Automated demand response energy management system

摘要

The power flexibility of energy loads is maximized using a value function for each load and outputting optimal control parameters. Loads are aggregated into a virtual load by maximizing a global value function. The solution yields a dispatch function providing: a percentage of energy for each individual load, a time-varying power level for each load, and control parameters and values. An economic term represents the value of the power flexibility to different players. A user interface includes for each time interval upper and lower bounds representing respectively the maximum power that may be reduced to the virtual load and the maximum power that may be consumed. A trader modifies an energy level in a time interval relative to the reference curve for the virtual load. Automatically, energy compensation for other intervals and recalculation of upper and lower boundaries occurs. The energy schedule for the virtual load is distributed to the actual loads.

主权项

1. A method of aggregating a plurality of actual energy loads into virtual energy loads, said method comprising:
receiving a plurality of value functions, each value function of the plurality of value functions representing one of said actual energy loads and including a term describing a difference between a maximal energy consumption of said one of said actual energy loads and a minimal energy consumption of said one of said actual energy loads allowed within load constraints over a plurality of time intervals within a time period; receiving a first global value function that includes a first term summing said plurality of value functions which is added to a first economic term representing an economic value of a first virtual energy load to a first energy player; receiving a second global value function that includes a second term summing said plurality of value functions which is added to a second economic term representing an economic value of a second virtual energy load to a second energy player, wherein said first and second economic terms are different; maximizing said first and second global value functions and creating said first and second virtual energy loads, each of said virtual energy loads being an aggregation of a set of said actual energy loads, and determining first and second dispatch functions respectively; outputting, for each of said actual energy loads, a percentage of an energy level to be delivered during one of said time intervals, the energy level being divided amongst said actual energy loads; and controlling actual energy loads of said first and second virtual energy loads using said each percentage and said first and second dispatch functions.