Adaptive Elevator Power Control via Dynamic Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator power savings systems are inflexible, either fully active or inactive, and fail to balance power savings with reactivation time efficiently, leading to suboptimal energy management.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive power management system that uses a customizable power profile, generated based on usage patterns and user preferences, to selectively power off components during low usage periods and quickly reactivate during high usage, with an adaptive learning process to continuously adjust settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If existing power savings systems switch off parts of the electrical system, then power consumption is reduced, but reactivation time increases causing delays in answering elevator calls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidreactivation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts power management settings by transitioning between multiple power profiles (first, second, and third profiles) based on real-time elevator car call activity. When calls are detected, the system switches from a first power profile with higher power savings to a second or third profile with lower power savings or full operation, thereby optimizing the balance between power consumption and reactivation time according to actual usage conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by modifying which components remain powered versus powered off based on the selected power profile. The controller selectively powers off components such as lighting, ventilation, and door operators during low-activity periods, then rapidly reactivates them when calls are detected, thus adjusting power consumption levels without permanently sacrificing responsiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If existing power savings systems are made inflexible (either active or inactive), then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different usage patterns deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidadaptability to usage patterns
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power management system is segmented into multiple discrete power profiles (first, second, and third profiles), each with distinct power-saving characteristics and component shutdown configurations. This segmentation allows the system to select appropriate profiles based on usage patterns without requiring a single complex adaptive algorithm, thereby maintaining relative system simplicity while achieving high adaptability to different operational conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor elevator car call activity and automatically transition between power profiles based on detected usage patterns. This feedback-driven approach enables the system to adapt to different usage scenarios without requiring complex manual configuration or predictive algorithms, balancing adaptability with system simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2855320B1Adaptive power control for elevator system
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP2855320B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2855320B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2855320B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for managing power in an elevator system, the system including an elevator controller; an elevator car in communication with the controller; a component associated with the elevator car; a power management system in communication with the controller; and a database in communication with the power management system, the database including a power profile; wherein the power management system provides power commands to the elevator controller to enter a power savings mode in response to the power profile, the controller sending a power off signal to the component in response to the power command.