Demand Setpoint Reset Control Around Utility Meter Reads
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing costs of electricity supply and delivery, especially in remote or congested areas, and the inefficiency of constructing additional transmission and distribution systems due to their underutilization during peak demand periods, necessitate a solution to manage peak demand effectively.
Innovation Solution
An automatic controller for electrical systems that resets demand setpoints multiple times around anticipated meter read occurrences to optimize energy usage and reduce demand charges, utilizing energy storage systems like batteries to charge or discharge energy based on cost fluctuations, thereby minimizing peak demand and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If additional transmission and distribution systems are constructed to satisfy peak demand, then power delivery capacity is improved, but infrastructure cost increases significantly and utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by constructing energy storage facilities in advance at load centers before peak demand occurs. These storage systems are prepared and filled with energy during off-peak periods, then deployed to meet peak demand without requiring additional transmission infrastructure construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces energy storage systems as an intermediary between the existing transmission infrastructure and the load centers. This intermediary component decouples the need for additional transmission capacity from the need to satisfy peak demand, allowing the storage system to bridge the gap during high-demand periods.
2Stability of the object's composition
If demand setpoint is not reset after meter read, then control continuity is maintained, but maximum power measurement remains artificially high and demand charges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the demand setpoint adjustable and resettable based on meter read events. Rather than maintaining a static setpoint, the system dynamically resets the setpoint to a lower value after meter reads, allowing the controlled variable to adapt to the resetting behavior of utility meters and thereby reduce artificial demand charge accumulation.
3Loss of energy
If demand setpoint is reset frequently, then demand charge reduction is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by monitoring meter read events and automatically triggering setpoint resets based on these external cues. The controller receives feedback about when utility meters are read and adjusts the demand setpoint accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that reduces demand charges without requiring complex predictive algorithms or frequent manual interventions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to systems, apparatuses, and methods for controlling an electrical system using setpoints. Some embodiments include systems that receive a meter read schedule comprising anticipated meter read occurrences. The systems may set a demand setpoint representing a desired upper limit of demand of the electrical power system and adjust the demand setpoint during a billing period. The system may also reset the demand setpoint multiple times at different reset points around each of the anticipated meter read occurrences.