Power distribution control system
First Claim
1. A power distribution control system comprising:
- first and second strings of power assets, each string including a plurality of power assets selected from;
responsive electric sources, electric stores and responsive electric loads, each power asset being connected to a grid and each having an associated local router;
a server in communication with the local routers, each router having metrology circuitry for measuring at least one of voltage, current and frequency at a grid local to the router; and
a control system at the server for anticipating times of peak activity in the grid and for providing to the local routers parameters indicative of required behavior between future times t1 and t2,wherein t2 is a later time than t1, andwherein each local router is adapted to receive the parameters from the control system and to cause the local router associated power asset to actively prepare for the required behavior by;
in the case of a responsive load in a condition in which the local router is caused to prepare the responsive load to be in a state to require less energy at time t1, causing the responsive load to consumer more energy in advance of time t1, andin the case of a responsive load in a condition in which the local router is caused to prepare the responsive load to be in a state to consume more energy at time t1, causing the responsive load to consume less energy in advance of time t1;
whereby the string of power assets respond between times t1 and t2 to any mismatch between measurement of at least one of voltage, current and frequency at the grid local to the router by the metrology circuitry circuit and said required behavior to reduce the effect of the peak on the grid outside the string of power assets and wherein a higher level controller is associated with the server for allocating power assets between the strings for later reallocating an asset from the first string to the second string.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power distribution control system having a string of power assets comprising at least two different power assets selected from sources, stores and responsive loads is disclosed. The assets and associated local routers communicate with a central server and attempt to fulfil high level aims of the server by negotiating times and quantities of power transfer between themselves. Preferably a database stores parameters in relation to the power assets. Preferably a control system at the server anticipates future activity, such as future peaks in demand or supply, in the grid, and local power assets prepare in response. Preferably the power assets communicate between themselves on a peer-to-peer basis and collectively confirm to the server their ability to modify their collective behavior in response to an event in the grid.
27 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A power distribution control system comprising:
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first and second strings of power assets, each string including a plurality of power assets selected from;
responsive electric sources, electric stores and responsive electric loads, each power asset being connected to a grid and each having an associated local router;a server in communication with the local routers, each router having metrology circuitry for measuring at least one of voltage, current and frequency at a grid local to the router; and a control system at the server for anticipating times of peak activity in the grid and for providing to the local routers parameters indicative of required behavior between future times t1 and t2, wherein t2 is a later time than t1, and wherein each local router is adapted to receive the parameters from the control system and to cause the local router associated power asset to actively prepare for the required behavior by; in the case of a responsive load in a condition in which the local router is caused to prepare the responsive load to be in a state to require less energy at time t1, causing the responsive load to consumer more energy in advance of time t1, and in the case of a responsive load in a condition in which the local router is caused to prepare the responsive load to be in a state to consume more energy at time t1, causing the responsive load to consume less energy in advance of time t1; whereby the string of power assets respond between times t1 and t2 to any mismatch between measurement of at least one of voltage, current and frequency at the grid local to the router by the metrology circuitry circuit and said required behavior to reduce the effect of the peak on the grid outside the string of power assets and wherein a higher level controller is associated with the server for allocating power assets between the strings for later reallocating an asset from the first string to the second string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8)
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5. A power distribution control system comprising:
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first and second strings of power assets, each string including a responsive load that operates to heat or cool a body, each power asset being connected to a grid and each having an associated local router; a server in communication with the local routers, each router having metrology circuitry for measuring at least one of voltage and frequency at a grid local to the router; and a control system at the server for anticipating times of peak activity in the grid and for providing to the local routers parameters indicative of required behavior between future times t1 and t2, wherein the behavior is a requirement to be responsive to a rise in voltage and/or frequency between future times t1 and t2; each local router is adapted to receive the parameters from the control system and to cause the local router associated power asset to actively prepare for the required behavior by; in the case of a responsive load that operates to heat or cool a body, and in the case of an anticipated peak in supply, to delay heating or delay cooling the body in advance of the peak, in response to receipt of the parameters, whereby the load responds between times t1 and t2 to any rise in voltage and/or frequency at the grid local to the router as measured by the metrology circuit to maintain voltage and/or frequency in the grid and wherein a higher level controller is associated with the server for allocating power assets between the strings for later reallocating an asset from the first string to the second string. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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9. A power distribution control system comprising:
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first and second strings of power assets, each string including a plurality of power assets selected from;
responsive electric sources, electric stores and responsive electric loads, each asset being connected to a grid and each having a local router, each router having metrology circuitry for measuring at least one of voltage, current and frequency at the grid local to the router; anda server in communication with the local routers, for providing to the local routers parameters indicative of future required behavior in response to a possible future event in the grid; in a condition in which the local router associated with a responsive load is arranged to prepare the responsive load to be in a state to require less energy at time t1, the local router causing the responsive load to consume more energy in advance of time t1, in a condition in which the local router associated with a responsive load is arranged to prepare the responsive load to be in a state to consume more energy at time t1, the local router causing the responsive load to consume less energy in advance of time t1; and wherein each of the plurality of power assets confirms to the server its future ability to modify its behaviour at time t1 in response to any mismatch between measurement of voltage and/or frequency at the grid local to the router by the metrology circuit and said required behavior at time t1 and wherein a higher level controller is associated with the server for allocating power assets between the strings for later reallocating an asset from the first string to the second string. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power distribution control system comprising:
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a first cluster and a second cluster of power assets, each including; at least one electric source, at least one electric store and at least one responsive load, and a router for controlling each of the power assets; and a server for communicating with the routers of the power assets in the respective cluster of power assets and for indicating to each router high level aims at the level of the server which the assets together should attempt to fulfill; wherein the responsive load of each cluster has a local controller for maintaining operation of the load within a predefined range by switching the load on or off, and wherein the local controller is coupled to the router for the load and receives direction from the router automatically influencing the timing of switching, and wherein each of the first and second clusters comprises a separate cluster of electric loads, electric sources, and electric stores, and wherein a higher level controller is provided for allocating power elements between the clusters for later reallocating an asset from the first cluster to the second cluster. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A power distribution control system comprising:
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first and second strings of power assets, each string including a plurality of electric stores, each asset being connected to a grid and each having an associated local router; a server in communication with the local routers; and a control system at the server for anticipating times of peak activity in the grid and for providing to the local routers parameters indicative of peak activity between future times t1 and t2; wherein each local router is adapted to receive the parameters from the control system and to cause the associated store to actively prepare for the future peak by; in the case of an anticipated peak in demand, charging the store from the grid in advance of time t1, in response to receipt of the parameters, in the case of an anticipated peak in supply, at least partially discharging the store into the grid in advance of time t1 in response to receipt of the parameters, whereby the power assets selectively respond to a change in grid frequency at the anticipated time of peak activity as necessary to reduce the effect of the peak on the grid and maintain grid frequency, at the time of the peak, outside the string of power assets and wherein a higher level controller is associated with the server for allocating power assets between the strings for later reallocating an asset from the first string to the second string.
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25. A power distribution control system comprising:
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a string of power assets including a plurality of responsive electric loads, each load being connected to a grid and each having an associated local router each router having metrology circuitry for measuring at least one of voltage, current and frequency at a grid local to the router wherein each load has a local controller that controls the load to operate within a critical temperature range between temperatures T1 and T2 and, within that range, within a preferred range between preferred temperatures T3 and T4; a server in communication with the local routers; and a control system at the server for anticipating times of peak activity in the grid and for providing to the local routers parameters, including flexibility parameters, indicative of required behavior between future times t1 and t2, wherein t2 is a later time than t1, and wherein each local router is adapted to receive the parameters, including the flexibility parameters, from the control system and to cause the local router associated power asset to actively prepare for the required behavior by; allowing the temperature to drift, between times t1 and t2, outside the preferred range while remaining within the critical range, based on the received parameters, including the flexibility parameters; whereby the string of power assets respond between times t1 and t2 to any mismatch between measurement of at least one of voltage, current and frequency at the grid local to the router by the metrology circuitry circuit and said required behavior to reduce the effect of the peak on the grid outside the string of power assets. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A power distribution control system comprising:
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a string of power assets including a responsive load that operates to heat or cool a body, each power asset being connected to a grid and each having an associated local router wherein each load has a local controller that controls the load to operate within a critical temperature range between temperatures T1 and T2 and, within that range, within a preferred range between preferred temperatures T3 and T4; a server in communication with the local routers, each router having metrology circuitry for measuring at least one of voltage and frequency at a grid local to the router; and a control system at the server for anticipating times of peak activity in the grid and for providing to the local routers parameters, including flexibility parameters, indicative of required behavior between future times t1 and t2, wherein the behavior is a requirement to be responsive to a rise in voltage and/or frequency between future times t1 and t2; each local router is adapted to receive the parameters, including the flexibility parameters, from the control system and to cause the local router associated power asset to actively prepare for the required behavior by;
allowing the temperature to drift, between times t1 and t2, outside the preferred range while remaining within the critical range, based on the received parameters, including the flexibility parameters,whereby the load responds between times t1 and t2 to any rise in voltage and/or frequency at the grid local to the router as measured by the metrology circuit to maintain voltage and/or frequency in the grid. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A power distribution control system comprising:
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a string of power assets including a plurality of power assets selected from;
responsive electric sources, electric stores and responsive electric loads, each being connected to a grid and each having a local router, each router having metrology circuitry for measuring at least one of voltage, current and frequency at the grid local to the router wherein each load has a local controller that controls the load to operate within a critical temperature range between temperatures T1 and T2 and, within that range, within a preferred range between preferred temperatures T3 and T4; anda server in communication with the local routers, for providing to the local routers parameters, including flexibility parameters, indicative of future required behavior in response to a possible future event in the grid; the local router causing the responsive load to allow the temperature to drift, between future times t1 and t2, outside the preferred range while remaining within the critical range, based on the received parameters, including the flexibility parameters; and wherein each of the plurality of power assets confirms to the server its future ability to modify its behaviour at time t1 in response to any mismatch between measurement of voltage and/or frequency at the grid local to the router by the metrology circuit and said required behavior at time t1. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A power distribution control system comprising:
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a first cluster and a second cluster of power assets, each including; at least one store and at least one responsive load, and a router for controlling each of the power assets; and a server for communicating with the routers of the power assets in the respective cluster of power assets and for indicating to each router; high level aims at the level of the server which the assets together should attempt to fulfill between future times t1 and t2, wherein the responsive load of each cluster has a local controller for maintaining operation of the load within a critical temperature range between temperatures T1 and T2 and, within that range, within a preferred range between preferred temperatures T3 and T4 by switching the load on or off, and wherein the local controller is coupled to the router for the load and receives direction from the router, in the form of parameters, including flexibility parameters, automatically influencing the timing of switching allowing the temperature to drift, between times t1 and t2, outside the preferred range while remaining within the critical range, based on the received parameters, including the flexibility parameters. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification