Building Load Shaping for Smaller Energy Storage Peaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage systems for buildings are inefficient due to the need for large batteries to manage peak energy loads, leading to high costs and inefficient energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a building management system (BMS) and load shaper to optimize the load profile of a building by shifting peak energy demands into multiple narrower peaks, reducing the size and cost of the battery required, through the integration of building automation systems (BAS) and energy storage systems (ESS) that control and manage mechanical and electrical equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large batteries are used to manage peak energy loads, then energy storage capacity is improved, but system cost and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single large peak load into multiple smaller peak loads by strategically controlling building equipment operations. This segmentation allows the energy storage system to handle several smaller discharge events rather than one large discharge event, reducing the required battery capacity while maintaining energy management effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-charging energy storage devices before peak load periods and pre-cooling or pre-heating building spaces before peak demand occurs. This allows the building to draw less power during peak periods, reducing the energy storage capacity needed
2Quantity of substance
If large batteries are used to manage peak energy loads, then energy storage capacity is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the peak load into multiple smaller peaks through controlled equipment operations, the required battery capacity is reduced. Smaller batteries are less expensive to manufacture and install, directly reducing system cost while maintaining energy management functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of building equipment (timing, intensity, duration) to create multiple smaller peak loads. This parameter optimization reduces the energy storage capacity requirement, leading to lower system costs for batteries, inverters, and installation
3Device complexity
If peak energy loads are managed traditionally, then energy storage system is simple, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring building energy consumption, weather conditions, and equipment status to dynamically adjust equipment operations and energy storage charging/discharging schedules. This feedback mechanism optimizes energy efficiency by reducing peak demand and improving load matching
Solution Approach 2:
The building management system performs self-service by automatically controlling equipment operations to create favorable load profiles without requiring external intervention. The system self-optimizes energy usage patterns, pre-cooling/heating spaces and managing equipment schedules to reduce peak demand and improve overall energy efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for shaping the load of a building for more efficient sizing and/or economics of an energy storage and/or microgrid system. Shaping the load of a building can include identifying a plurality of core hours of a time period increasing a load of the building, a plurality of different increase instances, by interfacing with a BAS and an ESS during the plurality of core hours, and decreasing the load of the building, a plurality of different decrease instances, by interfacing with the BAS and the ESS during the plurality of core hours, wherein each increase instance from the plurality of different increase instances of the load profile is followed by a decrease instance from the plurality of decrease instances of the load profile.