DE102012216369A1 - ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR CONNECTION TO AN INFRASTRUCTURE POWER NETWORK AND METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical device for connection to an infrastructure power network has a power load and a control unit. The control unit is designed to set a current consumption of the current load as a function of a parameter of the infrastructure power network.

Description

Technical area

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electrical device for connection to an infrastructure power network.

Technical background

Reducing the emission of harmful gases is an outstanding task for the coming decades. Already for the period until 2020, extensive installations of renewable energy plants (RE systems) are forecasted. B. in the fields of wind energy and photovoltaics. However, both types of plants are highly fluctuating power sources, because wind does not blow constantly and the sun's radiation reaches the earth's surface during the day with strongly fluctuating intensity. The strong increase in the proportion of fluctuating sources of electricity in the total supply is not available on the consumer side with an appropriate or reasonably simple measure to support balancing.

In addition, the feed-in locations of EE electricity are not identical to the consumption types. The power transmission networks may be a major bottleneck in securing the availability of power. In the worst case scenario, a blackout domino effect occurs, where a regional overload leads to a regional fault with shutdown. The electricity remaining in the grid seeks a parallel path to the failed regional network, causing further overloads further failures. This blackout (blackout total failure) must be avoided in the interest of the common good. In addition to the crisis-ridden black-out, there are other scenarios in which electricity demand rises or falls without considering the technical conditions of demand coverage. Although trading electricity on exchanges is a mechanism for the financial adjustment of supply and demand, exchanges do not "automatically" adapt the physical availability of electricity. On the contrary, stock market speculation can even lead to physical power bottlenecks that would not occur without speculative effects.

Capacity planning and switch-on and switch-off processes of power plants exist as a function of the electricity demand. Examples include the capacity planning of large consumers in the metal-producing industry or the remote control of "night-time" consumers. For the night electricity consumers sets a remote control by data transmission to a control unit on the consumption meter, the period at which the consumer is a current drain from the mains is allowed. For large consumers such. B. power-intensive industrial plants is also made by predictive load planning an adjustment of the power plant capacity. Furthermore, technical systems under the slogans "active grid" or "smart metering" are being discussed. In both cases, an information transmission network is provided in parallel to the power supply network, so that an interaction of the information network with the power generation sources could take place in the sense of a remote control. Smart metering basically does not help in terms of the common good, because essentially only the consumption profiles are measured or merely a display or visualization of the current electricity consumption is made on site. The investment required to replace existing electricity meters with smart metering electricity meters with data acquisition and data transmission capability is enormous. In addition, there are legal concerns, because the data collection, transmission, evaluation and storage lead u. This may lead to fundamental conflicts with our system of legal systems, in which the privacy of people is given high priority and the spying on consumer behavior is to be viewed critically. A common good orientation is not recognizable in the business models of "grids" (networks). Rather, it is about financial revenue opportunities that could be introduced in the intermediate layer between power generation and electricity consumption or electricity storage. The dynamisation of electricity prices plays an essential role in the corresponding business models, the real, physical coverage of the momentary demand compared to the current power generation is not solved.

9a shows a conventional electric power device in which an electrical consumption is controlled by a switch and the power consumption in the ON state is determined only by the consumer's own impedance.

9b shows an extended electrical power device, in which the switching function is a combination of switch and remote control. This scheme is z. B. in a night power consumption device, in which a control unit on the electricity meter takes control information from the mains, which are modulated onto the mains voltage. The power consumption of the consumer device is in the on state, however, according to their own load impedance without consideration of the network load.

9c shows a more complex conventional power device, in addition to the power supply line an information transmission network is present, via which in particular information about the power consumption of the electrical load can be transmitted.

In summary, there is a "selfish" demand for electricity per unit time, which does not take into account the technical controllability of the supply of electricity per unit of time.

It is therefore an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a concept which takes more efficient account of available capacities in a power grid.

This object is achieved by an electrical device according to independent claim 1 and a method according to independent claim 17.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electrical device for connection to an infrastructure power network having a power load and a control unit. The control unit of the electrical device is designed to set a power consumption (or a current consumption) of the power load as a function of at least one parameter of the infrastructure power network.

The parameter can, for example, provide information about the load status of the infrastructure power network. Embodiments of the present invention may therefore also be referred to as public interest-oriented power consumption devices which are defined by considering the load state of the infrastructure power network and independently adapting to the load condition of the infrastructure power network while reducing or increasing their own "selfish" power requirements.

In the following, an infrastructure power network can also be referred to as a power network.

Embodiments of the present invention thus enable power consumption devices that correlate with the electricity supply and take into account the load situation in the power grid to make a self-adapted power consumption control for the benefit of the common good by adjusting the power consumption of the power load.

It is a central idea of embodiments of the present invention that a more efficient power grid or power system can be achieved when electrical equipment connected to this power grid has a public welfare oriented self-regulation. This is achieved according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention in that a control unit of an electrical device is designed for connection to such a power network in order to set a power consumption of its power load as a function of a parameter (which, for example, provides information about the load of the power grid). Thus, for example, allows for a high current load of the power grid, the control unit reduces power consumption or a power consumption of their power load (for example, to a complete shutdown of the power load), thus reducing the load on the power grid. Thus, for example, it is possible to avoid the so-called "blackouts" (total failures) of a power network because consumers can switch themselves off independently or can reduce their power consumption even before the power grid completely collapses. Such a complete shutdown or reduction of the power consumption of a consumer may appear particularly useful in non-safety critical systems, such as lighting of sights or wells or billboards.

A further concept of embodiments of the present invention is that the said self-regulation can take place without additional data having to be transmitted to the load (for example to the electrical device) via the power network, since the control unit measures the power consumption of the current load as a function of the power consumption Sets parameters of the infrastructure power grid (and, for example, not dependent on data modulated on the power grid). Such a parameter may be, for example, a grid frequency or a grid voltage of an AC voltage provided by the infrastructure power grid.

The welfare-orientated self-regulation of the electrical device or power device according to embodiments of the present invention is therefore completely independent of the above-mentioned "grids" and, in contrast to these in the simplest case, does not require an information transmission network and any investments in the power network, for example to transfer data in this power network to the network to transmit electrical equipment, since the control unit can adjust the power consumption of the power load as a function of the parameter of the power grid, without having to resort to additional on the mains AC voltage modulated or otherwise provided via an information transmission network data.

As already described above, the infrastructure power grid can be an AC voltage and the control unit may be configured to adjust the power consumption of the power load as a function of a parameter of the AC voltage provided by this infrastructure power network or an extract of a plurality of parameters that can be generated locally in the control unit. Such a parameter may be, for example, a (mains) frequency or a (mains) voltage of the AC voltage or a combination of these two. In addition, an extract of a plurality of parameters can still be generated from the local data processing capability of the control unit, wherein quasi-local intelligence in the control unit is based on the local collection of network parameter data records as a function of date and time.

Thus, for example, the control unit may be designed to reduce or increase the current consumption of the current load when exceeding or falling below a limit frequency or a limiting voltage of the alternating voltage compared to a normal consumption state (for example when the frequency or voltage is above or below the respective limit frequency or limit voltage) ,

By observing intrinsically present frequency and / or voltage of the AC voltage provided by the infrastructure power network directly at the point of consumption by the control unit of the electrical device and the adjustment of the power consumption of the power load based on this frequency and this voltage can be a self-regulation of the electrical device, without that additional information about the infrastructure power network must be provided to the electrical device. It is therefore possible that an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention is directly connected to an existing power grid without having to change this power grid and can self-regulate this electrical device, for example when using a plurality of such electrical devices be able to prevent a threatening blackout or total power failure in a power grid.

The infrastructure power network can be, for example, a public power grid operated by an energy supplier. For example, the infrastructure power network may be a so-called low-voltage power network having a rated voltage in a range of> 100 V and <450 V.

It is important to note. that the local distribution of inter-exchange nodes between the network levels and the local distribution of network feed-in nodes does not necessarily have to correspond directly to the load situation at the location of the load current consumption. The more decentralized feed-in nodes are integrated into the infrastructure power grid as a result of decentralized renewable energy generation, the more complex a centralized control of electricity generation becomes.

While in the low-voltage power grid is more likely to think of small loads in the order of <10 kW, whose self-regulating current load multiplied by the u. U. million number of such small loads lead to an essential adaptation effect, embodiments of the present invention are of course not on small loads or on the z. B. popular so-called. 220 V low-voltage network limited.

A significant advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that locally locally at the place of power consumption and thus on the basis of locally intrinsically present in the power grid parameters and possibly the locally present in the control unit of the power consumer data collection and data evaluation are directed site-specific public interest oriented may be feasible, as appears to be feasible through the adaptation of more or less large generators with widely spaced power supply points.

To describe embodiments of the present invention, the term "common good" is used, which differs from the intrinsic behavior without regard to the network load.

Self-behavior occurs when an electrical load turns on or off or is turned on or off by people and then the current flowing is determined by the impedance of the consumer. The term "on-off" is used herein to mean that a switch, by operation of a human or a technical component (eg, temperature sensor), controls the flow of current. In this definition context, the power consumer thus draws as much power without observing the network load as is just required according to the internal demand of the consumption unit.

In the power grid are available at all consumption without the need for any additive data transmission signals at least two netzeigene information sizes available, namely the grid frequency and the mains voltage. Both quantities of information vary at the point of consumption in correlation with the grid load. The variation of the mains frequency is relatively low, but can be easily determined with common measuring devices in each consumer device. The same applies to the mains voltage.

A public interest oriented self-regulation of the electrical load of the power network by an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention, for example, initially consider the grid frequency as an information source and also can also take the mains voltage at the point of consumption as information to the function of one or both parameters Adjust or regulate power consumption of their electricity load.

Information processing with self-regulation can take place in a different manner in an electricity consumption device according to the invention. Power consumers can switch off completely from the power consumption or gradually reduce the power consumption when a high network load condition is detected. In this way, the consumption device subordinates itself to the common good of a functioning power supply. The characteristic of the control behavior can be based on a classification of the electrical device or its current load.

Brief description of the figures

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 a block diagram of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 a schematic representation of an exemplary power grid and connected consumers, each including an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 a general block diagram of an exemplary implementation of the in 1 shown electrical device;

4 a block diagram of another exemplary implementation of the in 1 shown electrical device, which sets or varies based on a mains frequency or a mains voltage power consumption of a power load;

5 another exemplary implementation of the in 1 shown electrical device which adjusts or varies the power consumption of the current load based on a mains frequency and a mains voltage;

6 a block diagram of another exemplary implementation of the in 1 12, which further adjusts an adjustment of the power consumption of the power load based on a current date and / or time;

7 a diagram showing three basic control areas for the public interest oriented regulation of the load current of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8th a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

9a - 9c schematic representations of conventional power facilities

Detailed description of embodiments of the present invention

Before, in the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached figures, it should be pointed out that the same elements or elements themselves are given the same reference numerals in the figures and that a repeated description of the elements which are given the same reference numerals, is waived.

1 shows a block diagram of an electrical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention for connection to an infrastructure power network 101 , The electrical device 100 has a power load 103 and a control unit 105 on. The control unit 105 is designed to take a power consumption of the electricity load 103 depending on at least one parameter (or several parameters) of the infrastructure power network 101 adjust.

As already mentioned, by adjusting the power consumption of the power load 103 depending on the parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 through the electrical device 100 a welfare oriented self-regulation of electrical equipment 100 allows. This welfare-oriented self-regulation makes it possible, in particular, to use a plurality of such electrical devices 100 that with an infrastructure power network 101 are connected, that impending power failures or blackouts can be avoided, as there are signs of impending power failure, the electrical equipment 100 automatically reduce their power consumption (for example, until complete shutdown), thus reducing the infrastructure power grid 101 to be able to relieve. As mentioned earlier, the infrastructure power grid 101 the electrical device 100 provide an AC voltage. The control unit 105 can be designed to reduce the power consumption of current load 103 depending on a parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 set AC voltage. Such a parameter may, for example, be a frequency of the AC voltage provided or a voltage of the AC voltage provided. According to further embodiments, it is also possible that the control unit 105 both based on the frequency and based on the voltage of the provided AC voltage, an adjustment of the power consumption of the power load 103 performs.

So the control unit 105 be formed, for example, to reduce the power consumption of the power load compared to the normal consumption state falls below a cutoff frequency or a threshold voltage of the AC voltage. A normal consumption state, for example, be defined such that the power consumption of the power load 103 is not limited, so this is exactly the amount of power from the infrastructure power network 101 which she needs, for example, to work at full capacity. The control unit 105 can the normal consumption state at the power load 103 set, for example, when the frequency and / or the voltage above the respective cutoff frequency and / or limit voltage of the AC voltage from the infrastructure power grid 101 is provided, is or are. The electricity load 103 is typically in its normal state of consumption when the infrastructure power grid 101 normal or under load, so that no total failure of the infrastructure power network 101 threatening.

The control unit 105 For example, it may be configured to be a frequency of the infrastructure power network 101 to determine the AC voltage supplied and, depending on that particular frequency, that of the infrastructure power network 101 provided AC voltage the power consumption of the power load 103 adjust. This particular frequency of the AC voltage of the infrastructure power network 101 is therefore not a frequency of a data signal, but the line frequency of the AC voltage (and the AC), that of the infrastructure power network 101 to supply the electricity load 103 to be provided. In other words, the control unit detects 105 not a (for example modulated) frequency of a data signal, but the true network frequency of supplying the power load 103 used AC voltage. This line frequency f may, for example, be in a range 10 Hz ≦ f ≦ 100 Hz, 25 Hz ≦ f ≦ 75 Hz or 45 Hz ≦ f ≦ 55 Hz or nominally 50 Hz for a normal load state of the infrastructure network 101 be. If the cutoff frequency falls below this line frequency, the control unit 105 a power consumption of the electricity load 103 reduce (for example, gradually or continuously), up to the complete shutdown of the power load 103 ,

In other words, the control unit 105 designed to reduce the power consumption of the electricity load 103 depending on one or more parameters of the infrastructure power network 101 to adjust or vary its or their intrinsic change from a change in the load of the infrastructure power network 101 results or results. This is a clear difference to those in the 9b and 9c shown conventional examples, in each of which a current control in response to data signals (which are modulated, for example, the power grid or additionally transmitted externally). Unlike the in 9c The system shown is therefore in the electrical device 100 an interaction of the electricity load 103 or the load impedance 103 with the load status of the infrastructure power network 101 available.

According to further embodiments, the electrical device 100 or their control unit 105 also be designed to provide information sent by a data transmitter in addition to the parameter (s) of the infrastructure power network 101 to receive and this information when adjusting the power consumption of the power load 103 to take into account. For example, the control unit 105 for the extraction of the control process of the power consumption of the electricity load 103 also information from one or more communication network (s), such. As radio networks, the Internet or the aforementioned smart metering networks, and relate to this or the parameter (s) of the infrastructure power network 101 combine to reduce the power consumption of the electricity load 103 adjust.

Below are some possible implementations of the in 1 generally illustrated electrical device 100 described, wherein the electrical device 100 can each be extended by one or more features of the exemplary implementations described below.

2 shows a possible application example of electrical devices according to embodiments of the present invention (such as the electrical device 100 in 1 ).

2 schematically shows an illustration of an infrastructure power network 101 , The infrastructure power network 101 has a high-voltage network 201 , a medium voltage network 203 and a low voltage network 205 on. The high voltage network 201 can, for example, directly to a Generators (such as a power plant) to be connected and used to transmit the energy generated in the power plant over long distances. This high voltage is typically provided by means of a first transformer 207 to a medium voltage of the medium voltage network 203 transformed. The average voltage of the medium-voltage network is provided by a second transformer 209 to a low voltage (such as typically present in households) of the low voltage grid 205 transformed. An example of such a low voltage is the common in Europe three-phase current system with a voltage of about 400 V. A phase then typically has a voltage in a range of 230 V to 240 V.

In 2 shown schematically are a washing machine 211 and an electric cooking device 213 , The washing machine 211 and the electric cooking device 213 form possible examples of the electrical device 100 as they are in 1 is shown. For example, a first power load of the washing machine 211 the integrated heating in the washing machine 211 For example, a second power load could be the drive for the washing drum, and a third power load could be one in the washing machine, for example 211 be integrated water pump. In other words, electrical devices according to embodiments of the present invention may have multiple power loads 103 have, wherein the control unit 105 such an electrical device 100 each adapted to the power consumption of these different power loads 103 independent of one another depending on the parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 adjust. Thus, for example, it could be possible that the washing machine does not initially start the washing process when the power supply is high and shifts the starting time of the washing process backwards until the infrastructure power grid 101 is no longer so heavily burdened. However, if the washing is already in progress while the evidence of a critical power grid load is occurring (for example, if the cutoff frequency is that of the infrastructure power grid) 101 supplied AC voltage is exceeded and / or the threshold voltage of the AC voltage is exceeded), the power consumption of the washing machine 211 through the control unit 105 self-regulating be reduced by z. B. the heating power for water heating is reduced or by, for example, a spin speed is reduced.

Furthermore, the electric cooking device 213 For example, have four heating zones, an oven and a Grillheizschlange, each with their own electricity loads 103 the electric cooking device 213 can be, by means of a control unit 105 this electric cooking device 213 can be controlled. As already described, it is the case with conventional electrical devices that each individual consumer of such a device removes the current from the power grid "selfishly" according to momentary demand, which is essentially determined by temperature switches under specification of the human. The heaviest load on the grid occurs when all consumers (ie, all electricity loads, such as heating zones, oven, and grill) simultaneously receive power from the infrastructure grid 101 remove. However, in the public interest oriented self-regulation as implemented by embodiments of the present invention, a staggering of the current drain in the electric cooking appliance may be staggered 213 be done so that the punctual peak load is avoided and adapted to a lower, temporally evenly distributed load. The classification of the individual consumers or devices thus includes what temporal shift and which amount of current drain can be regulated depending on the existing network load. As another example, an electric fan heater is named, for example, when a person turns on an electric fan heater, he expresses the need for the heat from the surrounding air.

The electrical device (fan heater) may not be able to completely refuse this requirement if the device detects a high network load, but it may be appropriate for the common good if the amount of current drain (heat output) is reduced. In the reduced case, the heating power would be stretched over a longer heating time and possibly depending on the design of the self-regulation, the amount of heating power reduced occur.

The characteristic referred to as classification of the consumer devices takes particular account of safety aspects. Thus, a traffic light system not "public interest oriented" switch off its power consumption at any network load time itself, as this can cause significant safety deficiencies in terms of the task of the traffic light system. The classification of the electrical load device in a scale of dispensable loads to indispensable loads can be assigned to each power device.

2 also shows an example of a so-called expendable load using a neon sign 215 as an exemplary implementation for an electrical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A control device 105 this neon sign 215 For example, it can be designed to handle a high load of Infrastructure power network 101 recognizes a lighting of the neon sign 215 (by regulating the power consumption of the lighting so the power load 103 the neon sign 215 ) or even shut down completely.

Furthermore, for example, the individual power loads of the washing machine 211 be classified, for example so that, although the heating power of the washing machine 211 integrated heating coil is lowered to heat the water more slowly, however, the water pump of the washing machine 211 be classified as an indispensable load, so that a power consumption of this water pump does not depend on the parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 is set. This symbolic differentiation of classifications within an electrical device (heating versus water pump) can be mapped to innumerable other electrical device functions.

How out 2 As can be seen, electrical devices according to embodiments of the present invention may be configured to be wired (for example, by plug and socket) to the infrastructure power network 101 to be connected.

For example, an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention (such as the washing machine 211 ) a plug 217 for connecting the electrical device to the infrastructure power grid 101 exhibit. Furthermore, the electric cooking device 213 a plug 219 for connection to the infrastructure power network 101 exhibit. Furthermore, the neon sign can also 215 a plug 221 for connection to the infrastructure power network 101 exhibit. These plugs 217 - 221 can be different but can be the same For example, the plug 217 of the washing machine 211 a single-phase plug 217 which receives a single-phase signal of a three-phase rotary current. In contrast, for example, the plug 219 the electric heater 213 be a three-phase three-phase plug, which receives so-called high current.

In general, a plug of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a power plug of one of the following connector types:
A, B, C, D, E, F, E + F, G, H, I, J, L, M IEC 60906-1 ,

In other words, a plug according to an embodiment of the present invention may meet some national or international standard for connection to an infrastructure power network 101 correspond.

An advantageous development of embodiments consists in the integration of a user interface in the electrical device 100 that includes, for example unidirectionally from the controller to the user at least one display element that informs the user of the load state of the infrastructure power network and / or the functional state of the electrical device. This development is advantageous in particular for the fact that the user at z. B. a self-sufficient control operation of the load current to zero (switching off the electrical device 100 ) can detect whether this condition corresponds to a defect or an operating state of the device. Indirect advantage of an ad could also be that the consumer behavior of public interest oriented users about the operational function of the electrical device 100 can be supported. Ie. In practice, it is formulated that, especially on the critical, coldest load days in winter, in which no wind and no sun is available, but the max. Electricity demand for heating power is in demand and the infrastructure power network is working closely on the black-out scenario, by which the user can be supported in a well-being-oriented consumer behavior. Instead of commissioning additional electrical heaters z. B. the clothing of the welfare oriented people to be adjusted and the sauna heater does not necessarily have to be switched to maximum load just when the power grid is already in overload. In other words, the electrical device 100 a user interface (eg, a display) configured to inform the user of a current load condition of the infrastructure power network 101 to inform. The functional scope of such a user interface can also be extended beyond a simple display element.

Takes the control unit 105 the device according to the invention 100 z. B. news of information services in the generation of its load control, a dynamization of the load control algorithms could be implemented, the z. B. corresponds to a black-out emergency call function. If the network operators realize that electricity supply can no longer be adequately adapted to demand and that the risk of black-out increases, public-interest information (possibly regionalised) could be sent out, using the load-control algorithms in the control systems electrical facilities 100 encourages "sharpened public interest orientation". The local parameter set and thus the specific consideration of the network load at the place of operation of the power load 103 It would remain effective and a simultaneous shutdown of power loads that would begin massively with the transmission of the black-out emergency call should be avoided. In other words, the control unit 105 further configured to receive data such as messages from a data transmitter (eg, via the infrastructure power network 101 or a communication network) and this data in regulating the power consumption of the power load 103 to take into account.

With even greater complexity, a black-out reboot function (reboot restart) would be realized in which, after a blackout power outage occurred, electrical equipment would again be staggered according to classifications and z. B. telemetric control signals are put back into the power load operation.

As a further example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a building control center is called, which has the control capability for some power consumers in the building. The control unit 105 For example, such a building control center switches off or on or off the heating or air conditioning system (which in each case form individual power loads that can be controlled independently of one another). A welfare oriented self-regulation according to embodiments of the present invention is present when the current drain, for example, depending on grid frequency and / or grid voltage at the point of consumption (by the building management 100 ) is adapted to the network load condition. That is, when detected high network load is automatically by the control unit 105 the building management less light turned on or the control of the air conditioning for less power consumption.

Corresponding further examples emerge for floodlight systems (eg for night ski runs, whose power requirements are diametrically opposed to the critical network load situations in winter), snow-making systems, concert events with loudspeaker systems up to the 100 kW range and beyond, sauna heaters, so-called Electric heater-mushrooms, warm-air entrance lock-systems of department stores and buildings, etc .. About the classification of the facilities (reasonableness of the load regulation) can be particularly in crisis operating hours of the infrastructure current net 101 a reduction of the risk of blackout be promoted by electrical devices according to embodiments.

According to further embodiments, the electrical device 100 an energy store (for example as part of the power load 103 ) exhibit. The control unit 105 may be configured to the energy storage in response to a detected under load of the infrastructure power network 101 charging based on a power provided by the infrastructure network. The one from the control unit 105 regulated power consumption of the electricity load 103 then corresponds, for example, the charging current for the energy storage of the control unit 105 is regulated.

In other words, the electrical device 100 also have an energy storage function that only power from the infrastructure power grid 101 absorbs if the / the parameters of the infrastructure power network 101 (optional plus parameter extraction from the dataset in the control unit 105 ) an underload of the infrastructure power network 101 signaled / s. Due to the technical controllability of power generators (unfortunately, from an environmental point of view), in the current infrastructure grid system u.a. B. wind turbines are rejected, because the demand for electricity compared to the electricity supply is too low. In the diagram of the 7 this state corresponds to region 1, in which an energy storage device is then switched on or in its current load 103 can be increased. Examples of energy storage may be battery stations, power-to-gas stations, power-to-heat stations or the like. For example, an electrical device could 100 also be a vehicle charging station for electric mobile.

In summary, electrical devices according to embodiments of the present invention may include a plurality of power loads. A control unit of this electrical device can be designed to provide, for each of the plurality of power loads, their power consumption (independent of the power consumption of the other power loads of the plurality of power loads) depending on the parameter of the infrastructure power grid 101 adjust. Examples of such different power loads, for example, the different heating zones of the electric cooking device 213 or the heating coil, the water pump and the drive for the sling of the washing machine 211 be.

Furthermore, an electrical device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can also have at least one non-settable current load whose power consumption can not be set by means of the control unit of this electrical device. An example of this could be, for example, the water pump of the washing machine 211 his or even an emergency lighting.

Furthermore, power loads can be assigned to different classification types or of different classification types. For example, a first power load of a plurality of power loads may be from a first Classification type and be at least a second power load of a second classification type. A control unit that controls power consumption of these power loads may be configured to reduce the power consumption of the first power load and the power consumption of the second power load depending on their respective classification types in response to the same change in the parameter of the infrastructure power network. For example, power consumption of the first power load of the first classification type is allowed to be reduced (percentage) more than power consumption of the second power load of the second classification type.

The time and date can be used as additional reference variable for the self-regulation. A map depicting daytime and seasonal network load characteristics may refine the self-regulatory capability of the electrical device. It is also feasible to implement a technical learning capability in the consumer facilities, with the help of which occurring at the place of power consumption network load profiles for time and date for the optimization of self-regulation is used. When a local utility consumes on-site current load profiles for its own purposes and incorporates them into its self-control, there is no conflict with data transmission, evaluation, storage by a "grid company" in the context of legal systems. The self-control parameters may remain intransparent to the public utility-oriented utility. As the sole reference variable, the operator's consent remains that his electricity consumption device carries out a self-regulation oriented towards the common good. This consent is made simply by commissioning the electrical device with public interest oriented control, because the buyer of the electrical device will only acquire the public interest oriented control if he wants to use it.

In other words, in further embodiments, a control unit may be configured to adjust the power consumption of one or more power loads as a function of a current date and / or a current time. The current date and / or time can be used with the parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 be combined. For example, the washing machine 211 to postpone a start of a wash if, in the next hour, there is a sharp increase in power consumption and hence load in the infrastructure power grid 101 is to be expected. Furthermore, a control unit 105 according to an embodiment of the present invention also a memory for storing statistics on previous variation of the parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 exhibit. The control unit 105 may be configured accordingly to further adjust the power consumption in dependence on this stored statistics. For example, allows electricity consumers or electricity loads 103 not be turned on at all, if a high load of the infrastructure power network 101 is to be expected.

Furthermore, such a control unit 105 be formed to the statistics in response to variations in the parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 to update.

This makes sense, for example, if the infrastructure power grid 101 is further expanded or if capacity in the infrastructure power grid 101 fail for a long time, causing bottlenecks in the infrastructure power grid 101 arise or disappear.

Embodiments of the present invention thus also allow adaptation to long-term fluctuations of the infrastructure power grid 101 ,

The loop technology loop between power grid 101 and consumer appliances 100 Self-regulation oriented to the common good will be dimensioned so that a high stability of the control loop is ensured. A mutual rocking of the control behavior of the power supply into the power grid 101 and self-regulation of consumer equipment 100 is avoided. On the one hand, this statistic serves the statistics within the multitude of institutions 101 , or on the other hand, the dynamics of the control behavior of power generation against the dynamics of the control behavior of the consumer and possibly the hysteresis of the respective control behavior.

In the following 3 to 6 each become exemplary implementations of the electrical device 100 as they are in 1 is shown described.

3 generally shows an exemplary implementation of the electrical device 100 , At the in 3 shown public interest oriented electrical utility 100 On the one hand there is an external switching function and on the other hand an internal self-control of the load impedance (for example the current load 103 ) of the consumer device 100 the one interaction with the load state of the supply power network (the infrastructure power network 101 ) received.

3 shows therefore the general case that a welfare orientated self-control of a Current load as a function of a parameter of the infrastructure power network 101 is carried out.

4 shows a further exemplary implementation of the electrical device 100 in which it is shown schematically that the reference variable for the self-control of the load impedance (the current load 103 ) of the consumer device (the electrical device 100 ) is carried out by, for example, either the mains frequency or mains voltage parameter (or also based on both), the extent of the self-control of the current consumption or of the current consumption being based on the classification of the current load 103 or the entire electrical device 100 depends.

The classification is based on considerations regarding the possible or reasonable or safety-compatible change of the load current. Safety would not be compatible, for example, if warning signs in traffic z. B. at intersections or level crossings would turn off by self-control depending on the power grid load. It seems unreasonable, if an electric instantaneous water heater for hot water of a shower would completely stop its hot water production in view of a high network load. Reasonable but could be that this water heater regulates its heating capacity in combination with the water flow rate and water temperature so that the showering person is still satisfactorily served with hot water and at the same time the current from the heavily loaded power grid 101 is reduced.

Possible and reasonable appears when the nocturnal floodlights to illuminate a z. As a historic building in a city selbstregelnd be turned off by a public interest oriented institution, as soon as a high current load of the power grid (the infrastructure power network 101 ) is recognized. Similarly, it appears possible and reasonable if the shop-window lighting of a department store is minimized in power consumption or switched off by a public interest-oriented control unit as a function of the power grid load.

The classification can also include consumer behavior; d. H. Consumers with a positive awareness of public interest interests can opt for far-reaching reasonableness of control parameters, so that the self-control of the electrical device also minimizes the power consumption at high network load. Analogously applies to consumers with less advocating awareness that flanking the classification is a less strong reduction control of the load current at high network load.

5 shows an exemplary implementation of the electrical device 100 with a welfare-oriented self-control through two network-dependent reference variables (grid frequency and grid voltage). In other words, it breaks 5 schematically in that the reference variable for the self-control of the load impedance (the current load 103 ) of the consumer device (the electrical device 100 ) is performed by the parameter mains frequency in combination with the parameter mains voltage, whereby the extent of the self-control of the current consumption again depends on the classification of the current load 103 (or the electrical device 100 itself).

6 shows an exemplary implementation of the electrical device 100 with a welfare oriented self-control through multiple leaders. 6 therefore shows schematically that the reference variable (the parameter = for the self-control of the load impedance (the current load 103 ) of the consumer device (the electrical device 100 ) by either the mains frequency parameter in combination with the mains voltage parameter and other parameters, such as date or time or in a combination of date and time, the extent of the self-control of the load impedance (the current load 103 ) of the classification of the current load 103 (or the electrical device 100 itself).

7 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing exemplary operating zones for the public interest oriented self-regulation as may be performed in embodiments of the present invention.

At the in 7 the diagram shown is plotted on the abscissa (x-axis) the mains voltage in volts and plotted on the ordinate (y-axis) the mains frequency in hertz. The diagram in 7 schematically shows three basic control areas (1, 2, 3) for the well-being oriented control of the load current of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention or a power load of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Area 1 is underloaded operating state of the power supply network 101 or infrastructure power network 101 to understand. Thus, the underload can be defined by a mains frequency condition of 50 Hz + delta1 Hz tolerance and / or by a mains voltage of 235 V + delta1V. Range 2 is characterized by a mains frequency of 50 Hz +/- delta2 Hz tolerance and by a mains voltage of 235 V +/- delta 2 V, so that a (locally at the place of consumption device) largely balanced technical optimal state of supply and demand in the infrastructure power network 101 is present.

Area 3 is to be understood as a critical current load range, because there a mains frequency of 50 Hz - delta3 Hz tolerance and / or a mains voltage of 235 V - delta3 V signals that overloading of the power grid 101 threatens and the risk of a blackout incident increases with increasing delta3 deviation from the optimal state. Especially in the operating area 3 sets the welfare oriented self-regulation of the load current of a corresponding electrical device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In other words, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be designed to reduce the power consumption of their current load when a critical cutoff frequency and / or a critical cutoff voltage are undershot 103 to reduce. In general, a reduction in power consumption in stages or continuously, for example, up to complete shutdown of the power load. Once the critical cutoff frequency and / or critical cutoff frequency is exceeded, the controller may 105 an electrical device 100 the power consumption of the electricity load 103 the electrical device 100 increase again, for example, to a normal consumption state.

With a sufficient number of consumers with welfare-oriented self-regulation, load-current reductions add up and form a blackout avoidance community without the need for massive structural investment and without the need for data collection, data storage, or data analysis on customers' electricity consumption patterns.

The relations of the deltax tolerances result from the diagram in 7 , so that the delta2 absolute value is smaller than delta1, where delta1 is open for increasing mains frequencies and increasing mains voltage. The relation of delta3 to delta2 absolute value is to be understood as meaning that delta3 is greater than delta2.

The specified mains voltage of 235 V and mains frequency of 50 Hz are merely exemplary values for the standard system used in Europe with an effective voltage of 235 V for one phase of a three-phase current with a nominal frequency of 50 Hz. Nevertheless, these values are of course dependent on the respective used in the infrastructure power network and may therefore vary depending on the infrastructure power network to which the electrical device is connected in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

In the following, some aspects of embodiments of the present invention will be summarized.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a public welfare oriented self-regulation electrical device that receives power from the power grid, characterized in that the electrical device includes a device-level controller that can control the device's own power load, wherein at least one control parameter of the controller is intrinsic current mains or mains voltage existing in the power supply network and the achievement or falling below of classifiable values of the guide parameter leads to a reduction of the current consumption of the electrical device compared to the unregulated operating state.

Further embodiments of the present invention provide a public-welfare oriented self-regulation electrical device that receives power from the power grid, characterized in that the electrical device includes a device-level control unit for controlling the device's own power load, wherein at least two control parameters are determined by the controller intrinsically existing mains supply voltage and mains voltage in the power supply network and the achievement or falling below of classifiable values of the guiding parameters in combinatorial processing leads to a reduction of the current consumption of the electrical device in comparison to the uncontrolled operating state.

Furthermore, the electrical device can be characterized in that the electrical device comprises a device-oriented control unit, with which the device-specific current load can be controlled, whereby at least one further control parameter of the controller consists of date or time and the combinatorial processing of values of the guide parameters for a reduction of the Current consumption of the electrical device compared to the unregulated operating state leads.

Furthermore, the electrical device may be configured such that the electrical device comprises a device-oriented control unit with which the device-specific current load can be controlled, wherein at least two further control parameters of the controller consist of date and time and the combinatory processing of values of the guide parameters for a reduction the current consumption of the electrical device compared to the unregulated operating state leads.

Furthermore, the electrical device can be configured such that the electrical device comprises a device-oriented control unit with which the device-specific current load can be controlled, wherein at least one further control parameter of the controller consists of date or time and in the device-near control unit one at the location of the device's operation resulting statistics on fluctuations of the guidance parameters is determined and the combinatorial processing of values of the guidance parameters and the statistics leads to a reduction of the power consumption of the electrical device compared to the uncontrolled operating state, the statistics due to locally held in at least one local data store management parameter value collection locally can be generated in the control unit.

Furthermore, the electrical device can be designed such that the classifiable values of the guidance parameters follow the general interest needs of maintaining a functioning power supply in graduated measures of the power consumption control, so that a control-technical balance between the reasonable for the user of the device reduction of power consumption and the load situation in the Power supply is made or the safety-related permissibility of reducing the power consumption is taken into account, with the graduated measures of the power consumption control can gradually extend to complete shutdown.

Furthermore, the electrical device can be designed such that the classifiable values of the guidance parameters follow the general interest needs of maintaining a functioning power supply in graduated measures of the power consumption control, so that a control-technical balance between the reasonable for the user of the device reduction of power consumption and the load situation in the Power grid is made and the safety-related permissibility of reducing the power consumption is taken into account, the graduated measures of the power consumption control can gradually extend to the complete shutdown of the electrical device.

8th shows a flowchart of a method 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The procedure 800 includes a step 801 adjusting a power consumption of a power load as a function of at least one parameter of an infrastructure power network.

Further, the method may be one step 803 of receiving an AC voltage provided by the infrastructure power network. The parameter as a function of which the current load is set can, for example, be a parameter whose change results intrinsically (or inherently) from a change in the grid load of the infrastructure power grid. For example, this parameter may be a mains frequency or a mains voltage of the provided AC voltage or else a combination of the mains voltage and the mains frequency of the AC voltage.

Although some aspects have been described in the context of a device, it will be understood that these aspects also constitute a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or a component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding device.

Depending on particular implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray Disc, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or FLASH memory, a hard disk, or other magnetic disk or optical memory are stored on the electronically readable control signals, which can cooperate with a programmable computer system or cooperate such that the respective method is performed. Therefore, the digital storage medium can be computer readable. Thus, some embodiments according to the invention include a data carrier having electronically readable control signals capable of interacting with a programmable computer system such that one of the methods described herein is performed.

In general, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product having a program code, wherein the program code is operable to perform one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer. The program code can also be stored, for example, on a machine-readable carrier.

Other embodiments include the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein, wherein the computer program is stored on a machine-readable medium.

In other words, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a computer program which has a program code for performing one of the methods described herein when the computer program runs on a computer. A further embodiment of the inventive method is thus a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which the computer program is recorded for carrying out one of the methods described herein.

A further embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a data stream or a sequence of signals, which represent the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may be configured, for example, to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example via the Internet.

Another embodiment includes a processing device, such as a computer or a programmable logic device, that is configured or adapted to perform one of the methods described herein.

Another embodiment includes a computer on which the computer program is installed to perform one of the methods described herein.

In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (eg, a field programmable gate array, an FPGA) may be used to perform some or all of the functionality of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor to perform one of the methods described herein. In general, in some embodiments, the methods are performed by any hardware device. This may be a universal hardware such as a computer processor (CPU) or hardware specific to the process, such as an ASIC.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It will be understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and not by the specific details presented in the description and explanation of the embodiments herein.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• IEC 60906-1 [0058]

Claims (20)

Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) for connection to an infrastructure power grid ( 101 ) having the following characteristics: 103 ); and a control unit ( 105 ); the control unit ( 105 ) is adapted to a power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) in dependence on at least one parameter of the infrastructure power network ( 101 ). Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to claim 1, wherein the infrastructure power network ( 101 ) provides an AC voltage and the control unit ( 105 ) is designed to reduce the power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) depending on at least one parameter of the infrastructure power network ( 101 ) set AC voltage. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to claim 2, wherein the parameter of the AC voltage is a frequency or a voltage of the AC voltage. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is formed in order to fall below a cutoff frequency or a threshold voltage of the provided AC voltage, the power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) to a normal consumption state. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is designed to reduce the power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) independent of one on the infrastructure power network ( 101 ) supply voltage adjusted modulated data signal. Electrical device ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a change of the parameter in dependence of the control unit ( 105 ) the power consumption of the electricity load ( 103 ) sets intrinsically from a change in a load of the infrastructure power grid ( 101 ) results. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) is designed to be wired to the infrastructure power grid ( 101 ) to be connected. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a plug ( 217 . 219 . 221 ) for connecting the electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) to the infrastructure power grid ( 101 ). Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to claim 8, wherein the plug ( 217 . 219 . 221 ) A power plug is one of the following connector types: A, B, C, D, E, F, E + F, G, H, I, J, L, M, IEC 60906-1. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is designed to reduce the power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) further depending on a current date or a current time. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) a plurality of power loads ( 103 ) having; and wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is configured to generate, for each of the plurality of power loads ( 103 ) whose power consumption is independent of the power consumption of the other power loads ( 103 ) of the plurality of power loads ( 103 ) but depending on the parameter of the infrastructure power network ( 101 ). Electrical device ( 100 . 211 ) according to claim 11, wherein at least a first power load of the plurality of power loads is of a first classification type and at least a second power load of the plurality of power loads of a second classification type; and wherein the control unit ( 105 ) in response to the same change in the parameter of the infrastructure power network ( 101 ) adjust the power consumption of the first power load and the power consumption of the second power load depending on their respective classification type. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 ) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electrical device ( 100 . 211 ) further comprises at least one non-settable current load whose power consumption is not by means of the control unit ( 105 ) is adjustable. Electrical device according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the control unit ( 105 ) a memory for storing statistics about previous ones Variations in the parameter of the infrastructure power grid ( 101 ) having; and wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is designed to reduce the power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) further depending on the stored statistics. Electrical device ( 100 ) according to claim 14, wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is adapted to the statistics in dependence on current fluctuations of the parameter of the infrastructure power network ( 101 ) to update. Electrical device ( 100 . 211 . 213 . 215 ) according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is designed to reduce the power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) depending on the parameter of the infrastructure power network ( 101 ) gradually or continuously, down to a complete shutdown of the load ( 103 ). Electrical device ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the current load ( 103 ) has an energy store; and wherein the control unit ( 105 ) is adapted to a charging current of the energy storage in dependence on the parameter of the infrastructure power network ( 101 ). Procedure ( 800 ) with: Setting ( 801 ) of a power consumption of a power load ( 103 ) in dependence on at least one parameter of an infrastructure power network ( 101 ). Procedure ( 800 ) according to claim 18, further comprising: receiving ( 803 ) one of the infrastructure power grid ( 101 ) provided AC voltage; and wherein a change of the parameter in dependence of the power consumption of the power load ( 103 ) is set intrinsically from a change in a load of the infrastructure power grid ( 101 ) results. A computer program having program code for execution when the program is run on a computer, a method according to any one of claims 18 or 19.

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