Power Grid Energy Flow Messaging for Source Composition Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers lack access to information on the composition of energy flows in power grids, which hinders effective control actions based on the fractional contributions from renewable and non-renewable energy sources, impacting carbon footprint awareness and sustainability certifications.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for propagating energy flow composition information along power grids, allowing messages to follow energy flows between nodes, enabling time-resolved data exchange that specifies contributions from different energy sources, authenticated by signatures, and facilitating control actions based on actual energy source types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If energy flow composition information is propagated along the power grid, then consumers gain access to information on renewable energy contributions, but system complexity increases due to data exchange requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary data exchange system comprising communication interfaces and processing circuits that mediate between energy sources and consumers. This intermediary structure enables information propagation without requiring direct complex connections between all grid participants, thus resolving the contradiction by adding a specialized data transmission layer that handles composition information exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments information propagation into discrete message exchanges between specific power grid nodes. Each node independently handles data reception, processing, and forwarding based on its role in the energy flow path. This segmentation allows the complex information propagation task to be distributed across multiple simple node operations rather than requiring a monolithic complex system.
2Measurement precision
If messages follow energy flows between power grid nodes, then accurate energy source contribution data is transmitted, but communication infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by having each power grid node process and transmit information specific to its local energy flow characteristics. Each node maintains and transmits composition data relevant to its incoming and outgoing energy flows, rather than requiring centralized processing of all grid data. This local化处理 achieves accurate tracking while keeping individual node complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback loops where composition information is transmitted along energy flow paths, allowing downstream nodes to receive and utilize information about energy source contributions. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate tracking of renewable energy contributions by continuously propagating composition data from sources through the grid to consumers.
3Ease of operation
If energy composition data is exchanged between power grid nodes, then consumers can make informed control decisions, but data authentication requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-authenticating data at the source node before transmission. Each power grid node signs its transmitted messages with authentication information, so that receiving nodes can verify authenticity without complex real-time authentication processes. This preliminary authentication simplifies the overall system by performing security checks at the point of data generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses digital signatures as cryptographic copies of authentication information that can be verified without transferring the actual authentication credentials. Each node creates a signed copy of its data transmissions, allowing receiving nodes to verify authenticity through signature validation while maintaining security and simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
To make information on an energy flow composition available for an electric power system (40), devices (31-36) of a communication system (30) exchange data specifying the energy flow composition. The devices (31-36) are operative to exchange the data by means of a message exchange that generally follows the energy flow paths in a power grid (10) of the electric power system (40).