Distributed Appliance Load Control for Peak Demand and Comfort
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current load management systems face challenges in balancing electricity demand peaks, particularly with the increasing adoption of plug-in electric vehicles and decentralized energy generation, as they often rely on direct control methods that can affect user comfort and lack feedback mechanisms for appliances like water heaters.
Innovation Solution
A distributed load management method using networked controllers that allow appliances to communicate with each other and the grid, enabling semi-autonomous or fully autonomous control of power consumption based on local and community data, such as temperature parameters, to optimize energy usage and reduce peak demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If direct control of appliances by utility is implemented, then power consumption during peak periods is reduced, but user comfort is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where appliances report their state and power consumption to the utility, and the utility adjusts control strategies based on this feedback to maintain user comfort while managing peak demand
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts power consumption based on real-time grid conditions and user preferences, rather than applying static direct control, allowing flexibility to maintain comfort during non-peak periods while reducing consumption during peaks
2Productivity
If control is applied to groups of users on a given schedule, then peak period power consumption is reduced, but individual appliance control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into individual appliance-level controllers that can operate independently while still being part of the group control framework, allowing both centralized scheduling and individual appliance autonomy
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial control to individual appliances based on their specific characteristics and user preferences, rather than uniform control to all appliances, enabling differentiated management that preserves individual capability while achieving group-level peak reduction
3Productivity
If water heater temperature is allowed to drop below comfort level, then power consumption is reduced, but user comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating actions before peak demand periods or before user comfort thresholds are reached, storing thermal energy in advance to avoid both peak consumption and comfort degradation during critical periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes temperature parameters based on time of day, grid conditions, and user preferences, adjusting the comfort threshold temporarily during off-peak periods while maintaining it during peak periods to balance consumption reduction with comfort preservation
4Productivity
If more electric power plants and power-grid reinforcement are built, then growing electricity demand is met, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables appliances and local energy systems to self-manage their power consumption and generation, reducing the need for centralized power plant expansion by allowing distributed energy resources to serve local demand through intelligent control and load management
Data Source
AI summary
A load management method for controlling a plurality of distributed community loads with a plurality of controllers. The controllers are connectable to a network and the distributed community loads are connectable to a power grid. The loads are controllable by a corresponding one of the controllers according to a local need and a power grid supply or a community need of the loads. A network node device adapted to communicate with other node devices of a same community within an overlay network topology system. The system has a plurality of node devices organized in a number of hierarchically linked rings. The plurality of node devices of a same ring is interconnected in groups of node devices. One of the node devices is a parent node for linking the node devices of a first ring to node devices of a second ring at another hierarchy by being a parent node to both first and second rings.