Power flow measurement and management

Abstract

Methods and systems for measuring and/or managing power consumption by power units connected to an electricity distribution network are disclosed. Power flow to and/or from a power unit connected to an electricity distribution network is controlled in accordance with a control sequence, such that the consumption and/or provision of power by the power unit results in a power flow having a predefined flow pattern, and having a characteristic, such as an amplitude, which can be remotely measured. This measurement may be performed using a method in which a signal indicative of power flowing at a measurement node is measured and correlated with a predefined pattern, and a characteristic of the correlated signal is measured. Thus, power flow characteristics resulting from a group of one or more power flow devices can be remotely detected and measured.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power flow control device configured for controlling power flow within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network comprising a measurement node, the measurement node being arranged to access a data store storing data indicative of one or more predefined power flow patterns, the electricity distribution network being connected to one or more power units such that a change in consumption and/or provision of electric power by a first power unit results in a change in power flow in the network,
 wherein the power flow control device is configured to control power flow to and/or from the first power unit in accordance with a control sequence associated with the first power unit, the control sequence corresponding to a first predefined power flow pattern of the one or more predefined power flow patterns, the first predefined power flow pattern being distinct from an intrinsic characteristic of power flow of the first power unit and defining a pattern of control signals for controlling power flow to and/or from the first power unit,   thereby providing, in said electricity distribution network, a power flow pattern corresponding to the first predefined power flow pattern and having a characteristic relating to electric power flow to and/or from the first power unit, said characteristic being measurable by the measurement node.   
     
     
         2 . A power flow control device according to  claim 1 , the power flow control device comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive data indicating a control sequence associated with the first power unit, the control sequence corresponding to a first predefined power flow pattern and defining a pattern of control signals for controlling power flow to and/or from the first power unit; and   a processor configured to control power flow to and/or from the first power unit in accordance with a received control sequence,   thereby providing, in said electricity distribution network, a power flow pattern corresponding to the first predefined power flow pattern and having a characteristic relating to electric power flow to and/or from the first power unit, said characteristic being measurable by the measurement node.   
     
     
         3 . A power flow control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the communications interface is configured to receive data indicating a control sequence from the measurement node. 
     
     
         4 . A power flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the measurable characteristic comprises an amplitude of the power flow. 
     
     
         5 . A power flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control sequence represents a sequence of control signals for controlling a switch, the switch being configured to turn power flow to and/or from the first power unit on or off in accordance with a control signal; and   the switch is configured to be controlled in accordance with the sequence of control signals.   
     
     
         6 . A power flow control device according to  claim 1 , configured to:
 receive an activation signal; and   initiate the control sequence on the basis of the received activation signal.   
     
     
         7 . A power flow control device according to  claim 6 , wherein the received activation signal specifies a time for initiating the control sequence, and the power flow control device is configured to initiate the control sequence at the specified time. 
     
     
         8 . A power flow control device according to  claim 1 , configured to:
 receive a disabling signal from the measurement node; and   prevent power flow to and/or from the first power unit in response to receiving the disabling signal.   
     
     
         9 . A power flow control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the predefined power flow pattern resulting from the first power unit comprises a repeating pattern, and the power flow control device is configured to control power flow to and/or from the first power unit continuously according to the repeating pattern. 
     
     
         10 . A power flow control device according to  claim 1 , configured to control an attenuator to modify power flow to and/or from the first power unit. 
     
     
         11 . A power unit comprising a power flow control device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A power unit according to  claim 11 , comprising position determining means for determining a position of the unit and an interface for sending an indication of a determined position of the mobile unit to the measurement node. 
     
     
         13 . A power unit according to  claim 11 , comprising a user interface for providing an indication of availability of the unit for provision and/or consumption of electric power to and/or from the electricity distribution network, and an interface for transmitting an indication of said availability. 
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling power within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network comprising a measurement node, the measurement node being arranged to access a data store storing data indicative of one or more predefined power flow patterns, the electricity distribution network being connected to one or more power units such that a change in consumption and/or provision of electric power by a first power unit results in a change in power flow in the network, the method comprising:
 controlling, at the power flow control device, power flow to and/or from the first power unit in accordance with a control sequence associated with the first power unit, the control sequence corresponding to a first predefined power flow pattern of the one or more predefined power flow patterns, the first predefined power flow pattern being distinct from an intrinsic characteristic of power flow of the first power unit and defining a pattern of control signals for controlling power flow to and/or from the first power unit,   thereby providing, in said electricity distribution network, a power flow pattern corresponding to the first predefined power flow pattern and having a characteristic relating to electric power flow to and/or from the first power unit, said characteristic being measurable by the measurement node.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a method of controlling power within an electricity distribution network, the electricity distribution network comprising a measurement node, the measurement node being arranged to access a data store storing data indicative of one or more predefined power flow patterns, the electricity distribution network being connected to one or more power units such that a change in consumption and/or provision of electric power by a first power unit results in a change in power flow in the network, the method comprising:
 controlling, at the power flow control device, power flow to and/or from the first power unit in accordance with a control sequence associated with the first power unit, the control sequence corresponding to a first predefined power flow pattern of the one or more predefined power flow patterns, the first predefined power flow pattern being distinct from an intrinsic characteristic of power flow of the first power unit and defining a pattern of control signals for controlling power flow to and/or from the first power unit,   thereby providing, in said electricity distribution network, a power flow pattern corresponding to the first predefined power flow pattern and having a characteristic relating to electric power flow to and/or from the first power unit, said characteristic being measurable by the measurement node.