Adaptive energy management system
First Claim
1. A system for controlling power flow to a facility, the system comprising:
- a controller for controlling said power flow to said facility and for controlling elements of said system;
a power bus for coupling elements of said system to said controller and to one another;
at least one energy storage unit element for storing energy, said at least one energy storage unit element being coupled to said power bus;
at least one renewable energy source for generating power, said at least one renewable energy source being coupled to said power bus;
at least one power load located at said facility, said at least one power load being controlled by said controller;
whereinsaid controller controls said power flow to said facility based on at least one of;
geographical data;
occupancy data;
historical data for power consumption of said facility;
operating conditions of said system;
predicted power demands of said system; and
user entered preferences;
said controller predicts an electricity demand of said facility for a succeeding fixed and predetermined future time period based on historical data for power consumption of said facility;
said controller predicts a renewable energy production capacity of said at least one renewable energy source;
said controller determines a net demand for power by said facility based on a predicted electricity demand and on a predicted renewable energy production capacity;
said controller determines whether to draw power from an external power grid based on said net demand for power;
said controller, when necessary, configures said power flow to said facility to an islanded mode wherein, when in islanded mode, said facility is disconnected from said external power grid and said facility only uses power from said at least one renewable energy source and from said at least one energy storage unit element;
said controller optimizes power decisions for said facility using a Mixed Integer Linear Programming formulation using optimization costs which include buying/selling electricity, peak demand, battery usage, battery power signal smoothing, grid connection signal smoothing, and grid connection signal flattening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices related to a microgrid system for providing power to a facility. A self-contained power system provides power to a facility using a combination of power storage elements and renewable energy sources. A connection to an external power grid may also be provided. The system optimizes power flow to the facility using power from the storage elements and the renewable energy sources and, if necessary, the external power grid. The optimization process predicts future power usage by the facility using power usage data from a predetermined time window. The optimization process can also take into account predicted energy generation amounts by the renewable energy sources. To optimize economic effects, the optimization process can also determine whether to buy and when to buy power from the external power grid.
49 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for controlling power flow to a facility, the system comprising:
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a controller for controlling said power flow to said facility and for controlling elements of said system; a power bus for coupling elements of said system to said controller and to one another; at least one energy storage unit element for storing energy, said at least one energy storage unit element being coupled to said power bus; at least one renewable energy source for generating power, said at least one renewable energy source being coupled to said power bus; at least one power load located at said facility, said at least one power load being controlled by said controller; wherein said controller controls said power flow to said facility based on at least one of; geographical data; occupancy data; historical data for power consumption of said facility; operating conditions of said system; predicted power demands of said system; and user entered preferences; said controller predicts an electricity demand of said facility for a succeeding fixed and predetermined future time period based on historical data for power consumption of said facility; said controller predicts a renewable energy production capacity of said at least one renewable energy source; said controller determines a net demand for power by said facility based on a predicted electricity demand and on a predicted renewable energy production capacity; said controller determines whether to draw power from an external power grid based on said net demand for power; said controller, when necessary, configures said power flow to said facility to an islanded mode wherein, when in islanded mode, said facility is disconnected from said external power grid and said facility only uses power from said at least one renewable energy source and from said at least one energy storage unit element; said controller optimizes power decisions for said facility using a Mixed Integer Linear Programming formulation using optimization costs which include buying/selling electricity, peak demand, battery usage, battery power signal smoothing, grid connection signal smoothing, and grid connection signal flattening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for optimizing operations at a system which controls power flow to a facility, the method comprising:
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a) gathering power usage data by said system over a predetermined period of time immediately preceding a set point in time; b) predicting power usage by said system for a predetermined future period of time based on said power usage data, said predetermined future period of time being immediately succeeding said set point in time; c) predicting an amount of power generated by renewable energy sources in said system for said predetermined future period of time; d) determining a net demand for power for said system based on said power usage predicted in step b) and said amount of power predicted in step c); e) determining whether to draw power from energy storage unit elements in said system for said future period of time based on said net demand for power for said system; f) determining whether to draw power from an external power grid for said future period of time based on said net demand for power for said system, said external power grid being coupled to said system; wherein, when necessary, said facility is disconnected from said external power grid and said facility only uses power generated from said renewable energy sources and power stored in said energy storage unit elements; wherein power decisions for said facility are optimized using a Mixed Integer Linear Programming formulation using optimization costs which include buying/selling electricity, peak demand, battery usage, battery power signal smoothing, grid connection signal smoothing, and grid connection signal flattening. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification