Systems and methods for microgrid power generation and management

• US 9,225,173 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Darden, Thomas Francis II, Szyperski, James Kevin, Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kessie, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/247,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20130076140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/29, 307/31, 307/39, 307/113, 307/116, 307/125, 307/70, 307 32- 34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/22 The renewable source being solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/004 Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

Systems and methods for coordinating selective activation of a multiplicity of emergency power generation equipment over a predetermined geographic area for distribution and/or storage to supply a microgrid of electrical power for a substantially similar geographic area.

Claims

1. A method for power generation and management comprising the steps of:

providing a distributed power generation system including more than one piece of power generation equipment located at predetermined, distributed locations for providing emergency back-up power supply for use, wherein the more than one piece of power generation equipment include more than one type of power generator and at least one energy storage device;

tracking wholesale energy market price in real time;

storing and analyzing wholesale energy market price data;

coordinating selective activation of the more than one piece of the power generation equipment and/or the at least one energy storage device;

wherein the step of coordinating selective activation of the more than one piece of power generation equipment and the at least one energy storage device includes;

generating electric power when a predetermined threshold market price is reached based on predictive modeling of real time wholesale energy market price; and

distributing the electric power over a microgrid for sale directly to the microgrid and/or storing the electric power until later distribution.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment to occur at times when the electrical grid is undersupplied.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment to occur during periods when the electrical grid experiences high demand for power supply.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per week.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per month.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes monitoring the status of the equipment and for activating the equipment by a remote server computer in network communication with the at least one piece of equipment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the more than one type of power generator is selected from the group consisting of solar arrays, natural gas generators, propane generators, diesel generators, and combinations thereof.

9. A system for power generation and management comprising:

a multiplicity of power generation equipment located at predetermined, distributed locations for providing emergency back-up power supply for use in situs, wherein the multiplicity of power generator equipment includes more than one type of power generator and at least one energy storage device;

a price resource management system for optimization of management of power generation and distribution comprising a monitoring device, a database, an analyzing device, and at least one server computer;

wherein the monitoring device is operable to track real time wholesale energy market price;

the database is operable to store wholesale energy market price;

the analyzing devices is operable to analyze wholesale market price data and the at least one server computer is operable to generate event instructions to a remotely located controller based on market price fluctuation analysis;

wherein the multiplicity of power generation equipment and are operable for coordinated selective activation by the remotely located controller;

wherein the coordinated selective activation of the multiplicity of power generation equipment and the at least one energy storage device includes production and distribution of electricity over a microgrid and/or for storage until later distribution over the microgrid when a predetermined threshold market price is reached based on predictive modeling of real time wholesale energy market price.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the multiplicity of power generation equipment is operable for coordinated, selective activation.

11. The system of claim 9, the multiplicity of power generation equipment are positioned apart over a predetermined geographic area for distribution and/or storage to supply a microgrid of electrical power for a substantially similar geographic area.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the multiplicity of power generation equipment are selectively activatable at times when the electrical grid is undersupplied.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the multiplicity of power generation equipment are selectively activatable during periods when the electrical grid experiences high demand for power supply.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the system provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per day.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the system provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per week.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the system provides for the selective activation of the power generation equipment on a regular basis at least once per month.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the multiplicity of power generation equipment is selected from the group consisting of solar arrays, natural gas generators, propane generators, diesel generators, and combinations thereof.

18. A system for power generation management comprising:

a microgrid system comprising at least one cell tower emergency power backup generator;

a price resource management system is operable to track and store and analyze real time wholesale market price and generates event instruction to a remotely located controller;

wherein the at least one emergency power backup generator is constructed and configured in network-based communication with the remotely located controller;

wherein the remotely located controller selectively activates the at least one emergency backup power generator based on predictive modeling of real time wholesale energy market price;

wherein the activation of the generator with the remotely located controller includes generation and distribution of electricity for immediate supply through direct connection into a microgrid electrical distribution system for selectively discharging electricity into the microgrid when a predetermined threshold market price is reached.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one cell tower emergency power backup generator is selected from the group consisting of solar arrays, natural gas generators, propane generators, diesel generators, and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the microgrid further comprises at least one energy storage device operable to provide temporary power storage and selectively discharge electricity into a microgrid.