Reducing the Cost of Distributed Electricity Generation Through Opportunity Generation
First Claim
1. A system for managing the supply of energy to a customer that receives power from an electric power grid, comprising:
- at least one power transmission arrangement for selectively coupling any two or engaging all three of the following main components;
a driven load, an electric motor which can also operate as a generator (motor-generator), and a prime mover;
a computer-driven controller that can continuously receive information on drive shaft rotation speeds of the load, the motor-generator, and the prime mover;
information on electricity prices and price for fuel used by the prime mover including forecasts of short term price trends; and
information regarding on-going load requirements of the driven load and of electricity requirements of other connected loads at the premises;
which controller is able to store information about
1) relevant fixed and variable costs of operating the prime mover including relevant design/operating data on the driven load, the prime mover, and the motor-generator necessary to control their output based on rotation speed, and
2) relevant information about electricity and fuel supply contract conditions and conditions governing use and export of power into the power grid; and
which controller selects whether the load is to be driven by the electric motor, by the prime mover, or by a combination of both, or whether the prime mover is to drive the motor as a generator, either as an alternate to or in addition to driving the load, so as to meet the electricity requirements at the premises with or without export of partial output from the prime mover or so as to export all electricity produced by the combination of prime mover and generator; and
a switching arrangement responsive to control signals from the computer to engage or disengage each of the main components, including computer signals to control fuel supply to the prime mover so as to maintain computed drive speed according to desired load output and/or generator output when the generator is connected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A new disposition of energy use and electricity cogeneration facilities at a customer'"'"'s premises that enables even a small customer to choose one or more forms of primary energy from among available energy sources, so as to reduce the overall capital and operating costs of meeting own load requirements. Takes into consideration opportunities to save money by way of reducing own load and/or opportunities to earn money by exporting electricity to the mains grid whenever electricity market prices are high, and/or benefiting from payment for network support and ancillary services where such schemes apply. For operations requiring a high level of reliability, opportunity is provided to achieve a desired level of reliability for operations at the premises without recourse to extra cost of duplicate electricity supply connecting lines or expensive stand-by power generation facilities.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for managing the supply of energy to a customer that receives power from an electric power grid, comprising:
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at least one power transmission arrangement for selectively coupling any two or engaging all three of the following main components;
a driven load, an electric motor which can also operate as a generator (motor-generator), and a prime mover;a computer-driven controller that can continuously receive information on drive shaft rotation speeds of the load, the motor-generator, and the prime mover;
information on electricity prices and price for fuel used by the prime mover including forecasts of short term price trends; and
information regarding on-going load requirements of the driven load and of electricity requirements of other connected loads at the premises;
which controller is able to store information about
1) relevant fixed and variable costs of operating the prime mover including relevant design/operating data on the driven load, the prime mover, and the motor-generator necessary to control their output based on rotation speed, and
2) relevant information about electricity and fuel supply contract conditions and conditions governing use and export of power into the power grid; and
which controller selects whether the load is to be driven by the electric motor, by the prime mover, or by a combination of both, or whether the prime mover is to drive the motor as a generator, either as an alternate to or in addition to driving the load, so as to meet the electricity requirements at the premises with or without export of partial output from the prime mover or so as to export all electricity produced by the combination of prime mover and generator; anda switching arrangement responsive to control signals from the computer to engage or disengage each of the main components, including computer signals to control fuel supply to the prime mover so as to maintain computed drive speed according to desired load output and/or generator output when the generator is connected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification