Goal-Based Load Management via Policy Engine and Load Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial facilities face challenges in optimizing energy usage and product output due to varying business objectives and energy costs, requiring a dynamic load management system that can prioritize energy loads based on production goals without complex custom programming.
Innovation Solution
A modular goal-based energy management architecture that includes a policy engine and a load modulation component, which dynamically schedules and prioritizes load shedding and re-application based on production goals, using a virtual energy bus to integrate with existing industrial control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a dynamic load management system is implemented to prioritize energy loads based on production goals, then energy usage optimization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load management system is segmented into modular functional components: a policy engine that receives and processes production goal information, a load modulation component that calculates priorities, and integration interfaces that connect to existing control systems. This modular architecture allows the complex functionality to be distributed and managed in discrete, manageable units without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The policy engine and load modulation component are designed as universal modules that can handle multiple types of production goals and load types through standardized interfaces. The system accepts diverse input parameters (production targets, energy constraints, priority rules) and generates standardized load priority outputs that can be applied across different industrial control systems without custom programming for each specific application.
2Adaptability or versatility
If load shedding priorities are dynamically adjusted based on varying business objectives, then adaptability to changing conditions is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load management system implements dynamic priority adjustment through the load modulation component, which continuously recalculates load shedding priorities based on current production goals and system conditions. The policy engine receives updated production target information and dynamically modifies the priority assignments without requiring system reconfiguration or manual intervention, allowing automatic adaptation to changing business objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the policy engine monitors production goal achievement and system state, then feeds this information back to the load modulation component to adjust priorities accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the system to automatically respond to changing conditions by comparing actual performance against targets and modifying load management strategies in real-time.
3Ease of manufacture
If a goal-based load management architecture is integrated with existing control systems, then ease of integration is improved, but programming requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The policy engine serves as an intermediary layer between existing control systems and the load management functionality. It receives production goal information from business planning systems or user input, processes this information through standardized rules, and generates load priority commands that can be executed by the control system. This intermediary architecture allows integration without requiring deep modifications to either the existing control system or the load management logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standardized data structures and communication protocols that replicate common control system interfaces, allowing the load management component to interact with diverse control systems through familiar patterns. By copying widely-used interface standards and data formats, the system reduces programming complexity and facilitates easier integration with existing infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are provided that facilitate dynamic load shedding control in an industrial environment in accordance with one or more production goals provided by a user. One or more production goals for system of industrial load devices (e.g., target product output, desired maximum peak energy demand, and the like) can be provided to a policy engine, which generates goal-based criteria in a standardized format based on the production goals. The goal-based criteria can be provided to a load modulation component, which uses the criteria to calculate load shed priorities for respective load devices on the system designed to ensure that the one or more specified production goals are achieved. The load modulation component can also generate a load shed schedule or load shed criteria used to determine when or under what conditions load shedding is to be initiated in order to achieve the one or more production goals.