Electrical power distribution control methods, electrical energy demand monitoring methods, and power management devices

• US 7,149,605 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Donnelly, Matthew K., Chassin, David P., Dagle, Jeffery E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US10/461,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295, 700/296, 700/286, 700/291, 700/297, 700/22, 700/293, 700/294, 700/298, 713/340, 713/601, 705/400, 705/412
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/588 Random number generators, i.e. based on natural stochastic processes
• 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 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/58 The condition being electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/241 The oscillation concerning frequency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Electrical power distribution control methods, electrical energy demand monitoring methods, and power management devices are described. In one aspect, an electrical power distribution control method includes providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system, applying the electrical energy to a load, providing a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, and adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering one of the values of the threshold at the respective moment in time.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a load;

providing a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy;

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering one of the values of the threshold at the respective moment in time; and

monitoring frequency of the electrical energy, and wherein the adjusting is responsive to the monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting responsive to the frequency of the electrical energy dropping below the one of the values of the threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying comprises applying the electrical energy to the load located at a customer location, and the monitoring comprises monitoring using control circuitry located proximate to the customer location.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying comprises applying the electrical energy to the load located at a customer location, and the adjusting comprises adjusting using control circuitry located proximate to the customer location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the control circuitry comprises control circuitry of a power management device coupled with the load.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the control circuitry comprises control circuitry of the load.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the different values comprises randomly assigning the values.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises providing the different values according to a statistical distribution.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises reducing the amount of the electrical energy, and further comprising:

monitoring a length of time of the adjustment; and

increasing an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to the length of time exceeding a time out.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting for a variable length of time.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting for a random length of time.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises reducing the amount of electrical energy applied to the load.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises ceases the applying of the electrical energy.

14. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a load;

randomly selecting a value of a threshold corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system; and

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to the electrical characteristic oF the electrical energy triggering the value of the threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the randomly selecting comprises randomly selecting a plurality of different values of the threshold at a plurality of moments in time.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting using control circuitry, and further comprising applying operational power to the control circuitry, and wherein the randomly selecting comprises randomly selecting responsive to the applying of the operational power to the control circuitry.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising monitoring the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy with respect to the value of the threshold, and wherein the adjusting is responsive to the monitoring.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the randomly selecting comprises randomly selecting according to a statistical distribution.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring frequency of the electrical energy.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting for a variable length of time.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting for a random length of time.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the randomly selecting comprises randomly selecting responsive to electrical noise.

23. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

receiving electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system using control circuitry of a power management device;

applying electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system to a load using the control circuitiy;

monitoring an electrical characteristic of the received electrical energy using the control circuitry;

adjusting the applying at a plurality of moments in time responsive to the monitoring, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load for a plurality of different lengths of time at the respective moments in time; and

randomly selecting the different lengths of time responsive to initialization of circuitry of the power management device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring frequency of the electrical energy.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the load comprises the control circuitry.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the randomly selecting comprises initializing the circuitry at the respective moments in time.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the initialized circuitry comprises memory circuitry.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the memory circuitry provides a plurality of random numbers during initialization at the respective moments in time, and the randomly selecting comprises randomly selecting the different lengths of time using respective ones of the random numbers.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the memory circuitry provides the random numbers resulting from electrical noise at the respective moments in time.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the memory circuitry comprises memory circuitry of the control circuitry.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising applying power to the memory circuitry to provide the initialization.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the initialization comprises re-initializing the memory circuitry after the applying of the power.

33. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy using a grid of an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of loads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

providing a power management system comprising a plurality of power management devices coupled with respective ones of the loads;

controlling an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy on the grid of the electrical power distribution system using the power management system; and

wherein the controlling comprises controlling frequency of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the controlling comprises controlling the applying using the power management devices.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the power management devices of the power management system exhibit emergent behavior during the controlling.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the power management devices are configured to control the applying according to a plurality of respective rules, and wherein the rules are configured to provide the emergent behavior.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the rules configure the power management devices to adjust an amount of the electrical energy applied to the respective loads responsive to the electrical characteristic triggering respective threshold values of the power management devices.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising assigning the threshold values to respective ones of the power management devices according to a statistical distribution.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the rules configure the power management devices to adjust an amount of the electrical energy applied to the respective loads responsive to the electrical characteristic comprising frequency triggering respective threshold values of the power management devices.

40. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing a desired operating range for the electrical characteristic of the electrical power distribution system, and wherein the controlling comprises controlling to maintain operations of the electrical power distribution system at the provided desired operating range.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein the controlling comprises simultaneously using the plurality of power management devices to control the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system.

42. The method of claim 33 wherein the providing the electrical energy comprises providing the electrical energy using a distribution grid of the electrical power distribution system.

43. An electrical energy demand monitoring method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of loads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

monitoring an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy;

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to at least one of the loads responsive to the monitoring;

calculating a deficit of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system responsive to the monitoring;

wherein the calculating comprises calculating the deficit of the electrical energy on a grid of the electrical power distribution; and

wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring frequency of the electrical energy.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the adjusting comprises reducing the amount of electrical energy.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the adjusting comprises ceasing the applying of the electrical energy.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the calculating comprises:

determining a number of the loads having the application of electrical energy adjusted responsive to the monitoring; and

quantifying an amount of electrical energy consumed by the number of the loads.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the determining comprises statistically determining.

48. The method of claim 46 further comprising associating a plurality of threshold values with respective ones of the loads, and wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting responsive to the electrical characteristic triggering respective ones of the threshold values, and wherein the determining comprises determining using the threshold values.

49. The method of claim 43 further comprising estimating a price of electrical energy using the calculated deficit.

50. The method of claim 43 wherein the deficit is indicative of a relationship of generation and consumption of the electrical energy on the grid of the electrical power distribution system.

51. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy using an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a load using a power management device;

detecting a power oscillation within the electrical power distribution system;

adjusting an amount of electrical energy applied to the load using the power management device and responsive to the detecting; and

wherein the adjusting comprises;

modulating the amount of electrical energy applied to the load using the power management device; and

synchronizing the modulation with the power oscillation.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the detecting comprises detecting an amplitude of the power oscillation reaching an oscillation threshold, and the adjusting comprises adjusting to reduce the amplitude of the power oscillation.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the detecting comprises monitoring system frequency of the electrical energy.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the monitoring comprises:

decimating data of the system frequency of the electrical energy;

low pass filtering the data;

Fourier processing the data; and

comparing the processed data to an oscillation threshold.

55. The method of claim 51 further comprising:

further detecting an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering a shed threshold; and

adjusting an amount of electrical energy applied to the load responsive to the further detecting.

56. A power management device comprising:

an interface configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

control circuitry configured to control an amount of the electrical energy provided to a load coupled with the power management device, to access a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, to monitor the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy with respect to the threshold, and to adjust the amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering a respective one of the values of the threshold; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to monitor the electrical characteristic comprising frequency of the electrical energy.

57. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy responsive to the frequency of the electrical energy dropping below the respective one of the values of the threshold.

58. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is configured to access the different values comprising randomly generated values.

59. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is configured to access the different values comprising values generated in accordance with a statistical distribution.

60. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy for a variable length of time.

61. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy for a random length of time.

62. The device of claim 56 wherein the cOntrol circuitry of the power management device is proximately located with respect to the load.

63. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry of the power management device is located within the load.

64. The device of claim 56 wherein the interface is located intermediate the electrical power distribution system and the load.

65. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry of the power management device comprises control circuitry of the load.

66. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy comprising reducing the amount.

67. The device of claim 56 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy comprising ceasing the provision of the electrical energy to the load.

68. A power management device comprising:

an interface configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

control circuitry configured to control an amount of the electrical energy provided to a load coupled with the power management device, to detect a power oscillation within the electrical power distribution system, and to adjust an amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the detection of the power oscillation; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to compare an amplitude of the power oscillation with an osculation threshold and to adjust the amount of the electrical energy to reduce the amplitude.

69. The device of claim 68 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy to reduce the amplitude of the power oscillation.

70. The device of claim 68 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy comprising reducing the amount.

71. The device of claim 68 wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy comprising ceasing the providing of the electrical energy to the load.

72. The device of claim 68 wherein the control circuitry is configured to modulate the amount of the electrical energy provided to the load and synchronized with the power oscillation.

73. The device of claim 68 wherein the control circuitry is configured to monitor the system frequency to detect the power oscillation.

74. The device of claim 68 wherein the control circuitry is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, to detect the electrical characteristic triggering a shed threshold, and to adjust the amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the detection of the triggering.

75. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of loads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

providing a power management system comprising a plurality of power management devices coupled with respective ones of the loads;

controlling an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system using the power management system;

wherein the power management devices of the power management system exhibit emergent behavior during the controlling;

wherein the power management devices are configured to control the applying according to a plurality of respective rules, and wherein the rules are configured to provide the emergent behavior; and

wherein the rules configure the power management devices to adjust an amount of the electrical energy applied to the respective loads responsive to the electrical characteristic triggering respective threshold values of the power management devices.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising assigning the threshold values to respective ones of the power management devices according to a statistical distribution.

77. The method of claim 75 wherein the rules configure the power management devices to adjust the amount of the electrical energy applied to the respective loads responsive to the electrical characteristic comprising frequency triggering the respective threshold values of the power management devices.

78. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a load;

providing a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy;

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering one of the values of the threshold at the respective moment in time; and

wherein the providing the different values comprises randomly assigning the values.

79. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a load;

providing a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy;

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering one of the values of the threshold at the respective moment in time; and

wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting for a random length of time.

80. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy using a grid of an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of toads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

providing a power management system comprising a plurality of power management devices coupled with respective ones of the loads;

controlling an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy on the grid of the electrical power distribution system using the power management system;

wherein the power management devices of the power management system exhibit emergent behavior during the controlling;

wherein the power management devices are configured to control the applying according to a plurality of respective rules, and wherein the rules are configured to provide the emergent behavior; and

wherein the rules configure the power management devices to adjust an amount of the electrical energy applied to the respective loads responsive to the electrical characteristic triggering respective threshold values of the power management devices.

81. The method of claim 80 further comprising assigning the threshold values to respective ones of the power management devices according to a statistical distribution.

82. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy using a grid of an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of loads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

providing a power management system comprising a plurality of power management devices coupled with respective ones of the loads;

controlling an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy on the grid of the electrical power distribution system using the power management system;

wherein the power management devices of the power management system exhibit emergent behavior during the controlling;

wherein the power management devices are configured to control the applying according to a plurality of respective rules, and wherein the rules are configured to provide the emergent behavior; and

wherein the rules configure the power management devices to adjust an amount of the electrical energy applied to the respective loads responsive to the electrical characteristic comprising frequency triggering respective threshold values of the power management devices.

83. A power management device comprising:

an interface configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

control circuitry configured to control an amount of the electrical energy provided to a load coupled with the power management device, to access a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, to monitor the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy with respect to the threshold, and to adjust the amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering a respective one of the values of the threshold; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to access the different values comprising randomly generated values.

84. A power management device comprising:

an interface configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

control circuitry configured to control an amount of the electrical energy provided to a load coupled with the power management device, to access a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, to monitor the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy with respect to the threshold, and to adjust the amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering a respective one of the values of the threshold; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the amount of the electrical energy for a random length of time.

85. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of roads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

providing a power management system comprising a plurality of power management devices coupled with respective ones of the loads;

controlling an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system using the power management system;

wherein the power management devices of the power management system exhibit emergent behavior during the controlling;

wherein the power management devices are configured to control the applying according to a plurality of respective rules, and wherein the rules are configured to provide the emergent behavior; and

wherein the rules configure the power management devices to adjust an amount of the electrical energy applied to the respective loads responsive to the electrical characteristic comprising frequency triggering respective threshold values of the power management devices.

86. An electrical energy demand monitoring method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of loads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

monitoring an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy;

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to at least one of the loads responsive to the monitoring;

calculating a deficit of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system responsive to the monitoring; and

wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring frequency of the electrical energy.

87. An electrical energy demand monitoring method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of loads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

monitoring an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy;

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to at least one of the loads responsive to the monitoring;

calculating a deficit of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system responsive to the monitoring; and

associating a plurality of threshold values with respective ones of the loads, and wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting responsive to the electrical characteristic triggering respective ones of the threshold values, and wherein the determining comprises determining using the threshold values.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein the deficit is indicative of a relationship of generation and consumption of the electrical energy on the grid of the electrical power distribution system.

89. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy using an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a load using a power management device;

detecting a power oscillation within the electrical power distribution system;

adjusting an amount of electrical energy applied to the load using the power management device and responsive to the detecting; and

wherein the detecting comprises monitoring system frequency of the electrical energy; and

wherein the monitoring comprises;

decimating data of the system frequency of the electrical energy;

low pass filtering the data;

Fourier processing the data; and

comparing the processed data to an oscillation threshold.

90. An electrical power distribution control method comprising:

providing electrical energy using an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a load using a power management device;

detecting a power oscillation within the electrical power distribution system;

adjusting an amount of electrical energy applied to the load using the power management device and responsive to the detecting;

further detecting an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering a shed threshold; and

adjusting an amount of electrical energy applied to the load responsive to the further detecting.

91. A power management device comprising:

an interface configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

control circuitry configured to control an amount of the electrical energy provided to a load coupled with the power management device, to detect a power oscillation within the electrical power distribution system, and to adjust an amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the detection of the power oscillation; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to modulate the amount of the electrical energy provided to the load and synchronized with the power oscillation.

92. A power management device comprising:

an interface configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

control circuitry configured to control an amount of the electrical energy provided to a load coupled with the power management device, to detect a power oscillation within the electrical power distribution system, and to adjust an amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the detection of the power oscillation; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to monitor an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, to detect the electrical characteristic triggering a shed threshold, and to adjust the amount of the electrical energy provided to the load responsive to the detection of the triggering.

93. An electrical energy demand monitoring method comprising:

providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system;

applying the electrical energy to a plurality of loads coupled with the electrical power distribution system;

monitoring an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy;

adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to at least one of the loads responsive to the monitoring;

calculating a deficit of the electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system responsive to the monitoring;

wherein the calculating comprises calculating the deficit of the electrical energy on a grid of the electrical power distribution system;

wherein the calculating further comprises;

determining a number of the toads having the application of electrical energy adjusted responsive to the monitoring; and

quantifying an amount of electrical energy consumed by the number of the loads; and

associating a plurality of threshold values with respective ones of the loads, and wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting responsive to the electrical characteristic triggering respective ones of the threshold values, and wherein the determining comprises determining using the threshold values.