Data Center Power Transfer Control for Renewable Grid Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers consume large amounts of electricity and have flexible workloads, contributing significantly to power grid demands and carbon emissions, while renewable energy sources introduce variability and volatility to the electrical grid, necessitating improved flexibility and stability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling power transfers between data centers using a central control device to optimize flexibility performance by determining and managing power consumption and computing work distribution, minimizing carbon emissions and balancing grid demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data centers increase power consumption to meet growing workload demands, then productivity and computing capacity improve, but energy consumption and carbon emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management by enabling data centers to flexibly adjust their power consumption levels based on real-time grid conditions and renewable energy availability. The system dynamically shifts workloads between data centers and time periods to match renewable energy generation, transforming the static power consumption model into a dynamic one that responds to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of power consumption by allowing data centers to operate at different power levels (increase or decrease by flexibility power amounts) rather than maintaining fixed consumption levels. This parameter flexibility enables optimization of both productivity and energy usage by adjusting operational parameters based on renewable energy availability and grid conditions.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If renewable energy sources are integrated into the grid to reduce carbon emissions, then environmental sustainability improves, but grid stability and reliability deteriorate due to variability and volatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the central control device continuously monitors renewable energy generation levels and grid conditions, then uses this information to optimize workload distribution. The system receives feedback on actual renewable energy availability and adjusts data center power consumption accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains grid stability while maximizing renewable energy utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The central control device acts as an intermediary between renewable energy sources and data centers, mediating the connection by optimizing power distribution. This intermediary layer absorbs the variability and volatility of renewable sources through intelligent workload scheduling and flexibility management, protecting the grid from direct exposure to renewable energy fluctuations while still enabling high levels of renewable integration.
3Reliability
If data centers operate with redundant power systems to ensure high availability, then reliability improves, but power consumption and operational flexibility requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes data center power systems multi-functional by enabling them to serve both their primary computing function and a secondary flexibility provision function. Data centers can dynamically switch between operating modes (increasing or decreasing power consumption by flexibility amounts) while maintaining availability requirements, thus serving multiple purposes with the same infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamics to the previously static redundant power system by enabling flexible adjustment of power consumption levels. Instead of fixed redundant capacity, the system dynamically optimizes power usage based on renewable energy availability, allowing data centers to adapt their operational state while maintaining reliability through coordinated flexibility management across multiple data centers.
4Stability of the object's composition
If data centers are allowed to flexibly adjust power consumption to support renewable energy integration, then grid stability and renewable energy utilization improve, but control complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of multiple data centers into a single centralized control device. Instead of each data center independently managing its flexibility adjustments (which would create complex distributed coordination problems), the system combines all control decisions at a central point that has global visibility of grid conditions and renewable energy availability, simplifying the control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The central control device serves as an intermediary that simplifies the interaction between multiple data centers and the renewable energy sources. It absorbs the complexity of coordinating flexibility across multiple facilities by providing a single point of optimization that considers all constraints and objectives, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving grid stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling power transfers (42) between a plurality of data centers i ∈ I (2) within a defined time range by means of a control device (4) is proposed, wherein each data center (2) can increase or decrease its power consumption by a flexibility power Pi+ or Pi− in the time range.The method is characterized by the following steps: - (S1) transmitting maximum flexibility powers Pi+,max,Pi−,max associated with the respective flexibility powers to the control device (4) by each of the data centers (2) for the said time range; - (S2) providing a target function that includes the flexibility power Pi+,Pi− as variables; - (S3) determining the values of the flexibility powers Pi+,Pi− by extremalizing the target function by the control device (4); wherein - during extremalization, the first constraint is taken into account that the sum of Pn→i supplied to one of the data centers (2) and Pi→j dissipated is either equal to Pi+≤Pi+,max or equal to −Pi−≥−Pi+,max; and - (S4) controlling the power transfers between the data centers (2) according to the determined flexibility powers Pi+,Pi− by means of the control device (4).Furthermore, the invention relates to a control device (4) and a data center system (1).