ENERGY SEARCH ENGINE METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20140222232A1
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MelRok, LLC
• Original Assignee: Expanergy, LLC
• Inventors: Kamel, Michel Roger, Donahue, Paul W.
• Application Number:
  US14/248,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/292
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/001 Measuring real or reactive component; Measuring apparent energy G01R21/01, G01R21/02, G01R21/08, G01R21/10 and G01R21/127 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1333 adapted for special tariff measuring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 13/00014 carrying signals having the network frequency or DC signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/10 The network having a local or delimited stationary reach
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/16 The load or loads being an Information and Communication Technology [ICT] facility
• 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: 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/82 : Energy audits or management systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/84 : Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/845 : Inventory and reporting systems for greenhouse gases [GHG]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 : Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

Systems and methods dynamically assess energy efficiency by obtaining a minimum energy consumption of a system, receiving in a substantially continuous way a measurement of actual energy consumption of the system, and comparing the minimum energy consumption to the measurement of actual energy consumption to calculate a substantially continuous energy performance assessment. The system further provides at least one of a theoretical minimum energy consumption based at least in part on theoretical performance limits of system components, an achievable minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for high energy efficient equivalents of the system components, and the designed minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for the system components.

Claims

1. A method to enhance electrical grid stability for a network of microgrids, the method comprising:

automatically receiving in a continuous way with computer hardware a measurement of actual energy consumption of a microgrid, the network of microgrids comprising the microgrid;

automatically comparing with the computer hardware the measurement of actual energy consumption of the microgrid with electric grid capacity of the network of microgrids to calculate a continuous energy assessment for the microgrid;

automatically generating with the computer hardware energy management data for the microgrid based at least in part on the continuous energy assessment, the energy management data configured to provide an energy alert; and

based at least in part on the received continuous measurement of actual energy consumption of the microgrid, automatically determining with the computer hardware an impact of the energy management data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving in a continuous way data indicative of the electric grid capacity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the measurement of actual energy consumption includes energy sources.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically receiving in a continuous way the measurement of actual energy consumption comprises receiving the measurement of actual energy consumption at least every 15 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy alert comprises at least one of energy savings recommendations and energy source planning, wherein the energy savings recommendations comprise at least one of load shedding and load shifting, and wherein the energy source planning comprises switching to an alternative energy source.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the alternative energy source comprises at least one of solar energy, wind generated energy, fuel cells, and energy storage system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the network of microgrids comprises one or more microgrids, each microgrid comprising one or more of buildings, residences, campuses, and nanogrids associated with at least one of geographic area, facility owner, weather pattern, climate, utility, carbon market, energy market, power grid, power purchase agreement, and utility rate schedule.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy management data provides an indication of an energy demand of the microgrid as a function of an energy demand of the network of microgrids.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy management data provides an indication of energy costs of the microgrid as a function of energy costs of the network of microgrids.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the indication of energy costs comprises at least one of cost/hour and cost/month.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy management data provides an indication of carbon emissions of the microgrid as a function of carbon emissions of the network of microgrids.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the indication of carbon emissions comprises at least one of carbon emission/hour, carbon emission/month, and total carbon emissions.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating a carbon trade in response to the energy alert.

14. An apparatus to enhance electrical grid stability for a network of microgrids, the apparatus comprising:

an energy search engine comprising computer hardware and configured to automatically receive in a continuous way a measurement of actual energy consumption of a microgrid, the network of microgrids comprising the microgrid;

the energy search engine further configured to automatically compare the measurement of actual energy consumption of the microgrid with electric grid capacity of the network of microgrids to calculate a continuous energy assessment for the microgrid;

the energy search engine further configured to automatically generate energy management data for the microgrid based at least in part on the continuous energy assessment, the energy management data configured to provide an energy alert; and

based at least in part on the received continuous measurement of actual energy consumption of the microgrid, the energy search engine further configured to automatically determine an impact of the energy management data.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy search engine is further configured to receive in a continuous way data indicative of the electric grid capacity.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the measurement of actual energy consumption includes energy sources.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein automatically receiving in a continuous way the measurement of actual energy consumption comprises receiving the measurement of actual energy consumption at least every 15 minutes.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy alert comprises at least one of energy savings recommendations and energy source planning, wherein the energy savings recommendations comprise at least one of load shedding and load shifting, and wherein the energy source planning comprises switching to an alternative energy source.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the alternative energy source comprises at least one of solar energy, wind generated energy, fuel cells, and energy storage systems.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the network of microgrids comprises one or more microgrids, each microgrid comprising one or more of buildings, residences, campuses, and nanogrids associated with at least one of geographic area, facility owner, weather pattern, climate, utility, carbon market, energy market, power grid, power purchase agreement, and utility rate schedule.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy management data provides an indication of energy usage of the microgrid as a function of energy usage of the network of microgrids.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the indication of energy usage comprises at least one of kWhr and kW at one or more times.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy management data is configured to provide the energy alert based at least in part on the electric grid capacity.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy search engine is further configured to send a broadcast message in response to the energy alert.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy search engine is further configured to send a command to close a relay in response to the energy alert.

26. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy alert is based at least in part on an availability of energy from at least one of solar cells, thermal solar energy generation, energy storage, wind turbines, fuel cells, and gas power plants.

27. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy alert is based at least in part on carbon emissions of energy sources supplying electrical energy to the network of microgrids.

28. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the energy search engine is further configured to initiate a carbon trade in response to the energy alert.