Overlay Network Topology for Distributed Community Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current load management systems face challenges in balancing electricity demand peaks in a community, particularly with the increasing adoption of plug-in electric vehicles and decentralized energy generation, as they often rely on direct control methods that can affect user comfort and lack feedback mechanisms for appliances like water heaters.
Innovation Solution
A distributed load management method using networked controllers that allow loads such as water heaters to communicate with each other and the grid, enabling semi-autonomous or fully autonomous control over power consumption based on local and community data, such as temperature and grid supply parameters, to optimize energy usage and reduce peak demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If direct control methods are used to manage electricity demand, then peak demand can be reduced, but user comfort is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where water heaters communicate their operational status, temperature levels, and consumption data to the load management system. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust control strategies dynamically, reducing peak demand while maintaining user comfort by responding to actual appliance states rather than applying blanket control schedules.
Solution Approach 2:
Water heaters are equipped with autonomous control capabilities that allow them to make their own scheduling decisions based on pre-configured user preferences and comfort parameters. The appliances self-regulate their operation to avoid peak periods while maintaining service quality, eliminating the need for direct external control that would compromise user comfort.
2Power
If more power plants and grid reinforcement are built to meet growing demand, then electricity supply capacity increases, but infrastructure cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scheduling of water heater operations during off-peak periods when grid demand is low. By pre-heating water and storing thermal energy in advance, the system shifts load away from peak periods, reducing the need for additional power plant capacity and grid reinforcement while maintaining adequate supply capacity throughout the day.
Data Source
AI summary
A load management method for controlling a plurality of distributed community loads with a plurality of controllers. The controllers are connectable to a network and the distributed community loads are connectable to a power grid. The loads are controllable by a corresponding one of the controllers according to a local need and a power grid supply or a community need of the loads. A network node device adapted to communicate with other node devices of a same community within an overlay network topology system. The system has a plurality of node devices organized in a number of hierarchically linked rings. The plurality of node devices of a same ring is interconnected in groups of node devices. One of the node devices is a parent node for linking the node devices of a first ring to node devices of a second ring at another hierarchy by being a parent node to both first and second rings.