FR3090227A1 - Distributed, shared and operable energy production and distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

Energy production element characterized in that it comprises: an energy distribution unit for distributing energy to at least one user; an energy exchange unit comprising means for exchanging energy with the exterior of the energy producing element; a regulation unit connected to the energy distribution unit and to the energy exchange unit making it possible to manage the energy exchanges between the energy distribution unit and the exchange unit d energy; and a manager for controlling the energy distribution unit, the energy exchange unit and the regulation unit, the manager having a communication interface for connection to a data communication network outside the power generation element. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Distributed, shared and operable energy production and distribution system

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of intelligent energy production and distribution systems and more particularly those dedicated to the supply of services using electricity for users, especially in areas not served or underserved by centralized energy networks.

Prior art

The distribution of electrical energy is typically organized in developed countries around large electrical energy production units and a network interconnecting these electrical energy production units in the homes of users or for collective uses. Large electrical power generating units, or at least most of them, are controllable, that is to say, it is possible to adapt the amount of energy produced to demand. This adaptation is made in real time for a large territory, typically at the scale of a country or a continent. Such systems generally include that little energy storage, for example the French electricity network has about 7 GW x 24 h of storage capacity mainly in pumped energy transfer stations (STEP) compared to the network capacity. around 100 GW and 550 TWh of annual production.

Historically, the centralization of networks has led to the definition of unified interfaces of voltage and distributed frequency such as 230VAC per phase and 50 Hz in Europe or three-phase 400VAC or high voltage such as 20,000 V for more distance or power. In these large networks, the use of very low frequency alternating current is not dictated only by consumer devices but by the use of rotating generators and low frequency transformers with laminated sheet steel. The power transported by the lines and lowered by the transformers must then be distributed to the final delivery points. In three-phase, it is also necessary to balance the consumption per phase of users supplied with single-phase for both the network and the generators. Such a network is sustainable and highly standardized, but the complexity of design and management is very high and can only be amortized economically over the very long term. In addition, these centralized networks are not well suited to the management of renewable energies which are random.

However, large geographic areas do not have access to such a centralized sources electrical power distribution network. In these areas, access to electrical power may be totally missing. Access can also be organized around local units such as fuel generators which can produce a little energy on demand to supply one or a few users either directly or by recharging stationary or portable batteries. Other means of domestic production have been developed, for example on the basis of renewable energy such as photovoltaic solar or wind energy. These domestic systems typically comprise an electrical production unit, for example one or more photo voltaic panels or a wind turbine associated with an electrical energy storage means, for example a battery. Such a domestic system typically powers a home.

Compared to historic centralized networks, small home systems do not have the constraint of the single voltage and frequency interface such as 230VAC and 50 Hz in Europe. The operating voltages are very low and normalized from 5 to 48 V nominal. They are direct current for more and more low-power devices such as, for example, LED lighting, information and communication technologies, ventilation, domestic cold.

The conversion of direct current to 230VAC followed by AC / DC adapters is then unnecessary, which greatly reduces the yield losses and the unnecessary consumptions when empty which are far from negligible, for example the efficiency of 90% and the no-load losses of more than 100 Wh / day from an inverter, and also the loss of 5 to 20 Wh / day by AC adapter AC / 5 or 12VDC which remains connected.

The downside of removing the electricity distribution standard is that each household system has its own production characteristics (including power, operating time, voltages) and storage (including energy capacity) which cannot change. easily. Storage units, typically batteries, have characteristics such as limit discharge depth, temperature range, power that cannot be exceeded without affecting the capacity and the service life of the component.

Centralized local distribution systems also exist. These systems are distinguished from domestic systems by the power of the larger electrical production unit and a distribution network with supervision, operation / maintenance. They generally take over some of the characteristics of centralized systems such as a 50 Hz single-phase or three-phase distribution, but are limited to supplying a village or a district. The electrical storage unit is also dimensioned on the scale of the electrical production unit. Optionally, the power generation unit can be hybrid. For example, a generator can complete production in the event of lack of sunshine or in the event of a peak in demand for a photovoltaic production unit or in the event of lack of wind for a wind production unit. The pooling of electricity production for a set of users in the village or neighborhood makes it possible to limit the oversizing of the system in comparison to a domestic system or also to a centralized system that is necessarily predefined over the very long term.

On the other hand, a failure within the system can penalize the whole or a group of connected users. The maximum power of the system is generally decided at the construction of the system and is difficult to evolve quickly afterwards. As the network is generally AC, it requires phase synchronization between the AC generators such as the generator sets or the wind turbines that we would like to add. The magnitude and shape of the sinusoidal voltage should also be the same. A specific solution for small centralized local networks is applied to avoid this synchronization at the source level. It is a question of converting their output into direct current then reconverting into alternating synchronized by electronic inverters, because synchronization is simpler for the evolution and the exploitation, but it creates more losses and reduces the reliability because of complexity. In addition, if the power and distance of users exceeds certain thresholds, changes in voltage voltages described in large centralized networks such as going from 230VAC to 6000VAC to optimize losses and the size of transmission lines to groups of users. . It is therefore necessary to oversize the system according to the foreseeable evolution of the needs of the users served. These systems are subject to losses in centralized production and in the distribution lines between the centralized system and the various users served.

There are also proposed DC power exchange networks between the batteries of household systems in self-consumption of solar energy. The aim is to pool the elements of the energy system of a group of users but avoiding the synchronization constraints via the existing AC network. In addition, energy exchanges can be valued economically. But to date, the DC energy exchange mode still has drawbacks. For example a bidirectional converter is added for the exchange between the DC line and the battery, itself connected to the solar charger or hybrid with the AC sector. The bidirectional converter must then necessarily work in collaboration with the regulator in order not to disturb the management of charge and discharge, otherwise the battery life and the lifespan of the latter will be reduced. However, this collaboration between converter and regulator can prove difficult to stabilize because, for example, a very small change in voltage causes a large variation in current, given the very low impedance of the battery. In addition, the exchange protocols are proprietary. These two aspects risk greatly limiting the opening of the solution to the evolution of the components. Finally, the bidirectional converter solution is not optimal because the solar energy injected into the DC network passes through the solar regulator and therefore suffers losses instead of being taken directly from the solar panels.

Local solutions shared in current DC thus solve some of the difficulties of AC networks with more or less centralized sources but do not yet guarantee a quality resilient service and respecting the circular economy (simplicity of repair, reuse for evolution or second life, recycling ...).

A good locally pooled DC solution should guarantee an increase in performance and quality of service for each user while optimizing the resources allocated by the group of users for this purpose.

Statement of the invention

The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a system for the production and distribution of electrical energy based on a network of interconnectable energy storage production elements managed in a distributed manner.

The invention relates to an energy production element characterized in that it comprises:

- an energy distribution unit for distributing energy to at least one user;

- an energy exchange unit comprising means for exchanging energy with the exterior of the energy production element;

- a regulation unit connected to the energy distribution unit and to the energy exchange unit making it possible to manage the energy exchanges between the energy distribution unit and the exchange unit of energy; and

- a manager for controlling the energy distribution unit, the energy exchange unit and the regulation unit, the manager having a communication interface for connection to a data communication network outside the power generation element.

According to a particular embodiment, it further comprises an energy generation unit connected and controlled by the regulation unit

According to a particular embodiment, it further comprises an energy storage unit connected and controlled by the regulation unit.

According to a particular embodiment, the energy exchange means consist of at least one energy input interface and / or by an energy output interface.

According to a particular embodiment, the manager is connected to the users served by the energy production element.

According to a particular embodiment, the energy distribution unit comprises means for counting the consumption of each of the users served.

According to a particular embodiment, the manager comprises means of monitoring the uses of the users, the production level of the energy production unit and the state of charge of the storage unit and all information allowing to know the state of the system.

According to a particular embodiment, the manager comprises means of anticipating the needs of the users and the aging of the components.

According to a particular embodiment, the manager comprises means of triggering alerts during malfunctions and / or overflows of capacity and / or for abnormal uses

The invention also relates to an energy production cell comprising:

- a plurality of elements of energy production according to the invention;

- an energy exchange node to which the energy exchange means of the energy production elements are connected; and

- a data communication network to which the communication interfaces of the energy production elements are connected; and

- a meta-manager of energy exchanges between the cell's energy production elements.

According to a particular embodiment, the meta-manager comprises means for monitoring the proper functioning of the equipment of the cell.

According to a particular embodiment, the meta-manager comprises means of optimizing the investment and operating costs of the equipment of the cell.

According to a particular embodiment, the meta-manager comprises means for detecting energy leaks.

The invention also relates to an energy distribution network comprising:

- a plurality of energy production cells according to the invention;

- point-to-point connections between at least some of the energy production cells allowing the interconnection of all the energy production cells, these connections allowing energy exchanges between the energy exchange nodes energy production cells and data communication between the energy cell control means; and

- means of controlling energy exchanges between cells.

According to a particular embodiment, the connections between two cells include:

- two energy exchange interfaces each connected to the energy exchange node of each of the cells; and

- a power transmission line between the two interfaces.

Brief description of the drawings

[Fig.l]

FIG. 1 illustrates the architecture of an energy production element according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.2]

FIG. 2 illustrates the architecture of an energy production cell according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.3]

FIG. 3 illustrates the architecture of a network of energy production cells according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

detailed description

The energy production system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is based on energy production elements which can be interconnected (PPE). These PPE energy production elements are typically equipped with an energy generation unit (UGEN), which can use a primary source of renewable energy and an electrical energy storage unit (USTO), and finally a regulation unit (UREG) having the function of charge regulator and controller of energy flows within the PPE energy production element.

The PPE energy production element also includes a power distribution unit (UDE) to the users. This UDE energy distribution unit is connected to the UREG regulation unit which sends energy to one or more users connected to the PPE energy production element.

The PPE energy production elements have in addition an energy exchange unit (EU) allowing the PPE energy production unit to exchange energy with other units of interconnected PPE energy production. This EU energy exchange unit typically comprises a flax energy input interface and / or a lout energy output interface for transmitting and / or receiving energy to or from interconnected PPE energy production elements.

The PPE energy production elements also have a local manager (LGES) connected to a data communication network (REPI) shared between the various PPE energy production elements electrically interconnected. This LGES manager is used to manage the energy exchanges between the PPE energy production elements. The LGES manager is also in charge of monitoring the various units making up the PPE energy production element. This monitoring consists in collecting from these units a set of data relating to the functioning and / or the state of aging and / or the use of each of the units.

In certain embodiments of the PPE energy production element, certain units, typically the UGEN energy generation unit and / or the USTO energy storage unit, may be absent from the PPE energy production unit. In this case, energy generation and / or storage is provided by other connected PPE energy production elements.

A set of PPE energy production elements thus interconnected makes up an energy production cell (ICELL). A cell has an MGES metagester for fine management of the cell. The cells can be interconnected by point-to-point links which allow the exchange of energy and communication between MGES meta-managers. A network of ICELL interconnected cells makes up the energy production system.

This solution makes it possible to build an energy distribution system in a progressive manner to adapt to the needs and financing capacities of investors and to the reality of the geographic deployment of the first customers. The PPE electrical production elements can be installed on demand and locally connected to create ICELL cells. Then, when the cells have reached a certain size, it is possible to interconnect them two by two gradually to constitute the energy distribution network.

The interconnection of the PPE energy production elements under the control of the LGES cell managers and the MGES meta-manager, makes it possible to set up policies for the overall fine management of the various elements. It is thus possible to pool the different UGEN energy generation units so as to make the most of the different technologies used by these units. For example, if we consider UGEN solar and other wind power generation elements, it will be possible to supply the different PPE energy production elements and therefore their users, whether the weather is sunny or windy .

This interconnection of PPE energy production elements also allows the pooling of USTO energy storage units according to the consumption of different users. A user with energy consumption peaks can be supplied with energy from the USTO energy storage units of all the PPE energy production elements. Indeed, the system makes it possible to transfer energy from one PPE production element to another under the control of the LGES and / or MGES managers.

The various USTO energy storage units, typically batteries which can be based on different technologies, such as lithium-ion, lead-acid or other technology, each have their own characteristics, such as for example the depth of discharge at do not exceed, which affect their aging. A global management policy by the LGES managers and / or the MGES meta-managers makes it possible to request each USTO energy storage unit taking into account its own characteristics so as to homogenize the aging of the USTO energy storage units or to make the most of a USTO energy storage unit that needs to be changed in the short term, for example.

The proposed system therefore makes it possible to offer an electricity distribution system which can be deployed in a gradual and flexible manner and which makes it possible to manage the level of service observed by users, the aging of each element of the infrastructure linked to the use, the external conditions and the heterogeneity of the equipment.

FIG. 1 illustrates the architecture of a PPE energy production element according to an example of the invention.

In FIG. 1 and the following ones, the thick arrows with three lines represent the electrical connections allowing energy transfers, while the simple arrows represent data connections dedicated to control.

An EPI 100 energy production element comprises a UGEN 101 energy generation unit. This UGEN energy generation unit may consist of one or more energy production components. For example, the UGEN energy generation unit can consist of one or more photovoltaic panels. It can also be made up of one or more wind turbines, or a micro hydro turbine or any hybrid means of producing energy.

The PPE energy production element may also include a USTO 102 energy storage unit. This energy storage unit is composed of one or more storage components. For example, a lithium battery includes a set of electrochemical cells. The USTO energy storage unit can also include any other type of battery, lead, nickel-based or the like. Other means of storing energy in different forms can be used, such as a flywheel, a compressed air tank or a storage of water pumped at height or any other technology in combination with a discharge converter to another form like electricity, for example a generator, a motor, a turbine etc.

Some of these types of components, both in production and in storage, may not require individual management such as, for example, solar panels or lead-acid batteries. Other types of components, such as for example lithium batteries, consist of a set of electrochemical elements which must be finely managed by a management device called the battery management system or BMS for 'Battery Management System' in English. .

The energy production element also includes a regulation unit

UREG 103 dedicated to the regulation which manages the charge and the discharge of the energy storage unit. This regulation unit 103 also makes it possible to receive the energy produced by the energy generation unit UGEN 101 and to supply the energy to an energy distribution unit UDE 112 to users 107 to 109 (U1 to Un) connected to the PPE energy production element. The UREG 103 regulation unit also allows the transfer of energy to and from the USTO 102 energy storage unit. It is therefore this UREG 103 regulation unit that controls the voltage and current for charging, battery discharge as well as energy use by energy consuming users via the UDE 112 energy distribution unit.

In one embodiment of the invention, the UDE energy distribution unit includes means for counting the energy distributed to each of the users served. Thus, the control and billing of users 'consumption can be managed by the system without requiring the installation of meters at the users' homes.

The PPE energy production element further comprises one or more interfaces allowing it to exchange energy with the outside via the EU exchange unit 111. In the embodiment of the invention, this unit includes two unidirectional interfaces. A lin energy input interface 104 makes it possible to receive energy in the PPE energy production unit from the outside controlled by the LGES manager and / or the MGES meta-manager. This energy can then, via the UREG regulation unit 103, be distributed to consumer users 107 to 109 or else be stored in the energy storage unit USTO 102. An energy output interface lout 105 makes it possible to transmit energy from the PPE energy production element to the outside under the command of the LGES manager and / or the MGES meta-manager. This energy can come directly from the UGEN 101 energy generation unit or from the USTO 102 energy storage unit. This EU energy exchange unit can include a voltage conversion function if necessary. It allows energy to be exchanged between PPE energy production units via one or more lines to which they are connected via line coupling at the input of the lin interfaces or at the output of the existing lout interfaces to avoid short-circuiting the lines between them. Two typical cases would be the addition of a complementary UGEN power generation unit or a complementary USTO energy storage unit connected only to some of the PPE power generation elements of a cell. Thus, the PPE energy production elements would help each other by exchange between selected groups, for example by using several dedicated buses, and the installation could be done without modifying the initial bus already installed.

A single bidirectional energy exchange interface can also be used in place of the two unidirectional interfaces.

The various units of the PPE energy production element are controlled, that is to say observed and controlled, by an LGES 106 manager. This LGES 106 manager comprises at least control means, comprising observation and control means, lin and lout energy exchange interfaces of the UE 111 exchange unit. This LGES manager is composed of a set of software modules that can exchange data and control commands with the components of the PPE energy producing element. These software modules are typically executed on a processor, for example a microcontroller integrated into the power generation element. However, other implementations are possible. For example, all or part of the software modules performing the management of the element can be transferred to a remote information processing device connected to the PPE energy production element by a data communication network.

The local LGES 106 manager is connected, typically by a data communication network to the UREG regulation unit 103 for piloting and controlling the energy exchanges between the UGEN 101 energy production unit, the energy storage unit USTO 102 as well as the energy distribution unit UDE 112 to consumer users 107 to 109 and the energy exchange unit UE 111. In this way, the LGES 106 manager can monitor user consumption, the production level of the UGEN 101 energy generation unit, the state of charge of the energy storage unit (SoC State of Charge) as well as the energy exchanges between the PPE energy production element and the outside and any data allowing all the units to be observed and controlled. It is also possible to do this without communication by sensors such as current measurement shunt, voltage divider, pulse counter, etc. This information can be stored to allow, for example through statistical calculations, to anticipate user consumption. It is also possible for the LGES manager to issue alerts in the event of a malfunction or overflow or otherwise. The LGES manager can also control the energy flow exchange converters within the EU 111 energy exchange unit.

The LGES 106 manager also has an interface 110 (ICOM) to an external data communication network. This ICOM interface allows communication with the LGES managers of other elements of energy production PPE of the network through the MGES meta-manager except in the event of a break in the link between the MGES meta-manager and the LGES managers and potentially to any remote services.

The PPE energy production elements therefore offer similarities to domestic systems but are distinguished because they are equipped with energy exchange capacity with the outside, typically with other production elements d PPE energy. They are also equipped with communication capacities allowing them to exchange data and commands between themselves and with possible remote services on the same network or by different networks. They are finally equipped with management functions typically implemented on the LGES manager allowing the observation and management of the capacities of the PPE energy production element and the cooperation of this PPE energy production element with others in integrated into a management policy at the level of a complete distribution network.

In certain embodiments, certain PPE energy production elements may not include a UGEN energy generation unit and / or may not include a USTO energy storage unit. These PPE energy production elements then use the energy generation unit (s) UGEN and / or the energy storage units USTO of other PPE energy production elements to which they are connected and with which they exchange of energy lives the EU energy exchange unit.

FIG. 2 illustrates the architecture of an ICELL energy production cell according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

An energy production cell 200 includes an interconnected set of PPE energy production elements 201 to 203. A cell aims to cover the needs of a small area, typically a village or a district.

An NE 206 energy exchange node within the cell allows the energy exchanges between the different PPE energy production elements of the cell. This NE energy exchange node is connected to the energy exchange interfaces, lin and lout input and output, of each PPE energy production element of the cell. The NE energy exchange node is made up of one or more power lines.

A data communication network 205 enables communication between the various LGES managers via the 110 ICOM communication interfaces through the MGES meta-manager except in the event of a break in the link between the MGES metagainer and the LGES managers of the elements. PPE energy production of the cell. This data communication network 205 also allows the communication of the LGES managers of the PPE energy production elements with an MGES 204 meta-manager in charge of managing the cell or several ICELL cells. This data communication network can use wired or wireless technologies, be unique or heterogeneous. It is typically an Internet type network which allows the exchange of data between the various connected devices. It can also be a modulation on the DC power exchange line while the exchange for remote services is done by mobile network for example.

The MGES 204 meta-manager represents a set of software modules in charge of managing the ICELL cell or of several cells in a similar manner to the LGES manager in charge of managing its PPE energy production element. According to the embodiments of the invention, the meta-manager can be implemented in the form of a dedicated information processing device within the cell which allows the implementation of the various software modules making up the meta manager. In another embodiment, the MGES meta-manager is implemented in a distributed manner on different LGES managers within the PPE energy generation production elements. In another embodiment, the MGES meta-manager is implemented in the form of a remote service operating on a server accessible by the various LGES managers of the energy production elements via the communication network 205.

The MGES meta-manager (204) at least makes it possible to observe and control the energy exchanges between the PPE energy production elements of the ICELL cell by observing and controlling the exchange unit for energy EU 111.

The MGES meta-manager may include a software module responsible for learning the observed uses made by the various consumer users served by the cell's energy production elements as well as a module for learning about the aging observed. of the various components of the PPE energy production elements. The meta manager can generate and transmit management algorithms and their configurations to LGES and UREG and all other configurable units as well as the associated alarms and their processing

The MGES meta-manager can also implement a software module responsible for issuing usage modulation commands which allows, under certain conditions, the LGES manager to limit the distribution of energy to certain consumer users. For example, when the energy available within the cell drops below a predetermined threshold, the consumption of the users with the highest consumption can be limited, typically by the LGES manager, so as to preserve the service for a majority of users. Any type of distribution policy desired by the operator in charge of the distribution network can thus be implemented by the MGES meta-manager and applied by LGES managers by controlling the UDE 112 energy distribution unit, for example in value maximum current allowed on a line to a user.

The MGES meta-manager can also implement a software module responsible for generating and maintaining a state of the various items of equipment in the cell. In particular, it is possible to monitor the correct operation, the failure rate, the degree of aging, the maintenance or other cost of each item of equipment.

The MGES meta-manager can also implement a software module responsible for optimizing network investment and operating costs depending on the state of the equipment and uses. This software module can be implemented by a classic multivariable optimization engine. This optimization can generate usage limitations to be applied to users so as to optimize the costs of ICELL cells.

The MGES meta-manager can also implement a software module responsible for supplying LGES managers with orders or rules for energy exchanges between the various PPE energy production elements, for example, so as to ensure quality of service. The quality of service translates into ensuring that the energy demanded by users is available at all times within the PPE energy production elements serving consumer users with the use of it. These exchanges of energy can be based on the learning of the consumptions of the users which make it possible to anticipate the consumptions.

The management of energy exchanges between the different elements can also take account of an objective of homogenizing the aging of the equipment or, conversely, making all the efforts focus on an equipment (a battery for example) which has aged prematurely and is expected to change in the short term. Thus the meta-manager makes it possible to implement any policy for managing its equipment based on strategic choice and dynamic information on the state of the system. Indeed, the equipment, in particular the batteries, have an aging related to their use. This use must comply with rules specific to each technology, such as not to exceed a depth of discharge threshold. The MGES meta-manager can take into account the rules specific to each piece of equipment and adjust in the LGES managers the parameters or rules for energy distribution within the items of equipment so as to request these items of equipment in accordance with these rules in order to optimize the life of the system.

The meta-manager therefore makes it possible to maximize the use of the energy produced while minimizing aging and therefore the deterioration of the equipment in a heterogeneous environment where each element of energy production can be based on so many technologies. energy production than various energy storage.

The meta-manager also makes it possible, by using the data collected on the various devices, to carry out preventive maintenance of these devices. It is therefore also a tool for engineering and operating the network.

The meta-manager can also manage network security by making it possible, for example, to detect energy leaks which can mean energy theft or fraud. When an anomaly is detected, an alert can be triggered for corrective action.

In certain embodiments of the invention, an ICELL cell can also include elements other than those described in the context of the invention connected to PPE energy production elements according to the invention. For example, it is possible to strengthen a network of PPE energy production elements by connecting at certain points elements containing only the energy exchange unit EU, the regulation unit UREG and the manager LGES but without a UDE power distribution unit. Generally, a cell includes a set of PPE energy production elements and any additional element necessary for its proper functioning and / or allowing its optimization.

FIG. 3 illustrates the architecture of a network of energy production cells according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The ICELL cell typically aims at the local interconnection of a set of PPE energy production elements that are relatively close geographically. Online losses due to exchanges between elements therefore remain limited. If we want to interconnect different cells Cl to Cn, they are likely to be more distant making the losses online more substantial. Interconnecting a set of cells to a single energy exchange line as described within a cell is not an optimal solution over longer distances. A solution is then a progressive point-to-point interconnection of the different cells to build the energy distribution network. As said previously, there is however a possibility of optimizing the medium range energy transfer by transforming the voltage from near to close by means of the converters constituting the interfaces for exchanging lin and lout energy. The lower voltage received by flax at the end of the line can be raised by lout to another cell to slightly increase the scope of the exchange.

The network of FIG. 3 is composed of a set of Cn cells 301 to 307 connected to each other by a set of point-to-point links. The choice to implement a point-to-point connection between two cells is made on the basis of a benefit-cost study, taking into account the investment in connection construction and the expected line losses linked to the distance and the section. of the conductors used.

The connection of two cells comprises a first interconnection by a line allowing the exchange of energy between the two cells and an interconnection by a data network allowing communication between the meta-managers of the two cells to manage the exchanges of 'energy. The interconnection of the energy exchange nodes of the two cells typically comprises two energy exchange interfaces, one at the level of each cell connected on the one hand to the energy exchange node of the cell and on the other hand to a line between the two energy exchange interfaces.

The network composed of the interconnected cells is managed by a new meta-manager at the network level allowing the control of energy exchanges between cells. This meta-manager can be composed of the meta-managers of the different cells cooperating in a distributed manner through the data communication network. It is therefore this network meta-manager that will manage the energy exchanges between cells and drive the energy exchange interfaces of the various cell interconnections.

Such an energy distribution network can be gradually deployed. It is possible to deploy energy production elements to serve one or more users. Then the nearby power generation elements can be interconnected to form power generation cells. These cells can then be gradually interconnected two by two, initially constituting sub-networks of interconnected cells. These subnetworks are structurally energy distribution networks according to the invention. When two cells belonging to two different sub-networks are connected, these two sub-networks are then merged into a sub-network bringing together all the energy production cells of the two sub-networks. When all of the subnets have been connected, the complete energy distribution network is formed.

The network structure allows great adaptability of the means of production to the changing energy needs of the target population. Indeed, it is always possible to remove or add PPE energy production elements to a cell, to add new cells and connect them to the network or even to add new inter-cell connections to improve the energy exchange capacities between cells.

The capacity of the network to exchange energy in a controlled manner between the various PPE energy production elements within the cells and between the latter allows the implementation of a policy for managing the life of the equipment. In particular, this management can take finely into account the depths of discharge that must be respected by the various energy storage units. It also makes it possible to determine usage habits and thus anticipate users' energy needs and make this energy available where it will be useful. It is also possible to favor the local use of energy by minimizing the exchanges which generate losses online. Learning the production rates of the various energy production units, possibly correlated to a meteorological service, makes it possible to anticipate future production rates and thus adapt the distribution of energy available in the network according to anticipation of users' consumption needs.

When the energy balancing policies within the network are no longer sufficient to meet the constraints set in terms of the depth of discharge of the energy storage units, it is possible to implement limitation policies energy available to users. These limitation policies can go as far as cutting off the power of certain users according to criteria defined by the operator. It is also possible to implement policies authorizing a degradation of the storage units, these policies can be controlled so as to distribute this degradation fairly within the network or on the contrary to place the load on a component which must be changed at more or less short term to reduce the aging of others.

It is also possible to finely control the energy exchange interfaces. In particular, it is possible to prohibit the emission of too small a quantity of energy which could lead to losing more energy in the exchange than the expected gain at destination. Similarly, it is possible to adjust the energy exchange interfaces so as to guarantee that the power received by an element of electrical production remains less than the power emitted.

In certain embodiments, the energy distribution network according to the invention can be connected to other types of networks and exchange energy with them. The energy distribution network according to the invention can, for example, be connected to a centralized energy distribution network or even to a centralized local energy distribution network. In general, the energy distribution network comprises a set of interconnected cells according to the invention and any additional element according to the envisaged application.

The embodiment of the invention is described in the field of electrical energy, however the invention can be applied to other types of energy, such as, for example, fluids in systems. between water or pressurized gas such as compressed air.

Naturally, to meet specific needs, a person competent in the field of the invention may apply modifications in the preceding description.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and the modifications which are within the scope of the present invention will be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

Claims (1)

Claims [Claim 1] Energy production element (100) characterized in that it comprises: - an energy distribution unit (112) for distributing energy to at least one user (107, 108, 109); - an energy exchange unit (111) comprising energy exchange means (104, 105) with the exterior of the energy production element; - a regulation unit (103) connected to the energy distribution unit (112) and to the energy exchange unit (111) making it possible to manage the energy exchanges between the distribution unit d energy (112) and the energy exchange unit (111); and - a manager (106) for controlling the energy distribution unit (112), the energy exchange unit (111) and the regulation unit (103), the manager (106) having a communication interface (110) for connection to a data communication network external to the power generation element. [Claim 2] Energy production element according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an energy generation unit (101) connected and controlled by the regulation unit (103). [Claim 3] Energy production element according to one of claims 1 or two, characterized in that it further comprises an energy storage unit (102) connected and controlled by the regulation unit (103). [Claim 4] Energy production element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the energy exchange means consist of at least one energy input interface (104) and / or by an interface energy output (105). [Claim 5] Energy production element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the manager (106) is connected to the users served by the energy production element. [Claim 6] Energy production element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the energy distribution unit (112) comprises means for counting the consumption of each of the users served. [Claim 7] Energy production element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the manager (106) comprises means for monitoring the uses of the users, the level of production of the unit of energy production and the state of charge of the storage unit and all the information allowing to know the state of the system. [Claim 8] Energy production element according to claim 7, characterized in that the manager (106) comprises means of anticipating the needs of the users and the aging of the components. [Claim 9] Energy production element according to claim 7, characterized in that the manager (106) comprises means for triggering alerts during malfunctions and / or overflows of capacity and / or for abnormal uses [Claim 10] Energy production unit comprising: - a plurality of energy production elements (201, 202, 203) according to one of claims 1 to 9; - an energy exchange node (206) to which the energy exchange means of the energy production elements are connected; and - a data communication network (205) to which the communication interfaces (110) of the energy production elements are connected; and - a meta-manager (204) of the energy exchanges between the energy production elements of the cell. [Claim 11] Energy production cell according to claim 10, characterized in that the meta-manager (204) comprises means for monitoring the proper functioning of the equipment of the cell. [Claim 12] Energy production cell according to claim 10, characterized in that the meta-manager (204) comprises means for optimizing the investment and operating costs of the equipment of the cell. [Claim 13] Energy production cell according to claim 10, characterized in that the meta-manager (204) comprises means for detecting energy leaks. [Claim 14] Energy distribution network including: - a plurality of energy production cells according to one of claims 10 to 13; - point-to-point connections between at least some of the energy production cells allowing the interconnection of all the energy production cells, these connections allowing energy exchanges between the energy exchange nodes energy production cells and data communication between the energy cell control means; and [Claim 15] - means of controlling energy exchanges between cells. Energy distribution network according to claim 14, characterized in that the connections between two cells include: - two energy exchange interfaces each connected to the energy exchange node of each of the cells; and - a power transmission line between the two interfaces. 1/2