Method and Apparatus for Charging a Battery From an Isolatable Electric Power Grid

Abstract

Method and apparatus for charging a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) may determine a power charging schedule for charging the EV from a microgrid, based on charging preference information for the EV, and also power consumption information for devices on the microgrid and alternative power resource information indicating availability of electric power for supply to the microgrid from an alternative power resource on the microgrid received via a communication network. A charging instruction signal for charging the EV from the microgrid, according to the power charging schedule, may be transmitted over the communication network.

1 . A method for charging at least one battery, the method comprising:
 controlling, by a processing device, at a power system control device,
 receiving, over a communication network, power consumption information of consumption devices on an electric power grid and alternative power resource information indicating availability of electric power for supply to the electric power grid from an alternative power resource on the electric power grid, 
   in which a power resource system including the alternative power resource is on the electric power grid, and   in which, when the electric power grid is in an isolated state, the electric power grid is capable to satisfy predetermined power consumption requirements respectively of the consumption devices, using electric power from the power resource system;
 determining, for a mobile energy storage and power consumption device, as a given combined power consumption and alternative power resource device on the electric power grid, a power charging schedule for charging a battery of the mobile energy storage and power consumption device, in accordance with charging preference information for the mobile energy storage and power consumption device, the power consumption information and the alternative power resource information; and 
 transmitting, over the communication network, a charging instruction signal for charging the battery of the mobile energy storage and power consumption device from the electric power grid, according to the power charging schedule. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power charging schedule includes supplying power to the power grid from the alternative power resource. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging instruction signal indicates a charging apparatus on the power grid, and a time for charging the mobile energy storage and power consumption device at the charging apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging instruction signal indicates a first time for supplying power from the mobile energy storage and power consumption device to the power grid and a second time for charging the mobile energy storage and power consumption device at a charging apparatus on the power grid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power charging schedule is determined based on transactive energy information received over the communication network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power charging schedule is determined based on at least one of information of charging apparatus availability, a current queue at a charging apparatus on the power grid, working status of the charging apparatus or a discount for charging, received over the communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power charging schedule is determined based on information indicating at least one of state of charge, location or preferred time for charging of the mobile energy storage and power device, received over the communication network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging instruction signal includes an instruction for a second mobile energy storage and power consumption device to supply electric power therefrom to the power grid at a first time prior to a second time indicated for charging of the mobile energy storage and power consumption device from the power grid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the power charging schedule is determined based on a change of a first power charging schedule of the second mobile energy storage and power consumption device to a second power charging schedule, in which the second mobile energy storage and power consumption device is a second combined power consumption and alternative power resource device on the power grid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging instruction signal includes an instruction for the alternative power resource to supply power to the power grid at a time when the mobile energy storage and power consumption device is indicated for charging from the power grid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alternative power resource information indicates a time period for supply of excess available power, and an amount of the excess available power for supply from the alternative power resource to the power grid, and
 wherein the charging instruction signal is for charging the mobile energy storage and power consumption device using the excess available power from the alternative power resource at a charging apparatus of the power grid.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the charging apparatus is identified in the alternative power resource information and associated with the alternative power resource. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the alternative power resource information indicates time of availability and maximum power charging rate of the charging apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alternative power resource information indicates cost for charging using the charging apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power consumption information is based on at least one of sensor information from an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor of a given power consumption device, a device monitoring environmental conditions associated with the power grid or a user of electric power supplied over the power grid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the power consumption information includes predicted energy consumption information determined from the sensor information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile energy storage and power consumption device is an electric vehicle (EV), and the power charging schedule is determined based on information of at least one of a driving route of a user of the EV, a favorite charging apparatus of the user, a preferred charging apparatus of the user or consumption of power from the power grid associated with user behavior. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alternative power resource includes at least one of a Distributed Energy Resource (DER), a renewable energy resource or an energy storage system. 
     
     
         19 . A method for charging at least one energy storage device from an electric power grid, in which the electric power grid is operable in an isolated state from a distribution power grid, and in which the electric power grid is configured to be supplied with a predetermined maximum power from the distribution power grid, the method comprising:
 controlling, by a processing device, at a power system control device,
 receiving, over a communication network, alternative power resource information indicating availability of electric power for supply to the electric power grid from alternative power resources on the electric power grid, and condition information indicating current and expected energy storage and power consumption for the electric power grid, in which the condition information includes (i) power consumption condition information indicating current and expect power consumption by a plurality of power consumption devices including at least one stationary power consumption device and at least one mobile power consumption device, and (ii) energy storage condition information indicating current and expected energy storage at a plurality of energy storage devices which include at least one stationary energy storage device and at least one mobile energy storage device; 
 determining, based on the condition information, predictive energy storage and power consumption information for the electric power grid; 
 performing a prediction power charging scheduling process using the predictive energy storage and power consumption information, when a trigger condition is determined, 
 wherein the process is performed to determine a plurality of power charging schedules for satisfying, from the electric power grid, expected power charging requirements of first power consumption devices of the plurality of power consumption devices at a predetermined future time period, based on the predetermined maximum power from the distribution power grid and the alternative power resource information, 
 wherein the power charging schedules include first power charging schedules for storing energy generated at respective first alternative power resources on the electric power grid during a first time period before the future time period, at least one second power charging schedule for supplying power to the at least one stationary power consumption device before and during the future time period, and at least one third power charging schedule for charging from the electric power grid the at least one mobile energy storage device during the predetermined future time period; and 
 transmitting, over the communication network, first, second and third charging instruction signals respectively according to the first, second and third power charging schedules. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the trigger condition is determined based on the predictive energy storage and power consumption information and is a determination of an anticipated energy shortage for the electric power grid during the predetermined future time period. 
     
     
         21 . The method  claim 20 , wherein the condition information is real-time information and the trigger condition is determined when the anticipated energy shortage determined from the predictive energy storage and power consumption information satisfies a predetermined critical energy shortage condition. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the trigger condition is determined when the condition information indicates a predetermined event has occurred or is to occur. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the predetermined event is a change in weather or environment, an anticipated traffic condition or a social event. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the condition information includes information obtained from a social media network. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the trigger condition is determined using historic driving pattern or population behavior information. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the trigger condition is a predetermined set time. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the predetermined set time is a periodic time indicated by a time schedule. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predictive energy storage and power consumption information indicates at least one of (i) a predictive pattern of energy storage and consumption for a predetermined class of energy consumers, (ii) a predictive model of operational status of energy equipment, or (iii) information indicating an incentive predicted to shift time of energy usage. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the at least one mobile power consumption devices includes a plurality of mobile power consumption devices, and wherein the at least one mobile energy storage device includes a plurality of mobile energy storage devices,   wherein the trigger condition is determined when the condition information indicates a predetermined event has occurred or is to occur, and   wherein the process is performed to determine a plurality of fourth power charging schedules for satisfying, from the electric power grid, expected power charging requests from a first plurality of mobile power consumption devices of the plurality of mobile power consumption devices at the future time period.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first plurality of mobile power consumption devices and a first plurality of mobile energy storage devices of the plurality of mobile energy storage devices are contained respectively in a plurality of electric vehicles (EVs). 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the third power charging instructions are transmitted respectively in response to requests for charging received from the plurality of EVs over the communication network. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the fourth power charging instructions include directions for charging the first plurality of mobile energy storage devices respectively at a plurality of different locations on the electric power grid at a plurality of different times during the predetermined future time period, and wherein the predetermined future time period includes a first period before, a second time period during, and a third time period after a predetermined event indicated by the condition information. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein price of charging information is indicated in one or more of the fourth power charging schedules, and a given price of charging in a given fourth power charging schedule is in accordance with at least one of time for charging by a charging apparatus on the electric power grid or location of the charging apparatus in relation to a location of the predetermined event. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 controlling, by the processing device, transmitting to second EVs of the EVs each containing a second mobile power consumption device and a second mobile energy storage device, over the communication network, fourth instruction signals determined according to the power charging schedules and for changing fifth power charging schedules respectively for charging the second mobile energy storage devices from the electric power grid determined before the trigger condition is determined,   wherein the changed fifth power charging schedules include at least one of a first time for charging a given one of the second mobile energy storage devices from the electric power grid different from the future time period or a second time for discharging energy to the electric power grid from a given another of the second mobile energy storage devices during the future time period.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the energy generated is from solar or wind energy and stored at one of the first alternative power resources. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second charging instruction signals direct the at least one stationary power consumption device to decrease power consumption from the electric power grid at a predetermined time before or during the predetermined future period. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus for charging at least one battery, the apparatus comprising:
 a processing device and a memory including instructions which, when executed by the processing device, control:
 receiving, over a communication network, power consumption information of consumption devices on an electric power grid and alternative power resource information indicating availability of electric power for supply to the electric power grid from an alternative power resource on the electric power grid, 
   in which a power resource system including the alternative power resource is on the electric power grid, and   in which, when the electric power grid is in an isolated state, the electric power grid is capable to satisfy predetermined power consumption requirements respectively of the consumption devices, using electric power from the power resource system;
 determining, for a mobile energy storage and power consumption device, as a given combined power consumption and alternative power resource device on the electric power grid, a power charging schedule for charging a battery of the mobile energy storage and power consumption device, in accordance with charging preference information for the mobile energy storage and power consumption device, the power consumption information and the alternative power resource information; and 
 transmitting, over the communication network, a charging instruction signal for charging the battery of the mobile energy storage and power consumption device from the electric power grid, according to the power charging schedule.