Hierarchical Energy Grid Homogeneous Control Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current grid-connected energy generation systems, particularly those with solar PV systems, face challenges in efficiently adapting to changing conditions and coordinating energy resources across multiple sites due to their intermittent nature and lack of flexible control, leading to inefficiencies in energy distribution and storage.
Innovation Solution
A scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic, where multiple control modules implement the same energy optimization scheme logic, allowing for autonomous and simplified control of energy resources, reducing the need for extensive communication and reporting, and enabling efficient energy management across sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different types of control devices are used at various sites, then the system can adapt to different local conditions and capabilities, but the system complexity increases and becomes difficult to control on a large scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control module design where a single control module type can operate at multiple hierarchical levels (site, sub-region, region, etc.) by receiving different input parameters. This universal control module serves multiple functions across different scales of the energy distribution grid, eliminating the need for different control device types at various sites while maintaining adaptability to local conditions through parameter configuration.
2Productivity
If centralized control is used to coordinate energy resources across multiple sites, then system-wide optimization can be achieved, but communication requirements and processing overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy distribution grid into multiple hierarchical levels (sites, sub-regions, regions, etc.), with control modules at each level making autonomous decisions based on local conditions and aggregated inputs from lower levels. This segmentation reduces communication overhead by eliminating the need for all sites to communicate directly with a central controller, while still achieving system-wide optimization through coordinated hierarchical decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested hierarchical structure where control modules at higher levels aggregate and process information from lower levels, then pass optimized control decisions back down the hierarchy. This nested arrangement allows system-wide coordination while minimizing communication overhead at each level, as each control module only needs to exchange information with its immediate parent and child levels in the hierarchy.
3Speed
If real-time control decisions are made at each site, then responsiveness to changing conditions improves, but the need for extensive communication and reporting between sites increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables control modules to make preliminary real-time decisions based on locally available information and pre-configured optimization logic, without requiring continuous communication with other sites. The hierarchical structure allows each control module to autonomously respond to changing conditions at its level, reducing the need for extensive real-time communication while maintaining system-wide coordination through the aggregated hierarchical framework.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.