Abstract: An aggregation comprises: loads that draw electricity, and a hierarchy including a root dispatch engine at the top of the hierarchy, downstream dispatch engines each servicing downstream points comprising further downstream dispatch engines or loads, and the loads at the bottom of the hierarchy. Each downstream dispatch engine sends draw dispatches to its downstream points such that the total draw computed by summing the draw dispatches equals a draw dispatch received by the downstream dispatch engine from the dispatch engine above it in the hierarchy. The sent draw dispatches also satisfy downstream point draw constraints communicated to the downstream dispatch engine from its downstream points. In a method, a baseline long-term draw dispatch is determined for the aggregation, and the baseline long-term draw dispatch is modulated over a shorter time interval based on a short-term draw requirement to determine a draw dispatch for the aggregation.

Abstract: An aggregation comprises: loads that draw electricity, and a hierarchy including a root dispatch engine at the top of the hierarchy, downstream dispatch engines each servicing downstream points comprising further downstream dispatch engines or loads, and the loads at the bottom of the hierarchy. Each downstream dispatch engine sends draw dispatches to its downstream points such that the total draw computed by summing the draw dispatches equals a draw dispatch received by the downstream dispatch engine from the dispatch engine above it in the hierarchy. The sent draw dispatches also satisfy downstream point draw constraints communicated to the downstream dispatch engine from its downstream points. In a method, a baseline long-term draw dispatch is determined for the aggregation, and the baseline long-term draw dispatch is modulated over a shorter time interval based on a short-term draw requirement to determine a draw dispatch for the aggregation.

Abstract: In a direct load control system supporting frequency control of an electrical grid, at each electrical load of an aggregation of loads, a load status report is generated comprising an urgency value and a power level. At an aggregation dispatch controller, a dispatch signal is generated based on the generated load status reports and information indicative of electrical frequency. At each electrical load of the aggregation, the load is operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value satisfies the dispatch signal and is not operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value does not satisfy the dispatch signal.

Abstract: An aggregation comprises: loads that draw electricity, and a hierarchy including a root dispatch engine at the top of the hierarchy, downstream dispatch engines each servicing downstream points comprising further downstream dispatch engines or loads, and the loads at the bottom of the hierarchy. Each downstream dispatch engine sends draw dispatches to its downstream points such that the total draw computed by summing the draw dispatches equals a draw dispatch received by the downstream dispatch engine from the dispatch engine above it in the hierarchy. The sent draw dispatches also satisfy downstream point draw constraints communicated to the downstream dispatch engine from its downstream points. In a method, a baseline long-term draw dispatch is determined for the aggregation, and the baseline long-term draw dispatch is modulated over a shorter time interval based on a short-term draw requirement to determine a draw dispatch for the aggregation.

Abstract: A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank, at least one heating element, and at least one temperature sensor is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.

Abstract: In a direct load control system supporting frequency control of an electrical grid, loads are grouped into a plurality of load aggregations based on electrical power draw characteristics of the loads, e.g. power draw magnitude characteristic and transient slew rate. A best-fit dispatch signal is generated for each load aggregation to match a desired load response with a sum of predicted load responses of the aggregations each operating in accord with its best-fit dispatch signal. For each load aggregation, its best-fit dispatch signal is communicated to the loads of the load aggregation, and the loads of the load aggregation are operated in accord with the best-fit dispatch signal communicated to the loads. The desired load response may be generated based on historical Automatic Generation Control (AGC) signal data and at least one of (1) a weather forecast and (2) daily, weekly, and seasonal cycles.

Abstract: An electric water heater that includes a thermostat is retrofitted for remote control as follows. A relay is installed on an electrical feed to the electric water heater. Water temperature and electric current or power through the electrical feed are measured over time with the relay closed, and the thermostat deadband maximum and minimum are detected as the water temperature at which the thermostat turns the heating element off, and the water temperature at which the thermostat turns the heating element on, respectively. The detected thermostat deadband maximum and minimum are stored as load controller deadband maximum and minimum, respectively. The thermostat set point is raised, and the electric water heater is thereafter controlled using the load controller by operations including closing the relay when the water temperature falls below the load controller deadband minimum and opening the relay when the water temperature rises above the load controller deadband maximum.

Abstract: Loads on a distribution circuit are operated, which causes the loads to consume electricity delivered to the loads via the distribution circuit. A circuit voltage of the distribution circuit is measured. An excursion of the measured circuit voltage outside of a normal operating voltage range is responded to by triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to increase or decrease their power draw to counter the excursion. For an overvoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to operate, or increase their power draw, in order to reduce the circuit voltage. For an undervoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to cease operating, or reduce their power draw, in order to increase the circuit voltage.

Abstract: A plurality of interactive electrical loads defines an aggregation connected with an electrical power grid. A scheduler generates a baseline power consumption schedule for the aggregation, determines frequency regulation capacity of the aggregation, and controls actual power consumption of the aggregation based on the baseline power consumption and an Automated Generation Control (AGC) signal of the electrical power grid to operate the aggregation as an ancillary frequency control device of the electrical power grid with the determined frequency regulation capacity.

Abstract: In a direct load control system supporting frequency control of an electrical grid, at each electrical load of an aggregation of loads, a load status report is generated comprising an urgency value and a power level. At an aggregation dispatch controller, a dispatch signal is generated based on the generated load status reports and information indicative of electrical frequency. At each electrical load of the aggregation, the load is operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value satisfies the dispatch signal and is not operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value does not satisfy the dispatch signal.

Abstract: In a direct load control system supporting frequency control of an electrical grid, at each electrical load of an aggregation of loads, a load status report is generated comprising an urgency value and a power level. At an aggregation dispatch controller, a dispatch signal is generated based on the generated load status reports and information indicative of electrical frequency. At each electrical load of the aggregation, the load is operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value satisfies the dispatch signal and is not operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value does not satisfy the dispatch signal.

Abstract: Loads on a distribution circuit are operated, which causes the loads to consume electricity delivered to the loads via the distribution circuit. A circuit voltage of the distribution circuit is measured. An excursion of the measured circuit voltage outside of a normal operating voltage range is responded to by triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to increase or decrease their power draw to counter the excursion. For an overvoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to operate, or increase their power draw, in order to reduce the circuit voltage. For an undervoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to cease operating, or reduce their power draw, in order to increase the circuit voltage.

Abstract: A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank, at least one heating element, and at least one temperature sensor is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.

Abstract: An electric water heater that includes a thermostat is retrofitted for remote control as follows. A relay is installed on an electrical feed to the electric water heater. Water temperature and electric current or power through the electrical feed are measured over time with the relay closed, and the thermostat deadband maximum and minimum are detected as the water temperature at which the thermostat turns the heating element off, and the water temperature at which the thermostat turns the heating element on, respectively. The detected thermostat deadband maximum and minimum are stored as load controller deadband maximum and minimum, respectively. The thermostat set point is raised, and the electric water heater is thereafter controlled using the load controller by operations including closing the relay when the water temperature falls below the load controller deadband minimum and opening the relay when the water temperature rises above the load controller deadband maximum.

Abstract: An aggregation comprises: loads that draw electricity, and a hierarchy including a root dispatch engine at the top of the hierarchy, downstream dispatch engines each servicing downstream points comprising further downstream dispatch engines or loads, and the loads at the bottom of the hierarchy. Each downstream dispatch engine sends draw dispatches to its downstream points such that the total draw computed by summing the draw dispatches equals a draw dispatch received by the downstream dispatch engine from the dispatch engine above it in the hierarchy. The sent draw dispatches also satisfy downstream point draw constraints communicated to the downstream dispatch engine from its downstream points. In a method, a baseline long-term draw dispatch is determined for the aggregation, and the baseline long-term draw dispatch is modulated over a shorter time interval based on a short-term draw requirement to determine a draw dispatch for the aggregation.

Abstract: In a direct load control system supporting frequency control of an electrical grid, loads are grouped into a plurality of load aggregations based on electrical power draw characteristics of the loads, e.g. power draw magnitude characteristic and transient slew rate. A best-fit dispatch signal is generated for each load aggregation to match a desired load response with a sum of predicted load responses of the aggregations each operating in accord with its best-fit dispatch signal. For each load aggregation, its best-fit dispatch signal is communicated to the loads of the load aggregation, and the loads of the load aggregation are operated in accord with the best-fit dispatch signal communicated to the loads. The desired load response may be generated based on historical Automatic Generation Control (AGC) signal data and at least one of (1) a weather forecast and (2) daily, weekly, and seasonal cycles.

Abstract: In a direct load control system supporting frequency control of an electrical grid, at each electrical load of an aggregation of loads, a load status report is generated comprising an urgency value and a power level. At an aggregation dispatch controller, a dispatch signal is generated based on the generated load status reports and information indicative of electrical frequency. At each electrical load of the aggregation, the load is operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value satisfies the dispatch signal and is not operated at the reported power level if the reported urgency value does not satisfy the dispatch signal.

Abstract: A plurality of interactive electrical loads defines an aggregation connected with an electrical power grid. A scheduler generates a baseline power consumption schedule for the aggregation, determines frequency regulation capacity of the aggregation, and controls actual power consumption of the aggregation based on the baseline power consumption and an Automated Generation Control (AGC) signal of the electrical power grid to operate the aggregation as an ancillary frequency control device of the electrical power grid with the determined frequency regulation capacity.