System, method and apparatus for power management

• US 10,102,484 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert F. Cruickshank III
• Original Assignee: Robert F. Cruickshank III
• Inventors: Cruickshank, III, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US15/601,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20170316349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus provide management of power to meet demand of consumers that consume the power. An interface is configured to receive a pricing signal that indicates a price for the power. Wherein the interface is configured to control an appliance coupled to the interface to shift adjusting power consumption sooner in time than the appliance is predetermined to shift its power consumption.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

setting, by a supply side, a pricing signal, the pricing signal representative of a price for power and an availability of power generation capacity, and the pricing signal maximizing efficient operating levels of power generation at both a first time and a second time; and

transmitting, by the supply side, the pricing signal continually in real-time over a telecommunication network to a demand side;

wherein an appliance on the demand side is controlled automatically based on the pricing signal to maximize efficient operating levels of power generation on the supply side at both the first time and the second time;

wherein the pricing signal discourages a demand of the power by the demand side to forestall bringing an additional power generation source online; and

wherein after the additional power generation source is online, the pricing signal encourages the demand of the power by the demand side until the additional power generation source is operating at the maximum efficient operating level of power generation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the supply side at a present time, a power generator capable of immediate power generation based on a previously unused output capability of the power generator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the power generator generates wind power or solar power.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the pricing signal to encourage demand or discourage demand is based on a time when a renewable energy source is available.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing, by the supply side, the pricing signal to discourage the demand of the power until a time when an aggregate demand of the power matches the availability of power generation capacity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pricing signal is set to discourage the demand of the power when the supply side reaches an efficient operating level of power output.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the pricing signal delays the spinning-up and bringing online of additional power generators until an aggregate demand matches the availability of power generation capacity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the pricing signal to discourage use of a power generator stabilizes and protects transmission and distribution infrastructures coupled to the power generator when there is a power grid failure or a defunct power generator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pricing signal is set at least 8 to 10 times in a day.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein an orchestration of the demand of the power and a supply of the power is controlled by a third entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pricing signal is set to encourage demand of the power to maximize output of a power generator and to use demand side energy storage capacity.

12. A system comprising:

a supply side connected through a communication network to a demand side, the supply side setting a pricing signal, the pricing signal representative of a price for power and an availability of power generation capacity, the supply side continually transmitting the pricing signal in real-time over the communication network to the demand side, and the pricing signal maximizing efficient operating levels of power generation by the supply side at both a first time and a second time;

wherein an appliance on the demand side is controlled automatically based on the pricing signal to maximize efficient operating levels of power generation on the supply side at both the first time and the second time;

wherein the pricing signal discourages a demand of the power by the demand side to

forestall bringing an additional power generation source online; and

wherein after the additional power generation source is online, the pricing signal encourages the demand of the power by the demand side until the additional power generation source is operating at the maximum efficient operating level of power generation.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a power generator connected to the supply side, the supply side determining that the power generator is capable of immediate power generation based on a previously unused output capability of the power generator.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the power generator generates wind power or solar power.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein setting the pricing signal to encourage demand or discourage demand is based on a time when a renewable energy source is available.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the supply side changes the pricing signal to discourage the demand of the power until a time when an aggregate demand of the power matches the availability of power generation capacity.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the pricing signal is set to discourage the demand of the power when the supply side reaches an efficient operating level of power output.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein setting the pricing signal to discourage the demand of the power stabilizes and protects transmission and distribution infrastructures coupled to a power generator when there is a power grid failure or a defunct power generator.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the pricing signal is set at least 8 to 10 times in a day.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the pricing signal is set to encourage demand of the power to maximize output of a power generator and to use demand side energy storage capacity.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions executable by a computer, the instructions causing the computer to:

set a pricing signal, the pricing signal representative of a price for power and an availability of power generation capacity, and the pricing signal maximizing efficient operating levels of power generation at both a first time and a second time; and

transmit the pricing signal continually in real-time over a telecommunication network to a demand side;

wherein an appliance on the demand side is controlled automatically based on the pricing signal to maximize efficient operating levels of power generation on the supply side at both the first time and the second time;

wherein the pricing signal discourages a demand of the power by the demand side to forestall bringing an additional power generation source online; and

wherein after the additional power generation source is online, the pricing signal encourages the demand of the power by the demand side until the additional power generation source is operating at the maximum efficient operating level of power generation.