METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AND SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING A LOAD IN A POWER SYSTEM

• US 20100328023A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Thomson, Matthew B.
• Application Number:
  US12/491,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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

A monitoring and control device for a power system that includes a plurality of electrical loads and a control unit is described. The monitoring and control device includes a load monitoring module configured to determine an amount of electrical power transmitted to at least one of the plurality of electrical loads, and further configured to transmit a value representing the determined quantity of electrical power to the power system. The monitoring and control device also includes a load control module configured to control an amount of electrical power transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads, wherein the load control module is further configured to receive a power control command from the power system and transmit a power control acknowledgement to the power system.

Claims

1. A monitoring and control device for a power system, the power system including a plurality of electrical loads and a control unit, said monitoring and control device comprising:

a load monitoring module configured to determine an amount of electrical power transmitted to at least one of the plurality of electrical loads, said load monitoring module further configured to transmit a value representing the determined quantity of electrical power to the power system; and

a load control module configured to control an amount of electrical power transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads, said load control module further configured to;

receive a power control command from the power system; and

transmit a power control acknowledgement to the power system.

2. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said monitoring and control device further comprises a communication module configured to be communicatively coupled to the control unit.

3. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said communication module communicates with the control unit via a wireless data transceiver.

4. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said communication module communicates with the control unit via a wired data transceiver.

5. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said monitoring and control device comprises a power connection input configured to electrically couple to a power connection output of the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads.

6. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said load monitoring module comprises at least one of a voltmeter, an ammeter, and a wattmeter.

7. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said load control module provides a variable voltage and a variable current to the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads.

8. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads comprises a legacy appliance.

9. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said load monitoring module configured to determine a historical amount of electrical power transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads.

10. A monitoring and control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said load control module further configured to implement the power control command on the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads.

11. A power system comprising:

a plurality of electrical loads;

a control unit; and

a monitoring and control device comprising;

a load monitoring module configured to determine an amount of electrical power transmitted to at least one of said plurality of electrical loads, said load monitoring module further configured to transmit a value representing the determined quantity of electrical power to said power system; and

a load control module configured to control an amount of electrical power transmitted to said at least one of said plurality of electrical loads, said load control module further configured to;

receive a power control command from said power system; and

transmit a power control acknowledgement to said power system.

12. A power system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said monitoring and control device further comprises a communication module configured to be communicatively coupled to said control unit.

13. A power system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said communication module communicates with said control unit via a wireless data transceiver.

14. A power system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said communication module communicates with said control unit via a wired data transceiver.

15. A power system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said monitoring and control device comprises a power connection input configured to electrically couple to a power connection output of said at least one of said plurality of electrical loads.

16. A power system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said load monitoring module comprises at least one of a voltmeter, an ammeter, and a wattmeter.

17. A power system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said load control module transmits a variable voltage and a variable current to said at least one of said plurality of electrical loads.

18. A power system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said at least one of said plurality of electrical loads comprises a legacy appliance.

19. A power system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said load monitoring module configured to determine a historical amount of electrical power transmitted to said at least one of said plurality of electrical loads.

20. A power system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said load control module further configured to implement the power control command on said at least one of said plurality of electrical loads.