Central Energy Management Unit for Hazardous Electrical Supply Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency situations like fires, electrical devices pose a risk of electrocution to emergency services and can hinder evacuation or access, while also potentially spreading the hazard, and existing methods of switching off all devices do not provide a tailored or safe approach to manage electrical supply.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a central energy management unit that assesses the risk of electrical devices using status reports and algorithms to determine and implement safety procedures, such as switching off or relocating devices, to ensure a safe and tailored response to hazardous situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all electrical devices are switched off in a hazardous situation, then safety of emergency services is improved, but essential services like lighting and communication cannot remain operational
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the electrical device population into different risk categories (high risk, medium risk, low risk) based on their status reports and characteristics. Instead of a blanket shutdown, each device is evaluated individually and subjected to appropriate safety procedures tailored to its risk level, allowing essential services to remain operational while eliminating hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different safety procedures to different devices based on their specific characteristics and risk assessments. High-risk devices receive immediate shutdown or relocation, while low-risk devices continue operating. This localized approach ensures that safety measures are applied precisely where needed without unnecessarily disrupting essential services.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If all electrical devices are switched off in a hazardous situation, then risk of electrocution is reduced, but devices cannot provide life-saving assistance to emergency services
Solution Approach 1:
The system categorizes devices into risk groups based on their status reports, separating hazardous devices from safe ones. Devices that can provide life-saving assistance without posing electrocution risk are identified and allowed to remain operational, while only truly hazardous devices are shut off or relocated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors device status through status reports and adjusts safety procedures accordingly. Devices that demonstrate safe operation or provide critical assistance may have their safety procedures modified or lifted, allowing dynamic adaptation that maintains both safety and operational capability.
3Ease of operation
If a tailored approach to managing electrical supply is implemented, then essential services can remain operational, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal risk assessment algorithm that can evaluate multiple device types (appliances, infrastructure, objects) using the same framework. The central energy management unit applies a standardized set of safety procedures (shutdown, relocation, monitoring) that can be universally applied across different device categories, reducing complexity despite the tailored approach.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices autonomously generate status reports containing information about their operational state and safety characteristics. This self-reporting mechanism reduces the complexity of monitoring systems, as devices provide their own data without requiring complex external sensing infrastructure.
4Loss of substance
If devices are relocated instead of switched off, then valuable infrastructure is preserved, but exposure to hazard must be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively relocates devices to safe zones before the hazardous situation worsens or before emergency services arrive. By anticipating the need for relocation and executing it in advance, the system preserves valuable infrastructure while ensuring devices are moved to locations where they will not expose people or spread hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central energy management unit as an intermediary that coordinates device relocation. This central unit assesses hazard levels, identifies safe zones, and manages the relocation process, ensuring that devices are moved to appropriate locations without exposing people to danger or spreading the hazardous situation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for managing electrical supply of at least one device (210, 211, 213-218-, 219, 221) connected to a central energy management unit (1) is presented. First, a message informing the central energy management unit of a hazardous situation is obtained. Then, a request of a status report of the at least one device is sent from the central energy management unit. After that, a risk assessment for the at least one device with respect to the hazardous situation is determined based on the status report using a risk assessment algorithm. Finally, the risk assessment is process to launch a safety procedure affecting electrical supply of the at least one device based on the risk assessment is determined. A system for managing electrical supply of at least one device using this method is also presented.