Building Power Flexibility Estimation for User-Driven Demand Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building energy management systems lack effective methods to optimize power consumption flexibility in response to changing demand and user comfort requirements, leading to inefficiencies in energy usage and potential peak demand issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that estimate power flexibility by analyzing historical data, presenting options to users, and adjusting power set points for electrical systems like climate, lighting, and security systems, incorporating comfort trade-offs and real-time demand adjustments through a building energy management system communicating with a smart grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If building energy management systems control power consumption to meet peak demand, then power consumption is reduced, but user comfort requirements may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power set points for electrical systems based on real-time conditions, user preferences, and grid demand signals. Power flexibility options are not fixed but adaptively modified through mathematical models that incorporate historical data and current operational parameters, allowing the system to balance energy reduction with comfort maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of electrical systems (such as temperature set points, lighting levels, equipment scheduling) within flexible ranges determined by power flexibility analysis. By modifying these parameters dynamically rather than applying uniform restrictions, the system achieves energy reduction while preserving user comfort within acceptable boundaries
2Productivity
If building energy management systems implement demand response strategies, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-analysis by automatically discovering power flexibility points and generating mathematical models of electrical system behavior using historical data. The building energy management system independently evaluates power flexibility options and determines optimized set points without requiring extensive external intervention or complex manual configuration, reducing the perceived system complexity while maintaining high energy efficiency
3Adaptability or versatility
If power flexibility options are presented to users, then user participation in energy management is enhanced, but response time to peak demand may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-discovers power flexibility points and pre-calculates potential power flexibility options based on historical data and system capabilities before peak demand events occur. When grid demand signals are received, the system can quickly present pre-analyzed options to users or automatically implement decisions, significantly reducing response time while maintaining high levels of user participation and adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling power consumption includes estimating power flexibility for one or more electrical systems in a building, presenting one or more power flexibility options to a user in the building, and communicating power set points to the one or more electrical systems based on a power flexibility option selected by the user. A system for predicting energy consumption of a building is also disclosed.