Smart energy home
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart energy homes face challenges in efficiently managing and optimizing the use of renewable energy sources like photovoltaic panels, storage, and grid interaction, leading to inefficiencies in energy consumption and production.
Innovation Solution
A smart energy hub system that integrates with an inverter, connecting photovoltaic panels, energy storage, and smart devices, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of energy flow, usage optimization, and communication with external servers for tariff and weather data to regulate energy distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If photovoltaic panels and energy storage systems are integrated into the smart energy home, then renewable energy self-sufficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the smart energy hub, inverter, and energy management functions into an integrated system. The hub communicates with both the inverter and smart devices, coordinating energy flow between PV panels, storage systems, and appliances through a unified control architecture that reduces overall system complexity while maintaining renewable energy self-sufficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The inverter is designed to perform multiple functions: converting DC to AC power, managing battery charge/discharge operations, communicating with the smart energy hub, and controlling connected smart devices. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, thereby reducing system complexity while enhancing renewable energy utilization
2Productivity
If real-time monitoring and control of energy flow is implemented, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart energy hub continuously monitors energy production from PV panels, storage levels in the battery system, and consumption by smart devices. This real-time feedback enables dynamic optimization of energy flow, allowing the system to automatically adjust charging/discharging operations and device power allocation to maximize energy efficiency without requiring complex user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The energy management system operates autonomously, with the smart energy hub making real-time decisions about energy distribution based on monitored conditions. The system self-regulates battery charging when excess PV power is available, automatically discharges during high-demand periods, and controls smart devices without human input, thereby achieving high energy efficiency through simplified automated operations rather than complex manual control systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances self-consumption of renewable energy, optimizes energy storage, and reduces grid dependency by dynamically managing energy distribution based on consumption patterns, tariffs, and weather conditions, thereby improving energy efficiency and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) panels that are electrically connected to the inverter. The inverter converts direct current (DC) electricity from the PV panels to alternating current (AC) electricity
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for a smart energy home. The smart energy home may promote optimization of consumption of electricity by appliances and other consumer devices. Prioritization of where and when electricity may be provided to various appliances, chargers, or other devices which draw electrical power may be managed by the smart energy home. Information concerning prevailing weather conditions and contemporaneous electrical tariffs may be utilized in processes executed by the smart energy home. Related systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described.