Patents Assigned to The AES Corporation
  • Patent number: 10682922
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing energy services are disclosed. One method includes determining a quantity of the energy service realized during the connection event; identifying an account associated with the grid connection point; and adjusting the identified account based on the quantity determined. Another method includes receiving an indicator indicating an asset identifier or a grid connection point identifier; determining a location of the asset on the grid based on the indicator; determining operating conditions for realizing the energy service based on the determined location; sending the conditions; identifying an account associated with the point based on the indicator; and adjusting the account based on a quantity of energy services realized by the asset in accordance with the conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: The AES Corporation
    Inventors: John Christopher Shelton, John Michael Zahurancik
  • Publication number: 20190305551
    Abstract: An exemplary power system includes a DC power bus and a photovoltaic system connected to the DC power bus. An energy storage system is connected to the DC power bus and stores energy injected to the DC power bus by the photovoltaic system. A power inverter is connected to the DC power bus and converts power between the DC power bus and an AC connected load. The power system also includes a control system that receives power system data from one or more sub-systems and devices connected to the DC power bus, and controls, in real-time, one or more of the power inverter and the energy storage system to act as a load on the DC power bus based on the received power system data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samuel LEY, Felipe CANTERO
  • Patent number: 10428796
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine via an ultrasonic wind sensor includes: transmitting, by a first ultrasonic transceiver, an ultrasonic packet at a first time and receiving, by a second ultrasonic transceiver, the ultrasonic packet at a second time; identifying wind properties based on the first time and the second time; transmitting the identified wind properties to a programmable logic controller (PLC) interfaced with the wind sensor and a turbine controller, wherein the interface with the turbine controller includes one of a plurality of communication topologies; processing the identified wind properties for output to the turbine controller based on a specific communication topology, wherein the PLC is configured to process the identified wind properties for output based on each of the plurality of communication topologies; transmitting the processed wind properties to the turbine controller; and controlling, by the turbine controller, a wind turbine based on the wind properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tristan James Lee
  • Publication number: 20190255702
    Abstract: A method of selecting and connecting power subsystems, the method including: locating, by a mobile robot including a processor and a motor, at least one of a first storage subsystem, a first power subsystem, or a first control subsystem; attaching, by the mobile robot, to the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem; moving, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to another location; and connecting, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to at least one of a second storage subsystem, a second power subsystem, or a second control subsystem located at the other location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. SHELTON, Brett GALURA, Jay GEINZER, Isaiah JEFFERSON, Brian PERUSE
  • Patent number: 10286792
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing at least one renewable energy source for supply of power via an electric grid are disclosed. A method supplies power to mobile devices from the renewable energy source and balances power realized by the mobile devices with the supply of power from the renewable energy source by controlling the supply of power realized by the mobile devices. An apparatus includes a processor for monitoring power from the renewable energy source and sending signals to mobile devices connected to the electric grid to balance monitored power from the renewable energy source with power realized by the mobile devices. Another method identifies a fixed account associated with a grid connection point used by a plug-in electric vehicle for realizing power during a connection event; determines a quantity of energy realized during the event; and adjusts the account based on energy realized by the vehicle during the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Christopher Shelton, John Michael Zahurancik
  • Patent number: 10272567
    Abstract: A method of selecting and connecting power subsystems, the method including: locating, by a mobile robot including a processor and a motor, at least one of a first storage subsystem, a first power subsystem, or a first control subsystem; attaching, by the mobile robot, to the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem; moving, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to another location; and connecting, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to at least one of a second storage subsystem, a second power subsystem, or a second control subsystem located at the other location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Shelton, Brett Galura, Jay Geinzer, Isaiah Jefferson, Brian Peruse
  • Patent number: 10132053
    Abstract: A manhole cover including: a frame located at the edges of the manhole cover which completely surrounds the manhole cover; a plurality of slats that are spaced apart and parallel to each other; a plurality of lateral bracings that are spaced apart and parallel to each other, wherein the lateral bracings are perpendicular to the slats; and a hinged access portion located in the center of the manhole cover that is connected to a main portion of the manhole cover by a hinge, and all edges of the hinged access portion are spaced away from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy Michael Hughes, Jason Sean Hoage, Eric Michael Laiblin
  • Patent number: 9929594
    Abstract: A control subsystem configured to control transferring of power, including: an AC/DC power supply; an uninterruptable power supply; a processor; an Ethernet switch; a first communication interface configured to send and/or receive data from a battery management unit that monitors a storage subsystem including one or more batteries; a first transfer interface configured to transmit power to the storage subsystem; a second communication interface configured to send and/or receive data from a power subsystem that includes a power converter, and the power subsystem is configured to be connected to a power line; and a second transfer interface configured to transmit power to the power subsystem, wherein the processor is configured to send signals which control the charging and discharging of at least one battery of the one or more batteries in the storage subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Shelton, Jay Geinzer, Brett Galura, Isaiah Jefferson, Wells Case Jacobson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9913166
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing and keeping operational a wireless link layered network in which a system control and modifying message (SCMM) is elicited from nodes receiving information packets and based upon whether the node originating the SCMM is from a link layer level which is equal to or less than the link layer level eliciting the SCMM, rerouting or adjusting future transmissions can be effected or items like a less current time at a receiving node and a most recent utilization rate of a receiving node can be adjusted, recorded or set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: AES Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Sherman, James P. Bastable, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9847648
    Abstract: Approaches for controlling power supplied to an electric grid are disclosed. In embodiments, methods and systems control power supplied to an electric grid using an energy storage device. In an embodiment, a method receives an indication of power to be supplied to the electric grid, generates power from a power generator and adjusts, using the generated power, an energy level of the energy storage device to control power supplied to the grid in accordance with the received indication. In another embodiment, a system comprises a grid indication receiver for receiving an indication of power to be supplied to the electric grid; a power generator connected to the grid; an energy storage device coupled to the power generator; and a controller for adjusting, using the generated power from the generator, an energy level of the energy storage device to control power supplied to the grid in accordance with the received indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Christopher Shelton, Jay Craig Geinzer, Brett Lance Galura, Steven Christianne Gerard Meersman
  • Patent number: 9819708
    Abstract: A method for self-registration and/or self-assembly of a plurality of electrical devices, the method including: performing the self-registration of the plurality of electrical devices by sending, from each of the plurality of electrical devices, device information that is stored in each of the plurality of electrical devices to a control device, including a processor, via a network, wherein the device information of each device identifies unique characteristics of the device the device information is stored in; receiving, in the control device, the device information sent from each of the plurality of electrical devices; storing, in a memory of the control device, the device information of each of the plurality of electrical devices; and determining, from the stored device information of each of the plurality of electrical devices that each of the plurality of electrical devices are present and available on the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Shelton, Brett Galura, Jay Geinzer, Isaiah Jefferson, Wells Case Jacobson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170110882
    Abstract: Approaches for controlling power supplied to an electric grid are disclosed. In embodiments, methods and systems control power supplied to an electric grid using an energy storage device. In an embodiment, a method receives an indication of power to be supplied to the electric grid, generates power from a power generator and adjusts, using the generated power, an energy level of the energy storage device to control power supplied to the grid in accordance with the received indication. In another embodiment, a system comprises a grid indication receiver for receiving an indication of power to be supplied to the electric grid; a power generator connected to the grid; an energy storage device coupled to the power generator; and a controller for adjusting, using the generated power from the generator, an energy level of the energy storage device to control power supplied to the grid in accordance with the received indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: The AES Corporation
    Inventors: John Christopher SHELTON, Jay Craig GEINZER, Brett Lance GALURA, Steven Christianne Gerard MEERSMAN
  • Publication number: 20170063127
    Abstract: Approaches for providing backup energy services for a power grid are disclosed. In embodiments, methods and systems for obtaining a first group of reserve backup energy batteries of a first type, which have a different cost structure than a second group of main batteries of a second type. The first group of reserve batteries are combined with the second group of main batteries of the second type to increase a total amount of available energy that is stored and converting DC power from the first group of batteries and the second group of batteries to AC power to be used for power distribution to the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. SHELTON, Brian PERUSE, Brett GALURA, Isaiah JEFFERSON, Wells Case JACOBSON, JR., Jay GEINZER
  • Patent number: 9559520
    Abstract: Approaches for controlling power supplied to an electric grid are disclosed. In embodiments, methods and systems control power supplied to an electric grid using an energy storage device. In an embodiment, a method receives an indication of power to be supplied to the electric grid, generates power from a power generator and adjusts, using the generated power, an energy level of the energy storage device to control power supplied to the grid in accordance with the received indication. In another embodiment, a system comprises a grid indication receiver for receiving an indication of power to be supplied to the electric grid; a power generator connected to the grid; an energy storage device coupled to the power generator; and a controller for adjusting, using the generated power from the generator, an energy level of the energy storage device to control power supplied to the grid in accordance with the received indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Christopher Shelton, Jay Craig Geinzer, Brett Lance Galura, Steven Christianne Gerard Meersman
  • Publication number: 20160346922
    Abstract: A method of selecting and connecting power subsystems, the method including: locating, by a mobile robot including a processor and a motor, at least one of a first storage subsystem, a first power subsystem, or a first control subsystem; attaching, by the mobile robot, to the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem; moving, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to another location; and connecting, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to at least one of a second storage subsystem, a second power subsystem, or a second control subsystem located at the other location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. SHELTON, Brett GALURA, Jay GEINZER, Isaiah JEFFERSON, Brian PERUSE
  • Publication number: 20160352786
    Abstract: A method for self-registration and/or self-assembly of a plurality of electrical devices, the method including: performing the self-registration of the plurality of electrical devices by sending, from each of the plurality of electrical devices, device information that is stored in each of the plurality of electrical devices to a control device, including a processor, via a network, wherein the device information of each device identifies unique characteristics of the device the device information is stored in; receiving, in the control device, the device information sent from each of the plurality of electrical devices; storing, in a memory of the control device, the device information of each of the plurality of electrical devices; and determining, from the stored device information of each of the plurality of electrical devices that each of the plurality of electrical devices are present and available on the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. SHELTON, Brett GALURA, Jay GEINZER, Isaiah JEFFERSON, Wells Case JACOBSON, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160352144
    Abstract: A control subsystem configured to control transferring of power, including: an AC/DC power supply; an uninterruptable power supply; a processor; an Ethernet switch; a first communication interface configured to send and/or receive data from a battery management unit that monitors a storage subsystem including one or more batteries; a first transfer interface configured to transmit power to the storage subsystem; a second communication interface configured to send and/or receive data from a power subsystem that includes a power converter, and the power subsystem is configured to be connected to a power line; and a second transfer interface configured to transmit power to the power subsystem, wherein the processor is configured to send signals which control the charging and discharging of at least one battery of the one or more batteries in the storage subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. SHELTON, Jay GEINZER, Brett GALURA, Isaiah JEFFERSON, Wells Case JACOBSON, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160281682
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine via an ultrasonic wind sensor includes: transmitting, by a first ultrasonic transceiver, an ultrasonic packet at a first time and receiving, by a second ultrasonic transceiver, the ultrasonic packet at a second time; identifying wind properties based on the first time and the second time; transmitting the identified wind properties to a programmable logic controller (PLC) interfaced with the wind sensor and a turbine controller, wherein the interface with the turbine controller includes one of a plurality of communication topologies; processing the identified wind properties for output to the turbine controller based on a specific communication topology, wherein the PLC is configured to process the identified wind properties for output based on each of the plurality of communication topologies; transmitting the processed wind properties to the turbine controller; and controlling, by the turbine controller, a wind turbine based on the wind properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: The AES Corporation
    Inventor: Tristan James LEE
  • Patent number: 9452684
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing energy services are disclosed. One method includes: reporting, by a respective asset of the first type, an identifier associated with a grid connection point that establishes a location of the respective asset of the first type at the grid connection point on the electric grid; receiving, by the respective asset of the first type, operating conditions for realizing the energy service, the received conditions being based on the established location of the respective asset of the first type on the grid; and operating the respective asset of the first type in accordance with the received operating conditions to realize the energy service. An energy service controller includes a communication unit for receiving, from a mobile asset, an identifier associated with a grid connection point connected to the asset and a processor for determining a location of the asset on the grid based on the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Christopher Shelton, John Michael Zahurancik
  • Patent number: 9358894
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reconciling a charging event are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method establishes an identity tag at a grid connection point that uniquely identifies the point and receives tag information to uniquely identify the point at a mobile charging device. The method monitors charge event information indicating attributes of the charging event, associates event information with the identity tag information, and sends the information for reconciliation of billing accounts associated with the point and the mobile device. In another embodiment, a method receives an energy storage device for powering a mobile asset, couples the storage device to an electric grid during a connection event, realizes energy services from the connected storage device to the grid, determines a quantity of energy services realized by the storage device during the connection event, and reports the quantity of energy services realized and a unique identifier of the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: THE AES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Christopher Shelton, John Michael Zahurancik