System and method for improving grid efficiency utilizing statistical distribution control

• US 9,203,239 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greener-Ice Spv, LLC
• Original Assignee: Greener-Ice Spv, LLC
• Inventors: Parsonnet, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US13/481,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20130134780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 307/31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• 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 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for improving grid efficiency, reliability, security and capacity, utilizing energy storage over a plurality of on-site energy storing appliances, and also utilizing on-site demand reduction devices lacking storage, all controlled via configuration settings with a local means to act independently, yet in statistical coordination, to provide a desired effect. The appliance and controller are located on the downstream side of the end-users power meter, and facilitates the utilization of the stored energy and manages the optimal timing for producing and delivering the stored energy to the end-user. This model demonstrates a utility driven, disaggregated, distributed energy system, where the distributed energy resource is designed to behave as an offset to the predictable daily electrical demand profile.

Claims

1. An electric controller capable of independently operating an electric appliance comprising:

said controller that controls a standard operation mode and an alternate operation mode of said appliance, said controller that provides information for the timing of said standard operation mode and said alternate operation mode of said appliance by execution of operational commands for said appliance, said controller that autonomously acts in statistical coordination with additional said controllers on a plurality of said appliances that collectively provide a desired load offset to improve anticipated electric power grid conditions.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

an energy storage module that converts electric energy to another form of energy and stores said energy in a charging mode, said controller that utilizes said stored energy in said alternate operation mode to supplement the electric energy needed for said appliance to perform approximately the same function as said standard operation mode, thereby reducing an end-user'"'"'s demand for said electric energy during said alternate operation mode.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said energy storage module stores energy in the form of thermal energy, mechanical energy, chemical energy, or electrical energy.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said energy storage module stores energy during periods of low electrical demand.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said controller controls a plurality of said energy storage modules.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said appliance is an end-use load asset.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said appliance is a storage asset.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the initiation of said alternate operation mode of said device is triggered in response to at least one of the following references from the group consisting of:

preprogrammed timing data, preprogrammed algorithms, time, daylight, ambient temperature, sun position, supplied power quality, power consumption, energy demand, energy consumption, utility load profile, utility supplied signal, historic usage patterns, historic grid load patterns, season, calendar, and day of week.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said electric appliance is from the group consisting of:

a residential appliance, a commercial appliance, a cooling based appliance, a heating based appliance, an electronic appliance, an electric appliance, a lighting appliance, a mechanical appliance, an oven, a water heater, a furnace, a clothes dryer, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a freezer, a vending machine, a water cooler, a computer, an electric vehicle and a battery storage bank.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of autonomous said devices acts to collectively produce a desired net load effect.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the initiation of said alternate operation mode of each said device is triggered based upon an offset to a reference point, said offset for each said device that is timed in a statistical distribution so that said plurality collectively reduces daily peak load of said electric power grid conditions.

12. An electric appliance capable of operating using standard line voltage AC electricity supplied by an electric power grid in a standard operation mode, capable of storing said AC electricity in another form of energy in a charging mode, and operating using said energy stored with the appliance in an alternate operation mode comprising:

an energy storage module that converts said AC electric energy to said another form of energy and stores said another form of energy to create stored energy in said charging mode, said appliance that utilizes said stored energy to operate said appliance in said alternate operation mode to perform approximately the same function as said standard operation mode, thereby reducing an end-user'"'"'s demand for said electric energy during said alternate operation mode;

a controller that independently controls said standard operation mode, said charging mode and said alternate operation mode of said appliance, said controller that contains information for the timing of said standard operation mode, said charging mode and said alternate operation mode of said appliance by execution of operational commands for said appliance, said controller that acts autonomously in statistical coordination with additional said controllers on a plurality of said appliances that collectively provide a desired load offset to improve anticipated electric power grid conditions.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said energy storage module stores energy in the form of thermal energy, mechanical energy, chemical energy, or electrical energy.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said energy storage module stores energy during periods of low electrical demand.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein said controller controls a plurality of said energy storage modules.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein said appliance is an end-use load asset.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said appliance is a storage asset.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the initiation of said alternate operation mode of said device is triggered in response to at least one of the following references from the group consisting of:

preprogrammed timing data, preprogrammed algorithms, time, daylight, ambient temperature, sun position, supplied power quality, power consumption, energy demand, energy consumption, utility load profile, utility supplied signal, historic usage patterns, historic grid load patterns, season, calendar, and day of week.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein said electric appliance is from the group consisting of:

a residential appliance, a commercial appliance, a cooling based appliance, a heating based appliance, an electronic appliance, an electric appliance, a lighting appliance, a mechanical appliance, an oven, a water heater, a furnace, a clothes dryer, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a freezer, a vending machine, a water cooler, a computer, an electric vehicle and a battery storage bank.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein a plurality of autonomous said devices acts to collectively produce a desired net load effect.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the initiation of said alternate operation mode of each said device is triggered based upon an offset to a reference point, said offset for each said device that is timed in a statistical distribution so that said plurality collectively reduces daily peak load of said electric power grid conditions.

22. An electric appliance capable of operating using standard line voltage AC electricity in a standard operation mode and operating using energy stored with the appliance in an alternate operation mode comprising:

a thermal energy storage module that converts electric energy to thermal energy and stores said thermal energy in a charging mode, said appliance that utilizes said stored thermal energy to change the temperature within or outside of said appliance in said alternate operation mode thereby reducing an end-user'"'"'s demand for said electric energy during said alternate operation mode;

a controller that independently controls operation of said thermal energy storage unit and controls said conversion of said electric energy to said thermal energy and supply of said heating or said cooling of said appliance based upon execution of operational commands, said controller that contains information for the timing of said operational commands and that acts autonomously in statistical coordination with additional said controllers on a plurality of said appliances that collectively provide a desired load offset to improve anticipated electric power grid conditions.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said charging mode is during a period of low electrical demand.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the initiation of said alternate operation mode of said device is triggered in response to at least one of the following references from the group consisting of:

preprogrammed timing data, preprogrammed algorithms, time, daylight, ambient temperature, sun position, supplied power quality, power consumption, energy demand, energy consumption, utility load profile, utility supplied signal, historic usage patterns, historic grid load patterns, season, calendar, and day of week.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said plurality of appliances acts to collectively produce a desired net load effect.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the initiation of said alternate operation mode of each said appliance is triggered based upon an offset to a reference point, said offset for each said appliance that is timed in a statistical distribution so that said plurality of appliances collectively reduces daily peak load of said electric power grid conditions.

27. A method of controlling an electric appliance comprising:

controlling the operation of said electric appliance with a controller associated with said electric appliance;

executing operational commands for switching modes of operation of said electrical appliance based upon information within said controller or directly assessed locally by said controller, between a standard operation mode and an alternate operation mode of said electric appliance, said alternate operation mode that reduces the demand for said electricity from said electric appliance;

timing said standard operation mode and said alternate operation mode based upon trigger points relating to electric power grid conditions;

providing a desired load offset to improve electrical power grid conditions with the cumulative net effect of a plurality of individual said storage appliances operating autonomously in statistical coordination to collectively reduce daily peak load of said electric power grid conditions.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step:

facilitating said alternate operation mode of said electric appliances with AC electric energy that has been converted to another form of energy and stored with an energy storage module in a charging mode.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step:

converting said AC electric energy and storing said energy in the form of thermal energy, mechanical energy, chemical energy, or electrical energy.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step:

storing said energy with said energy storage module during periods of low electrical demand.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step:

controlling a plurality of said energy storage modules with said controller.

32. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step:

controlling the operation of said electric appliance wherein said appliance is an end-use load asset.

33. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step:

controlling the operation of said electric appliance wherein said appliance is a storage asset.

34. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step:

initiating said standard operation mode and said alternate operation mode of said device by at least one of the following said trigger points from the group consisting of;

preprogrammed timing data, preprogrammed algorithms, time, daylight, ambient temperature, sun position, supplied power quality, power consumption, energy demand, energy consumption, utility load profile, utility supplied signal, historic usage patterns, historic grid load patterns, season, calendar, and day of week.

35. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step:

controlling the operation of said electric appliance wherein said electric appliance is from the group consisting of;

a residential appliance, a commercial appliance, a cooling based appliance, a heating based appliance, an electronic appliance, an electric appliance, a lighting appliance, a mechanical appliance, an oven, a water heater, a furnace, a clothes dryer, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a freezer, a vending machine, a water cooler, a computer, an electric vehicle and a battery storage bank.

36. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step:

controlling said plurality of said electric appliances that act to collectively produce a desired net load effect.

37. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step:

initiating said trigger points of said operation modes of said plurality of individual said storage appliances based upon an offset to a reference point;

timing said offset for each said storage appliances to act in statistical coordination with other said storage appliances so that said plurality collectively provide a desired load offset to improve anticipated electric power grid conditions.

38. A method of improving the efficiency, reliability and capacity of an electric power grid containing a multitude of standard electric appliances capable of operating using AC electricity in a standard operation mode comprising:

providing a plurality of stored electric appliances within a power distribution network of said electric power grid, said stored electric appliances capable of operating in said standard operation mode, capable of storing said AC electricity in another form of energy in a charging mode, and capable of operating using said energy stored in said charging mode in a stored operation mode;

supplying AC power to said multitude of standard electric appliances and said plurality of stored electric appliances;

operating said multitude of standard electric appliances in a standard operation mode with said AC electricity;

operating at least a portion of said plurality of stored electric appliances in a standard operation mode with said AC electricity;

charging at least a portion of said plurality of stored electric appliances in a charging mode by converting said AC electric energy to said another form of energy and storing said another form of energy with an energy storage module associated with said stored electric appliances to create stored energy;

operating at least a portion of said plurality of said stored appliances in a stored operation mode for a period of time with said stored energy thereby reducing said demand for said AC electricity from said stored appliances during said time period;

controlling said standard operation mode, said charging mode and said stored operation mode of said stored appliances with a controller that contains information for executing operational commands for said storage appliance;

timing said standard operation mode, said charging mode and said stored operation mode of each said stored electric appliance such that the net cumulative effect of individual said stored electric appliances of said plurality of said stored appliances act autonomously in statistical coordination to collectively provide a desired load offset to improve electric power grid conditions.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step:

converting said AC electric energy and storing said energy in the form of thermal energy, mechanical energy, chemical energy, or electrical energy.

40. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step:

storing said energy with said energy storage module during periods of low electrical demand.

41. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step:

initiating said standard operation mode and said alternate operation mode of said device by at least one of the following trigger points from the group consisting of;

preprogrammed timing data, preprogrammed algorithms, time, daylight, ambient temperature, sun position, supplied power quality, power consumption, energy demand, energy consumption, utility load profile, utility supplied signal, historic usage patterns, historic grid load patterns, season, calendar, and day of week.

42. A system for improving the efficiency, reliability and capacity of an electric power grid containing a multitude of standard electric appliances capable of operating using AC electricity in a standard operation mode comprising:

a means for providing a plurality of stored electric appliances within a power distribution network of said electric power grid, said stored electric appliances capable of operating in said standard operation mode, capable of storing said AC electricity in another form of energy in a charging mode, and capable of operating using said energy stored in said charging mode in a stored operation mode;

a means for supplying AC power to said multitude of standard electric appliances and said plurality of stored electric appliances;

a means for operating said multitude of standard electric appliances in a standard operation mode with said AC electricity;

a means for operating at least a portion of said plurality of stored electric appliances in a standard operation mode with said AC electricity;

a means for charging at least a portion of said plurality of stored electric appliances in a charging mode by converting said AC electric energy to said another form of energy and storing said another form of energy with an energy storage module associated with said stored electric appliances to create stored energy;

a means for operating at least a portion of said plurality of said stored appliances in a stored operation mode for a period of time with said stored energy thereby reducing said demand for said AC electricity from said stored appliances during said time period;

a means for controlling said standard operation mode, said charging mode and said stored operation mode of said stored appliances with a controller that contains information for executing operational commands for said storage appliance;

a means for timing said standard operation mode, said charging mode and said stored operation mode of each said stored electric appliance such that the net cumulative effect of individual said stored electric appliances of said plurality of said stored appliances act autonomously in statistical coordination to collectively provide a desired load offset to improve electric power grid conditions.