SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING A LOAD DEMAND WITH A VARIABLE POWER GENERATION

• US 20110040420A1
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Original Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Lenox, Carl J. S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• 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 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Systems and methods for associating a load demand with a variable power generation are described. A system includes a renewable variable power generation module including a sensor, the sensor configured to determine an output power capability value for the renewable variable power generation module. The system also includes a load demand module including a response device, the response device configured to receive the output power capability value directly from the renewable variable power generation module and to determine an input power demand value based on the output power capability value.

Claims

1. A system for associating a load demand with a variable power generation, the system comprising:

a renewable variable power generation module comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to determine an output power capability value for the renewable variable power generation module;

a load demand module comprising a response device, the response device configured to receive the output power capability value directly from the renewable variable power generation module and to determine an input power demand value based on the output power capability value; and

a power transmission and distribution grid coupled with, and disposed in between, the renewable variable power generation module and the load demand module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the renewable variable power generation module is a solar variable power generation module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the load demand module is configured to control a power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a change in the input power demand value, the change in the input power demand value based on a change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the power transmission and distribution grid comprises a power delivery requirement, and wherein the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module is transparent to the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid is approximately constant during the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the load demand module is configured to decrease the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a decrease in the input power demand value, the decrease in the input power demand value based on a decrease in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the load demand module is configured to increase the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to an increase in the input power demand value, the increase in the input power demand value based on an increase in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the renewable variable power generation module further comprises a power storage module, the power storage module configured to receive a portion of the power generated by the renewable variable power generation module when the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module exceeds the input power demand value determined by the response device of the load demand module.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the load demand module further comprises a demand response provider, the demand response provider configured to control the power consumption level of the load demand module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the load demand module comprises a smart appliance.

11. A method for associating a load demand with a variable power generation, the method comprising:

determining an output power capability value for a renewable variable power generation module, the renewable variable power generation module comprising a sensor configured to perform the determining; and

determining, for a load demand module, an input power demand value based on the output power capability value, the load demand module comprising a response device configured to receive the output power capability value directly from the renewable variable power generation module and to perform the determining, wherein a power transmission and distribution grid is coupled with, and disposed in between, the renewable variable power generation module and the load demand module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the output power capability value for the renewable variable power generation module comprises determining the output power capability value for a solar variable power generation module.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling, by the load demand module, a power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a change in the input power demand value, the change in the input power demand value based on a change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

decreasing, by the load demand module, the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a decrease in the input power demand value, the decrease in the input power demand value based on a decrease in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

increasing, by the load demand module, the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to an increase in the input power demand value, the increase in the input power demand value based on an increase in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the renewable variable power generation module further comprises a power storage module, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the power storage module, a portion of the power generated by the renewable variable power generation module when the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module exceeds the input power demand value determined by the response device of the load demand module.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the load demand module further comprises a demand response provider, the method further comprising:

controlling, by the demand response provider, the power consumption level of the load demand module.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein determining, for the load demand module, the input power demand value comprises determining the input power demand value for a smart appliance.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the power transmission and distribution grid comprises a power delivery requirement, and wherein the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module is transparent to the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the power delivery requirement of electrical generating units coupled to the power transmission and distribution grid is approximately constant during the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.