Load isolation consumption management systems and methods

Abstract

Disclosed herein are power management systems for controlling recorded electrical demand by isolating loads from a utility distribution grid connection. The loads are isolated when an energy storage system (ESS) is placed in series between the loads and the grid, with a charger that keeps the ESS from depleting and a power converter that provides energy to the loads from the ESS. A system controller may be enabled to manage the charging of the ESS by the charger relative to a consumption metric. In some embodiments, the loads are categorized, controlled, or curtailed by the controller and may be isolated from other loads. Some embodiments include bypass features or bimodal connections. Additional methods of control to prevent depletion of the ESS are also set forth. Systems herein can prevent or limit demand charges, protect the utility grid from backflow and other dangers, and raise the customer's effective utility service limit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical system for managing electricity consumption of a load from an energy source at a site, the system comprising:
 a load at the site;   an energy source connected to the site;   an energy storage buffer configured to provide energy to the load, the energy storage buffer electrically isolating electricity consumption of the load from the energy source, the energy storage buffer being positioned inline and in series between the energy source and the load;   a switch, the switch being configured to electrically bypass the energy storage buffer when the switch is closed to allow electricity consumption of the load from the energy source, the switch being configured to isolate the load from the energy source when the switch is open.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage buffer comprises an energy storage system (ESS), a charger, and a power converter, the charger, ESS, and power converter being positioned inline and in series with each other. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is a utility distribution grid. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical system of  claim 1 , further comprising a system controller, the system controller being configured to implement a control algorithm, the control algorithm comprising closing the switch when the energy storage buffer is unable to provide energy to the load. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical system of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage buffer is unable to provide energy to the load due to depletion of charge of the energy storage buffer. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical system of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage buffer is unable to provide energy to the load due to the energy storage buffer being inoperative. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage buffer comprises a power converter, the power converter being configured to be synchronized with the energy source upon closing the switch. 
     
     
         8 . An electrical system for managing electricity consumption of a load from an energy source at a site, the system comprising:
 a load at the site;   an energy source connected to the site;   a plurality of electrical buffering components configured to provide energy to the load, the plurality of electrical buffering components electrically isolating the load from the energy source, the plurality of electrical buffering components being positioned inline and in series between the energy source and the load, the plurality of electrical buffering components having an energy source side and a load side;   a generator connected to the load on the load side of the plurality of electrical buffering components, the generator being configured to provide energy to the load independent of the energy source.   
     
     
         9 . The electrical system of  claim 8 , wherein the generator is configured to provide energy to the load simultaneously with the plurality of electrical buffering components. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical system of  claim 8 , wherein the generator is configured to provide energy to the load separately from the plurality of electrical buffering components. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electrical buffering components is bimodally connected to the energy source. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical system of  claim 8 , further comprising a system controller, the system controller being configured to receive a consumption metric, wherein the system controller is enabled to manage the charging of the plurality of electrical buffering components relative to the consumption metric. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical system of  claim 12 , wherein the system controller is enabled to increase or decrease consumption of the charger upon receiving a signal from the utility provider or a site operator. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical system of  claim 8 , wherein the generator is configured to provide energy to the load when a demand level of the load reaches a utility service limit. 
     
     
         15 . A method of shielding demand fluctuations in an electrical load from an energy source, the method comprising:
 providing energy to at least one load using energy stored in an energy storage device, the at least one load being isolated from an energy source by the energy storage device due to the energy storage device being connected in series between the energy source and the at least one load;   determining, via a system controller, that the energy storage device is inoperative or has a depleted charge;   closing a switch, the switch bypassing the energy storage device, thereby providing energy from the energy source to the at least one load.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the switch is configured to bypass a charger and a power converter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising exchanging the energy storage device with another energy storage device while the at least one load is provided energy from the energy source via the switch. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the energy source is a utility distribution grid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein closing the switch prevents consumption of the at least one load from exceeding a utility service limit.