Smart Wires Inc.

An apparatus and methods of opening and closing a vacuum switched link are disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum interrupter including a mechanical coupling and a moving contact. The apparatus further includes a drive rod, where the mechanical coupling is disposed between the drive rod and the moving contact. The apparatus further includes a direct-acting closing spring coupled to the drive rod. The apparatus further includes a reset spring coupled to the drive rod. The apparatus further includes an armature slidably coupled to the drive rod and responsive to the reset spring during closing of the vacuum interrupter. The apparatus further includes a coil embedded in the armature.

A flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS)-based shunt system is described for use in a hierarchy in a high-voltage or medium-voltage power grid. The shunt system includes a FACTS-based shunt device, a communication link, and a shunt controller. A hierarchy in the power grid includes a supervisory utility communicably coupled to localized intelligence centers (LINCs). Each LINC is communicably coupled to one or more impedance injection modules (IIMs) that are coupled to the power grid. The hierarchy has an optimization engine. The shunt controller, of the shunt system, is to communicate and cooperate with one or more of the LINCs in the hierarchy. The shunt controller is to operate the FACTS-based shunt device in accordance with such communication and cooperation with the LINCs, to provide voltage stability to the power grid through hierarchical control according to the supervisory utility, the LINCs and the optimization engine.

A system has grid forming capability. A connect-disconnect switch is connectable to a power transmission grid and connectable to a distribution grid that may have renewable energy generation sources and loads. A shunt inverter system comprising a 4-quadrant DC-to-AC inverter and a battery power source is connectable to the distribution grid. A controller controls the connect-disconnect switch to connect and disconnect the distribution grid from the power transmission grid, or disconnect a first segment of the distribution grid from a second segment of the distribution grid. The controller operates the shunt inverter system to provide power factor correction to the distribution grid under normal operation. The controller operates the shunt inverter system with switching and current control instructions to enable grid forming and sustaining of continued operation of the distribution grid.

Flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) enabling distributed controls is a requirement for power transmission and distribution, to improve line balancing and distribution efficiency. These FACTS devices are electronic circuits that vary in the type of services they provide. All FACTS devices have internal circuitry to handle fault currents. Most of these circuits are unique in design for each manufacturer, which make these FACTS devices non-modular, non-interchangeable, expensive and heavy. One of the most versatile FACTS device is the static synchronous series compensator (SSSC), which is used to inject impedance into the transmission lines to change the power flow characteristics. The addition of integrated fault current handling circuitry makes the SSSC and similar FACTS devices unwieldy, heavy, and not a viable solution for distributed control. What is disclosed are modifications to FACTS devices that move the fault current protection external to the FACTS device and make them modular and re-usable.

Flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) enabling distributed controls is a requirement for power transmission and distribution, to improve line balancing and distribution efficiency. These FACTS devices are electronic circuits that vary in the type of services they provide. All FACTS devices have internal circuitry to handle fault currents. Most of these circuits are unique in design for each manufacturer, which make these FACTS devices non-modular, non-interchangeable, expensive and heavy. One of the most versatile FACTS device is the static synchronous series compensator (SSSC), which is used to inject impedance into the transmission lines to change the power flow characteristics. The addition of integrated fault current handling circuitry makes the SSSC and similar FACTS devices unwieldy, heavy, and not a viable solution for distributed control. What is disclosed are modifications to FACTS devices that move the fault current protection external to the FACTS device and make them modular and re-usable.

A power supply module harvests power at low and high line currents of a power transmission line. The power supply module uses a current transformer, which may power controllers. The current transformer has a single turn primary winding, which can be coupled to a power transmission line, and a single secondary winding connected to the power supply module.

A modular power converter is operable to mitigate a DC component of injection onto a power transmission line. The modular power converter includes a pulse width modulation (PWM)-controlled generator, a voltage emulator, and a control circuit. The PWM-controlled generator includes drivers and a coupling capacitor. The PWM-controlled generator is to store voltage on the coupling capacitor and inject a voltage of the converter, which includes the DC component of injection, onto the power transmission line. The voltage emulator is to determine a DC measurement emulating the voltage of the converter, as a time-varying average value that is based on summing generator driver-state weighted values of the voltage on the coupling capacitor. The control circuit is to generate PWM pulses to operate the PWM-controlled generator and adjust timing of the PWM pulses, based at least on the DC measurement from the voltage emulator to counter-balance the DC component of injection.

A power flow control system is disclosed. The system includes impedance injection modules (IIMs) distributed along and connected in series to one or more power transmission lines. The system further includes dual-ring fiber optic networks, with each dual-ring fiber optic network including a pair of fiber rings that provide data flow in opposite directions. The system further includes redundant power line coordinators in communication with the IIMs through the dual-ring fiber optic networks.

A liquid cooling static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) system with series connected inverter valve modules that have liquid cooling blocks is described. The inverter valve modules are operable to inject reactive power into a power transmission line. Inverter valve units are attached to liquid cooling blocks, where there is direct impingement of liquid coolant on an exposed portion of an inverter valve unit in an enclosed fluid chamber. Each liquid cooling block has voltage isolation relative to other liquid cooling blocks. Such voltage isolation may limit ionization of liquid coolant in an SSSC system operating in proximity to high voltages.

A voltage source converter may be coupled to a transmission line. The voltage source converter has two or more inverter valve units. Each inverter valve unit has a full H bridge of switching devices and a capacitor. Paralleling conductor pairs connect the inverter valve units in parallel, in a self-balancing circuit arrangement.