Asset Controller for Fast-Slow Response Energy Shifting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an efficient method to time-shift electric energy consumption and production across varying durations and magnitudes, particularly in managing power on electrical networks, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs due to differences in response times of assets such as generators and energy storage units.
Innovation Solution
An asset controller that identifies and selectively operates a combination of assets with different response times to optimize energy shifting, allowing low response-time assets to compensate for high response-time assets during time-shift operations, thereby minimizing energy losses and wear-and-tear costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high response-time assets (such as generators or energy storage units) are activated to meet power demand changes, then the required power can be supplied, but significant time delay occurs before the asset becomes operational
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and preparation of assets with different response times. Low response-time assets are pre-positioned to activate immediately when needed, while high response-time assets are prepared to take over later. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the time delay by having ready-to-activate assets already in place before the power demand change occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
Low response-time assets serve as intermediaries between the control system and high response-time assets. When power demand changes occur, the low response-time assets immediately respond to bridge the gap, allowing the high response-time assets to activate at their own slower pace without causing system instability or time delays.
2Reliability
If multiple assets with different response times are operated simultaneously, then comprehensive power coverage is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The asset portfolio is segmented into distinct groups based on response time characteristics (low, medium, high). Each segment is controlled independently with simplified logic tailored to its specific response characteristics. This segmentation maintains reliability by ensuring each group performs its designated function while reducing overall control complexity through modular, independent management of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system activates only the necessary subset of assets based on current power demand requirements, rather than operating all assets simultaneously. By applying partial action - activating only low response-time assets for immediate needs or only high response-time assets for sustained needs - the system maintains reliability while avoiding the complexity of coordinating all assets at once.
3Productivity
If low response-time assets are activated immediately, then immediate power response is achieved, but energy losses and wear-and-tear costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic assessment and switching between low and high response-time assets based on operational patterns. Low response-time assets are activated periodically only when immediate response is truly necessary, while high response-time assets handle sustained or predictable demand changes. This periodic switching reduces unnecessary activation of low response-time assets, thereby minimizing energy losses and wear-and-tear while maintaining power response efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An asset controller 1 is configured to selectively operate each of a plurality of fast-and slow-response assets 8, 9 in response to demand therefore, such that the slow-response asset 9 can be supported by a fast-response asset 8 at the start of a time-shift operation, to deliver the required response immediately and during the slow-response asset's 9 response time.