Smart Grid Appliance Control for Real-Time Power-Rate Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electricity networks are centralized and one-way, lacking real-time power-rate information and consumer participation, making it difficult to implement efficient energy management and reduce peak power demand.
Innovation Solution
An electric appliance and control method that enables flexible operation based on real-time power information and varying unit prices, allowing users to adjust usage during peak times and providing tools for energy management through Smart Grid technology, including smart meters and energy management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If real-time power-rate information and flexible operation control are implemented, then energy efficiency and power-rate savings are improved, but device complexity and system integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication device as an intermediary component that receives power-rate information from external sources and transmits it to the control device. This mediator handles the complexity of external system integration, allowing the core control functionality to remain relatively simple while still achieving real-time power-rate optimization through indirect information exchange.
2Ease of operation
If flexible operation modes based on power-rate information are provided, then user convenience and energy management capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically adjusts operation modes based on received power-rate information without requiring manual user intervention. The system monitors power-rate data, determines optimal operation timing, and executes control decisions autonomously, thereby maintaining ease of operation while implementing sophisticated energy management strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic operation modes that can flexibly adapt to changing power-rate conditions. The control device adjusts washing cycles, heating operations, and other appliance functions in real-time based on current power-rate information, allowing the system to optimize energy consumption while maintaining user convenience through automatic adaptation.
3Loss of energy
If peak-time power demand reduction is enabled through real-time information, then energy efficiency is improved, but loss of time in operation scheduling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-scheduling operations during low-power-rate periods before peak demand occurs. The control device receives advance power-rate information and proactively adjusts operation timing, completing tasks ahead of time when energy rates are lower, thereby reducing peak demand while managing operational timing efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic operation cycles that align with power-rate patterns. The control device divides operations into periodic phases, scheduling high-consumption tasks during low-rate periods and utilizing idle times effectively, thereby achieving energy efficiency improvements while maintaining acceptable operation completion times through structured periodic scheduling.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric appliance and a control method thereof are disclosed. The electric appliance includes a communication device connected with a smart grid net to recognize electric power information including power-rate information for each time period, a sensing device configured to sense a predetermined operation mode and an operation state according to the operation mode, and a control device configured to implement power-saving operation based on the received electric power information and the state information sensed by the sensing device.