Patent ID: 8892268
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: G01R,G05F,H02J

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling power flow within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network comprising a measurement node, the measurement node being configured to access a data store storing data indicative of one or more predefined power flow patterns each associated with a group of power units, including a first predefined power flow pattern associated with a first group of power units, each power unit being electrically connected to the electricity distribution network and being configured to consume electric power from, and/or provide electric power to, the electricity distribution network such that a change in consumption and/or provision of electric power by each of the power units results in a change in power flow in the network, wherein each power unit in the first group of power units has an associated power flow control device for controlling power consumed from, and/or provided to, the electricity distribution network, the power flow control device associated with each power unit being different from power flow control devices associated with each other power unit, the method comprising: generating, at each power flow control device, a first control sequence, wherein the first control sequence defines a sequence of control signals for controlling the power flow to and/or from each of the power units in the first group of power units in accordance with the first predefined power flow pattern; and controlling, at each power flow control device, power flow to and/or from each of the respective power units in said first group of power units in accordance with the first control sequence such that the consumption and/or provision of power by each of the power units in the first group of power units is varied according to said first predefined power flow pattern, thereby coordinating consumption and/or provision of power by the power units in the first group of power units to provide a collective power flow in the electricity distribution network, the collective power flow having a pattern corresponding to said first predefined power flow pattern, and a power flow characteristic measurable by the measurement node.