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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9729012-B2
Application number	US-201514591496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2015
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for electric power grid element and network management comprising:
at least one grid element constructed and configured for electrical connection and for internet protocol (IP)-based network communication with a server and/or a processor operatively coupled with a memory;
wherein the at least one grid element is automatically and/or autonomously transformed into at least one active grid element after automatically communicating an initial message to the server and/or the processor operatively coupled with the memory via a network;
wherein the initial message includes a unique grid element identifier, an equipment identifier, a class of service information, capability, capacity, function information, geodetic information, an attachment point in an electric power grid, IP address information, communication format, content information, security information, and authentication information;
wherein the at least one active grid element functions actively within the electric power grid;
wherein the transformation is registered in a database or a multiplicity of databases constructed and configured in network-based communication for receiving registration data from a multiplicity of grid elements; and
wherein the registration information associated with the at least one active grid element is combined with information about generation, transmission, and distribution system of the electric power grid, stored in the database, and processed with analytics to simulate modeling for attachment of the at least one active grid element to the electric power grid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication is routable through a router and/or through a coordinator that receives and sends messages through a communications router.

3. The system of claim 1 , further including a plurality of grid elements that transform into a corresponding plurality of active grid elements after initial connection with the server via the network.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one grid element is an electrical device that consumes electric power from or that provides power to an electric power grid, microgrid, or both.

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

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one 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.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the grid elements is under the control of an energy management system (EMS) or SCADA system.

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

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

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

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein registration of grid elements is stored in the databases for predetermined periods of time for use with financial and energy settlement associated with the active grid elements.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a registration is made for each active grid element, and the registration complies with regulations and/or standards established by FERC, NERC, ISO, and/or a governing authority for the electric power grid.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server communicates an IP-based message to each of the at least one grid elements after the initial connection via the network.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the message is transmitted wirelessly.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising an IP-based interface that facilitates secure communication of the message with the grid elements.

16. The system of claim 15 , 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.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the message includes a Power Supply Value that meets the minimum requirements for measurement, verification and reporting accuracy as determined by the Governing Entity that regulates the operation of the electric power grid that includes utilities, market participants and/or grid operators.

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

19. A system for electric power grid element and network management comprising:
at least one grid element constructed and configured for electrical connection and for internet protocol (IP)-based network communication with a server and/or a processor operatively coupled with a memory;
wherein the at least one grid element is automatically and/or autonomously transformed into at least one active grid element after automatically communicating an initial message, to the server and/or the processor operatively coupled with the memory via a network;
wherein the initial message includes a unique grid element identifier, an equipment identifier, a class of service information, capability, capacity, function information, geodetic information, an attachment point in an electric power grid, IP address information, communication format, content information, security information, and authentication information;
wherein the server communicates an IP-based message to the at least one active grid element after the initial message via the network; and
wherein the IP-based message has a deliver priority including at least one of a plurality of methods to include priority access flags, virtual private networks, independent identifying addresses, manufacturers specific identifying codes, or combinations thereof, wherein the methods comply with standards as determined by a governing entity that regulates grid operations for utilities, market participants or grid operators.

20. A system for electric power grid element and network management comprising:
at least one grid element constructed and configured for electrical connection and for internet protocol (IP)-based network communication with a server and/or a processor operatively coupled with a memory;
wherein the at least one grid element is automatically and/or autonomously transformed into at least one active grid element after automatically communicating an initial message to the server and/or the processor operatively coupled with the memory via a network;
wherein the initial message includes a unique grid element identifier, an equipment identifier, a class of service inf

Assignees

• Causam Energy Inc

Inventors

• Forbes Jr Joseph W

Classifications

• G05F1/66 Primary

  Regulating electric power · CPC title

• H02J2103/30

  Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks · CPC title

• H02J13/1337

  involving the use of Internet protocols · CPC title

• H02J13/1335

  involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi®, ZigBee® or Bluetooth® · CPC title

• H02J13/1321

  using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus · CPC title