Consumer-sited power management system and method

• US 7,752,145 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelty, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel; Vanel
• Application Number:
  US11/353,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 705/63, 705/412, 709/223, 709/224, 707/203, 307/66, 307/25
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads

Abstract

A system and method provide emergency back-up power for communications, security and other systems of an electric power consumer, and for peak-shifting of the electrical load so that electricity is generated and stored when demand is low, and the stored power is used when demand is high. Embodiments include providing an electric power management device having a battery and a communication system at the premises of a consumer of electricity, and connecting the power management device to an electric power provider. The battery is charged at an off-peak time when a demand for electricity is low, as determined by the electric power provider; and discharged to provide electricity to the consumer at a time when the demand for electricity is high, as determined by the electric power provider. The charging and discharging is controlled by the electric power provider.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an electric power management device having a battery and a communication system at a premises of a consumer of electricity;

connecting the power management device to an electric power provider;

charging the battery at an off-peak time when a demand for electricity is low, as determined by the electric power provider; and

discharging the battery to provide electricity to the consumer at a time when the demand for electricity is high, as determined by the electric power provider;

wherein the charging and discharging is controlled by the electric power provider.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising providing the power management device inside a building.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising exchanging data between the electric power provider and the power management device via the communication system of the power management device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electric power provider monitors a charge status of the battery.

5. The method of claim 3, comprising generating real time energy reports for at least one of the electric power provider and the consumer using data from the power management device, the energy reports including at least one of an electricity consumption report and a power quality report, the power quality report including at least one of voltage, current and impedance information.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising scheduling maintenance of the power management device based on the energy reports.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising predicting failure of the power management device based on the energy reports.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising connecting the power management device to a local area utility grid.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing a programmable processor in the power management device, the processor being programmable by the consumer; and

programming the processor to cause a predetermined minimum charge to be present in the battery.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising programming the processor to cause the power management device to provide back-up power for the consumer or for a local area utility grid, in case of a power outage.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising programming the processor to cause the power management device to provide back-up power to at least one of a telecommunications system of the consumer, a security system of the consumer, a refrigerator of the customer, lights of the customer, and a computer system of the consumer.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising programming the processor to generate a notification and send the notification using the communication system upon receiving a signal indicating a security issue.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the security issue is at least one of a power outage, a security breach, a fire, a predetermined carbon monoxide level, and a predetermined temperature level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the notification is to an emergency response agency.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising utilizing power stored in the battery to compensate for voltage sags.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising connecting the power management device to an alternative energy source.

17. A system comprising:

an electric power management device having a battery, a processor and a communication system; and

a central controller in two-way communication with the power management device via the communication system of the power management device;

wherein the central controller is configured to;

monitor a charge status of the battery;

charge the battery at an off-peak time when a demand for electricity is low, as determined by an electric power provider; and

discharge the battery to provide electricity to a consumer at a time when the demand for electricity is high, as determined by the electric power provider.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to cause a minimum charge to be present in the battery.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to cause the battery to provide back-up power, in case of a power outage.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to generate a notification and send the notification using the communication system upon receiving a signal indicating a security issue.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to cause power stored in the battery to compensate for voltage sags.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to generate real time energy reports for at least one of the electric power provider and the consumer, the energy reports including at least one of an electricity consumption report and a power quality report, the power quality report including at least one of voltage, current and impedance information.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the central controller is configured to schedule maintenance of the power management device based on the energy reports.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising a battery management unit (BMU) for controlling a battery charge voltage or charge current, measuring a charge level, preventing overcharging, preventing over-discharging, and preventing operation at an excessively high temperature.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the BMU is for shutting down the battery when the temperature of the battery reaches a predetermined level.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery comprises a high power density rechargeable battery.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery comprises a high-capacity capacitive device.