Active Power Load Management via Bidirectional IP Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power load management systems lack the ability to actively control and track power savings for individual customers and utilities, leading to inefficiencies in load management and inaccurate measurement of load deferral, with one-way communication methods being inefficient and insecure.
Innovation Solution
An IP-based active power load management system that uses smart breakers and appliances with two-way communication, allowing real-time monitoring and control of power usage, secure communication, and accurate tracking of power savings through the Active Load Director (ALD) server and Active Load Client (ALC) modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If one-way communication methods are used for load management, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision of power savings and reliability of load control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements two-way communication between the utility control center and customer premises equipment, enabling feedback loops where power consumption data is transmitted from the customer side back to the utility. This allows for precise measurement and verification of load deferral and power savings, resolving the measurement precision issue while maintaining system manufacturability through standardized communication protocols.
2Device complexity
If one-way communication methods are used for load management, then device complexity is reduced, but security and reliability of load control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes bidirectional communication channels that enable the customer premises equipment to send acknowledgments, status updates, and verification data back to the utility control center. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable load control by confirming that control commands were successfully executed and by enabling real-time monitoring of system status, thereby enhancing reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If two-way communication is implemented for active load management, then measurement precision of power savings is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multi-functional communication devices at the customer premises that can perform multiple tasks including power consumption measurement, data transmission, control command reception, and system status reporting. By consolidating these functions into unified devices with standardized interfaces, the system achieves high measurement precision while controlling device complexity through functional integration and reuse of communication infrastructure.
4Productivity
If active load management with individual customer tracking is implemented, then productivity of load management and utility efficiency are improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the load management functionality into modular components distributed between the utility control center and customer premises equipment. Each segment handles specific tasks such as individual customer tracking, power consumption measurement, and control command execution. This segmentation enables high productivity through targeted, efficient processing at each level while managing overall system complexity by distributing functions across multiple independent modules rather than concentrating all complexity in a single centralized system.
Data Source
AI summary
A client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message from a load management server. The power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, the client device issues a power management command to one or more controllable devices under the client device's control. The power management command causes the one or more controllable devices to disable a flow of electric power to the one or more associated power consuming device.