Energy Storage Power Balancing for Multi-Conductor Grid Asymmetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power grids with asymmetric power generation and consumption, the power exchange between energy storage systems and the grid often exceeds allowed thresholds, leading to poor customer experience and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A control unit that monitors power exchange at connection points, adjusting the power setpoints for energy storage systems to maintain power asymmetry within allowable limits by controlling the energy storage's charging or discharging to balance power distribution across multiple conductors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple power generators and loads operate independently for local optimization, then local power supply efficiency is improved, but power asymmetry between conductors increases and exceeds grid thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary device that monitors power exchange between the energy storage system and the power grid, and actively adjusts the power setpoint to compensate for asymmetry. By introducing this mediating control mechanism, the system can maintain local optimization while preventing harmful power asymmetry from exceeding grid thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the power exchange at the connection point and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the power setpoint for the energy storage system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that power asymmetry is kept within acceptable limits while allowing local generators and loads to operate independently for optimization.
2Reliability
If power feed-in limit is set at grid connection point, then grid safety is improved, but energy storage system cannot discharge at maximum capacity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying a static power feed-in limit, the system uses dynamic power setpoint adjustment based on real-time monitoring of power asymmetry. The control unit continuously adapts the power setpoint for the energy storage system, allowing maximum discharge power when asymmetry is within limits and reducing it only when necessary to maintain grid safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the power setpoint parameter dynamically based on the monitored power asymmetry conditions. By adjusting this key parameter in real-time, the system can allow the energy storage system to discharge at maximum capacity when safe, while preventing excessive feed-in when it would compromise grid safety.
3Reliability
If power asymmetry is strictly limited, then grid compliance is improved, but customer experience deteriorates due to reduced generator utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit applies partial power limitation only when and where needed to maintain grid compliance. Instead of imposing strict limits that would reduce overall generator utilization, the system allows generators to operate at full capacity and uses the energy storage system to provide just enough compensating action to keep power asymmetry within acceptable limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the power exchange and creates a compensating power flow through the energy storage system that mirrors or counterbalances the asymmetry caused by local generators and loads. This copying approach allows generators to operate freely while the energy storage system replicates the necessary balancing action.
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit for controlling an electric power supply device, the electric power supply device being configured for power supply between an energy storage and a power grid which supplies electric power to a connection point, the power grid comprising a plurality of power conductors, the control unit being configured to receive first data indicative of exchanged electric power at the connection point, determine, using the first data, that a difference of exchanged power between a pair of power conductors among the plurality of power conductors is above a power threshold, and provide to the electric power supply a control signal indicative of a power setpoint for the energy storage.