Power Management Device Remaining Available Power Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management systems fail to effectively prevent total power consumption from exceeding upper limit power, leading to potential interruptions and inefficiencies in managing power usage among multiple loads.

Innovation Solution

A power management system that includes a device to calculate and notify the remaining available power to a large power-using load, allowing it to operate within the calculated limits, and includes features to switch to alternative power modes to minimize excess consumption, thereby preventing total power consumption from exceeding the upper limit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the total power consumption of multiple power loads is allowed to exceed the upper limit power, then the power usage flexibility is improved, but the reliability of power supply deteriorates due to main breaker tripping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower usage flexibilityVSAvoidpower supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power management device calculates and notifies the remaining available power to the large power-using load before the total power consumption exceeds the upper limit. This preliminary notification allows the load to adjust its power consumption in advance, preventing main breaker tripping and ensuring continuous power supply while maintaining usage flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the large power-using load operates at maximum power consumption, then the productivity is improved, but the total power consumption exceeds the upper limit power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload operation efficiencyVSAvoidtotal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The power management device continuously monitors the total power consumption and provides feedback by notifying the remaining available power to the large power-using load. Based on this feedback, the load adjusts its power consumption dynamically, allowing it to operate at maximum power when available and reduce consumption when approaching the upper limit, thus maintaining productivity while staying within power constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If the power management device interrupts current flow to prevent exceeding upper limit power, then the power consumption is controlled, but the productivity of power loads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption controlVSAvoidpower load output
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of interrupting current flow after exceeding the upper limit, the power management device notifies the remaining available power in advance, allowing the large power-using load to adjust its consumption before the limit is reached. This prevents productivity loss while maintaining power consumption control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the power consumption of the large power-using load based on real-time remaining available power notifications, rather than using static interruption methods. This allows continuous operation at optimized power levels, maintaining productivity while controlling total power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2892122B1Power management system, power management device, and large power-using power load
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2892122B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2892122B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2892122B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The power management system includes: a power management device for managing power to be used by multiple power loads; and a large power-using power load. The large power-using power load is defined as a power load which shows a power consumption larger than a difference between allowable power and an upper limit power smaller than the allowable power when operating at a maximum power consumption. The power management device calculates remaining available power available for the large power-using power load, from the total power consumption of the multiple power loads and the upper limit power, and notifies the remaining available power to the large power-using power load. The large power-using power load starts to operate under a condition that its power consumption is equal to or less than the remaining available power notified by the power management device.