Battery Load Shifting via Cycle Budgeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy consumers face high costs due to peak demand periods, as utilities charge higher rates during these times, and existing solutions for managing energy storage devices are not optimized for effective load shifting to reduce overall energy consumption costs.
Innovation Solution
A computer-assisted method and system for electrical energy load shifting using an electro-chemical battery, which establishes a budget for discharging and charging cycles based on peak and off-peak rates, optimizing the schedule to maximize cost savings by shifting energy use from peak to off-peak hours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If energy storage devices are used to shift load from peak to off-peak hours, then energy costs are reduced, but the battery life is shortened due to increased charging and discharging cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of the battery during off-peak hours before the peak demand period begins. By pre-charging the battery when electricity rates are lower, the system prepares energy storage in advance to avoid peak-rate consumption, thereby reducing energy costs while managing battery cycle usage strategically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the charging and discharging schedule of the battery based on real-time electricity rate variations, peak demand predictions, and battery state of charge. This dynamic optimization allows the system to maximize cost savings by charging during low-rate periods and discharging during high-rate periods while extending battery life through intelligent cycle management.
2Loss of energy
If more charging and discharging cycles are performed to maximize load shifting, then energy cost savings increase, but the battery degrades faster
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors battery state of charge, cycle count, and degradation indicators, using this feedback to adjust charging and discharging strategies. When the battery approaches certain cycle thresholds or shows signs of degradation, the system automatically reduces cycling frequency or modifies charge/discharge depths, thereby balancing cost savings with battery reliability and preventing excessive degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as charge/discharge depth, cycling frequency, and rate of charge/discharge based on battery health status. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes the trade-off between achieving energy cost savings through load shifting and maintaining battery reliability, preventing excessive degradation from overly aggressive cycling.
3Loss of energy
If load shifting is implemented without optimization, then some energy cost reduction is achieved, but the system complexity increases without maximum efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages its own charging and discharging operations without requiring complex external control or manual intervention. It self-adjusts based on embedded algorithms that monitor electricity rates, battery status, and demand patterns, thereby achieving optimized cost savings while keeping the control system relatively simple and autonomous.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple functions into a single unified platform: it simultaneously performs battery management, load shifting optimization, cost calculation, and scheduling. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control logic and data processing into one system rather than requiring separate specialized components for each function.
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
The system effectively reduces energy costs by utilizing energy storage devices to shift load from peak to off-peak hours, thereby minimizing overall electrical energy consumption costs and extending the life of the battery.
Implementation Method 1
A computer-assisted method and system for electrical energy load shifting using an electro-chemical battery
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for realizing energy cost savings through load shifting utilizing a battery bank that may serve as a battery back-up on a premises for providing power in the event of a grid power outage or curtailment. A budget of unreserved cycles of battery charging and discharging is determined, taking into account the rated battery life in terms of both time (e.g., years) and number of cycles. That cycle budget is allocated to days of the year identified as days on which the greatest savings can be realized through load shifting. These days are identified by taking into account the peak and off-peak usage rates applicable on those days, any rate tiers that may be entered as a result of the additional energy expended to load shift, and the round trip efficiency of the charge/discharge cycles. Load shifting is executed in accordance with an established schedule of the identified days, by discharging the batteries during peak usage hours and charging the batteries during off-peak periods. In the event the budget of unreserved cycles exceeds the number of profitable days for load shifting, the depth of discharge on each cycle may be increased to realize greater savings on the scheduled days, at the tolerable cost of losing cycles not expected to be used in any event.