Grid optimization resource dispatch scheduling

• US 8,761,953 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovari, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innovari, Inc.
• Inventors: Friedrich, Loran, Pierce, Eric, Hill, Jason, Tillett, James, Walden, Dave, Raymond, Laura, Hickman, Chris, Do, Phong
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNN, DARRIN D
• Application Number:
  US13/803,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/22, 700/286, 700/291, 700/296, 700/297, 709/201, 709/208, 709/217
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• 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 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/04 for connecting networks of the same frequency but supplied from different sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

Data comprising a request specifying a desired change in electrical load for a defined period of time is received. The electrical load is associated with a plurality of resources under control of resource agents and on a utility grid. Available capacity of resources within the control of each resource agent over the defined period of time is determined. Each available capacity is determined at least using a resource load model. Using the determined available capacity of resources over the defined period of time, resource scheduling instructions are calculated for a subset of resources. The resource scheduling instructions satisfy the desired change in electrical load of the request. Data characterizing the resource scheduling instructions is provided. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described.

Claims

1. A method for implementation by one or more data processors, the method comprising:

receiving, by the one or more data processors, data comprising a request specifying a desired change in electrical load for a defined period of time, the electrical load associated with a plurality of resources under control of resource agents and on a utility grid;

determining, using the one or more data processors, available capacity of resources within the control of each resource agent over the defined period of time by accessing at least one data source comprising predefined parameterized load models;

calculating, using the one or more data processors and the determined available capacity of resources over the defined period of time, resource scheduling instructions for a subset of resources, the resource scheduling instructions satisfying the desired change in electrical load of the request;

providing, using the one or more data processors, data characterizing the resource scheduling instructions;

receiving, from the resource agents, a plurality of messages indicating discrepancies between expected and actual resource performance;

calculating, using the received messages, a lost capacity envelope characterizing an aggregate across resource agents of lost capacity, the lost capacity depending on a load on each resource, a duration defined by a deployment rule, and an indication of how often a respective resource can accept an instruction; and

processing, when a sum of the discrepancies between expected and actual resource performance exceeds a predetermined magnitude, a second resource scheduling instruction specifying a desired change in electrical load according to the lost capacity envelope.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data characterizing the resource scheduling instructions is provided to resource agents in control of the subset of resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is from a utility or other interested entity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available capacity is further based on a set of deployment rules, the set of deployment rules including one or more of:

a duration a given resource may be dispatched, and a rest period of a given resource.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the set of deployment rules reflects terms a resource manager has previously agreed to.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein resources are switched load resources.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein resources include at least one heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, and lighting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource load model predicts future load requirements for the given resource.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the resource load model is dependent on one or more of time and temperature.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically updating the load model based on data describing a state of the resource.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource load model is based on past observations of the same or a similar resource.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource load model is one of linear, non-linear, or stepwise discontinuous.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a capacity of each resource is determined based on a load, duration of request, frequency of resource, and duration of deployment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling instructions include a precooling-phase instruction.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes data characterizing specific resources to be instructed.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining available capacity of resources is further based on at least a weather forecast.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving feedback from one or more of the resource agent, a resource, a set of resources, or a user, and basing the calculation of the subset of resources and resource scheduling instructions on the received feedback.

18. A system comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing instructions which, when executed by at least one data rocessor, causes at least one data processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving data comprising a request to reduce an electrical load on a utility grid for a defined period of time, the electrical load associated with a plurality of resources under control of resource agents;

determining available capacities of resources over the defined period of time by accessing at least one data source comprising predefined parameterized resource load models;

calculating, from the available capacity of each resource agent over the defined period of time, a subset of resources and resource scheduling instructions, the resource instructions satisfying the desired change in electrical load of the request;

providing data comprising the resource scheduling instructions;

receiving, from the resource agents, a plurality of messages indicating discrepancies between expected and actual resource performance;

calculating, using the received messages, a lost capacity envelope characterizing an aggregate across resource agents of lost capacity, the lost capacity depending on a load on each resource, a duration defined by a deployment rule, and an indication of how often a respective resource can accept an instruction; and

processing, when a sum of the discrepancies between expected and actual resource performance exceeds a predetermined magnitude, a second resource scheduling instruction specifying a desired change in electrical load according to the lost capacity envelope.

19. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor of at least one computing system, implement a method according to:

receiving data comprising a request to reduce an electrical load on a utility grid for a defined period of time, the electrical load associated with a plurality of resources under control of resource agents;

determining available capacities of resources over the defined period of time by accessing at least one data source comprising predefined parameterized resource load models;

calculating, from the available capacity of each resource agent over the defined period of time, a subset of resources and resource scheduling instructions, the resource instructions satisfying the desired change in electrical load of the request;

providing data comprising the resource scheduling instructions;

receiving, from the resource agents, a plurality of messages indicating discrepancies between expected and actual resource performance;

calculating, using the received messages, a lost capacity envelope characterizing an aggregate across resource agents of lost capacity, the lost capacity depending on a load on each resource, a duration defined by a deployment rule, and an indication of how often a respective resource can accept an instruction; and

processing, when a sum of the discrepancies between expected and actual resource performance exceeds a predetermined magnitude, a second resource scheduling instruction specifying a desired change in electrical load according to the lost capacity envelope.