Portable Microgrid Load Prioritization for Islanded Energy Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current renewable microgrids lack the capability to manage consumer demand effectively, leading to potential energy shortages and inefficiencies due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, especially in islanded systems without supplemental energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a renewable energy system (RES), energy storage system (ESS), energy management system (EMS), and energy forecasting and allocation system (EFAS) that prioritizes energy allocation to consumer loads based on priority, monitors consumption, and adjusts energy flow to ensure reliable energy distribution without supplemental sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If renewable microgrids use supplemental energy sources (fossil fuel generators or grid connections) to ensure reliability, then the reliability of energy supply is improved, but the complexity of the system and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the supplemental energy source components (fossil fuel generators and grid connections) from the microgrid system. By implementing load management and curtailment capabilities, the system can maintain reliability using only renewable resources, thereby eliminating the complexity and cost associated with hybrid energy sources while preserving the core reliability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The microgrid system performs self-service through intelligent load management and curtailment mechanisms. Instead of relying on external supplemental sources, the system autonomously balances supply and demand by managing consumer loads, prioritizing critical loads, and curtailing non-essential loads during periods of renewable energy shortage, thereby maintaining reliability independently.
2Device complexity
If renewable microgrids implement load management to avoid supplemental sources, then system simplicity is improved, but the ability to meet consumer demand deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating treatment across various consumer loads based on their priority levels. Critical loads (e.g., medical facilities, emergency services) receive preferential energy allocation and protection from curtailment, while non-essential loads are subject to management and reduction. This differentiated approach ensures that load management maintains system simplicity while still fulfilling essential consumer demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by forecasting renewable energy availability and proactively managing load allocations before energy shortages occur. By predicting generation patterns and pre-planning curtailment strategies, the system can meet essential consumer demand while maintaining simplicity, avoiding the need for reactive supplemental sources.
3Quantity of substance
If renewable microgrids curtail loads to match renewable generation capacity, then energy sufficiency is improved, but the consumer service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying different curtailment levels to different consumer loads based on their priority classifications. Critical loads maintain full service quality with no curtailment, while non-essential loads experience progressive curtailment. This ensures energy sufficiency is achieved through targeted reductions rather than uniform service degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making curtailment levels adjustable and responsive to real-time conditions. Load management strategies can be dynamically modified based on renewable generation availability, consumer priority levels, and demand patterns, allowing the system to maintain energy sufficiency while adapting service quality to preserve essential functions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for managing electrical energy generated by a renewable microgrid. One or more processors of a system may store priorities for one or more consumer loads; forecast an amount of available electrical energy for a time period; allocate a first electrical energy amount to a first consumer load to a first energy limit for the time period; determine more electrical energy is forecast to be available from the RES or the ESS for the time period; identify a second consumer load of the one or more consumer loads; allocate a second electrical energy amount to the second consumer load for the time period; and direct electrical energy from the RES or the ESS to the first and second consumer loads according to the allocations.