Reducing the cost of distributed electricity generation through opportunity generation

摘要

A system for managing the supply of energy to a customer that receives power from an electric power grid is disclosed. The system comprises at least one power transmission arrangement, a computer driven controller and a switching arrangement. The power transmission arrangement selectively couples any two or engaging all three of following main components: a driven load, an electric motor which can also operate as a generator (motor-generator) and a prime mover. The computer driven controller is operable to continuously receive information on drive shaft rotation speeds of the load, the motor-generator and the prime mover, information on electricity prices and price for fuel used by the prime mover including forecasts of short term price trends, information regarding on-going load requirements of the driven load, of electricity requirements of other connected loads at the premises. The controller is also operable to store information about 1) relevant fixed and variable costs of operating the prime mover, including relevant design and operating data on the driven load, the prime mover and the motor-generator necessary to control their output based on rotation speed, and 2) relevant information about electricity and fuel supply contract conditions and conditions governing use and export of power into the power grid. The computer-driven controller is further operable to determine the best financial outcome for the customer in the form of control set-points for the operation of the main components of the power transmission arrangement and to implement their operational mode that involves at least one of enabling the load to be driven by at least one of the electric motor and the prime mover; and enabling the prime mover to drive at least one of the load and the motor as a generator so that the electricity produced can be used at the premises with that part in excess of requirements being exported to the mains. The switching arrangement is responsive to control signals from the computer driven controller to engage or disengage each of the main components, including computer signals to control: fuel supply to the prime mover so as to maintain computed prime mover drive speed according to desired load output or desired generator output when the motor is being operated as a generator; power supply to the motor so as to maintain computed drive speed according to desired load output during periods when the motor is the sole load driver; fuel supply to the prime mover and drive speed of load and of the motor-generator in generating mode, so as to maintain computed prime mover drive speed necessary to achieve the desired load output and desired generator output; and, both fuel supply to the prime mover and power supply to the motor so as to maintain respective drive speeds for necessary load sharing in producing desired load output during periods when the combined output of the motor and the prime mover are used to drive the load.