Fuel Supply Network Control for Carbon-Intensity Pathways
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel supply networks face challenges in efficiently controlling throughput and reducing environmental emissions, particularly due to the exponential growth of pathways with the number of processes, which complicates the development of effective control systems and can lead to non-compliance with certified Carbon intensity values.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a directed acyclic graph to represent the fuel supply network, defining reportable fuel pathways as a system of linear equations, and calculating designated pathway quantities to determine throughput setpoint values for control elements, allowing for selective control of processes to achieve predetermined goals and minimize non-compliant pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of processes in the fuel supply network increases to improve production capacity and versatility, then the network can handle more feedstocks and produce more fuel types, but the number of pathways grows exponentially complicating the control system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex fuel supply network into discrete, manageable components: pathways are broken down into individual processes (edges) connected by nodes, and the control system is divided into a master controller that manages pathway-level decisions and slave controllers that execute process-level control. This segmentation allows the system to handle exponential pathway growth by treating each pathway as an independent controllable entity rather than managing all processes globally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary pathway designation system that acts as a mediator between the master controller and slave controllers. The master controller designates specific pathways for fuel production based on demand and constraints, then communicates these designations to slave controllers which automatically adjust process parameters. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for complex direct control of all processes while maintaining pathway-level oversight.
2Reliability
If traditional control systems are used to regulate throughput in each process, then individual process control is achieved, but the system cannot effectively manage pathway-level compliance with Carbon intensity standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where slave controllers continuously monitor process parameters and report back to the master controller. The master controller uses this feedback to calculate actual pathway Carbon intensities by summing individual process contributions, then adjusts pathway designations and process setpoints to ensure compliance with certified standards. This closed-loop feedback enables pathway-level compliance management without requiring complete redesign of process control.
Solution Approach 2:
The master controller serves multiple functions: it designates pathways, calculates Carbon intensities, determines throughput setpoints, and coordinates slave controllers. This multi-functional approach consolidates pathway-level management in a single controller rather than distributing complex compliance logic across all processes, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability of Carbon intensity compliance.
3Measurement precision
If the control system manages all pathways explicitly to ensure compliance, then Carbon intensity accuracy is maintained, but the computational burden and system complexity become unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the master controller focus computational resources on designating and monitoring only the specific pathways that are currently active for fuel production, rather than continuously analyzing all possible pathways in the network. The slave controllers handle the detailed process-level measurements and reporting, dividing the computational burden between master and slave controllers and enabling accurate pathway quantity measurement without unmanageable system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3f
AI summary
A method of controlling a fuel supply network , the method comprising: defining a directed acyclic graph comprising a set of fuel pathways; defining a set of reportable fuel pathways as a set of linear equations, the set of reportable fuel pathways comprising a subset of the set of fuel pathways; solving the set of linear equations to determine designated pathway quantities for the set of reportable fuel pathways; determining one or more throughput setpoint values for one or more edges in the directed acyclic graph based on the designated pathway quantities for one or more reportable fuel pathways associated with said one or more edges; controlling one or more control elements of the processes associated with the one or more edges based on the determined throughput setpoint values for the respective one or more edges.