Service Network Load Splitting With a Virtual Power Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service provision networks face challenges in optimizing load distribution across multiple devices when the sum of available powers is less than the load demand, due to physical or technical limitations.
Innovation Solution
A method that splits the load demand between physical service provision devices and a virtual service provision device, optimizing a cost function to ensure the sum of powers assigned to all devices matches the load demand, thereby allowing for automatic and efficient load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the sum of available powers of service provision devices is less than the load demand, then the optimization problem becomes impermissible and no load distribution can be calculated, but the system still needs to handle such situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual service provision device as an intermediary element in the optimization problem. This virtual device acts as a mediator that allows the optimization to proceed even when physical devices cannot meet the load demand. The virtual device absorbs the imbalance between available power and load demand, making the optimization problem mathematically solvable while still providing meaningful load distribution results for the physical devices.
2Speed
If load demand increases suddenly by 500 kW within a few seconds, then the load demand cannot be met, but the service provision devices can only increase power at a lower rate of 200 kW per minute due to physical or technical reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs beforehand cushioning by introducing the virtual service provision device that can immediately absorb power imbalances. When load demand suddenly increases beyond what physical devices can provide, the virtual device cushiones the deficit, allowing the system to maintain optimization without requiring instantaneous power increases from physical devices that are constrained by their rate limits.
3Ease of operation
If a virtual service provision device is introduced to solve the optimization problem, then load distribution can always be calculated, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating a virtual replica of a service provision device. This virtual copy mirrors the structure and function of physical devices but exists purely in the optimization model. The virtual device copies the necessary interface and parameters to enable mathematical optimization without requiring physical hardware, thus increasing computational ease while minimizing actual system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a service provision network, the method including the steps of: providing that the service provision network includes at least two service provision devices; splitting a load demand on the service provision network between the at least two service provision devices and a virtual service provision device to optimize a cost function, a load distribution being obtained; and operating the at least two service provision devices according to the load distribution obtained.