Distributed Interface Units for Tactical Smart Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart electrical grids for small or micro systems, such as military forward operating bases, face inefficiencies due to centralized control systems that are impractical, costly, and prone to single-point failures, leading to suboptimal energy management and fuel waste in transient and rapidly changing environments.
Innovation Solution
A tactical smart grid system with distributed intelligence, utilizing interface units to connect energy generators and loads, allowing for decentralized control, synchronization, and adaptive management, which prioritizes generator usage and load shedding to maximize efficiency and robustness without a central controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centralized control systems are used in small or micro energy networks, then energy management can be achieved, but the system becomes impractical, costly, and prone to single-point failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into distributed interface units, each managing local generators and loads independently. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single centralized controller, reducing complexity and removing single-point failures while maintaining coordinated energy management across the micro-network.
Solution Approach 2:
Each interface unit autonomously manages its connected generators and loads without requiring centralized control. The distributed units self-coordinate through peer-to-peer communication, enabling the system to self-manage energy distribution while improving robustness and reducing operational complexity.
2Loss of energy
If independent generators are deployed in isolated micro-grids, then system simplicity is maintained, but fuel efficiency decreases due to partial loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously isolated micro-grids into an interconnected tactical smart grid, allowing generators to share loads across the network. This enables generators to operate at optimal load levels, improving fuel efficiency while the modular interface units keep integration complexity manageable.
3Loss of energy
If centralized control equipment is brought in to improve generator efficiency, then fuel efficiency improves, but logistics complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed interface units autonomously optimize generator performance without requiring external centralized control equipment. Each unit independently manages its local generators, eliminating the need to transport and deploy complex centralized control systems to remote locations, thus simplifying logistics while maintaining fuel efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If generators are operated at partial load to match local demand, then system adaptability is maintained, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By connecting previously isolated micro-grids into a unified tactical smart grid, the system allows generators to serve multiple locations. This enables better load distribution across generators, allowing them to operate at higher, more efficient load levels while still adapting to varying local demands through the distributed interface units.
Data Source
AI summary
A tactical smart grid system and method includes a plurality of energy generators and a plurality of loads, where the loads require energy from at least some of the energy generators. A plurality of interface units are provided, where each energy generator and load are connected to one of the plurality of interface units. Each of the interface units including a controller to thereby provide distributed intelligence and distributed system control, thereby removing the requirement of a centrally controlled system.