Power Control Device Autonomous Operation During Server Communication Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power control systems fail to control load devices when communication between the power control device and the server is cut off, and there is no timely means to discover such communication disruptions, potentially leading to exceeded contract power.
Innovation Solution
A power control system where the power control device can autonomously control load devices based on stored control guidelines when communication with the server is lost, and includes a notification mechanism to alert on communication failures, using a configuration with a power control device, user terminal, and EMS server that periodically monitors and updates control instructions and sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power control device relies on continuous communication with the server to control load devices, then control accuracy and compliance with contractual power limits can be maintained, but the system fails to control load devices when communication is cut off
Solution Approach 1:
The power control device stores control instructions and contract power information in advance in its storage unit. When communication with the server is available, the device pre-acquires control instructions for future time periods and stores them locally. This allows the device to execute pre-fetched control instructions even when communication is subsequently cut off, ensuring continuous control without real-time server connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The power control device autonomously determines whether to operate load devices based on stored contract power information and control instructions without requiring continuous server intervention. The device independently calculates power consumption, compares it against contractual limits, and makes control decisions locally, enabling self-sufficient operation during communication outages.
2Device complexity
If the system uses polling-based control instruction acquisition, then unique identification numbers are not needed for each device, but there is no timely means to discover communication disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the power control device sends polling requests to the server at regular intervals and expects acknowledgment responses. When the server fails to respond within a predetermined time period, the device detects the communication disruption through this missing feedback. Additionally, the server can send notifications to the device when control instructions are not acknowledged, providing bidirectional feedback for reliable communication status monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a power control system, power control device, server device, and method for controlling a power control system in which the power control device can control load devices even when communication between the power control device and the server device is cut off, and which allow for timely discovery that communication has been cut off. A server device (20) extracts at least one of an elapsed time and remaining number of control instructions not acquired by a power control device (10) by polling and provides a warning when at least one of the elapsed time and the remaining number is at least a predetermined value. When the server device does not respond to polling, the power control device (10) creates a control instruction based on control guideline information and executes the control instruction.