Power control device

Abstract

A power control device for regulating the power that a load consumes on the basis of the AC supply frequency. The system includes decision logic that responds to a frequency deviation to implement a power regulation strategy. The power regulation strategy includes a power compensation phase during which the electrical power that the load consumes is adjusted (reduced or increased) to balance the load on the grid. The power regulation strategy also includes a power restoration phase during which the power to the load is restored (either increased or decreased). The rate at which the power is adjusted during the power compensation phase is higher than the rate at which the power is restored during the power restoration phase.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A power control device for use in an AC power grid for regulating an electrical power a load that is supplied by the AC power grid consumes, the power control device comprising:
 a. a frequency sensing functional block for detecting deviations of the grid frequency from a nominal grid frequency;   b. a logic functional block for implementing a power regulation process during which the power the load consumes is reduced when the frequency sensing functional block determines that the grid frequency has deviated from the nominal grid frequency, the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes in a continuous fashion with relation to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency; and   c. an output for outputting a control signal for controlling the power the load consumes on the basis of the power regulation process.   
     
     
         44 . A power control device as defined in  claim 43 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes in a non-stepwise fashion. 
     
     
         45 . A power control device as defined in  claim 43 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes step-wise by implementing multiple discrete power levels, the multiple discrete power levels including:
 a. a first power level where the load consumes a nominal amount of power;   b. a second power level different from the first power level; and   c. multiple intermediate power levels between the first power level and the second power level.   
     
     
         46 . A power control device as defined in  claim 45 , wherein the second power level is a nil power level where the load consumes no power. 
     
     
         47 . A power control device as defined in  claim 43 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes continuously and linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         48 . A power control device as defined in  claim 43 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes continuously and non-linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         49 . A power control device as defined in  claim 47 , wherein the power regulation process reduces the power the load consumes proportionately to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         50 . A power control device as defined in  claim 49 , wherein the power regulation process reduces the power the load consumes at a rate such that an approximate deviation of 5% of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency results in no power being supplied to the load. 
     
     
         51 . A power control device as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the power regulation process reduces the power to the load a rate that increases with an increase in the deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         52 . A power control device as defined in  claim 51 , wherein the power regulation process reduces the power the load consumes to about zero when the grid frequency deviates by about 3 Hz from a nominal frequency of 60 Hz. 
     
     
         53 . A power control device as defined in  claim 43 , comprising a machine readable storage medium encoded with software for execution by a CPU to implement at least in part the frequency sensing functional block and the logic functional block. 
     
     
         54 . A power control device as defined in  claim 43 , wherein the load is a resistive load. 
     
     
         55 . A power control device as defined in  claim 43 , wherein the frequency sensing functional block includes an input to be coupled to a power supply connection between the AC power grid and the load. 
     
     
         56 . A power control device for use in an AC power grid for regulating an electrical power a load that is supplied by the AC power grid consumes, the power control device comprising:
 a. a sensing functional block for detecting a frequency instability event within the grid;   b. a logic functional block for implementing a power regulation process during which the power the load consumes is reduced when the sensing functional block determines that frequency instability is occurring, the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes in a continuous fashion with relation to a degree of frequency instability; and   c. an output for outputting a control signal for controlling the power the load consumes on the basis of the power regulation process.   
     
     
         57 . A power control device as defined in  claim 56 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes in a continuous non-stepwise fashion. 
     
     
         58 . A power control device as defined in  claim 56 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes step-wise by implementing multiple discrete power levels, the multiple discrete power levels including:
 a. a first power level where the load consumes a nominal amount of power;   b. a second power level different from the first power level; and   c. multiple intermediate power levels between the first power level and the second power level.   
     
     
         59 . A power control device as defined in  claim 58 , wherein the second power level is a nil power level where the load consumes no power. 
     
     
         60 . A power control device as defined in  claim 56 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes continuously and linearly with relation to the degree of frequency instability. 
     
     
         61 . A power control device as defined in  claim 56 , wherein the power regulation process reducing the power the load consumes continuously and non-linearly with relation to the degree of frequency instability. 
     
     
         62 . A power control device as defined in  claim 60 , wherein the power regulation process reduces the power to the load proportionately to a degree of increase of the frequency instability. 
     
     
         63 . A power control device as defined in  claim 62 , wherein the power regulation process reduces the power to the load at a rate such that when a grid frequency deviates from a nominal frequency by 5% or more no power is supplied to the load. 
     
     
         64 . A power control device as defined in  claim 61 , wherein the power regulation process reduces the power to the load at a rate that increases with an increase in a deviation of a grid frequency from a nominal frequency. 
     
     
         65 . A power control device as defined in  claim 64 , wherein the power to the load is reduced to about zero when the grid frequency deviates by about 3 Hz or more from a nominal frequency of 60 Hz. 
     
     
         66 . A power control device as defined in  claim 56 , comprising a machine readable storage medium encoded with software for execution by a CPU to implement at least in part the sensing functional block and the logic functional block. 
     
     
         67 . A power control device as defined in  claim 56 , wherein the load is a resistive load. 
     
     
         68 . A power control device as defined in  claim 56 , wherein the sensing functional block includes an input to be coupled to a power supply connection between the AC power grid and the load. 
     
     
         69 . A method for regulating an amount of power a load connected to an AC power grid is allowed to consume, the method comprising:
 a. detecting deviations of a frequency of the AC grid from a nominal grid frequency via a power supply connection between the load and the AC power grid; and   b. reducing the power the load consumes in a continuous fashion with relation to the degree of deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency.   
     
     
         70 . A method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power in a gradual and non-stepwise fashion. 
     
     
         71 . A method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the step of reducing the power to the load includes reducing the power step-wise by implementing multiple discrete power levels, the multiple discrete power levels including:
 a. a first power level where the load is allowed to consume a nominal amount of power;   b. a second power level different from the first power level; and   c. multiple intermediate power levels between the first power level and the second power level.   
     
     
         72 . A method as defined in  claim 71 , wherein the second power level is a nil power level where the load consumes no power. 
     
     
         73 . A method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power continuously and linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         74 . A method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power continuously and non-linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         75 . A method as defined in  claim 73 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power proportionately to the degree of deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         76 . A method as defined in  claim 75 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power at a rate such that at about 5% deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency results in no power being supplied to the load. 
     
     
         77 . A method as defined in  claim 74 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power at a rate that increases with an increase in a rate of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         78 . A method as defined in  claim 77 , wherein the step of reducing the power to the load includes reducing the power to about zero when the grid frequency deviates by about 3 Hz from a nominal frequency of 60 Hz. 
     
     
         79 . A method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the load is a resistive load. 
     
     
         80 . A water heater, comprising:
 a. a resistive load for connection to an AC power grid for heat generation;   b. a power control device for regulating electrical power consumed by the resistive load, the power control device being configured for:
 i. detecting deviations of the grid frequency from a nominal grid frequency; 
   c. reducing the power the resistive load consumes in a continuous fashion with relation to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency.   
     
     
         81 . A water heater as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes in a non-stepwise fashion. 
     
     
         82 . A water heater as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes step-wise by implementing multiple discrete power levels, the multiple discrete power levels including:
 a. a first power level where the load consumes a nominal amount of power;   b. a second power level different from the first power level; and   c. multiple intermediate power levels between the first power level and the second power level.   
     
     
         83 . A water heater as defined in  claim 82 , wherein the second power level is a nil power level where the resistive load consumes no power. 
     
     
         84 . A water heater as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes continuously and linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         85 . A water heater as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes continuously and non-linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         86 . A water heater as defined in  claim 85 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes proportionately to a change to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         87 . A water heater, comprising:
 a. a resistive load for connection to an AC power grid for heat generation;   b. a power control device for regulating electrical power consumed by the resistive load, the power control device being configured for:
 i. detecting an occurrence of a frequency instability event on the basis of frequency information derived via a power connection to the AC power grid; and 
   c. reducing the power the resistive load consumes in a continuous fashion with relation to the degree of frequency instability.   
     
     
         88 . A water heater as defined in  claim 87 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes in a non-stepwise fashion. 
     
     
         89 . A water heater as defined in  claim 88 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes step-wise fashion by implementing multiple discrete power levels, the multiple discrete power levels including:
 a. a first power level where the load consumes a nominal amount of power;   b. a second power level different from the first power level; and   c. multiple intermediate power levels between the first power level and the second power level.   
     
     
         90 . A water heater as defined in  claim 89 , wherein the second power level is a nil power level where the resistive load consumes no power. 
     
     
         91 . A water heater as defined in  claim 87 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes continuously and linearly with relation to the degree of frequency instability. 
     
     
         92 . A water heater as defined in  claim 87 , wherein the power control device reducing the power the resistive load consumes continuously and non-linearly with relation to the degree of frequency instability. 
     
     
         93 . A water heater as defined in  claim 91 , wherein the power control device reduces the power the resistive load consumes proportionately to a change to a degree of deviation of the grid frequency from a nominal frequency. 
     
     
         94 . A water heater as defined in  claim 92 , wherein the power control device reduces the power the resistive load consumes at a rate that increases with an increase in the deviation of the grid frequency from a nominal frequency. 
     
     
         95 . A method for increasing the frequency stability of an AC power grid that supplies multiple and geographically dispersed dwellings with electrical power, the method comprising:
 a. providing several ones of the dwellings with an electrical load that is connected to the AC power grid;   b. deriving grid frequency information via a power supply connection between the electrical load and the AC power grid and determining on the basis of the grid frequency information if the grid frequency deviates from a nominal grid frequency; and   c. reducing the power the electrical load consumes in a continuous fashion with relation to the degree of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal grid frequency.   
     
     
         96 . A method as defined in  claim 95 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power in a gradual and non-stepwise fashion. 
     
     
         97 . A method as defined in  claim 96 , wherein the step of reducing the power to the load includes reducing the power step-wise by implementing multiple discrete power levels, the multiple discrete power levels including:
 a. a first power level where the load is allowed to consume a nominal amount of power;   b. a second power level different from the first power level; and   c. multiple intermediate power levels between the first power level and the second power level.   
     
     
         98 . A method as defined in  claim 97 , wherein the second power level is a nil power level where the load consumes no power. 
     
     
         99 . A method as defined in  claim 95 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power continuously and linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         100 . A method as defined in  claim 95 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power continuously and non-linearly with relation to the degree of deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         101 . A method as defined in  claim 99 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power proportionately to the degree of deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         102 . A method as defined in  claim 101 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power at a rate such that at about 5% deviation of the frequency from the nominal frequency results in no power being supplied to the load. 
     
     
         103 . A method as defined in  claim 100 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power at a rate that increases with an increase in a rate of deviation of the grid frequency from the nominal frequency. 
     
     
         104 . A method as defined in  claim 103 , wherein the step of reducing the power to the load includes reducing the power to about zero when the grid frequency deviates by about 3 Hz from a nominal frequency of 60 Hz. 
     
     
         105 . A method as defined in  claim 95 , wherein the load is a resistive load. 
     
     
         106 . A method for increasing the frequency stability of an AC power grid that supplies multiple and geographically dispersed dwellings with electrical power, the method comprising:
 a. providing several ones of the dwellings with an electrical load that is connected to the AC power grid;   b. processing grid frequency information sensed via a power connection between the AC power grid and the load to detect a frequency instability event; and   c. reducing the power the electrical load consumes in a continuous fashion with relation to the degree of frequency instability.   
     
     
         107 . A method as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power in a gradual and non-stepwise fashion. 
     
     
         108 . A method as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the step of reducing the power to the load includes reducing the power step-wise by implementing multiple discrete power levels, the multiple discrete power levels including:
 a. a first power level where the load is allowed to consume a nominal amount of power;   b. a second power level different from the first power level; and   c. multiple intermediate power levels between the first power level and the second power level.   
     
     
         109 . A method as defined in  claim 108 , wherein the second power level is a nil power level where the load consumes no power. 
     
     
         110 . A method as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power continuously and linearly with relation to the degree of frequency instability. 
     
     
         111 . A method as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power continuously and non-linearly with relation to the degree of frequency instability. 
     
     
         112 . A method as defined in  claim 110 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power proportionately to the degree of frequency instability. 
     
     
         113 . A method as defined in  claim 112 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power at a rate such that at about 5% deviation of the frequency of the AC power grid from a nominal frequency results in no power being supplied to the load. 
     
     
         114 . A method as defined in  claim 111 , wherein the step of reducing the power includes reducing the power at a rate that increases with an increase in a rate of decrease of the frequency of the AC grid from a nominal frequency. 
     
     
         115 . A method as defined in  claim 114 , wherein the step of reducing the power to the load includes reducing the power to about zero when the frequency of the AC grid deviates by about 3 Hz or more from a nominal frequency of 60 Hz. 
     
     
         116 . A method as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the load is a resistive load. 
     
     
         117 . A process for determining a degree of load reduction a power grid manifests in response to a frequency instability event, where the power grid supplies a multiplicity of loads which are geographically distributed and remote from one another and each load is controlled by a power control device, the power control device:
 a. reducing the amount of electrical power the load is allowed to consume in response to a frequency instability event; and   b. being responsive to a frequency encoded message impressed on the power grid to reduce the electrical power the load is allowed to consume, the method including:
 i. impressing on the power grid the frequency encoded message to command the power control devices associated with the respective loads to reduce the electrical power the loads are allowed to consume, the impressing being performed in the absence of a frequency instability event; and 
 ii. observing a collective response of the multiplicity of loads to the frequency encoded message. 
   
     
     
         118 . A process as defined in  claim 117 , including deriving from the collective response a degree of load reduction the power grid manifests. 
     
     
         119 . A process as defined in  claim 117 , including deriving from the collective response time information indicative of an evolution of the load reduction versus time.