Energy Management Failover for Heterogeneous Power Plant Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy management systems lack comprehensive monitoring, analysis, and control capabilities, struggle with managing heterogeneous power sources, and have inadequate security and failure recovery mechanisms, leading to inefficient and unreliable energy generation and operation.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-agnostic energy management system (EMS) with scalable, technology-agnostic intelligent software solutions that provide real-time monitoring, operational control, and AI-enabled dispatch across energy storage and generation assets, utilizing encrypted communications and server-based controllers for enhanced security and reliability, with failover mechanisms to ensure continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional energy management systems use PLCs for control and automation, then control capabilities are provided, but the EMS software must be adapted to each specific PLC model, increasing system complexity and maintenance difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (abstraction layer or adapter layer) between the EMS software and the PLC hardware. This intermediary translates generic control commands into PLC-specific instructions, eliminating the need to adapt EMS software for each PLC model while maintaining full control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal control interface that can work with multiple PLC models and manufacturers through standardized communication protocols and abstracted command structures, allowing a single EMS software version to control diverse hardware platforms.
2Reliability
If conventional energy management systems lack comprehensive monitoring and analysis capabilities, then system simplicity is maintained, but reliable operation and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring and control system into modular functional blocks (data acquisition module, analysis module, control module, security module) that can be independently configured and deployed. This modular approach provides comprehensive capabilities while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear separation of concerns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If site equipment drivers are constantly rewritten to accommodate new and old versions of power plant equipment, then equipment compatibility is improved, but maintenance effort and system stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies or simulated representations of physical equipment (digital twins) that allow software drivers to interact with standardized virtual models rather than directly with diverse physical hardware. This enables equipment compatibility through virtualization while maintaining driver stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic driver loading and configuration where drivers are automatically selected and configured based on detected equipment types and versions, eliminating the need for manual driver rewriting while maintaining compatibility across equipment variations.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy management system and methods of using the same are disclosed. The energy management system is configured to deploy a first instantiation of a first hardware driver at a first electronic control device collocated with a first power plant apparatus, wherein the first hardware driver is configured to communicate with and enable control of the first power plant apparatus. The energy management system is configured to detect that the first instantiation of the first hardware driver at the first electronic control device has failed, and at least partly in response to detecting that the first instantiation of the first hardware driver at the first electronic control device has failed, utilize a second instantiation of the first hardware driver, stored in memory remote from the first electronic control device, to enable control of the first power plant apparatus.