System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management

• US 8,890,505 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US13/466,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700 65- 66, 700/286, 700291-298, 702 60- 62, 323/299, 323/304, 323/318
• US Class Current: 323/318
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• 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 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: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 UPS systems or standby or emergency generators

Abstract

A method for generating a value for available operating reserve for electric utility. Electric power consumption by at least one device is determined during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data, stored in a repository. Prior to a control event for power reduction and under an assumption that it is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the device(s) is determined for a time period during which the control event is expected to occur based on stored power consumption data. Additionally, prior to the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event, and associated with a power supply value (PSV) are determined based on devices'"'"' power consumption behavior. Amount of available operating reserve is determined based on projected energy savings.

Claims

1. A method for a client device located at an electrical service point to control a flow of electric power from an electric power grid to the service point so as to provide operating reserve to the electric power grid, the service point including at least one power consuming device operable to consume electric power, at least one controllable device operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, and a backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one power consuming device when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device is reduced below a threshold, the method comprising:

receiving power control messages from a remote system control component, at least a first power control message instructing the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device; and

providing a first power control instruction to the at least one controllable device responsive to the first power control message, the first power control instruction instructing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, thereby causing activation of the backup power subsystem, wherein an amount of grid-supplied electric power saved as a result of disabling a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device provides operating reserve for the electric power grid based upon a power supply value (PSV) associated with each of the at least one power consuming device(s).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second power control message from the remote system control component, the second power control message instructing the client device to enable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device; and

providing a second power control instruction to the at least one controllable device responsive to the second power control message, the second power control instruction instructing the at least one controllable device to enable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least power consuming device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second power control message is received upon expiration of a control event during which an electric utility supplies operating reserve to the electric power grid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices, and generating the power supply value (PSV) therefor.

5. A method for a client device located at an electrical service point to control a flow of electric power from an electric power grid to the service point, the service point including at least one power consuming device operable to consume electric power, at least one controllable device operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, and a backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one power consuming device when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device is reduced below a threshold, the method comprising:

receiving power control messages from a remote system control component, at least a first power control message instructing the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device; and

providing a first power control instruction to the at least one controllable device responsive to the first power control message, the first power control instruction instructing the at least one controllable device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device, thereby causing activation of the backup power subsystem, wherein an amount of grid-supplied electric power saved as a result of disabling a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least power consuming device functions as operating reserve for the electric power grid, and is based on a power supply value (PSV) corresponding to each of the at least one power-consuming device(s) and the power saved associated with them.

6. A method for a subsystem located at an electrical service point to reduce consumption of electric power supplied from an electric power grid to a service point, the subsystem including a client device in communication with a remotely located system control component and operable to control a flow of grid-supplied electric power to at least one power consuming device located at the service point, and a backup power subsystem operable to supply electric power to the at least one power consuming device when a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device is reduced below a threshold, the method comprising:

receiving, by the client device, a power control message from the remote system control component, the power control message instructing the client device to disable a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device;

disabling, by the client device, a flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device responsive to the power control message;

determining, by the backup power subsystem, that the flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device has dropped below the threshold responsive to disablement of the grid-supplied electric power by the client device; and

supplying, by the backup power subsystem, electric power for use by the at least one power consuming device responsive to determining that the flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device has dropped below a threshold, wherein the electric power supplied to the at least one power consuming device(s) has a corresponding power supply value (PSV).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the subsystem further includes a frequency synchronizer coupled to the backup power subsystem and the electrical grid, the method further comprising:

synchronizing, by the frequency synchronizer, a frequency of the electric power supplied by the backup power subsystem to an alternating current frequency used by the electrical grid so as to deliver at least some of the electric power supplied by the backup power subsystem to the electric power grid.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the power delivered to the electrical grid by the frequency synchronizer is power in excess of power required to operate the at least one power consuming device when the flow of grid-supplied electric power to the at least one power consuming device has dropped below the threshold.