Method and Apparatus for Actively Managing Electric Power Supply for an Electric Power Grid

• US 20160334824A1
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,168,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• 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 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• 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 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• 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 9/061 for DC powered loads
• 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 70/30 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 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• 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 20/222 : 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing power supplied over an electric power grid by an electric utility and/or other market participants to multiplicity of grid elements and devices for supply and/or load curtailment as supply, each of which having a Power Supply Value (PSV) associated with its energy consumption and/or reduction in consumption and/or supply, and wherein messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements and devices, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.

Claims

1. A system for managing power on an electric power grid, comprising:

a server constructed and configured in networked communication with a multiplicity of grid elements in the electric power grid;

wherein the multiplicity of grid elements comprises power consuming grid elements and power supplying grid elements;

wherein the server is operable to receive a power control command and issue a power control event message responsive thereto;

wherein the power control command comprises a power inquiry command requesting the server to determine an amount of power available for temporary reduction or increase from supply or adding to supply;

wherein the server comprises a database;

wherein the database is operable to store information comprising power consumed by power consuming grid elements, power to be reduced to the power consuming grid elements, power supplied to the electric power grid, and power to be made available for supply to the electric power grid;

wherein the amount of power to be reduced is a supply equivalent value accepted by a governing entity to provide power supply to the electric power grid;

wherein the system is operable for providing maintained or improved grid reliability and stability.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control event instructions indicate an amount of power to be reduced and an identification of the at least one grid element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control event instructions indicate an amount of power to be increased and an identification of the at least one grid element.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control event instructions indicate an amount of power to be supplied to the electric power grid and an identification of the at least one grid element.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the networked communication is IP-based messaging.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the networked communication is proprietary messaging.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control command is initiated from a market participant, a utility, or an electric grid operator.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the information stored in the database is revenue grade metrology data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the database is further operable to generate at least one power supply value, wherein each of the at least one power supply value corresponds to an actual value of power to be reduced to each of the power consuming grid elements and power to be supplied to the electric power grid by each of the power supplying grid elements.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the generation of the at least one power supply value is based one measurement and verification.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the generation of the at least one power supply value is based on baselining and sampling.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the baselining provides a reference power usage point.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sampling includes real-time or near-real-time power measurement sampling, and wherein the sampling provides verification of power state and power consumption data, reactive power, power factor, start-up current, duty cycles, voltage, and consumption forecasts.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one power supply value is operable to be aggregated into a minimum power trading block (PTB).

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the minimum PTB is determined by a governing body for electric power grid for settlement of the supply of power to the electric power grid.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein each of multiplicity of the grid elements has a unique identifier for enhanced security.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the unique identifier is a combination of at least one independent identifying address and an Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) address;

and wherein the at least one independent identifying address is selected from the group consisting of Electronic Serial Number (ESN), International Manufacturer Equipment Identifier (IMEI), and Media Access Control (MAC) address.

18. A system for managing power on an electric power grid, comprising:

at least one coordinator constructed and configured in networked communication with a server and a multiplicity of grid elements in the electric power grid;

wherein the multiplicity of grid elements comprises power consuming grid elements and power supplying grid elements;

wherein the server is operable to initiate a power control command and issue a power control event message responsive thereto;

wherein the power control command comprises a power inquiry command requesting the server to determine an amount of power available for temporary reduction or increase from supply or adding to supply;

wherein the server comprises a database;

wherein the database is operable to store information comprising power consumed by power consuming grid elements, power to be reduced to the power consuming grid elements, power supplied to the electric power grid, and power to be made available for supply to the electric power grid;

wherein the amount of power to be reduced is a supply equivalent value accepted by a governing entity to provide power supply to the electric power grid;

wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to receive the power control event message and select at least one grid element to which to issue power control event instructions based on the information stored in the database;

wherein the system is operable for providing maintained or improved grid reliability and stability.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to track and maintain status of the multiplicity of grid elements within its defined boundaries.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to register and match and prioritize the multiplicity of grid elements.