Centralized Energy Control System for Flexible Battery Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available battery energy storage systems (BESS) lack the capability to manage complex and flexible charging and discharging schedules across different types and capacities of battery-based energy storage systems, which are essential for efficient energy management and peak demand reduction.
Innovation Solution
A centralized energy control system (ECS) that interfaces with the monitoring and control system of energy storage systems, allowing for the creation and implementation of flexible charging and discharging schedules across multiple energy storage devices and systems, including battery-based and pumped hydroelectric systems, to optimize energy usage and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a centralized energy control system is implemented to manage complex charging and discharging schedules across multiple energy storage systems, then energy management efficiency and peak demand reduction are improved, but system complexity and integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments energy storage management into individual energy storage device levels and a centralized control level. Each device has its own monitoring and control capabilities, while the centralized ECS coordinates schedules across multiple devices. This segmentation allows complex scheduling to be distributed rather than centralized in a single point, improving manageability while maintaining overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized energy control system acts as an intermediary between multiple energy storage systems and the grid or load centers. It receives scheduling requests, processes them according to system capabilities and constraints, and distributes optimized charging/discharging schedules to individual devices. This intermediary role enables coordinated management without requiring direct complex interactions between all system components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible charging and discharging schedules are implemented across different types of battery-based energy storage systems, then adaptability and energy optimization are improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized energy control system is designed to manage multiple types of energy storage devices (battery-based, pumped hydroelectric, and other combinations) through a universal control interface. The system can create and implement flexible charging and discharging schedules across different device types and capacities without requiring type-specific control systems, thereby achieving multi-functionality and reducing overall control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adapts to different energy storage device characteristics by adjusting scheduling parameters such as charge/discharge rates, capacity limits, and timing based on device type and state. This parameter-based approach allows flexible scheduling across diverse device types without creating entirely separate control logic for each device category.
3Reliability
If energy storage systems are deployed to smooth variable loads and maintain reliability for renewable energy generation, then grid stability and reliability are improved, but energy losses during storage and retrieval increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy control system performs preliminary scheduling of energy storage operations based on predicted renewable energy generation and grid demand patterns. By pre-coordinating charging during periods of excess renewable generation and scheduling discharging during anticipated demand peaks or generation shortfalls, the system maximizes the utilization of stored energy and minimizes losses associated with unnecessary charge/discharge cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring and control system continuously monitors the state of energy storage devices, renewable energy generation levels, and grid conditions. This feedback enables real-time adjustment of charging and discharging operations to optimize energy utilization, reduce unnecessary cycling losses, and maintain grid reliability based on actual system conditions rather than fixed schedules.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy control system (ECS) for controlling an energy storage system (ESS's) that includes energy storage devices(s) or an energy storage combination (ESDC's) including≥1 of the energy storage devices and ≥1 of the energy storage combinations. A power conversion system is coupled to an output of the ESDC, and a transformer is coupled to an output of the power conversion system. The ECS includes an ECS server and an ESS adapter configured for providing an interface between ECS server and the ESS. The ECS server is configured for reading status data from the ESS and submitting schedules including selected charging and discharging times to the ESS, monitoring or displaying a variance between an expected performance of the ESS based on the schedules and an actual ESS performance, and responsive to the variance being determined to be above a predetermined threshold, sending an update of the schedules to the ESS.