Systems, devices and methods for electricity provision, usage monitoring, analysis, and enabling improvements in efficiency

• US 8,849,471 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moixa Energy Holdings Limited (Lunar Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Moixa Energy Holdings Limited (Lunar Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniel, Simon Richard, Wright, Christopher Verity
• Primary Examiner(s): Starks, Wilbert L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANCHAK, WALTER P
• Application Number:
  US12/559,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20100076615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/293
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/34 on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/211 with vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/221 with horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9112 which is a building
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/12 Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/00 Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 : Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

The invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods for the efficient use of utilities, more particularly to the distribution and provision of electricity supply at appropriate voltages, monitoring and usage by end devices, and to facilitating consumers in changing their energy usage behavior, and to adopt and easily install appropriate sustainable, energy efficient or renewable technologies. Said end devices typically including traditional electric, electronic and lighting appliances requiring AC or DC power provision or low voltage DC power via AC/DC converters.

Claims

1. An energy management and power provisioning system comprising:

an energy server including at least one power control device arranged to receive power from one or more power supplies and to integrate or convert available power supplies and provide a variable voltage DC network wherein the voltage can vary dynamically within a range;

at least one connector socket including a power delivery module connected to the variable voltage DC network, the power delivery module arranged to convert between the variable voltage and a set DC voltage or current for an end device or sub circuit connected to the connector socket via a connector plug, wherein the end device is an end device load, a local renewable energy supply, or local energy storage,

wherein at least one connector socket is constructed and arranged to detect end device load information by reading a key parameter for voltage and current requirements for the end device when plugged into the connector socket, and providing an appropriate voltage and current to the end device via power conversion by a power delivery module,

wherein at least one power control device is provided by an energy server, wherein the energy server is arranged to communicate with and control at least one power delivery module and receive load information of end devices on the variable voltage DC network, wherein the energy server is arranged to dynamically and selectively integrate or convert the available power supplies on the variable voltage DC network based on the overall current or expected usage load level of end devices on the variable voltage DC network, the availability of the power supplies, or the time of day.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the power control device is arranged to receive power from any combination of:

an external grid AC mains supply via a building fuse box converted to a DC voltage;

local power generation from local renewable supplies; and

,

local energy storage charged via the power control device from the AC mains supply or local renewable supply.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the energy server is a central unit to manage and control said power supplies, sub-circuits, further power control devices, connector sockets and end devices, and provide and mediate a DC power sub-circuit or variable voltage DC network.

4. A system according to claim 3, comprising an external grid AC mains supply via a building fuse box;

local power generation from local renewable supplies; and

, local energy storage resources,

wherein a power control device is arranged to selectively use the AC mains supply converted to a DC voltage, said local renewable supplies, or energy harvesting or renewable supplies connected to the variable voltage DC network to store energy in local storage resources, wherein said local energy storage resources can supply said variable voltage DC network or provide energy to supplement the AC mains supply.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the energy server provides at least one power delivery module that can receive power from said variable voltage DC network or from a local renewable resource, and can perform a power conversion via the power delivery module to provide an appropriate required output voltage and current to said connector socket or sockets to power end devices.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the energy server is arranged to vary the overall variable voltage DC level and or output load based on the overall current or expected usage load level of end devices on the variable voltage DC network.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein a power control device is provided by a Zone Energy Module (ZEM) that can receive power from a DC power sub-circuit or variable voltage DC network, or from back-up AC mains supply via an efficient AC/DC converter, or from local renewable resource, and provide DC power to a further DC power sub-circuit or to a plurality of connector sockets or end devices.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one power delivery module is provided by a Socket Unit arranged to receive power from a DC power sub-circuit or variable voltage DC network or local renewable resource, and can perform a power conversion via the power delivery module to provide an appropriate required output voltage and current to connector sockets to power end devices.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said connector sockets is constructed and arranged to accept and provide the appropriate voltage and current for a standard connector type.

10. A system according to claim 1, comprising a renewable supply or a local battery connected to a power control device to provide a DC power supply which can be incorporated into the variable voltage DC network.

11. A system according to claim 1, comprising:

sensing apparatus, software analysis means, and communication means, reporting means, for monitoring energy usage by said end devices, and further comprising at least some of;

sensors that track voltage, current or phase of electric supply;

calibration sensors that track interference or noise on electric circuits;

sensors that track water or gas utility use;

sensors that track status of end device use;

sensors that track environmental properties such as temperature;

communication between an energy server and power control devices or devices on DC sub-circuits;

sensing apparatus that may selectively attach or embed sensors, circuitry and communication in utility meters or overall fuse box level;

sensor apparatus in individual circuit breakers or RCD'"'"'s (residual current devices);

sensors embedded selectively in switches, sockets, storage, fuses, plugs, local renewable resources or end devices.

13. A method of installing an energy management and power provisioning system according to claim 1 to form an Energy Environment (EE) which re-uses existing household power circuitry wiring by disconnecting circuits (such as lighting circuits) from an AC mains supply or consumer unit (fuse box) and connecting said circuits to a power control device such as an energy server or Zone Energy Module (ZEM), to provide a DC sub-circuit, and to replace at least some of existing household light switch units with Socket Units to provide local DC connector sockets, and to replace light sockets with low power DC lighting such as LED or OLED lights.

12. An energy server, the energy server being connectable to available power supplies and being arranged to selectively use these supplies to mediate a variable voltage DC power circuit, wherein the voltage can dynamically vary within a range, to supply at least one of:

at least one power delivery module and at least one connector provided by the energy server, said power deliver module being connected to the variable voltage DC network arranged to convert the variable voltage to a set DC voltage or current for an end device or sub circuit and said connector being arranged to supply said DC voltage to said end device or sub circuit, wherein at least one connector socket is constructed and arranged to detect end device load information by reading a key parameter for voltage and current requirements from a connector plug when plugged into the connector socket, and providing an appropriate voltage and current via power conversion by a power delivery module; and

,

at least one connector for connecting the variable voltage DC power circuit to downstream power delivery control modules and connector sockets, Zone Energy Modules and Light Switch Socket Units,

wherein the energy server is arranged to communicate with and control at least one power delivery module and receive from the at least one power delivery module load information of end devices on the variable voltage DC network, wherein the energy server is arranged to dynamically and selectively integrate or convert the available power supplies on the variable voltage DC network based on the overall current or expected usage load level of end devices on the variable voltage DC network, the availability of the power supplies, or the time of day.