Microgrid Power Control for Renewable-Driven Gas Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variability and intermittency of renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and tidal power pose challenges in matching power supply with demand in industrial gas production facilities, leading to inefficiencies and potential shutdowns in power-limited scenarios, and excess power handling issues in demand-limited scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A power management system that utilizes a facility controller and power controller to generate predicted power demand and available power data, adjusting renewable power output and energy storage flows to match demand, incorporating energy storage resources like batteries, compressed air, and liquid air systems, and sending control signals to manage power distribution effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If variable renewable power sources (wind, solar, tidal) are used to power an industrial gas production facility, then environmental sustainability and energy cost reduction are improved, but power supply stability and operational reliability deteriorate due to the natural variability and intermittency of these sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future power demand and available renewable power using weather forecasts and historical data. The facility controller generates predicted power demand data and the power controller generates predicted available power data before the actual power balancing is needed, allowing proactive adjustment of operational parameters and energy storage levels to ensure stability while maximizing renewable energy utilization
Solution Approach 2:
Energy storage resources serve as an intermediary between variable renewable power sources and the industrial gas production facility. The power controller manages power flow to or from energy storage based on the difference between predicted available power and predicted power demand, absorbing excess renewable power when available and releasing stored power when renewable generation is insufficient, thereby decoupling the variability of renewable sources from the facility's operational requirements
2Power
If power output from renewable sources is increased to meet facility demand, then power supply adequacy is improved, but excess power handling becomes problematic when demand is low, potentially causing grid instability or facility damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the facility controller sends predicted power demand data to the power controller, which monitors actual power generation from renewable sources and compares it against demand requirements. The power controller adjusts power output from renewable sources and power flow to/from energy storage in real-time based on this feedback, ensuring power supply adequacy while preventing excess power conditions that could cause damage or grid instability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational parameters of the industrial gas production facility and power flow management based on real-time conditions. The power controller modifies power setpoints for renewable sources and energy storage charging/discharging rates dynamically, allowing the facility to adapt its power consumption and storage levels to match available renewable power while maintaining operational stability and preventing harmful excess power conditions
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of managing power in a power microgrid, the method comprising: generating, by the facility controller, time-dependent predicted power demand data representative of at least a predicted power demand of the industrial gas production facility for a predetermined time period; utilizing, by the power controller, the predicted power demand data to generate control set point values for controlling a generated power output of the one or more renewable power sources and for controlling a flow of electrical power to or from the energy storage resources, the control set point values being selected to adjust the available power as a function of time for the predetermined time period to correspond to the demanded power for the predetermined time period; and sending one or more control signals comprising the control set point values to the one or more renewable power sources and to the one or more energy storage resources.