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

• US 8,761,952 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US14/050,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/286, 700/291, 700/293, 700/295, 700/297, 713/300, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 700/295
• 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 embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of active grid elements. Grid elements are transformed into active grid elements following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. A multiplicity of active grid elements function in the grid for supply capacity, supply and/or load curtailment as supply or capacity. Also preferably, messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.

Claims

1. A system for electric power grid element and network management comprising:

at least one active grid element, each constructed and configured for electrical connection and IP-based network communication with a server over a network;

wherein the at least one active grid element having a function or a participation within an electric power grid is automatically and/or autonomously updated with an update message received from the server;

wherein the update message transforms the function or the participation of the at least one grid element by updating at least one attribute of the grid element;

wherein the at least one attribute corresponds to the function or participation of the at least one grid element;

wherein the at least one attribute specific to the grid element and its function or participation within the electric power grid includes a profile that corresponds to the performance of the at least one grid element and/or a calibration corresponding to the at least one grid element; and

wherein the profile provides programming for determining the role and for providing automated participation of the corresponding grid element in the electric power grid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute further includes revenue grade metrology, operating priority, operating capacity, security, and/or settlement, and wherein the at least one attribute corresponds to the function or the performance of the grid element having the attribute(s).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one active grid element is a device that consumes electric power from an electric power grid, supplies power to an electric power grid, and/or measures power relating to an electric power grid.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one active grid elements is a control device that operates, programs, and/or updates the other active grid elements.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one active grid element is selected from the group consisting of a sensor, a power-consuming device, an appliance, a meter, a switch, a controller, a control device, a thermostat, a building control system, a security device, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one active grid elements has a unique grid element identifier.

7. The system of claim 1, further including:

at least one coordinator for routing messages from the multiplicity of active grid elements through the network connecting the databases;

wherein servers operating the databases exchange information associated with the active grid elements for affecting electric grid operations, reporting, and/or stabilization; and

wherein registration of grid elements is stored in the databases for predetermined periods of time for use with settlement associated with the active grid elements.

8. The system of claim 1:

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to receive and/or transmit an update message with the server via the network;

wherein the update message is transmitted in IP-based format, proprietary message format, or is an IP encapsulated message;

wherein the update message improves, modifies, enhances, changes, and combinations thereof, characteristics of the at least one active grid element in memory, ASIC, metrology, location, security, status, change-in-state, and combinations thereof, including power supply values (PSV) and/or power trade block (PTB corresponding to the at least one grid element and its activities in the grid, including grid stability enhancement, load curtailment, real-time energy management, supply availability, transmission capacity information, revenue grade metrology tables, device assignment, and combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the update message further includes at least one of:

status of device(s), supply source(s), and/or demand;

location of attachment;

line losses;

distribution and transmission capacity information;

grid stability information; and

combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes information about power supply value (PSV), power trade block (PTB), and/or kilo-watt packet (KWP) units associated with each of the at least one grid element.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformation relating to the active grid element enables the active grid element to provide operating reserves and/or grid stabilization, and/or to serve native load, for the electric power grid.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an IP-based interface that facilitates communication of an IP-based message with the active grid elements from a coordinator or the server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the IP-based interface is selected from the group consisting essentially of 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, wired connectivity, Ethernet through a TDM communications network, or any proprietary Layer 1-4 protocol that contains or is capable of transporting an Internet Protocol message, and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a security interface associated with each of the active grid elements operable to receive security system messages from at least one remotely-located security system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the update message has a delivery priority including at least one 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.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the update message further includes at least one of:

a grid element geodetic reference, a grid element identifier, a grid element authentication, a grid element type, a grid element function, a grid element capacity, a grid element profile, a grid element attachment point reference, a grid element power supply value (PSV), a grid element power trade block (PTB) value, a grid element balancing authority association, a grid element owner identifier, a grid element compatibility identifier, and combinations thereof.

17. A method for electric power grid network management comprising the steps of:

providing at least one grid element constructed and configured for electrical connection and network-based communication with a server for sending and/or receiving messages in communication with the server;

each of the at least one active grid element having a function or a participation in an electric power grid; and

the at least one active grid element sending or receiving an IP-based update message including information for automatically and/or autonomously transforming the grid element function or participation within the electric power grid to improve efficiency, to improve grid stability, to improve its settlement with revenue grade metrology for grid activities of the corresponding at least one active grid element, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of connecting the at least one active grid element to the electric power grid.

19. The method of claim 17, further including the step of the at least one active grid element making a connection with the server via a network for communicating IP-based messages with the server, wherein the IP-based messages have a security and include a content used for stability or reliability of the electric power grid.

20. A system for electric power grid element and network management comprising:

at least one active grid element having a function or a performance within an electric power grid;

wherein the at least one active grid element is constructed and configured for electrical connection and IP-based network communication with a server;

wherein the function or the performance of the at least one grid element is to provide at least one of;

stability of the electric power grid, reliability of the electric power grid, operating reserves, supply of electric power, TDSP, and combinations thereof;

wherein the at least one active grid element transmits or receives over a network an IP-based update message having information about updating at least one attribute corresponding to the at least one grid element;

wherein the at least one attribute includes a profile that automatically programs the function or the performance of that grid element in the electric power grid.

21. The system of claim 20:

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable for automatic and/or autonomous updates through reception of the IP-based update message from the server via the network;

wherein the updates include at least one attribute of the grid element that is selected from;

a revenue grade metrology for the grid element, a calibration of the grid element, a capacity of the grid element, security of the grid element, a settlement of the grid element for its performance in the electric power grid, a grid element profile, a status of the grid element, and combinations thereof; and

wherein the at least one attribute corresponds to the function or the performance of the grid element having the attribute(s).

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to automatically communicate the updates including transmitting an IP-based response message with the server via the network after the IP-based update message was received by the at least one grid element.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one attribute corresponds to the grid element and improves its function or within the electric power grid;

and wherein the at least one attribute further includes at least one attribute that is selected from the group consisting of;

a status, table information, pricing, metrology, telemetry, changes in time, status messages, location of market, attachment point information, geodetic information, status, capacity, grid element identifier, grid element profile, power consumption, power flows, grid element information accuracy, software, firmware, upgrades, prioritization, security, settlement, and combinations thereof.