Energy distribution system and related methods, devices, and systems

• US 20140201109A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drift Marketplace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Questar Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Tilley, Herbert Alan, Robinson, Gregory William, McKenzie, Edwin Eugene III
• Granted Patent: US 9,488,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/145 Tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2201/00 Prediction; Simulation
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/452 Vertical primary axis
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49355 Solar energy device making

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an autonomous energy distribution network including a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, where each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid. The network also includes a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, where the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. An autonomous energy distribution network, comprising:

a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, wherein each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid; and

a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, wherein the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected.

24. The energy distribution network of claim 23 wherein the status information further includes geographical location of the solar tracker and a time stamp.

25. The energy distribution network of claim 24 wherein the information regarding the state of the node includes power signal condition.

26. The energy distribution network of claim 25 wherein the node manager is configured to associate the power signal condition at individual nodes with the corresponding geographical location and time stamp of the nodes.

27. The energy distribution network of claim 23 wherein at least one of the solar trackers includes the node manager.

28. The energy distribution network of claim 27 wherein the node manager is a first node manager, and wherein:

the energy distribution network further comprises a remote computing device including a second node manager in communication with the first node manager;

the second node manager is configured to control operation of the first node manager over a computer network.

29. The energy distribution network of claim 28 wherein the computer network comprises a communication path that includes a cellular link between the first node manager and the second node manager.

30. The energy distribution network of claim 23 wherein the node manager operates the solar tracker based, at least in part, on the status information and without intervention from a remote computing device.

31. A system, comprising:

a remote computer device; and

a power distribution node in communication with the remote computer device over a computer network, the power distribution node including a node manager configured to—

receive first electrical power from a first power source via a power distribution network,

receive second electrical power from a second power source independent of the distribution network,

power an electrical load with a portion of the first electrical power and/or the second electrical power, and

provide status information to the remote computer device, wherein the status information includes at least one of—

signal condition of the first electrical power at the node,

power level of the first electrical power, and

power level of the second electrical power.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a controller at the power distribution node configured to store status information associated with the power source and to provide the status information to the remote computer device.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the second power source comprises one or more solar trackers.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the node manager is further configured to isolate the solar trackers from the distribution grid based, at least in part, on the status information.

35-1. The system of claim 35 wherein the computing device is further configured to:

determine a quality of the first power; and

determine the price of power further based on the quality of the first power.