System and method for planning of demand for power on an electrical power network

Abstract

A system and method for calculating energy to be preceded or delayed through a deactivation of appliance on a power network to reduce a highest threshold of power production required to meet power demand. Predictions of power demand by appliances and the possibility of preceding or delaying such demand away from a time of high power usage allow power use to be shifted away from periods of peak production. Further, such predictions allow more complete use of power once a power generator has been activated.

1 . A method for planning power demand on a power network comprising:
 calculating a prediction of power demand by a plurality of power consuming devices at a plurality of intervals;   calculating an order of activation of a set of generators to meet said prediction of power demand at said plurality of intervals, wherein an activation of a first in said set of generators is sufficient to meet said power demand at a first interval of said intervals, and an activation of said first and a second generator is sufficient to meet said power demand at a second interval of said intervals;   predicting that a power consuming device is to be active at said second interval and not active at said first interval;   activating said power consuming device at said first interval; and   deactivating said power consuming device at said second interval.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , comprising calculating a pair of intersections between a power demand curve and a plurality of power generation thresholds during a power generation cycle. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , comprising calculating a time limit for which activation of said power consuming device may precede a predicted time of activation for said power consuming device without causing consumer inconvenience. 
     
     
         4 . A method of limiting a level of power production on a power network, comprising:
 predicting a time that power demand on said network will reach a pre-defined level;   causing an activation of a plurality of power consuming devices on said network at a period before said time; and   causing a deactivation of said plurality of power consumption devices after said time.   
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 4 , comprising ordering said plurality of power consuming devices by a quantity of power consumed by said devices during a period of activation of said devices. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 4 , wherein said predefined level is a level at which an additional power generator will be activated. 
     
     
         7 . A method of planning activation of power consumption devices on a network, comprising:
 predicting a difference between a level of power demand on said network during a period and a level of power production on said network during said period;   predicting a time for an activation of a plurality of power consumption devices during said period;   activating a set of said plurality of power consumption devices prior to said predicted time for said activation of said plurality of power consumption devices, wherein a sum of power demanded by said set of plurality of power consumption devices approximates said difference between said level of power usage on said network during said period and said level of power production on said network during said period.   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , comprising calculating a maximum time prior to said predicted time for said activation of said power consumption device. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 7 , comprising calculating a sum of power demanded by said set of plurality of power consumption devices that were activated prior to said predicted time.