Elevator Group Controller External Power Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator control systems have limited interaction with external systems, restricting their ability to effectively communicate and respond to external management systems and power providers for optimized operation and energy management.
Innovation Solution
An elevator group controller is connected via a data communications link to external elevator management systems and power providers, allowing for the transmission of operation information and receipt of control information to manage elevator operations, including power usage and scheduling, enabling real-time optimization and coordination across multiple elevators and power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If elevator control systems operate independently without external communication, then system simplicity and reliability are maintained, but the ability to optimize energy management and coordinate with external power providers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer that enables elevator control systems to exchange information with external power providers and management systems without fundamentally altering the core elevator control architecture. This intermediary layer handles data transmission and coordination while maintaining system modularity and minimizing complexity increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication interface designed in the patent serves multiple functions: it enables energy management coordination, operational optimization, and future scalability for additional external system integrations. This multi-functional approach maximizes adaptability while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.
2Productivity
If real-time communication with external power providers is implemented, then energy management and power allocation are optimized, but data transmission requirements and communication infrastructure needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential operational and energy management data required for optimization, transmitting only this critical information between the elevator system and external power providers. This selective data extraction reduces communication bandwidth requirements while maintaining the ability to achieve operational efficiency improvements.
3Loss of energy
If external control systems can shut down or start up elevators, then energy savings and power management are improved, but control system reliability and response time may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary scheduling and coordination of elevator operations with external power provider capabilities, allowing for planned shutdowns during low-demand periods while maintaining reliable service during peak times. This advance planning enables energy savings without compromising operational reliability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator control system includes an elevator group system including one or more elevators and an elevator group controller configured to control operation of the one or more elevators. The system includes at least one of an external elevator management system and an external power provider connected via a data communications link to the elevator group controller. The elevator group controller is configured to transmit to the at least one of the external elevator management system and the external power provider elevator operation information, and the at least one of the external elevator management system and the external power provider is configured to transmit to the elevator group controller elevator operation control information based on the elevator operation information. The elevator group controller is configured to then control operation of the one or more elevators based on the elevator operation control information.