Interruptible Load Control for Fluctuating Grid Power Demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of renewable energy sources into traditional power grids has led to complex management challenges due to unpredictable power fluctuations and mismatches between renewable energy production and consumer demand, resulting in increased operational costs, reduced profitability, and environmental impacts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a computer-implemented method that utilizes an interruptible load, such as processing resources, to efficiently manage power consumption by determining the net market value of electricity, processing tasks, and fuel, and adjusting operations to optimize power plant capacity utilization, reduce startup costs, and avoid regulatory penalties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional power plants rapidly ramp up production to meet evening demand increases, then consumer demand is satisfied, but startup costs increase and pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-heating boilers and maintaining turbines in a warm standby state during periods of low demand, so that when demand increases in the evening, the plants can ramp up quickly without incurring full startup costs. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complete shutdowns and subsequent costly restarts.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention maintains continuous useful action by keeping power plants operating at reduced but non-zero capacity during low-demand periods, avoiding complete shutdowns. The plants remain in a state where they can quickly increase output when needed, ensuring continuity of the power generation function while reducing unnecessary startup cycles.
2Productivity
If traditional power plants operate at full capacity throughout the day, then capacity utilization is maximized, but surplus electricity must be offloaded causing frequency excursions and reduced profitability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic operation by continuously adjusting power plant output to match real-time demand conditions. Rather than operating at fixed full capacity, the plants dynamically modulate their output levels, increasing during high-demand periods and reducing during low-demand periods, optimizing both capacity utilization and profitability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor grid demand, electricity prices, and plant performance to automatically adjust power generation levels. This feedback loop enables the system to respond to changing conditions in real-time, preventing surplus generation during low-demand periods and maximizing revenue during high-demand periods.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If renewable energy production fluctuates rapidly, then clean energy is provided, but grid stability is compromised and non-renewable sources must ramp up quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer of demand-side management that acts as a buffer between renewable supply and consumer demand. By using controllable loads as intermediaries to absorb excess renewable generation and smooth out fluctuations, the system reduces the need for rapid ramping of non-renewable sources and simplifies grid management.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the operational parameters of controllable loads based on renewable generation levels. When renewable production is high, loads are increased to absorb excess power; when renewable production drops, loads are reduced, thereby stabilizing the grid without requiring complex management of non-renewable sources.
4Productivity
If interruptible load is used to consume excess electricity, then capacity utilization is maintained and profitability increases, but load reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by cycling interruptible loads on and off in response to varying electricity prices and generation conditions. Rather than providing continuous uninterrupted service, the load operates periodically, consuming power during high-renewable-generation periods and shutting down during low-generation periods, thereby maintaining capacity utilization while accepting intermittent operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated control method for meeting rapidly fluctuating power demands with stable power production is disclosed. The method includes determining a market value of a unit of electricity sold on the grid, a fuel cost required to produce the unit of electricity, and a market value of a processing task requiring the unity of electricity. The method also includes calculating which of the electricity, processing, or fuel, is the most valuable; shutting off a running process when the value of the electricity is highest or the value of the fuel is highest; and starting a pending process when the net market value of the processing task is highest. The method may also include reducing electricity generation at a power plant when the value of electricity is negative, or exercising a futures contract to supply electricity.