WO2013046176A2

WO2013046176A2 - System for remote management of electric grids

Info

Publication number: WO2013046176A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/055204
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gianpaolo VITALINI SANGIOVANNI; Alessandro CHIES
Original assignee: Etc S.R.L.
Priority date: 2011-09-30
Filing date: 2012-09-28
Publication date: 2013-04-04
Also published as: WO2013046176A3; ITBG20110041A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1; 2) for the remote management of one or more electric grids (1 1, 21), of one or more users (31), comprising one or more electric generators (12) and/or one or more load devices. The system comprises: - one or more monitoring means (1 1 1, 121; 210) of electric parameters, operatively connected to the electric grid (11, 21) and/or to the generators (12) and/or to the devices; the monitoring means (1 1 1, 121; 210) receiving one or more measurements of the parameters, of the electric grid (11, 21) and/or of the generators (12) and/or of the devices, at constant pre-determined time intervals; the monitoring means (1 11, 121; 210) using network communication protocols for forwarding the measurements; one or more network servers (120; 220), operatively connected to said monitoring means (1 11, 121; 210), for receiving the measurements via network communication protocols and/or for storing the measurements on durable non-volatile supports; - a main database (130; 230) for storage at least of first data relative to the characteristics of the network (11, 21) and/or of the electric generators (12) and/or of the load devices to be monitored; - one or more secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"'); - one or more control means (140; 250) operatively connected to the network servers (120, 220), to the main database (130, 230) and to the secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"'); the control means (140; 250) taking the measurements from the network servers (120, 220) and generating second data from conversion and/or processing of the measurements and the first data; said second data being stored in the secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"').

Description

SYSTEM FOR REMOTE MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRIC GRIDS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a system for remote management of one or more electric grids, comprising one or more electric generators and/or one or more load devices.

Electric grids have undergone a process of profound transformation due, in particular, to the need to allow them to be accessed by an increasing number of new users, of active or passive type. This has inevitably resulted in the need to manage the grids in such a way as to guarantee adequate safety standards and service quality, in addition to the possibility of managing and planning production and loads.

Planning of the electric grid is therefore difficult due to the multitude of variables to be taken into account, requiring the availability of instruments which allow accurate grid management. Alongside the traditional grids for production and management of electricity, Distributed Generation (DG) has been developed. This is a new electricity production and distribution model which is based on integration in the electric grids of small and medium-sized renewable energy and cogeneration units, which may or may not be connected to the distribution grid.

These electricity systems are normally sited near the end user, thus helping to reduce the need for investments and infrastructures to increase the transport capacity of the electric transmission and distribution grids, at the same time reducing grid losses and distribution costs. Distributed Generation can provide a more reliable power supply with better electric quality.

In the context of the constant growth in the demand for electricity, accompanied by the need for safety of the electric power supply and reduction of greenhouse gases, the growth of Distributed Generation and renewable technologies offers essential components for sustainable development. The large-scale introduction of Distributed Generation and renewable technologies into the world of electricity therefore requires greater flexibility in control of the grids and poses new problems for the operators. The distribution grid, originally conceived as passive, becomes active since the normal power flow can be inverted, entailing a change in grid control logic.

The fact that the electric grids are no longer passive but active inevitably makes the system operations more uncertain. Said grids are, in fact, characterised by a multitude of energy sources, of different types and dimensions, an increasing number of load devices and a growing need to control the costs and powers used.

The active management of electric grids, with the active participation of generators and loads, is the most promising solution for promoting integration of the renewable energy sources and for improving electricity supply efficiency.

Neglecting these aspects in optimal electric grid planning not only results in non-optimal solutions but can even cause problems of power quality, reliability, energy efficiency, system regulation and control.

The availability of instruments to collect energy and electrical information from remote sites within a database system is therefore particularly useful. A system able to produce operation and yield indexes of the electric grids, on the basis of the data collected, is particularly useful. Numerous systems are known able to collect data and measurements from electric equipment or energy systems. Said systems, however, have significant drawbacks. One problem of the known systems and devices relates to the lack of scalability. In particular, the known solutions are often produced ad hoc for each system, creating considerable problems in the event of modifications to the system configuration for adaptations or power expansions.

A further problem relates to the interaction between the system and the grids. Said interaction occurs, in fact, only via dedicated software installed on clients ad hoc. This entails a high level of complexity in installation and management, in addition to difficulty in relations with the technical personnel in charge of installation.

The complexity of the systems is further reflected also in the high costs of the components required and the high number of work hours necessary for installation and configuration, which inevitably increase the system cost.

It would therefore be desirable to have a system for the management of electric grids, equipment and devices able to reduce the implementation costs of the same.

It would also be desirable for said system to guarantee a high scalability for use on plants of different sizes and configurations.

It would also be desirable for said system to allow data access from any point of the Internet. Lastly, it would be desirable for said system to be configurable to adapt to any requirements and needs of an user.

In the context of the above-mentioned task, one object of the present invention is to provide a system able to minimise the implementation costs due to minimisation and optimisation of the components used.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system able to guarantee maximum flexibility in order to cope with user demands and needs, and which is scalable in all its components.

A further object, falling within the above-mentioned task, is to provide a system able to exploit web-oriented solutions, guaranteeing data access from any point of the Internet.

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by a system for remote management of one or more electric grids, of one or more users, comprising one or more electric generators and/or one or more load devices characterised in that it comprises:

one or more monitoring means for monitoring electric parameters, operatively connected to said electric grid and/or to said generators and/or to said devices; said monitoring means receiving one or more measurements of said parameters, of said electric grid and/or of said generators and/or of said devices, at constant pre-determined time intervals; said monitoring means using network communication protocols for forwarding said measurements;

one or more network servers, operatively connected to said monitoring means, for receiving said measurements via said network communication protocols and/or for storing said measurements on durable non-volatile supports;

- a main database for storage at least of first data relative to the characteristics of said electric grid and/or of said electric generators and/or of said load devices to be monitored; one or more secondary databases;

one or more control means operatively connected to said network servers, to said main database and to said secondary databases; said control means taking said measurements from said network servers and generating second data from the conversion and/or processing of said measurements and said first data; said second data being stored in said secondary databases;

said control means being suitable for giving commands to the system and/or to its components for modifying the parameters to be monitored and/or for modifying the loads connected, and/or the electric generators and/or the interaction between loads and power supply and/or for controlling, in remote or real-time mode, the operations of the single loads; said commands being generated by the users of said network and/or automatically by said control means.

With the characteristics described above, the system allows the control and management of electric grids and/or electricity generators and/or load devices connected to said grids. In particular, the system allows high scalability and adaptability to all types of grids, generators and devices to be monitored and/or controlled.

Preferably the system comprises means for the generation of one or more reports and/or statistics from the second data. In particular, the system comprises means for forwarding the second data and/or the reports to the users, thus simplifying user control and management operations.

Preferably the system comprises first displaying of reports and/or of statistics and/or of second data on electronic devices; the first displaying means being operatively connected to the secondary databases and/or to the control means and using network communication protocols for acquisition of the reports and/or statistics and/or the second data. In particular, the system furthermore comprises second displaying means of the reports and/or of statistics and/or of second data on portable electronic devices; the second displaying means being operatively connected to the secondary databases and/or to the control means and using network mobile communication protocols for acquisition of the reports and/or statistics and/or second data, thus allowing use of the system from any geographical location by means of an Internet connection.

Preferably the system comprises means for receiving command signals from the users via network communication protocols; the command signal reception means being operatively connected to the control means.

The control means allow the user to issue orders and commands to the system and/or to its components to modify the parameters to be monitored and/or to perform remote activities on the devices connected to the system, such as variation of the loads, and/or of the power supply (or energy production), and/or of the interaction between loads and power supply and/or to control, in remote and/or real-time mode, the operations performed by the individual loads. Preferably the measurements comprise at least measurement of the voltage and/or measurement of the current and/or measurement of the temperature of the electric grid and/or of the generators and/or of the devices.

Preferably the electric generators comprise at least one photovoltaic panel and/or at least one photovoltaic cell, the measurements comprising at least the voltage and/or the current and/or the temperature of the panel and/or of the photovoltaic cell. In particular, the photovoltaic panel and/or the photovoltaic cell are provided with at least one inverter, the monitoring means being operatively connected to the inverter for measurement of the parameters.

Preferably the system comprises sensor means for measuring the parameters of the electric grid and/or of the generators and/or o the devices, the sensor means being operatively connected to the monitoring means.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the description of preferred embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first preferred embodiment of the system for remote management of electric grids according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the system for management of a photovoltaic plant, according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the embodiment of the control means of the systems of Figure 1 and 2, according to the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1 a first embodiment of the system 1 for the remote management of two separate electric grids is illustrated. In particular, a first electric grid 1 1 relates to a building for civil use whereas a second electric grid 21 relates to a building for industrial use. Therefore, in the present embodiment it is assumed that one single user 31 has to monitor and control two separate electric grids sited in two different locations.

The system 1, as illustrated, shows a division into various macro areas. The Server macro area comprises the configurations and installations of the servers used for storing the measurement data relative to the grids 1 1 , 21 , for subsequent publication according to specific authentications (username, password) via a WEB server, for email transmission of alarm notifications or delivery of reports, and for storing data on an annual basis concerning operativity and statistics of the grids 1 1 , 21 of the client 31. The Services Network macro area is the network on which the services exist and from which the services are delivered to the client 31 of the system 1. Said client 31 can be inside or outside the network. The Firewall macro area is the device that acts as a barrier against attacks and protects the Service Network from intrusion by hackers. Said barrier is designed to protect data stored over time. The Internet Access macro area represents the connection to the IP global network.

The two electric grids 1 1 , 21 are each provided with a plurality of electric generators (not illustrated) and a plurality of load devices (not illustrated), controlled by a central system to which the monitoring means 1 1 1 and 121 are respectively connected. Said connection allows the reception of a plurality of measurements of the operating parameters characteristic of the grids 1 1 , 21 , as described in detail below.

The monitoring means 1 1 1 , 121 have a WEB interface for initial configuration and display of the measurements to be obtained on a synoptic panel which can be exported on any WEB enabled device. Said means 1 1 1 , 121 each comprise a module provided with high performance low consumption embedded CPU which allows access via the Ethernet in standard IP to analog and digital resources at both input and output, as illustrated in Figure 3. The means 1 1 1 , 121 are, furthermore, able to communicate with external devices provided with serial interface of traditional type and act as an autonomous supervision system able to take information both from the direct connections via the quantities that can be measured by the board and via interaction with external devices. The system 1 can comprise means for the reception of command signals (not illustrated) from the users 31 , operatively connected with the control means 1 1 1 , 121. Furthermore, the system 1 can comprise sensor means (not illustrated) for measuring the parameters of the electric grid, generators and devices, also operatively connected to the monitoring means 1 1 1 , 121.

The possibility of monitoring the quantities directly or via sensors is based on an interface generation motor inside the monitoring means 1 1 1, 121. The motor contains a grammatical processing system which, appropriately instructed by a very small driver, which can be downloaded via Ethernet connection onto the devices to be monitored, allows complete access to said external devices of any complexity and power.

The information can be used to perform immediate local actions or displays on virtual synoptic panels, accessible via customisable WEB interface and with authentication at two levels (admin and user), with access levels selectable directly from the WEB interface.

The system 1 furthermore comprises an FTP 120 network server, operatively connected to the monitoring means 1 1 1 , 121 , via an Ethernet connection with communication on network protocols.

The system 1 furthermore comprises a main database and a plurality of secondary databases 130, operatively connected to the monitoring means 1 1 1 , 121 , as described for the FTP 120 network server. The main database 130 comprises an internal physical support (not illustrated) which stores first data relative to the characteristics of the networks 1 1 and 21 , including data relative to the technical characteristics of the electric generators and load devices to be monitored. The secondary databases comprise internal physical supports (not illustrated) useful for storing processing of the measurements obtained on the basis of the first data contained in the main database, as described below.

The control means 140 of the system 1 are provided by means of a further server, networked and operatively connected to the FTP 120 network server, to the main database and the secondary databases 130, and have the task of producing the second data, to be stored in the secondary databases on the basis of the measurements received and the information stored in the main database.

The system 1 furthermore comprises means for the generation of reports and statistics relative to operativity of the networks 1 1 , 21 and means for forwarding second data and the reports generated to the user 31 of the networks 1 1 , 21. Both means are provided by a further server 160, which is networked and operatively connected to the control means.

The system 1 comprises first displaying means of reports, statistics and second data processed by the control means 140 on electronic devices 190. Said means are provided by a WEB server 180, networked and operatively connected to the secondary databases and to said control means. The network connection between these is provided by network communication protocols for acquisition of the reports, statistics and second data.

The system 1 furthermore comprises second displaying means of reports, statistics and second data on portable electronic devices 151 , 152. Said second means are provided by the same WEB server 180 as the first means, as previously described. Furthermore the network connection of the second means with the mobile devices 151 , 152 uses network mobile communication protocols for acquisition of the reports, statistics and second data to be published.

At constant predetermined time intervals, the monitoring means 1 1 1 , 121 acquire the measurements sent, respectively, by the central systems of each network 1 1 , 21. Said measurements comprise measurement of the voltage, measurement of the current and measurement of the temperature of the electric grids 1 1 , 21 and of each of the generators and load devices connected to them. The measurements could equally comprise further parameters to be obtained, such as the operating time of each device or further parameters that can be defined by the user 31.

The measurements obtained are transmitted by the monitoring means 1 1 1 , 121 , via network communication protocols, to the FTP 120 network server, operatively connected to said monitoring means. The transmission connections 131 , 132 represent the flow of data in text format sent towards the Server macro area by the monitoring devices 1 1 1 , 121. Said data can be collected via a BusCom communication (RS485 serial) or via external analog or digital probes, if provided.

The data received are stored on durable supports (not illustrated) provided on said servers 120.

The control means 140 of the system 1 take the measurements stored on the FTP 120 network server. At the same time, they interrogate the main database on the server 130 to generate the second data from conversion and processing of the measurements taken and the first data in relation to the reports and statistics requested by the user 31. The second data are stored in the secondary databases of the server 130 for subsequent uses and interrogations.

The client 31 could request display of the second data, reports and statistics via a WEB access from console 190, or via mobile devices such as a laptop 152 or a palmtop 151. The reception connections 181 , 182 represent the flow of data towards the client 31 in http, email or SMS mode, according to the device from which the request is made. Said information is not correlated with the technology used by the client and can be viewed anywhere in the world where there is an Internet access.

The control means also have the function of modifying the network loads on the basis of the measurements taken and/or processed. In particular, modification of the loads can be requested by the user, in remote mode, or be automatically commanded by the control means when pre-determined thresholds relative to the measurements obtained and/or processed are exceeded.

Furthermore, the control means can modify the parameters to be monitored, enabling and/or disabling the relative sensors, according to user needs or automatically, by the control means themselves, when certain checking rules are observed. The checking rules are pre-set on the control means or can be set by the user who has access to the system.

Furthermore, the control means can perform control of the power supply (or production of energy) and of the interaction between loads and power supply, suspending the production of energy and/or the supply on certain loads. Said controls can be performed in real time by the user or automatically by the control means when certain checking rules are observed. Also in this case the checking rules are pre-set on the control means or can be set by the user who has access to the system.

Lastly, the control means are suitable for modifying, in remote mode, the operations performed by the single loads. In this case, the user could decide to interrupt the operation of a load or have it perform only part of its operations.

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the system 2 according to the present invention. In said embodiment, the system 2 is used for monitoring and managing a plant for the production of photovoltaic energy by means of a plurality of photovoltaic cells 12. The main components are similar to those described for the preceding embodiment, excluding the differences highlighted below.

Also said system 2, as illustrated, is split into several macro areas. The Client Layer macro area is the level where the photovoltaic plant 12 is located. The components of this level are the photovoltaic plant 12 with its inverters 212 and the monitoring device 210 connected to it, in turn networked by means of network HUB with TCP/IP connectivity. The Internet Layer macro area is represented by a public FTP server 220 which receives the measurements forwarded by the monitoring means 210, to which it is operatively connected, via network communication protocols on a TCP/IP port. In the EPIC Layer macro area the measurements received are processed for subsequent display on the console of the Web Server 260 or on the user's mobile devices (not illustrated). Its basic components are the control means 250, which manage the measurements monitored by the monitoring means 210 in order to subsequently store and display them in a human readable form; the main database 230, containing the plant records, the users and the counters; the secondary databases 240', 240", 240" ' containing the measurements obtained in remote mode by the monitoring means 210 and subsequently processed by the control means 250. Lastly, said macro area furthermore comprises the Web server with all its application programs for display of the second data, the reports and the statistics to the user.

Each cell 12 is provided with an inverter connected to the monitoring means 210 for receiving the measurements of the electric parameters of the cells 12. In particular, the monitoring means 210 are produced as shown in Figure 3 and as already described for the preceding embodiment relative to the system 1. Said monitoring means 210 use the Ethernet connection for transmission of the measurements via network protocols to the servers, as detailed below. When the monitoring means 210 are connected to the inverters 212, these are appropriately configured for transmission of the measurements via the Internet to the FTP 220 server, at constant pre-determined intervals.

The control means 250 take the measurements, simultaneously consulting the main database 230 to identify the reference cell for the measurement to be processed. If the measurement corresponds to the structure defined in the standard of system 2, the control means attribute the values to the plant 12, storing the second data in the secondary databases 240', 240", 240"'. The data thus stored can be subsequently displayed in an appropriate manner, when required by the user.

The control means 250 have the task of analysing, interpreting and converting the measurements sent by the monitoring means 210 in order to then transfer them, appropriately processed, to the secondary databases 240', 240", 240" '. In particular, the control means 250 firstly perform control of the cells monitored. Each directory present at the second level with respect to the FTP root corresponds to a cell code. Once this code has been taken, the control means 250 verify in the main database 230 whether said cell exists and is active. If it does not exist, the control means 250 will not carry out any processing for the cell. If the cell exists and is active, the control means 250 take appropriate information from the main database, such as the type of inverter, the number of inverters present, the counters relative to the type of cell and, lastly, in which secondary database to store the second data, the reports and the statistics. The operations performed allow further software, connected to the system 2, to be used. Said software allows to monitor, to measure and to check of the production performance of the cells 12 (or of the plants, if more than one plant is present) in a remote location. Since the system 2 can be used in Web environment, it gives multiple geographically scattered users continuous access to the system. In particular, via the system 2, in relation to the measurements collected and processed present in the secondary databases 240', 240", 240"', it is possible to administer the cells 12 (or any plants), monitoring the counters installed. Using the geolocation information present in the main database 230, the status of the cells 12 (or any plants) can be displayed in real time. Lastly, the applications via Web console allow consulting of the status and production of one or more cells 12 (or photovoltaic plants) via a mobile device, after entry of the username and password associated with a user of the system 2..

The system according to the present invention has an operating logic which permeates the physical structure of electric and energy plants so that it is perfectly scalable. All the components constituting the system allow effective monitoring and management, while minimising implementation costs.

Advantageously, the use of Web oriented solutions for the entire system results in extreme ease of use in addition to the possibility of monitoring and commanding the networks and devices associated with the system from any Internet access point, eliminating the problems due to the physical location of the user.

Lastly, a further advantage is the high system flexibility which allows it to be adapted to any user need or requirement.

Claims

System (1 ; 2) for remote management of one or more electric grids (1 1 , 21), of one or more users (31), comprising one or more electric generators (12) and/or one or more load devices characterised in that it comprises:

- one or more monitoring means (1 1 1 , 121 ; 210) for monitoring electric parameters, operatively connected to said electric grid (1 1 , 21) and/or to said generators (12) and/or to said devices; said monitoring means (1 1 1 , 121 ; 210) receiving one or more measurements of said parameters, of said electric grid (1 1 , 21 ) and/or of said generators (12) and/or of said devices, at constant pre-determined time intervals; said monitoring means (1 1 1 , 121 ; 210) using network communication protocols for forwarding said measurements;

- one or more network servers (120; 220), operatively connected to said monitoring means (1 1 1 , 121 ; 210), for receiving said measurements via said network communication protocols and/or for storing said measurements on durable nonvolatile supports;

- a main database (130; 230) for storage at least of first data relative to the characteristics of said electric grid (1 1 , 21) and/or of said electric generators (12) and/or of said load devices to be monitored;

- one or more secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"');

- one or more control means (140; 250) operatively connected to said network servers (120, 220), to said main database (130, 230) and to said secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"'); said control means (140; 250) taking said measurements from said network servers (120, 220) and generating second data from the conversion and/or processing of said measurements and said first data; said second data being stored in said secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"');

System (1 ; 2) according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises means for the generation (160) of one or more reports and/or statistics from said second data.

System (1 ; 2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises means for forwarding (160) said second data and/or said reports and/or said statistics to said users (31).

4. System (1 ; 2) according to one or more claims from 1 to 3, characterised in that it furthermore comprises first displaying means (180; 260) of said reports and/or of said statistics and/or of said second data on electronic devices (190); said first displaying means (180; 260) being operatively connected to said secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"') and/or to said control means (140; 250) using network communication protocols for the acquisition of said reports and/or said statistics and/or said second data.

5. System (1 ; 2) according to one or more claims from 1 to 4, characterised in that it furthermore comprises second displaying means ( 180; 260) of said reports and/or of said statistics and/or of said second data on portable electronic devices (151 , 152); said second displaying means (180; 260) being operatively connected to said secondary databases (130; 240', 240", 240"') and/or to said control means (140; 250) using network mobile communication protocols for the acquisition of said reports and/or said statistics and/or said second data.

6. System (1 ; 2) according to one or more claims from 1 to 5, characterised in that it furthermore comprises means for the reception of command signals from said users via network communication protocols; said means for the reception of command signals being operatively connected to said control means (140; 250).

7. System (1 ; 2) according to one or more claims from 1 to 6, characterised in that said measurements comprise at least measurement of the voltage and/or measurement of the current and/or measurement of the temperature of said electric grid (1 1 , 21 ) and/or of said generators (12) and/or of said devices.

8. System (1 ; 2) according to one or more claims from 1 to 7, characterised in that said electric generators (12) comprise at least one photovoltaic panel and/or at least one photovoltaic cell; said measurements comprising at least measurement of the voltage and/or measurement of the current and/or measurement of the temperature of said panel and/or of said photovoltaic cell.

9. System (1 ; 2) according to claim 8, characterised in that said photovoltaic panel and/or said photovoltaic cell are provided with at least one inverter; said monitoring means (1 1 1 , 121 ; 210) being operatively connected to said inverter for the measurement of said parameters.

10. System (1 ; 2) according to claims from 1 to 9, characterised in that it furthermore comprises sensor means for the measurement of said parameters from said electric grid (11, 21) and/or from said generators (12) and/or from said devices; said sensor means being operatively connected to said monitoring means (111, 121; 210).