Power distribution, management, and monitoring systems and methods

Abstract

Managing electrical power usage in a power distribution system. Power usage data indicative of electrical current flow through electrical outlets in the system are collected and displayed for a user. The user may select an outlet and issue a command to control current flow through that outlet. Environmental data may also be collected and displayed. Outlets in different Cabinet Power Distribution Units (CDUs) in different locations may be clustered for reporting and control. A database structure provides a “system” table for data descriptive of the system, a “tower” table for data descriptive of outlets and other elements in the system, an “infeed” table for data descriptive of input electrical power, and an “outlet” table for data descriptive of electrical power flowing through the outlets.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A power management system, comprising:
 a communications interface that sends/receives communications to/from a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs), the communications received from the PDUs including power usage data for each of a plurality of electrical outlets within each PDU;   a memory that stores information related to electrical components that receive power from a group of electrical outlets, including information related to at least a first electrical component that receives power from at least a first and a second electrical outlet of the group of electrical outlets, the first outlet located at a first PDU and the second outlet located at a second PDU;   a controller interconnected to the communications interface and memory that receives the power usage data from the PDUs, determines power that is consumed by one or more of the electrical components, and outputs information related to power that is consumed by at least the first electrical component based on aggregated power usage data from both the first and second PDUs.   
     
     
         2 . A power management system as in  claim 1 , wherein the communications interface sends/receives communications to/from the PDUs through TCP/IP with a unique IP address for each PDU. 
     
     
         3 . A power management system as in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further in communication with the PDUs through the communications interface to control current flow through one or more selected outlets. 
     
     
         4 . A power management system as in  claim 1 , wherein the communications interface communicates with the first and second PDUs through different IP addresses. 
     
     
         5 . A power management system as in  claim 1 , wherein the controller determines power that is consumed by the first electrical component by combining power usage data for the first and second outlets of the first and second PDUs. 
     
     
         6 . A power management system as in  claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises information related to at least a first application that runs on a plurality of electrical components that receive power from a plurality of different PDUs. 
     
     
         7 . A power management system as in  claim 6 , wherein the communications interface communicates with the plurality of PDUs through different IP addresses. 
     
     
         8 . A power management system as in  claim 6 , wherein the controller determines power that is consumed by the plurality of electrical components that are running the first application by combining power usage data for a plurality of power outlets of the plurality PDUs that provide power to the plurality of electrical components associated with the first application. 
     
     
         9 . A power management system as in  claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises:
 a system table structured for data descriptive of a power distribution system;   a tower table structured for data descriptive of outlets, PDUs and other elements in the power distribution system;   an infeed table structured for data descriptive of electrical power provided to the PDUs; and   an outlet table structured for data descriptive of electrical power flowing through various outlets.   
     
     
         10 . A power management system as in  claim 9 , wherein the communications interface receives communications related to one or more environmental sensors located in one or more PDUs, and the memory further comprises an environmental table structured for data descriptive of environmental parameters associated with the environmental sensors. 
     
     
         11 . A power management system as in  claim 9 , wherein the memory further comprises a clusters table structured for data descriptive of outlet clusters that include outlets located in two or more different PDUs. 
     
     
         12 . A power management system as in  claim 9 , wherein the memory further comprises a clusters table structured for data descriptive of outlet clusters that include outlets located in two or more different PDUs that provide power to one electrical component or one application. 
     
     
         13 . A power management system as in  claim 11 , wherein the clusters table comprises a table structured for cluster identifiers, and a table structured for data correlating outlets with clusters. 
     
     
         14 . A power management system, comprising:
 a communications interface that sends/receives communications to/from a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) including a first PDU, the communications received from the PDUs including power usage data for each of a plurality of electrical outlets within each PDU;   a memory that stores information related to electrical components that receive power from a group of electrical outlets, including information related to at least a first electrical component that receives power from at least a first and a second electrical outlet of the group of electrical outlets, the first outlet located at a first phase group of the first PDU the second outlet located at a second phase group of the first PDU;   a controller interconnected to the communications interface and memory that receives the power usage data from the first PDU, determines power that is consumed by one or more of the electrical components, and outputs information related to power that is consumed by at least the first electrical component based on aggregated power usage data from both the first and second phase groups of the first PDU.   
     
     
         15 . A power management system as in  claim 14 , wherein the controller determines power that is consumed by the first electrical component by combining power usage data for the first and second outlets located at the first and second phase groups of the first PDU. 
     
     
         16 . A power management system as in  claim 14 , wherein the communications interface sends/receives communications to/from the PDUs through TCP/IP with a unique IP address for each PDU.