Construction Site Power Station With Bidirectional Demand Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Construction sites face challenges in meeting varying and fluctuating electrical energy demands due to differences in consumer energy requirements, leading to inefficiencies and potential overloading or undersizing of energy supply stations, especially in remote areas without access to external energy networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an intelligent energy supply station with bidirectional communication between consumers and the energy supply station, allowing for dynamic power management based on real-time energy requirements, using various storage technologies and prioritization modules to optimize energy distribution and storage usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the energy supply station is designed based on the summation of all power peaks of construction machines, then all consumers can be supplied with sufficient power, but the energy station becomes over-dimensioned and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadequate power supply to all consumersVSAvoidover-dimensioning of energy station
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy supply station implements dynamic power management by continuously monitoring the actual power demands of connected construction machines and adjusting the power supply in real-time. The control system dynamically allocates power based on current operational needs rather than relying on static peak summation, allowing the station to operate efficiently at varying load levels without being permanently oversized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the energy supply station receives information about the actual power consumption and operational status of each connected consumer. This feedback enables the control system to optimize power distribution, prevent over-dimensioning, and ensure adequate supply only when and where needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If different construction machines with varying energy requirements are connected to the same energy supply station, then versatility is improved, but it becomes difficult to equally meet the needs of different types of consumers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to serve different construction machinesVSAvoidadequate power supply to each consumer type
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The energy supply station dynamically adapts its power distribution strategy based on the specific requirements of each connected construction machine. The system monitors individual machine characteristics, operational phases, and power demands, then adjusts power allocation in real-time to match each consumer's unique needs, enabling both versatility and reliable service across diverse equipment types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by providing customized power supply characteristics to each connected consumer based on their specific requirements. Different construction machines receive tailored power profiles that match their operational characteristics, ensuring each machine type gets the appropriate power quality and quantity needed for reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If construction sites in remote areas without external power supply are electrified, then emission-free operation is achieved, but the complexity of providing sufficient electrical energy increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduction of emissions and noiseVSAvoidcomplexity of energy supply infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy supply station is designed as a universal, multi-functional system that can operate in various configurations - connected to external grids or operating autonomously in remote areas. The station can serve multiple construction machines simultaneously, provide power storage, and adapt to different site requirements, reducing the need for separate specialized infrastructure and thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the challenge of remote deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If the power supply station uses fixed power management without considering individual consumer requirements, then control is simplified, but efficiency and adaptability of energy distribution decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of power management controlVSAvoidefficiency of energy distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy supply station implements self-service through automated control systems that independently monitor, analyze, and optimize power distribution based on real-time data from connected consumers. The system automatically adjusts power allocation without requiring manual intervention, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving distribution efficiency through intelligent, adaptive management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from connected consumers about their power consumption patterns and operational status to automatically optimize energy distribution. This feedback-driven approach enables the control system to maintain simplicity while achieving high efficiency, as the automation handles the complexity of adapting to individual consumer requirements without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4336693A1Method for supplying a construction site with electrical energy and energy supply station for electrifying construction sites
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 LIEBHERR ELECTRONICS & DRIVES GMBH
  • EP4336693A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4336693A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4336693A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for supplying a construction site with electrical energy and an energy supply station for supplying consumers such as construction machinery, with storage means for storing electrical energy, at least one consumer connection for charging and/or supplying a respective consumer with electricity, a supply connection for connecting to an energy supply source and feeding in electrical energy, and a power and/or energy control device for controlling the feeding in and/or storage and/or distribution of the electrical energy.According to the invention, bidirectional communication takes place between the power and/or energy control device and the connected consumers, whereby, based on information transmitted by the consumers, the energy supply station plans the energy demand and controls the supply to the consumer connections depending on the planned energy demand, and conversely, based on the determined energy demand and certain characteristics of the energy supply station, control information for controlling the consumers is transmitted to the connected consumers.