Power Supply System Regulation via Segmented Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power grids face operational safety and reliability issues due to decentralized power generation, particularly from renewable sources like wind and solar, which are less plannable and cause energy to flow back into the grid, leading to complex and costly management system requirements that do not effectively control energy at the low-voltage distribution level.
Innovation Solution
Regulating each supply level in a power grid as an independent unit, controlling active and reactive power between them to integrate decentralized generation without major structural modifications, using primary, secondary, and tertiary control methods to maintain voltage ranges and balance energy supply and demand, and allowing for the formation of microgrids by reducing power transmission between units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If decentralized power generation is implemented, then energy production flexibility and renewable energy utilization are improved, but operational safety and reliability of the power grid deteriorate due to unplannable energy flow and reverse energy flow
Solution Approach 1:
The power grid is divided into multiple control areas, each with its own control device that independently regulates active and reactive power. This segmentation allows decentralized power generation to be managed locally, maintaining operational safety while preserving the flexibility benefits of decentralized generation.
Solution Approach 2:
Control devices in each control area continuously monitor system parameters and adjust active and reactive power output based on feedback signals. This closed-loop control ensures that decentralized generation remains stable and reliable by automatically responding to grid conditions and maintaining operational safety.
2Loss of energy
If decentralized power generation is implemented, then transformation losses are reduced, but energy flow becomes unplannable and causes reverse energy flow
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts active and reactive power setpoints based on real-time grid conditions, allowing the system to adapt to unplannable generation patterns while maintaining energy flow predictability through coordinated control across multiple areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (active power, reactive power, voltage levels) in response to varying generation and load conditions, enabling the grid to accommodate decentralized generation while maintaining planned energy flow through dynamic parameter adjustment.
3Reliability
If complex management systems are implemented to control decentralized generation, then operational safety is improved, but system complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The management system is segmented into distributed control devices operating in each control area, eliminating the need for a single complex centralized system. Each control device handles local regulation independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational safety through distributed intelligence.
Solution Approach 2:
Control devices in each area autonomously regulate active and reactive power based on local conditions and feedback signals, without requiring constant centralized intervention. This self-service capability reduces management system complexity while ensuring operational safety through decentralized autonomous control.
4Device complexity
If current hierarchical control structure is maintained, then centralized control is simplified, but control effectiveness at distribution level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical control structure is segmented into multiple independent control areas with distributed control devices at each level. This maintains simplicity in the overall architecture while enhancing control effectiveness at the distribution level through localized autonomous regulation of active and reactive power.
Solution Approach 2:
The control architecture transitions from a single-dimensional hierarchical structure to a multi-dimensional distributed structure, adding the dimension of local autonomy while preserving hierarchical coordination. This enables effective control at the distribution level without compromising centralized control simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method provides closed-loop control for an entire power supply system which has three supply levels each considered to be a separate regulatory unit and controlled independently of the other supply levels. An interface between two respective regulatory units is defined by control of the active power and reactive power transmitted between the two regulatory units. Appropriate control of the active power and reactive power transmitted between the regulatory units allows these regulatory units to be isolated from or connected to one another in terms of power. A power supply system is ideally regarded as a chain of separate regulatory units for supplying power. This allows efficient and safe operation and local control of a power supply system to which locally produced power is supplied, for example on different supply levels. In addition, a low number of data items to be interchanged between the supply levels is maintained.