Smart sockets: An enabling system for domestic consumer based demand - response electrical energy management programs

摘要

Electrical energy demand in developing countries is expected to rise significantly byudthe year 2020. To achieve electrical grid operational reliability the electrical gridudoperators need to keep a balance between their generation and consumption curve.udThe increase in demand requires expansion in the current generation capacity. Thisudexpansion can be achieved by bringing more green and renewable electrical energyudgeneration resources into the electrical grid system. Keeping the electrical generationudand distribution system in stable form at all times is a very complex task. Electricityudutilities need to keep a balance between generation and consumption curves in orderudto achieve reliable grid operations. Grid operators have used many techniques toudachieve reliability in grid operations. Demand-side management and demand responseudstrategies are examples of a few of those techniques. “Smart grid” is the overalludsolution of most of these problems. However, smart grid has its own pros and cons.udOn the other hand, electrical energy consumers at present are not activelyudparticipating in the operations of electrical grids. This lack of participation is both inuddeveloped and developing countries. Research has shown that benefits were achievedudwhen electrical energy consumers participated in the electrical grid operations. Gridudoperators in the past have used different demand response strategies to minimize thisudgap of interaction between the electrical energy consumers and electricity utilities.udDemand response programs or strategies used at present are predominantly forudcommercial or large electrical energy consumers. There are very few of the demandudresponse strategies deployed for domestic electrical energy consumers. All the presentuddemand response strategies are utility-based strategies, that is electricity utilities haveudfull control over a domestic consumer’s electrical energy consumption. Whenudrequired utilities can switch the appliance ON or OFF in a domestic consumer’sudhousehold. This utility driven strategy can result in consumer’s dissatisfaction.udUtilities need to offer demand response programs for the domestic electrical energyudconsumers. However offering consumer based demand response programs require theudactive participation from the consumer’s side. Electricity utilities must provide theirudconsumers with the information about their electrical energy consumption in realtime.udThis requires equipment that can monitor electrical energy consumption in realtimeudand send it back to the utility and the consumer. Smart meters have been used toudserve the purpose, however they have their problems. The domestic consumer needsudto be onsite (at his home) in order to benefit from the information displayed on audsmart meter. Since domestic consumers are not at home at all times the informationuddisplayed on the smart meter is not useful. This makes the use of smart metersudinefficient. This dissertation proposes a system based on the concept of smart powerudsockets which can be used at a domestic electrical energy consumer’s household inudorder to monitor their electrical energy in real-time and alert them about theirudelectrical energy consumption when required. These smart power sockets also enableudthe consumers to control their appliance remotely (to switch them ON or OFF whenudrequired). The prototype system has been developed and tested. The results suggestudthat domestic electrical energy consumers reacted to the information provided to themudabout their electrical energy information. Based on the information provided theuddomestic electrical energy consumer was able to reduce his/her electrical energyudconsumption. In some cases it is also noticed that the domestic electrical energyudconsumer shifted some of his/her load from peak time of electrical energy demand toudthe off peak time. Based on these results it is recommended that electricity utilitiesudmust consider offering demand response programs that are mainly driven by theuddomestic electrical energy consumers themselves.