Energy Network Communications and Expandable Control Mechanisms

Abstract

A modular, expandable network requiring little or no calibration is something that is well sought after and would offer great benefits when used for distributed energy generation. Intelligent and adaptive control of such a network offers stability of supply from intermittent sources which, to date, has been hard to achieve.

Key to the effective use of such control systems is communications, specifically the exchange of commands and status information between the control systems and the attached devices. Power-line communications has been used in various applications for years and would offer a good mechanism for interconnecting devices on a power grid without the expense of laying new cabling.

By using clusters of devices managed by an IEMS (Intelligent Energy Management System) in a branching network fashion (not unlike the grid itself) it would be possible to manage large numbers of devices and high speed with relatively low bandwidth usage increasing the usable range of transmission. Implications of this include improving network efficiency through managed power distribution and increased security of supply.