PLUG ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALLEVIATING PEAK LOADS

• US 20130274945A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Universiti Brunei Darussalam
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Universiti Brunei Darussalam
• Inventors: Kalyanaraman, Shivkumar, Ganu, Tanuja Hrishikesh, Seetharamakrishnan, Devasenapathi Periagraharam, De Silva, Liyanage Chandratilak
• Granted Patent: US 9,748,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for load-shifting time deferrable devices. An electrical load scheduling mechanism is provided, and this is placed in communication with an appliance. Electrical grid load conditions are assessed, and delivery of electrical power to the appliance is scheduled via the electrical load scheduling mechanism. The scheduling includes altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an electrical load scheduling mechanism;

placing the electrical load scheduling mechanism in communication with an appliance;

assessing electrical grid load conditions; and

scheduling delivery of electrical power to the appliance via the electrical load scheduling mechanism;

said scheduling comprising altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said scheduling is performed solely with respect to the appliance with which the electrical load scheduling mechanism is in communication.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

accepting user input;

said altering comprising altering delivery of electrical power to the appliance based additionally on accepted user input.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical load scheduling mechanism comprises an object which is separable from the appliance.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the object comprises a plug.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said altering comprises interrupting delivery of electrical power to the appliance responsive to grid imbalance.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the assessed electrical grid conditions include electrical grid line frequency.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said altering comprises rescheduling delivery of electrical power to the appliance from a peak load period to a non-peak load period based on assessed electrical grid load conditions.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the assessed electrical grid load conditions include electrical grid line voltage.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said rescheduling comprises rescheduling delivery of electrical power to a randomly determined time.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said altering comprises deferring delivery of electrical power responsive to a probabilistic determination of current grid capacity.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said altering comprises altering delivery of electrical power to the appliance based additionally on historical grid load patterns.

13. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to accommodate an electrical load scheduling mechanism;

computer readable program code configured to placing the electrical load scheduling mechanism in communication with an appliance;

computer readable program code configured to assess electrical grid load conditions;

computer readable program code configured to schedule delivery of electrical power to the appliance via the electrical load scheduling mechanism; and

computer readable program code configured to schedule altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to accommodate an electrical load scheduling mechanism;

computer readable program code configured to placing the electrical load scheduling mechanism in communication with an appliance;

computer readable program code configured to assess electrical grid load conditions;

computer readable program code configured to schedule delivery of electrical power to the appliance via the electrical load scheduling mechanism; and

computer readable program code configured to schedule altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code is configured to perform the scheduling solely with respect to the appliance with which the electrical load scheduling mechanism is in communication.

16. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein:

said computer readable program code is configured to accept user input; and

said computer readable program code is configured to alter delivery of electrical power to the appliance based additionally on accepted user input.

17. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the electrical load scheduling mechanism comprises an object which is separable from the appliance.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the object comprises a plug.

19. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code is configured to interrupt delivery of electrical power to the appliance responsive to grid imbalance.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the assessed electrical grid conditions include electrical grid line frequency.

21. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code is configured to reschedule delivery of electrical power to the appliance from a peak load period to a non-peak load period based on assessed electrical grid load conditions.

22. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the assessed electrical grid load conditions include electrical grid line voltage.

23. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein said computer readable program code is configured to reschedule delivery of electrical power to a randomly determined time.

24. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code is configured to defer delivery of electrical power responsive to a probabilistic determination of current grid capacity.

25. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein said computer readable program code is configured to alter delivery of electrical power to the appliance based additionally on historical grid load patterns.