Power Controller for Storage Degradation Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power storage apparatuses in a power system tend to degrade faster when power is transmitted and received among multiple customer facilities, leading to increased degradation cycles and potential losses, making it difficult to maintain efficient energy storage and supply.

Innovation Solution

A power controller apparatus that predicts demand power and determines reference and actual capacities for each power storage apparatus, calculating characteristic values associated with degradation to minimize the objective function indicating the degree of degradation, thereby controlling charging and discharging to extend the lifespan of power storage apparatuses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If power is transmitted and received among multiple customer facilities to share power storage apparatuses, then the total power storage capacity is sufficient and cost is reduced, but the number of charging and discharging cycles increases and degradation accelerates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal power storage capacityVSAvoidpower storage apparatus degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of power transmission and storage operations based on real-time system state assessment. The controller dynamically adjusts charging/discharging schedules and power transmission routes to optimize the balance between utilization and degradation, transitioning from static sharing arrangements to adaptive management that responds to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters such as state of charge thresholds, power transmission rates, and cycle frequency limits to manage degradation. By adjusting these parameters based on system needs and apparatus conditions, the patent optimizes the trade-off between maintaining sufficient total capacity and minimizing wear on individual storage units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If power is transmitted and received among multiple customer facilities, then power storage apparatuses are shared and initial investment costs are reduced, but losses occur in power transmission paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial investment costVSAvoidpower transmission loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a central controller as an intermediary that coordinates power transmission and storage operations across multiple facilities. This mediator optimizes routing decisions, matches power supply and demand patterns, and manages the sharing arrangement to minimize transmission losses while maintaining cost efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor power transmission efficiency, loss patterns, and system performance. This feedback information is used to continuously optimize transmission routes, adjust power flow rates, and refine the sharing arrangement to reduce energy losses while preserving the economic benefits of shared infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the capacity of power storage apparatus is increased to reduce peak power consumption, then peak power reduction is achieved, but the price and initial investment cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak power reduction capabilityVSAvoidpower storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual power storage apparatuses across different customer facilities into a coordinated virtual power storage system. By combining the capacities of smaller units and managing them collectively, the system achieves peak power reduction capabilities comparable to or exceeding single large-capacity systems, while distributing the investment burden and reducing total costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared power storage system serves multiple functions and multiple customer facilities simultaneously, creating a multi-functional infrastructure. Each power storage apparatus contributes to peak reduction for its home facility while also providing capacity to the broader network, maximizing the utility and value derived from each unit of storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11296512B2Power controller apparatus for power system including customer facilities with power storage apparatuses

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A reference capacity determiner determines a reference capacity of each power storage apparatus, under an assumption that power is not transmitted/received among the customer facilities. An actual capacity determiner determines an actual capacity of each power storage apparatus, under an assumption that power is transmitted/received among the customer facilities. A characteristic value determiner determines a first number of charging/discharging cycles, under an assumption that power is not transmitted/received among the customer facilities and each power storage apparatus has the reference capacity. A charging/discharging plan determiner determines a second number of charging/discharging cycles, under an assumption that power is transmitted/received among the customer facilities and each power storage apparatus has the actual capacity, and determine a charging/discharging plan of the power storage apparatuses so as to minimize an objective function indicating a degree of degradation from the first number of cycles to the second number of cycles.