Mobile Energy Resources for Power System Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical power systems face challenges in minimizing outage times for healthy downstream areas when faults occur, as isolating faults can inadvertently cut off power to these areas, and existing restoration methods may not have sufficient capacity to restore power quickly and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The integration of mobile energy resources, such as electric vehicles, into the power system allows for the identification of restoration paths and the use of power injection requests to electric vehicles to restore power by connecting them to electric vehicle charging stations, enabling power injection into the system to support load restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fault isolation methods are used to separate faulty circuits, then fault propagation is prevented, but healthy downstream areas are inadvertently isolated causing extended outages
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power distribution network into distinct zones and uses reclosers to selectively isolate only the faulty segment while maintaining power flow to healthy segments through alternative paths. This allows fault propagation prevention without unnecessarily isolating healthy downstream areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a spatial dimension to restoration by deploying mobile energy resources (vehicles with energy storage) to physically relocate and establish temporary power sources at strategic locations. This enables power restoration through alternative spatial routes rather than being constrained to fixed infrastructure paths.
2Loss of time
If mobile energy resources are deployed to restore power quickly, then outage time is reduced, but system complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback loops where the control center continuously monitors grid conditions, mobile resource locations, and energy levels. This enables dynamic adjustment of restoration strategies and automatic coordination of multiple mobile resources based on actual system state, reducing the perceived complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile energy resources are equipped with autonomous capabilities including self-navigation to target locations, self-charging at designated stations, and self-coordination with other resources. This reduces the operational complexity by allowing resources to manage their own tasks without constant human intervention.
3Power
If power injection requests are sent to multiple mobile energy resources, then sufficient power capacity is secured, but communication overhead and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system sends power injection requests to a pool of mobile resources exceeding the minimum required capacity. This ensures sufficient power availability while allowing the system to select only the necessary number of resources based on their responses and actual grid needs, balancing capacity security with coordination efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed to handle multiple functions simultaneously: it coordinates power injection requests, tracks resource locations, monitors energy levels, manages charging schedules, and adjusts restoration strategies. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a unified system rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
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 outage times and enhances power system reliability by leveraging mobile energy resources to supplement the power grid, ensuring that power can be restored efficiently even when traditional sources lack sufficient capacity, and allows for selective restoration of critical loads.
Implementation Method 1
supporting information: Examples of using electric vehicles to supply power to an electric power grid are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,642,270 and 7,747,739
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for restoring service within electrical power systems are disclosed. The methods may include identifying a restoration path for an outage area within a power system, selecting a mobile energy resource connection site that is electrically connected to at least one of the restoration path and the outage area, sending power injection requests to a plurality of mobile energy resources, at least some of which may be proximate the connection site, receiving power injection acceptances from participating ones of the plurality of mobile energy resources, and implementing the restoration path. The systems may include a processor and a computer readable storage medium having a plurality of machine-readable instructions embodied thereon and configured for execution by the processor to carryout the method.