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US-12625514-B2 - Modular power network device

US12625514B2US 12625514 B2US12625514 B2US 12625514B2US-12625514-B2

Abstract

A modular system is described which can provide high frequency monitoring of power use and responsive control as well as enabling network connectivity for centralised monitoring and operation. One modular system consists of a communications bus, end caps, and a combination of the modules providing communications, power metering, relay control and battery backup. Each modular system can be configured with a combination of modular units as needed for the application. A combination of bus communication monitoring and tilt detection provides security against external tampering after installation.

Inventors

  • Paddy Finn

Assignees

  • ELECTRICITY EXCHANGE DAC

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230113

Claims (7)

  1. 1 . A method of adjusting power at a plurality of nodes in a power grid network comprising the steps of: (a) providing from a first node of the plurality of nodes to a server a first indication of a power demand at the first node, wherein the first indication is an indication of the first node's capability to generate more power or an indication of the first node's requirement for more power consumption; (b) providing from a second node of the plurality of nodes to a server a second indication of a power demand at the second node, wherein the second indication is an indication of the second node's capability to generate more power or an indication of the second node's requirement for more power consumption; (c) calculating at the server a trigger point for each of the plurality of nodes based on the received first and second indications; (d) providing from the server a trigger point to each of the plurality of nodes; and (e) adjusting the power demand for at least one of the plurality of nodes based on the trigger point provided by the server, wherein adjusting the power demand comprises the steps of: (i) increasing the power consumed by the first node when the first indication is an indication of the first node's requirement for more power consumption, (ii) increasing the power generated by the first node when the first indication is an indication of the first node's capability to generate more power, (iii) increasing the consumed by the second node when the second indication is an indication of the second node's requirement for more power consumption, and (iv) increasing the power generated by the second node when the second indication is an indication of the second node's capability to generate more power.
  2. 2 . The method of adjusting power according to claim 1 , wherein adjusting the power demand comprises the step of increasing the power consumed by the first or second node or decreasing the power consumed by the first or second node.
  3. 3 . The method of adjusting power according to claim 1 , wherein adjusting the power demand comprises the step of increasing the power generated by the first or second node or decreasing the power generated by the first or second node.
  4. 4 . The method of adjusting power according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger point is a power frequency for the plurality of nodes, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: (a) comparing a measured power frequency of at least one of the plurality of nodes to the trigger point; and (b) adjusting the power demand for at least one of the plurality of nodes when the measured frequency exceeds the trigger point.
  5. 5 . A method of adjusting power at a plurality of nodes in a power grid network comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting by a server (i) a first power frequency set point to a first node, and (ii) a second power frequency set point to a second node; (b) monitoring by a power meter module (i) the first measured power frequency value for the first node, and (ii) the second measured power frequency value for the second node; (c) comparing (i) the first measured power frequency against the first power frequency set point for the first node, and (ii) the second measured power frequency against the second power frequency set point for the second node; (d) transmitting (i) from a first node to the server, a first indication of a power demand at the first node, the first indication being an indication of the first node's capability to generate more power of an indication of the first node's requirement for more power consumption, and (ii) from a second node to the server, a second indication of a power demand at the second node, the second indication being an indication of the second node's capability to generate more power or an indication of the second node's requirement for more power consumption; (e) adjusting the power demand for the first node autonomously when the first measured power frequency exceeds the first power frequency set point for the first node, wherein adjusting the power demand for the first node comprises the steps of: (i) increasing the power consumed by the first node when the first indication is an indication of the first node's requirement for more power consumption, and (ii) increasing the power generated by the first node when the first indication is an indication of the first node's capability to generate more power; and, (f) adjusting the power demand for the second node autonomously when the second measured power frequency exceeds the second power frequency set point for the second node, wherein adjusting the ower den id for the second node comprises the steps of: (i) increasing the power consumed by the second node when the second indication is an indication of the second node's requirement for more power consumption, and (ii) increasing the power generated by the second node when the second indication is an indication of the second node's capability to generate more power.
  6. 6 . The method of adjusting power according to claim 5 , wherein adjusting the power demand comprises the step of increasing the power consumed by the first or second node or decreasing the power consumed by the first or second node.
  7. 7 . A system for adjusting power at a plurality node in a power grid network comprising: (a) means for providing from a first node of the plurality of nodes to a server a first indication of a power demand at the first node, wherein the first indication is an indication of the first node's capability to generate more power of an indication of the first node's requirement for more power consumption; (b) means for providing from a second node of the plurality of nodes to a server a second indication of a power demand at the second node, wherein the second indication is an indication of the second node's capability to generate more power or an indication of the second node's requirement for more power consumption; (c) means for calculating at the server a trigger point for each of the plurality of nodes based on the received first and second indications; and (d) means for adjusting the power demand at one or more of the plurality of nodes based on the trigger point provided by the server, wherein the means for adjusting comprises the steps of: (i) increasing the power consumed by the first node when the first indication is an indication of the first node's requirement for more power consumption, (ii) increasing the power generated by the first node when the first indication is an indication of the first node's capability to generate more power, (iii) increasing the power consumed by the second node when the second indication is an indication of the second node's requirement for more power consumption, and (iv) increasing the power generated by the second node when the second indication is an indication of the second node's capability to generate more power.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY The present application claims priority from International Application No. PCT/EP2018/058932, filed on Apr. 6, 2018, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present application is also a divisional application that claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 17/045,333, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a modular system for communication and control of aspects of a power network, for example a power grid network. BACKGROUND Demand on electrical grids fluctuates depending on a number of factors including, for example, seasonal effects and the time of day. Industrial and domestic users have differing electrical needs, with industrial users in particular requiring very stable and predictable supply. Fluctuations in the power supply for certain industrial processes may have very serious consequences, ranging from damage to process equipment to process failure as a result of a loss or other interruption of a stable power supply. It is desirable therefore to provide a means of ensuring that power supply is capable of being monitored with a high degree of accuracy and furthermore that rapid changes in demand across an electrical grid can be catered for in real time and with a high degree of flexibility. Providing reliable means for monitoring and controlling power use can provide for additional stability in an electrical grid whereby, for example, certain electricity users can reduce their demand by turning off or turning down certain electrical loads for a period of time. Other users may be able to operate back-up generation or battery systems for a period of time to counter the impact of a source of instability. Furthermore, some users may be able to run low-cost generation if they operate combined heat and power (CHP) generation or other, low-cost generation on a regular schedule. SUMMARY An aspect of the present invention includes a modular communication system that includes a system bus; a central processing unit (“CPU”) having at least one input and one output; at least two end modules having a plurality of connection points for receiving data from the system bus or transmitting data through the system bus, where the end modules are configured to provide a looped transmission path through the CPU. The CPU is configured to indicate a discontinuity in the system bus if a transmission from the at least one CPU output to at least one connection point of at least one end module is not received by the at least one CPU input. The system bus provides the main communication conduit between modules in the modular system. The end module provides the advantage of providing an efficient manner of providing an indication at the CPU of discontinuity in the system bus, for example an interruption in transmission as a result of, for example, tampering with the bus or the modular system or a fault in the bus. A point within a system of points can be routed through each of the end modules and returned to the original source of the transmission. The end modules may be placed at opposite ends of the modular system. The end modules may in effect “bookend” the modular system. A transmission from at least one node in the system will follow a path through all connected nodes. This is advantageous as a discontinuity at any point along the bus length may be detected. The transmission from the at least one CPU output may comprise random generated code. This is advantageous as it provides for a simple implementation. No specific instruction is required to be transmitted in order to indicate a discontinuity. Rather, all that is required is for a break in transmission to be detected. The transmission from the at least one CPU output may be sent periodically. This is advantageous as it allows for a discontinuity, for example as a result of tampering, to be checked over period of time, i.e. it provides for more than a once off check. The transmission may be transmitted from the at least one CPU output over a first transmission path and the transmission may be received by the at least one CPU input over a second transmission path, the first and second transmission paths forming a looped transmission path. In effect, the transmission may be transmitted from the at least one point over a first transmission path and the transmission may be received by the transmitting point over the same transmission path. This is advantageous as it provides for a “looped” path from the end module, through the modular system, and back to the end module. As such, discontinuities throughout the system can be detected. The CPU may further comprise means for providing information corresponding to the discontinuity in the system bus. This is advantageous as it provides information to a user about the nature of the discontinuity. The information may comprise information corresponding to at