Dynamic Energy Saving Control via Power Surplus Indicators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy saving systems often lead to excessive or inadequate energy-saving measures, causing inconvenience and failing to match the reality of power supply systems, especially during peak hours or emergencies, resulting in instability in electricity supply.

Innovation Solution

An energy saving system that acquires electrical power consumption data and supply surplus indicators to control electric devices based on target demand values, allowing for dynamic adjustment of energy usage to align with regional power supply conditions, promoting efficient energy saving efforts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If strict emergency energy saving measures are undertaken at all times, then electrical power consumption is reduced, but user convenience deteriorates and energy saving actions become excessive even when not necessary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical power consumptionVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts energy saving measures based on real-time power supply conditions. The control unit changes the degree of energy saving control according to the degree of power supply surplus, making the system adaptable rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by implementing flexible energy saving actions that match actual power supply needs without causing excessive restrictions during normal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameters (degree of energy saving) based on the power supply surplus indicator. When the surplus indicator is high, more aggressive energy saving measures are applied; when it is low, measures are relaxed. This parameter-based adjustment allows the system to optimize between energy reduction and user convenience according to actual conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If energy saving control is based on predetermined thresholds, then control simplicity is maintained, but the system fails to respond to actual power supply conditions and may miss critical timing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidpower supply stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback from the power supply surplus indicator to continuously adjust energy saving control. The control unit receives real-time information about power supply conditions and modifies its control actions accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the system responds accurately to actual power supply conditions while maintaining relatively simple control logic through automated threshold-based decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary energy saving actions when the power supply surplus indicator indicates upcoming supply constraints. By anticipating power supply issues and taking preventive energy saving measures in advance, the system avoids the need for complex real-time emergency control while maintaining power supply stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If automatic control is implemented without considering power supply surplus indicators, then operational simplicity is maintained, but energy saving actions do not match reality of power supply systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic control capabilityVSAvoidalignment with power supply conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic control system incorporates feedback from power supply surplus indicators to adjust its behavior. The control unit automatically processes the surplus indicator information and modifies energy saving control actions accordingly, maintaining high automation while improving adaptability to actual power supply conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The power supply surplus indicator acts as an intermediary that bridges the automatic control system and the actual power supply conditions. The control unit uses this indicator to translate complex power supply system states into simple control decisions, maintaining automation while achieving better alignment with reality through the intermediary information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2858196B1System, method, and program for saving energy
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 NIPPON TECH CO LTD
  • EP2858196B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2858196B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2858196B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Operations of nuclear power plants have been suspended in various locations due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, it is not necessarily essential to undertake strict emergency energy saving measures at all times. In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention proposes an energy saving system comprising an electrical power consumption quantity information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the quantity of electrical power consumed for a plurality of electric devices, a target demand value storage unit for storing a target demand value for electrical power consumption, a supply surplus indicator acquisition unit for acquiring indicators of surplus electric power supplied by an electric power company having control over electrical power within a certain region, and a control unit for controlling the plurality of electric devices based on the acquired supply surplus indicators, the acquired electrical power consumption quantity information, and the stored target demand value.