Nested, hierarchical resource allocation schema for management and control of an electric power grid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9425620-B2
Application number	US-68624310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2010
Priority date	Jan 12, 2009
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. In one exemplary embodiment, a system is disclosed comprising a first feeder network configured to deliver electrical power to a first plurality of customers. The first feeder network is controlled by a first market-based pricing system that computes a first feeder network price of electrical power at first periodic intervals. The system of this embodiment further comprises a second feeder network configured to deliver electrical power to a second plurality of customers. The second feeder network is controlled by a second market-based pricing system that computes a second feeder network price of electrical power at second periodic intervals. In this exemplary embodiment, the first feeder network and the second feeder network are part of a same distribution network, and the first feeder network price of electrical power is different than the second feeder network price of electrical power.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving a first plurality of requests for electrical power from a corresponding first plurality of electrical-power users, wherein the first plurality of electrical-power users receive electrical power through a first feeder network controlled by a first transmission node of an electrical power distribution network, wherein each of the first plurality of requests indicates a requested quantity of electrical power and a requested price for the requested quantity of electrical power, and wherein one or more of the first plurality of requests for electrical power are associated with price-responsive electrical devices;
receiving a second plurality of requests for electrical power from a corresponding second plurality of electrical-power users, wherein the second plurality of electrical-power users receive electrical power through a second feeder network controlled by a second transmission node of the electrical power distribution network, wherein each of the second plurality of requests indicates a requested quantity of electrical power and a requested price for the requested quantity of electrical power, and wherein one or more of the second plurality of requests for electrical power are associated with price-responsive electrical devices;
receiving a plurality of offers for supplying electrical power to the first and second feeder networks, the plurality of offers being from a corresponding plurality of resource suppliers, wherein each of the plurality of offers indicates an offered quantity of electrical power and an offered price for the requested quantity of electrical power;
by computing hardware associated with the first feeder network, determining a first common price at which electrical power is to be supplied to the first plurality of electrical-power users on the first feeder network based at least in part on the requested prices and the offered prices of the first plurality of requests, the first determined common price being unique to the first feeder network;
by computing hardware associated with the second feeder network, determining a second common price at which electrical power is to be supplied to the second plurality of electrical-power users on the second feeder network based at least in part on the requested prices and the offered prices of the second plurality of requests, the second determined common price being unique to the second feeder network;
altering the electrical loads on the first and second feeder networks by transmitting the value of the determined first common price to the first plurality of electrical-power users on the first feeder network and transmitting the value of the determined second common price to the second plurality of electrical-power users on the second feeder network, and causing the price-responsive electrical devices to automatically adjust their power consumption in response to the values of the first and second determined common prices; and
transmitting power from the first feeder network to the second feeder network or transmitting power from the second feeder network to the first feeder network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acts of receiving the plurality of requests, receiving the plurality of offers, and determining are repeated at periodic intervals.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting a bid for electrical power to a higher-order transmission node, the bid indicating a quantity of power to be supplied to the electrical-power users and a requested price for the quantity of power.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the periodic intervals are first periodic intervals, and wherein the act of transmitting the bid for electrical power to the higher-order transmission node is repeated at second periodic intervals, the second periodic intervals being longer than the first periodic intervals.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the periodic intervals are intervals of 10 minutes or less.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the offers for supplying electrical power are from one or more other transmission nodes that control one or more other feeder networks through which electrical-power users receive electrical power.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the requests for electrical power are from one or more other transmission nodes that control one or more other feeder networks through which electrical-power users receive electrical power.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an offer to supply electrical power or a request for electrical power to one or more other transmission nodes that control one or more other feeder networks through which electrical-power users receive electrical power.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the offers for supplying electrical power are from power resources in one or more electrical vehicles.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the offers for supplying electrical power are associated with reserve power generators connected to the first or second transmission nodes.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the value of the determined first common price or the value of the determined second common price to at least one of the resource suppliers.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing hardware is a computer processor or an integrated circuit.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises, by computing hardware associated with a respective one of the price-responsive electrical devices:
receiving the determined price;
comparing the determined price to the requested price for the respective one of the price-responsive electrical devices; and
generating a control signal for selectively operating or shutting off the respective one of the price-responsive electrical devices based on the comparison.

14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions for causing one or more computers to perform a method, the method comprising:
receiving a first plurality of requests for electrical power from a corresponding first plurality of electrical-power users, wherein the first plurality of electrical-power users receive electrical power through a first feeder network controlled by a first transmission node of an electrical power distribution network, wherein each of the first plurality of requests indicates a requested quantity of electrical power and a requested price for the requested quantity of electrical power, and wherein one or more of the first plurality of requests for electrical power are associated with price-responsive electrical devices;
receiving a second plurality of requests for electrical power from a corresponding second plurality of electrical-power users, wherein the second plurality of electrical-power users receive electrical power through a second feeder network controlled by a second transmission node of the electrical power distribution network, wherein each of the second plurality of requests indicates a requested quantity of electrical power and a requested price for the requested quantity of electrical power, and wherein one or more of the second plurality of requests for electrical power are associated with price-responsive electrical devices;
receiving a plurality of offers for supplying electrical power to the first and second feeder networks, the plurality of offers being from a corresponding plurality of resource suppliers, wherein each of the plurality of offers indicates an offered quantity of electrical power and an offered price for the requested quantity of electrical power;
determining a first

Assignees

• Chassin David P
• Pratt Robert G
• Battelle Memorial Institute

Inventors

• Chassin David P
• Pratt Robert G

Classifications

• H02J3/008 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for power supply or distribution technologies responsive to energy trading · CPC title

• G06Q30/0215

  Including financial accounts · CPC title

• G06Q10/06

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title

• Y04S10/58

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• G06Q30/0223

  based on inventory · CPC title