Microgrid Power Setpoint Control for Demand Contract Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Legacy microgrid controllers fail to actively compensate for lags in source response, leading to potential violations of power demand contracts, resulting in penalties due to excess or deficit energy demands that are not promptly corrected.

Innovation Solution

A microgrid controller adjusts power setpoints using excess and deficit energy demand computations to proactively manage power flow, incorporating moving averages and additional power sources or load reductions to maintain contract compliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If legacy microgrid controllers respond to load excursions by controlling power flow to maximum or minimum power threshold, then fast response is achieved, but control of demand power to or below the threshold cannot be guaranteed due to lags in system response

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidcontract compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by computing excess or deficit energy demand in advance and adjusting power setpoints proactively. The controller calculates the difference between actual power flow and contract demand, then preemptively adjusts source power setpoints to compensate for anticipated lags, ensuring contract compliance before violations occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring power flow measurements, computing excess or deficit energy demand, and using this information to dynamically adjust power setpoints. The controller measures actual power flow, compares it with contract demand, and feeds back adjustment signals to sources to maintain compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If control only brings power flow back to peak threshold, then immediate compliance is achieved, but excess energy flow during lag period cannot be cancelled resulting in penalty charges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmediate complianceVSAvoidexcess energy penalty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by computing excess or deficit energy demand and adjusting power setpoints in advance to counteract anticipated violations. The controller proactively reduces or increases source output to prevent excess energy flow before it occurs, rather than merely responding after the fact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Power

If multiple sources are kept online to meet peak load demands, then adequate power capacity is available, but cost increases due to running multiple sources during peak periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower capacityVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by dynamically adjusting power setpoints of available sources based on real-time load conditions and contract requirements. Instead of statically running multiple sources at full capacity, the controller dynamically optimizes the output of online sources to meet varying demand while maintaining compliance, reducing unnecessary operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies parameter changes by modifying power setpoint parameters of sources based on computed excess or deficit energy demand. The controller adjusts operational parameters (power output levels) of online sources in response to changing conditions, optimizing the balance between power capacity utilization and operational cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250273966A1System and methods for adjusting power setpoints for power demand management

Publication Date: 2025.08.28 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a measurement of power flow on a tie line performed at a pre-determined uniform interval, detecting that a measurement of power flow exceeds a maximum power demand contract at a first time instance, entering into an excess demand compensation mode, where an excess energy demand is controlled to be zero during the excess demand compensation mode, and wherein the excess energy demand at a time instance after the first time instance is calculated based on measurements of power flow on or after the first time instance relative to the maximum power demand contract until the excess energy demand becomes zero, and modifying one or more power setpoints during the excess demand compensation mode to control the excess energy demand to be zero within the pre-determined amount of time from the first time.