Battelle Memorial Institute

Mesosystems Technology, Inc.

International Power Systems, Inc.

Sustainable Energy Technologies

International Power System, Inc.

Donald J Hammerstrom

Joseph G Birmingham

Richard M Pratt

Francis K Tuffner

Michael C W Kintner-Meyer

Robert G Pratt

Michael Cw Kintner-Meyer

Brent Earle Harris

Lawrence A Schienbein

Gerald W Droppo

James S Millar

David P Chassin

Jason C Fuller

John E Hathaway

Abhishek Somani

Trishan Esram

Charles John Call

Peter Maclyn Martin

Dean W Matson

Ning Lu

Wendy D Bennett

Patrick T Call

Vanessa M Kenning

Matthew K Donnelly

Karanjit Kalsi

Pengwei Du

Bishnu P Bhattarai

Ron Melton

Karan Kalsi

Xinxin Guo

Steven E Widergren

Bilal Ahmad Bhatti

Ronald B Melton

Patrick Harman

Michael C Kintner-Meyer

Apparatus comprise control circuitry configured to control a line frequency of a microgrid by directing a first set of one or more electrical devices coupled to the microgrid to produce a change in the line frequency through a change in operation of the first set, such that a second set of one or more electrical devices coupled to the microgrid adjusts operation in response to a detected line frequency changeably produced by the first set. Related methods and additional apparatus and methods are disclosed. Apparatus and methods are disclosed that use line frequency and/or line voltage. Apparatus and methods are also disclosed that use control history.

Controlling the status of frequency-managed electric devices

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating operation and control of a resource distribution system (such as a power grid). For example, embodiments of the disclosed technology can be used to improve the resiliency of a power grid and to allow for improved consumption of renewable resources. Further, certain implementations facilitate a degree of decentralized operations not available elsewhere.

Transactive control framework and toolkit functions

Methods and apparatus provide flexible allocation and regulation of scheduled energy transfers between energy storage devices ('batteries') and a power grid. Piecewise mappings having at least one sloping segment enable gradual variations in scheduled energy transfers as cleared values of a medium of energy exchange deviate from predicted values of the medium of energy exchange. Thereby deviations from a battery's predicted energy transfer schedule can be reduced, and overall smoother operation of a power grid can be achieved. Two sloping linear segments can be separated by a dead band, a portion of the mapping in which the scheduled energy transfer amount is invariant. A dead zone can increase the likelihood of a battery meeting its predicted schedule.

Flexible allocation of energy storage in power grids

Thermal energy storage apparatus, controllers and thermal energy storage control methods are described. According to one aspect, a thermal energy storage apparatus controller includes processing circuitry configured to access first information which is indicative of surpluses and deficiencies of electrical energy upon an electrical power system at a plurality of moments in time, access second information which is indicative of temperature of a thermal energy storage medium at a plurality of moments in time, and use the first and second information to control an amount of electrical energy which is utilized by a heating element to heat the thermal energy storage medium at a plurality of moments in time.

Thermal energy storage apparatus, controllers and thermal energy storage control methods

Transactive control and coordination framework and associated toolkit functions

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for charging and discharging an energy storage device connected to an electrical power distribution system. In one exemplary embodiment, a controller monitors electrical characteristics of an electrical power distribution system and provides an output to a bi-directional charger causing the charger to charge or discharge an energy storage device (e.g., a battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)). The controller can help stabilize the electrical power distribution system by increasing the charging rate when there is excess power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid exceeds an average value), or by discharging power from the energy storage device to stabilize the grid when there is a shortage of power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid is below an average value).

Grid regulation services for energy storage devices based on grid frequency

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating operation and control of a resource distribution system (such as a power grid). Among the disclosed embodiments is a distributed hierarchical control architecture (DHCA) that enables smart grid assets to effectively contribute to grid operations in a controllable manner, while helping to ensure system stability and equitably rewarding their contribution. Embodiments of the disclosed architecture can help unify the dispatch of these resources to provide both market-based and balancing services.

Distributed hierarchical control architecture for integrating smart grid assets during normal and disrupted operations

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling and scheduling power distribution in a power network, such as household power network. One disclosed embodiment is a system comprising a central controller and a control device coupled to a household appliance. The central controller can comprise computing hardware coupled to a wireless transceiver. The central controller can be configured to generate and transmit control signals for controlling the operational state of the household appliance according to the schedule. Furthermore, the control device can be configured to receive the transmitted control signals from the central controller and to control the operational state of the household appliance in response to the control signals.

Scheduling and modeling the operation of controllable and non-controllable electronic devices

An advanced electric water heater control system that interfaces with a high temperature cut-off thermostat and an upper regulating thermostat. The system includes a control module that is electrically connected to the high-temperature cut-off thermostat and the upper regulating thermostat. The control module includes a switch to open or close the high-temperature cut-off thermostat and the upper regulating thermostat. The control module further includes circuitry configured to control said switch in response to a signal selected from the group of an autonomous signal, a communicated signal, and combinations thereof.

Water heater control module

A method for managing the charging and discharging of batteries wherein at least one battery is connected to a battery charger, the battery charger is connected to a power supply. A plurality of controllers in communication with one and another are provided, each of the controllers monitoring a subset of input variables. A set of charging constraints may then generated for each controller as a function of the subset of input variables. A set of objectives for each controller may also be generated. A preferred charge rate for each controller is generated as a function of either the set of objectives, the charging constraints, or both, using an algorithm that accounts for each of the preferred charge rates for each of the controllers and/or that does not violate any of the charging constraints. A current flow between the battery and the battery charger is then provided at the actual charge rate.

Method and apparatus for smart battery charging including a plurality of controllers each monitoring input variables

Growing community of inventors

West Richland, WA, United States of America

Donald J Hammerstrom