Central Energy Network Control for Power Balance and Grid Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing proportion of renewable energy sources and decentralized energy production in power grids makes it difficult to ensure stability, as existing solutions lack efficient demand-oriented and network-stabilizing regulation, limiting the ability to optimize energy consumption and production across geographically separated producers and consumers.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a central control unit that connects controllable generators and consumers via a power network, allowing for real-time monitoring and regulation of power differences to achieve a target power balance by adjusting consumer and producer output through the public grid, using IoT communication standards for data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If decentralized energy production and renewable energy sources are increased in the power grid, then energy sustainability and diversity are improved, but grid stability and controllability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy sustainabilityVSAvoidgrid stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the central control unit continuously receives data from distributed energy producers and consumers, calculates power differences, and sends control commands back to adjust production and consumption. This closed-loop feedback system enables dynamic regulation of decentralized energy sources, maintaining grid stability while accommodating renewable energy integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The central control unit acts as an intermediary between distributed energy producers and consumers. It coordinates their interactions by calculating power differences and issuing control commands, enabling efficient energy management without direct peer-to-peer control. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing centralized coordination for decentralized energy sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If intelligent power grids with ICT networking are implemented, then energy coordination and information flow are improved, but direct control capability over consumers and generators deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy information coordinationVSAvoiddirect control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The central control unit serves as an intermediary that restores direct control capability. It receives information from the ICT network about energy production and consumption, processes this information centrally, and issues direct control commands to specific consumers and generators. This intermediary approach combines the information coordination benefits of ICT networking with the direct control capability of centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback loops where the central control unit monitors energy flows through ICT networking, detects power differences, and adjusts control parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the central control unit to maintain direct control over decentralized energy assets while utilizing ICT networks for information coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If local energy optimization is implemented within single households, then local energy efficiency is improved, but coordinated control of geographically separated consumers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal energy efficiencyVSAvoidcoordinated control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges local energy optimization systems into a unified central control architecture. Individual household energy management systems continue to operate locally for efficiency, while the central control unit coordinates them collectively by aggregating power difference data and issuing coordinated control commands. This merging enables both local efficiency and global coordination simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The central control unit acts as an intermediary that connects geographically separated local energy systems. It receives data from local optimization systems, processes the information centrally to determine overall power differences, and coordinates control actions across different locations. This intermediary structure enables coordinated control of distributed energy assets while preserving local optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4485735A1Method for regulating an energy assembly and method for controlling at least two energy assemblies
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 AUSTRIA EMAIL AG
  • EP4485735A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4485735A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4485735A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Method for controlling an energy network (1) with at least one controllable generator (2) of electrical energy and at least one controllable consumer (3) of electrical energy, wherein the at least one generator (2) and the at least one consumer (2) are electrically connected to each other via a power grid (4), wherein a central control unit (5) is connected to the at least one generator (2) and the at least one consumer (3), comprising the steps of: - recording the currently generated electrical power of the at least one generator (2) by the central control unit (5); - determining the current power consumption of the at least one consumer (3) by the central control unit (5); - determining the actual power difference between the currently generated power and the current power consumption by the central control unit (5);and - rules of at least one consumer (3) and at least one producer (2) by the central control unit (5), such that the actual power difference corresponds to a target power difference, wherein the target power difference can be compensated by means of a network power of a public network (6) connected to the electricity network (4).