Abstract:
A system to energy being used from the electric grid as well as being used and generated from one or more energy generators or fuel-powered turbines, including, but not limited to, natural gas generators, fuel cells, diesel generators, bio-diesel generators, ethanol generators, propane generators, biogas generators and kerosene generators, or a combination of any or all of these sources, with or without a battery energy storage system, resulting in (a) a reduction of the peak power demand from the electric grid of a user of the system, and/or (b) a reduction of the high consumption charges during times in which consumption costs are higher due to variable billing or otherwise, and/or (c) the ability to provide energy to the user of the system at a time that such user is offsetting, in whole or in part, a reduction of its demand from the electric grid to, among other things, quality for, participate in and/or satisfy the requirements of demand response or similar programs with third parties.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/669,821, filed Jul. 10, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a power management system and, more particularly, to a system to manage energy being used from the electric grid as well as being used and generated from one or more energy generators or fuel-powered turbines, including, but not limited to, natural gas generators, fuel cells, diesel generators, bio-diesel generators, ethanol generators, propane generators, biogas generators and kerosene generators, or a combination of any or all of these sources, with or without a battery energy storage system, resulting in (a) a reduction of the peak power demand from the electric grid of a user of the system, and/or (b) a reduction of the high consumption charges during times in which consumption costs are higher due to variable billing or otherwise, and/or (c) the ability to provide energy to the user of the system at a time that such user is offsetting, in whole or in part, a reduction of its demand from the electric grid to, among other things, qualify for, participate in and/or satisfy the requirements of demand response or similar programs with third parties. 
         [0003]    The power management system may or may not be integrated with a battery energy storage system. If the power management system integrates a battery energy storage system, the system will charge and discharge the battery energy storage system in a manner described in patent application Ser. No. 13/359,643 and is to be considered fully incorporated by reference. The one or more energy generators or fuel-powered turbines of the power management system may be directly connected to the battery energy storage system, the battery energy storage system may be connected only to the grid or a combination thereof. 
         [0004]    Many electricity suppliers typically but not always utility companies, throughout much of the United States and abroad charge their commercial customers not only for the consumption of electricity but also a demand, or distribution, charge. The calculation of this demand charge varies from supplier to supplier, but is generally based upon the highest amount of power demand that a customer uses from the electric gird in a billing cycle—often called peak demand. Recently, demand charges have become an increasing part of commercial customers&#39; electricity costs. Certain electricity suppliers have begun to charge residential customers demand charges, and that charge is expected to be implemented by additional electricity suppliers to residential customers. 
         [0005]    Additionally, unrelated to demand charges, electricity suppliers often charge a higher rate for the consumption of electricity for commercial and residential customers during certain times of day when overall demand on the electricity supplier is greater, which is often but not always during the early afternoon hours. 
         [0006]    In addition, many electricity suppliers compensate customers to agree in advance to lower their electrical usage if requested to do so by the electricity supplier. These programs are often called demand response programs. Typically, but not always, the electricity provider requests that the customer lower its usage at times when overall demand on the electricity supplier is unusually or unexpectedly high or to provide ancillary services to the utility such as frequency regulation or synchronous reserve. The amount compensated to customers by the electricity suppliers could be annually, quarterly, weekly, daily or otherwise, or any combination thereof. Typically, but not always, the amount compensated to the customer is based, in whole or in part, upon the amount of energy that the customer agrees to cease using for a period of time upon request by the electricity provider demand response aggregator or other third party. The amount of notice provided by the electricity provider to the customer that a reduction of energy taken from the grid by such customer is required varies, but typically is between twenty-four hours and two hours. The duration that the customer is required to reduce its energy taken from the grid varies, but is typically between one and six hours. 
         [0007]    It is commonly known to those skilled in the art when to use energy, whether generated by one or more generators, the electric grid, other sources, released from a battery energy storage system or any combination thereof, to receive improved consideration for such energy, or to reduce energy costs by reducing demand charges, by reducing consumption charges or by participating in demand response programs. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Systems and methods for managing a power system are described. The power management system is made of several components that enable an end user of energy at the local level to use electricity from (1) the electric grid, (2) one or more energy generators or fuel-powered turbines, including, but not limited to, natural gas generators, fuel cells, diesel generators, bio-diesel generators, ethanol generators, propane generators, biogas generators and kerosene generators, or (3) a combination of any or all of these sources. In addition, the power management system may or may not be integrated with a battery energy storage system. 
         [0009]    The power management system determines whether to draw power from the following and, if power is being drawn from more than one the following, in what amount from each, (a) the grid, (b) the energy generator(s), (c) the battery energy storage system, if integrated into the power management system, or (d) a combination thereof, depending upon the following:
       (a) when the electricity demand reaches peak levels, or when the power management system expects the electricity demand to reach peak levels, the power management system sends a signal to turn on the generator(s) and/or release energy from the battery energy storage system, and energy taken from the generator(s) and/or the battery energy storage system supplements or replaces, in whole or in part, the energy from the grid in order to reduce the end user&#39;s power demand from the electric grid;   (b) when the cost to consume electricity is high, or when the power management system expects the cost to consume electricity to be high, the power management system sends a signal to turn on the generator(s) and/or release energy from the battery energy storage system, and energy taken from the generator(s) and/or the battery energy storage system supplements or replaces, in whole or in part, the energy from the grid in order to reduce consumption charges; and   (c) when the customer has been notified, directly or indirectly, including without limitation through a third party, that such customer&#39;s electricity taken from the grid must be reduced to comply with or participate in a demand response program, the power management system sends a signal to turn on the generator(s) and/or release energy from the battery energy storage system, and energy taken from the generator(s) and/or the battery energy storage system supplements or replaces the energy from the grid in a manner to comply with or participate in such demand response program.       
 
         [0013]    An end user of energy at the local level would include, but is not limited to, a commercial building, a group of commercial buildings, a residential building, a group of residential buildings, a single or a group of apartment buildings, a farm or group of farms, a commercial factory, a government building or any other individual or group of free-standing structures that are connected to the electric grid. 
         [0014]    According to some embodiments, the end user&#39;s peaks of electricity demand from the electric grid will be reduced by using energy from the generator(s) and/or the battery energy storage system when the end user&#39;s electricity demand from the electric grid is, or is expected to be, at its greatest. By reducing its highest demand, or peek demand, from the electric grid over a period of time, typically a billing cycle from the electricity provider, the end user can receive cost savings from the utility company via a reduction of its demand charges, distribution charges or other similar charges, fees or taxes that are often charged by utility companies. In addition or alternatively, an end user can receive cost savings by using energy from a generator(s) and/or the battery energy storage system instead of energy from the electric grid when the consumption charges are relatively high. In addition or alternately, according to some embodiments, an end user can successfully participate in and/or comply with demand response programs, and receive and/or keep the associated payments, as a result of energy from the generator(s) and/or the battery energy storage system offsetting some or all of the reduction of energy taken from the grid as required by the demand response program. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purpose of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. The accompanying drawings do not include an integrated battery energy storage system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of the present invention when the discharge from the energy generator(s) is set at one or more previously determined time range(s). 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the present invention when the discharge from the energy generator(s) occurs when the end user&#39;s power load taken from the electric grid is in excess of a previously determined threshold and the discharge from the energy generator(s) must last at least a minimum amount of time. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the drawings and otherwise, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter relate to systems methods software and devices for managing a power system. In the power management system, energy generated through one or more energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s) is used by the end user of the system or released into the electric grid in order to reduce the electricity bill of the end user at times when (1) the end user&#39;s power loads taken from the electric grid are relatively high, or expected to be relatively high; and/or (2) consumption charges are relatively high, or expected to be relatively high; and/or (3) the customer has been notified, directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, through a third party, that such customer&#39;s electricity taken from the grid must be reduced to comply with or participate in a demand response program. 
         [0021]    The principles and operation of a power management system according to the embodiments may be better understood with reference to the drawings ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 ) and accompanying descriptions. 
         [0022]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0023]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of some embodiments of the disclosure. The exemplary method described is not intended to be limiting in any form or manner, and a person skilled in the art may appreciate that variations are possible in the implementation of the systems and methods. 
         [0024]    The power management system  10  determines when to utilize the generator(s) by:
       (a) using the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  at previously designated times and/or durations,   (b) monitoring the end user&#39;s current power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  in or close to real-time, and using the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  if the end user&#39;s current power load  16  taken from the electric grid  12  is greater than or equal to previously determined threshold levels;   (c) monitoring the end user&#39;s current power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  in or close to real-time, and using the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  if the end user&#39;s current power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  is greater than or equal to the amount determined by the power management system  10  to be a threshold point for reducing the end user&#39;s power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  and/or consumption charges; or   (d) any combination of the above.       
 
         [0029]    The power output generated by the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  can vary. The power management system  10  determines the rate of power that the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  are to generate by:
       (a) generating at previously designated amounts of energy at previously determined power rates;   (b) monitoring the end user&#39;s current power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  in or close to real-time and generating only such amounts of energy as would be necessary to lower the end user&#39;s power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  to an amount that is less than or equal to previously designated levels;   (c) monitoring the end user&#39;s current power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  in or close to real-time and generating only such amounts of energy as would be necessary to lower the end user&#39;s power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  to an amount that is a little less than or equal to the appropriate amount of power load to be taken from the electric grid  12  as determined by the power management system  10 ; or   (d) any combination of the above.       
 
         [0034]    The power management system  10  may combine any or all of the manners in which it determines when to generate energy from the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  with any or all of the manners in which it determines how much energy to generate by the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14 . 
       Overall System Diagram Description 
       [0035]    The power management system  10  generates power from one or more energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14  when the end user&#39;s power load  20  that is taken from the grid power  12  is higher than set or calculated values, or expected to be higher than such values, or at previously determined times. Among the advantages of this timed release may be (a) a reduction in the end user&#39;s power load  20  that is taken from the grid power  12 , (b) an offset of the more expensive consumption charges of the end user, typically during peak usage times, and/or (c) the ability to reduce the end user&#39;s power load  20  that is taken from the grid power  12  in order to quality has for, or satisfy the obligations of, demand response programs. 
       Energy Generator(s) and/or Fuel-Powered Turbine(s) 
       [0036]    The power management system  10  utilizes energy that is generated from the electric grid  12  and/or one or more energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14 . The power management system  10  utilizes the energy created by the energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14  to work with the grid power  12  to fulfill the end user&#39;s power load  20   
         [0037]    The energy created by the energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14  is created in the form of DC power and then may be inverted to AC power by the applicable inverter(s)  16  and may be:
       (a) combined with energy taken from the grid  12  to partially or fully fulfill the end user&#39;s power load  20  after passing through the end user&#39;s circuit breaker  18 ;   (b) supplied to the grid  12  through a bi-directional meter or other manner after passing through the end user&#39;s circuit breaker  18 ; or   (c) any combination of the above.       
 
       End User&#39;s Circuit Breaker 
       [0041]    The end user&#39;s circuit breaker  18  is the central point where at least one of energy sources  12 ,  14  in the power management system  10  are brought together when being used to fulfill the end user&#39;s power load  20   
       End User&#39;s Power Load 
       [0042]    The end user&#39;s power load  20  uses the power (kW) and energy (kWh) that are being supplied by the power management system  10  from grid power  12  and energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14 . In certain cases, the power management system  10  will monitor the end user&#39;s power load  20  taken from the grid  12  to determine when to utilize the energy created by the energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14  and, in certain instances, at what rate such stored energy is created. 
       Automatic Transfer Switch/Synchronous Switch(es)/Inverter(s) 
       [0043]    The automatic transfer switch/synchronous switch(es)/inverter(s)  16  monitors, receives and analyzes data from the grid  12  and from the energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14  to determine when to (1) synchronize energy created by the energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14  with grid power  12  and/or (2) reduce the amount of energy taken from the grid  12  as a result of the energy being generated by the energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  provides a flow chart of some embodiments of the disclosure when the use of the energy created by the energy generators and/or fuel-powered turbines  14  is set at one previously determined time range. 
         [0045]    The power management system  10  begins its cycle, which is typically 24 hours long but can be of any duration, with its energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  turned off or in standby mode, which means no significant amount of energy is being generated by the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  for the end user. 
         [0046]    In step  54  the power management system  10  obtains the time of day from its control electronics to determine in step  56  whether the time of day is within the range of times of day in which the power management system  10  directs the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  to generate energy. If in step  56  the time of day is not within the range of times in which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is directed to generate energy, the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  may be turned off in step  60 , if not already off, and the power management system  10  returns to obtain the time of day in step  54 , and continues such a cycle of steps  56 ,  60  and  54  until the time of day is within the range of times in which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is directed to generate energy. 
         [0047]    If in step  56  the time of day is within the range of times in which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is previously determined to generate energy, in step  58  the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  are turned on and operated in step  62 , and the automatic transfer switch/synchronous switch(es)/inverter(s)  16  is directed to use the energy generated from the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  at a previously determined duration and rate of use. After the energy generation in step  58  has begun based on the previously determined parameters, the power management system  10  then evaluates in step  66  whether to continued to direct energy to be generated from the energy generator(s)  62  and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  by obtaining the time of day from the control electronics  64  to determine whether the time of day is within the range of times of day in which the power management system  10  directs the automatic transfer switch/synchronous switch(es)/inverter(s)  16  to continue to generate energy from the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14 . 
         [0048]    If in step  66  the use the energy generated from the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is determined not completed, the power management system  10  repeats steps  62 ,  64 , and will continue to repeat this cycle of steps  62 ,  64  and  66  until the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  are no longer directed to use energy. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  is a chart of embodiments when the use of the energy generated from the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  occurs when the end user&#39;s power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  is in excess of a previously determined threshold and the amount of energy generated by the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is set at one previously determined amount. 
         [0050]    The power management system  10  begins its cycle, which generally consists of 24 hours but can be of any duration, with its energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  turned off or in standby mode. In step  104 , the power management system  10  determines in real-time or close to real-time the end user power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12 , which is determined by (a) taking such reading from the end user&#39;s circuit breaker  18 , (b) subtracting from grid power all amounts of other energy being contributed to the end user&#39;s power load  20 , (c) as otherwise determined by the power management system  10 , or (d) any combination of the foregoing. 
         [0051]    If in step  106  the end user&#39;s power load  16  taken from the electric grid  12  is not at or in excess the previously determined threshold at which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is directed to create energy, the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is turned off in step  110 , if it is not already in such mode, and the power management system  10  returns to step  104  to determine if the plant load from the grid is greater than or equal to preset levels. 
         [0052]    If in step  106  the end user power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  is at or in excess the previously determined threshold at which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is directed to create energy, in step  108  and  112 , the automatic transfer switch/synchronous switch(es)/inverter(s)  16  is directed to use energy from the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  at a previously determined amount of energy creation. 
         [0053]    If in step  116  the end user power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  remains at or in excess the previously determined threshold at which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is directed to create energy, then the power management system  10  repeats step  112 , and will continue to repeat this cycle of steps  112 ,  114  and  116  until it is determined in step  116  that the end user&#39;s power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  is no longer at or in excess the previously determined threshold at which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is directed to create energy. 
         [0054]    If in step  116  the end user&#39;s power load  20  taken from the electric grid  12  is no longer at or in excess the previously determined threshold at which the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  is directed to create energy, the power management system  10  in step  120  determines if the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  have created energy for more than the previously determined minimum amount of time for such energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  to create energy. If in step  120  it is determined that the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  have created energy for more than the previously determined maximum amount of time, then the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  are turned off and the power management system  10  returns to step  104  to determine if the plant load from the grid is greater than or equal to preset levels. If in step  120  it is determined that the energy generator(s) and/or fuel-powered turbine(s)  14  have not created energy for more than the previously determined minimum amount of time, then the power management system  10  returns to steps  112 ,  114  and  116  and, if applicable, step  120  in order to create energy for more than the previously determined minimum amount of time. 
         [0055]    It should be understood that the disclosure described above to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Variations, alternations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It also being understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention.