Alleviating solar energy congestion in the distribution grid via smart metering communications

• US 9,246,334 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Ansari, Nirwan, Lo, Chun-Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S
• Application Number:
  US13/661,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20140121849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 700/293, 700/295, 700/297, 705/412, 323/205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/10 The network having a local or delimited stationary reach
• 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: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• 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: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

Technologies are generally described for alleviating solar power congestion in a distribution grid via smart metering communications. According to some examples, a power network system supervised by utility operators may monitor and control grid-tied power generation modules associated with consumers to ensure the distribution grid is stable in terms of network capacity limit. A communications infrastructure including home area networks (HANs) and neighborhood area networks (NANs) between smart meters and utility control centers may facilitate power congestion management. Utility control centers (UCCs) in cooperation with smart meters or energy management units (EMUs) may selectively disconnect consumer power generation units to maintain the system reliability.

Claims

1. A method to manage a power congestion condition in a power grid through smart metering communications (SMC), the method comprising:

receiving energy profile information from a smart meter, wherein the smart meter is associated with units;

evaluating the energy profile information to identify a subset of the units, wherein the subset of the units have a power surplus during the power congestion condition;

identifying one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-increasing power demand (NID) for the subset of the units, wherein the NID increases a total value of a power demand that disregards associated power surplus by an addition of demand values in the ranked order of the power demand from P_D,1 to P_D,n, where P_D,n denotes the power demand for an n^th unit of the subset of the units; and

in response to an identification of the one or more of the subset of the units having a power surplus;

instructing the smart meter to disconnect the one or more of the subset of the units from the power grid; and

transitioning the smart meter into one of an islanded mode and a standby mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an expiration of the power congestion; and

instructing the smart meter associated with the one or more of the subset of the units that are disconnected to reconnect the one or more of the subset of the units to the power grid in response to a detection of the expiration of the power congestion.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a need for grid power at the one or more of the subset of the units; and

instructing the smart meter associated with the one or more of the subset of the units that are disconnected to reconnect the one or more of the subset of the units to the power grid in response to a detection of the need for the grid power.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the energy profile information comprises:

receiving the energy profile information periodically from the smart meter.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

selecting a period to receive the energy profile information from the smart meter based on one or more of a utility operation, a time of a day, and a day of a week; and

wherein receiving the energy profile information includes receiving the energy profile information during a time period that includes one or more of;

a morning of the day, an afternoon of the day, and an evening of the day.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating with a plurality of smart meters through a neighborhood area network (NAN) via one of a wired communication and a wireless communication.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the power congestion condition by:

determining the power congestion condition from the energy profile information based on a threshold for an available transfer capacity (ATC), wherein the ATC is computed as;

ATC=a total transfer capability (TTC)−

a transmission reliability margin (TRM)−

an existing transmission commitments (ETC), where the TTC defines an amount of power that can be transferred over the power grid to satisfy one or more security constraints, the TRM defines an amount of TTC to ensure a security of the power grid under a range of uncertainties in system conditions, and the ETC defines a retail customer service and a capacity benefit margin (CBM); and

determining the power congestion condition to satisfy the one or more security constraints of the smart meter, wherein the one or more security constraints include one or more of a thermal limit of the smart meter, a voltage limit of the smart meter, and a stability limit of the smart meter.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid includes:

determining the one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on determining and

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

determining a number of connected smart meters that can be achieved without exceeding a capacity constraint through use of;

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

assigning an energy efficiency to each of the one or more of the subset of the units on the power grid based on the energy profile information, wherein the energy profile information includes at least a power generation capacity and a power consumption capacity of each of the one or more of the subset of the units; and

ranking assigned energy efficiencies of the one or more of the subset of the units in a descending order; and

wherein identifying one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid includes determining the one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on the ranking.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more of the subset of the units includes one of a residential household and a commercial facility.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid includes:

identifying the one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-increasing power efficiency (NIE) for the subset of the units, wherein the NIE accumulates power demand values in the ranked order of an energy efficiency from n₁ to n_n, where n_n denotes the energy efficiency for the n^th unit of the subset of the units.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid includes:

identifying the one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-decreasing power surplus (NDS) for the subset of the units, wherein the NDS is configured to select as many of the subset of the units as possible while accumulating surplus values in the ranked order of a surplus power from P_S,1 to P_S,n, where P_S,n denotes surplus power for the n^th unit of the subset of the units.

14. A method to manage unit power consumption in a smart power grid through smart metering communications (SMC), the method comprising:

determining, at an energy management unit (EMU), a power consumption and a power generation within units through a communication with a power generation system and one or more appliances over a home area network (HAN);

determining an energy profile for the units based on the power consumption and the power generation;

transmitting the energy profile to a utility control center (UCC);

evaluating the energy profile to identify a subset of the units, wherein the subset of the units have a power surplus during a power congestion condition;

identifying one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-increasing power demand (NID) for the subset of the units, wherein the NID increases a total value of a power demand that disregards associated power surplus by an addition of demand values in the ranked order of the power demand from P_D,1 to P_D,n, where P_D,n denotes the power demand for an n^th unit of the subset of the units; and

disconnecting the one or more of the subset of the units from the power grid in response to receiving an instruction to disconnect from the UCC while the power grid is in the power congestion condition.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

in response to a detection of a disconnection of the one or more of the subset of the units;

determining if an increase in the power consumption of the units has occurred;

in response to a determination of the increase in the power consumption of the units, notifying the UCC with a request to reconnect to the power grid;

determining if a decrease in the power generation of the units has occurred; and

in response to a determination of the decrease in the power generation of the units, notifying the UCC with a request to reconnect to the power grid.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein transmitting the energy profile to the UCC comprises:

communicating with the UCC via one of the smart meter coupling the units to the power grid and a communication modem within the HAN through a neighborhood area network (NAN).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein transmitting the energy profile includes:

transmitting the energy profile periodically to the UCC based on a selected time period, wherein the selected time period is based on one or more of;

a utility operation, a time of a day, and a day of a week.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein determining the energy profile comprises:

monitoring the power consumption and the power generation within the one or more of the subset of the units by communicating with one or more a smart appliance, a thermostat, an AC disconnect unit of the one or more of the subset of the units, and the power generation system, wherein the power generation system includes one or more of a solar power generation system, a wind power generation system, and a biomass power generation system.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein determining the energy profile comprises:

determining the energy profile periodically during each day.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the instruction to disconnect is received after a disconnect decision made by the UCC, and wherein the disconnect decision is based on a ranked order of energy efficiency of the one or more of the subset of the units on the power grid.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the instruction to disconnect is received after a disconnect decision made by the UCC and is based on one or more of:

identifying the one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-increasing power efficiency (NIE) for the subset of the units, wherein the NIE accumulates power demand values in the ranked order of an energy efficiency from n₁ to n_n, where n_n denotes the energy efficiency for the n^th unit of the subset of the units; and

identifying the one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-decreasing power surplus (NDS) for the subset of the units, wherein the NDS is configured to select as many of the subset of the units as possible while accumulating surplus values in the ranked order of a surplus power from P_S,1 to P_S,n, where P_S,n denotes surplus power for the n^th unit of the subset of the units.

22. A utility control center (UCC) adapted to manage a power congestion condition in a power grid through smart metering communications (SMC), the UCC comprising:

a communication module configured to communicate with a smart meter through a neighborhood area network (NAN), wherein the smart meter is associated with units on the power grid; and

one or more processing units coupled to the communication module, wherein the one or more processing units are configured to;

receive energy profile information from the smart meter, wherein the smart meter is associated with units;

evaluate the energy profile information to identify a subset of the units, wherein the subset of the units have a power surplus during the power congestion condition;

identify one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-increasing power demand (NID) for the subset of the units, wherein the NID maximizes a total value of a power demand that disregards associated power surplus by an addition of demand values in the ranked order of the power demand from P_D,1 to P_D,n, where P_D,n denotes the power demand for an n^th unit of the subset of the units; and

in response to an identification of the one or more of the subset of the units having a power surplus;

instruct the smart meter to disconnect the one or more of the subset of the units from the power grid and transition the smart meter into one of an islanded mode and a standby mode.

23. The UCC according to claim 22, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

detect an expiration of the power congestion;

instruct the smart meter associated with the one or more of the subset of the units that are disconnected to reconnect the one or more of the subset of the units to the power grid in response to a detection of the expiration of the power congestion;

detect a need for grid power at the one or more of the subset of the units; and

instruct the smart meter associated with one or more of the subset of the units that are disconnected to reconnect the one or more of the subset of the units to the power grid upon a detection of the need for grid power.

24. The UCC according to claim 22, wherein the one or more processing units are configured to:

receive the energy profile information periodically from the smart meter; and

select a time period to receive the energy profile information from the smart meter based on one or more of a utility operation, a time of a day, and a day of a week.

25. The UCC according to claim 22, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

assign an energy efficiency to each of the one or more of the subset of the units on the power grid based on a power generation capacity and a power consumption capacity of each of the units.

26. The UCC according to claim 22, wherein the one or more processing units are configured in one of a centralized architecture and a distributed architecture.

27. An apparatus adapted to manage unit power consumption in a smart power grid through smart metering communications (SMC), the apparatus comprising:

a communication module configured to communicate with a power generation system and one or more appliances over a home area network (HAN) associated with units; and

a processor coupled to the communication module, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a power consumption and a power generation within the units through communication with the power generation system and the one or more appliances over the HAN;

determine an energy profile for the units based on the power consumption and the power generation;

transmit the energy profile to a utility control center (UCC) so as to enable the UCC to;

evaluate the energy profile to identify a subset of the units, wherein the subset of the units have a power surplus during a power congestion condition;

identify one or more of the subset of the units to disconnect from the power grid based on a ranked order of a non-increasing power demand (NID) for the subset of the units, wherein the NID increases a total value of a power demand that disregards associated power surplus by an addition of demand values in the ranked order of the power demand from P_D,1 to P_D,n, where P_D,n denotes the power demand for an n^th unit of the subset of the units; and

disconnect the one or more of the subset of the units from the power grid in response to receiving an instruction to disconnect from the UCC while the power grid is in the power congestion condition.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the apparatus is one of a smart meter and an energy management unit (EMU).

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to a detection of a disconnection of the one or more of the subset of the units,

determine if an increase in the power consumption of the one or more of the subset of the units has occurred;

in response to a determination of the increase in the power consumption of the one or more of the subset of the units, notify the UCC with a request to reconnect to the power grid;

determine if a decrease in the power generation of the one or more of the subset of the units has occurred; and

in response to a determination of the decrease in the power generation of the one or more of the units, notify the UCC with the request to reconnect to the power grid.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine one of an increase in a consumption of the unit power and a decrease in a generation of the unit power;

in response to a determination of one of the increase in the consumption of the unit power and the decrease in the generation of the unit power, notify the UCC with a request to reconnect to the power grid;

receive a reply from the UCC that includes a price quote;

in response to a determination that the price quote is acceptable, transmit an agreement response to the UCC; and

store a range of acceptable price quotes based on a time-of-day.

31. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to:

notify the UCC with a price quote for the power surplus to be supplied to the power grid; and

in response to a reply that includes an acceptance, provide the power surplus to the power grid.