MANAGING POWER SOURCE INTERACTION THROUGH AN INTERCONNECT SOCKET ADAPTER CONFIGURED WITH AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE SINK

• US 20160236634A1
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electric Company (Sempra Energy)
• Original Assignee: San Diego Gas & Electric Company (Sempra Energy)
• Inventors: PARKS, Ken, COLBURN, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,904,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/945 Holders with built-in electrical component
• 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: 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: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

Interconnection meter socket adapters are provided. An interconnection meter socket adapter comprises a housing enclosing a set of electrical connections. The interconnection meter socket adapter may be configured to be coupled to a standard distribution panel and a standard electric meter, thereby establishing connections between a distribution panel and a user such that electrical power may be delivered to the user while an electrical meter measures the power consumption of the user. A power regulation module is disposed between the interconnection meter socket adapter, and configured to selectively connect one or more energy sources or energy sinks.

Claims

1. A method of managing power consumption by an electrical vehicle through an interconnect socket adapter, comprising:

measuring, by a measurement module of a power regulation module, a user load power consumption amount consumed by a plurality of user loads;

measuring, by a measurement module, an electrical vehicle power consumption amount consumed by the electrical vehicle connected to the power regulation module of the interconnect socket adapter;

determining, by the measurement module, a threshold power consumption value; and

comparing an overall power consumption amount with the determined threshold power consumption value;

wherein, if the overall power consumption amount exceeds the threshold power consumption value, reducing the overall power consumption.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement module comprises a voltage meter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement module comprises a communications module comprising electronic circuitry configured to enable wireless communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the power regulation module comprises a disconnect switch.

5. The method of claim 4, reducing overall power consumption comprising disconnecting the electrical vehicle such that the electrical vehicle no longer consumes electrical power.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the power regulation module comprises a current limiter.

7. The method of claim 6, reducing overall power consumption comprising limiting, by the current limiter, an amount of electrical power available to the electrical vehicle connected to the power regulation module.

8. The method of claim 1, determining the threshold power consumption comprises:

identifying a panel rating from a meter to which the interconnect socket adapter is connected; and

calculating a threshold power consumption value;

wherein the threshold power consumption value comprises a power amount within 70% and 90% of the panel rating.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold power consumption value comprises a power amount about 80% of the panel rating.