System, method, and data packets for messaging for electric power grid elements over a secure internet protocol network

• US 10,429,872 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Jr., Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US15/681,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20170344045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 700286-296
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/0012 Contingency detection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/12 Monitoring or controlling equipment for energy generation units, e.g. distributed energy generation [DER] or load-side generation
• 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 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for electric power grid management and communications are disclosed. At least one active grid element is constructed and configured in network-based communication with a server via at least one coordinator. The at least one active grid element communicates Internet Protocol (IP)-based messages with the server via the at least one coordinator in real time or less than 15 minutes interval. The at least one active grid element participates actively in an electric power grid. The at least one active grid element has an energy consumption pattern or an energy supply pattern. The IP-based messages comprise at least one IP packet including a content, a priority, a security, and a transport route. The content comprises an amount of power available for the electric power grid or an amount of curtailment power available at an attachment point of the at least one grid element.

Claims

1. A system for electric power grid management and communications, comprising:

at least one grid element constructed and configured in network-based communication with a server via at least one coordinator;

wherein the at least one grid element is operable to communicate Internet Protocol (IP)-based messages with the server via the at least one coordinator in real time or less than 15 minutes interval;

wherein the IP-based messages comprise an initial message for registration of the at least one grid element;

wherein the initial message comprises a unique grid element identifier, an equipment identifier, a class of service information, capability, capacity, function information, geodetic information, an attachment point, an IP address information, communication format and content information, security, authentication information, and combinations thereof,

wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to transform the at least one grid element into at least one active grid element after communication of the IP-based messages with the server via the at least one coordinator;

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to participate actively in an electric power grid, wherein the participation is selected from the group consisting of supplying power to the electric power grid, consuming power from the electric power grid, and curtailing power consumption as a supply to the electric power grid;

wherein the IP-based messages further comprise at least one IP packet including a content, a priority, a security, and a transport route;

wherein the content comprises an amount of power supply available for the electric power grid or an amount of power curtailment available at an attachment point for each of the at least one active grid element based on revenue grade metrology; and

wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to select one or more active grid elements of the at least one active grid element and control participation of the one or more active grid elements in the electric power grid based on capability, capacity, function information, geodetic information, and/or the attachment point of each of the one or more grid elements.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP-based messages comprise at least one settlement message for market-based settlement for a participation of the at least one active grid element.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein data rate sampling for the participation and the market-based settlement is at a less than 10-minute interval.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein data rate sampling for the participation and market-based settlement is at a less than 5-minute interval.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to receive pricing data from a governing entity.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pricing data comprises factors and information relating to an impact of commodity pricing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the amount of power available for the electric power grid or the amount of curtailment power available at the attachment point for each of the at least one active grid element is a power supply value.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the power supply value includes consideration for line losses proximal to the at least one active grid element.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the power supply value is based on measurement and verification.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein power supply values for a multiplicity of active grid elements are aggregated into a power trading block (PTB).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the priority of the at least one IP packet is based upon factors associated with the electric power grid, and wherein the factors comprise grid reliability factors, grid stability factors, energy market-based factors, billing determinants, energy settlement factors, financial settlement factors, and transmission factors.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the security of the at least one IP packet comprises at least two security levels selected from the group consisting of a minimum security, a standard security, an increased security with respect to the standard security, and a top-level security.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport route of the at least one IP packet is selected from the group consisting of:

fixed, mutable by a coordinator, and dynamic.

14. A system for electric power grid management and communications, comprising:

at least one grid element constructed and configured in network-based communication with a server via at least one coordinator;

wherein the at least one grid element comprises an energy consumption pattern or an energy supply pattern;

wherein the at least one grid element is operable to communicate Internet Protocol (IP)-based messages with the server via the at least one coordinator in real time or less than 15 minutes interval;

wherein the IP-based messages comprise an initial message for registration of the at least one active grid element; and

wherein the initial message comprises a unique grid element identifier, an equipment identifier, a class of service information, capability, capacity, function information, geodetic information, an attachment point, an IP address information, communication format and content information, security, authentication information, and combinations thereof;

wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to transform the at least one grid element into at least one active grid element after communication of the IP-based messages with the server via the at least one coordinator;

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to supply power to the electric power grid, consume power from the electric power grid, and/or curtail power consumption as a supply to the electric power grid;

wherein the IP-based messages comprise at least one IP packet including a content, a priority, a security, and a transport route;

wherein the content comprises an amount of power supply available for an electric power grid or an amount of power curtailment available at an attachment point for each of the at least one active grid element based on revenue grade metrology; and

wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to select one or more active grid elements of the at least one active grid element and control participation of the one or more active grid elements in the electric power grid based on capability, capacity, function information, geodetic information, and/or the attachment point of each of the one or more grid elements.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to provide priority flags on the IP-based messages.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the content of the at least one IP packet further comprises encrypted energy settlement data.