Method and System for Generating and Optimizing the Capacity Ratings of an Electric Power System Facility

Abstract

A method and system is provided for optimizing electric loading transfer capabilities. In one embodiment, the system comprises a processor which receives and stores information regarding available resources of one or more electric power facilities. The system includes a capability datastore and an external factors datastore, both of which communicate with the processor and with each other. The capability datastore determines electrical capabilities of the available resources at any given point in time while the external factors datastore determines a plurality of variables which affect the electrical capabilities. A resource manager connected to the processor is also provided. The resource manager allocates the plurality of available resources by optimizing and correlating the electrical capabilities with the plurality of variables, to generate an electric capacity rating for the one or more electric power facilities.

1 . An electric capacity rating system for optimizing electric loading transfer capabilities, comprising:
 a processor for receiving and storing information about available resources in one or more electric power facilities;   a capability datastore in communication with said processor for determining electrical capabilities at any given point in time;   an external factors datastore for determining a plurality of variables which affect said electrical capabilities; and   a resource manager for allocating said plurality of available resources by optimizing said electrical capabilities at any given point in time;   said resource manager correlating said plurality of variables with said electrical capabilities to generate an electric capacity rating for said one or more electric power facilities; and   said resource manager, said external factors datastore, and said capability datastore being in processing communication with said processor and with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said processor commands a memory unit in order to read and write compiled data to said memory unit;
 said compiled data comprises information about said plurality of available resources, said electrical capabilities, and said plurality of variables;   said memory unit comprises an internal memory integrated with said processor.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said memory unit further comprises an external memory accessible by said processor. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one data port interface supporting a plurality of independent communication channels in processing communication with each other and with said processor and said memory unit;
 wherein said processor sends and receives said compiled data and said electric capacity rating, through said plurality of independent communication channels, to and from said memory unit, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of available resources comprises electric generation, distribution and transmission components, said plurality of variables comprises weather parameters, and said electrical capabilities comprises either generation, distribution or transmission capabilities. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said weather parameters include ambient temperatures, wind speed, wind direction, clarity of atmosphere, solar radiation, air density, air viscosity, and air thermal conductivity;
 wherein said electrical capabilities include resource equipment properties, resource composition, resource construction, and resource thermal limits of said plurality of available resources; and   wherein said plurality of variables further comprises geographic position and elevation above sea level of said one or more electric power facilities, orientation of each of said plurality of resources, time of day, day of year, and seasonal period.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of variables can be updated dynamically by external sources and manually by a system user;
 said external factors datastore can define said plurality of variables using old values previously saved in said memory unit if dynamic updates from said external sources or manual updates are not available.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said processor obtains said electrical capabilities from said capability datastore and directs said resource manager to associate each of said plurality of resources with a mathematical routine including one or more formulas or algorithms;
 said mathematical routine reflecting said electrical capabilities of each of said plurality of resources; and   wherein said resource manager links together each of said mathematical routines and forms a comprehensive representation of said one or more electric power facilities as a homogenous system;   said processor saving a record of said comprehensive representation in said memory unit.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein said external factors datastore retrieves updated values of said plurality of variables from said external sources;
 said processor directs said resource manager to use said updated values of said plurality of variables and said electrical capabilities to define unknown quantities within said comprehensive representation;   said resource manager calculates a current value of said electric capacity rating using said comprehensive representation; and   said processor saves said current value of said electric capacity rating to said memory unit.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said processor generates an analytical report documenting said compiled data and said electric capacity rating, which are stored in said memory unit;
 said processor communicating said analytical report to external entities.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a graphical user interface to assist in operating and automating said system;
 said graphical user interface displaying said compiled data and said electric capacity rating, which are stored in said memory unit.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said resource manager determines higher electric capacity ratings by optimizing said electrical capabilities with said plurality of available resources given said updated values of said plurality of variables, and said resource manager determines said higher electric capacity ratings according to set rules pertaining to safety limits and physical limits of said plurality of available resources. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said processor interprets and manipulates a plurality of Supervisory Command and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems by communicating said electric capacity ratings to said plurality of SCADA systems through at least one peripheral link. 
     
     
         14 . A method for optimizing electric loading transfer capabilities, comprising:
 establishing processing communication between a resource manager, an external factors datastore, a capability datastore, and a processor;   receiving and storing information about available resources in one or more electric power facilities by said processor;   determining electrical capabilities at any given point in time using said capability datastore;   determining a plurality of variables which affect said electrical capabilities using said external factors datastore;   allocating said plurality of available resources by using said resource manager to optimize said electrical capabilities at any given point in time;   correlating said plurality of variables with said electrical capabilities using said resource manager; and   generating an electric capacity rating of said one or more electric power facilities by using said resource manager.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 reading, writing, and storing compiled data to a memory unit by said processor; and   providing a plurality of security levels in said memory unit to accommodate different standards of conduct between regulated and unregulated groups involved with said one or more electric power facilities;   said compiled data comprises information about said plurality of available resources, said electrical capabilities, and said plurality of variables.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising updating said plurality of variables dynamically by using external sources and manually by a system user; and
 defining said plurality of variables with old values previously saved in said memory unit, by using said external factors datastore, if dynamic updates from said external sources or manual updates are not available.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 retrieving said electrical capabilities from said capability datastore by said processor; and   directing said resource manager to associate each of said plurality of resources with a mathematical routine including one or more formulas or algorithms, said mathematical routine reflecting said electrical capabilities of each of said plurality of resources;   linking together each of said mathematical routines using said resource manager;   forming a comprehensive representation of said one or more electric power facilities as a homogenous system; and   saving a record of said comprehensive representation in said memory unit by said processor.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 retrieving updated values of said plurality of variables from said external sources by using said external factors datastore;   directing said resource manager by said processor to use said updated values of said plurality of variables and said electrical capabilities to define unknown quantities within said comprehensive representation;   calculating a current value of said electric capacity rating by said resource manager using said comprehensive representation; and   saving said current value of said electric capacity rating to said memory unit by said processor.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising determining higher electric capacity ratings using said resource manager to optimize said electrical capabilities with said plurality of available resources given said updated values of said plurality of variables; and
 determining said higher electric capacity ratings according to set rules pertaining to safety limits and physical limits of said plurality of available resources.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising an optimized electric loading transfer tool including a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect method steps of:
 establishing processing communication between a resource manager, an external factors datastore, a capability datastore, and a processor;   receiving and storing information about available resources in one or more electric power facilities by said processor;   determining electrical capabilities at any given point in time using said capability datastore;   determining a plurality of variables which affect said electrical capabilities using said external factors datastore;   allocating said plurality of available resources by using said resource manager to optimize said electrical capabilities at any given point in time;   correlating said plurality of variables with said electrical capabilities using said resource manager; and   generating an electric capacity rating of said one or more electric power facilities by using said resource manager.