Systems and methods for random-access power management using packetization

• US 10,256,631 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2014
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Vermont & State Agricultural College
• Original Assignee: University of Vermont & State Agricultural College
• Inventors: Frolik, Jeff, Hines, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Michael W
• Application Number:
  US14/772,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20150380936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,865 Days
• Field of Search: 700286, 700307, 700296, 700 14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributing electric energy in discrete power packets of finite duration are presented. Systems may include an aggregator for providing power packets to one or more nodes. An aggregator may receive requests for power packets from nodes. In other embodiments, an aggregator may transmit status broadcasts and nodes may receive power packets based on the status broadcasts.

Claims

1. A system for providing electrical power, comprising:

an aggregator in electrical communication with an electrical power source, the aggregator configured to authorize the provision of electrical power from the electrical power source as a plurality of discrete power packets; and

one or more nodes in communication with the aggregator, each node configured to make successive requests for the power packets, each successive request occurring during a corresponding respective time interval, wherein each node is configured to independently determine whether to make a request during a given time internal according to a request probability, the request probability being a probability the node will make a request during one of the time intervals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the aggregator is configured to:

receive requests from the one or more nodes;

determine whether to grant or deny each request based on the availability of the electrical power; and

authorize the provision of a power packet for each node according to the corresponding request determination.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the aggregator is configured to broadcast a status, and the one or more nodes are authorized to accept a power packet by receiving an affirmative aggregator status broadcast.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more nodes are configured to obtain power according to the received aggregator broadcast status.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more nodes has a first state and a second state, the first state having a first request probability, P₁, and the second state having a second request probability, P₂, wherein the second request probability is a probability that a node in the second state will make a request during the time interval.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first request probability, P₁, is greater than the second request probability, P₂.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more nodes in the second state is configured to change from the second state to the first state based upon a granted request.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more nodes in the first state is configured to remain in the first state based on a granted request.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more nodes in the second state is configured to remain in the second state based on a denied request.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more nodes in the first state is configured to change from the first state to the second state based on a denied request.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein a node of the one or more nodes further comprises a third state, the third state having a third request probability, P₃, which is lower than the second request probability, P₂, wherein the third request probability is a probability that a node in the third state will make a request during the time interval.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the node having a third state comprises a selector for selecting a power priority.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the node having a third state further comprises a sensor, and the selector is configured to automatically select the power priority according to a signal received from the sensor.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network sensor in communication with the aggregator.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the network sensor is configured to measure one or more of an ambient temperature, a temperature of a portion of the system, a weather condition, and a current load on the electrical power source.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an upstream aggregator in electrical communication with the electrical power source, the upstream aggregator configured to authorize the provision of electrical power from the electrical power source as a plurality of upstream power packets, each upstream power packet having a finite upstream duration; and

at least one additional aggregator in communication with the upstream aggregator, each of the aggregator and the at least one additional aggregator configured to request authorization for one of the upstream power packets during an upstream time interval according to an aggregator probability, wherein the aggregator probability is a probability that the aggregator will make a request during the upstream time interval.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the upstream aggregator is configured to:

receive requests from the aggregator and the at least one additional aggregator;

determine whether to grant or deny each request based on the availability of the electrical power source; and

authorize the provision of an upstream power packet for at least one of the aggregator and the at least one additional aggregator according to the corresponding request determination.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power is alternating current electrical power.

18. A method for providing electrical power, comprising the steps of:

receiving randomized requests from a plurality of nodes for power packets of finite duration;

determining whether to grant or deny the requests based on the availability of electrical power; and

authorizing the provision of power packets to one or more of the nodes based on granted requests;

wherein each node is configured as a probabilistic automaton configured to make successive requests for the power packets, wherein each of the nodes have a plurality of states and a probability a given node will make a request during a given time interval changes according to the state of the node.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of transmitting a response to the node.

20. A method for requesting electrical power be transmitted from an electric power distribution network to a node having a processor, comprising the steps of:

making, by the node processor, successive requests for discrete power packets from the electric power distribution network, each successive request occurring during a corresponding respective time interval, wherein during each of the time intervals, the node processor independently;

determines, according to a request probability, whether to request a power packet having a finite duration, the request probability being a probability the node will make a request during one of the time intervals; and

requests a power packet having a finite duration be transmitted to the node in response to determining, according to the request probability, that a request should be made.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of requesting a power packet is performed by receiving a broadcast state from an aggregator.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of requesting a power packet is performed by transmitting a request to an aggregator.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a response to the request; and

changing the request probability based upon the received response.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of changing the request probability based upon the received response includes:

changing to a lower request probability in response to receiving a denied request; and

not changing the request probability or increasing the request probability in response to receiving a granted request.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising, determining, by the node, the request probability.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of determining the request probability includes determining a value of a priority selector, the priority selector indicating a power urgency of the node.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the value of the priority selector is set according to at least one of a customer selection and a signal from one or more sensors.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more sensors include a node charge level sensor and a node temperature sensor.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of determining the request probability includes determining the request probability according to a signal received by a sensor.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a node charge level sensor and a temperature sensor.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the node is an electrical load on the electric power distribution network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the node is an electric vehicle charger or a home appliance.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the electric power distribution network is an alternating current power distribution network configured to distribute electric power to a plurality of loads.