Energy Storage Peak Mitigation via Dynamic Discharge Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peak mitigation systems in energy storage systems (ESS) are inefficient in addressing both short spikes and extended plateaus in electricity consumption, leading to high demand charges due to insufficient capacity and cost-effectiveness issues.
Innovation Solution
The system delays consumption mitigation, detects the nature of peaks (spikes or plateaus), and optimally discharges ESS based on their length and magnitude, using short powerful discharges for spikes and longer less powerful discharges for plateaus, thereby maximizing discharge duration and minimizing ESS depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If ESS capacity is increased to service extended plateaus in consumption, then the system can mitigate longer duration peaks without depleting, but the ESS capacity becomes oversized and not cost-effective for mitigating shorter consumption spikes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic discharge rate adjustment based on real-time detection of peak characteristics. The controller modifies the ESS discharge rate according to whether a spike or plateau is detected, enabling a single ESS to adapt its performance to different duration requirements without being oversized for any specific scenario
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of ESS discharge based on the detected peak type. For spikes, a higher discharge rate is used for short duration, while for plateaus, a lower discharge rate is used for extended duration, maximizing the utility of the same ESS capacity across different scenarios
2Power
If ESS is discharged at full power immediately when a peak is detected, then short spikes can be completely compensated, but the ESS depletes quickly and cannot service extended plateaus
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge power is dynamically adjusted based on the detected peak characteristics. The controller switches between high-power short-duration discharge for spikes and lower-power extended-duration discharge for plateaus, optimizing both power delivery and duration of service
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies the discharge power parameter according to the peak type detected. Full power discharge is applied for spikes to completely compensate, while reduced power discharge is applied for plateaus to extend duration without complete depletion
3Duration of action of moving object
If ESS is discharged at lower rate to allow longer discharge time, then the system can service extended periods, but the mitigation effect is insufficient for high-magnitude peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge rate is dynamically optimized based on real-time detection of peak characteristics. The controller determines the appropriate discharge rate by analyzing whether a spike or plateau is detected, ensuring sufficient power delivery for high-magnitude peaks while maintaining adequate discharge duration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces demand charges by prolonging ESS discharge time during peaks, optimizing energy usage, and extending the lifespan of the ESS, while reducing recharging costs.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage system (ESS) having insufficient capacity to completely mitigate extended plateaus
Data Source
AI summary
The electrical consumption mitigation provided by energy storage systems can be unreliable when a consumption peak lasts long enough to deplete the energy stored and the remainder of the peak is unmitigated. By implementing a waiting period between detecting the peak and discharging the energy storage in which characteristics of the peak are observed, a peak mitigation system can lengthen the effective discharge duration of the energy storage system and prevent unmitigated plateaus from appearing. For example, when a consumption plateau is detected, the system may discharge at a slower rate than when a spike is detected in order to prolong mitigation activities before the conclusion of the plateau. Thus otherwise-incurred demand-related utility charges can be reduced without having to increase the capacity of the mitigation system. In some cases, these processes are performed with respect to the bounds of demand-averaged time periods used to calculate demand charges.