Grid Frequency Prediction for Power Station Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power stations, such as recovery boilers in pulp mills, lack flexibility in responding quickly to changes in electricity grid demand, leading to suboptimal utilization as power reserves, which affects the balance between supply and demand and incurs economic complexities.

Innovation Solution

A method that predicts future changes in grid frequency using historical data and other factors to perform preparatory measures, allowing power stations to rapidly adjust their output in response to demand fluctuations, thereby enhancing their responsiveness as flexible power reserves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If power stations are used as power reserves without predictive control, then they can provide backup capacity, but they cannot respond quickly to demand changes due to inherent control complications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future frequency deviations and pre-adjusting power output before the actual frequency deviation occurs. The control system calculates predicted frequency values based on historical data and system parameters, then proactively modifies power station output to prepare for anticipated demand changes, thereby reducing response time without increasing operational complexity during actual frequency events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future frequency deviations and pre-adjusting power output before the actual frequency deviation occurs. The control system calculates predicted frequency values based on historical data and system parameters, then proactively modifies power station output to prepare for anticipated demand changes, thereby reducing response time without increasing operational complexity during actual frequency events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If power stations rapidly adjust output to respond to frequency changes, then they can maintain grid stability, but they require complex control systems to manage the adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrid stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors actual grid frequency and compares it with predicted frequency values. Based on this feedback and the deviation between actual and predicted values, the control system dynamically adjusts power output to maintain grid stability. The feedback mechanism enables automatic stabilization without requiring complex manual control interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors actual grid frequency and compares it with predicted frequency values. Based on this feedback and the deviation between actual and predicted values, the control system dynamically adjusts power output to maintain grid stability. The feedback mechanism enables automatic stabilization without requiring complex manual control interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If power stations respond to frequency deviations after they occur, then they can correct imbalances, but they cannot prevent the frequency deviation from happening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency balanceVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system calculates predicted frequency values based on historical frequency data, system parameters, and load patterns. By identifying trends and patterns, the system predicts future frequency deviations before they occur and proactively adjusts power output to prevent the deviation, thereby eliminating response time delays and maintaining frequency balance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3506447B1Method and arrangement for balancing supply and demand in an electricity grid
Publication Date: 2022.05.18 UPM ENERGY OY
  • EP3506447B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3506447B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3506447B1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

Supply and demand are balanced in an electricity grid. For that purpose there is provided a set of history data indicative of at least a detected AC frequency of said electricity grid over a period of time. Said set is processed in a prediction process to produce, based on said set of history data, at least one predicted value, which is compared to at least one first threshold. If said comparing indicates that said at least one predicted value meets or exceeds said at least one first threshold, at least one preparatory action is commenced to prepare a power station to a change in power it feeds into said electricity grid. An actual detected AC frequency of said electricity grid is monitored. As a response to said actual detected AC frequency meeting or exceeding a second threshold, the power that said power station feeds into said electricity grid is changed.