METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE POWER SUPPLY FROM AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE TO A DWELLING OR TO AN AC POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

• US 20160178678A1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Systemex Energies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Systemex-Energies International Inc.
• Inventors: Normandin, Irene, Pelletier, Marc-Antoine, Jasmin, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 10,763,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1333 adapted for special tariff measuring
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment 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 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0002 using ultrasonic means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• 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 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 : involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 : by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 : the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• 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 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 : for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• 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 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 : UPS systems or standby or emergency generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• 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 40/126 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A method for managing the operation of an AC power distribution network to which connect a plurality of electric vehicles, at random times and at random locations to receive electrical energy for charging. The AC power distribution network is characterized by a dynamic state of balance between power generation and load, and it has an operating reserve which is a supplemental power generation capacity available to the AC power distribution network. The method includes the step of forecasting a power-supply contribution that would be available to the AC power distribution network from the electric vehicles connected to the power distribution network in the event the AC power distribution network experiences a state of imbalance resulting from a power-generation deficit. The method further includes adjusting the magnitude of the operating reserve on the basis of the forecasting.

Claims

1. A method for estimating a quantity of electrical energy that is available for injection in an AC power distribution network from a multiplicity of electrical storage devices, at least a subset of the multiplicity of electrical storage devices being mobile and connecting to the AC power distribution network at random times and at random locations to receive electrical energy for charging and disconnecting from the AC power distribution network at random times, the AC power distribution network being characterized by a dynamic state of balance between power generation and load, the method including:

a. monitoring connection events, a connection event occurring when a mobile electrical storage device connects to the AC power distribution network for receiving electrical energy;

b. computing on the basis of the monitored connection events an estimate of the electrical energy that would be available for injection in the AC power distribution network when the AC power distribution network is in a state of imbalance resulting from a power generation deficit.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile electrical storage devices are electric vehicles.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of electrical storage devices including electrical storage devices that are fixed.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the electrical storage devices that are fixed include battery-swapping stations.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the monitoring of connection events includes receiving connection signals associated with respective storage devices, the connection signals convey that the respective storage devices have established connections with the AC power distribution network.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the monitoring of connection events includes sensing disconnection events, a disconnection event occurring when a mobile storage device terminates a connection with the AC power distribution network.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the sensing of disconnection events including receiving disconnection signals associated with respective storage devices, the disconnection signals convey that the respective storage devices have terminated their connections to the AC power distribution network.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the monitoring of connection events include estimating on the basis of the connection signals and disconnection signals a number of storage devices currently connected to the AC power distribution network.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, including updating the estimated number of storage devices currently connected to the AC power distribution network when new connection signals and new disconnection signals are being received.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, including determining a geographical distribution of the storage devices currently connected to the AC power distribution network.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the connection signals convey the geographical locations of the storage devices associated with the connection signals.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the connection signals are generated by charging stations to which storage devices connect.

13. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the storage devices generate the connection signals.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the connection signals are wireless.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the connection signals are wireless.

16. A method as defined in claim 8, further including determining for one or more of the mobile storage devices that are connected to the AC power distribution network a capacity to furnish electrical energy to the AC power distribution network.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, including factoring in the estimate the determined capacity for one or more of the mobile storage devices to furnish electrical energy to the AC power distribution network.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the determining of the capacity to furnish electrical energy to the AC power distribution network includes processing information in the connection signals conveying a capacity of the storage devices associated with the respective connection signals to furnish electrical energy to the AC power distribution network.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the computing of the estimate of the electrical energy is performed by a server arrangement.

20. A method for forecasting a power generation contribution to an AC power distribution network from a multiplicity of electrical vehicles connecting to the AC power distribution network at random times and at random locations to receive electrical energy for charging, the AC power distribution network being characterized by a dynamic state of balance between power generation and load, the method including:

a. sensing when an electrical vehicle connects to the AC power distribution network for recharging, the electrical vehicle being enabled to supply electricity to the AC power distribution network;

b. computing on the basis of the sensing a forecast of a power supply contribution that would be available to the AC power distribution network from the electrical vehicles connected to the AC power distribution network in the event the AC power distribution network experiences a state of imbalance resulting from a power generation deficit.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, further including sensing when an electric vehicle connected to the AC power distribution network disconnects from the AC power distribution network.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, including updating the forecast when sensing that new electrical vehicles have connected to the AC power distribution network.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, including updating the forecast when sensing that electrical vehicles connected to the AC power distribution network have disconnected from the AC power distribution network.

24. A method for managing the operation of an AC power distribution network to which connect a plurality of electrical vehicles, at random times and at random locations to receive electrical energy for charging, the AC power distribution network being characterized by a dynamic state of balance between power generation and load, the AC power distribution network having an operating reserve which is a supplemental power generation capacity available to the AC power distribution network, the method including:

a. forecasting a power supply contribution that would be available to the AC power distribution network from the electrical vehicles connected to the AC power distribution network in the event the AC power distribution network experiences a state of imbalance resulting from a power generation deficit.

b. adjusting the magnitude of the operating reserve at least in part on the basis of the forecasting.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the operating reserve includes a spinning reserve.

26. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the operating reserve includes a supplemental reserve, including one or more idle power generators that can be brought online to provide additional power generation capacity to the AC power distribution network.

27. A method for allocating credits for injection of electricity into an AC power distribution network from electrical vehicles connected to the AC power distribution network, the AC power distribution network being characterized by a dynamic state of balance between power generation and load, the electrical vehicles being enabled to supply electricity to the AC power distribution network when the AC power distribution network is in a state of imbalance resulting from a power generation deficit, the method comprising:

a. detecting connections of electrical vehicles to the AC power distribution network through which electricity is supplied to the electrical vehicles for recharging;

b. identifying for the electric vehicles at the detected connections, user accounts;

c. computing a credit for the individual electric vehicles at the detected connections for the supply of electricity to the AC power distribution network occurring when the AC power distribution network is in a state of imbalance;

d. posting the credits to the respective user account.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, including providing a database mapping user accounts with electrical vehicle identifiers and further including receiving signals conveying identifiers of electrical vehicles at the detected connections and searching the database to identify the user accounts associated with the identifiers conveyed by the signals.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the signals conveying the electrical vehicles identifiers are sent by the electrical vehicles.

30. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the signals conveying the electrical vehicle identifiers are sent by charging stations to which the electrical vehicles are connected.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, including communicating the identifiers of the electrical vehicles to the respective charging stations to enable the charging stations to send the signals.

32. A method for managing the operation of an AC power distribution network that supplies a plurality of domestic electrical equipment units that are controlled by respective power control devices, the AC power distribution network being characterized by a dynamic state of balance between power generation and load, the power control devices reducing an electrical consumption of the respective domestic electrical equipment units when a characteristic of the electrical energy supplied by the AC power distribution network indicates that the AC power distribution network is in a state of imbalance as a result of a power generation deficit, the AC power distribution network having an operating reserve which is a supplemental power generation capacity available to the AC power distribution network, the method including:

a. forecasting a degree of load receding that would arise in the event the AC power distribution network falls in a state of imbalance as a result of a power generation deficit;

b. adjusting the magnitude of the operating reserve at least in part on the basis of the forecasting.

33. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein the operating reserve includes a spinning reserve.

34. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein the operating reserve includes a supplemental reserve, including one or more idle power generators that can be brought online to provide additional power generation capacity to the AC power distribution network.