Building The Components of a Micro Power Generation Network
1. The VisionSingle generators are often connected to a maze of parallel connected loads. The generator is conected to the prime mover (the engine) through a regulator that attempts to regulate the voltage. A flywheel, or the momentum inherent in the system ensures that the voltage cannot change too suddenly even in the face of a sudden change in load, because energy is supplied from or dumped to the flywheel (resulting in a gradual change in speed) when a sudden load change occurs and this change in speed can then be dealt with by the engine regulator by for example changing the fuel settings to the prime mover so that the fuel being used is still in check with the electricity being demanded. This is a continuous process and although of itself may not be perfect (lights may still flicker when large loads are turned on or off) combining this with some electronic regulation based around the generator can provide a very stable and compact system that works well within its parameters.
Any number of loads can be connected so long as the system stays within its rated load and the system will cope pretty well with this.
A more complex system that involves more than one generator needs more complex regulation because not only does the load for the system have to be met by the combined outputs from the generators but each generator needs to supply power within its own parameter set. Nonetheless multiple generator sets have been common in medium sized installations for decades, and a simple example of the need for this could be that during times of low demand only one generator is run. But its does get complicated: you dont know what the future demand is going to be, it may take time to “switch on” a generator set because it does not start immediately and there is a cost concerned with running it if no or little power is being used. Such uncertainties always make it possible that small networks can have power outages caused by poor load estimation.
A further complication comes when you have multiple distributed generator sets along with distributed loads. In this case you want to minimise the transmitted power (since power transmission is in itself wasteful) but still ensure that the local load is met and that all generator sets are running within their parameters. (ie not overloaded!!) Such a situation describes the national grid in this country, and although it works well it depends massively on a stable political system and on massive centralised injections of money to set up and build in the first place and to expand the system as needed. There is no chance to do this in a “small” way, or in a way where the incidental cost of introducing a new generator is something that can be done by the man in the street. It is reminiscent of the way many industries were run in the 60's – big nationalised corporations. I believe that there is a better way to do this, particularly in parts of the world where there is NO infrastructure whatsoever, and a high population density. A key part of this is to allow someone who has a generator to trade power with his neighbour but this has not happened except in an informal way because there is no “internet of power supply”
This project aims to examine what would technically be needed to create a geographically separated network of generator sets which could be run by individuals in their own right. These generator sets would supply power to the owner's house or community as needed, or if additional capacity is available or needed, and at a price agreed or set by the operator would import or export power externally as needed. The price set could depend on the many variables such as the price of diesel, the current efficiency of the generator set, the time of day (perhaps nightime noise is a factor, perhaps its not.) The generator sets would be interconnected with cables that would include a data connection so that off-chain bitcoin micro transactions would occur on a regular basis as power was supplied.
2. Economic ConsiderationsI envisage each set being able to accept power from up to 2 external sources as well as generating power itself. In addition (since this is technically easier) there could be a greater number of power outputs, which would likely include the two inputs. So lets imagine a set with two Input-output (IO) connections and two “output only” (OO) power connections and a power distribution (PD) output connection.
The IO connections can be connected via a cable to another IO connection on another set or to an OO connection. OO connections can only be connected to IO connections (which will remain in input mode). PD connections are paralell connected to the local network, possibly via conventional meters and this is considered the local load. The IO and OO connectors have data as well as power connectors that will be used for negotiating supply and demand parameters as well as sending payments. Special cables supplied for the system carrying data and power would be used for distribution.
Negotiations between OO and IO connections about supply and demand can occur and use rules built into each set that change the current price. Each set determines what it will generate depending on these rules and would probably come with a set of preconfigured rules that involve things like the cost of diesel, the importance to be given to the local load, weather it is desireable to run at night etc, and even how much diesel is in the tank. Arbitrage is possible, if the price of one of the two suppliers drops below any of the other output connectors, then this power can be transmitted at a profit. Its highly likely that at night the local generator set will not want to run, or if it does most of the power will be supplied externaly for bitcoins. During the day power can be “brought in” from outside if the current set does not have enough capacity for the load. As well as paying for power used or supplied, its also possible that permission to use a greater amount of power or a promise of standby capacity could be traded as well, although this is harder to verify and perhaps more complicated than needed.
In summary, designing a suitable generator set that can be connected over a few hundred yards to other identical sets could bring into existence a complete new micro power industry which could be extremely useful in parts of the world that lack infrastructure. The single unit could be expanded into a family of different capacity generator sets, with adaptors to plug into an existing national grid, where one exists. Eventually, it could even be that this technology displaces big players, but such a thing is of course a very long way off. Other forms of generation such as wind, solar and hydro could be brought into the system, all using Bitcoin as a currency for negotiation of supply and demand. But the first thing is to design at least in principle a small integrated generator that can be charged with Bitcoins or diesel fuel and can use these commodities to control electricity flow between its input and outputs.
3. Technical Considerations As has been mentioned above a single generator can easily supply a mixed load but having more than one power source demands more careful control. From a network point of view, each generator would need a control board and this would need in practice to have at least two inputs for other generators. I imagine that the generators would be single phase AC 240v for local distribution and that each of the inputs would have its own AC-AC inverter as part of the mechanism that would control incoming power. This avoids the need for synchronicity between distant generators and the problems that this can cause, and modern solid-state electroniccs makes such things increasingly cheap to produce. I think that initially 240v distribution would be sufficient, envisioning quite short distribution runs. But higher voltage could be used but would likely increase the cost of the generator sets. DC distribution at around 240v could also be an option and would eliminate capacitive loss in the cable, would mean that transformers could not be used to extend distribution cables and would probably have a neutral effect on the cost of the AC-AC converter (which would now be and DC-AC converter! )
The OO connectors on the other hand would (probably) be supplied at the local phase. This would be metered, and would be sent with instructions as to how much power was allowed to be taken in any given time period. If this command was abused then the supply would be cut. In this way hardware is minimised since the control on the output can be a simple on-ooff control. The time periods involved could be quite short, perhaps 10 seconds. Our designed generator sets would use the solid state control on the input to ensure that comands from a distant station were never flouted in this way. Although of course, if the local station has a demand crisis of its own, it would need to have pre-negotiated permission to take more power to satisfy that.
The generator set could be connected to the internet, which would facilitate chargiong with bitcoins and publishing off-line payments, but does not need to be except on an occasional basis since it is connected by private wire (or optical cable) to each generating set that it is connected to for power distribution purposes.
The cables also would need to be specially designed. They could be provided in various lengths, and designed so that breaking the data connection would isolate the cable at its source. Extension by an adaptor or just careful design is also possible. Maximum capacity is yet to be specified.
4. What Next I am posting this idea for comment because the short answer is I don't know. One way forward would be to get a professional power engineer to specify exactly the hardware needed, and industrial trailer – case, connectors (to take power and data) measurement devices, control electronics and computer. Finding someone able to do this and help make some of the initial design compromises I could see as the first stage. We'd need some hardware for testing and then perhaps manufacture a limited number of sets for sale as the 3rd stage.
