Electricity Management System and Method

• US 20110093125A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Klaprops 299 (Proprietary) Limited
• Original Assignee: Klaprops 299 (Proprietary) Limited
• Inventors: Forrer, Bernard Hein, Schoeman, Ulrich C.
• Application Number:
  US12/861,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• 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 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A method for managing electricity usage of an electrical system comprises providing an electricity usage budget for the electrical system, the electricity usage budget being associated with at least a desired or predetermined electricity usage in a predetermined time period. Electricity usage in the electrical system is monitored periodically at time intervals corresponding to the predetermined time period. The monitored electricity usage is compared to the electricity usage budget or information associated therewith for the predetermined time period. Finally, electricity use within the electrical system is limited for a predetermined limitation time period according to predetermined rules if the monitored electrical usage is greater than the electrical usage budget for the predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method for managing electricity usage of an electrical system, the method comprising:

providing an electricity usage budget for the electrical system, the electricity usage budget being associated with at least a desired or predetermined electricity usage in a predetermined time period;

monitoring electricity usage in the electrical system periodically at time intervals corresponding to the predetermined time period;

comparing the monitored electricity usage to the electricity usage budget or information associated therewith for the predetermined time period; and

limiting electricity use within the electrical system for a predetermined limitation time period according to predetermined rules if the monitored electrical usage is greater than the electrical usage budget for the predetermined time period.

2. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing an electrical demand cap which is an overall demand capped level;

monitoring electrical demand of the electrical system;

comparing the monitored electrical demand with the electrical demand cap; and

reducing the electrical demand of the electrical system if the monitored electrical demand is greater than the electrical demand cap.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined time period is fifteen minutes.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined limitation time period is fifteen minutes.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises limiting the electricity usage and electrical demand by one or a combination of switching pre-selected or non-essential electrical devices off, limiting a percentage of electricity supplied to the electrical system and limiting a percentage of electricity supplied to the electrical system by way of phase angle control or burst fire control.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises receiving information indicative of real-time electricity usage of the electrical system.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises receiving information indicative of instantaneous current demand of the electrical system.

8. An electricity management system for an electrical system, the electricity management system comprising:

a database storing at least electricity usage budget information for the electrical system, the electricity usage budget information being associated with at least a desired or predetermined electricity usage in a predetermined time period;

an electricity monitoring module arranged to monitor electricity usage in the electrical system periodically at time intervals corresponding to the predetermined time period;

a comparator module arranged to compare the monitored electricity usage to the electricity usage budget or information associated therewith for the predetermined time period; and

an electricity limiting module arranged to limit electricity use within the electrical system for a predetermined limitation time period according to predetermined rules if the monitored electrical usage is greater than the electrical usage budget for the predetermined time period.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the system further comprises a receiver module arranged to receive information indicative of real-time electricity usage and instantaneous current demand.

10. A system according to claim 8 wherein:

the database further stores electrical demand cap information which is an overall demand capped level;

the electricity monitoring module further monitors electrical demand of the electrical system;

the comparator module compares the monitored electrical demand with the electrical demand cap; and

if the monitored electrical demand is greater than the electrical demand cap then the electricity limiting module limits the electricity use within the electrical system for a predetermined period.

11. A system according to claim 8 wherein the predetermined time period is fifteen minutes.

12. A system according to claim 8 wherein the predetermined limitation time period is fifteen minutes.

13. A system according to claim 8 wherein the electricity limiting module limits the electricity usage and electrical demand by one or a combination of switching pre-selected or non-essential electrical devices off, limiting a percentage of electricity supplied to the electrical system and limiting a percentage of electricity supplied to the electrical system by way of phase angle control or burst fire control.