Adaptive Polling Rate Control for Energy Distribution Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In highly distributed energy distribution systems, existing communication methods are inefficient due to high frequency and potential unreliability, leading to increased operational costs and bandwidth usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing adaptive polling systems where the central controller adjusts the polling rate based on operational conditions, switching between slow and fast rates depending on the need for active management, thereby optimizing communication frequency and reducing overall fleet communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high frequency polling is used to monitor operational conditions, then measurement precision and responsiveness are improved, but communication bandwidth usage and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolling precisionVSAvoidcommunication bandwidth usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The polling rate is made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically adjusts the polling interval based on operational conditions - using fast polling rates when conditions approach thresholds requiring active management, and slow polling rates when conditions are stable. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing high measurement precision only when necessary, thereby reducing overall communication bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the polling rate parameter based on operational conditions. By monitoring whether conditions are approaching thresholds that would trigger active management, the system adjusts the polling interval parameter between fast and slow rates. This parameter change allows the system to maintain measurement precision when needed while minimizing communication bandwidth consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high frequency polling is used to ensure reliable data collection, then reliability is improved, but operational costs and communication overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection reliabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The polling frequency is dynamically adjusted based on system state. When operational conditions approach thresholds that would trigger active management, the system increases polling frequency to ensure reliable data collection. When conditions are stable and far from thresholds, the system decreases polling frequency to improve operational efficiency by reducing communication overhead and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary monitoring to detect when operational conditions are approaching thresholds. By identifying these conditions in advance, the system can proactively increase polling frequency only when necessary to maintain reliable data collection, rather than continuously polling at high frequency. This preliminary detection improves operational efficiency while maintaining data collection reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If fast polling rate is used continuously, then responsive control is improved, but communication costs and network load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol responsivenessVSAvoidcommunication operational costs
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The polling rate is dynamically switched between fast and slow based on whether active management is needed. When operational conditions approach thresholds, the system uses fast polling rates to ensure responsive control. When conditions are stable, the system switches to slow polling rates to reduce communication operational costs and network load, thereby resolving the contradiction between control responsiveness and communication costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic polling with variable intervals rather than continuous fast polling. By implementing periodic action with adaptive intervals - fast periodic polling when conditions approach thresholds, and slow periodic polling when conditions are stable - the system maintains control responsiveness when needed while significantly reducing overall communication operational costs and network load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3314278B1Adaptive polling of data in energy distribution systems
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 S&C ELECTRIC CO
  • EP3314278B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3314278B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2
  • EP3314278B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method of controlling distribution of energy within an energy distribution system and energy distribution systems are provided. An energy distribution system includes a central controller and one or more remote distribution control units. A method includes obtaining, with the central controller from the remote distribution control units, operational data indicating an operational condition of the energy distribution system. The method further includes comparing the operational condition to a polling rate threshold that indicates when the operational condition is approaching a condition threshold at which the central controller will operably control operation of the remote distribution control unit. The method further includes adjusting a polling rate at which the operational data is obtained in response to the operational condition crossing the polling rate threshold. The method yet further includes polling and controlling the remote distribution control unit with the central controller at the adjusted polling rate.