Energy Reserve Control for Predictable Fluctuations

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional energy supply systems lack intelligent adjustment of energy reserves, leading to insufficient energy supply during fluctuations in renewable energy generation and network availability, resulting in potential failures of local energy consumption units.

Innovation Solution

An energy supply system with a control unit that dynamically adjusts the energy reserve based on foreseeable events by evaluating event reports and sensor data, maximizing internal energy consumption and optimizing energy storage across various storage units to ensure continuous energy supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a predetermined amount of energy is stored as reserve in conventional energy supply systems, then the energy storage system is simple to operate, but the energy reserve becomes insufficient during fluctuations in renewable energy generation and network availability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy supply reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy reserve is adjusted dynamically based on forecasted events rather than maintaining a fixed predetermined amount. The control unit continuously monitors weather forecasts, network status, and consumption patterns to adapt the reserve level in real-time, ensuring sufficient energy availability during fluctuations while optimizing storage utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary adjustments to the energy reserve before forecasted events occur. By evaluating future weather conditions, network availability, and consumption patterns, the control unit proactively charges or discharges storage units in advance, ensuring the reserve is optimized before fluctuations actually happen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the energy reserve is increased to ensure sufficient supply during fluctuations, then the reliability of energy supply improves, but the loss of energy increases due to excessive storage and reduced self-consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy supply reliabilityVSAvoidenergy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors actual energy generation, consumption, and storage levels, comparing them against forecasted values. Based on this feedback, it dynamically adjusts the energy reserve and self-consumption strategies, ensuring the reserve is neither excessive nor insufficient, thereby minimizing energy loss while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the reserve level parameter dynamically based on forecasted conditions rather than maintaining a constant high reserve. By adjusting the reserve parameter up or down according to actual needs, the system avoids the energy losses associated with maintaining excessively high storage levels during stable periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the energy reserve is dynamically adjusted based on forecasted events, then the reliability and optimization of energy supply improve, but the device complexity increases due to advanced control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy supply reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs multiple functions: it evaluates weather forecasts, monitors network status, analyzes consumption patterns, forecasts energy generation and consumption, and controls storage units. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control system, the patent manages complexity while achieving dynamic reserve optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of energy

If self-consumption is maximized, then the loss of energy decreases, but the reliability of energy supply deteriorates during periods when local generation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy lossVSAvoidenergy supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically balances self-consumption and reserve storage based on forecasted conditions. When local generation is expected to be sufficient, self-consumption is maximized to reduce losses. When generation is expected to be insufficient, the system shifts to drawing from the optimized reserve, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing overall energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3387727B1Method for providing an energy reserve for a power supply system
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 FRONIUS INT GMBH
  • EP3387727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3387727B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3387727B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to an energy supply system, EVA, (1) which is suitable for drawing energy from an energy supply network, EVN, (2) or for feeding energy into the energy supply network, EVN, (2). The energy supply system, EVA, (1) has the following: at least one local energy generating unit (4-i) for generating energy, at least one local energy load unit (7-i) for consuming energy, at least one local energy store (8-i) for storing energy, and a control unit (9) which controls the natural energy consumption, EEV, of the energy quantity generated by the at least one local energy generating unit (4-i) by means of the at least one local energy load unit (7-i) of the energy supply system, EVA, (1) and which controls the energy quantity stored in the at least one energy store (8-i). After at least one predictable future event, EV, is detected that influences an energy quantity (E1) of the energy which can be generated by the energy generating units (4-i) and/or an energy quantity (E2) of the energy which can be drawn from the energy supply network (2) and/or an energy quantity (E3) of the energy which is consumed by the energy load units (7-i), the control unit (9) dynamically adapts an energy reserve (ER) stored in the at least one local energy store (8 -i) as a precaution on the basis of the detected events before the events occur.