Methods and apparatus for managing energy services from a plurality of devices
Inventors
Shelton, John Christopher • Zahurancik, John Michael
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9452684-B2
Publication Date
2016-09-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for managing energy services are disclosed. One method includes: reporting, by a respective asset of the first type, an identifier associated with a grid connection point that establishes a location of the respective asset of the first type at the grid connection point on the electric grid; receiving, by the respective asset of the first type, operating conditions for realizing the energy service, the received conditions being based on the established location of the respective asset of the first type on the grid; and operating the respective asset of the first type in accordance with the received operating conditions to realize the energy service. An energy service controller includes a communication unit for receiving, from a mobile asset, an identifier associated with a grid connection point connected to the asset and a processor for determining a location of the asset on the grid based on the identifier.
Core Innovation
The invention manages an energy service for a mobile asset connected to a grid connection point on an electric grid by reporting an identifier associated with the grid connection point that establishes a location of the mobile asset at the grid connection point on the electric grid. The mobile asset receives one or more operating conditions for realizing the energy service, where the received operating conditions are determined based on operating constraints of the electric grid associated with the established location. The operating constraints are determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the mobile asset, and the mobile asset operates in accordance with the received operating conditions to realize the energy service.
The invention further includes receiving, at the mobile asset, a signal indicating one or more energy services that are offered to the mobile asset, selecting one of the offered energy services by the mobile asset as the energy service to be realized, and setting a quantity of the selected energy service. The mobile asset controls itself to achieve the set quantity of the selected energy service, thereby tying the realized energy service and quantity to the modeled operating constraints associated with the mobile asset’s location at the grid connection point.
The invention also encompasses approaches in which an energy service controller determines a location of the mobile asset on the electric grid based on the received identifier and determines one or more operating conditions based on operating constraints determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point. The controller sends the determined operating conditions and receives both a selection of one of the offered energy services and a quantity set by the mobile asset, and the mobile asset is controlled to achieve the set quantity of the selected energy service.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover managing energy services for mobile assets connected to grid connection points using identifiers that establish a grid location, deriving operating conditions from modeled electric-grid constraints in the vicinity of the connection point, and selecting and controlling a realized energy service to an asset-set quantity. The set of inventive features includes mobile asset-side management, controller-side management, lookup table-based location determination, and authorization or blocking of energy services based on reported device constraints and modeled grid constraints.
Identifier establishes location for energy service operating conditions
Reporting, by the mobile asset, an identifier associated with the grid connection point that establishes a location of the mobile asset at the grid connection point on the electric grid; receiving, at the mobile asset, one or more operating conditions for realizing the energy service, wherein the received operating conditions are determined based on operating constraints of the electric grid associated with the established location, and wherein the operating constraints are determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the mobile asset.
Select offered energy service and control to set quantity
Receiving, at the mobile asset, a signal indicating one or more energy services that are offered to the mobile asset; selecting, by the mobile asset, one of the offered energy services as the energy service to be realized; setting, by the mobile asset, a quantity of the selected energy service to be realized; and controlling the mobile asset to achieve the set quantity of the selected energy service.
Controller determines location and sends operating conditions
Receiving, by an energy service controller, an identifier associated with the grid connection point connected to the mobile asset; determining, by the energy service controller, a location of the mobile asset on the electric grid based on the received identifier; determining, by the energy service controller, one or more operating conditions for realizing the energy service in accordance with at least operating constraints of the electric grid associated with the determined location, wherein the operating constraints are determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the mobile asset; and sending, by the energy service controller to the mobile asset, the determined one or more operating conditions for realizing the energy service.
Lookup table maps grid connection point identifier to location
Storing, in a lookup table, a plurality of records, each record including an identifier associated with a respective grid connection point and a location of the respective grid connection point on the electric grid; referencing the location of the mobile asset on the grid based on the identifier received by the energy service controller using the lookup table; and receiving and forwarding energy service offerings, selections, and quantities to control the mobile asset to achieve the set quantity.
Controller generates control signal based on modeled vicinity constraints and indicator
Receiving, at an energy service controller from the asset, an indicator; referencing, by the energy service controller, the indicator to determine a vicinity of the asset on the electric grid; generating, by the energy service controller, a control signal including control information for realizing the energy service, the control information being based on an operating constraint of the electric grid associated with the determined vicinity of the asset, wherein the operating constraint of the electric grid associated with the determined vicinity of the asset is determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the asset, and an operating constraint indicated by the received indicator.
Multitype assets report connection information and use modeled constraints
Reporting, by a respective asset, connection information including an asset identifier responsive to the respective asset being connected to a respective grid connection point; receiving, at the respective asset, one or more operating conditions determined based on operating constraints of the electric grid associated with a predetermined location of the respective asset, wherein the operating constraints are determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the respective asset; and operating the respective asset in accordance with the received operating conditions to realize the energy service while selecting offered energy services and controlling the respective asset to achieve a set quantity.
Mobile asset communication module reports identifier and receives operating conditions
A communication module configured to report an identifier associated with the grid connection point that establishes a location of the mobile asset at the grid connection point on the electric grid; and receive one or more operating conditions for realizing the energy service, wherein the received operating conditions are determined based on operating constraints of the electric grid associated with the established location, and wherein the operating constraints are determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the mobile asset.
Mobile asset selects offered energy service and controls to set quantity
Wherein the communication module receives a signal indicating one or more energy services that are offered to the mobile asset; the processor selects one of the offered energy services as the energy service to be realized; the mobile asset sets a quantity of the selected energy service to be realized; and the processor is configured to control the mobile asset to achieve the set quantity of the selected energy service.
Energy service controller with communication unit for identifier-to-operating-conditions management
An energy service controller comprising a communication unit configured to receive from the mobile asset an identifier associated with the grid connection point connected to the mobile asset; and a processor configured to determine a location of the mobile asset on the electric grid based on the identifier and for determining one or more operating conditions for realizing the energy service in accordance with at least operating constraints of the electric grid associated with the determined location, wherein the operating constraints are determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the mobile asset; the communication unit is configured to send the determined operating conditions and send signals indicating offered energy services, receive a selection and a quantity set by the mobile asset, and the mobile asset is controlled to achieve the set quantity.
Authorization based on reported constraints and determined constraints with permitting and blocking
Reporting by each respective mobile device a connection to a grid connection point and constraints of the respective mobile device for realizing the energy services; receiving, at the respective mobile device, authorization for the energy services to be realized based on at least the reported constraints; receiving a signal indicating one or more energy services offered to the respective mobile device; selecting one of the offered energy services, setting a quantity, and controlling the respective mobile device to achieve the set quantity; wherein the receiving authorization includes setting the energy services to be realized based on the reported constraints and determined constraints, and wherein the realizing includes permitting the realizing of the energy services in response to energy services that satisfy the reported constraints and includes blocking the realizing in response to energy services that do not satisfy the reported constraints.
Computer-readable storage medium for identifier-based modeled-constraints energy service management
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions for managing an energy service for a first type of asset connected to a grid connection point, the instructions comprising reporting an identifier associated with the grid connection point; receiving operating conditions determined based on operating constraints associated with the established location, wherein the operating constraints are determined by modeling of the electric grid in a vicinity of the grid connection point connected to the respective asset; operating the respective asset in accordance with the received operating conditions; receiving signals indicating offered energy services; receiving a selection and a quantity set by the respective asset; and controlling the mobile asset to achieve the set quantity of the selected energy service.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on obtaining a grid connection point identifier to establish location and vicinity; determining operating constraints from modeling of the electric grid in the vicinity of the grid connection point; deriving operating conditions or control signals from those constraints; communicating offered energy services, selections, and set quantities; and controlling a mobile asset or multiple mobile devices to realize the selected energy service quantity, with authorization, permitting, and blocking based on reported and determined constraints.
Stated Advantages
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