Demand response system

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing demand-response systems face challenges in accurately controlling power usage across diverse devices without developing shared commands tailored to each device's specifications, as manufacturers find it difficult to disclose and standardize control specifications, hindering participation in such systems.

Innovation Solution

A demand-response system utilizing first and second aggregator apparatuses that perform control operations using dedicated commands specific to each device group, allowing for accurate power adjustment without needing standardized control specifications or shared commands across all devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the demand-response server controls power usage of diverse devices by using commands tailored to each device's control specifications, then the accuracy of demand-response control is improved, but the complexity and cost of preparing device-specific commands increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of demand-response controlVSAvoidcomplexity of command preparation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the command structure into two segments: standardized common commands for upper-tier aggregators and device-specific dedicated commands for lower-tier aggregators. This segmentation allows each layer to operate with appropriate command types, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining control accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Lower-tier aggregators act as intermediaries between the upper-tier aggregator and diverse devices. These intermediaries translate standardized common commands into device-specific dedicated commands, eliminating the need for the upper-tier server to directly manage device-specific command complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If standardized control specifications are designed for diverse devices to enable control by shared commands, then the ease of operation is improved, but the difficulty of obtaining control specifications from manufacturers increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of device controlVSAvoidease of obtaining control specifications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial standardization by establishing standardized common commands for basic operations while allowing device-specific dedicated commands for manufacturer-specific functions. This partial approach reduces the burden on manufacturers to fully standardize while still achieving sufficient ease of operation for core demand-response functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The lower-tier aggregators are designed with universal functionality to support multiple device types through dedicated commands. This universality at the intermediary layer compensates for the lack of full standardization, enabling the system to operate diverse devices without requiring complete specification disclosure from all manufacturers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the upper-tier aggregator sends common commands to all aggregators, then the simplicity of command management is improved, but the ability to achieve accurate control for specific device groups decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of command managementVSAvoidaccuracy of control for specific devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds a hierarchical dimension to command management, with two distinct command layers operating at different levels. Common commands operate at the upper-tier aggregator level for broad power adjustment, while dedicated commands operate at the lower-tier aggregator level for precise device-group-specific control. This dimensional separation resolves the contradiction between simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3007295B1Demand response system
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3007295B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3007295B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3007295B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided is a demand-response system for controlling the power usage of devices, wherein accurate demand-response can be achieved without developing a shared command for controlling all devices. A demand-response system (1A) is provided with first and second aggregators (10, 20) and a power aggregator (30). The first aggregator performs demand-response-related control of a first heating device group (100) including a heat pump device, and the second aggregator performs demand-response-related control of a second heating device group (200). The power aggregator sends a second power adjustment request to the first and second aggregators using a command being common to the first and second aggregators. In accordance with the second power adjustment request, the first aggregator performs demand-response-related control of the first heating device group using a first dedicated command, and the second aggregator performs demand-response-related control of the second heating device group using a second dedicated command that is different from the first dedicated command.