Patent ID: 11955801
Assignee: ONGRID OPTIONS, LLC
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G  Y | IPC G  H

Claim 14:
15. A system comprising:
A first section of a regional electric transmission grid that is part of a synchronized interconnection, serving at least two independent electric loads of pre-selected critical infrastructure facilities served by different substations on the regional electric transmission grid, wherein the regional electric transmission grid comprises the first section serving the electric loads of the pre-selected critical infrastructure and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section are configured to operate together during normal operating conditions under control of a first control system and a first cybersecurity system for the regional electric transmission grid, wherein neither of the first section or the second section is (a) a microgrid that comprises a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DER) which is under control independent from the regional electric transmission grid during normal operating conditions, and problem, threat or anticipated problem operating conditions or (b) a system containing only distributed energy resources (DER) which is under control independent from the regional electric transmission grid during normal operating conditions, and problem, threat or anticipated problem operating conditions, wherein the first section is connected to the second section via at least two electric transmission connections which provide for current flow at transmission voltages between the first section and the second section under normal operating conditions, and comprises transmission equipment and at least one of central station power generation equipment or distributed generation equipment capable of serving the at least two independent electric loads within the first section independently of the second section, wherein the second section comprises a remainder of the regional electric transmission grid but excluding the first section;
at least two electric connections at transmission-level voltages on both sides of a connecting electric substation between the first and second sections, wherein each of the two electric connections contains switching equipment that is configured to isolate the first section from the second section;
a centralized or distributed control system comprising one or more processors that implements instructions either stored in a memory and/or input by an operator to
detect or anticipate a problem in the regional electric transmission grid;
determine that disconnection of the first section from the second section would enable the first section to continue operation to serve the at least two independent electric loads of the pre-selected critical infrastructure during the problem, anticipated problem or threat, wherein the first section is configured for disconnection from the second section via the at least two electric transmission connections when the problem is detected or anticipated;
control operation of the first section independently of the second section after disconnection, during the problem, anticipated problem or threat to balance power generated within the first section with the at least two independent electric loads within the first section, by using a second control system and second cybersecurity system for the first section that is independent of the first control system and first cybersecurity system, wherein the control comprises at least two of power generation, electricity storage, demand response, transmission within the first section, power flow, voltage and frequency control, VAR control, switching, or disconnecting and reconnecting with the regional electric transmission grid via the at least two electric transmission connections,
restoring control and operation of the first section to the first control system and the first cybersecurity system when the problem or threat is resolved or no longer anticipated, and
synchronize the first section in frequency and phase with the regional electric transmission grid via at least one of the at least two electric transmission connections when power is restored to the regional electric transmission grid;

measurement equipment coupled to the control system, wherein the measurement equipment monitors and reports to the second control system a status and operations of at least one of the at least one electric load, power generation, electricity storage, or the electric transmission network, within the first section; and
a plurality of transceivers or other communications devices connecting the second control system to the measurement equipment.