Distributed Power Scheduling Without a Master Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power control systems face challenges in managing power distribution efficiently, particularly when adding or removing power controllers, as they require reconfiguration and can cause disturbances, and lack dynamic scheduling to adapt to changes in load demands.
Innovation Solution
A distributed dynamic power system that forms power networks using multiple power control systems, each with a dynamic load scheduling model, which allocates power based on a customizable schedule, synchronizes power units, and adjusts membership dynamically to reduce load fluctuations without a master controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a master controller is used to supervise and control multiple power controllers, then centralized coordination is achieved, but system complexity increases and requires reconfiguration when power controllers are added or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the master controller from the system architecture. Each power controller becomes autonomous, maintaining its own schedule and making independent decisions about power distribution. This extraction of the central control element eliminates the reconfiguration requirement while maintaining coordination through distributed scheduling algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
Each power controller serves itself by maintaining local schedules and making autonomous decisions about power distribution. The system achieves coordination through self-organization rather than external control, with each controller independently managing its operations based on local information and predefined scheduling rules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If power controllers are added or removed from the system, then system adaptability improves, but reconfiguration is required causing service interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic scheduling where each power controller maintains its own schedule independently. When controllers are added or removed, the system adapts automatically without requiring reconfiguration of existing controllers. The dynamic nature of the distributed schedule allows seamless integration and removal of power controllers while maintaining continuous service.
3Productivity
If ON-OFF operations are performed by power controllers, then power distribution control is achieved, but load disturbances occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic power distribution schedules where each power controller operates in a cyclical pattern. By coordinating these periodic operations across multiple controllers and distributing the ON-OFF actions over time, the system maintains efficient power distribution while reducing peak disturbances through temporal spreading of control actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The power distribution task is segmented across multiple autonomous power controllers, each responsible for specific time intervals or load portions. This segmentation distributes the control burden and spreads out the ON-OFF operations, reducing the impact of individual switching events while maintaining overall distribution efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing power, via a plurality of power control systems, includes forming, by at least two power control systems from among the plurality of power control systems, a power network and defining, by each power control system of the power network, a power allocation schedule for a power cycle using a dynamic load scheduling model. The power allocation schedule identifies one or more designated power control systems from among the at least two of the power control systems to provide power to a load during the power cycle. For at least portion of the power cycle, the method includes providing power to the load by the one or more designated power control systems of the power network based on the power allocation schedule.