Abstract:
A method of reducing peak power demand on a mains-grid power supply network, comprises the steps of: a] providing a data-communication network by which a plurality of users being fed by the power supply network are communicable; b] connecting a controller associated with at least a high-power-demand electrical device of each user to the data-communication network; and c] dynamically allocating via the data-communication network a usage time slot for energization of said high-power-demand device based on demand, whereby usage of said high-power-demand devices associated with the data-communication network is controlled thereby enabling a reduction in overall peak power demand. An electronic-data-network controller and a power-supply management system are also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from British patent application number GB 1406759.9, entitled “Improvements in or Relating to Power Supply Management”, which was filed on 15 Apr. 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for any purpose in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method of reducing peak power demand on a mains-grid power supply network, to an electronic-data-network controller which is specifically adapted for use with the said method, and to power-supply management system incorporating one or more of the said controllers and/or the said method. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The traditional mains power supply grids provide a centralized, producer-controlled electricity network which is reactive to demand rather than being proactive. As a consequence, a peak demand or power requirement surge has always been problematic and thus expensive to accommodate, resulting in the power suppliers having to purchase extra energy at increased cost to meet these possible peaks or surges. When a sudden draw is called for typically by high-power electrical device which are operable for a short periods, such as but not exclusively kettles, air-conditioners, washing machines and tumble dryers, sub-plants must be utilised to supplementarily supply power into the grid network to meet the demand. These sub-plants are costly due to still requiring maintenance and upkeep even when sitting idle, along with fossil fuels to be purchased at or close to the time of operation, and thus being at an inflated price. Furthermore, this increases the discharge into the environment of damaging greenhouse gasses. 
         [0004]    In the event that sub-plants are not utilised, then the power stations themselves have to be initially constructed to meet the difficult-to-predict peak power demands, leading to a much more costly infrastructure. 
         [0005]    The use of a so-called ‘smart-grid’ system has thus been mooted, utilising a two-way flow of real-time information and electricity to and from the end power-consumer. In theory, this should thus allow an energy producer to much more easily accommodate an energy draw or load requirement, allowing smoothing and balancing of the demand, and consequently a reduction in costly infrastructure and supplementary purchasing and production. 
         [0006]    A smart-grid system is intended to provide a less centralised automated power distribution network which is more consumer interactive, thus being proactive rather than reactive. However, the actual implementation of such a smart-grid system and the processes therebehind have not to date been fully explored. 
         [0007]    The present invention therefore seeks to provide, at least in part, a solution to these problems, thereby allowing improved implementation of a so-called smart-grid system for power supply management. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reducing peak power demand on a mains-grid power supply network, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a data-communication network by which a plurality of users being fed by the power supply network are communicable; b] connecting a controller of at least a high-power-demand electrical device of each user to the data-communication network; and c] dynamically allocating via the data-communication network a usage time slot for energisation of said high-power-demand device based on demand, whereby usage of said high-power-demand devices associated with the data-communication network is controlled thereby enabling a reduction in overall peak power demand. 
         [0009]    According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic-data-network controller for at least a high-power-demand electrical device, and preferably specifically adapted for use with a method in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the controller comprising a control element which communicates with at least a high-draw electrically powerable element of an electrical device so as to time control energisation thereof; a user input element which inputs an energisation request for energisation of the electrical device; a communication element which communicates with a distributed computer network the energisation request and which receives in return at least one dynamically allocated usage time slot from the distributed computer network based on a real-time and/or predicted energy demand across a predetermined number of said electrical devices on the distributed computer network, the dynamically allocated usage time slot being outputable to the control element; and a display element which displays the dynamically allocated usage time slot. 
         [0010]    According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a power-supply management system comprising a control hub, at least one electronic-data-network controller, preferably in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, and an electronic data network via which the control hub and controller intercommunicate, the control hub having a dynamic allocation system which dynamically allocates at least one usage time slot on receipt of an energisation request for an electrical device from the controller. 
         [0011]    According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a power-supply management system comprising at least two electronic-data-network controllers, preferably in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, and an electronic data network via which the controllers intercommunicate, the controllers having a dynamic allocation system distributed between the controllers which dynamically allocates at least one usage time slot on input of an energisation request corresponding to an electrical device associated with one said controller. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, the power-supply management system of the third and fourth aspects may further comprise a secondary power supply network having a distinct separate power supply for energising the or each electrical device during the allocated usage time slot in preference to mains power generated for the mains power supply network. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a front side view of one embodiment of an electronic-data-network controller, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention and which is specifically adapted for use with a power-supply management method according to the first aspect of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a back side view of the electronic-data-network controller, shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a simplified diagrammatic representation of a power-supply management system, in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, utilising a plurality of the electronic-data-network controllers as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, there is shown one example of an electronic-data-network controller  10  which comprises a controller housing  12  having an appliance socket  14  at one side, in this case being a front side, and wall-socket plug  16  at another side, in this case being the back side of the housing  12  and opposite the appliance socket  14 . The appliance socket  14  is adapted to receive an electrical plug of an appliance, and the wall-socket plug  16  is adapted to be received in a wall socket providing an electrical outlet and interfacing with a mains electricity power grid  18 . 
         [0018]    The controller housing  12  is, for example, a two part, preferably moulded plastics, housing which is hollow or substantially hollow to enable the required circuitry to be incorporated. The housing  12  in this case is elongate and cuboidal for ease of use, but other shapes can be considered, such as circular, cylindrical, and spherical. 
         [0019]    A user interface  20  is provided on a front of the housing  12 , in this case above the appliance socket  14 , and a user display  22  is positioned above the user interface  20  and within easy line of sight for a user. In this case, the user interface  20  includes a plurality of spaced apart mechanical buttons  24  forming a keyboard or partial keyboard, and the display  22  may be an LED, OLED, LCD, electroluminescent sheet, or even a nonemissive unit. A benefit of this latter type of unit is that a nonemissive display draws minimal power whilst still maintaining a visually readable output. Such a non-light-emitting display may conveniently be a cataphoretic or electrophoretic display, and is preferably bistable, enabling displayed information to be visually maintained without continuous energisation. 
         [0020]    Optionally, the user interface may utilise soft-buttons or digital buttons or inputs, via for example a touch- or pressure-sensitive screen. In this case, the mechanical buttons  24  may be dispensed with, and as such the user interface and display may be integrated with each other. It is also feasible that other kinds of user input element and/or display element may be considered, such as a potentiometer or a remote telecommunications device thus doing away with the need for a dedicated user interface  20  and/or display  22  on the housing  12  itself. 
         [0021]    Within the housing  12  is provided a control circuit  26  which interfaces with the electrical appliance  28  plugged into the appliance socket  14  to control activation of the appliance  28 . A communications circuit  30  is also provided which utilises an electronic-data transceiver  32  for two-way communication with a distributed computer network, typically being a telecommunications network  35 , such as the Internet. 
         [0022]    The user interface  20  communicates with the communications circuit  30 , which in turn can output energisation requests and may itself be interrogatable to a limited defined extent by other electronic-data-network controllers  10 , as will be understood below. The communications circuit  30  also interfaces with the control circuit  26  which enables control of the electrical appliance or device  28  accordingly, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
         [0023]    Although in this embodiment the electronic-data-network controller  10  is separate of and preferably remote from the electrical appliance or device  28 , it may be integrated as part of the electrical device  28  to be controlled. In this case, the housing would typically be the housing of the appliance or device  28 , and the control circuit  26  would interface more closely with an electrically powerable element of the electrical device  28 . 
         [0024]    It is preferred that the aforementioned electrical appliance or device  28  is a high-power demand device, and the electronic-data-network controller  10  is therefore adapted accordingly. High-power demand devices are one of the major causes of peak or spiking electrical demand. Such devices are typically kettles, air conditioners, tumble dryers and washing machines to name just a few. Their usage is relatively short, typically being in a range of two to three minutes to two to three hours, with possible activation/deactivation cycling therebetween. However, their power draw during these activity periods can be high, in the order of several kilowatts. Consequently, simultaneous energisation of such high-power-demand electrical devices results in a surge in electricity demand, and thus the problem described above with peaks in demand. 
         [0025]    By therefore defining energy-user groups  34  incorporating one or more energy users  36 , for example, five to thirty premises  38 , and more preferably ten to twenty premises  38 , with one or more, preferably high-power demand, electrical devices  28  in each premises  38 , a power-supply management system  40  can be implemented to control and reduce peak power demand on a mains-grid power supply network  42  to the energy-user group  34 . 
         [0026]    In this embodiment, a predefined electronic data network  44  is utilised to which each premises  38  of a said energy-user group  34  is connected. The electronic data network  44  is preferably the aforementioned telecommunications network  35  implemented by distributed interconnected computers and servers and is thus conveniently the Internet  35 . However, any suitable data-communication network may be utilised. 
         [0027]    The electronic data network  44  is clearly defined and private, with for example an energy supply company  48  regulating and moderating the members of each energy-user group  34  and thus the premises  38  forming the energy-user group  34 . For example, it may be more preferable to have specific energy-user groups consisting of only domestic properties, and specific energy-user groups consisting of only commercial properties. Such specific energy-user groups  34  may then also be further sub-categorised by user and/or appliance demographic, and/or industrial or commercial field of operation. 
         [0028]    By utilising an electronic data-transfer network, such as the Internet, although the energy-user groups  34  may all be in the same or similar vicinity to each other, for example, being an area of a village, town or city, it is just as feasible that the members of an energy-user group  34  may be in one or more different parts of a country or even the world. 
         [0029]    The electronic data network  44  interfaces with a control hub  50 , in this case being at or part of the electricity supplier  48 . The control hub  50  includes a dynamic allocation system  52  dedicated to the defined energy-user group  34  which outputs control data on receipt requests from the controllers  10 . 
         [0030]    With the private electronic data network  44  and the members  36  of the energy-user group  34  defined and able to access the electronic data network  44 , one or more said electronic-data-network controllers  10  are plugged into respective wall sockets within the premises  38 . An electrical device or appliance  28 , with particular preference being towards the high-power draw devices as explained previously, is then plugged into each controller  10  so as to be controllable thereby. 
         [0031]    To use the electrical device  28 , for example, being a kettle, the user interface  20  of the controller  10  is accessed and an energisation request made. An energisation-request signal is thus outputted to the private electronic data network  44 , and thus to the control hub  50 . The dynamic allocation system  52  of the control hub  50  either stores locally or interrogates the other controllers  10  forming part of the energy-user group  34  to determine availability for fulfilling the energisation request. A usage time slot signal is thus dynamically generated by the dynamic allocation system  52  and outputted to the requesting controller  10 , which in turn then controls via the control circuit  26  the activation of the electrical device  28  at or during a time period in accordance with the received usage time slot. 
         [0032]    Consequently, by asynchronously controlling a plurality of electrical devices  28 , even if energisation overlap occurs to some degree with respect to some of the appliances  28 , a peak energy demand is significantly reduced. 
         [0033]    It may be preferred that the energisation requests outputted are electronically tagged or defined to allow the dynamic allocation system  52  of the control hub  50  to output usage time slot signals according to a specific kind of electrical device  28  to be energised. Consequently, although two different high-power demand devices may thus be operated simultaneously, the energisation of similar high-power demand devices would predominantly be non-simultaneously activated. By way of example, a tumble dryer and a kettle may be energised simultaneously by different users of the user-energy group, but two kettles would preferably be activated at different times. 
         [0034]    It is preferred that a mains electricity supply  18  to the defined user-energy group is via an electricity consumption recording device  54 , otherwise commonly known as a ‘smart meter’. This allows the electricity supplier  48  to monitor spikes or troughs in demand, allowing feedback into the dynamic allocation system  52  of the control hub  50 . By utilising programmable logic, the dynamic allocation system  52  can incorporate the usage feedback data from the electricity consumption recording device  54  of the group  34 , aiming to smooth the consumption to as great an extent as possible. If all consumption across all the energy-user groups  34  is smooth, then inherently spikes or peaks in demand will be eliminated or reduced. 
         [0035]    It is realised that consumers forming each energy-usage group  34  will require immediate or substantially immediate access to energisation of particular electrical devices  28 . To this end, an energisation request to the control hub  50  may be prioritised. However, to promote the usage of the preferred dynamically allocated usage time slots, prioritisation is preferably penalised, for example, by the use of a monetary penalty or fine implemented following the output from the controller  10  of a penalisation data signal onto the network  44  and thus back to the supplier. This would be regulated and implemented by the energy supplier  48 , and would form part of the charging structure or plan that a consumer and supplier would agree to. 
         [0036]    The energisation request from a controller  10  would also preferably include device data relating to the kind of high-power-demand device, such that the dynamic allocation system  52  of the control hub  50  can set a length of a usage time slot. 
         [0037]    Predictive allocation may also be implemented by the programmable logic of the dynamic allocation system  52 . In this way, stored device data and usage profiling relating to each user of a specific user-energy group  34  can be analysed, allowing more accommodating dynamically allocated usage time slots which are preferably immediate or closer to the time of the energisation request. Conventionally, consumers are used to receiving power on demand, and by providing the requested energisation of the device to be as on-demand as possible will increase acceptance of the power management methodology. 
         [0038]    It is also preferred that each defined private energy-user group  34  also includes a secondary power supply network  56  having a distinct separate sub-power supply  58 . Such a sub-power supply  58  is advantageously an electrical-energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery pack or fast-cycle ultra-capacitor. For example, such an ultra-capacitor may be one to four Mega Joules and advantageously utilise Lithium Ion technology. Such a sub-power supply  58  or multiples thereof may be provided at each premises  38 , or one may be provided per energy-user group  34 . The control hub  50  may therefore control the mains power supply  18  to temporarily store a surplus of energy, for example, during low demand periods, in the sub-power supplies. Based on the stored charge being monitored by the control hub  50 , on receipt of an energisation request, the outputted dynamically allocated usage time slot may allow power to be drawn entirely or in part from the sub-power supply  58  instead of from the mains power supply  18 . Switching would be seamless, but again allows smoothing of the energy use profile of the energy-user group  34 . 
         [0039]    Although in the embodiment above a control hub is suggested, the control hub may be dispensed with in favour of the dynamic allocation system being provided and operated in distributed manner through a plurality of the electronic-data-network controllers. In this case, with the private electronic data network defined and the users of the associated energy-user group in communication via the respective controllers, the dynamic allocation system is loaded on each controller. A said controller having an input via its user interface to energise an associated appliance outputs an energisation request to the other controllers on the private electronic data network. Suitable interrogation enables the requesting controller to determine via the distributed dynamic allocation system an optimal usage time slot with preferably little or no energisation overlap. The other features described above may also apply in this variant. 
         [0040]    It is also feasible that a hybrid power-supply management system utilising both the aforementioned control hub and controller-distributed dynamic allocation system may be implemented. An advantage with such a hybrid system would be redundancy in the case of a power or Internet outage in one or more parts of the country. Switching seamlessly between the control-hub system and the controller-distributed system allows local operation to continue irrespective as to whether the utility supplier is momentarily offline. 
         [0041]    The above system is predominantly aimed at peak-use devices, as mentioned, but may be applicable to any type of electrical device having an energisable element. 
         [0042]    Although the electronic-data-network controllers preferably utilise internet communication protocols for intercommunication on the defined private network and/or with a control hub associated with an electricity supplier, any suitable communication protocol can be utilised. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, the aforementioned control hub for a specific dedicated electronic data network may be a sub-control hub, whereby a primary control hub may interface with a plurality of sub-control hubs, allowing greater degrees of control and optimisation on a wider scale of the dynamically allocated usage time slots outputted in response to received energisation requests. This has the advantage that improved programmable logic and data profiling can be rolled out more quickly on a wider scale, allowing trickle down implementation almost immediately to the associated controllers across multiple private networks. 
         [0044]    The communication circuit preferably utilises a wireless transceiver. However, wired communication, for example through the power supply cabling, may be convenient and less susceptible to interference. 
         [0045]    It is thus possible to provide a process or method of reducing peak power demand on a mains-grid power supply network. It is further possible to actually smooth the power demand, resulting in few or ideally no peaks and equally few or no troughs in supply. By better balancing the supply, by the additional implementation of a secondary or short-term buffered sub-grid, the requirement for sub-plants or power plants that inherently have sufficient capacity to meet the current demand peaks can be dispensed with, thereby dramatically reducing power supply costs and infrastructure. By utilising discreet, collaborative user groups of preferably around twenty premises provides flexibility in the use of, in particular, high-power demand appliances and devices, thus reducing peak loading on the mains grid. Capped tariffs by the electricity supplier encourage time shifting of the use of higher demand uses to usage time slots not being used by others in the user group. On the other hand, usage of the appliance at a time which overlaps with others is penalised. It is also possible for the energy supplier to gain valuable usage and profiling information through feedback data from the user-group network, thereby allowing improved control and dynamic usage time slot allocation systems to be updated and rolled out across multiple discreet networks of customers. It is also perfectly feasible that the user and/or the supplier may shift the user between groups dependent on their determined usage profile via the smart-meter and network monitoring. With a consumer being dynamically shifted between groups to better suit their usage profile, better economy and optimisation of use of certain appliances common to certain user groups can thus be realised. The benefit of the electronic-data-network controller allows each appliance, and specifically high-power demand devices, to be controlled and energised at the most appropriate times, minimising overlap and thus peak power demands. The controller may beneficially allow remote access by the consumer, thus allowing control, energisation or an energisation request to be undertaken remotely, for example, through a personal mobile telecommunications device, such as a so-called smartphone′. This is simplified by the user group being on a private electronic data network, and thus the consumer being able to login via a personal security access code. It is further possible to provide a controller for controlling an appliance which can be retro-fitted to existing appliances through simple ‘plug-and-play’. Equally, however, the controller may be integrated as part of the appliance, allowing control through the private electronic data network. The potential for a multiplicity of private electronic data networks effectively enables the formation of multiple sub-grid power-supply management systems, each supplying a defined user group. By then controlling and optimising the sub-grids, via a control hub linking to each network and/or via a distributed dynamic time slot allocation system locally implemented at controller level along with feedback allowing user profiling and thus optimisation, load shedding and thus better balancing of power supply and demand can be achieved. 
         [0046]    The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. 
         [0047]    It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. 
         [0048]    The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.