Demand response implemented in an infrastructure having a dc link

Abstract

A system for regulating electrical energy transfer over a pathway including a DC link ( 16, 18, 20 ) is provided. The system is configured for computing a rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link at least in part on a basis of a state of balance between power generation and a load determined from frequency measurement ( 32, 34 ) and for adjusting the rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link. An electrical vehicle charger is provided that includes a power input for connection to an AC power distribution network and a power output for connection to an electric vehicle, and is configured for determining a rate of electrical energy flow through the power output by using as a factor a state of balance between power generation and load in an AC power distribution network to which the power input connects. A method for regulating electrical energy transfer over a pathway including a DC link is also provided.

1 . A system for regulating electrical energy transfer over a pathway including a DC link, the system comprising a data processing device, including:
 a. a machine readable storage encoded with non-transitory software for execution by a CPU, the software being configured for computing a rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link at least in part on a basis of a state of balance between power generation and load in an AC power distribution network to which the pathway connects;   b. an output for generating a control signal for adjusting the rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link according to the computed rate.   
     
     
         2 . A system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the AC power distribution network supplies electrical energy flowing through the pathway and the DC link. 
     
     
         3 . A system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the data processing device includes an input for receiving frequency information from the AC power distribution network. 
     
     
         4 . A system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the data processing device adapts the control signal to reduce the rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link when the AC power distribution network manifests a power generation deficit. 
     
     
         5 . A system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the AC power distribution network receives the electrical energy flowing through the pathway and the DC link. 
     
     
         6 . A system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the data processing device includes an input for receiving frequency information from the AC power distribution network. 
     
     
         7 . A system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the data processing device adapts the control signal to increase the rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link when the AC power distribution network manifests a power generation deficit. 
     
     
         8 . A system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the AC power distribution network is a first AC power distribution network, the pathway being connected between the first AC power distribution network and a second AC power distribution network. 
     
     
         9 . A system as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the input receives frequency information from the first AC power distribution network and from the second AC power distribution network. 
     
     
         10 . A system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pathway connects the AC power distribution network to a battery of an electric vehicle having an electrical vehicle controller, the data processing device being configured to communicate with the electrical vehicle controller. 
     
     
         11 . A system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the data processing device is configured to notify the EV controller that a rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link is being diminished in response to occurrence of a power generation deficit in the AC power generation network. 
     
     
         12 . A system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the data processing device is configured to notify the EV controller that a rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link is being increased when a balance between power generation and load in the AC power distribution network is being re-established. 
     
     
         13 . An electrical vehicle charger, comprising:
 a. a power input for connection to an AC power distribution network;   b. a power output for connection to an electric vehicle to supply electrical energy for charging a battery of the electric vehicle;   c. a data processing device, including:
 i. a machine readable storage encoded with non-transitory software for execution by a CPU, the software being configured for determining a rate of electrical energy flow through the power output by using as a factor a state of balance between power generation and load in an AC power distribution network to which the power input connects; 
 ii. an output for generating a message to a controller of the electrical vehicle to notify the controller that the rate of electrical energy flow is being adjusted on the basis of a loss of balance between power generation and load in the AC power distribution network. 
   
     
     
         14 . An electrical vehicle charger as defined in  claim 13 , including a signaling pathway to transfer the message to the controller of the electrical vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . An electrical vehicle charger as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the signaling pathway is wireless. 
     
     
         16 . An electrical vehicle charger as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the signaling pathway is wire line. 
     
     
         17 . An electrical vehicle charger as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the wire line is integrated in a power cable used to connect the electrical vehicle charger to the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . An electrical vehicle charger, comprising:
 a. a power input for connection to an AC power distribution network;   b. a power output for connection to an electric vehicle to supply electrical energy for charging a battery of the electric vehicle;   c. a data processing device, including a machine readable storage encoded with non-transitory software for execution by a CPU, the software being configured for determining a rate of electrical energy flow through the power output by using as a factor a state of balance between power generation and load in an AC power distribution network to which the power input connects;   d. the data processing device being configured to negotiate with an electrical controller of the electric vehicle a rate of charge to be supplied to the electrical vehicle when a loss of balance occurs between power generation and load in the AC power distribution network.   
     
     
         19 . A device for controlling a charging rate of a battery, the device comprising:
 a. a first input for receiving information on a state of charge of the battery;   b. an I/O for:
 i. sending messages to a charger to regulate a charging rate of the battery on the basis of the state of charge; 
 ii. receive messages from the charger indicative of a lowering of the charging rate unrelated to the state of charge. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method for regulating electrical energy transfer over a pathway including a DC link, the method including:
 a. computing a rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link at least in part on a basis of a state of balance between power generation and load in an AC power distribution network to which the pathway connects;   b. adjusting the rate of electrical energy flow through the DC link according to the computed rate.   
     
     
         21 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the AC power distribution network supplies electrical energy flowing through the pathway and the DC link. 
     
     
         22 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , including processing frequency information from the AC power distribution network to determine a state of balance between power generation and load. 
     
     
         23 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , including reducing the rate of electrical energy through the DC link when the AC power distribution network manifests a power generation deficit. 
     
     
         24 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the AC power distribution network receives the electrical energy flowing through the pathway and the DC link. 
     
     
         25 . A method as defined in  claim 24 , including processing frequency information from the AC power distribution network to determine a state of balance between power generation and load. 
     
     
         26 . A method as defined in  claim 25 , including increasing the rate of electrical energy through the DC link When the AC power distribution network manifests a power generation deficit.