FR2790146A1 - On-line road control for energy distribution network, comprises load sensing and control unit in each consumer's premises, communicating with central management unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The energy supplied by the network to each consumer installation (20) is measured in a control unit (1) by tariff metering (5) comprising a power section (2) with an integrator (3) in conjunction with a memory (4). The unit also includes a communications module (7), transmitting data and receiving commands to and from the network's central management unit over power line carrier circuits (31), incorporated in the network, a memory (8) into which the management unit places and updates a threshold power setting, and a comparator (9) with output to an interruptor unit (14). The latter interrupts the consumer's supply through a circuit-breaker (13). This has a thermal delay feature (11), catering for short-term overloads, e.g. motor starting, whose characteristics are simulated by a filter (6) in the measured load input to the comparator to reflect the primary circuit conditions. An instantaneous overcurrent trip (12) is also fitted. The set threshold for each consumer's power demand, held in the control unit memory (8), is related to the network daily load curve, being reduced at peak load times and raised off-peak. Opt., the controller is arranged to initiate an audible or visible alarm as the threshold is approached; the consumer can then reduce his load to anticipate the interruption which will otherwise follow. Opt., also, the circuit-breaker controls selected load elements rather than the whole installation load.

Description

MANAGEMENT ENERGY DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

  LOAD DYNAMICS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE

  CONTROL OF THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF A

INSTALLATION

  An energy distribution network, intended to distribute electricity, water or gas for example, comprises a plurality of installations

  of users supplied with energy by at least one production center.

  1o Each installation includes a meter of energy consumed and a cut-off device, such as an electric circuit breaker, a gas valve or

a water tap.

  Electric meters, to use this example, which used to be mechanical, are becoming more and more electronic, in particular for reasons of precision and stability. Such electronic meters can integrate, in addition to the function of measuring the energy consumed, other functions such as remote reading or remote management allowing a remote communication center to record the power of energy consumed or to change the pricing of energy in the meter, according to the period in

course (night, day, etc.).

  The network load, that is to say the energy globally consumed by the plurality of user installations, varies over time. There are off-peak periods, at night for example, during which the load is low, and busy periods, during which the load is high, sometimes reaching the maximum distribution capacity of the network. To limit the consumption of user electrical installations and thus the risk of saturation of the energy distributed in the network, each installation has a threshold of individual consumable or available energy, beyond which the circuit breaker is intended to cause tripping the installation, in whole or in part. However, energy needs are increasing more and more while energy production and distribution capacity is limited today and the development of new production centers and the energy distribution network.

  would require extremely heavy investment.

  The present invention aims to meet the growing energy needs, without the need to increase the current production capacity and

of energy distribution.

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  To this end, the invention relates to an energy distribution network comprising a communication center, a plurality of energy consuming installations and, for each of these installations, means for measuring the energy consumed and means for communication with the communication central, characterized in that there is provided, for each installation, means for storing a consumable energy threshold, means for comparing the energy consumed and the energy threshold consumable and means for exceeding the l0 threshold, controlled by the comparison means, making it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the installation, and the communication center and the communication means of each installation are arranged to cooperate in order to modulate the consumable energy threshold of the installation,

on command from the central.

  Thanks to the invention, the load on the distribution network is regulated over time, by increasing the energy available for each installation during off-peak periods and / or by decreasing it during busy periods. Users of the facilities are thus encouraged to modify their consumption habits, by consuming less energy during

  busy periods and more during off-peak periods.

  The means of storage of the consumable energy threshold of each

  installation may be on the side of said installation.

  Likewise, the means of comparing the energy consumed and the threshold of consumable energy of each installation can be on the side of

said installation.

  The means for exceeding the consumable energy threshold may include sound indication means and / or means

visual indication.

  The user of the installation can thus be warned of an overconsumption of energy and choose himself to interrupt the operation of an energy consuming element of his installation, in order to reduce his

energy consumption.

  In a particular embodiment, the means indicating that the consumable energy threshold has been exceeded comprise means

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  at least partial interruption of the energy consumption of the installation. Advantageously, there is provided, for each installation, a filter for simulating an inertia for interrupting energy consumption. In the case in particular of an electricity distribution network, the interruption means comprise a thermal electric circuit breaker. The filter allows in this case to simulate an interruption inertia similar to the thermal inertia 1o of a thermal protection circuit breaker, making it possible to cut the current only after a determined period of electrical overconsumption, which depends on the current and

  intrinsic characteristics of the circuit breaker.

  The invention also relates to a device for controlling the energy consumption of an installation consuming energy from the above distribution network, comprising means for measuring the energy consumed by the installation and means of communication. with a remote communication center, characterized in that it comprises means for storing a consumable energy threshold, means for comparing the consumed energy and the consumable energy threshold and actuation means , intended to actuate means indicating that the threshold has been exceeded on command of the comparison means, making it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the installation, the communication means being arranged to cooperate with the communication central in order to modulate the energy threshold

  consumable of the installation, on order from the central.

  The invention will be better understood using the following description of a

  particular embodiment of the energy distribution network and of the device for controlling the energy consumption of a user installation, according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawing in which: - Figure 1 represents a diagram block diagram of the network, according to the particular embodiment and - FIG. 2 represents a functional block diagram of a device for

  control of a network installation in Figure 1.

  The energy distribution network, in this case electrical energy, comprises a plurality of electrical user installations 20, connected to a center 32 for producing electrical energy via a

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  infrastructure 31 for transporting and distributing electrical energy, and a

communication center 30.

  Each user installation 20 comprises a set of elements consuming electrical energy and is connected to a device 1 for controlling the energy consumption of the installation 20, itself connected to

an electric circuit breaker 14.

  The device 1 integrates an electric meter 5 comprising a block 2 of 1o measuring the power of electrical energy consumed by the installation, an integrator 3 and a memory 4 for storing the energy consumed by the installation 20. The integrator 3, connected to the measuring block 2 and to the memory 3, is intended to integrate over time the electrical power consumed by the installation 20 in order to determine the quantity of electrical energy consumed, in other words the energy consumption of

installation 20.

  The device 1 further comprises a block 7 for communication with the central communication unit 30, a memory 8 for storing a maximum threshold of consumable electrical energy power and a comparator

9 with two inputs and one output.

  The communication block 7 and the communication center 30 are connected to the transport and distribution infrastructure 31, acting as a communication network, and are thus intended to communicate with each other, by carrier current on cables for transporting electricity, through

infrastructure 31.

  The memory 8, connected to the communication block 7 and to one of the inputs of the comparator 9, is intended to store a maximum threshold of consumable electrical energy power, in other words a maximum value of electrical power available for the installation 20 The measurement block 2 is connected to the other input of the comparator 9, with the interposition of a filter 6 for simulating an inertia for interrupting energy consumption. At the output, comparator 9 is connected to a block 10 for actuating the circuit breaker

14, controlled by comparator 9.

  It is recalled here that an electrical circuit breaker of an energy consuming installation, comprising a thermal protection cut-off element, has a thermal inertia for interrupting the

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  energy consumption of the installation. This inertia allows the installation to consume an energy power greater than a predefined threshold of consumable energy power, for short periods, for example when starting an engine. Thus, the thermal cut-off element will cut the consumption of electricity, in whole or in part, only after a period of exceeding the threshold depending on the power consumed, this period being all the shorter as the

  power consumption is important.

  io Filter 6 is intended to simulate the inertia of interruption of consumption

  of electrical energy from a thermal protection cut-off element.

  The circuit breaker 14, connected to the installation 20 and to the actuating block 10, conventionally comprises a thermal protection cut-off element 11, a magnetic protection cut-off element 12 and a switch 13. Each of the two elements 1 1, 12 is intended to open the switch 13, by electrical control, in the event of over-consumption of electrical energy by the installation 20. The thermal protection cut-off element 1 1 has an interruption inertia, as previously explained. The opening of the switch 13 is intended to cause the installation 20 to be tripped, in other words to interrupt the

  electrical energy consumption of the installation 20.

  In addition, circuit breaker 14 includes manual user control

closing the switch 13.

  The actuating block 10 is intended to open the switch 14, by

  electrical control, as described below.

  The operation of the distribution network and of device 1 will

now be described.

  On the side of each installation 20, the measuring block 2 measures the electric power consumed by the installation 20. The integrator 3, by integrating this power over time, determines the energy consumed by the installation 20. This energy is stored in memory 4 of the

counter 5.

  In the case where the electrical power consumed by the installation 20 exceeds a set and fixed threshold value, the cut-off element of

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  magnetic protection 12 opens the switch 13 of the circuit breaker 14 thus causing, in a known manner, the interruption of consumption

  electrical energy of the installation 20.

  In the event of a slight overload of the electrical power consumed by the installation 20, for a duration greater than a duration of thermal inertia, the thermal cut-off element opens the switch 13 thereby causing an interruption in energy consumption electric

of the installation 20.

  Furthermore, at each instant, the comparator 9 compares the threshold of consumable energy power stored in the memory 8 and the

  electrical power consumed by the installation 20 and filtered by the filter 6.

  In the case where the electrical power consumed and filtered exceeds the threshold of consumable energy power, the comparator 9 commands the actuating block 10 to actuate the circuit breaker 14. The actuating block 10 then opens the switch 13, by electrical control, thus causing

  the interruption of the electrical energy consumption of the installation 20.

  The circuit breaker 14, owing to the fact that it is intended to cause the installation 20 to trip in the event of overconsumption of energy, ultimately constitutes an indicator of exceeding the consumable energy threshold, controlled by the

  comparator 9, via the actuation block 10.

  To allow the installation 20 to consume electrical energy again, a user closes the switch 13 by actuating

  manually the switch closing command.

  The consumable energy power threshold, memorized in memory 8, is adjustable. It can vary around a reference value So, previously stored in a memory of the communication block 7,

  as will now be explained.

  The load of the electrical energy distribution network, in other words the overall amount of energy consumed by the plurality of user installations, varies over time. During off-peak periods, this load is much lower than a maximum load value that can be supported by

  the network and, during busy periods, it approaches this value.

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  At the start of the off-peak period, the communication center 30 transmits to the communication block 7 of each installation 20 a command to increase the threshold of power power consumable by the installation 20 here by a given percentage pi. The communication block 7 then increases the threshold of consumable energy power, stored in memory 8,

of the prescribed percentage Pi.

  Conversely, at the start of a busy period, the communication center 30 transmits to the communication block of each installation 20 a command to reduce the threshold of power power consumable by the installation 20 by a given percentage P2. The communication block 7 then decreases the power consumable power threshold, stored in

  memory 8, of the prescribed percentage P2.

  Outside of the off-peak and busy periods, the communication center 30 transmits to the communication block 7 of each installation 20 a command to reset the power consumption consumable threshold by the installation to the reference value So. communication 7 increases or decreases the threshold of consumable energy power

  memorized in memory 8, to set it to the reference value S0.

  The network load is thus managed dynamically over time,

  depending on the type of period in progress (off-peak, busy or normal).

  It will be emphasized here that the communication center 30 and the communication block 7 of each installation 20 cooperate with each other to modulate the threshold of power power consumable by the installation 20, stored in memory 8, on control of the communication center 30. Instead of the electrical actuator block of the circuit breaker, a mechanical actuator block could be provided, for example comprising an electromagnet for moving a switch opening finger . One could also provide, in the energy consumption control device, an audible indicator and / or a visual indicator, controlled by the comparator, by means of the actuation block, in order to indicate that the threshold has been exceeded. of consumable energy and thus allow a user to reduce the energy consumption of

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  the installation, by stopping the operation of at least one of the energy consuming elements. The circuit breaker could be designed to only partially interrupt the electrical consumption of the installation, by causing only some of the energy consuming elements of the installation to trip.

  Finally, in the above description, the memory 8 for memorizing the

  threshold of consumable energy and the comparator 9 are located on the side of the installation 20. One could consider providing these elements on the side of the communication center 30.

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Claims (12)

  1- Energy distribution network comprising a central communication (30), a plurality of installations (20) consuming energy and, for each of these installations (20), means (2) for measuring the energy consumed and means (7) of communication with the central communication (30), characterized in that there is provided, for each installation (20), means (8) for memorizing an energy threshold consumable, means (9) for comparing the energy consumed and the consumable energy threshold and means (14) indicators for exceeding the threshold, controlled by the comparison means (9), making it possible to reduce the consumption of energy of the installation, and the communication central (30) and the communication means (7) of each installation (20) are arranged to cooperate in order to modulate the consumable energy threshold of the installation (20), central control (30).   2- The network as claimed in claim 1, in which the means (8) for storing the consumable energy threshold of each installation are on the side of said installation (20).   3- Network according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the means (9)   to compare the consumed energy and the consumable energy threshold   of each installation (20) are on the side of said installation (20).   4- Network according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means   indicators for exceeding the consumable energy threshold include means of sound indication.   - Network according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the means   indicators for exceeding the consumable energy threshold include means of visual indication.   6- Network according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means   indicators for exceeding the consumable energy threshold include means (14) for at least partial interruption of consumption energy of the installation. 2790146   7- Network according to claim 6, wherein there is provided, for each installation (20), a filter (6) for simulating an inertia of interruption of the energy consumption.   8- Network according to one of claims 6 and 7, in which it is provided,   for each installation (20), means (10) for electrical control of the interrupting means (14), controlled by the comparison means (9).   io 9- Network according to one of claims 6 and 7, in which it is provided,   for each installation (20), mechanical actuation means for the   interrupt means, controlled by the comparison means.   - Device for controlling the energy consumption of an installation (20) consuming energy from the distribution network of claim 1, comprising means (2) for measuring the energy consumed by the installation (20) and means (7) for communication with a remote communication center (30), characterized in that it comprises means (8) for storing a consumable energy threshold, means (9) for comparing the energy consumed and of the consumable energy threshold and of the actuation means (10), intended to actuate means (14) indicators of a breach of the threshold on command of the comparison means (9), making it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the installation (20), the communication means (7) being arranged to cooperate with the communication central (30) in order to modulate the consumable energy threshold of the installation (20), on central control (30).   11- Device according to claim 10, wherein there is provided means for sound indication of exceeding the consumable energy threshold.   12- Device according to one of claims 10 and 11, wherein it is   provided means for visual indication of exceeding the energy threshold consumable.   13- Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the   actuating means (10) are arranged to actuate means (14)   at least partial interruption of energy consumption. il 2790146   14- Device according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein it is   provided a filter (6) for simulating an interruption inertia of the energy consumption.   15- Device according to one of claims 10 to 14, wherein there is provided integrating means (3) to integrate over time the power   of energy consumed by the installation (20).