Interruptible Load Scheduling for Stable Power Plant Output

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of renewable energy sources into traditional power grids leads to rapid fluctuations in power production, necessitating costly and inefficient operations in traditional power plants to meet demand, reducing profitability and increasing pollution.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an interruptible load management system that adjusts power consumption based on market values and operational costs to optimize power plant utilization, including shutting off or starting processes to match demand and supply efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering 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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower plant production response speedVSAvoidpollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing excess renewable energy during periods of low demand (daytime) and releases it during periods of high demand (evening), avoiding the need for traditional power plants to ramp up production. This prevents the harmful effects of startup operations and pollution while still meeting consumer demand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If traditional power plants rapidly ramp up production to meet evening demand increases, then consumer demand is satisfied, but startup costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower plant production response speedVSAvoidstartup cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary energy storage during low-demand periods when renewable production exceeds consumption. This stored energy is then deployed during high-demand periods, eliminating the need for expensive startup operations of traditional power plants and reducing energy loss associated with ramping up production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If traditional power plants operate at full capacity throughout the day, then capacity utilization increases, but surplus electricity must be offloaded reducing profitability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacity utilizationVSAvoidprofitability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring demand patterns and renewable production levels. It dynamically adjusts the operation of traditional power plants based on real-time conditions, allowing them to operate at optimal capacity levels without producing surplus electricity that would need to be offloaded, thereby maintaining both high capacity utilization and profitability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary energy storage during periods when renewable production exceeds demand, capturing excess energy before it becomes surplus. This allows traditional power plants to maintain high capacity utilization without generating unprofitable surplus electricity, as the stored energy can be released during peak demand periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If renewable energy production is curtailed to avoid frequency excursions, then grid stability is maintained, but profitability and integration incentives are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrid stabilityVSAvoidprofitability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary energy storage component between renewable production and the grid. This intermediary absorbs excess renewable energy during low-demand periods and releases it during high-demand periods, preventing frequency excursions without curtailment. This maintains grid stability while preserving the profitability and integration incentives of renewable energy sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12462314B2Methods and systems for meeting rapidly fluctuating power demands using interruptible load and stable power production

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 GEBHARDT ENTERPRISES LLC

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.