P3. Smart Load Control and Grid-Friendly Appliances > Approach

Approach:

• Develop, implement, and test new methods for detecting pre-cursors of impending problems in the California electric power grid. The approach pursued used information that is measurable at the wall outlet anywhere in California. It deliberately focused on methods that do not require communication from an outside source. Relying on a local sensor that measures the frequency of the alternating current (AC) power at the wall outlet would allow the device to function autonomously. Adding control intelligence to the device would allow automated power-down and power-up for individual appliances. With large volume manufacturing, the device can ultimately be implemented at low cost in commonly used appliances for homes and businesses.

• Develop and test a microprocessor controller under laboratory conditions to perform autonomous load reduction services. An algorithm decides if and over what period of time load shedding will be performed. This algorithm will utilize a simplified load prediction approach that will use month of the year, day of the week, and hour of the day. It will also utilize current outdoor air temperature.

• Prepare written hardware and software specifications for the control device. One controller will be built and tested under laboratory conditions with appliances including a refrigerator, compressor unit of an air-conditioning system, and an electric water heater.

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