Intelligent Gateway for Local Energy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing integration of renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources into distribution grids leads to voltage and power flow issues due to lack of coordination and management, requiring extensive communication infrastructure and data processing, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an Intelligent Gateway device for local processing and optimization, which manages distributed energy resources and demand response by shifting energy consumption to align with available renewable energy sources, using advanced IT, optimization techniques, and control algorithms to reduce grid stress and optimize costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distributed energy resources are integrated into the distribution grid, then renewable energy utilization is improved, but voltage and power flow problems occur due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the management of distributed energy resources by deploying intelligent gateways at individual premises rather than requiring centralized control. Each gateway independently manages local DERs (solar panels, wind turbines, energy storage systems), dividing the complex coordination problem into manageable local units that can operate autonomously while contributing to overall grid stability
Solution Approach 2:
The intelligent gateway acts as an intermediary device between distributed energy resources and the distribution grid. It coordinates power flow, manages voltage levels, and balances local generation with consumption, preventing the voltage and power flow problems that would otherwise occur from uncoordinated DER integration
2Extent of automation
If traditional technologies are used to manage smart grid devices, then device management capability is maintained, but communication infrastructure requirements and data processing demands increase massively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the intelligence and processing capabilities from centralized systems and places them at the edge devices (intelligent gateways). Each gateway independently performs data processing, optimization calculations, and control decisions locally, eliminating the need for massive data movement through the cloud and reducing communication infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The intelligent gateway enables premises to manage their own energy resources autonomously without requiring continuous communication with centralized systems. The gateway self-monitors local generation and consumption, makes real-time optimization decisions, and automatically adjusts DER operations, providing self-service capability that reduces external communication and processing demands
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided, which provide for the de-centralization of the logic necessary to perform electrical optimization of any contained electrical system. The systems and methods de-centralize, or distribute, electrical optimization logic into intelligent devices which are locally connected to both the generation and loads, in such a way that control can be asserted over these resources. The inventive systems and methods require less infrastructure and communication backbone to IT/Data Center infrastructure than are typically required by previous systems and methods known in the art.