Importance

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Abstract

Utility charges associated with peak electrical power demands constitute an increasing portion of utility bills associated with large commercial consumers of electricity. The instant invention provides an apparatus for reducing the peak electrical demand of a predetermined user operational unit from an electrical power distribution network by controllably operating at least one secondary electrical generator associated with the operational unit in parallel with the utility power distribution network. The secondary electrical generator includes a switch for connecting the generator in parallel with the utility network in response to receiving a transfer command signal. A transducer senses the actual peak power demand of the operational unit from the utility network and produces a demand signal having a value responsive to the sensed actual peak power demand. A memory element controllably stores a plurality of control parameters including a demand setpoint value. A logic device controllably produces the transfer command signal and connects the secondary electrical generator in parallel with the utility distribution network in response to the value of the demand signal exceeding the value of the demand setpoint. The logic device controls the secondary electrical generator to produce only the amount of power necessary to maintain the demand signal at or below the demand setpoint value.

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First Claim