Grid Power Control Hierarchy for Real-Time Load Curtailment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power load management systems lack real-time, accurate, and efficient methods for controlling power consumption and creating operating reserves, failing to meet regulatory standards for demand response and load curtailment, particularly in managing power from diverse sources and devices.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing IP-based communication protocols with security encryption, enabling real-time control of controllable devices to manage power flow, track power savings, and generate power supply values, incorporating standards-based communication layers and distributed processing for precise load management and reserve creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If real-time control of power consuming devices is implemented, then load curtailment efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments power control into multiple hierarchical levels: utility control center for overall coordination, site control devices for facility-level management, and appliance control devices for individual device control. This segmentation allows real-time control efficiency while distributing system complexity across manageable components rather than requiring a monolithic complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
Site control devices serve as intermediaries between the utility control center and appliance control devices. These intermediaries aggregate appliance-level data, implement site-level load management strategies, and translate utility commands into appliance-specific control actions, thereby reducing the communication and control complexity at each level while maintaining real-time responsiveness.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive tracking of power savings is implemented, then measurement accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Power savings tracking is segmented into appliance-level measurement, site-level aggregation, and utility-level consolidation. Each level tracks and processes only the data relevant to its scope, with appliance controllers measuring individual device consumption, site controllers aggregating facility-level savings, and utility systems consolidating overall program effectiveness. This segmentation improves measurement accuracy through granular tracking while avoiding the complexity of centralized processing of all raw data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where measured power savings are continuously monitored, verified, and used to adjust control strategies. Appliance controllers provide feedback on actual consumption patterns, site controllers verify aggregate savings against targets, and utility systems use consolidated feedback to optimize demand response programs. This feedback loop enhances measurement accuracy through verification while managing data processing complexity through iterative refinement rather than exhaustive analysis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols are supported, then system adaptability is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Site control devices function as communication intermediaries that support multiple protocols at different layers of the hierarchy. The utility control center communicates using standardized protocols, site controllers translate and adapt messages for local appliance protocols, and appliance controllers execute commands using device-specific protocols. This intermediary approach enables broad protocol compatibility while minimizing overhead at each communication stage, as each intermediary processes only the protocol transitions necessary for its level.
4Reliability
If security encryption is implemented, then system reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Security encryption is segmented and applied selectively based on data sensitivity and communication criticality. The system implements encryption for utility-to-site control communications and for sensitive appliance control messages, while using lighter authentication mechanisms for routine status reporting and less critical data exchanges. This segmented security approach maintains system reliability for critical operations while minimizing processing time overhead for less sensitive communications.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for managing power supplied over an electric power grid by an electric utility and/or other market participants to multiple power consuming devices, each of which having a Power Supply Value (PSV) associated with its energy consumption and/or reduction in consumption. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled, or power-reduced thereto, by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. Power control messages from a controlling server indicate amounts of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable or reduce a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.