Controllable Producer Control for Grid Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of non-controllable energy producers, such as wind and photovoltaic devices, complicates the stability of electrical networks by making it difficult to balance supply and demand, leading to critical network states despite existing monitoring and control methods.

Innovation Solution

A system where controllable producers are grouped with non-controllable producers to form an electrical producer arrangement, using forecasting to accurately control the total energy supply into the network, effectively creating a 'virtual battery' to stabilize the grid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If non-controllable producers are increased to meet energy demand, then energy supply capacity is improved, but network stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy supply capacityVSAvoidnetwork stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines controllable and non-controllable producers into a single operational unit managed by a centralized control system. The control system aggregates the variable output from non-controllable producers (wind, solar) and balances it with controllable producers (gas, coal) to maintain stable grid frequency and voltage, thereby preserving network stability while maximizing energy supply capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors grid parameters (frequency, voltage, power flow) and adjusts the operation of controllable producers in real-time based on the actual output of non-controllable producers. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to compensate for fluctuations in renewable energy generation, maintaining network stability despite the increasing share of non-controllable producers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If non-controllable producers are increased, then energy supply capacity is improved, but control difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy supply capacityVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it forecasts energy production from non-controllable producers, optimizes their operational parameters, coordinates controllable producers, and maintains grid stability. This multi-functional approach consolidates various control tasks into a single system, reducing overall control complexity despite the diversity of producers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system uses forecasting algorithms to predict the energy production of non-controllable producers in advance. By knowing the expected output of variable renewable sources beforehand, the system can proactively adjust controllable producers to ensure balanced supply, simplifying real-time control decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If grid frequency monitoring is enhanced, then network stability is improved, but critical network states still occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of merely monitoring grid frequency and reacting to deviations, the control system proactively forecasts the energy production of non-controllable producers and adjusts controllable producers in advance. This preventive approach avoids critical network states before they occur, reducing the need for complex emergency response mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system acts as an intermediary between non-controllable producers and the electrical network, decoupling the variability of renewable energy from the stability requirements of the grid. By introducing this intermediate control layer, the system can absorb fluctuations from non-controllable producers while maintaining stable grid frequency, avoiding the need for direct monitoring and reactive control of each producer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3513479B1System comprising an electrical producer arrangement
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 CONJOULE GMBH
  • EP3513479B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3513479B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3513479B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system (102, 202, 302, 502), comprising at least one controllable producer (104, 204, 304.1, 304.2, 304.3, 304.3', 504.1, 504.2) configured to produce at least one first energy amount, at least one non-controllable producer (106, 206.1, 206.2, 306.1, 306.2, 306.2', 306.3, 306.3', 306.3", 506.1, 506.2) configured to produce at least one second energy amount, wherein the non-controllable producer (106, 206.1, 206.2, 306.1, 306.2, 306.2', 306.3, 306.3', 306.3", 506.1, 506.2) is assigned to the controllable producer (104, 204, 304.1, 304.2, 304.3, 304.3', 504.1, 504.2) to form an electrical producer arrangement (101, 201, 301.1, 301.2, 301.3), at least one first forecasting means (110, 210, 410) configured to forecast the at least one second energy amount to be produced by the non-controllable producer (106, 206.1, 206.2, 306.1, 306.2, 306.2', 306.3, 306.3', 306.3", 506.1, 506.2) during at least one future time period, and at least one controlling means (112, 212, 412) configured to control the controllable producer (104, 204, 304.1, 304.2, 304.3, 304.3', 504.1, 504.2) based on the at least one forecasted second energy amount such that total energy amount supplied by the electrical producer arrangement (101, 201, 301.1, 301.2, 301.3) to an electrical network (108, 208) during the future time period corresponds to a predefinable total energy amount.