Decentralized electrical load shedding

摘要

A decentralized load shedding device turns off a load in response to determining that an electric grid is approaching its maximum operating point. By turning off the load, demand on the electric grid is minimized thereby reducing the likelihood of blackouts. The device may be coupled to the load or may be incorporated into the load in one embodiment.

主权项

1. A decentralized load shedding device that automatically turns off a load, the device comprising:
a processor configured to:
determine an operating frequency of an electric grid;determine that the operating frequency of the electrical grid has been lowered from a first operating frequency to a second operating frequency;determine that the operating frequency of the electrical grid has been maintained at the second operating frequency for a threshold amount of time that indicates that the electrical grid is approaching operating point limits of the electrical grid;in response to determining that the operating frequency has been lowered from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency and maintained at the second operating frequency for the threshold amount of time, generate a signal for the load to turn off; andsend the generated signal to the load to cause the load to turn off; wherein the operating frequency of the electrical grid is lowered to the second operating frequency and maintained at the second operating frequency before the electrical grid is at the operating point limit of the electrical grid; and wherein the operating frequency is encoded with information describing a geographic location that is affected by the electric grid approaching the operating point limits of the electric grid and wherein the processor generates the signal responsive to the load being located in the geographical location.