Preemptive RESS Charging for Storm-Driven Power Outages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively preemptively charge rechargeable energy storage systems (RESSs) before a power outage, such as during storms or natural disasters, limiting their ability to supply electrical power during outages.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for preemptively charging RESSs by generating weather and distribution maps to identify outage risks, altering arbitrage settings, and scheduling charging outside normal periods to maximize state of charge and rate of charge, independent of cost, and notifying users for approval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RESS charging is limited by normal arbitrage settings and charging restraints, then operational costs are controlled and battery lifespan is protected, but the RESS cannot be maximally charged in advance of power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of the RESS by detecting severe weather conditions approaching a geographic region and initiating charging operations before the power outage occurs. This allows the RESS to be maximally charged in advance, ensuring reliable power supply capability during the outage without being constrained by normal operational charging limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts charging parameters including state of charge limits and charging rates based on real-time weather conditions and predicted outage timing. During preemptive charging, the system temporarily increases these limits above normal operational thresholds, then restores them after the outage event, allowing flexible optimization between reliability and operational constraints.
2Reliability
If RESS charging operates within normal state of charge and rate of charge limits, then battery longevity is maintained, but the RESS cannot store sufficient energy to maximize power supply during outages
Solution Approach 1:
The system charges the RESS to higher state of charge levels in advance of the predicted power outage, before battery degradation becomes an issue. This preliminary action ensures maximum energy storage capacity is available when needed, while the temporary nature of the elevated charging limits minimizes impact on battery longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system temporarily changes the normal operating parameters of the RESS by increasing state of charge limits and rate of charge limits during the preemptive charging window. After the outage event concludes, the system restores the original parameter settings, allowing the battery to operate within safe long-term limits while achieving maximum stored energy when required.
3Reliability
If the system preemptively charges RESSs by overriding normal charging settings, then power supply capability during outage is maximized, but operational charging control and cost management are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring weather conditions, predicting outage timing and duration, and automatically adjusting charging parameters accordingly. After the outage event, the system automatically restores normal charging control settings. This closed-loop approach maximizes power supply capability during outages while maintaining operational charging control and cost management during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: normal operational mode with standard charging controls and cost management, and preemptive charging mode with elevated limits. The transition between modes is triggered by weather detection and outage prediction, ensuring that enhanced charging capability is activated only when necessary while maintaining ease of operation during normal conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Preemptively charging rechargeable energy storage systems (RESSs) in advance of an electrical grid outage. The preemptive charging may include generating a weather map of a geographical area anticipated to be impacted with a storm or a natural event of a severity predicted to induce a power outage, which may include generating a distribution map of an electrical power distribution network within the geographical area, generating an outage map by overlaying the weather map relative to the distribution map to identify one or more intersections where the power outage is predicted, and scheduling or otherwise implementing preemptively charging of one or more the RESSs downstream of the intersections in advance of the power outage.