Backup Power State Signaling for Building Energy Curtailment
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Solution Overview
Problem
During power outages, existing systems fail to efficiently manage energy consumption in facilities and buildings, leading to potential disruptions and increased demand on backup power sources.
Innovation Solution
A backup power optimization system that includes a backup power unit, such as a UPS or generator, which sends operational state signals to connected electronic devices, prompting them to perform predefined power-saving actions like reducing functionality or shutting down, thereby minimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup power is provided during power-loss event, then continuous power supply is maintained, but energy consumption increases and backup power depletes faster
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of electronic devices based on real-time backup power unit status. Devices transition between full operation, reduced functionality, and shutdown states according to backup power levels, enabling adaptive energy management that maintains critical functions while conserving backup power resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup power unit communicates its operational state to electronic devices through signals, creating a feedback loop. Devices receive information about backup power status and automatically adjust their power consumption accordingly, optimizing the balance between maintaining operations and conserving backup power.
2Productivity
If electronic devices continue operating during power-loss event, then service disruption is minimized, but demand on backup power source increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different electronic devices are assigned different operational priorities and functional reductions based on their criticality. Essential devices maintain full or partial operation while non-essential devices are reduced or shut down, allowing selective power management that maintains productivity for critical services while reducing overall backup power demand.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining full operation of all devices, the system applies partial action by reducing functionality of non-critical devices. This selective approach maintains sufficient service continuity for essential operations while significantly reducing the total power demand on the backup source.
3Reliability
If backup power unit provides full power to all devices, then all services remain operational, but backup power duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of devices into operational priority categories before power depletion occurs. This advance planning allows the backup power unit to sustain critical services for extended periods by pre-determining which devices receive power and at what level, maximizing backup power duration while maintaining essential operational reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for managing energy consumption during a power-loss event provide a backup power unit that can notify electronic devices of a switch to backup power. The electronic devices can then automatically minimize power consumption upon receiving such notification. The notification can take the form of one or more signals indicative of a backup power operational state. The signals may be sent to the electronic devices over any suitable wired or wireless connection. Depending on the particular operational states, the electronic devices can take one or more predefined backup power handling actions, such as reducing device functionality, entering low-power mode, performing a controlled shutdown, and the like. The particular actions taken may depend on the type of devices, such that certain devices may have power consumption priority over other devices. The above arrangement provides an intelligent way to reduce overall energy consumption during a power-loss event.