Method and apparatus for actively managing electric power over an electric power grid

• US 20150142201A1
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,088,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• 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: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• 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: 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing power supplied over an electric power grid by an electric utility and/or other market participants to multiple power consuming devices, each of which having a Power Supply Value (PSV) associated with its energy consumption and/or reduction in consumption. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled, or power-reduced thereto, by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. Power control messages from a controlling server indicate amounts of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable or reduce a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.

Claims

1. A system for managing power on an electric power grid that is constructed and configured for supplying and receiving power to and from a multiplicity of sources, where the power flows to a plurality of power consuming devices or is generated by a plurality of power generation and storage solutions that are energized, de-energized, and/or power-reduced by a plurality of controllable devices, the system comprising:

a server comprising a command processor operable to receive or initiate power control commands and issue power control event messages responsive thereto, at least one of the power control commands requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

an event manager operable to receive the power control event messages, maintain at least one power management status relating to each client device and issue power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages;

a database for storing information relating to power consumed by each of the plurality of power consuming devices and the amount of power to be reduced to each of the power consuming devices;

a client device manager in communication with the event manager and the database, the client device manager selecting from the database, based on the information stored in the database, at least one client device to which to issue at least one power control event message, the at least one power control event message configured to indicate at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced or increased and identify at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power or reduce settings corresponding to power consumption to one or more associated power consuming devices responsive to receipt of at least one of the power control event instructions requiring a reduction in a specified amount of electric power;

the plurality of controllable devices and corresponding controllable device interfaces for facilitating communication of the power control event instructions to the controllable devices;

wherein for each of the controllable device(s) the server generates a first power supply value (PSV);

the power control event instructions configured to enable at least one of the controllable devices to selectively enable and disable a flow of power to at least one of the power consuming devices; and

a device control manager in communication with the controllable device interfaces for issuing the power control event instructions to the controllable devices, the device control manager responsive to the received power control event messages.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one active load client and at least one customer profile, wherein the at least one active load client and/or the at least one customer profile is operable to be used by a grid operator or a customer to create at least one microgrid.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one smart meter and a smart meter interface for managing the at least one smart meter, wherein the smart meter interface is operable to send a command to the at least one smart meter and receive a reply from the at least one smart meter.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of power consuming devices is at least one of an environmentally dependent device and a climate controlled device, wherein the climate controlled device is associated with a drift, wherein the drift is the time period for the climate controlled device to move from a set point to an upper or lower comfort boundary.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the information stored in the database further includes at least one status of the power consuming device(s).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control commands include a power inquiry command requesting the server to determine an amount of electric power available for temporary reduction from supply by a requesting electric utility, market participant, or electric power grid operator(s) and wherein the command processor issues an associated power control event message responsive to the power inquiry command, the server further comprising a server database that stores current power usage information for the at least one electric utility or electric power grid operator(s), wherein the event manager accesses the utility database responsive to receipt of the associated power control event message and communicates a response to the power inquiry command indicating the amount of power available for temporary reduction based on the current power usage information and a corresponding Power Supply Value (PSV).

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the amount of power available for temporary reduction based on the current power usage information and the corresponding PSV is provided or aggregated in a minimum power trading block (PTB), wherein the minimum PTB is determined by the governing body for electric power grids, and the power is provided to the electric power grid as operating reserves.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the client device manager receives from each client device at least one power consumption indicator and at least one power management status.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power savings application operable to compute an amount of electric power saved by a customer, an electric utility, a market participant, and/or a grid operator participating in the system during a power reduction event affecting them, wherein the power savings application is further operable to automatically generate a Power Supply Value (PSV), a Power Trade Block (PTB), and combinations thereof corresponding to the amount of electric power saved by the customer, the electric utility, the market participant, and/or the grid operator participating in the system during the power reduction event affecting them.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a carbon savings application operable to compute an amount of carbon saved by a customer, an electric utility, a market participant, and/or a grid operator participating in the system during a power reduction event affecting them based on the amount of electric power saved as computed by the power savings application, the PSV, the PTB, and combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising an IP-based client interface that facilitates communication of the power control commands and the power control event messages.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the IP-based client interface is selected from the group comprising WiMax, Wi-Fi, High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Evolution for Data Only (EVDO), Long Term Evolution (LTE), a first or a second generation wireless transport method such as EDGE, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wired Ethernet, wireless Ethernet, Bluetooth, Broadband over Powerline, Zigbee, any proprietary Layer 1-3 protocol that contains or is capable of transporting an Internet Protocol (IP) message, standards-based protocols, successor protocols, and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control commands and/or the power control event messages have a priority of delivery comprising a plurality of methods to include priority access flags, virtual private networks, independent identifying addresses (MAC, IP, Electronic Serial Numbers), manufacturer-specific identifying codes, or combinations thereof, and are aggregated to affect operating reserves.

14. The system of claim 1, further including alert messages initiated from at least one of the plurality of power consuming devices and/or the at least one client device, wherein the alert messages are operable to be aggregated according to device profiles and geodetic information to form at least one Power Trading Block (PTB) for operating reserves for the electric power grid.

15. The system of claim 1, further including customer profiles associated with each client device, wherein the customer profiles include Power Supply Values (PSVs) and Power Trading Block (PTB) information operable to be aggregated to provide a minimum required PTB.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control profile operable to be communicated to each of the plurality of power consuming devices for creating device profiles that determine a response of each of the plurality of power consuming devices to the power control message.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for providing operating reserves based upon the reduction in the specified amount of electric power by aggregating the reduction(s) from the device(s) to provide at least one power trade block (PTB) unit.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating reserves include at least one of a spinning reserve, a regulating reserve, and a non-spinning reserve, and the operating reserves are operable to be sold to a utility.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for providing revenue grade metrology in real-time, near real-time, or within a time period required for generating operating reserves.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for aggregating the power supply values (PSVs) corresponding to the plurality of power consuming devices to form at least one power trade block (PTB).

21. An apparatus for use in managing power on an electric power grid that is constructed and configured for supplying and receiving power from a multiplicity of sources, wherein the power flows to a plurality of power consuming devices or is generated by a plurality of power generation and storage solutions that are energized, de-energized, and/or power-reduced by a plurality of controllable devices, the apparatus comprising:

an event manager and a client device manager constructed and configured in communication with a device control manager;

wherein the client device manager is operable for communication with the event manager and a database;

wherein the client device manager is operable for selecting from the database, based on the information stored in the database, at least one client device to which to issue a power control message;

wherein the power control message is configured to indicate at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced or increased and identify at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power or reduce settings corresponding to power consumption to one or more associated power consuming devices responsive to receipt of a power control event instruction requiring a reduction in a specified amount of electric power;

wherein the power control event instructions are operable for causing the at least one controllable device to selectively enable and disable a flow of power to at least one of the power consuming devices;

wherein the event manager, the client device manager and the device control manager are constructed and configured for communication with a server comprising a command processor operable to receive or initiate power control commands and issue at least one of the power control event messages responsive thereto, at least one of the power control commands requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices; and

wherein the event manager, the client device manager and the device control manager are constructed and configured for communication with a database for storing information including at least one power management status relating to each client device and information relating to power consumed and reduced by the plurality of power consuming devices, and the event manager is operable to issue at least one of the power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages; and

wherein the device control manager operates in communication with controllable device interfaces for issuing at least one of the power control event instructions to the controllable devices, responsive to the received power control message, the power control event instruction causing the controllable device to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device for reducing consumed power, and based upon the reduction in consumed power, wherein the reduction in consumed power provides operating reserves for grid stability for the electric power grid.

22. A method for managing power on an electric power grid that is constructed and configured for supplying and receiving power from a multiplicity of sources, where the power flows to a plurality of power consuming devices or is generated by a plurality of power generation and storage solutions that are energized, de-energized, and/or power-reduced by a plurality of controllable devices, the method steps comprising:

initiating power control commands by a server including a command processor operable to receive or initiate power control commands and issue power control event messages responsive thereto, at least one of the power control commands requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

an event manager receiving the power control event messages, including at least one power management status relating to each client device, and issuing power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages;

storing in a database, information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices and based upon the amount of power to be reduced to each of the power consuming devices;

a client device manager selecting from the database, based on the information stored in the database, at least one client device to which to issue a power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced or increased and identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to, or reducing the amount of power consumed by, one or more associated power consuming devices responsive to receipt of a power control event instruction requiring a reduction in a specified amount of electric power;

wherein the plurality of controllable devices and corresponding controllable device interfaces facilitate communication of power control instructions to the controllable devices;

a device control manager issuing a power control instruction to the controllable devices through the controllable device interfaces, responsive to the received power control message; and

the power control instruction causing the controllable device(s) to disable the flow of electric power to, or reduce the power consumed by, at least one associated power consuming device for reducing consumed power,

thereby generating operating reserves for grid stability based upon the amount of reduction of power consumed by the power consuming device(s).

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

based upon the reduction in consumed power, generating a power supply value (PSV) corresponding to the reduction in consumed power.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the power control event messages are based upon inputs initiated from a market participant, a utility, or an electric grid operator.