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US 11,063,431 B2Granted
Hierarchical and distributed power grid control
AssigneeApparent Labs, LLC
InventorsStefan Matan, Fred C Horton, Frank P Marrone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control node enables distributed grid control. The control node monitors power generation and power demand at a point of common coupling (PCC) between a utility power grid and all devices downstream from the PCC. The control node can have one or more consumer nodes, which can be or include customer premises, and one or more energy sources connected downstream. The control node monitors and controls the interface via the PCC from the same side of the PCC as the power generation and power demand. The control can include adjusting the interface between the control node and the central grid management via the PCC to maintain compliance with grid regulations at the PCC.
Claims18
A method for controlling a power grid, comprising:
- monitoring power generation of a local power generation device and power demand of local loads at a point of common coupling (PCC) to a utility power grid as seen at the PCC when looking from a consumer side of the PCC, wherein the monitoring is performed by a control node on the consumer side of the PCC electrically across the PCC from central grid management, the consumer side being a same side of the PCC as the power generation and power demand;
- and
- adjusting an operation of a power converter on the consumer side that controls a flow of power between the PCC and the local power generation device and the local loads in response to the monitoring by the control node and a control signal from the control node, including adjusting a phase offset of reactive power at the PCC with a power converter of the control node, to change a ratio of real and reactive power of the flow of power at the PCC as seen from the consumer side of the PCC and change an electrical characteristic as seen at the PCC from a grid side of the PCC, including changing an amount of reactive power output via the PCC to the grid from power generation resources on the consumer side of the PCC, to maintain compliance with grid regulations as seen at the PCC from the grid side.
An apparatus for controlling a power grid, comprising:
- a grid connector to couple to the power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC) for a consumer node;
- a controller to monitor power generation of a local power generation device and power demand of local loads at the PCC as seen from a consumer side of the PCC which is on a same side of the PCC as the consumer node, and electrically across the PCC from central grid management of the power grid, the consumer side being a same side of the PCC as the power generation and power demand;
- and
- a power converter on the consumer side to control a flow of power between the PCC and the local power generation device and the local loads, including to adjust a phase offset of reactive power at the PCC with a power converter of the control node, to change a ratio of real and reactive power of the flow of power at the PCC as seen from the consumer side of the PCC and change an electrical characteristic as seen at the PCC from a grid side of the PCC, including changing an amount of reactive power output via the PCC to the grid from power generation resources on the consumer side of the PCC, to maintain compliance with grid regulations as seen at the PCC from the grid side.
1 more element
A power metering device, comprising:
- a grid connector to couple to the power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC) for a consumer node;
- a controller to monitor power generation of a local power generation device and power demand of local loads at the PCC as seen from a consumer side of the PCC which is on a same side of the PCC as the consumer node, and electrically across the PCC from central grid management of the power grid, the consumer side being a same side of the PCC as the power generation and power demand;
- and
- I/O (input/output) to connect to a power converter, the controller to send one or more signals via the I/O to the power converter to cause the power converter on the consumer side to control a flow of power between the PCC and the local power generation device and the local loads, including to adjust a phase offset of reactive power at the PCC with a power converter of the control node, to change a ratio of real and reactive power of the flow of power at the PCC as seen from the consumer side of the PCC and change an electrical characteristic as seen at the PCC from a grid side of the PCC, including changing an amount of reactive power output via the PCC to the grid from power generation resources on the consumer side of the PCC, to maintain compliance with grid regulations as seen at the PCC from the grid side.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.