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Distributed energy resourcesRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, And Emulation, Simulating Electronic Device Or Electrical System, Power SystemDistributed energy resources description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070043549, Distributed energy resources. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 as a divisional application of Ser. No. 10/666,209 filed on Sep. 17, 2003, by P. B. Evans. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to power transmission and distribution systems or networks, and more particularly to such power networks that may incorporate distributed energy resources. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior Art [0003] Distributed energy resources, or DER, may include power generation capacity located at customer sites and/or located near load centers. This is sometimes referred to in the art as "distributed generation" to distinguish it from central station generation, which is prevailing in the art. [0004] It is increasingly understood in the art that reduction of demand upon command from the system operator, sometimes referred to as "dispatchable demand reduction" or load shedding, is in some respects an alternative to adding incremental generating capacity. The capacity, or energy source, represented by dispatchable demand reduction is, by definition, located at customer sites. Dispatchable demand reduction thus may be considered DER. [0005] DER may also include the capacitors, reactive energy sources that provide reactive power capacity, and that are located at various points within either the transmission system or the distribution system as part of conventional practice in the art. It should be noted that in this description we use the term capacity with two meanings depending on context. Capacitors may have a certain capacity value or capicitance and energy sources provide added capacity to the network, either as real power, e.g., a generator, or reactive power, e.g., a capacitor bank. [0006] The potential for distributed energy resources to augment traditional central-station power generation approaches is widely discussed within and outside the power industry. However, the prior art includes no methodology that thoroughly assesses and values the potential benefits of DER. Specifically, current methods fail to thoroughly assess and value the potential benefits of DER to transmission or distribution (T&D) systems themselves. Such benefits are to be considered distinct from potential benefits of DER to customers or the environment. [0007] Making Connections: Case Studies of Interconnection Barriers and their Impact on Distributed Generation Projects, Alderfer, Eldrige, and Stars, NREL/SR-20028053, May 2000, is one of many references in the art that acknowledges the potential for DER (in this case power generation at the energy customer's site) to provide benefits to customers. Such customer benefits may include increased reliability or reduced energy costs. Making Connections also acknowledges the potential for DER to provide benefits for the environment. These environmental benefits might include production of electric power at higher levels of efficiency (thus, reduced fuel use) or reduced environmental impacts through the use of advanced or renewable technologies. [0008] However, Making Connections makes no reference to the potential for DER to provide benefits to T&D systems per se, over and above the potential benefits of DER for customers and the environment. [0009] Where impacts of DER on T&D systems are considered, current methods do not provide a means to assess the potential benefits of DER to such T&D systems. [0010] PIER Strategic Program--Strategic Distributed Energy Resources Research Assessment Interim Report, Arthur D. Little, P600-01-016, August 2001, considers grid impacts of DER at length. However, this report considers grid impacts of DER as a looming problem that may have to be dealt with if the level of penetration of DER is great enough. The report's literal characterization of the DER grid impacts issue is "Would a high penetration of DER have an adverse impact on the T&D system?" The report does not anticipate the affirmative use of DER as a means to improve performance of the T&D network. [0011] Where DER is considered to have potential benefits for transmission and distribution systems, current methods fail to provide a thorough assessment and valuation of the potential benefits. [0012] "The Energy Web," by Steve Silberman, Wired Magazine, Sep. 7, 2001, describes an "Energy Web" with diversified resources close to customers managed by intelligent agents throughout the network. This infrastructure would have less environmental impact and provide more choices to customers. Silberman certainly implies that there could be grid benefits as well. However, Silberman offers no means for thoroughly determining what those benefits might be. [0013] There is a need for a method to thoroughly assess and value the potential benefits of DER to transmission or distribution (T&D) systems themselves. Such a method should be analytically defensible. Also, such a method should quantify such benefits objectively, distinct from potential benefits of DER to customers or the environment. [0014] The lack of an analytical basis for purported engineering and economic benefits of DER to T&D systems prevents sound business decision-making and policy-making that could facilitate the implementation of DER. If the potential T&D benefits of DER were objectively established, greater opportunities for the deployment of DER would emerge. DER projects could be deployed to provide direct benefits to customers, direct benefits to the environment, and also direct benefits to the T&D systems. With T&D benefits established independent of customer and environmental benefits, those projects that more than one set of benefits could be identified. [0015] Regulations affecting industrial facilities and the practices relating to interconnection of devices to T&D systems have been developed over time, for the most part without anticipation or consideration of the possible widespread deployment of DER. These regulations and practices may now, without specific intent, represent barriers to DER projects. This topic is the primary focus of Making Connections. However, removal of barriers to broader deployment of DER is a daunting problem for regulatory authorities, network operators and DER practitioners. A clear demonstration of the benefits of DER to T&D systems would provide greater motivation for network operators and other stakeholders to engage in the reformation of these barriers. Also, a determination of which barriers have the greatest impact on the DER projects having the most potential benefits for the system would provide a basis for targeting these reformation efforts. [0016] T&D system analysis and planning methods in the art have significant limitations in making a thorough assessment of the potential benefits of DER to a given T&D network. [0017] Traditional transmission system analysis methods in the art do not directly consider the related distribution systems. As a result, traditional approaches prohibit direct assessment of the extent to which transmission level problems arise from problems in the distribution system. Moreover, traditional approaches thus also prohibit direct assessment of the extent to which transmission level problems that may arise from problems in the distribution system are best mitigated at the distribution level, e.g. with DER. [0018] Likewise, as noted below, distribution system analysis methods in the art do not directly consider the transmission network. As a result, traditional distribution analysis approaches prohibit direct assessment of the extent to which distribution level problems arise from problems in the transmission system. Traditional approaches thus also prohibit direct assessment of the extent to which distribution level problems that may arise from problems in the transmission system are best mitigated at the distribution level. [0019] Methods and analytical tools for characterizing the conditions of high-voltage transmission systems and identifying problems therein are well known in the art. Some of these methods and analytical tools are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,659 to Schleuter and U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,628 to Chiang. A common class of analytical methods is referred to in the art as "power flow" techniques. [0020] There have also been recent advances in these methods. Of particular interest are analytical tools that use analytical methods to determine optimal transmission network control variable settings to minimize losses or power costs, as well as tools that use analytical methods to identify locations for reactive capacity additions. Another area of recent interest is tools that analyze a system's proximity to voltage collapse, or its voltage stability security. Schleuter's Method for Performing a Voltage Stability Security Assessment for a Region of an Electric Power Transmission System is an example of recent voltage security analytics. Chiang's Dynamic Method for Preventing Voltage collapse in Electrical Power Systems is another. These are discussed further below. Continue reading about Distributed energy resources... Full patent description for Distributed energy resources Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Distributed energy resources patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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