System and Methods for Actively Managing Electric Power Over an Electric Power Grid

• US 20130346768A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,465,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• 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: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/466 Scheduling the operation of the generators, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a given demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/48 Controlling the sharing of the in-phase component
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• 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 on an electric power grid including a server for communicating IP-based messages over a network with distributed power consuming devices and/or power supplying devices, the IP-based messages including information including a change in state of the power consuming device(s), a directive for a change in state of the power consuming device(s), a priority message, an alert, a status, an update, a location with respect to the electric power grid, a function, device attributes, and combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A system for managing power on an electric power grid comprising:

a server having a processor coupled with a memory, and constructed and configured for communication over a network for communicating IP-based messages with distributed power consuming devices and/or power supplying devices;

a database for storing information relating to power consumed by the plurality of power consuming devices and the amount of power available to be reduced to each of the power consuming devices;

wherein the IP-based messages include information including at least one of a change in state of the power consuming device(s), a directive for a change in state of the power consuming device(s), a priority message, an alert, a status, an update, a location with respect to the electric power grid, a function, and device attributes; and

wherein the server is operable to receive or initiate power control commands and corresponding IP-based messages in communication with the power consuming devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for providing operating reserves for grid stability.

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

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the IP-based messages includes power control commands requiring a reduction in an amount of electric power consumed by the power consuming device(s).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power consuming devices are operable for cross-communication with other power consuming devices.

6. The system of claim 1, further including at least one smart meter in network-based IP-based message communication with the server.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one smart meter includes an internal gateway.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one smart meter is coupled with an external gateway.

9. The system of claim 6, further including meter data management software operable on the server for interpolating interval data from the at least one smart meter.

10. The system of claim 1, further including at least one revenue grade sub-meter in network-based IP-based message communication with the server.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control commands include instructions for managing power control events and corresponding reduction in power to predetermined devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions for managing power control events includes alternating reduction in power to power consuming devices based upon profiles associated with each of the power consuming devices.

13. The system of claim 1, further including at least one of an event manager, a client device manager, a device control manager, and a coordinator that is operably coupled with one another and/or the controllable device(s).

14. 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.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is responsive to messages from an EMS or a grid operator to provide stability and/or reliability for the electric grid.

16. 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).

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the command processor issues an associated power control event message responsive to the power inquiry command, and wherein the database stores current power usage information for the at least one electric utility or electric power grid operator(s).

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP-based messages include at least one power consumption indicator and at least one power management status.

19. The system of claim 1, further including customer profiles associated with the power consuming devices.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the customer profiles include status and ability to change states is based upon instructions provided by the market participant to any web-enabled device through an interface.

21. The system of claim 1, further including an application layer for provisioning to supply information about the distributed power consuming devices and/or power supplying devices including at least one of device attributes, device functions, device locations, unique identifiers associated with each of the devices.

22. The system of claim 1, further including information stored in the database for aggregation of the amount of power available to be reduced to each of the power consuming devices, wherein the aggregation is made to reach a minimum capacity amount required to trade and settle the amount of power available to be reduced.

23. The system of claim 1, further including a coordinator for routing the IP-based messages between the server and the power consuming devices and/or power supplying devices.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the coordinator further provides persistence or cache of the IP-based messages.

25. The system of claim 1, further including at least one remote terminal unit that function to control assets for an EMS.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one remote terminal unit is operable to control assets using proprietary client software or web-based client software.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP-based messages are supplied in service oriented architecture or web-based format.