Demand Response Aggregator for Dynamic Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric power management systems face inefficiencies in matching dynamic electricity demand, leading to wasteful energy production and excess power sales, as they struggle to coordinate and control a pool of electrical consuming devices within an entire electric power grid effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a demand response aggregator with a load control system, implementing active and reservation pools to manage computer-controlled devices, adjusting their start times based on customer and provider policies to optimize electricity load and reduce peak demand, using communication protocols like ZigBee or HomePlug for device control and data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric service providers produce or buy more electricity to meet peak demands, then the supply can meet the dynamic demand, but energy producing resources are wasted and excess power must be stored or sold at a loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-scheduling and pre-cooling devices during off-peak hours before the peak demand occurs. The load control system anticipates future peak demand and proactively schedules device operations in advance, allowing electricity to be consumed when demand is lower, thereby avoiding the need to produce excess electricity during peak periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts device scheduling based on real-time and forecasted electric power demand conditions. The load control system continuously monitors demand patterns and flexibly modifies the operation schedules of controlled devices, transitioning from static scheduling to dynamic adaptation, which allows optimal load management across varying demand conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If coal plants and gas turbines are brought on-line or taken off-line as needed, then the supply can match the dynamic demand, but the plants are operated even when peak demand isn't continuously present
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scheduling of device operations during off-peak periods, pre-cooling or pre-heating devices before peak demand occurs. This anticipatory approach allows the load control system to shift consumption to periods when power plants can operate more efficiently and continuously, avoiding frequent on-line/off-line transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by keeping power plants operating at stable levels during off-peak periods through pre-scheduled device operations. This continuous operation prevents the inefficiency of frequent start-stop cycles, allowing plants to maintain optimal operating conditions while still meeting varying demand through load management rather than plant cycling.
3Reliability
If existing operational control systems combine expected power consumption and adjudicate power supply, then power margins can be ensured, but coordination and control of a pool of electrical consuming devices within the entire electric power grid remains ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple individual device control functions into a unified load control system that manages a pool of controlled devices collectively. By combining individual scheduling decisions into a coordinated pool management approach, the system achieves both reliable power margin assurance through aggregate load management and effective coordination across the entire device pool within the electric power grid.
Solution Approach 2:
The load control system acts as an intermediary between individual controlled devices and the electric power utility. It aggregates device-level requests, applies coordination rules, and manages the pool collectively, thereby ensuring power margins while achieving effective grid-wide coordination that individual device controls cannot accomplish alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-based electrical power management and allocation system is provided that collects demand for electric power usage and allocates electric power supply in satisfaction thereof. A load control server is used to collect and schedule electrical power start and stop requests according to policies established by either or both of the electric power consumers and electric power suppliers. The energy system collects accumulation messages to reserve electrical power and processes them using the prescribed customer and supplier policies and according to an overall optimization criterion of the energy system. Stop messages are then subsequently issued to cease device operation and the devices are then moved to a reservation pool until the energy system's operational criterion is relaxed or the accumulation messages become obsolete. Similar accumulation requests for delayed or conservation-based operation may also be applied to the distribution of other utilities, such as water, natural gas, or guaranteed internet bandwidth.