Distributed Power Control Using Dynamic Electricity Rate Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems struggle to effectively manage distributed power supplies in facilities to balance power supply and demand while optimizing profit margins for both electricity retailers and facilities, particularly with dynamic electricity rates from the electricity market.
Innovation Solution
A power management apparatus and method that includes a controller to manage facilities based on first and second electricity rates, where the first rate is dynamic and determined between the electricity market and retailer, and the second rate is static and facility-specific, ensuring optimal control of distributed power supplies to maximize profit and minimize penalties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power management control is performed without considering dynamic electricity market rates, then facility-specific power control can be maintained, but profit optimization opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electricity rate information receiving unit as an intermediary component that bridges the electricity market and the power management controller. This mediator receives dynamic rate information from the market and transmits it to the controller, enabling profit optimization without requiring the control system to directly interface with complex market mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from static facility-specific control to dynamic control that adapts to changing electricity market rates. The controller modifies power management strategies in real-time based on received rate information, allowing the system to capture profit optimization opportunities while maintaining manageable complexity through automated decision-making algorithms
2Productivity
If real-time market rate information is integrated into control decisions, then profit margins are optimized, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential rate-related information from the complex electricity market data stream and transmits it to the controller. By selecting and processing only the critical parameters needed for decision-making rather than handling complete market datasets, the system optimizes profit margins while minimizing information processing requirements and avoiding information overload
3Reliability
If distributed power supplies are controlled to balance power supply-demand, then system reliability improves, but flexibility in responding to market rates decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of distributed power supplies dynamically based on both power balance requirements and market rate signals. The controller adjusts control parameters such as power generation levels and storage discharge rates to simultaneously maintain supply-demand balance and respond to market opportunities, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability through coordinated parameter optimization
Data Source
AI summary
A power management apparatus includes: a manager configured to manage one or more facilities connected to a power system; a controller configured to perform specific control to control a distributed power supply installed at each of the one or more facilities; and a receiving unit configured to receive first rate-related information regarding a first electricity rate determined between an electricity market and an electricity retailer that sells power to each of the one or more facilities. The controller performs the specific control based on the first rate-related information.