Distributed Power-Delivery Decision for a USB-PD-based Network

Abstract

We developed a prototype of a virtual grid hub (VG-Hub), which is a device for controlling direct current (DC) power flow by utilizing the characteristics of USB-PD. In a network of interconnected VG-hubs, deciding the entire power distribution path every time a load changes results in disruption of the power flow during operation as well as high-cost of recomputing over the entire network. Therefore, we propose Minimum-Hop Power-Path Routing (MHPPR), which determines a new power flow only at the hub where the load fluctuates. In the MHPPR, the route that minimizes the total number of hops from the power supply source to the load is determined to achieve the goal of the nearest power supply. In this study, we show that the power flow is more efficiently determined compared to the case of recalculation of the entire network when the load changes.