Method and apparatus for actively managing electric power over an electric power grid

• US 9,207,698 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, Jay
• Application Number:
  US13/528,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/84 Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/845 Inventory and reporting systems for greenhouse gases [GHG]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing power supplied over an electric power grid by an electric utility and/or other market participants to multiple power consuming devices, each of which having a Power Supply Value (PSV) associated with its energy consumption and/or reduction in consumption. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled, or power-reduced thereto, by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. Power control messages from a controlling server indicate amounts of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable or reduce a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.

Claims

1. A system for managing power on an electric power grid that is constructed and configured for supplying and receiving power from a multiplicity of sources, where the power flows to a plurality of power consuming devices or is generated by a plurality of power generation and storage solutions that are energized, de-energized, and/or power-reduced by a plurality of controllable devices, the system comprising:

a server comprising a command processor operable to receive or initiate power control commands and issue power control event messages responsive thereto, at least one of the power control commands requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

an event manager operable to receive the power control event messages, maintain at least one power management status relating to each client device and issue power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages that may be initiated from a market participant, a utility, or an electric grid operator;

a database for storing information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices and generating a Power Supply Value (PSV) for each of the plurality of power consuming devices based upon historical consumption, real-time consumption and baseline consumption data for each of the plurality of power consuming devices;

wherein the PSV is a monetary supply equivalent value; and

wherein the PSV provides for a curtailment value as a requirement for providing supply to the power grid;

a client device manager in communication with the event manager and the database, the client device manager selecting from the database, based on the PSV for each of the plurality of power consuming devices, at least one client device to which to issue a power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power or reduce settings corresponding to power consumption to one or more associated power consuming devices responsive to receipt of a power control event instruction requiring a reduction in a specified amount of electric power; and

a device control manager in communication with the at least one controllable device for issuing a power control instruction to the at least one controllable device responsive to the received power control message;

wherein the power control instruction causes the at least one controllable device to selectively disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device for reducing consumed power; and

wherein the system is operable for providing operating reserves for grid stability of the electric power grid; and

wherein the system is operable for providing operating reserves based upon the reduction in the specified amount of electric power, by aggregating the PSV of each of the plurality of the power consuming devices to provide at least one Power Trade Block (PTB) unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein information stored in the database further includes a status of the power consuming device(s).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the specified amount of electric power corresponds to required operating reserves relating to an energy management system (EMS).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the event manager, the client device manager, and the device control manager are integrated with each of the controllable device(s).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the event manager, the client device manager, and the device control manager are constructed and configured in integrated communication with each of the controllable device(s).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the event manager, the client device manager, and the device control manager are constructed and configured within the housing of each of the controllable device(s), and operably coupled thereto, and to each other.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the event manager, the client device manager, and the device control manager are constructed and configured external to the housing of each of the controllable device(s), and operably coupled thereto, and external to the housing of and operably coupled with each other.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the event manager, the client device manager, and the device control manager are constructed and configured external to the housing of each of the controllable device(s), and in electronic communication therewith.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the event manager, the client device manager, and the device control manager is operably coupled with one another and/or the controllable device(s).

10. The system of claim 1, wherein for each of the controllable device(s) the server generates a second power supply value (PSV) corresponding to the reduction in consumed power.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for providing revenue grade metrology for real-time, near real-time, or the timing required by the grid operator entity for generating operating reserves for grid stability.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for providing revenue grade metrology for real-time, near real-time, or the timing required by the grid operator entity for generating operating reserves for grid stability, whether the compensation for generating the operating reserves is settled in real time or later.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for providing telemetry for communication of revenue grade metrology for real-time, near real-time, or the timing required by the utilities, market participants and grid operators for generating operating reserves for grid stability.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the event manager aggregates the power supply values corresponding to the power consuming devices.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply value (PSV) associated with each of the power consuming device(s) is determined based upon requirements from a governing authority for the electric power grid for meeting the minimum requirements for the operating reserves for the electric grid.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the client device manager is responsive to provide stability for the electric grid.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control commands include a power inquiry command requesting the server to determine an amount of electric power available for temporary reduction from supply by a requesting electric utility, market participant or electric power grid operator(s) and wherein the command processor issues an associated power control event message responsive to the power inquiry command, the server further comprising:

a utility database that stores current power usage information for the at least one electric utility or electric power grid operator(s), wherein the event manager accesses the utility database responsive to receipt of the associated power control event message and communicates a response to the power inquiry command indicating the amount of power available for temporary reduction based on the current power usage information and a corresponding Power Supply Value (PSV).

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the amount of power available for temporary reduction based on the current power usage information and the corresponding PSV is provided in a minimum power trading block (PTB), wherein the minimum PTB is determined by the governing body for electric power grid.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the amount of power available for temporary reduction based on the current power usage information and the corresponding PSV is aggregated to form a minimum PTB, wherein the minimum PTB is determined by the governing body for electric power grid.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the amount of power available for temporary reduction based on the current power usage information and the corresponding PSV is aggregated to form at least one PTB, and the power provided to the electric power grid as operating reserves.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the client device manager receives from each client device at least one power consumption indicator and at least one power management status.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein customer profiles include PSV and PTB information.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein customer profiles, status and ability to change states are generated based upon instructions provided by market participants to any web-enabled device through an interface.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further includes information, on a per controllable device basis, relating to a maximum amount of time during which flow of electric power may be disabled or reduced by a particular controllable device.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further includes information, on a per client device basis, relating to a maximum amount of time during which flow of electric power may be disabled or reduced by the at least one controllable device.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power savings application that computes a total amount of electric power saved by each customer participating in the system during a power reduction event, as well as PSV, PTB, or combinations thereof.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a carbon savings application that determines an amount of carbon saved by the customer during the power reduction event affecting the customer based on the amount of electric power saved by the customer as computed by the power savings application.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the power savings application further computes an amount of electric power saved by an electric utility, a market participant or electric power grid operator(s) participating in the system during a power reduction event affecting the electric utility, a market participant or electric power grid operator(s).

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a carbon savings application that determines an amount of carbon saved by the electric utility or electric power grid operator(s) during the power reduction event affecting the electric utility or electric power grid operator(s) based on the amount of electric power saved by the electric utility, the market participant or electric power grid operator(s) as computed by the power savings application and computed to the Power Supply Value.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a client interface that facilitates communication of the power control message to the at least one client device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the client interface comprises an IP-based interface.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the IP-based interface is selected from the group consisting essentially of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Evolution for Data Only (EVDO), Long Term Evolution (LTE), any first or second generation wireless transport method such as EDGE, or Code Division Multiple Access, Ethernet, any proprietary Layer 1-3 protocol that contains or is capable of transporting an Internet Protocol message, and combinations thereof.

33. The system of claim 1, where the power control message contains a derived Power Supply Value that meets the minimum requirements for measurement, verification and reporting accuracy as determined by the Governing Entity that regulates the operation of the electric power grid that includes utilities, market participants and/or grid operators.

34. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a security interface operable to receive security system messages from at least one remotely-located security system; and

a security device manager coupled to the security interface and operable to route the security system messages to at least one external security service based on predetermined messaging options.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the security interface is standards based as determined by the governing entity that regulates grid operations for utilities, market participants or grid operators.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the predetermined messaging options are established on a per customer or per security service basis and are included in program instructions that control operation of the security device manager.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the predetermined messaging options include at least one of sending an email, pre-recorded voice call through a plurality of voice networks (landline, wireless, paging, or IP) or text message alert to an appropriate security service company upon occurrence of a security event and passing a received security system message directly onto an appropriate security service company.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein control messages have a priority of delivery consisting of a plurality of methods to include priority access flags, virtual private networks, independent identifying addresses (MAC, IP, Electronic Serial Numbers), manufacturers specific identifying codes, or combinations thereof, wherein the methods comply with standards as determined by the governing entity that regulates grid operations for utilities, market participants or grid operators.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes at least one mobile device having at least one access point name (APN) for providing a priority of delivery for the control messages.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power consuming devices are operated by at least one customer of the at least one electric utility, market participant, or electric power grid operator(s), the server further comprising:

a customer sign up application operable to receive load management preferences from the at least one customer, wherein the load management preferences include parameters for managing power consumption by the plurality of power consuming devices.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the load management preferences further include indications as to whether the at least one customer desires to receive a notification when a power management event occurs affecting one or more of the plurality of power consuming devices.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the system utilizes some or all of the information provided by the grid operator, market participant, or utility to automatically or manually through a plurality of communications methods (smart phone, computer, text response, phone message) elect to curtail or consume power to effect a change to the normal operation of a plurality of power consuming power devices in exchange for credits, economic/monetary incentives, rewards programs, or carbon/green credits.

43. The system of claim 42, further comprising:

a master event manager operable and responsive to issuance of the power control message or responsive to a 3^rd party server that manages the stability, of the electric grid to notify one or more customers operating one or more power consuming devices affected by the power control message that a power management event is in process based on the load management preferences of the one or more customers.

44. The system of claim 1, further including a mobile processor, memory, stored database and standards based messaging interfaces to communicate directly with power consuming devices or power supply devices that program consumer preferences or pre-determined programs established by a utility, market participant, grid operator, or consumer at the point of installation.

45. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power consuming devices are operated by at least one customer of the at least one electric utility, grid operator, micro-grid operator, and/or other market participant as defined by a governing agency that oversees grid operations, the server further comprising:

a customer sign up application operable to receive load management preferences from the at least one customer, wherein the load management preferences include parameters for managing power consumption by the plurality of power consuming devices during power management events.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein a power supply value (PSV) indicates a compensation provided for power supply associated with the curtailment.

47. The system of claim 46, further including aggregation of PSV from a multiplicity of power consuming devices to form at least one PTB, and wherein the compensation is based upon operating reserves created and market pricing for those reserves.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the compensation includes capacity compensation, energy compensation, operating reserves compensation to include ancillary services and other grid stabilizing services, including voltage support, black start, cold load pick up, conservation voltage reduction, and/or any other reserve or embodiment of operating reserves created by the system.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the power supply value (PSV) is generated based upon requirements of a governing entity for the power grid operating region and operational regulations.

50. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of a controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.

51. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communications interface facilitating communications between the load management server and the client device, wherein the device control manager communicates at least one power consumption indicator, the PSV, and at least one power management status to the load management server via the communications interface.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the at least one power consumption indicator includes a power consumption indicator associated with each controllable device and wherein the at least one power management status includes a power management status associated with each controllable device.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the communications interface comprises an IP-based interface.

54. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control message includes Internet Protocol addresses of one or more controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.

55. The client device of claim 54, further comprising:

a Layer-3 router operable to receive an Internet Protocol (IP) message that includes an IP address and determine whether the IP message is directed to the client device or an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device; and

an IP device interface, coupled to the Layer-3 router, that receives the IP message from the Layer-3 router when the IP message is directed to an Internet-accessible device coupled to the client device and communicates the IP message to the Internet-accessible device.

56. A method for managing power on an electric power grid that is constructed and configured for supplying and receiving power from a multiplicity of sources, where the power flows to a plurality of power consuming devices or is generated by a plurality of power generation and storage solutions that are energized, de-energized, and/or power-reduced by a plurality of controllable devices, the method steps comprising:

initiating power control commands and issuing power control event messages responsive thereto by a server, wherein at least one of the power control commands requires a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices;

receiving the power control event messages by an event manager, including at least one power management status relating to each client device, and issuing power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages;

storing in a database, information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices and generating a Power Supply Value (PSV) based upon historical consumption, real-time consumption and baseline consumption data for each of the plurality of power consuming devices;

wherein the PSV is a monetary supply equivalent value; and

wherein the PSV provides for a curtailment value as a requirement for providing supply to the power grid;

selecting by a client device manager from the database, based on the PSV for each of the plurality of power consuming devices, at least one client device to which to issue a power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to, or reducing the amount of power consumed by, one or more associated power consuming devices responsive to receipt of a power control event instruction requiring a reduction in a specified amount of electric power;

issuing a power control instruction by a device control manager to the at least one controllable device, responsive to the received power control message; and

the power control instruction causing the at least one controllable device to disable the flow of electric power to, or reduce the power consumed by, at least one associated power consuming device for reducing consumed power,

thereby generating operating reserves for grid stability based upon the amount of reduction of power consumed by the power consuming device(s); and

wherein the method is operable for providing operating reserves based upon the reduction in the specified amount of electric power, by aggregating the PSV of each of the plurality of the power consuming devices to provide at least one Power Trade Block PTB unit.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of:

based upon the reduction in consumed power, generating a second power supply value (PSV) corresponding to the reduction in consumed power.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the power control event messages are based upon inputs initiated from a market participant, a utility, or an electric grid operator.

59. An apparatus for use in managing power on an electric power grid that is constructed and configured for supplying and receiving power from a multiplicity of sources, wherein the power flows to a plurality of power consuming devices or is generated by a plurality of power generation and storage solutions that are energized, de-energized, and/or power-reduced by a plurality of controllable devices, the apparatus comprising:

an event manager and a client device manager constructed and configured in communication with a device control manager;

wherein the event manager, client device manager and the device control manager are constructed and configured for communication with a server comprising a command processor operable to receive or initiate power control commands and issue power control event messages responsive thereto, at least one of the power control commands requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices; and

wherein the event manager, client device manager and the device control manager are constructed and configured for communication with a database for storing information including at least one power management status relating to each client device and generating a Power Supply Value (PSV) based on historical consumption, real-time consumption and baseline consumption data for each of the plurality of power consuming devices, and the event manager is operable to issue power control event instructions responsive to the power control event messages;

wherein the PSV is a monetary supply equivalent value; and

wherein the PSV provides for a curtailment value as a requirement for providing supply to the power grid; and

wherein the client device manager is operable for communication with an event manager and a database, the client device manager operable for selecting from the database, based on the PSV for each of the plurality of power consuming devices, at least one client device to which to issue a power control message indicating at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power or reduce settings corresponding to power consumption to one or more associated power consuming devices responsive to receipt of a power control event instruction requiring a reduction in a specified amount of electric power;

the power control instructions operable for causing the at least one controllable device to selectively enable and disable a flow of power to the power consuming device(s); and

wherein the device control manager operates in communication with the at least one controllable device for issuing a power control instruction to the at least one controllable device, responsive to the received power control message, the power control instruction causing the controllable device(s) to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device for reducing consumed power, and based upon the reduction in consumed power, wherein the reduction in consumed power provides operating reserves for grid stability for the electric power grid; and

wherein the event manager, client device manager and the device control manager are operable for providing operating reserves based upon the reduction in the specified amount of electric power, by aggregating the PSV of each of the plurality of the power consuming devices to provide at least one Power Trade Block (PTB) unit.