Multivalent Energy Supply Control for Faster Demand Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control methods for multivalent energy supply systems are inefficient in utilizing energy resources and maintaining generator longevity, as they fail to account for generator-specific criteria and operate energy generators sequentially or uncoordinatedly, leading to prolonged time to meet energy demands and uneven wear.
Innovation Solution
A control method that classifies energy generators into groups and cascades, using closed-loop controllers to determine switching states and target values based on energy supply requests and specific criteria, ensuring coordinated and efficient operation by prioritizing energy generator-specific, system-specific, and energy form-specific criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If energy generators are switched on or off sequentially along a predetermined order, then the control structure is simple, but the time to meet energy demand increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy generator control into multiple independent cascades, where each cascade manages a subset of generators with specific switching criteria. This allows parallel evaluation of multiple generator switching decisions simultaneously, reducing the overall time to meet energy demand while maintaining structured control through hierarchical cascade organization.
2Speed
If energy generators are operated independently in parallel, then the response time to meet energy demand is fast, but generator-specific criteria cannot be taken into account
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control within each cascade by continuously evaluating generator-specific criteria (such as operational status, efficiency, and constraints) and adjusting switching decisions in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain fast parallel response while incorporating generator-specific characteristics through conditional switching logic that responds to current system state and generator capabilities.
3Device complexity
If conventional control methods are used without considering generator-specific criteria, then the control is simple, but the useful life of energy generators is not uniformly distributed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms within each cascade that monitor generator operational status, usage patterns, and performance metrics. This feedback information is used to adjust switching decisions dynamically, distributing operational load more uniformly across generators and extending their useful life. The feedback loop continuously adapts control strategies based on actual generator conditions while maintaining relatively simple cascade-based control structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for controlling a multivalent energy supply system including at least two energy generators using at least two different energy carriers to provide heat, cold, and/or electrical energy. For each generator, a closed-loop controller controls variables of the generator. Each generator assumes one of three possible switching states: the generator must be switched on, must be switched off, or may be switched on or off. The system includes a control device for coordinatedly controlling the closed-loop controllers. The control device detects at least one request for heat and/or cold and/or electrical energy and determines whether a specific criterion is present which specifies exactly one of the three possible switching states for each generator. The control device determines target values for meeting the request depending on the request and the specific criterion and outputs the target values to the closed-loop controllers.