 is to be used from a plurality of power efficiency curves associated with a specific power supply 230, for example power supply 230-10. In another embodiment, other environmental parameters may impact the power efficiency curve 140 that is to be used, for example and without limitation, the relative humidity in which the power supply operates at.

[0030] Reference is now made to Fig. 4 that is an example flowchart 400 of the operation of the power control system 240 according to an embodiment. In S410 the power control system 240 obtains a power demand, for example by receiving the power demand from the combiner 220 or by measurement of the voltage level of the load 210 and then determining the power requirement therefrom. In S420 it is checked which of the plurality of power supplies 230 may be available to provide power to the combiner 220. [0031] In an embodiment, , which power supplies 230 may be available to provide power to the combiner 220 is determined based further on additional environmental parameters such as, but not by way of limitation, temperature, and humidity, and/or power supply parameters (for example but not by way of limitation, the amount of fuel available to a particular power supply, for example, power supply 230-10). In S430 the power efficiency curve 140 for each of the available power supplies 230 is retrieved from, for example, DB 240-30.

[0032] Based on the retrieved power efficiency curves 140 an optimal selection of power supplies from the power supplies 230 is performed in S440. That is, the power control system 240 causes each power supply 230 that was selected to provide power to the combiner 220, to operate at that power supply’s peak efficiency range, for example, but not by way of limitation, by controlling certain operational parameters of each selected power supply of the power supplies 230, and as further explained herein. The selection is performed so as to prefer power supplies 230 that operate at their peak efficiency range to supply their share of the power demand. However, if a plurality of selected power supplies is insufficient to provide the power demand, it is possible to select in S440 one or more additional power supplies that operate outside of their peak efficiency range.

[0033] In some embodiments, at S440 the power control system 240 may utilize one or more techniques to change the power supplied by each power supply (e.g., any power supplier type of 230-1 to 230-N) to achieve a desired supply of power from a selected power supply and thus ensuring the operation of a power supply in its peak efficiency range. As an example, the RPM of a power supply 230 (when applicable) can be controlled to achieve a desired power supply level. In another example, a throttle may be controlled (electronically or electromechanically, for example by the power control system 240) in order to control the air intake of a power supply 230 (when applicable). In some embodiments, at S440 the power control system 240 may determine that one or more power suppliers may change the power output for the purpose of achieving a specific characteristic power point by all elected power suppliers. For example, but not by way of limitation, in some embodiments, at S440 the power control system 240 may utilize one or more methods and/or algorithms to determine the number of power supplies, to elect the power supplier supplying a specific load and to determine the power level of each elected power supply.

[0034] The power control system 240 may elect to use, 1 , 2, or more of the power supplies 230, as the case may be, in order to meet the demand as optimally as possible. That is, if a single power supply 230, for example power supply 230-10, can provide the required power while operating at the desired peak efficiency range then the power control system 240 may allow the power supply 230-10 to operate in this manner. However, in an embodiment, it may be desirable to work still within the peak efficiency range but use two or more power supplies 230. This may be advantageous in order to consume, for example, operational fuel, such that the reserves of fuel are not depleted on one power supply making it inoperative due to lack of fuel. Therefore, in at least some embodiments, S440 power settings for each of the selected power supplies of the power supplies 230 are determined. For example, and without limitation, in an embodiment the power control system 240 may regulate the revolutions per minute (RPM) setting of one or more of the plurality of power supplies 230. Such control may enforce the power supply, as measured for example in Watts, to a preferred level (e.g., a predetermined level) which may correspond with the optimal operation of the power supply within its peak efficiency range. As described herein, and further with respect of Fig. 1 , the peak efficiency range means a range where the operation of a power supply is above a predetermined threshold value. The threshold value may be predetermined separately for each power supply, or type of power supply, and checked by the control system to ensure operation of a particular power supply within its peak efficiency range.

[0035] In an embodiment, operational considerations may be added, for example, but not by way of limitation, accounting for operational hours of each power supply 230 when determining which power supplies 230 are to be used, so as not to operate outside of the number of hours of continued operation designated for each power supply 230, or avoid exceeding maintenance limitations, and so on and so forth.

[0036] In some embodiments, selection of the specific power supplies 230 for responding to the required power demand, the determination of which power supplies 230 are to be used, further includes determination of a score for each power supply 230. For example, but not by way of limitation, a score may be associated with the amount of fuel available to the power supply 230 being considered for use. In another example, the score may be associated with a preference towards green energy, for example photovoltaic cells or wind power, thereby giving them a higher score. In other words, such selection may be based on the type of the power supply 230. Determination which of the specific power supplies 230 is to be used may be based on the determined score, for example, but not by way of limitation, selecting first those power supplies 230 having the highest scores. Other examples are possible and are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0037] In some other cases, in case one or more of the elected power suppliers show a relatively high temperature value (e.g., above a predetermined reference temperature value), or a high oil pressure (e.g., above a predetermined reference pressure value), these power suppliers may be determined to be low and the power control system 240 may drop such a power supply from the list of the selected power supplies.

[0038] In an embodiment, in order to maintain a desired voltage level across the plurality of power supplies 230, the power control system 240 ensures that voltage is supplied within a predetermined range. That is, for example, in case 110 volts are demanded by the load 210, then according to the principles disclosed herein it may be determined whether two selected power supplies 230 can supply the required electrical current so as to maintain the voltage requirement of 110 volts. As noted herein, the decision is taken according to the demand and the peak efficiency range of each of the two selected power supplies of the power supplies 230, and if this is not sufficient, a third power supply from the power supplies 230 may be added. In another embodiment, instead of using one of the two power supplies, a third power supply is selected to compensate for the deficiency in the supply of power by one of the other two power supplies. A person having ordinary skill in the art would realize that there are many potential optimal configurations that may be used, each fitting a particular situation and hence the advantage of the disclosed embodiments over the existing solutions.

[0039] In S450 the determined settings are communicated to each of the selected power supplies of the power supplies 230, via, for example, the first interface circuitry 240-40. In S460 it is checked whether the operation of selection of power supplies from the power supplies 230 is to continue, and if so, execution continues with S410; otherwise, executing terminates. Power supply selection may be performed iteratively in order to, for example, allow for changes in configuration due to, for example, changes in power demand by the load 210, or, for example, due to changes needed in the selection of power supplies from the power supplies 230. The latter may happen if a certain power supply, for example power supply 230-10, now operates outside of its respective peak efficiency range. It may further happen that its fuel supply has gone below a predetermined threshold value that triggers an event of setting that particular power supply 230-10 to be used only in special cases, for example, an emergency, but not for on-going power supply.

[0040] While the disclosure herein discussed the solution with respect of a power efficiency curve 140, a person having ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that other implementations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. For example, in an embodiment, instead of using a power efficiency curve 140 a table containing therein the peak efficiency range of each corresponding power supply 230 may be used.

[0041] The various embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented as hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Moreover, the software is preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit or computer readable medium consisting of parts, or of certain devices and/or a combination of devices. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units (“CPUs”), a memory, and input/output interfaces. The computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program, or any combination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU, whether or not such a computer or processor is explicitly shown. In addition, various other peripheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage unit and a printing unit. Furthermore, a non-transitory computer readable medium is any computer readable medium except for a transitory propagating signal.

[0042] As used herein, the phrase “at least one of’ followed by a listing of items means that any of the listed items can be utilized individually, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be utilized. For example, if a system is described as including “at least one of A, B, and C,” the system can include A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; B and C in combination; A and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

[0043] It should be understood that any reference to an element herein using a designation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, these designations are generally used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements may be employed there or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner. Also, unless stated otherwise, a set of elements comprises one or more elements.

[0044] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosed embodiment and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.