EP4256667A2 - Local electrical energy control device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a control device for power management at a client site of an electricity supply network, wherein the control device comprises: a main board comprising at least one processing device and at least one memory; and an expansion board assembly (600) coupled to the main board, wherein the expansion board assembly comprises a top board (604) and a bottom board (602) fixed together by columns (606), each of the bottom board and the top board comprising at least one internal or external connector (612, 614, 622).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Local electrical energy control device

The present patent application claims priority from the French patent application filed on 3 December 2020 and assigned application no . FR20/ 12633 , the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference .

Technical field

[ 0001 ] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of electronical power management devices and systems , and in particular to a local electrical energy control device .

Background art

[ 0002 ] A challenge that is recurrently faced by electrical power supply grids is to balance , at all times , the supply and demand in order to avoid overloading the grid, which could lead to blackouts .

[ 0003 ] In recent years , there have been financial incentives for sites having relatively high level s of electrical energy consumption to agree to limit the power that they draw from the grid at times of peak demand . This for example permits the site to obtain a more competitive price for the electrical energy that they buy . Some sites may have relatively flexible energy requirements , allowing them to accept temporary reductions in their power supply from the grid . For other sites with less flexibility, a solution can be to install a high capacity battery at the site that can be charged from the power grid during periods of low demand, and can be used to supplement the power supplied from the grid during periods of high demand .

[ 0004 ] A di f ficulty is that such solutions for adapting the local power consumption of a site are di f ficult to control by remote systems alone . One solution can be to provide an onsite control device for providing power management functions . However, there is a technical difficulty in providing a relatively compact and cost-effective implementation of such a control device while ensuring a sufficient number of different connection interfaces for interfacing with the various devices present at a client site.

Summary of Invention

[0005] According to one aspect, there is provided a control device for power management at a client site of an electricity supply network, the control device comprising: a main board comprising at least one processing device and at least one memory; and an expansion board assembly coupled to the main board, wherein the expansion board assembly comprises a top board and a bottom board fixed together by columns, each of the bottom board and the top board comprising at least one internal or external connector.

[0006] According to one embodiment, at least one of the top and bottom boards of the expansion board assembly comprises a switch coupled to a first of the external connectors, wherein the switch is capable of being activated manually and is configured to adapt at least one circuit of the control device to a type of input signal received by the first external connector.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the top board or bottom board of the expansion board assembly comprises a connection interface for connecting with a slot of the main board.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the connection interface is an loT connector.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the expansion board assembly has a height of between 15 and 35 mm, and a width of between 15 and 35 mm.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the control device comprises: a housing within which the main board is mounted; an opening in the housing through which the expansion board assembly can be inserted; and a cover for at least partially covering the opening while the expansion board assembly is inserted in the housing .

[ 0011 ] According to a further aspect , there is provided a power supply system comprising : a central power management system; and a plurality of the above control devices installed at one or more client sites and configured to communicate with the central power management system .

[ 0012 ] According to one embodiment, each of the plurality of control devices is coupled to one or more of : one or more onsite electricity meters ; one or more control interfaces of an electrical load installed at the client site ; and one or more control interfaces of a battery installed at the client site .

Brief description of drawings

[ 0013 ] The foregoing features and advantages , as well as others , will be described in detail in the following description of speci fic embodiments given by way o f illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :

[ 0014 ] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply system according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure ;

[ 0015 ] Figure 2 is a single line diagram illustrating an electrical supply circuit of a client site according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure ;

[ 0016 ] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control device of Figure 1 in more detail according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure ;

[ 0017 ] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a control device according to an example embodiment ; [0018] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the control device of Figure 4 illustrating an expansion board opening with its cover removed;

[0019] Figure 6 is a simplified side-view of an expansion board assembly suitable for insertion into the expansion board opening of the control device of Figures 4 and 5;

[0020] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the expansion board assembly of Figure 6;

[0021] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a top board of the expansion board assembly of Figure 6;

[0022] Figure 9A schematically illustrates modules of the top board of the expansion board assembly of Figure 6 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0023] Figure 9B schematically illustrates modules of a bottom board of the expansion board assembly of Figure 6 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Description of embodiments

[0024] Like features have been designated by like references in the various figures. In particular, the structural and/or functional features that are common among the various embodiments may have the same references and may dispose identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0025] Unless indicated otherwise, when reference is made to two elements connected together, this signifies a direct connection without any intermediate elements other than conductors, and when reference is made to two elements coupled together, this signifies that these two elements can be connected or they can be coupled via one or more other elements .

[0026] In the following disclosure, unless indicated otherwise, when reference is made to absolute positional qualifiers, such as the terms "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", etc., or to relative positional qualifiers, such as the terms "above", "below", "higher", "lower", etc., or to qualifiers of orientation, such as "horizontal", "vertical", etc., reference is made to the orientation shown in the figures.

[0027] Unless specified otherwise, the expressions "around", "approximately", "substantially" and "in the order of" signify within 10 %, and preferably within 5 %.

[0028] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply system 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] In the example of Figure 1, the power supply system 100 comprises two client sites 102, 104, a central power management system 106, a markets server (MARKETS) 107 and a power grid operator server (POWER GRID OPERATOR) 108.

[0030] A client site in the power supply system 100 corresponds to a site that comprises electrical loads and/or electricity storage, electrical energy being transferred to the client site from the power grid and/or from the client site to the power grid. For example, one or more power supply contracts are in place involving the client sites 102, 104 and operators of the power grid, setting a commercial relationship between the entities. While two client sites 102, 104 are illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 1, in alternative embodiments there may be any number of client sites managed by the central power management system 106.

[0031] Each of the client sites 102, 104 for example comprises flexible electrical energy resources, in other words electrical loads and/or electrical energy storage that can be adapted to meet current and future needs . [ 0032 ] In the example of Figure 1 , the client site 102 includes electrical energy storage and electrical loads , and the cl ient site 104 includes electrical power generation and electrical loads . However, it would also be possible for a site to comprise both electrical energy storage and electrical generators , in addition to electrical loads , and for some sites to comprise only electrical loads , generators or storage

[ 0033 ] For example , the client site 102 comprises a high capacity battery bank 110 that is for example capable of inputting or outputting up to 10 MW of electrical energy, and for example has a storage capacity of between 10 kWh and 20 MWh or more . The battery bank 110 is for example coupled via a battery management system (BMS ) 112 to an onsite monitoring and control interface ( DR BOX ) 114 , which will be referred to hereafter as a demand response ( DR) box, or simply DR box . The DR box 114 may comprise a programmable logic controller ( PLC ) , and is also for example configured to implement energy management , simi lar to the role of an energy management system (EMS ) .

[ 0034 ] The client site 102 also for example comprises one or more electrical loads 118 , represented by a factory in the example of Figure 1 , coupled to the DR box 114 via one or more programmable logic controllers ( PLC ) 120 . Alternatively, the loads 118 could be coupled to the DR box 114 via another type of control circuit . The electrical loads 118 correspond for example to industrial loads , such as loads corresponding to electrical machinery, lighting, industrial ovens or other forms of heating, cooling systems such as refrigeration systems and/or air conditioning, and/or other forms o f electrical energy consuming loads . For example , the one or more electrical loads 118 have a combined maximum consumption from 100 kW to 400 MW or more . However, in some embodiments , there is a certain flexibility in the level of electrical power consumed by the site 104 . For example , the consumption can be reduced with respect to the maximum consumption level by at least 50 kW, and in some embodiments by up to tens of megawatts or more .

[ 0035 ] The DR box 114 is for example coupled to one or more onsite meters (METER ( S ) ) 116 for monitoring active and reactive powers for single and/or three phases , and/or other electrical properties . For example , the onsite meters 116 include one or more electrical meters monitoring electrical current provided to and/or from the site , one or more electrical meters monitoring electrical current provided to or drawn from the battery bank 110 , one or more electrical meters monitoring phases of the electrical signals , and one or more AC ( alternating current ) frequency meters monitoring the frequency of the electrical supply voltages present on the power grid, as seen by the site 102 . Other properties that may be measured include the electrical energy and the power factor . The DR box 114 is for example configured to gather meter data from these meters 116 . Furthermore , the DR box 114 is for example configured to provide the communications interface between the client site 102 and the central management system 106 .

[ 0036 ] The DR box 114 is for example capable of communicating with the central power management system 106 , and in some cases with client equipment , via the internet . For example , while not illustrated in Figure 1 , the connection between the DR box 114 and the internet is via either a switched communications network, such as via an ADSL ( asymmetric digital subscriber line ) modem, or via a wireless connection, for example comprising a cellular communications network .

[ 0037 ] The client site 104 for example comprises a DR box 114 and one or more meters 116 that perform a similar role to those of the client site 102 , and will not be described again in detail. The client site 104 also for example comprises one or more electrical loads 118, which are for example similar to the loads 118 of the client site 102, and are coupled to the DR box 114 via one or more PLCs 120 or other types of control circuit. Furthermore, in the example of Figure 1, the client site 104 comprises one or more electrical power generators (POWER GENERATOR) 122, which are for example photovoltaic generators, wind turbines, gensets, or other types of power generators.

[0038] While in the example of Figure 1 a single DR box 114 is provided for each site 102, 104, in alternative embodiments some sites may comprise more than one DR box 114.

[0039] The central management system 106 for example comprises a control and data acquisition system 128, which is for example a supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) , responsible for receiving data from each of the DR boxes 114, and for providing control signals to the client sites 102, 104 via the DR boxes 114. In particular, the SCADA 128 is for example responsible for transmitting control signals to the DR boxes of the client sites 102, 104 in order to control the electrical power supplied to or supplied by the site, and/or the electrical power applied to or drawn from the battery bank 110. Furthermore, the SCADA 128 is for example responsible for acquiring and storing data measurements from the sites 102, 104, and also information concerning the state of the sites, such as the state of charge of the battery bank 110 in the case that the site includes a battery. In alternative embodiments, rather than using a SCADA 128, communication between the central management system 106 and the DR boxes 114 could be via other circuits or systems, such as an MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) broker.

[0040] The central management system 106 also for example comprises a distributed energy resources management system ( DERMS ) 130 , which is for example a computer platform configured to organi ze resource operations in relation with the loads or batteries of the various client sites of the system 100 . The DERMS 130 also for example provides an interface with the markets server 107 , and with the power grid operator server 108 .

[ 0041 ] The central management system 106 also for example comprises a monitoring and planning module (MONITORING + PLANNING) 132 in communication with the DERMS 130 and receiving data from the SCADA 128 .

[ 0042 ] For example , the markets server 107 provides information on electricity prices for current and/or future periods , and also information on activations requested by the system operator 108 .

[ 0043 ] The power grid operator server 108 for example corresponds to a computer platform of an operator of the power grid supplying electricity to the client sites . In Europe , the power grid operator corresponds for example to the transmission system operator ( TSO) ( in French the "Gestionnaire du Reseau de Transport" - GRT ) , and/or to the distributed system operator ( DSO) . For example , the power grid operator server 108 provides activation orders to the DERMS 130 , and the DERMS 130 provides control data, such as monitoring data and/or load statuses , to the power grid operator server 108 .

[ 0044 ] The DERMS 130 is for example configured to determine how power usage at the client sites can be adapted in view of electricity prices for current and/or future periods in order to reduce energy costs and/or generate revenue at the client sites , for example through reductions in commodity charges or balancing services to the grid . For example , the DERMS 130 is configured to transmit control signals to the client sites indicating periods during which charging the battery bank 110 from the power grid should be prioritized, for example in view of relatively low electricity prices, and periods during which discharging the battery bank 110 to the power grid should be prioritized, for example in view of relatively high electricity prices.

[0045] Figure 2 is a single line diagram illustrating an electrical supply circuit 200 of a client site comprising both electrical loads and electrical energy storage according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] A high voltage supply (HV SUPPLY) from the power grid is for example applied at an input node 202, and is coupled via a switch 204 to a bar 206. The bar 206 is in turn coupled via a circuit breaker 208 to a further bar 210, which is used to supply the loads and a battery system (BATTERY SYSTEM) 211. The circuit breaker 208 is for example motorized (M) , permitting it to be remotely controlled.

[0047] In the example of Figure 2, there are two groups of loads, sector 1 loads (LOADS SECTOR 1) and sector 2 loads (LOADS SECTOR 2) .

[0048] The sector 1 loads are supplied from the bar 210 via the series connection of a switch 212, a high voltage to low voltage transformer (HV/LV TRANSFORMER) 214, a circuit breaker 216, and a panel of feeders 218.

[0049] Similarly, the sector 2 loads are supplied from the bar 210 via the series connection of a switch 222, a high voltage to low voltage transformer (HV/LV TRANSFORMER) 224, a circuit breaker 226, and a panel of feeders 228.

[0050] In the example of Figure 2, the battery system 211 comprises two battery subsystems, one formed of battery racks RK1 to RK4, and the other formed of battery racks RK5 to RK8, these battery racks for example forming part of the battery bank 110 of Figure 1. The battery racks for example each comprise modules formed of battery cells. The battery system 211 for example comprises an internal bar 230, which is coupled to the bar 210 by the series connection of a switch 232, a high voltage to low voltage transformer (HV/LV TRANSFORMER) 234, and a circuit breaker 236. The bar 230 is coupled to the racks RK1 to RK4 via a power conversion system 238 and a switch 240, and to the racks RK5 to RK8 via a power conversion system 242 and a switch 244. The power conversion systems 238, 242 for example perform AC/DC conversion.

[0051] In some embodiments, between the circuit breaker 208 and the bar 210, one or more current transformers 246, 247 are for example provided. The current transformer 246 for example provides protection by measuring the current (I PROTECTION) . The current transformer 247 is for example used for metering. Similarly, the bar 206 is for example coupled to a voltage transformer 248 via a fuse, one of the secondaries of this transformer 248 being used for protection by measuring the voltage, and the other for metering via a further fuse. For example, the secondaries of the current transformer 247 and of the voltage transformer 248 are provided to a transducer (TRANSDUCER) 250 for metering purposes .

[0052] As represented schematically in Figure 2, the DR box 114 is for example coupled by suitable interfaces to the transducer 250 in order to receive information concerning electrical use at the client site, and to the feeder panels 218, 228 and/or to the battery system 211 in order to provide commands for controlling the loads and/or the battery system 211.

[0053] Figure 3 is a block diagram of part of the DR box (DR BOX) 114 of the client sites 102, 104 of Figure 1 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. [0054] The DR box 114 for example comprises a processing device (P) comprising one or more processors, such as one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers. The DR box 114 further comprises a memory (MEMORY) 304 and input/output interfaces (I/P INTERFACES) 306 linked to the processing device 302 via a bus 308. For example, the memory 304 is a non-volatile memory such as a FLASH memory, and stores firmware that is executed by the processing device 302 in order to implement the functions of the DR box 114. The DR box 304 may further comprise volatile memory, such as a RAM (random access memory) , for example a DRAM (dynamic RAM) or SRAM (static random access memory) .

[0055] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the DR box 114 of

Figure 3 according to an example embodiment. The DR box 114 for example comprises a housing 402 comprised of end walls 404, 406 and an intermediate section 408 extending between the end walls 404, 406. The intermediate section 408 is for example substantially tubular, and is for example formed of a plurality of panels 408, 410, one or more of which may be individually removable.

[0056] An end surface 412 of the end wall 404 is visible in the view of Figure 4. Screws 414 positioned in this end surface 412 are for example used to fix the end wall 404 to the intermediate section 408. Two coaxial connectors 416 are also for example connected to the end wall 404, providing access to external antennas, for example for GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and GSR (Global Satellite Positioning) communications.

[0057] The end surface 412 also for example comprises a region with a cover 418, which is for example fixed to the end wall 404 by a pair of screws 420.

[0058] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the DR box 114, and in particular of the end wall 404, of Figure 4 with the cover 418 removed . The cover 418 is used to at least partially cover an opening 502 in the end wall , which provides an access to the ins ide volume o f the housing 402 . For example , the cover 418 prevents dust from entering the housing 402 . Threaded holes 504 in the end wall 404 for example receive the screws 420 that hold the cover 418 in place .

[ 0059 ] As represented in Figure 5 , the DR box 114 for example comprises a main board 506 , which is for example a PCB ( Printed Circuit Board) , partially visible through the opening 502 . In the example of Figure 5 , the opening 502 for example provides access to a S IM ( subscriber identity module ) card reader 508 for example mounted on the main board 506, and into which a S IM card 510 can for example be inserted and withdrawn via the opening 502 .

[ 0060 ] For example , the main board 506 has mounted thereon one or more processors or microprocessors corresponding to the processing device 302 of Figure 3 . The main board 506 also for example has mounted thereon one or more memory devices implementing the memory 304 of Figure 3 . However, the present inventor has found that such an arrangement can be limited in terms of the external connection possibilities . Indeed, such a control device for power management at a client site in an electricity supply system such as the one of Figure 1 should be capable of interfacing with a relatively high number of di f ferent connection interfaces of the various devices at the client site , including meters , programmable logic controllers , battery management systems , etc .

[ 0061 ] Advantageously, the opening 502 is for example used to insert an expansion board assembly, as will be described in more detail below . This expansion board assembly extends the connection possibilities of the control device 114 , and in some embodiments also provides further functionalities . [0062] The main board 506 is for example positioned at one side of the opening (the bottom side in the example of Figure 5) , leaving a remaining opening of height h and width w for the insertion of the expansion board assembly. For example, the width w and height h are each in the range of 15 to 35 mm.

[0063] Figure 6 is a simplified side-view of an expansion board assembly 600 suitable for insertion into the opening 502 of the DR box of Figures 4 and 5.

[0064] The expansion board assembly 600 advantageously comprises a stack of two boards 602, 604 mechanically fixed together by columns or struts 606 (hereafter referred to as columns) . These columns 606 contain electrical connections between the boards, for example formed with board mount sockets, the male part of each socket for example being mounted to one of the boards, and the female counterpart for example being connected to the other board. For example, there are at least two such columns 606 between the boards 602, 604, and for example three or four such columns. Each column 606 is soldered at its opposing ends to the corresponding boards 602 and 604. In some embodiments, each column 606 may be formed by more than one individual pillar grouped together for additional rigidity and/or in order to provide additional connections between the boards.

[0065] A separation s between the inner surfaces 608, 610 of the boards 602, 604 is for example of between 10 and 30 mm, and is for example chosen to allow space for components positioned between the boards 602, 604 while also providing a sufficiently compact assembly adapted to the size of the opening 502 of Figure 5.

[0066] The boards 602, 604 are for example PCBs . One or more sockets or pins is for example mounted on the top and/or bottom board of the expansion board assembly 600, these sockets and pins providing external or internal electrical connections of the control device 114 .

[ 0067 ] The bottom board 602 for example comprises a socket 612 fixed at one end of the inner surface 608 , the opening of the socket (not visible in the s ide-view of Figure 6 ) facing outwards with respect to the center of the board 602 . The bottom board 602 al so for example optionally comprises a USB (Universal Serial Bus ) socket 614 positioned on the inner surface 608 at the opposite end of the board 602 from the socket 612 . The opening (not visible in the side-view of Figure 6 ) of the socket 614 for example faces outwards with respect to the center of the board 602 . The bottom board 602 also comprises further components mounted on the inner surface 608 , only two such components 616 , 618 being illustrated in Figure 6 . The components 616 , 618 are for example switches . In some embodiments , there may also be one or more components mounted on the outer bottom surface 620 of the bottom board 602 , one such device 621 being illustrated in Figure 6 .

[ 0068 ] The top board 604 for example comprises a socket 622 fixed at one end of the inner surface 610 , the socket 622 for example being similar to the socket 612 , and for example being mounted in vertical alignment therewith . The socket 622 for example has its opening (not visible in the side-view of Figure 6 ) facing outwards with respect to the center of the board 604 . The top board 604 also comprises further components mounted on its inner surface 610 and/or on its outer, top surface 624 , only one such component 626 being illustrated in Figure 6 . While taking into account the components that protrudes the most from the surfaces 620 and 624 , the expansion board assembly 600 for example has height h' of between 15 and 35 mm, and for example this height h' is les s than the height h of the opening 502 of Figure 5 . [0069] In some embodiments, the top board 604 forms a mother board of the expansion board assembly 600, and the bottom board 602 forms a daughter board of the expansion board ass e mb 1 y 600.

[0070] The sockets 612, 614, 622 and 701 for example provide internal or external connections of the control device 114. For example, the sockets 612, 622 are external connectors that are accessible via the opening 502 of Figure 5. In some embodiments, one or more pins or contacts of each of the connectors 612, 622 supplies a supply voltage, which can be used by an external device (not illustrated) to power external components driving the input signals to the control device 114. In some embodiments, the socket 701 provides a direct internal connector of the control device. The socket 614 for example provides a connection for an additional component, such as a USB key, to be connected to the expansion board and inserted inside the DR box.

[0071] For example, with the expansion board assembly 600 mounted therein, the control device 114 is capable of supporting one, some or all of the following protocols: the Serial Links protocol; the Pulse count protocol; the Modbus (Master/Slave, RTU - Remote Terminal Unit) protocol; the TIC (Tele Information Client) protocol; the DLMS (Device Language Message Specification) /IEC62056 protocol; the OPC UA (Open Platform Protocol - Unified Architecture) .

[0072] The expansion board assembly 600 mounted in the control device 114 extends the initial capabilities of this device by adding one, some or all of the following connection interfaces: 3 GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output ) configurable interfaces; at least one analog input; at least one serial connection; a TIC interface; two relays; and/or a USB interface. [ 0073 ] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the expansion board assembly 600 of Figure 6 . A top surface 624 of the top board 604 is visible in Figure 7 . One end 701 of the top board 604 is advantageously formed as an loT ( internet of things ) connector 702 , for example corresponding to an interface known in the art as QSFP+ ( quad small form- factor pluggable ) . This interface for example comprises a series of printed contact pads 704 on the surfaces 624 and 610 . This for example permits the top board 604 to be plugged into an expansion board s lot of the main board 504 of the DR box 114 of Figure 5. This end 701 is for example inset with respect to a corresponding end of the bottom board 602 by a distance d of between 5 and 40 mm . This inset for example limits the length of the assembly 600 in the region where space is more limited due to the expansion board slot on the board 506 , whereas the bottom board 602 i s longer in order to maximi ze the use of available area in the casing 410 . In some embodiments , the board 604 comprises a cutout 706 along one of its edges opposite to the edge at which the interface 702 is formed, this cutout providing a means for easy mechanical extraction of the board in place once the end 701 has been inserted into an expansion board slot .

[ 0074 ] The expansion board assembly for example has a width w' of between 15 and 35 mm, and for example this width w' i s less than the width w of the opening 502 of Figure 5 .

[ 0075 ] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the top board 604 of the expansion board assembly 600 of Figure 6 . The view o f Figure 8 shows in particular the inner surface 610 of the board 604 , which like the outer surface 624 , for example comprises printed contact pads 802 forming part of the interface 702 , these pads 802 for example being aligned with the pads 704 on the opposite surface 624 . [0076] Figure 8 also illustrates an example of some components formed on the inner surface 610 of the board 604, these components including a chip 806, which is for example a level shifter device and further components 808 for performing further functions.

[0077] Figure 9A schematically illustrates an example of the modules of the top board 604 of Figures 6 and 8. For example, the top board 604 comprises a device 901 configured to translate the electrical interface of the remote client data (TIC - from the French "Tele Information Client") into an internal format understandable by the main board of the DR box. The TIC 901 is for example coupled to a switch SW 1 permitting a selection of the type of electrical interface (baud rate, modulation type) that is supplied by the remote client .

[0078] The top board 604 for example further comprises a bidirectional level shifter (BI-D LS) 902, which for example adapts voltage levels between the loT connector (loT CONNECTOR) 702 and other circuits of the boards 602 and 604. For example, the level shifter 902 is at least partially implemented by the chip 806. The level shifter 902 for example receives signals from the loT connector 702 via a debounce circuit (DBC) 904, from the TIC 806, from the daughter board via daughter board connections (CONNECTIONS TO DB) 906, and from an electrical protection circuit (PROT) 908. The debounce circuit 904 for example has the role of removing the transient states coming from the control device 114, thereby stabilizing and controlling the outputs on the external connectors, for example during the power-on, power-off, and initialization phases of the control device 114. The level shifter 902 for example provides signals to the loT connector 702, to the daughter board via the daughter board connections 906, to the electrical protection circuit 908, and to an LED (lightemitting diode) driver (LED DRIVER) 910.

[0079] The LED driver 910 for example receives commands from the TIC 806, and drives LEDs 912. The LEDs are used as indicators on the top board 604 that indicate, for example, the TIC activity and/or the input and output levels of the GPIOs .

[0080] The electrical protection circuit 908 for example provides electrical protection between the external connectors (EXT CONNECTORS) 622 and the TIC 806, the level shifter 902, and the LED driver 910.

[0081] The board 604 also for example comprises a memory configuration circuit (EEPROM CONFIG) 914, which is for example provided for configuring a non-volatile memory of the expansion board assembly, such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) .

[0082] The connections 906 to the daughter board are for example performed via one or more conductors formed in the columns 606.

[0083] Figure 9B schematically illustrates an example of the modules of the bottom board 602.

[0084] The board 602 for example comprises connections (CONNECTION TO MB) 914 with the mother board 604.

[0085] The board 602 further comprises, for example, a USB electrical protection circuit (USB PROT) 916 coupling the USB connector (USB CONNECTOR) 614 to the mother board 604 via the connections 914.

[0086] The board 602 further comprises, for example, first and second relay circuits (RELAY 1) 918 and (RELAY 2) 920, and an analog input circuit (ANALOG INPUT) 922, each of these circuits being coupled between the mother board, via the connections 914, and the external connectors (EXT CONNECTORS) 612. Each of the circuits 918, 920 and 922 for example respectively comprises a switch SW 1, SW 2 and SW 3.

[0087] The switches SW 1 and SW 2 of the relays 918, 920 respectively for example permit a selection of how the internal circuits are connected to the external connectors 612. For example, these switches are configured to be manually controlled, for example via a toggle of the switch. For example, a user may decide whether a GPIO (input or output) or a relay output is provided to the external connector 612, and control the switches accordingly.

[0088] The switch SW 3 of the analog input circuit 922 for example permits a selection of the voltage range available on the external connector 622 for an ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) input located inside the main DR box 114, for the conversion of an external analog signal into a digital signal. The current or voltage applied on this input is for example representation of the power measured by a meter, or may provide any other measurement information.

[0089] In an alternative embodiment, the analog input 922 could be replaced by another type of input/output port, for example by a serial link such as an RS485 serial link.

[0090] An advantage of the control device described herein is that, by using an expansion board assembly comprising at least two boards, a relatively high number of connection interfaces can be supported. Furthermore, by providing one or more switches on the expansion board assembly, it is possible to adapt the control device to the particular types of signals that are to be provided as inputs to the device.

[0091] Various embodiments and variants have been described. Those skilled in the art will understand that certain features of these embodiments can be combined and other variants will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, while embodiments of an expansion board assembly have been described that comprise two boards , it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles described herein could be extending to a stack of more than two boards , such as a stack of three or four boards .

Claims

CLAIMS A control device for power management at a client site of an electricity supply network, wherein the control device comprises :

- a main board (506) comprising at least one processing device (302) and at least one memory (304) ; and

- an expansion board assembly (600) coupled to the main board, wherein the expansion board assembly comprises a top board (604) and a bottom board (602) stacked and fixed together by columns (606) , each of the bottom board and the top board comprising at least one internal or external connector (612, 614, 622) . The control device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom boards of the expansion board assembly comprises a switch (SW 1, SW 2, SW 3) coupled to a first of the external connectors, wherein the switch is capable of being activated manually and is configured to adapt at least one circuit of the control device to a type of input signal received by the first external connector. The control device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the top board or bottom board of the expansion board assembly comprises a connection interface (702) for connecting with a slot of the main board. The control device of claim 3, wherein the connection interface (702) is an ToT (internet of things) connector. The control device of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the expansion board assembly has a height (h' ) of between 15 and 35 mm, and a width (w' ) of between 15 and 35 mm. The control device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device comprises:

- a housing (402) within which the main board (506) is mounted; an opening (502) in the housing through which the expansion board assembly can be inserted; and

- a cover (418) for at least partially covering the opening while the expansion board assembly (600) is inserted in the housing . A power supply system comprising:

- a central power management system (106) ; and

- a plurality of the control devices of any of claims 1 to 6 installed at one or more client sites and configured to communicate with the central power management system. The power supply system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of control devices is coupled to one or more of:

- one or more on-site electricity meters (116) ;

- one or more control interfaces (120) of an electrical load (118) installed at the client site; and

- one or more control interfaces (120) of a battery (110) installed at the client site.