Method and apparatus for load management in an electric power system
A system for load control in an electrical power system is described, wherein one or more load-control devices are provided to control power delivered to electrical equipment. A remote power authority, such as a power company, government agency, or power transmission company sends one or more commands to the load-control devices to adjust loading on the electrical power system. In one embodiment, the power authority sends shutdown commands. In one embodiment, the power authority sends commands to tell the electric power device to operate in a relatively low-power mode. In one embodiment, the commands are time-limited, thereby allowing the electric power device system to resume normal operation after a specified period of time. In one embodiment, the commands include query commands to cause the control device to report operating characteristics (e.g., efficiency, time of operation, etc.) back to the power authority.
1 . A system for load control in an electrical power system, comprising:
a relay configured to control electric power provided to relatively high-load electrical equipment;
a processing system configured to receive commands via a data interface device from a power authority, said processing system addressable using an identification code that identifies a type of said relatively high-load electrical equipment, said processing system configured to receive at least a first command from said power authority to said data interfaced device to control said relay to adjust loading on said electrical power system.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first command comprises a shutdown command.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first command comprises a command to shutdown for a specified period of time.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said data interface device comprises a modem.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said data interface device comprises a broadband over power line modem.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said data interface device comprises a wireless modem.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said data interface device comprises a telephone modem.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said relatively high-load equipment comprises an air-conditioning condensing unit.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said relatively high-load equipment comprises an electric oven.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said relatively high-load equipment comprises a pool filter pump.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said relatively high-load equipment comprises a window air conditioner.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said relatively high-load equipment comprises a refrigerator.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said relatively high-load equipment comprises an electric hot water heater.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said identification code identifies an air-conditioning condensing unit.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said identification code identifies an electric oven.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said identification code identifies a pool filter pump.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said identification code identifies a window air conditioner.
18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said identification code identifies a refrigerator.
19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said identification code identifies an electric hot water heater.
20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said remote power authority is configured to monitor power through a transformer and to send said first command when power through said transformer exceeds a specified maximum.
21 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said remote power authority is configured to monitor power through a transformer and to send said first command to shut down relatively low-priority devices when power through said transformer exceeds a first specified maximum.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein said relatively low priority devices comprise at least one of a pool filter pump and an electric hot water heater.
23 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said remote power authority is configured to monitor power through a transformer and to send said first command to shut down relatively low-priority devices when power through said transformer exceeds a first specified maximum and to send a second command to shut down relatively high-priority devices when power through said transformer exceeds a second specified minimum.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein said relatively low priority devices comprise at least one of a pool filter pump, an electric hot water heater, and an electric oven.
25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein said relatively low-priority devices comprise at least one of a pool filter pump and an electric hot water heater, and wherein said relatively high-priority devices comprise at least one of an air-conditioner condenser unit and a window air-conditioner.
26 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first command comprises a command to cause said device to operate in a relatively low-power mode.
27 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said data interface device is configured as a modem that operates in a relatively low-bandwidth mode, a medium bandwidth-mode, and a relatively high-bandwidth mode.
28 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said data interface device is configured as a modem that operates in a plurality of bandwidth modes.