Energy virtualization layer for commercial and residential installations
An energy virtualization system may include a physical interface gateway that may include a plurality of common interfaces. The plurality of common interfaces may be coupled to a plurality of energy-producing devices, a plurality of energy-control devices, and a plurality of energy-consuming devices. The system may also include a building network, where the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices, and the plurality of energy-consuming devices can communicate through building network. The system may additionally include a computing device running an energy virtualization layer. The virtualization layer may include a plurality of virtual devices representing the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices; and the plurality of energy-consuming devices. The virtualization layer may also direct energy from the energy-producing devices to the energy-consuming devices according to information received from the energy-control devices.
1. An energy virtualization system comprising:
a physical interface gateway comprising a plurality of common interfaces, wherein the plurality of common interfaces are coupled to:
a plurality of energy-producing devices;
a plurality of energy-control devices; and
a plurality of energy-consuming devices;
a building network, wherein the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices, and the plurality of energy-consuming devices communicate through the building network; and
a computing device running an energy virtualization layer, wherein:
the virtualization layer comprises a plurality of virtual devices representing the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices, and the plurality of energy-consuming devices;
the virtualization layer is distributed across a plurality of computing devices and acts as a hypervisor layer for the plurality of virtual devices;
the virtualization layer selects and controls which of the energy-producing devices provide energy to specific ones of the energy-consuming devices according to information received from the energy-control devices; and
the virtualization layer is configured to:
poll the plurality of virtual devices to determine device statuses;
receive an indication that a new device has been connected to the physical interface gateway;
receive information associated with a profile from the new device;
using the profile, determine whether the new device is an energy-producing device, an energy-control device, or an energy-consuming device based at least in part on the profile received from the new device;
determine whether the new device is authorized; and
interface with the new device if the new device is authorized according to the profile.
2. The energy virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices, and the plurality of energy-consuming devices communicate through building network according to an IP protocol.
3. The energy virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein the energy virtualization system is installed in a commercial building.
4. The energy virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein the energy virtualization system is installed in a residential building.
5. The energy virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy-consuming devices comprises an electric vehicle.
6. The energy virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein the profile comprises an operating current and voltage for the new device.
7. The energy virtualization system of claim 6 , wherein the operating current and voltage for the new device are supplied by the new device to the energy virtualization system.
8. The energy virtualization system of claim 6 , wherein the operating current and voltage for the new device are provided to the new device from the energy virtualization system.
9. The energy virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy-consuming devices comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
10. A method of operating an energy virtualization system, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of energy-producing devices through a plurality of common interfaces in a physical interface gateway of the energy virtualization system;
receiving a plurality of energy-control devices through a plurality of common interfaces in a physical interface gateway of the energy virtualization system;
receiving a plurality of energy-consuming devices through a plurality of common interfaces in a physical interface gateway of the energy virtualization system;
communicating between the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices, and the plurality of energy-consuming devices through a building network;
representing the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices, and the plurality of energy-consuming devices as a plurality of virtual devices on a virtualization layer running on a computing device, wherein the virtualization layer is distributed across a plurality of computing devices and acts as a hypervisor layer for the plurality of virtual devices;
selecting, by the virtualization layer, and controlling which of the energy-producing devices provide energy to specific ones of the energy-consuming devices according to information received from the energy-control devices;
polling, by the virtualization layer, the plurality of virtual devices to determine device statuses;
receiving, by the virtualization layer, an indication that a new device has been connected to the physical interface gateway;
receiving by the virtualization layer, information associated with a profile from the new device;
using the profile, determining, by the virtualization layer, whether the new device is an energy-producing device, an energy-control device, or an energy-consuming device based at least in part on the profile received from the new device;
determining, by the virtualization layer, whether the new device is authorized; and
interfacing, by the virtualization layer, with the new device if the new device is authorized according to the profile.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of energy-producing devices, the plurality of energy-control devices, and the plurality of energy-consuming devices communicate through building network according to an IP protocol.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the energy virtualization system is installed in a commercial building.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the energy virtualization system is installed in a residential building.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of energy-consuming devices comprises an electric vehicle.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the profile comprises an operating current and voltage for the new device.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the operating current and voltage for the new device are supplied by the new device to the energy virtualization system.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the operating current and voltage for the new device are provided to the new device from the energy virtualization system.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of energy-consuming devices comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.