FR2933820A1 - Power consumers controlling method for electricity distribution network, involves generating replicated and encoded remote-information frames and control parameter of consumers and applying remote-information link to consumers - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves transmitting remote-information frames to a group of energy consumers (27a-27c) and to a control unit (13) of energy consumers (21a-21c) among another group of consumers. Control frames i.e. Replicated and encoded remote-information frames (29) of the consumers of latter group are generated from the remote-information frames, and a control parameter of the consumers of the latter group is generated by a control unit (13). Remote-information link (19) is applied to the consumers of the latter group. An independent claim is also included for a device for implementing a method of controlling power consumers from data transmission frames, comprising a tapping device.

Description

Method and device for controlling electrical consumers

The present invention relates to a method for controlling electrical consumers from tele-information frames transmitted by an electronic counter belonging to an electricity distribution network supplying said consumers, as well as to a device for implementing of this process. Such electronic meters power devices, also called electrical consumers, which can be controlled, for example, to operate only during certain time intervals in a day, for example those during which energy prices are more advantageous. These include heating devices or certain household appliances. The patent application FR 2 905 204 describes an example of implementation of a method for controlling the transition from one operating regime to another. To do this, information is used which is superimposed on the electric current supplying the electrical installation with energy and which is shaped by the electronic counter provided at the head of the installation, said counter transforming this information into control signal frames. called tele-information frames.

Concretely, the electronic counter has an output called output tele-information on which are connected several electrical consumers to which are sent said tele-information frames. Although it is physically possible to connect several energy consumers to the tele-information output, the electrical energy available at the electronic counter's information output is limited and may be insufficient to ensure that consumer control interfaces. On the other hand, it may be necessary to control the power supply of certain consumers according to rules expressed in the form of tele-information frames transmitted by the electronic counter which receives them, for example, by carrier currents on the supply network, and control the operation of other consumers according to external parameters which are either their own or are exogenous, for example weather data for controlling heaters. The aim of the invention is to propose a method that makes it possible to control differentially the power supply and / or the operation of electrical consumers from tele-information frames transmitted by an electronic counter belonging to an electricity distribution network supplying said consumers. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a method for controlling electrical consumers from tele-information frames transmitted by an electronic counter belonging to an electricity distribution network supplying said consumers, characterized in that: tele-information frames are transmitted on the one hand to at least a first group of consumers as the first control frames of the consumers of said group, on the other hand to consumer control means of at least a second group of consumers, - said control means generate second consumer control frames of said second group from said tele-information frames and at least one consumer control parameter of said second group, and - said second frames are applied to the consumers of the second group. Preferably, said tele-information frames are encrypted for transmission to said control means and decrypted by said control means. According to another characteristic, said second control frames are encrypted by said control means and decrypted for their application to the consumers of said second group.

These provisions provide protection against unwanted orders that would be fraudulently applied to consumers in the second group.

According to another feature, each of said second control frames is provided with an identifier specific to at least one of the consumers of said second group for selectively controlling said consumers.

According to another characteristic, said tele-information frames are applied to said consumers of said second group as a default control frame in response to the absence of transmission of said second control frames by said control means. This makes it possible to ensure, in the event of malfunction of the control means, that the tele-information frames conveyed by the network and which comprise, for example, characteristics specific to the subscription subscribed by the user, will be well transmitted to the consumers, for example to control load shedding power peak hours of consumption. According to other characteristics of the method according to the invention, in response to an information of said tele-information frames relating to an intensity or instantaneous power (IINST) called by said consumers close to the intensity or subscribed power (Isous) for said counter: • said control means take into account a fictitious subscribed power or power less than said actual subscribed power or power (Isous), so that the intensity or power demanded by the ordered consumers of the second group, added to the intensity or power demanded by the consumers of the first group, is maintained substantially within the limits of the intensity or power contracted; According to a first variant, said control means take into account an imaginary instantaneous power or power greater than said intensity or called instantaneous power (IINST), so that the intensity or power demanded by the consumers ordered from the second group, added to the the intensity or power demanded by the consumers of the first group, is maintained substantially within the limits of the intensity or power contracted; According to another variant, said control means generates a fictitious underwriting warning information to control said consumers of the second group so that the intensity or power demanded by the consumers ordered from the second group, added to the intensity or power demanded by the consumers of the first group, is maintained substantially within the limits of the intensity or power contracted. The invention also relates to a device for implementing the above method, characterized in that it comprises a bypass device connected between said electronic counter and said control means, said bypass device comprising means for data processing for the transmission of said tele-information frames to consumer control interfaces of said first group and said control means.

The device according to the invention also comprises one or more of the following characteristics considered alone or in combination: in the case where said tele-information frames are encrypted for their transmission to said control means and deciphered by said control means, said means data processing apparatus comprises means for encrypting said tele-information frames and means for decrypting said second control frames. in the case where each of said second control frames is provided with an identifier belonging to one of the consumers of said second group for selectively controlling said consumers, said data processing means comprise means for inserting said identifiers in said second consumers; deciphered control frames and means for transmitting said second decrypted frames provided with their identifier to control interfaces of said consumers of said second group; said data processing means comprise a smart card; the device comprises means for supplying electrical energy to said data processing means and to said control interfaces for said consumers; said means for supplying electrical energy comprise at least one electric accumulator electrically powered by said control means. The invention will be further understood in the light of an exemplary embodiment and implementation of the invention which will now be exposed, in the light of the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a branching device according to the invention connected to an electronic meter for supplying electrical energy to a home automation installation and to a device for remote control of energy consumers of said installation, said FIG. 1 illustrating the various exchanges between the device, the electronic meter and energy consumers when no control signal is transmitted by the control device, Figure 2 is a schematic representation similar to that of Figure 1, illustrating the various exchanges between the device, the electronic meter and the energy consumers when control signals are transmitted by the control device, the figure 3 is a flowchart of a method according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a bypass device 1 according to the invention, shown schematically. The branching device 1 comprises processing means 3 which are able to receive and process tele-information frames 5 which are generated and transmitted by an electronic counter 7, of the EDF (registered trademark) electronic counter type, for example . To do this, the device 1 comprises an input 9 connected to an output 11 of the counter 7, called the output information. The processing means 3 comprise in particular a smart card. It should be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the use of a chip card and that it could use any other equivalent means. In the context of this example, the smart card is a Java card, that is to say a card that allows the execution of Java applications. The Java card can serve or use a nonvolatile mass memory for, for example, storing for a period of time all the electrical consumptions and all the changes of states of energy consumers, in order to transmit them to the means of order for further processing (for example, to deduce a treatment by these control means according to consumer consumption over a period of one week). The device 1 is also connected to control means 13, which are placed at a distance in the illustrated example, by communication means 15 such as cables shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, for example. It will be understood by remotely placing the fact that the control means are not incorporated in the branch device 1 according to the invention. These control means may be for example computer means such as a computer located geographically remote from the device according to the invention. These computer means may, for example, be implemented by a service company offering services for remotely controlling the operation of energy consumers. In such a case, the communication means may be constituted by an Internet network, a network of electrical cables or any other means for electrically connecting the computer means to the device according to the invention. The branch device 1 also comprises a first output 17 connected to a first tele-information link 19 to which three energy consumers 21a, 21b and 21c are connected.

The three energy consumers 21a, 21b and 21c are energy consumers whose operation it is desired to control. The branch device 1 further comprises a second output 23 connected to a second serial link 25 to which three energy consumers 27a, 27b, 27c are connected.

Of course, the consumers 21a, 21b, 21c and 27a, 27b, 27c are connected to the electricity distribution network by appropriate wiring not shown conveying the electrical energy.

The three energy consumers 27a, 27b, and 27c are consumers whose operation is not desired or can not be controlled from the control means 13, for example because they are existing equipment or equipment such as than water heaters.

However, it is necessary to transmit to the consumers 27a, 27b, 27c the tele-information frames 5 generated by the electronic counter 7. In fact, these frames contain information that makes it possible to supply the consumers in a manner that is conventional, while limiting or not the instantaneous power supplied to these consumers at certain times of the day (peak and off-peak hours defined by the energy supplier, during which the energy tariff and the average energy consumption are different). Furthermore, these tele-information frames also contain other information which is, in particular, the Isou intensity (or the power) subscribed for the counter 7 by the user of the energy consumers, the intensity IINST (or the instantaneous power demanded by the consumers, and the subscribed power over warning ADPS when the instantaneous IINST (or power) intensity exceeds the subscribed Isou, (or power) intensity. From this information, load shedding strategies can be practiced.

The subscribed intensity and the instantaneous intensity are continuously transmitted by the electronic counter to the TV information output. The ADPS subscribed power surge warning is transmitted only in the case where the value of the instantaneous intensity is greater than the value of the subscribed intensity.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to process this information in one of the following ways if the intensity IINST or instantaneous power called by said consumers is close to the intensity Is 0, or subscribed power for said counter 7: the control means 13 take into account a fictitious subscribed power or power that is less than the Isou intensity, or actual subscribed power, or a fictitious instantaneous power or power that is greater than the aforementioned IINST or instantaneous power intensity, so as to cause on the part of the consumers ordered 21a, 21b, 21c a shedding reaction such that the intensity or power demanded by the consumers ordered 21a, 21b, 21c added to the intensity or power demanded by the other consumers 27a, 27b, 27c, is maintained substantially within the limits intensity Isou, or subscribed power; the control means 13 generate a fictitious underwritten power surge warning information so as to cause the controlled consumers 21a, 21b, 21c to carry out a load shedding reaction such as the intensity or power demanded by the consumers ordered 21a , 21b, 21c, added to the intensity or power demanded by the other consumers 27a, 27b, 27c, is maintained substantially within the intensity Isou, or subscribed power.

The processing means 3 transmit the tele-information frames 5 to the energy consumers 27a, 27b and 27c, after having replicated them to obtain replicated tele-information frames 29. The replicated tele-information frames 29 are encoded, or encrypted, by the processing means 3 according to encryption or encoding techniques known to those skilled in the art. A method for controlling consumers of electrical energy by means of tele-information frames is described in the patent application FR 2 905 204 to which reference may be made. These frames are transmitted to the control means 13. The control means 13 decrypt the frames 29 they receive by a method that is the reverse of that used to encrypt the frames 29, as is known to those skilled in the art . The control means 13 analyze the information contained in the frames. Depending on the latter, the control means 13 modify or not the information contained in the frame 29, as explained in the application FR 2 905 204. The control means 13 generate control tele-information frames 31 which correspond either to the tele-information frames 29 without modification thereof, or to the tele-information frames 29 by making modifications capable of triggering the operation or stopping of a consumer of energy 21a to 21c to be controlled . The tele-information control frames are transmitted to the device 1, and more particularly to the processing means 3. The processing means 3 decode or decrypt the control frames 31, and optionally insert an identifier specific to each energy consumer 21a, 21b and 21c. The remote control information frames thus decoded or deciphered and completed, bearing the reference 41 in FIG. 1, are transmitted by the first tele-information link to be delivered to each energy consumer 21a, 21b and 21c. In the case where a power consumer 21a, 21b and 21c recognizes the identifier contained in the frames 41 that it receives, it starts, or in standby, or does not change its operating state in response to remote control information frames received. To ensure a sufficient power supply of the processing means 3 and the control interface of each energy consumer 21a, 21b, 21c, 27a, 27b, 27c, the device 1 comprises a storage battery 33. Such a battery 33 may, for example, have a power output sufficient to electrically power the control interface of at least six energy consumers. A power supply E of the device 1 is also provided by the control means 13, via a conductor 35. This power supply E can be combined with the power supply of the battery 33, in particular to increase its service life. using the battery only in case of interruption of the power supply via the conductor 35. FIG. 2 shows the exchanges between the different components that the bypass device 1 according to the invention implements in the event of failure of the control means 13. This may be for example a computer failure, in the case where the control means 13 are constituted by one or more computers.

In the context of this example, the processing means 3 (or smart card 3) no longer receive any information or any signal from the control means 13 (or computer). Thus, only the battery 33 provides the electrical power supply of the device 1. As can be seen, the failure of the control means 13 does not interfere in the continuous transmission of the tele-information frames 5 generated by the electronic counter 7 to the device 1, and in particular to the smart card 3 (or control means 3).

The smart card 3 replicates the tele-information frames 5, so as to obtain replicated tele-information frames, and transmits the received tele-information frames 5 to the energy consumers 27a, 27b and 27c, the operation of which is not controlled. According to the method according to the invention, the smart card 3 encodes or encrypts the replicated tele-information frames, so as to obtain replicated and encoded (or encrypted) tele-information frames 29, and transmits them to the control means. 13. Due to the computer failure of the control means 13, no remote control information frame 31 is transmitted to the device 1 in response to the frames 29 received. The smart card 3 detects this lack of reception of remote control information frames 31. It then transmits on the first tele-information link 19 the non-encoded (or encrypted) replicated tele-information frames. These frames bear the reference 37 in FIG. 2. Reference will now be made to FIG. 3 to describe the mode of implementation of the method according to the invention. Initially, the electronic counter generates tele-information frames 5. This is step 100.

The tele-information frames 5 are then transmitted to the device 1, and in particular to the processing means 3 constituted by the smart card. This is the transmission 101 shown in FIG.

The processing means 3 receive the tele-information frames 5 at the step 102. In 103, the processing means 3 transmit the received tele-information frames 5 to the second teleinformation link 25 to which the consumers of the information are connected. energy 27a, 27b and 27c whose operation does not have to be controlled. The energy consumers 27a, 27b and 27c thus receive, in a conventional manner, the tele-information frames 5 initially generated by the electronic counter in step 104.

In parallel with the transmission step 103, in the step 105 the processing means 3 replicate the tele-information frames 5 received at the step 102. At the end of this replication step 105, the processing means 3 generate replicated tele-information frames 37. The replicated tele-information frames 37 are then encoded (or encrypted) by the processing means 3 according to a step 106 so as to obtain replicated and encoded tele-information frames 29 (or encrypted). The replicated and encoded tele-information frames 29 (or encrypted) are then transmitted by the processing means 3 to the control means 13 via a transmission step 107.

The control means 13 decrypt, analyze and possibly modify the content of the replicated frames that they receive according to step 108. If the control means 13 are in normal operation, they generate control tele-information frames 31 following the step 109.

Otherwise, they transmit no signal, that is to say, no control tele-information frame. The processing means 3 then detect a lack of response from the control means 13 in step 110. The consequences of this detection will be explained later. At the end of step 109, in which the control means 13 transmit to the device 1, and in particular to the processing means 3, the remote control information frames 31, the latter are received by the processing means. 3 which detect them according to a step 111.

The remote control information frames 31 are then decoded or decrypted by the processing means 3 according to a step 112. At the end of the step 112, the processing means 3 obtain decrypted control tele-information frames. or decoded 39.

The processing means 3 then insert in each of the frames 39 an identifier, which only the energy consumer concerned can recognize. This step carries the reference 113 in FIG. 3. The processing means 3 then have control tele-information frames 41 decrypted and personalized by an identifier.

The deciphered and personalized control tele-information frames 41 are then transmitted on the first tele-information link 19 according to a step 114, the energy consumers 21a, 21b and 21c being connected to this first tele-information link. The energy consumers 21a, 21b and 21c thus receive the frames 41 and verify in step 115 the identifier they contain. When a consumer recognizes an identifier, he reacts to the frame 41, for example by starting up or going to sleep. This step corresponds to the step bearing the reference 116. If none of the energy consumers recognizes an identifier, for example in the case where the received frame is a hacked frame intended to control the operation of the consumer by a device other than that authorized, the consumers do not react to the remote control information contained in the frame. This is the step 117 in FIG. 3. At the end of step 117, just as at the end of step 110 mentioned above, the device transmits on the first telecommunication link This step carries the reference 118. In this way, the energy consumers 21a, 21b and 21c continue to be supplied with energy according to the step. 119 and their operation is not impaired.

It will be understood from the foregoing description how the invention makes it possible to ensure safety in controlling the operation of energy consumers. It is also understood how the invention makes it possible to ensure a minimum power supply for the consumer control interfaces in the event of a deficiency of the control means. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not specifically limited to the embodiment just described, and extends to any equivalent means. In particular, the invention is not limited to a supply of the device by a battery 33 and power supply means 35. Another embodiment could provide one or the other of the solutions without departing from the scope of the invention. 'invention. Similarly, the encoding or encryption of the frames by the processing means does not constitute a limitation of the invention: it could also provide a device whose processing means would not encode (or not encrypt) the frames without depart from the scope of the invention. In addition, the bypass device 1 could include the control means. In other words, the control means could be incorporated in the branch device 1 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS1.- A method for controlling electrical consumers from tele-information frames transmitted by an electronic counter (7) belonging to a power distribution network supplying said consumers, characterized in that: - said tele-information frames are transmitted on the one hand to at least a first group of consumers (27a, 27b, 27c) as the first control frames (25) of the consumers of said group, on the other hand to control means of consumers (21a, 21b, 21c) of at least a second group of consumers, - said control means (13) generate second control frames (29) of the consumers of said second group from said tele-information frames and at least one consumer control parameter of said second group, and - said second control frames (19) are applied to the consumers of said second group. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said tele-information frames (5) are encrypted for transmission (29) to said control means (13) and decrypted by said control means. 3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that said second control frames (31) are encrypted by said control means and decrypted for their application to consumers (21a, 21b, 21c) of said second group. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said second control frames (31) is provided with an identifier specific to at least one of the consumers (21a, 21b, 21c) of said second group for selectively controlling said consumers. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said tele-information frames (37) are applied to said consumers (21a, 21b, 21c) of said second group as default control frame in response to the absence of transmission (100) of said second control frames by said control means (13). 6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in response to information of said tele-information frames relating to an intensity or instantaneous power (IINST) called by said consumers close to the intensity or subscribed power (Isous) for said counter (7), said control means (13) take into account a fictitious subscribed power or power less than said actual subscribed power or power (Isous), so as to provoke on the part of the consumers controlled (21a, 21b, 21c) a load shedding reaction such as the intensity or power demanded by the consumers ordered (21a, 21b, 21c) of the second group, added to the intensity or power demanded by the consumers (27a, 27b , 27c) of the first group, is maintained substantially within the limits of the intensity or power contracted. 7.- Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in response to an information of said tele-information frames relating to an intensity or instantaneous power (IINST) called by said consumers close to the intensity or subscribed power (Isous) for said counter (7), said control means (13) take into account an imaginary instantaneous power or power greater than said intensity or instantaneous power called (IINST), so as to provoke on the part of the consumers controlled (21a, 21b, 21c) a load shedding reaction such as the intensity or power demanded by the consumers ordered (21a, 21b, 21c) of the second group, added to the intensity or power demanded by the consumers (27a, 27b , 27c) of the first group, is maintained substantially within the limits of the intensity or power contracted. 8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in response to information of said tele-information frames relating to an intensity or instantaneous power (IINST) called by said consumers close to the intensity or subscribed power (Isous) for said counter (7), said control means (13) generates a fictitious underwriting surge warning information for controlling said consumers (21a, 21b, 21c) of the second group so as to cause from the consumers ordered (21a, 21b, 21c) a load shedding reaction such as the intensity or power demanded by the consumers ordered (21a, 21b, 21c) of the second group, added to the intensity or power called by the consumers (27a, 27b, 27c) of the first group, is maintained substantially within the limits of the intensity or power contracted. 9. A device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a bypass device (1) connected between said electronic counter (7) and said control means ( 13), said branching device (1) comprising data processing means (3) for transmitting said tele-information frames to consumer control interfaces (27a, 27b, 27c) of said first group and said means for control (13). 10.- Device according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 2, characterized in that said data processing means (3) comprises means for encrypting said tele-information frames (5) and means for decrypting said second control frames (31). 11.- Device according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that said data processing means (3) comprise means for inserting said identifiers in said second decrypted command frames and transmission means said second decrypted frames provided with their identifier (19) to control interfaces of said consumers (21a, 21b, 21c) of said second group. 12.- Device according to any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that said data processing means (3) comprises a smart card. 13.- Device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it comprises means (33) for supplying electrical energy to said data processing means (3) and said control interfaces of said consumers. 14.- Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said power supply means comprise at least one electric accumulator (33) electrically powered by said control means (13).