Semi-Automated Power Management System for Building Emissions Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy and power management systems lack the ability to effectively reduce power conversion and greenhouse gas emissions in local power systems, particularly in buildings, by not fully considering user preferences and group targets, and do not efficiently utilize renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A semi-automated power management system that uses a mobile device to collect statistical data on power conversion and emissions from a group of users, allowing users to set targets and generate schedules that optimize power usage and renewable energy integration, while considering building topology and weather forecasts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If energy management systems control loads and supplies to optimize power usage, then power conversion and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but user convenience and flexibility deteriorate due to automated load control
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-cooling or pre-heating buildings using thermal storage devices before peak demand periods. This allows the system to reduce power conversion during high-emission periods while maintaining user comfort, as the thermal storage maintains acceptable temperature ranges without requiring continuous active cooling or heating.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal storage devices act as intermediaries between the power grid and building climate control systems. They decouple the direct connection between power consumption and climate maintenance, allowing the system to store thermal energy when power is abundant and release it when power demand is high, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining user convenience.
2Productivity
If energy management systems implement automated scheduling of loads, then productivity and energy efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy management system is designed to control multiple types of loads simultaneously, including climate control systems, water heating, and electric vehicle charging. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate control systems into a single unified platform, improving energy efficiency across diverse applications while limiting the growth of overall system complexity through shared infrastructure.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If energy management systems integrate renewable energy sources, then sustainability and environmental performance are improved, but reliability of power supply deteriorates due to intermittent nature of renewables
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary energy storage by capturing excess renewable energy generation and storing it in thermal storage devices before periods of high demand or low renewable generation. This allows the system to maintain power supply reliability during intermittent periods while maximizing the utilization of renewable energy sources, thereby reducing power conversion requirements without sacrificing supply stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as building temperature setpoints, water heating schedules, and load timing based on renewable energy availability. By changing these parameters in response to varying renewable generation levels, the system maintains reliability while maximizing renewable energy integration and minimizing power conversion.
Data Source
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AI summary
Lowering power conversion and/or greenhouse gas emissions. A method of reducing within a local power system (7) power conversion and/or greenhouse gas emissions, the local power system (7) comprising a local power management system (5), a plurality of local devices (2a - 2e, 12a - 12c, 12e, 13), wherein the local power management system (5) communicates with one or more devices of the plurality of local devices (2a - 2e, 12a - 12c, 12e, 13), the method comprising the steps of: a mobile handheld device (14) having a human-machine interface (15) and receiving statistical data indicative of at least one of: a mean value of power conversion and/or of emissions of greenhouse gases among a plurality of users, a median value of power conversion and/or of emissions of greenhouse gases among the plurality of users, quantile values of power conversion and/or of emissions of greenhouse gases among the plurality of users.