Hierarchical BESS Control for Coordinated Microgrid Peak Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage systems struggle to manage power requirements across adjacent microgrids or buildings with different peak control timings and power demands, as they lack the capability to integrate and coordinate energy supply effectively.
Innovation Solution
A battery energy storage system with a multi-level control system, comprising a BESS unit controller, energy control system, microgrid ECS controller, and virtual power plant, which manages energy drawn from the grid and discharged to microgrids, using power conversion systems and communication protocols to balance energy supply and demand across multiple sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional energy storage system manages power for a single area, then the system operation is simple and reliable, but it cannot provide integrated power management for multiple adjacent microgrids or buildings with different power demands and peak control timings
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into multiple hierarchical levels: unit controllers for individual BESS modules, area controllers for specific geographic areas or microgrids, and a central controller for overall coordination. This segmentation allows each level to manage its specific functions independently while contributing to integrated power management across multiple sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from managing a single area to managing multiple areas simultaneously by adding spatial dimensionality. The multi-level control architecture enables the system to handle power demands from different geographic locations, each with unique peak control timings and power requirements, through coordinated control across hierarchical levels.
2Productivity
If the energy storage system coordinates energy supply for multiple microgrids with different peak control timings, then integrated power management is achieved, but the control and coordination complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller performs preliminary actions by receiving power demand information from multiple areas in advance and generating coordinated control strategies before peak demand periods occur. This allows the system to proactively manage energy distribution across microgrids with different peak timings, optimizing energy usage and preventing service interruptions before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements feedback mechanisms where unit controllers report battery status and power generation to area controllers, which in turn report to the central controller. The central controller uses this feedback information to continuously adjust and optimize energy distribution strategies across multiple microgrids, ensuring coordinated management despite different local requirements.
3Reliability
If the system manages energy drawn from grid and discharged to microgrids with real-time coordination, then service interruptions are prevented, but the real-time control requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by maintaining battery energy reserves in advance to cushion against potential service interruptions. The control system monitors battery state of charge and power availability, ensuring sufficient energy buffers are maintained before peak demand periods or potential grid failures, thereby preventing service interruptions without requiring complex real-time intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures safe and reliable operation of energy storage systems while providing integrated power management for microgrids and buildings, optimizing energy use and reducing the risk of service interruptions by coordinating energy supply and demand in real-time.
Implementation Method 1
a power conversion system arranged to charge a battery with the energy from the electrical grid and discharge the battery to supply electrical energy to the one or more microgrids
Implementation Method 2
Energy storage systems employ chemical energy storage batteries that chemically store energy such as for example a lithium ion (LiON) batteries, lead acid batteries (Pb), or sodium-sulfur (NAS) batteries
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery energy storage system is disclosed that receives energy from an electrical grid and supplies electrical energy to one or more microgrids. The battery energy storage system comprises a power conversion system arranged to charge a battery with the energy from the electrical grid and discharge the battery to supply electrical energy to the one or more microgrids. An energy control system controller communicatively coupled to the power conversion system manages the energy drawn from the electrical grid to charge the battery and to manage the energy discharged from the battery to supply electrical energy to the one or more microgrids.