Method for operating a plurality of devices having electrical consumers or gas consumers, and system having a plurality of such devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial customers face high energy costs due to peak power consumption, which can be exacerbated by new, more powerful devices, leading to potential interruptions in processes like cooking, and existing load shedding methods are either ineffective or costly to implement.
Innovation Solution
A system where devices with electrical or gas consumers communicate through an allocation module to manage power usage within predefined limits, allowing intelligent decision-making on process prioritization and power allocation based on current and planned processes, power data, and profiles to avoid exceeding maximum power values without interrupting operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If new, more powerful devices with higher gas consumption are installed, then the device performance and power are improved, but the maximum power consumption limit is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The allocation module performs preliminary checks before allowing a device to start a process. It calculates the projected power consumption including the new device's demand and compares it against the maximum power value in advance, preventing exceeding the limit before it happens
Solution Approach 2:
The allocation module acts as an intermediary between devices and the power supply system. It receives process start requests from devices, evaluates them against current and planned power consumption, and decides whether to permit, modify, or delay the process based on the maximum power constraint
2Power
If load shedding circuits are used to limit maximum power consumption, then the peak power consumption is reduced, but the device operation is interrupted or stopped
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reactively cutting power when the limit is reached, the system performs preliminary evaluation of each process request before approval. The allocation module checks whether adding a new process would exceed the maximum power value and prevents such processes from starting, thereby avoiding interruptions to ongoing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors current power consumption and uses this feedback to make real-time decisions about process authorization. The allocation module receives information about currently running processes and uses this feedback to determine whether new processes can be permitted without exceeding the power limit
3Loss of energy
If the maximum power value is strictly enforced, then the energy costs are reduced, but the device processes are delayed or prevented from starting
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically evaluates process requests based on current system state. The allocation module considers the timing of other processes and may permit a process to start if the maximum power value will not be exceeded at that moment, even if the device has high power consumption requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The allocation module performs preliminary calculation of projected power consumption by combining current consumption with the requested process demand. This advance evaluation allows the system to identify safe time windows for starting new processes without exceeding the maximum power value
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a plurality of devices which each contain at least one electrical or gas consumer, with the following steps: before switching on the consumer, the device asks an allocation module whether the process can be started, on the basis of parameters of the requested process, parameters of currently running and/or planned processes of the other consumers and a predefined maximum power value, the allocation module decides whether the requested process is enabled, modified or at least temporarily disabled. A system having a plurality of devices which each have at least one electrical or gas consumer as well as a controller, and having an allocation module in which a maximum power value for the consumers is stored, wherein the controller of the devices can send information about planned and current processes via a communication link to the allocation module and receive an enable signal.