Demand Coordination Network Control Node Peak Demand Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing peak demand of resources like electrical power and water often result in uncomfortable operating conditions and reduced productivity, as they primarily rely on deferral and duty cycle reduction, which can push systems outside acceptable operational margins.
Innovation Solution
A demand coordination system that uses a network of control nodes to coordinate the operation of energy-consuming devices, allowing for advanced scheduling and duty cycle adjustments while maintaining acceptable operational margins, employing a global schedule and local environment modeling to reduce peak demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If deferral and duty cycle reduction are used to manage peak demand, then peak demand is reduced, but operating conditions become uncomfortable and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-cooling or pre-heating spaces before peak demand periods occur. Thermal energy storage systems are charged in advance during off-peak hours, allowing the building to maintain comfortable temperatures without running HVAC equipment during peak demand periods. This anticipatory approach reduces peak demand while preserving comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal energy storage systems act as intermediaries between the HVAC system and the building environment. These storage systems decouple the timing of cooling/heating provision from the timing of energy consumption, allowing comfort to be maintained during peak periods without direct HVAC operation. The storage medium serves as a buffer that mediates between supply and demand timing.
2Quantity of substance
If deferral and duty cycle reduction are used to manage peak demand, then peak demand is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares thermal environments in advance during off-peak hours, creating a buffer that maintains productive working conditions during peak periods without requiring continuous equipment operation. This allows productivity to be sustained while reducing peak energy demand.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal energy storage systems serve as intermediaries that preserve productive environmental conditions without requiring active HVAC operation during peak demand. The storage system maintains temperature conditions suitable for productivity while decoupling energy consumption from peak periods.
3Ease of operation
If devices are operated within acceptable margins to maintain comfort, then comfort is maintained, but peak demand is not effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by storing thermal energy in advance during off-peak hours, enabling comfort maintenance during peak periods without continuous device operation. This anticipatory storage allows the system to reduce peak demand while preserving acceptable operating margins through pre-established thermal buffers.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a system of energy consuming devices, including a first control node coupled to a second control node via a demand coordination network. The first control node has a node processor and a global schedule module. The node processor is coupled to a first energy consuming device, and operates the first energy consuming device within an acceptable operating margin to maintain a first local environment by cycling on and off. The global schedule module is coupled to the first node processor, and coordinates run times for the first energy consuming device and a second energy consuming device, where the coordination is based on a replica copy of a global run time schedule disposed within the first and second control nodes, an adjusted first descriptor set characterizing the first local environment, and an adjusted second descriptor set characterizing a second local environment.