Microgrid controller for distributed energy systems

Abstract

A microgrid controller for controlling one or more edge units in a distributed energy system is presented. In some embodiments, the microgrid controller communicates with one or more network adjacent edge units, each of the one or more network adjacent edge units being coupled to a power grid, determines an instruction set to execute with the one or more network adjacent edge units, provides operating parameters for the one or more network adjacent edge units to execute the instruction set, and monitors the one or more edge units over a network that is not associated with the internet. In situations where the internet fails, microgrid controller determines a set of instructions to execute and provides instructions to the network adjacent edge units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating as a microgrid controller, comprising:
 communicating with one or more network adjacent edge units, each of the one or more network adjacent edge units being coupled to a power grid;   determining an instruction set to execute with the one or more network adjacent edge units;   providing operating parameters for the one or more network adjacent edge units to execute the instruction set; and   controlling and monitoring the one or more edge units.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an instruction set to execute includes
 choosing a received instruction set received through an internet connection if the internet connection remains active;   choosing a last received instruction set if the internet connection is inactive and the last received instruction set can be executed considering available resources;   choosing a default instruction set if the internet connection is inactive and the last received instruction set cannot be executed considering available resources.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including choosing a default instruction set if the last received instruction set has expired. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein choosing a default instruction set includes determining one of a number of default instruction sets that can be executed considering available resources. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein considering the available resources includes evaluating characterization parameters of the one or more edge units, evaluating tariff rules associated with the grid, and the current set of the one or more edge units. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further including determining whether the last received instruction set can be executed, comprising:
 determining whether required instructions included in the last received instruction set can be executed;   if the required instructions cannot be executed, determining whether the required instructions can be executed if one or more of a set of optional instructions are executed; and   if the required instructions cannot be executed when one or more of the set of optional instructions are executed, determining whether a subset of the required instructions can be executed while executing one or more of a set of optional instructions that falls within a set of best fit rules.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determine one of a number of default instruction sets that can be executed includes evaluating each of the number of default instruction sets wherein evaluating one the number of default instruction sets includes:
 determining whether required instructions included in the default instruction set can be executed;   if the required instructions cannot be executed, determining whether the required instructions can be executed if one or more of a set of optional instructions are executed; and   if the required instructions cannot be executed when one or more of the set of optional instructions are executed, determining whether a subset of the required instructions can be executed while executing one or more of a set of optional instructions that falls within a set of best fit rules.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating with one or more network adjacent edge units includes providing a wired connection between the microgrid controller and at least some of the one or more network adjacent edge units. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating with one or more network adjacent edge units includes providing a radio link between the microgrid controller and at least some of the one or more network adjacent edge units. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the edge units can relay communications with the microgrid controller to other edge units through the radio link. 
     
     
         11 . A microgrid controller, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor;   an internet interface coupled to the processor, the internet interface configured to communicate through an internet to receive instruction sets; and   a device interface coupled to the processor, the device interface configured to communicate with one or more network adjacent edge units,   wherein the processor executes instructions for
 communicating with the one or more network adjacent edge units through the device interface, each of the one or more network adjacent edge units being coupled to a power grid; 
 determining an instruction set to execute with the one or more network adjacent edge units; 
 providing operating parameters for the one or more network adjacent edge units to execute the instruction set; and 
 controlling and monitoring the one or more edge units. 
   
     
     
         12 . The microgrid controller of  claim 11 , wherein the device interface interfaces to at least some of the one or more edge units with wired cables. 
     
     
         13 . The microgrid controller of  claim 11 , wherein the device interface interfaces to at least some of the one or more edge units with a radio link. 
     
     
         14 . The microgrid controller of  claim 13 , wherein the device interface provides instructions through the radio link to at least one of the one or more edge units, which relay the instructions to others of the one or more edge units. 
     
     
         15 . The microgrid controller of  claim 11 , wherein determining an instruction set to execute includes
 determining whether the internet interface is active;   choosing a received instruction set received through the internet interface if the internet connection remains active;   choosing a last received instruction set if the internet interface is inactive and the last received instruction set can be executed considering available resources;   choosing a default instruction set if the internet interface is inactive and the last received instruction set cannot be executed considering available resources.   
     
     
         16 . The microgrid controller of  claim 15 , further including choosing a default instruction set if the last received instruction set has expired. 
     
     
         17 . The microgrid controller of  claim 15 , wherein choosing a default instruction set includes determining one of a number of default instruction sets that can be executed considering available resources. 
     
     
         18 . The microgrid controller of  claim 15 , wherein considering the available resources includes evaluating characterization parameters of the one or more edge units, evaluating tariff rules associated with the grid, and the current set of the one or more edge units. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further including determining whether the last received instruction set can be executed, comprising:
 determining whether required instructions included in the last received instruction set can be executed;   if the required instructions cannot be executed, determining whether the required instructions can be executed if one or more of a set of optional instructions are executed; and   if the required instructions cannot be executed when one or more of the set of optional instructions are executed, determining whether a subset of the required instructions can be executed while executing one or more of a set of optional instructions that falls within a set of best fit rules.   
     
     
         20 . The microgrid controller of  claim 17 , wherein determine one of a number of default instruction sets that can be executed includes evaluating each of the number of default instruction sets wherein evaluating one the number of default instruction sets includes:
 determining whether required instructions included in the default instruction set can be executed;   if the required instructions cannot be executed, determining whether the required instructions can be executed if one or more of a set of optional instructions are executed; and   if the required instructions cannot be executed when one or more of the set of optional instructions are executed, determining whether a subset of the required instructions can be executed while executing one or more of a set of optional instructions that falls within a set of best fit rules.