VIRTUAL POWER GRID

• US 20160087441A1
• Filed: 07/04/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xslent Energy Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xslent Energy Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Matan, Stefan, Horton, Fred C, Marrone, Frank P
• Application Number:
  US14/791,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20160087441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/54 for measuring simultaneously at least two of the following three variables: real component, reactive component, apparent energy
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/026 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/635 for determining the most economical distribution in power systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• 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 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• 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: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/01 Arrangements for reducing harmonics or ripples
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/06 Controlling transfer of power between connected networks; Controlling sharing of load between connected networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/18 Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks for adjustment of voltage H02J3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/42 : Circuits or arrangements for compensating for or adjusting power factor in converters or inverters
• 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 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/30 : Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/40 : Arrangements for reducing harmonics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 : Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 : the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 : Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• 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

Abstract

Distributed grid intelligence can enable a virtual power grid. Multiple consumer nodes can have local power sources, and be coupled to a same point of common coupling (PCC). The consumer nodes can be controlled by distributed control nodes at the consumer nodes. The control nodes control the distribution of power from the local power sources based on local power demand of each respective consumer node, and also based on distribution of power from the other respective control node. Thus, consumer nodes can share power generated locally, but operate independently without the need for central management or a central power plant.

Claims

1. A power grid system, comprising:

a first consumer node having a first local power source local to the first consumer node, the first consumer node coupled to a point of common coupling (PCC);

a second consumer node having a second local power source local to the second consumer node, the second consumer node coupled to the PCC;

a first control node coupled between the PCC and the first consumer node;

a second control node coupled between the PCC and the second consumer node;

wherein the first and second control nodes to control distribution of power from the first and second local power sources based on local power demand of each respective consumer node, and also based on distribution of power from the other respective control node.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each consumer node comprises a customer premises.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a consumer node comprises multiple customer premises.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a single customer premises comprises multiple consumer nodes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the PCC is further to couple to separate PCC of a separate independent power grid segment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the PCC is further to couple to a third consumer node, wherein the first and second consumer nodes are on a same side of the PCC as each other, and the third consumer node is on a different side of the PCC relative to the first and second consumer nodes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first control node and second control node are coupled as master and slave, where one of the control nodes controls power distribution within the PCC as master, and the other control node distributes power as a slave under direction of the master.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second control nodes are to control the distribution of power including locally controlling generation of reactive power from the first and second local power sources.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a control node further comprises a power converter local to the control node.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central data store coupled with the first and second control nodes, the central data store to store and dispatch information about power generation and power demand within the PCC.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central energy store coupled to the first and second power sources via the PCC, the central energy store capable to store energy generated by the first and/or second power sources in response to control by the first and/or second control nodes.

12. A distributed control node within a power grid system, comprising:

a grid connector to couple between a point of common coupling (PCC) and a first consumer node having a first local power source local to the first consumer node, and to couple via the PCC to a second consumer node having a second local power source local to the second consumer node;

a controller to control distribution of power from the first local power source based on local power demand of the first consumer node, and also based on distribution of power from the second control node.

13. The control node of claim 12, wherein the PCC is further to couple to a third consumer node having a third local power source local to the third consumer node, wherein the first and second consumer nodes are on a same side of the PCC as each other, and the third consumer node is on a different side of the PCC relative to the first and second consumer nodes.

14. The control node of claim 12, wherein the controller is to control the distribution of power including locally controlling generation of reactive power from the first local power source.

15. The control node of claim 12, further comprising a power converter local to the control node to control the distribution of power in response to control from the controller.

16. The control node of claim 12, further comprising a central data store coupled with the first and second consumer nodes via the PCC, the central data store to store and dispatch information about power generation and power demand to the controller.

17. A method of controlling a power grid, comprising:

monitoring, at a control node, generation of power from a first local power source of a first consumer node, operation of a second consumer node, and power demand from the first consumer node, wherein the first and second consumer nodes and the control node to couple together at a point of common coupling (PCC), wherein the second consumer node has a second local power source local to the second consumer node; and

dynamically controlling distribution of power from the first local power source based on local power demand of the first consumer node, and also based on distribution of power from the second control node.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the PCC is further to couple to a third consumer node having a third local power source local to the third consumer node, wherein the first and second consumer nodes are on a same side of the PCC as each other, and the third consumer node is on a different side of the PCC relative to the first and second consumer nodes, and wherein dynamically controlling the distribution of power from the first local power source comprises controlling the distribution at least in part based on power generation by the third local power source.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein dynamically controlling the distribution of power from the first local power source comprises locally controlling generation of reactive power from the first local power source.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein dynamically controlling the distribution of power from the first local power source further comprises receiving dispatch information power generation and power demand from a central data store coupled with the first and second consumer nodes via the PCC.