System and method for managing load-modifying demand response of energy consumption

• US 10,168,682 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wellhead Power Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wellhead Power Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: McDaniel, J. Grant, Dittmer, Harold E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ortiz Rodriguez, Carlos R
• Application Number:
  US15/356,421
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25419 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33056 Reinforcement learning, agent acts, receives reward, emotion, action selective
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40458 Grid adaptive optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof

Abstract

A system for providing location specific load-modifying demand response (DR) and methods for making and using same. The system advantageously can manage load on individual distribution level power circuits. Information regarding forecasted and real-time loading of individual distribution level power circuits is provided to a DR Locational Application. The DR Locational Application leverages the ability of smart devices containing real-time locational functionality, such as global positioning system, to either indicate to the consumer when it is appropriate to consume power, or automatically control the energy consumption, of the smart device along with any other loads that are verified by the smart device to be in the same location. The DR Locational Application can inform the consumer, the DR Aggregator or Crowd-Source Organization, and the distribution operator of the energy consumption sum of the response for each of its distribution level circuits.

Claims

1. A method for managing demand response (DR), comprising:

obtaining, by a processor of a computing device, a local schedule of one or more states for energy consumption on distribution circuits within a selected region served by a distribution operator, the local schedule associating respective time periods with the one or more states including a load state, an unload state, or a combination thereof;

obtaining, by the processor, location information associated with a consumer device, wherein the location information is based on information generated by a locational tracking device integrated onboard the consumer device;

determining, by the processor, that the consumer device is located in the selected region based on the location information;

sending, by the processor, a reward incentive plan generated for the consumer device based on the local schedule;

instructing, by the processor, the consumer device to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the load state and not to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the unload state based on the local schedule;

determining, by the processor, energy consumption of the consumer device during the load state or the unload state based on energy consumption activity data received from the consumer device;

assigning, by the processor, a reward to the consumer device based on the reward incentive plan and the determined energy consumption activity data of the consumer device; and

modifying, by the processor, account information associated with the consumer device in response to assigning the reward to the consumer device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the load state of the local schedule is associated with a first time period corresponding to a historically low-demand period in the selected region and the unload state of the local schedule is associated with a second time period corresponding to a historically high-demand period in the selected region.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, the energy consumption activity data associated with the consumer device from the consumer device; and

determining, by the processor, an action of energy consumption associated with the consumer device within at least one of the time periods in the local schedule based on the energy consumption activity data received from the consumer device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the action of energy consumption associated with the consumer device within at least one of the time periods in the local schedule based on the energy consumption activity data received from the consumer device comprises:

determining that an action of charging the consumer device occurred within at least one time period of the local schedule;

or

determining that an action of not charging the consumer device occurred within at least one time period of the local schedule.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the energy consumption activity data received from the consumer device includes an action of energy consumption by an appliance in communication with the consumer device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the energy consumption activity data includes an action of energy consumption by an appliance being controlled by the consumer device at least partially based on the local schedule.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the reward to the consumer device comprises:

assigning a positive reward to the consumer device when the energy consumption activity data includes information indicating that an action of consuming energy during the time period corresponding to the load state, an action of not consuming energy during the time period corresponding to the unload state, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the reward to the consumer device comprises:

assigning a negative reward to the consumer device when the energy consumption activity data includes information indicating that an action of consuming energy during the time period corresponding to the unload state, an action of not consuming energy during the time period corresponding to the load state, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reporting, by the processor, the reward assigned to the consumer device to a DR aggregator,

wherein the DR aggregator provides an incentive to an energy consumer associated with the consumer device based on the reward.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

identifying, by the processor, the DR aggregator to report the reward assigned to the consumer device based on the location information associated with the consumer device; and

associating, by the processor, the consumer device with the identified DR aggregator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

obtaining location information associated with the consumer device comprises;

obtaining first location information associated with the consumer device; and

obtaining second location information, different from the first location information, associated with the consumer device; and

identifying the DR aggregator to report the reward assigned to the consumer device based on the location information associated with the consumer device comprises;

identifying a first DR aggregator in response to obtaining the first location information associated with the consumer device; and

identifying a second DR aggregator in response to obtaining the second location information associated with the consumer device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward is associated with an energy DR program for a cause.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending, by the processor, a report indicating that the reward is assigned to the consumer device to a DR aggregator associated with the energy DR program,

wherein the DR aggregator determines an incentive based on the reward assigned to the consumer device and a reward assigned to each of a plurality of consumer devices associated with the energy DR program for the cause, and

wherein the incentive is applied to the cause.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the local schedule of the one or more states for energy consumption on the distribution circuits within a selected region served by the distribution comprises obtaining a master schedule comprising a plurality of local schedules each associated with a different selected region served by the distribution operator.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the master schedule is received by the processor of the computing device from the distribution operator in a Geographical Information System (GIS) format.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning a reward to the consumer device based on the reward incentive plan and the energy consumption activity data comprises providing an incentive based on the reward assigned to the consumer device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein modifying the account information associated with the consumer device comprises modifying the account information associated with the consumer device to reflect one or more of an on-line credit, a discount, a contribution to a limited-time crowd-source funding effort, or a contribution to a cause based on the incentive associated with the reward assigned to the consumer device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a server.

19. The method of claim 1,

wherein the computing device is the consumer device, and

wherein sending, by the processor, the local schedule to the consumer device for instructing the consumer device to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the load state and not to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the unload state comprises the processor controlling the consumer device to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the load state and not to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the unload state.

20. A system for managing demand response (DR), comprising:

a consumer device comprising a processor and a location tracking device; and

a server comprising a processor, wherein the server processor is configured to;

obtain a local schedule of one or more states for energy consumption on distribution circuits within a selected region served by a distribution operator, the local schedule associating respective time periods with the one or more states including a load state, an unload state, or a combination thereof;

obtain location information associated with the consumer device, wherein the location information is based on information generated by the locational tracking device;

determine that the consumer device is located in the selected region based on the location information;

send a reward incentive plan generated for the consumer device based on the local schedule;

instruct the consumer device to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the load state and not to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the unload state based on the local schedule;

determine energy consumption of the consumer device during the load state or the unload state based on energy consumption activity data received from the consumer device;

assign a reward to the consumer device based on the reward incentive plan and the energy consumption activity data of the consumer device; and

modify account information associated with the consumer device in response to assigning the reward to the consumer device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to assign a reward to the consumer device based on the reward incentive plan and the energy consumption activity data that includes providing an incentive based on the reward assigned to the consumer device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured such that modifying the account information associated with the consumer device comprises modifying the account information associated with the consumer device to reflect one or more of an on-line credit, a discount, a contribution to a limited-time crowd-source funding effort, or a contribution to a cause based on the incentive associated with the reward assigned to the consumer device.

23. A method for managing demand response (DR) via a consumer device having a locational tracking device integrated onboard, comprising:

sending, by a processor of the consumer device, location information associated with a location of the consumer device to a DR Locational Application, the location information being generated by the locational tracking device;

obtaining, by the processor from the DR Locational Application, a local schedule of one or more states for energy consumption on distribution circuits within a selected region served by a distribution operator associated with the location of the consumer device, the local schedule associating respective time periods with the one or more states including a load state, an unload state, or a combination thereof, wherein the local schedule instructs the consumer device to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the load state and not to consume energy during the time period corresponding to the unload state;

receiving, by the processor, a reward incentive plan generated for the consumer device based on the local schedule; and

sending, by the processor, energy consumption activity data to the DR Locational Application, the energy consumption activity data including an action of energy consumption associated with the consumer device within at least one of the time periods in the local schedule and information associated with energy consumed by the consumer device during the load state or the unload state according to the local schedule,

wherein the DR Locational Application modifies account information associated with the consumer device in response to assigning a reward to the consumer device based on the reward incentive plan and the energy consumption activity data received from the consumer device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising controlling, by the processor, energy consumption by the consumer device by charging a battery of the consumer device at least partially based on the local schedule, displaying, by the processor, the local schedule on a display device of the consumer device for presentation, or a combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising controlling, by the processor, energy consumption of an appliance in communication with the consumer device at least partially based on the local schedule.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein assigning a reward to the consumer device based on the reward incentive plan and the energy consumption activity data comprises providing an incentive based on the reward assigned to the consumer device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein providing an incentive modifying the account information associated with the consumer device comprises modifying the account information associated with the consumer device to reflect one or more of an on-line credit, a discount, a contribution to a limited-time crowd-source funding effort, or a contribution to a cause based on the incentive associated with the reward assigned to the consumer device.