Power grid saturation control with distributed grid intelligence
AssigneeXSLENT Energy Technologies, LLC
InventorsStefan Matan, Fred C. Horton, Frank P. Marrone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Distributed grid intelligence enables grid saturation control. A distributed control node can determine that a segment of the power grid exceeds a saturation threshold. A power grid can be saturated by real power when local power sources at customer premises are connected to the grid. The grid saturation threshold can be a point at which real power generation capacity of local energy sources exceeds a threshold percentage of peak real power demand for the power grid segment where the power generation capacity exists. The control node at a consumer node can dynamically adjust a ratio of real power to reactive power for the segment of the power grid as seen from the grid, and reduce grid saturation.
Claims20
An apparatus for controlling a power grid, comprising:
- a grid connector to couple to a power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC) for a segment of the power grid, the segment of the power grid coupled to multiple consumer nodes, wherein a consumer node includes a consumer premises and a distributed energy resource to generate direct current (DC) power;
- and
- a power converter downstream from a power meter on a grid side of the PCC,
- wherein in response to the segment of the power grid exceeding a distributed energy resource saturation threshold where a real power generation capacity of distributed energy resources for the power grid segment exceeds a threshold percentage of peak real power demand for the power grid segment, the power converter to dynamically adjust reactive power generation from energy of the distributed energy resource to adjust a ratio of real power to reactive power for the segment of the power grid as seen at the PCC from the grid side.
A power metering device, comprising:
- a grid connector to couple to a power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC) for a segment of the power grid, the segment of the power grid coupled to multiple consumer nodes, wherein a consumer node includes a consumer premises and a distributed energy resource to generate direct current (DC) power;
- a controller to receive dispatch information to indicate a level of grid saturation and determine the power grid exceeds a distributed energy resource saturation threshold where a real power generation capacity of distributed energy resources for the power grid segment exceeds a threshold percentage of peak real power demand for the power grid segment;
- and
- I/O (input/output) to connect to a power converter on a load side of the PCC downstream from a power meter on a grid side of the PCC, the controller to send one or more signals via the I/O to the power converter to cause the power converter to dynamically adjust reactive power generation from energy of the distributed energy resource to adjust a ratio of real power to reactive power for the segment of the power grid as seen at the PCC from the grid side.
A method for controlling a power grid, comprising:
- coupling to a power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC) for a segment of the power grid, the segment of the power grid coupled to multiple consumer nodes, wherein a consumer node includes a consumer premises and a distributed energy resource to generate direct current (DC) power;
- detecting that the segment of the power grid exceeds a distributed energy resource saturation threshold where a real power generation capacity of distributed energy resources for the power grid segment exceeds a threshold percentage of peak real power demand for the power grid segment;
- and
- responsive to detecting the segment of the power grid exceeds the distributed energy resource saturation threshold, dynamically adjusting reactive power generation from energy of the distributed energy resource to adjust a ratio of real power to reactive power for the segment of the power grid as seen at the PCC from the grid side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.