Title: Intelligent electrical outlet for collective load control

Abstract

Various technologies described herein pertain to an electrical outlet that autonomously manages loads in a microgrid. The electrical outlet can provide autonomous load control in response to variations in electrical power generation supply in the microgrid. The electrical outlet includes a receptacle, a sensor operably coupled to the receptacle, and an actuator configured to selectively actuate the receptacle. The sensor measures electrical parameters at the receptacle. Further, a processor autonomously controls the actuator based at least in part on the electrical parameters measured at the receptacle, electrical parameters from one or more disparate electrical outlets in the microgrid, and a supply of generated electric power in the microgrid at a given time.

Inventors:

Lentine, Anthony L.; Ford, Justin R.; Spires, Shannon V.; Goldsmith, Steven Y.

Issue Date:

Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 EDT 2015

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1224207

Patent Number(s):

9172245

Application Number:

13/619,469

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06Q - DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTING PURPOSES

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G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G06F1/266 - {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips}

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06Q - DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTING PURPOSES

G06Q50/06 - Electricity, gas or water supply

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02H - EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS

H02H3/006 - {Calibration or setting of parameters}
H02H3/05 - with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements {
H02H3/14 - responsive to occurrence of voltage on parts normally at earth potential {

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H02J2300/20 - The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
H02J2300/40 - wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
H02J2310/10 - The network having a local or delimited stationary reach
H02J2310/16 - The load or loads being an Information and Communication Technology [ICT] facility
H02J3/00 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
H02J3/38 - Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
H02J3/381 - {Dispersed generators}
H02J3/46 - Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02B - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

Y02B20/40 - Control techniques providing energy savings

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y04 - INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS Y04S - SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

Y04S20/00 - Systems supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
Y04S20/221 - General power management systems

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2012 Sep 14

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION