Systems and methods for electric vehicle grid stabilization

Abstract

A system and methods that enables power flow management using AGC commands to control power resources. Power regulation can be apportioned to the power resources. An AGC command requesting an apportioned amount of the power regulation may be transmitted to a power resource. The power flow manager can determine a power regulation range for a power resource, and transmit an AGC command based on the power regulation range. In addition, a power flow management system can detect a change in an intermittent power flow and implement a power flow strategy in response to the change in the intermittent power flow. The power flow strategy may be a smoothing strategy or a leveling strategy.

Description

[0001]This non-provisional patent application claims priority to, and incorporates herein by reference, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 165,344 filed on Mar. 31, 2009. This application also incorporates herein by reference the following: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 252,657 filed Oct. 16, 2008; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 252,209 filed Oct. 15, 2008; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 252,803 filed Oct. 16, 2008; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 252,950 filed Oct. 16, 2008.[0002]This application includes material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates in general to the field of electric vehicles, and in particular to novel systems and methods for power flow management ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method for managing power flow by controlling power resources using automatic generation control (AGC) commands. These commands are transmitted by a power flow manager to the power resources and request power regulation. The method apportions the power regulation to the power resources based on various factors such as power range, minimization of communications, fairness, maximization future abilities, and preferences or requirements of the power resources. The method also detects changes in intermittent power flow and coordinates power resources to respond to these changes by implementing a power flow strategy, such as a smoothing or leveling strategy. The technical effects of this patent include improved management of power flow and better utilization of power resources.

Problems solved by technology

The electric power grid has become increasingly unreliable and antiquated, as evidenced by frequent large-scale power outages.

Grid instability wastes energy, both directly and indirectly, e.g. by encouraging power consumers to install inefficient forms of backup generation.

While clean forms of energy generation, such as wind and solar, can help to address the above problems, they suffer from intermittency.

Hence, grid operators are reluctant to rely heavily on these sources, making it difficult to move away from carbon-intensive forms of electricity.

With respect to the electric power grid, electric power delivered during periods of peak demand costs substantially more than off-peak power.

The electric power grid contains limited inherent facility for storing electrical energy.

Electricity must be generated constantly to meet uncertain demand, which often results in over-generation (and hence wasted energy) and sometimes results in under-generation (and hence power failures).

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