System, method, and apparatus for electric power grid and network management of grid elements

• US 20150073615A1
• 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 9,729,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0255 the criterion being a time-optimal performance criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40458 Grid adaptive optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• 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 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• 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 2203/10 Power transmission or distribution systems management focussing at grid-level, e.g. load flow analysis, node profile computation, meshed network optimisation, active network management or spinning reserve management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of active grid elements. Grid elements are transformed into active grid elements following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. A multiplicity of active grid elements function in the grid for supply capacity, supply and/or load curtailment as supply or capacity. Also preferably, messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.

Claims

1. An apparatus for smart electric power grid communication:

the apparatus operable to receive at least one registration message from at least one grid element over an IP-based network;

the at least one registration message based upon participation of the at least one grid element within the electric power grid for load, supply, and/or curtailment of power;

the apparatus having at least one attribute, wherein the apparatus is operable to register the at least one attribute upon receipt of the at least one registration message from the at least one grid element; and

wherein the at least one grid element is operable to be automatically and/or autonomously transformed into at least one active grid element after transmitting the at least one registration message.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transformation of the at least one grid element into the at least one active grid element is operable to be stored in a database for use with settlement associated with the active grid elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is operable to:

consume electric power from an electric power grid;

supply power to an electric power grid;

measure power relating to an electric power grid; and

/or

control, operate, program, and/or update the apparatus, at least one grid element, a sensor, an appliance, a meter, a switch, a thermostat, a building control system, and/or a security device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes revenue grade metrology, calibration, operating capacity, security, settlement, status, table information, pricing, telemetry, changes in time, location of market, attachment point information, geodetic information, a grid element identifier, the apparatus identifier, a grid element profile, the apparatus profile, power consumption, power flows, information accuracy of a grid element, information accuracy of the apparatus, software, firmware, upgrades, and/or prioritization.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute corresponds to at least one function of the apparatus, and wherein a transformation of the at least one function occurs upon the registration of the at least one attribute.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one function includes:

consuming electric power from an electric power grid;

supplying power to an electric power grid;

measuring power relating to an electric power grid;

providing or improving stability of the electric power grid;

providing or improving reliability of the electric power grid;

providing operating reserves; and

/or

providing or improving settlement.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transformation of the at least one function of the apparatus includes enabling, improving, modifying, enhancing, and/or changing operating reserves, grid stabilization, native load to be served, efficiency, management, real-time energy management, settlement, memory, ASIC, metrology, location, security, status, change-in-state, grid stability, load curtailment, supply availability, transmission capacity, supply, metrology tables, metrology tables, power supply values (PSV), power trade block (PTB), and/or device assignment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes at least one profile corresponding to:

a performance of the apparatus;

a priority of operation of the apparatus with respect to at least one grid element; and

/or

a calibration corresponding to the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one profile includes programming for:

determining a role of the apparatus;

determining a performance of the apparatus; and

/or

providing automated participation of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is operable to transmit at least one apparatus message over the IP-based network to the at least one grid element.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a coordinator operable for routing at least one other registration message from the at least one grid element to at least one other apparatus and at least one other apparatus message from the at least one other apparatus to the at least one grid element.

12. A method for smart electric power grid communication comprising:

transmitting at least one update message over an IP-based network from at least one grid element to an apparatus having at least one attribute;

the apparatus updating the at least one attribute upon receipt of the at least one update message from the at least one grid element.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the apparatus:

consuming electric power from an electric power grid;

supplying power to an electric power grid;

measuring power relating to an electric power grid; and

/or

controlling, operating, programming, and/or updating the apparatus, at least one grid element, a sensor, an appliance, a meter, a switch, a thermostat, a building control system, and/or a security device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one attribute includes revenue grade metrology, calibration, operating capacity, security, settlement, status, table information, pricing, telemetry, changes in time, location of market, attachment point information, geodetic information, a grid element identifier, the apparatus identifier, a grid element profile, the apparatus profile, power consumption, power flows, information accuracy of a grid element, information accuracy of the apparatus, software, firmware, upgrades, and/or prioritization.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one attribute corresponds to at least one function of the apparatus, the method further comprising transforming the at least one function upon the update of the at least one attribute.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one function includes:

consuming electric power from an electric power grid;

supplying power to an electric power grid;

measuring power relating to an electric power grid;

providing or improving stability of the electric power grid;

providing or improving reliability of the electric power grid;

providing operating reserves; and

/or

providing or improving settlement.

17. The method of claim 15, the transforming of the at least one function comprising enabling, improving, modifying, enhancing, and/or changing operating reserves, grid stabilization, native load to be served, efficiency, management, real-time energy management, settlement, memory, ASIC, metrology, location, security, status, change-in-state, grid stability, load curtailment, supply availability, transmission capacity, supply, revenue grade metrology tables, power supply values (PSV), power trade block (PTB), and/or device assignment.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one attribute includes at least one profile, the at least one profile corresponding to:

a performance of the apparatus;

a priority of operation of the apparatus with respect to at least one grid element; and

/or

a calibration corresponding to the apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one profile includes programming for:

determining the role of the apparatus;

determining a performance of the apparatus; and

/or

providing automated participation of the apparatus.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the apparatus transmitting at least one apparatus message over the IP-based network to the at least one grid element.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising a coordinator operable for routing at least one other update message from the at least one grid element to at least one other apparatus and at least one other apparatus message from the at least one other apparatus to the at least one grid element.