System, method, and data packets for messaging for electric power grid elements over a secure internet protocol network

• US 20150073609A1
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,740,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/0012 Contingency detection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 10/12 Monitoring or controlling equipment for energy generation units, e.g. distributed energy generation [DER] or load-side generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

Systems, methods, and messages of the present invention provides IP-based messages associated with the grid elements, wherein each IP-based message includes an internet protocol (IP) packet that is generated autonomously and/or automatically by the grid elements, intelligent messaging hardware associated with the grid elements, at least one coordinator, and/or a server associated with the electric power grid and its operation, energy settlement, and/or financial settlement for electricity provided or consumed, transmitted, and/or curtailed or reduced. The IP packet preferably includes a content including raw data and/or transformed data, a priority associated with the IP-based message, a security associated with the IP packet, and/or a transport route for communicating the IP-based message via the network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electric power grid management and communications operable for communicating via at least one IP based message with at least one grid element via an electric power grid network

wherein the at least one IP based message includes at least one IP packet that is generated autonomously and/or automatically by at least one grid element and/or the apparatus by transforming a raw data into a transformed content and

wherein the raw data corresponds to at least one attribute of the at least one grid element and/or the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further operable for communicating over an electric power grid network with at least one coordinator for routing the at least one IP-based message to and/or from the at least one grid element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one grid element is operable to generate the at least one IP packet in response to a poll and/or a request sent from the apparatus or the at least one coordinator via the electric power grid network.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further operable for communicating over an electric power grid network with at least one settlement processor:

wherein the at least one settlement processor is operable for communicating with at least one translator and/or the at least one coordinator via the at least one IP-based message through an electrical connection and/or through the electric power grid network;

wherein the at least one translator is operable for;

communicating with the at least one coordinator via the at least one IP-based message through the electric power grid network; and

/or

communicating with at least one legacy system via at least one legacy communication through the electrical connection and/or the electric power grid network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transformed content includes:

settlement grade content for determining market-based financial settlement corresponding to a participation or a function in an electric power grid by the at least one grid element;

at least one of any level of kilowatt packet (KWP) units, power supply value (PSV) units, and/or power trading block (PTB) units; and

/or

requirements and/or conditions of the electric power grid network including grid reliability, grid stability, energy market conditions, billing determinants, revenue grade metrology, and/or transmission factors.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one IP packet includes:

a priority associated with the at least one IP-based message, a security associated with the at least one IP packet, a composition, a payload, headers, a destination address, a source address, a transport route, application layers, a geodetic reference, and/or a presentation relating to a participation or a function of the at least one grid element; and

/or

an identifier, a type, a capacity, a profile, an attachment point reference, a power supply value (PSV), a power trade block (PTB) value, a balancing authority association, an owner identifier, and/or a compatibility identifier associated with at least one grid element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one grid element includes

an electrical device, a power consuming device, a power generating device, a control device, a sensor, an appliance, a meter, a switch, a thermostat, a building control system, and/or a security device,

the at least one grid element operable for collecting, generating, sensing, detecting, storing and/or measuring the raw data.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one grid element is operable for modifying a performance and/or updating a function of the at least one grid element upon receipt of the at least one IP packet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an intelligent network appliance operatively connected to the apparatus, the intelligent network appliance operable to automatically and/or autonomously:

inspect the at least one IP packet;

generate priority flags associated with the at least one IP packet;

translate the raw data of the at least one IP packet; and

/or

transform at least one legacy grid element into at least one active intelligent grid element.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one grid element is configured for an electrical connection with a server, and the at least one grid element is operable for transforming into at least one active grid element after electrically connecting to the server, sending the at least one IP-based message to the server, and/or receiving the at least one IP-based message from the server;

the at least one active grid element is operable for sending the at least one IP-based message, including transformation data relating to the transformation of the at least one grid element into the at least one active grid element, to at least one database; and

the at least one database is operable for using the at least one IP-based message, including the transformation data, to determine attachment points to an electric power grid for distribution and/or transmission of power and/or to simulate attachment of the at least one active grid element to the electric power grid.

11. An apparatus for electric power grid management and communications operable for communicating via at least one IP-based message with at least one grid element via an electric power grid network

wherein the at least one IP-based message includes at least one IP packet that is generated autonomously and/or automatically by at least one grid element and/or the apparatus by transforming a raw data into a transformed content,

wherein the at least one IP-based message further includes a priority, and

wherein the raw data corresponds to at least one attribute of the at least one grid element and/or the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further operable for communicating over an electric power grid network with at least one coordinator operable for routing the at least one IP-based message, wherein the at least one coordinator is further operable to:

inspect the at least one IP-based message, including the priority, a composition, a payload, and/or a presentation; and

route the at least one IP-based message automatically and/or intelligently responsive to the priority, composition, payload, and/or presentation.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the priority includes at least one of a standard time-based priority, a function-based priority, a normal priority, an increased priority with respect to the normal priority, a top level priority, a market-based priority, a static priority, and a dynamic priority.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one IP-based message relates to at least one of a stability of the electric power grid and an outage reporting, wherein the priority includes the top level priority.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one IP-based message relates to a reliability of the electric power grid, wherein the priority includes the increased priority with respect to the normal priority.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one IP-based message relates to a market price of energy, wherein the priority includes the increased priority with respect to the normal priority.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one IP-based message relates to a general grid communication, wherein the priority includes the normal priority.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the priority is chosen from at least two levels of priority, wherein at least one level of priority is based upon needs of the electric power grid during a given time period.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the priority depends upon a governing authority or an entity of the grid, a market price or a unit being removed from a service line, a transmission line, a location marginal price (LMP), a need for auto-dispatch control, a load generation, and/or a curtailment.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the priority is automatically generated by the at least one grid element and/or the apparatus, wherein the priority is based on the raw data and/or the transformed content.