System, method, and apparatus for electric power grid and network management of grid elements

• US 10,651,682 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2017
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Jr., Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US15/670,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20170338692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 700287-297
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0255 the criterion being a time-optimal performance criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40458 Grid adaptive optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• 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 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/10 Power transmission or distribution systems management focussing at grid-level, e.g. load flow analysis, node profile computation, meshed network optimisation, active network management or spinning reserve management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for smart electric power grid communication are disclosed in the present invention. At least one grid element transmits at least one registration message over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network to at least one coordinator. The at least one coordinator registers the at least one grid element upon receipt of the at least one registration message. The at least one grid element automatically and/or autonomously transforms into at least one active grid element for actively functioning in the electric power grid. The at least one coordinator tracks based on revenue grade metrology an amount of power available for the electric power grid or a curtailment power available from the at least one active grid element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for smart electric power grid communication, comprising:

a coordinator operable to receive at least one registration message from at least one grid element over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network and register the at least one grid element based on a reception of the at least one registration message;

wherein the at least one grid element is operable to automatically transform into at least one active grid element for functioning in the electric power grid upon registration of the at least one grid element by the coordinator;

wherein the coordinator is operable to transmit at least one message to the at least one active grid element;

wherein the coordinator is operable to provide a priority flag on the at least one message;

wherein the at least one active grid element has a profile comprising an energy supply pattern or an energy usage pattern;

wherein the coordinator is operable to track, based on revenue grade metrology, an amount of power supply available for the electric power grid or a curtailment power available from the at least one active grid element;

wherein the profile includes an amount of power to be consumed, supplied, or curtailed by the at least one active grid element;

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable for cross-communication that provides for the at least one active grid element to transmit commands to at least one other active grid element associated with the electric power grid over the IP-based network; and

wherein the functioning in the electric power grid includes;

consuming electric power from the electric power grid;

curtailing power consumption from the electric power grid;

supplying power to the electric power grid;

measuring power relating to the electric power grid;

providing operating reserves; and

improving settlement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coordinator is operable to communicate with a database, and wherein the transformation of the at least one grid element into the at least one active grid element is registered in the database.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amount of power supply available for the electric power grid or a curtailment power available from the at least one active grid element is aggregated to provide at least one power trading block (PTB) for settlement for energy supply or curtailment as supply providing by the at least one active grid element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a minimum size for the at least one PTB is 100 kW for grid reception and settlement purposes.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one PTB is created by valuing, trading, selling, bartering, sharing, exchanging, and crediting.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one active grid element is operable for remote update over the IP-based network with the coordinator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coordinator is operable to transmit at least one message over the IP-based network to the at least one active grid element.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile is dynamic.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to monitor real-time market pricing and change a predetermined energy usage profile based on the real-time market pricing.

10. A method for smart electric power grid communication, comprising:

at least one grid element transmitting at least one registration message over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network to at least one coordinator;

the at least one coordinator registering the at least one grid element upon receipt of the at least one registration message;

the at least one grid element automatically transforming into at least one active grid element for functioning in the electric power grid upon the at least one coordinator registering the at least one grid element, wherein the at least one active grid element has a profile comprising an energy supply pattern or an energy usage pattern;

the at least one coordinator transmitting at least one message to the at least one active grid element;

the at least one coordinator providing a priority flag on the at least one message;

the at least one coordinator tracking, based on revenue grade metrology, an amount of power supply available for the electric power grid or a curtailment power available from the at least one active grid element;

wherein the profile includes an amount of power to be consumed, supplied, or curtailed by the at least one active grid element;

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable for cross-communication that provides for the at least one active grid element to transmit commands to at least one other active grid element associated with the electric power grid over the IP-based network; and

wherein the functioning in the electric power grid includes;

consuming electric power from the electric power grid;

curtailing power consumption from the electric power grid;

supplying power to the electric power grid;

measuring power relating to the electric power grid;

providing operating reserves; and

improving settlement.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the at least one coordinator communicating with a database, and wherein the transformation of the at least one grid element into the at least one active grid element is registered in the database.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the at least one active grid element transmitting commands to at least one other active grid element associated with the electric power grid over the IP-based network.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising aggregating the amount of power supply available for the electric power grid or the curtailment power available from the at least one active grid element to at least one power trading block (PTB) for settlement for energy supply or curtailment as supply provided by the at least one active grid element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a minimum size for the at least one PTB is 100 kW for grid reception and settlement purposes.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one PTB is created by valuing, trading, selling, bartering, sharing, exchanging, and crediting.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising updating the at least one active grid element remotely via the at least one coordinator over the IP-based network.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the at least one coordinator transmitting at least one message over the IP-based network to the at least one active grid element.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the profile is dynamic, and wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to change a predetermined energy usage profile based on monitored real-time market pricing.