Power Management Control System for Natural Energy Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Natural energy power generation systems with storage batteries face challenges in predicting power generation accurately, leading to excessive or insufficient power transmission, which results in increased storage battery capacity requirements, higher costs, and reduced profitability due to the need for supplemental power sources and reduced storage battery capacity.

Innovation Solution

A power management and control system that adjusts the natural energy power generation based on the chargeable power in the storage battery, using a power generation control system to regulate output and a supervisory control unit to set a power generation output upper limit target value, thereby reducing the storage battery capacity needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the storage battery capacity is increased to handle prediction errors in power generation, then the reliability of power transmission is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission reliabilityVSAvoidstorage battery capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary power generation control based on predicted power generation amounts before actual power transmission. By predicting future power generation and pre-adjusting the storage battery charge/discharge schedule, the system prepares in advance for predicted variations, reducing the need for excessive storage capacity to handle unexpected deviations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors actual power generation against predicted values and adjusts the storage battery operation in real-time. The control unit compares predicted power generation with actual generation and dynamically modifies the charge/discharge schedule, creating a closed-loop feedback system that optimizes storage battery usage and reduces required capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the storage battery capacity is reduced to lower costs, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to handle power generation variations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage battery capacityVSAvoidpower generation variation handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By predicting power generation amounts in advance and pre-planning the storage battery charge/discharge schedule, the system proactively prepares for expected power variations. This preliminary action allows smaller storage batteries to effectively handle variations by optimizing their usage before variations occur, rather than relying on large capacity to absorb all variations passively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the storage battery charge/discharge schedule based on real-time comparison between predicted and actual power generation. This dynamic adaptation allows the storage battery to optimally respond to power variations regardless of its capacity size, improving the system's adaptability to handle various power generation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If supplemental power sources are installed to ensure adequate power transmission, then the reliability is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission reliabilityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the storage battery to self-regulate and balance power transmission by charging during periods of excess power generation and discharging during periods of insufficient generation. This self-service mechanism eliminates or reduces the need for external supplemental power sources, thereby reducing costs while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows for more precise power transmission according to a fixed power transmission plan, reducing the need for excessive storage battery capacity and supplemental power sources, enhancing the efficiency and profitability of natural energy power stations.

Implementation Method 1

a storage battery which charges and discharges part of power generated in the natural energy power generation apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentEP2375561B1Power management control system for natural energy power generation system provided with storage battery
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 JAPAN WIND DEVMENT
  • EP2375561B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2375561B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP2375561B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

When power management processing is started (S101), it is determined whether setting of calculation of a power generation output upper limit target candidate value is automatic or manual (S102). When it is not automatic calculation, the power generation output upper limit target candidate value is inputted (S103), and in the case of automatic calculation, the power generation output upper limit target candidate value is calculated (S104). Next, the power generation output upper limit target candidate value and a generator rated output are compared, and it is determined whether the power generation output upper limit target candidate value < generator rated output (S105). If the comparison result is YES, the power generation output upper limit target value is set so that the power generation output upper limit target value = the power generation output upper limit target candidate value (S106). Next, control of regulating generation power of a natural energy power generation apparatus is performed so that a power generation output value is close to the set power generation output upper limit target value (S107). Thereby, in a natural energy power generation system with a storage battery, a storage battery can be reduced in capacity.