Air Conditioning Predictive Power Management for Peak Demand Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional demand response programs face challenges in maintaining indoor temperature within desired ranges for households due to centralized control of AC units, which fails to consider individualized feedback and specific usage patterns, leading to potential exceeding of power consumption limits during peak times.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for managing distributed energy resources (DERs) within an indoor structure, involving a local controller that determines the minimum operation time of DERs like AC units, water heaters, and solar panels, based on measured outdoor temperatures, thermal resistance, and power consumption limits to keep power consumption below set thresholds without compromising quality of service, using equations to calculate optimal start and end times to minimize overall power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If centralized control of AC units is used in traditional demand response programs, then power consumption limits can be enforced, but indoor temperature cannot be maintained within desired ranges due to lack of individualized feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control system into individual household-level predictive power management systems. Each household has its own controller that independently predicts and manages power consumption for AC units, allowing localized optimization of both power usage and temperature maintenance based on specific household patterns and requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the predictive power management system continuously monitors indoor temperature, outdoor conditions, and power consumption patterns. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust AC operation dynamically to maintain temperature within desired ranges while adhering to power consumption limits, resolving the contradiction between centralized power control and individualized temperature maintenance.
2Reliability
If AC units operate continuously to maintain indoor temperature, then quality of service is maintained, but power consumption exceeds limits during peak usage times
Solution Approach 1:
The predictive power management system performs preliminary actions by forecasting future power consumption and temperature conditions. It proactively adjusts AC operation schedules in advance to prevent exceeding power limits during peak times while ensuring temperature requirements are met, rather than reacting after constraints are violated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts AC operation based on real-time conditions, outdoor temperature forecasts, and predicted power consumption patterns. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain quality of service during critical periods while reducing power consumption during peak usage times by optimizing operational schedules.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple DERs operate simultaneously to meet household energy needs, then service requirements are satisfied, but combined power consumption exceeds the set limit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple distributed energy resources (DERs) including AC units, water heaters, and solar panels into a unified predictive power management system. This integrated approach coordinates the operation of all DERs to satisfy household service requirements while keeping the combined power consumption within the set limit through centralized predictive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The predictive power management system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it manages different types of DERs (cooling, heating, water heating, solar), forecasts power consumption, monitors temperature conditions, and enforces power limits. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle diverse service requirements while maintaining overall power consumption control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively maintains indoor temperatures within user-defined limits while reducing peak power consumption, ensuring that the combined power usage of multiple DERs remains under the set limit, thereby optimizing grid flexibility and user comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an air conditioner that is configured to move heat from an indoor environment to an outdoor environment
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for managing a distributed energy resource (DER) within an indoor structure, the method including receiving a time window, receiving a power consumption limit, measuring an outdoor temperature, determining an indoor temperature of the indoor structure based at least on the measured outdoor temperature, the received power consumption limit, and the received time window, determining a minimum time of operation of the DER so that a power consumption of the DER is equal to or below the received power consumption limit during the received time window without compromising the quality of service controlled by the DER.