Energy-Based Load Curtailment for Demand Charge Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage load control systems are prone to costly failures due to their reactive nature, leading to unreliable demand charge reduction and excessive battery cycling, which results in wear and tear on components and wasteful energy usage, especially when dealing with fluctuating power draws and time-of-use energy billing programs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for managing electrical utility consumption by tracking energy consumption signals to determine representative power levels and operating a load curtailment system that transfers energy to or from the grid, using an energy-based calculation to control energy storage charging and discharging, thereby managing average power levels within billing periods to offset energy surpluses or deficits, reducing the need for immediate reaction to instantaneous power peaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reactive energy storage load control systems are used to respond to instantaneous power peaks, then demand charge reduction may be achieved, but excessive battery cycling occurs leading to component wear and tear and unreliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively managing energy storage charging and discharging based on representative power levels calculated from energy consumption signals, rather than reactively responding to instantaneous power peaks. This approach calculates the average power level over a time period and uses this information to control energy storage operations in advance, preventing excessive battery cycling and component wear while maintaining demand charge reduction effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system inverts the conventional approach by not directly responding to instantaneous power peaks but instead using energy consumption signals to calculate representative power levels and controlling energy storage based on these averaged values. This inversion filters out transient fluctuations and focuses on sustained power level management, thereby reducing unnecessary battery cycling while achieving demand charge reduction
2Productivity
If energy storage systems frequently charge and discharge to respond to power fluctuations, then instantaneous demand management is improved, but operational costs increase and energy storage system lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates representative power levels in advance using energy consumption signals and uses this information to proactively control energy storage charging and discharging. By basing control decisions on averaged power levels rather than instantaneous fluctuations, the system reduces the frequency of charge-discharge cycles, thereby extending energy storage system lifespan while maintaining effective demand management
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts energy storage control based on calculated representative power levels that reflect actual consumption patterns. By using energy consumption signals to determine when and how much to charge or discharge, the system optimizes operational timing and magnitude, reducing unnecessary cycling while maintaining responsiveness to genuine demand variations
3Speed
If reactive control systems respond to instantaneous power peaks, then immediate power management is achieved, but excessive energy storage discharging occurs leading to wasteful energy usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of representative power levels using energy consumption signals before controlling energy storage discharge. By basing discharge decisions on averaged power levels rather than instantaneous peaks, the system avoids wasteful discharging in response to transient fluctuations while maintaining adequate response to sustained demand increases
Solution Approach 2:
The system inverts the conventional reactive approach by not directly responding to instantaneous power peaks but instead using energy consumption signals to calculate representative power levels and controlling energy storage based on these averaged values. This inversion filters out transient fluctuations that would trigger wasteful discharging while maintaining effective response to genuine demand patterns
Data Source
AI summary
Load curtailment systems and methods track energy consumption information about a site over time. The energy consumption information is used to track power levels and to determine whether an energy surplus or an energy deficit accrues for the site based a predetermined setpoint. A load management system is used to offset the deficit or surplus by charging or discharging energy storage in a manner preventing average power draw within at least a subdivision of a utility billing period from exceeding the setpoint, thereby managing demand charges billed by a utility based on power draw of the site.