Method and apparatus for smoothing link-line power of electrothermal microgrid using thermal storage heat pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high operation costs of battery energy storage and the lack of a mature control model for thermal storage heat pumps in electrothermal microgrids, which limits the effective smoothing of power fluctuations and coordination with battery storage.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a thermal storage heat pump cluster with a control model that coordinates with storage batteries to smooth link-line power fluctuations, incorporating a heat pump cluster start-stop control layer and power adjustment layer, and a storage battery smoothing adjustment, using a greedy algorithm and simulated annealing optimization to optimize heat pump cluster operation and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery energy storage is used to smooth power fluctuations, then power fluctuation smoothing is improved, but operation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermal storage as an intermediary medium between the heat pump and the power grid. Thermal storage absorbs excess power during low-demand periods and releases it during high-demand periods, smoothing power fluctuations without requiring expensive battery energy storage systems. This mediator approach allows the system to achieve power stabilization while avoiding the high costs associated with battery storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical battery storage system with a thermal storage system. Instead of using electrochemical energy storage, the system uses thermal mass (water or other thermal media) to store and release energy. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive battery systems while achieving the same power smoothing function through thermal dynamics.
2Loss of energy
If thermal storage heat pump is used for power smoothing, then operation costs are reduced, but control model maturity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into distinct layers: a start-stop control layer that manages heat pump unit commissioning and de-commissioning, and a power adjustment layer that fine-tunes power output. This segmentation of control functions simplifies the overall control model by breaking down the complex thermal storage control into manageable, independent modules that can be controlled separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control strategies that adapt to varying operating conditions. The start-stop control layer dynamically determines when to commission or de-commission heat pump units based on real-time power fluctuation conditions, while the power adjustment layer dynamically adjusts power output to match grid requirements. This dynamic approach enables the system to respond flexibly to changing conditions without requiring an overly complex static control model.
3Speed
If heat pump cluster power is adjusted frequently, then power fluctuation response is improved, but heat pump start-stop frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thermal storage as a preliminary buffer that can quickly absorb or release thermal energy in response to power fluctuations. When power fluctuations occur, the thermal storage system immediately responds by adjusting its heat exchange rate, providing fast power fluctuation mitigation without requiring frequent heat pump start-stop cycles. This preliminary action capability of thermal storage decouples the response speed from the start-stop frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a two-layer control approach where the start-stop control layer makes partial adjustments by commissioning or de-commissioning individual heat pump units based on overall power fluctuation trends, while the power adjustment layer makes fine adjustments to the running units. This partial action strategy avoids excessive start-stop operations by making gradual, staged adjustments rather than频繁ly starting and stopping all units.
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
This approach reduces the operation costs of the microgrid by effectively smoothing link-line power fluctuations, achieving consistent heat pump cluster adjustments, and minimizing charge-discharge cycles of the storage battery, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the electrothermal microgrid.
Implementation Method 1
The electrothermal microgrid adopts key electrothermal conversion technologies such as heat generation using electricity to take the advantages of a quick response of electric energy and ease of thermal energy storage
Implementation Method 2
a thermal controlled load (TCL) with a good controlled characteristic such as an air conditioner and an electric heat pump
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for smoothing a link-line power of an electrothermal microgrid using a thermal storage heat pump cluster. The method includes: determining a current link-line power control target and pre-distributing a smoothing task to the heat pump cluster; making, by a heat pump start-stop control layer cluster, a heat pump cluster start-stop scheme, determining a start-stop state of the heat pump cluster and a start-stop smoothing component of the heat pump cluster according to the smoothing task, obtaining a remaining fluctuating power based on link-line fluctuating power and the start-stop smoothing component of the heat pump cluster; smoothing, by a heat pump cluster power adjustment layer, some medium and low frequency components and outputting a smoothing component of the heat pump cluster with respect to a storage battery output optimization target based on the remaining fluctuating power; and simultaneously undertaking, by the storage battery, a smoothing task of the remaining fluctuating power and outputting a storage battery smoothing component to complete the smoothing of the fluctuating power in a control cycle.