Distributed Electricity Storage Control for Grid Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power generation companies face challenges in balancing electrical power grids, particularly in transferring electricity quickly from remote hydroelectric generators to urban areas with high power demand, leading to potential brownouts or blackouts due to demand variations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for controlling the transfer of electricity between a collection of electricity storage devices and an electrical power network, using a communication line to enable quick reaction to changes in demand, with a server controlling the devices and ensuring efficient energy distribution by selecting reliable communication paths and updating identifiers based on connection reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydroelectric generators are located in remote areas to provide rapid power generation, then power generation speed is improved, but electricity transfer capability deteriorates due to distance from urban consumption areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control architecture into distributed peer-to-peer communication among storage devices. Each storage device can independently communicate with others directly, eliminating the single-point bottleneck and enabling parallel message propagation across the network, thus improving electricity transfer coordination speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical message propagation mechanism where messages can travel through multiple communication hops (dimensions) rather than requiring direct single-hop connections. This multi-dimensional communication approach allows remote storage devices to be integrated into the rapid response network despite geographical distance.
2Device complexity
If a single server controls all electricity storage devices, then system complexity is reduced, but the number of devices that can react quickly to changes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized control function into distributed autonomous units. Each storage device runs independent control logic and can make local decisions based on peer-to-peer communication, eliminating the single-server bottleneck and enabling all devices to react simultaneously to network changes.
Solution Approach 2:
Each electricity storage device is equipped with autonomous control capability, receiving and processing control messages independently without requiring constant server intervention. The devices self-manage their charging/discharging operations based on messages from peers, dramatically increasing the number of devices that can react quickly.
3Reliability
If communication lines are established between all storage devices, then control reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to communication management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal message protocol that can be used for multiple communication purposes (control signaling, status reporting, acknowledgment) through a single communication interface. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate communication channels and management complexity while maintaining reliable peer-to-peer connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates acknowledgment messages in the communication protocol, where receiving devices send feedback to confirm message receipt and processing status. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable delivery and coordination without requiring complex error handling, maintaining simplicity while improving control reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling the connection of a collection of a plurality of electricity providing devices to an electrical power network is described. In this, the plurality of electricity providing devices having a communication line therebetween and the method comprises receiving a message at a first electricity providing device from a controlling device and, in response to the message: connecting the first electricity providing device to the electrical power network; and sending, from the first electricity providing device to a second electricity providing device, a second message containing data in response to which the second electricity providing device is connected to the electrical power network.