Systems and methods for optimizing microgrid power generation and management with predictive modeling

• US 8,862,279 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Darden, Thomas Francis II, Szyperski, James Kevin, Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US13/247,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291, 700/295
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/048 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/004 Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/12 Monitoring or controlling equipment for energy generation units, e.g. distributed energy generation [DER] or load-side generation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

Systems and methods for coordinating selective activation of a multiplicity of emergency power generation equipment over a predetermined geographic area for distribution and/or storage to supply a microgrid of electrical power for a substantially similar geographic area.

Claims

1. A method for optimized power generation and management comprising the steps of:

providing a microgrid distributed power generation system including at least one power generation equipment for generating electrical power located at predetermined, distributed locations for providing emergency back-up power supply for use at the locations of power generation;

providing a Price Resource Management System (PRMS) connected to the at least one power generation equipment, the PRMS providing predictive modeling, and the PRMS further including;

storing, monitoring and analyzing the real-time wholesale energy market price for use with the predictive modeling for optimized power generation timing, management, storage, and distribution to a micro grid;

an analyzing device for storing and analyzing the real-time wholesale energy market price, and on a per power storage device basis, data indicative of the electricity remaining in the power storage device;

at least one server computer, located centrally or distributed over a network, for monitoring and being responsive to the real-time wholesale energy market price fluctuation analysis analyzed for use with the predictive modeling, and operable for automatically generating event instructions to a controllable device based on the predictive modeling of the real-time wholesale energy market price for automatically releasing electrical power to the power grid for distribution when the real-time wholesale energy market price is at least at a predetermined threshold(s);

a device interface for facilitating and producing communication of power releasing instructions to at least one controllable device on the power storage device;

at least one controllable device associated with and preferably connected to the at least one power generator and electricity storage device, wherein each controllable device is operable for automatically selectively enabling and disabling the flow of electric power to an electric microgrid, for distribution to the grid or the microgrid; and

selectively activating the power generation equipment to produce electricity for distribution over the microgrid and/or for storage until later distribution via the microgrid.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the at least one server computer automatically coordinating selective activation of a multiplicity of emergency power generation equipment over a predetermined geographic area for distribution and/or storage to supply a microgrid of electrical power using a PRMS-based optimization timing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment to occur at PRMS-based optimization timing based upon factors including when the real-time wholesale energy market price is at least at a predetermined threshold, changes in energy pricing, peak demand for energy from the microgrid, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per week.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per month.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further includes an automated remote controller for activating the at least one piece of equipment based upon instruction received by the controller from the remote server computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further includes a remote server computer in networked communication with the at least one piece of equipment for monitoring the status of the equipment and for activating the equipment remotely.

9. A system for microgrid distributed power generation and management comprising:

a multiplicity of power generation equipment located at predetermined, distributed locations for providing emergency back-up power supply for use in situs, without distribution of the electrical power beyond the locality where it is generated; and

a Price Resource Management System (PRMS) connected to the at least one power generation equipment, further including;

storing, monitoring and analyzing the real-time wholesale energy market price for use with the predictive modeling for optimized power generation timing, management, storage, and distribution to a micro grid;

an analyzing device for storing and analyzing real-time wholesale energy market price, and on a per power storage device basis, data indicative of the electricity remaining in the power storage device;

at least one server computer, located centrally or distributed over a network for monitoring and being responsive to the real-time wholesale energy market price fluctuation analysis analyzed for use with the predictive modeling, and operable for automatically generating event instructions to a controllable device based on the predictive modeling of the real-time wholesale energy market price for automatically releasing electrical power to the power grid for distribution when the real-time wholesale energy market price is at least at a predetermined threshold;

a device interface for facilitating and producing communication of power releasing instructions to at least one controllable device on the power storage device;

at least one controllable device associated with and preferably connected to the at least one power generator and/or electricity storage device, wherein each controllable device is operable for automatically selectively enabling and disabling the flow of electric power from the at least one power generator or electric storage to an electric microgrid, for distribution; and

selectively activating the power generation equipment to produce electricity for distribution over the microgrid, wherein the equipment is remotely, selectively, and automatically activatable when the real-time wholesale energy market price is at a predetermined threshold, and constructed and configured in connection with an electrical power microgrid.

10. The system of claim 9, further including more than one power generation equipment that is operable for coordinated, selective activation.

11. The system of claim 9, further including a multiplicity of emergency power generation equipment positioned apart over a predetermined geographic area for distribution and/or storage to supply a microgrid of electrical power.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one equipment is automatically selectively activatable at predetermined times based upon the PRMS-based model.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one equipment is selectively activatable during periods when the electrical grid experiences high demand for power supply.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server computer includes a remote server computer that is operable in networked communication with the at least one piece of equipment for monitoring the status of the equipment and for activating the equipment remotely based upon triggers identified by the PRMS.