Energy Management Controller for Spatially Distributed Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy management systems struggle to efficiently match energy supply and demand in power grids, particularly with renewable energy sources, leading to peak loads and inefficiencies, and lack the ability to prioritize device activation based on energy availability and user needs.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that allows spatially separate management and control of energy supply, enabling devices to be activated or deactivated based on energy availability, with features like data protocols for time-based energy supply, priority-based energy allocation, and user-defined energy preferences, facilitating the use of regenerative energy sources while avoiding peak consumption times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If devices are activated based on real-time energy supply availability, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to control device requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A control device acts as an intermediary between the energy supply network and the device to be activated. The control device receives information about energy supply availability from the network and decides whether to activate the device based on current energy conditions, thereby improving energy efficiency without requiring the device itself to be complex
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring energy supply availability and using this information to control device activation. The control device receives real-time information about energy supply status and adjusts device operation accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy usage
2Productivity
If the management device controls a large number of devices at spatially different locations, then energy supply optimization is improved, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various communication protocols and energy supply scenarios. It can operate with different types of energy supply information and control different types of devices using the same basic architecture, reducing overall system complexity despite managing multiple devices across different locations
3Loss of energy
If device activation is delayed to match renewable energy availability, then energy efficiency is improved, but time availability for device operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-cooling or pre-heating devices during periods when renewable energy is available. For example, an air conditioner can be activated earlier to cool a space when solar energy is abundant, allowing it to be deactivated during peak demand periods while still maintaining the desired temperature, thus improving energy efficiency without compromising the device's operational effectiveness
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a controller for a device (3, 4), comprising an interface (8, 9) to an administration unit (1), and comprising an interface (18) to a switch (21) for activating and deactivating the device (3, 20), wherein the controller (14) activates or deactivates the device (3, 20) by way of the switch (21) as a function of a piece of information transmitted by the administration device (1) via an energy supply.