Building Management System Incentive-Based Demand Response Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Central plants face challenges in optimizing the distribution of thermal and electrical energy loads across multiple subplants to minimize energy costs, especially when considering electrical demand charges and incentive-based demand response programs.
Innovation Solution
A building management system that includes thermal energy storage, electrical energy storage, and a controller to determine the optimal amount of electrical energy stored or discharged by optimizing a value function that accounts for revenue from incentive-based demand response programs and costs of energy consumption, equipment degradation, and capacity loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If incentive-based demand response programs are implemented to reduce energy costs, then economic value is improved, but system complexity increases due to optimization of multiple subplants and demand charges
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building's thermal and electrical loads into multiple independent subplants (e.g., chillers, boilers, heat pumps, thermal storage systems). Each subplant can be independently controlled and optimized, allowing the complex demand response problem to be broken down into manageable segments that can be optimized separately and coordinated through a central controller
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary optimization calculations and predictions of energy costs, demand charges, and incentive revenues before making control decisions. The controller predicts future energy prices and demand charge events, then proactively adjusts subplant operations in advance to minimize costs and maximize incentive revenues, rather than reacting to price changes in real-time
2Loss of energy
If multiple subplants are used to distribute thermal and electrical energy loads, then energy cost optimization is improved, but control difficulty increases due to coordination challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller continuously monitors the operational status, energy consumption, and cost parameters of all subplants, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust control setpoints. The system incorporates feedback from energy price signals, demand charge events, and incentive program requirements to coordinate subplant operations optimally
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller serves multiple functions simultaneously: it optimizes energy costs, coordinates demand response participation, manages thermal and electrical storage systems, and interfaces with multiple utility incentive programs. This multi-functional approach consolidates the control of multiple subplants into a single intelligent system that handles all coordination challenges
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 optimizes energy usage and costs by determining the optimal energy storage and discharge strategies, maximizing economic value and reducing energy consumption while participating in demand response programs.
Implementation Method 1
electrical energy storage configured to store electrical energy purchased from a utility and to discharge the stored electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
thermal energy storage configured to store at least a portion of the thermal energy generated by the building equipment and to discharge the stored thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
A control system includes building equipment configured to consume electrical energy and generate thermal energy, electrical energy storage configured to store and discharge electrical energy, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine, for a plurality of time steps within a time horizon, an amount of electrical energy to store in the electrical energy storage or discharge from the electrical energy storage using a value function. The value function includes an expected revenue from participating in an incentive-based demand response (IBDR) program, an expected cost of participating in the IBDR program, and a penalty cost based on an amount by which a predicted output of the building equipment or the electrical energy storage changes between time steps within the time horizon. The controller is configured to control the electrical energy storage to store or discharge the amount of electrical energy determined using the value function.