DC Power Arbitration via Random Voltage Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power transmission and reception systems face inefficiencies in managing direct-current power interchanges between consumers, particularly when unauthorized transmission or reception occurs, leading to imbalances and potential confusion within the power grid.

Innovation Solution

A power transmission and reception control system that utilizes a DC-to-DC converter connected to a direct-current power line, with a power transmission and reception arbitration unit setting voltage randomly and checking for set values to ensure only one consumer acquires the control right for transmission and reception, preventing unauthorized power exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If consumers transmit direct-current power without permission or instruction, then power transmission efficiency is improved, but power grid stability deteriorates due to unauthorized transmission leading to imbalances and confusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission efficiencyVSAvoidpower grid stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The arbitration unit performs preliminary actions by checking whether another consumer is transmitting or receiving direct-current power before allowing a consumer to acquire control right. This preliminary check prevents unauthorized transmission while enabling efficient power transmission when conditions are appropriate, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission efficiency and grid stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The arbitration unit acts as an intermediary between consumers and the power grid, mediating the control right acquisition process. It manages the arbitration between multiple consumers and ensures that only one consumer controls direct-current power transmission at a time, maintaining grid stability while allowing efficient power transmission through controlled arbitration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple consumers simultaneously control the direct-current power line, then power transmission flexibility is improved, but control management complexity increases due to potential conflicts and unauthorized transactions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The arbitration unit performs preliminary checks to determine whether another consumer is already transmitting or receiving direct-current power before allowing control right acquisition. This preliminary action enables flexible power transmission by allowing multiple consumers to potentially control the line at different times, while simplifying control management by preventing simultaneous control conflicts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service arbitration where consumers autonomously attempt to acquire control right by setting voltage and checking for set values, without requiring complex centralized coordination. This self-service mechanism provides transmission flexibility while reducing control management complexity through decentralized autonomous arbitration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3312961B1Power transmission/reception control device, power transmission/reception control method, computer program, and input/output control device
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3312961B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3312961B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3312961B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Object] To provide a power transmission and reception control device configured to check whether another consumer is controlling a direct-current bus line when interchanging direct-current power. [Solution] Provided is a power transmission and reception control device including: a power transmission and reception control unit configured to control transmission and reception of direct-current power over a direct-current power line through a DC-to-DC converter connected to the direct-current power line; a power transmission and reception management unit configured to request the power transmission and reception control unit to control the DC-to-DC converter; and a power transmission and reception arbitration unit configured to request the power transmission and reception management unit to perform transmission and reception of power through the DC-to-DC converter. When the power transmission and reception arbitration unit instructs the power transmission and reception management unit to set voltage to the direct-current power line, the power transmission and reception management unit causes the power transmission and reception control unit to set the voltage to the direct-current power line a predetermined number of times by using a random number, and if voltage and current of the direct-current power line are set values, the power transmission and reception management unit instructs the power transmission and reception arbitration unit to acquire a control right of the direct-current power line.