Patents by Inventor Kevin P Schneider
Kevin P Schneider has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230307909Abstract: Electric power systems, control systems and associated operational methods are described. According to one aspect, an electric power system includes plural load controllers that are configured to control the supply of electrical energy from the system to plural loads, a control system that determines an amount of power in reserve and available to be provided to the electric power system, uses the determined amount of power in reserve to determine different values for a plurality of setpoints that correspond to a parameter of electrical energy that is supplied by the system to the loads, and the load controllers monitor the parameter of the electrical energy that is supplied by the system with respect to the setpoint values and to adjust an amount of the electrical energy that is supplied from the electric power system to the loads as a result of the monitoring of the parameter by the load controllers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Kevin P. Schneider, Xueqing Sun, Francis K. Tuffner, Wei Du, Marcelo A. Elizondo, Jing Xie
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Patent number: 11515704Abstract: Methods include, in response to a line frequency variation of a power grid, adjusting a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator coupled to the power grid at a grid edge to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the adjusting the regulated voltage setpoint is configured to reduce the line frequency variation to stabilize the line frequency of the power grid. Apparatus include a voltage regulator configured to couple to a power grid at a grid edge and to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the voltage regulator is further configured to adjust a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator in response to a line frequency variation of the power grid to reduce the line frequency variation and stabilize the line frequency of the power grid.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Wei Du, Kevin P. Schneider, Francis K. Tuffner, Jing Xie, Thanh T. Vu
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Patent number: 11451061Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for restoring operation of a power grid comprising a plurality of reclosers and distributed energy resources (DERs) responsive to abnormal conditions by determining and implementing a reconfiguration for the power grid. The reconfiguration can specify respective new statuses for one or more of the reclosers and/or respective quantities of reactive power to be supplied by one or more of the DERs. The reconfiguration can be determined based on a plurality of constraints using an objective function, the constraints being determined based at least in part on recloser status data and/or DER power generation capability data. Respective cleared quantities of reactive power for the DERs to supply to the reconfigured power grid can be determined via a transactive control scheme, and the reconfiguration can be updated prior to implementation based on the results of the transactive control scheme.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Nikitha Radhakrishnan, Jacob Hansen, Saptarshi Bhattacharya, Kevin P. Schneider, Bishnu P. Bhattarai, Wei Du, Md Jan E Alam, Abhishek Somani
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Publication number: 20220084139Abstract: Computing apparatus and methods to increase operational flexibility in an energy distribution system include using a transactive mechanism to adjust voltage supplied to a power grid by one or more distributed energy resources (DERs). In some examples of the disclosed technology, the transactive mechanism is configured to cause the one or more DERs to adjust a corresponding supply of voltage to the power grid in order to reach a targeted voltage difference across terminals of a switching device of the power grid, thereby enabling the switching device to be switched to increase reliability of the power grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Bishnu P. Bhattarai, Jing Xie, Kevin P. Schneider, Wei Du, Laurentiu D. Marinovici
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Publication number: 20210210957Abstract: Methods include, in response to a line frequency variation of a power grid, adjusting a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator coupled to the power grid at a grid edge to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the adjusting the regulated voltage setpoint is configured to reduce the line frequency variation to stabilize the line frequency of the power grid. Apparatus include a voltage regulator configured to couple to a power grid at a grid edge and to maintain a voltage at the grid edge, wherein the voltage regulator is further configured to adjust a voltage setpoint of a voltage regulator in response to a line frequency variation of the power grid to reduce the line frequency variation and stabilize the line frequency of the power grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Wei Du, Kevin P. Schneider, Francis K. Tuffner, Jing Xie, Thanh T. Vu
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Patent number: 10784686Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for control systems for improving stability of electrical grids by temporarily reducing voltage output of electrical generators responsive to transient events on an electrical grid. In one example of the disclosed technology, a controller is coupled is to an automatic voltage regulator, which in turn adjusts excitation current of an electrical generator responsive to changes in frequency detected for the electrical grid. Reducing the output voltage temporarily allows for smaller generators to provide power to the microgrid. Methods for selecting parameters determining how the controller generates a regulation signal used to adjust the excitation current are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Kevin P. Schneider, Francis K. Tuffner, Jacob Hansen, Yingying Tang, Nikitha Radhakrishnan, Priya Thekkumparambath Mana
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Patent number: 10725075Abstract: A method of evaluating an optimization system is disclosed. The system is transitioned from an on state to an off state. Data is collected at time intervals for a time period before and after the system is transitioned from the on state to the off state. The transitioning occurs while a load of a particular type is active. In one embodiment, the optimization system is a Volt/VAR Optimization (VVO) system.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute, American Electric Power Company, Inc.Inventors: Tess L. Williams, Kevin P. Schneider, Michael T. Campbell, Derek S. Lewellen
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Publication number: 20200144823Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for restoring operation of a power grid comprising a plurality of reclosers and distributed energy resources (DERs) responsive to abnormal conditions by determining and implementing a reconfiguration for the power grid. The reconfiguration can specify respective new statuses for one or more of the reclosers and/or respective quantities of reactive power to be supplied by one or more of the DERs. The reconfiguration can be determined based on a plurality of constraints using an objective function, the constraints being determined based at least in part on recloser status data and/or DER power generation capability data. Respective cleared quantities of reactive power for the DERs to supply to the reconfigured power grid can be determined via a transactive control scheme, and the reconfiguration can be updated prior to implementation based on the results of the transactive control scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Nikitha Radhakrishnan, Jacob Hansen, Saptarshi Bhattacharya, Kevin P. Schneider, Bishnu P. Bhattarai, Wei Du, Md Jan E Alam, Abhishek Somani
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Publication number: 20200049745Abstract: A method of evaluating an optimization system is disclosed. The system is transitioned from an on state to an off state. Data is collected at time intervals for a time period before and after the system is transitioned from the on state to the off state. The transitioning occurs while a load of a particular type is active. In one embodiment, the optimization system is a Volt/VAR Optimization (VVO) system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Tess L. Williams, Kevin P. Schneider, Michael T. Campbell, Derek S. Lewellen
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Publication number: 20200021131Abstract: A method employing an intuitive physical slider, or graphical computer display of a slider, to generate a single input value for use in generating operating set points (typically comprising dispatch and droop settings) for each of a multiplicity of energy resources in a microgrid to achieve a predetermined operational goal, such as maximizing resiliency or efficiency, or minimizing emissions. The single input value may be selected to maximize the resiliency of the microgrid, using a minimized droop when the microgrid encounters either a decrease in energy resources or an abrupt increase in end-user loads. Alternatively, the single input value may maximize the efficiency of the microgrid. Other operational goals may also be achieved with different settings of the single input value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Kevin P. Schneider, Francis K. Tuffner, Yingying Tang, Nikitha Radhakrishnan, Priya Thekkumparambath Mana
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Patent number: 10416206Abstract: A method of evaluating an optimization system is disclosed. The system is transitioned from an on state to an off state. Data is collected at time intervals for a time period before and after the system is transitioned from the on state to the off state. The transitioning occurs while a load of a particular type is active. In one embodiment, the optimization system is a Volt/VAR Optimization (VVO) system.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute, American Electric Power Company, Inc.Inventors: Tess L. Williams, Kevin P. Schneider, Michael T. Campbell, Derek S. Lewellen
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Publication number: 20190173285Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for control systems for improving stability of electrical grids by temporarily reducing voltage output of electrical generators responsive to transient events on an electrical grid. In one example of the disclosed technology, a controller is coupled is to an automatic voltage regulator, which in turn adjusts excitation current of an electrical generator responsive to changes in frequency detected for the electrical grid. Reducing the output voltage temporarily allows for smaller generators to provide power to the microgrid. Methods for selecting parameters determining how the controller generates a regulation signal used to adjust the excitation current are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Kevin P. Schneider, Francis K. Tuffner, Jacob Hansen, Yingying Tang, Nikitha Radhakrishnan, Priya Thekkumparambath Mana
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Publication number: 20160091539Abstract: A method of evaluating an optimization system is disclosed. The system is transitioned from an on state to an off state. Data is collected at time intervals for a time period before and after the system is transitioned from the on state to the off state. The transitioning occurs while a load of a particular type is active. In one embodiment, the optimization system is a Volt/VAR Optimization (VVO) system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicants: AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC., BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Tess L. Williams, Kevin P. Schneider, Michael T. Campbell, Derek S. Lewellen
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Publication number: 20150094965Abstract: Electrical power grid monitoring apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods of monitoring equipment of an electrical power grid are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Kevin P. Schneider, Mark J. Rice, Tess L. Williams, Beau B. Van Kirk, III
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Patent number: 8126804Abstract: Methods and systems for automated decision support in analyzing operation data from a complex network. Embodiments of the present invention utilize these algorithms and techniques not only to characterize the past and present condition of a complex network, but also to predict future conditions to help operators anticipate deteriorating and/or problem situations. In particular, embodiments of the present invention characterize network conditions from operation data using a state estimator. Contingency scenarios can then be generated based on those network conditions. For at least a portion of all of the contingency scenarios, risk indices are determined that describe the potential impact of each of those scenarios. Contingency scenarios with risk indices are presented visually as graphical representations in the context of a visual representation of the complex network.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Zhenyu Huang, Pak Chung Wong, Jian Ma, Patrick S Mackey, Yousu Chen, Kevin P Schneider
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Publication number: 20100241608Abstract: Methods and systems for automated decision support in analyzing operation data from a complex network. Embodiments of the present invention utilize these algorithms and techniques not only to characterize the past and present condition of a complex network, but also to predict future conditions to help operators anticipate deteriorating and/or problem situations. In particular, embodiments of the present invention characterize network conditions from operation data using a state estimator. Contingency scenarios can then be generated based on those network conditions. For at least a portion of all of the contingency scenarios, risk indices are determined that describe the potential impact of each of those scenarios. Contingency scenarios with risk indices are presented visually as graphical representations in the context of a visual representation of the complex network.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2009Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Zhenyu Huang, Pak Chung Wong, Jian Ma, Patrick S. Mackey, Yousu Chen, Kevin P. Schneider