Smart Load Interleaving for Peak Demand Control in Microgrids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small microgrids face challenges in managing peak power demands due to a lack of load diversity, leading to high peak-power-to-average-power ratios, which can be costly and complex to address with conventional coordination methods.
Innovation Solution
A distributed, autonomous control architecture allows smart loads to autonomously and opportunistically activate and deactivate based on locally measured grid stress indicators, using hysteretic droop curves and delay mechanisms to prevent simultaneous activation and reduce peak power demands without external communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional coordination methods are used to manage load cycling, then peak power demands can be reduced, but system cost and complexity increase due to additional networking equipment and controllers
Solution Approach 1:
Each smart load controller autonomously monitors local grid stress indicators and independently decides when to activate or deactivate loads based on pre-programmed hysteretic droop curves, eliminating the need for external coordination infrastructure while achieving peak power reduction through self-organized load interleaving
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses grid stress indicators (frequency, voltage, power) as intermediary signals that indirectly coordinate load behavior without requiring direct communication between controllers, allowing loads to automatically interleave their operation in response to shared grid conditions
2Power
If loads are coordinated to reduce peak power demands, then system cost decreases, but the system requires additional networking equipment and controllers that hinder robustness
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed autonomous control architecture allows each load controller to independently make activation decisions based on local grid conditions, eliminating single points of failure and communication dependencies while maintaining coordinated load interleaving for peak power reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The control function is segmented and distributed to individual load controllers rather than centralized, allowing each controller to operate independently and enhancing system robustness while achieving collective peak power management through shared response to grid stress indicators
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
This approach reduces peak power demands, lowers system costs, and enhances system robustness by strategically managing smart load activation to maintain grid stability within desired stress thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
a distributed, autonomous control architecture allows smart loads to autonomously and opportunistically activate and deactivate based on locally measured grid stress indicators
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for autonomous, automatic interleaving of cycled loads coupled to a grid. In one or more embodiments, the method comprises (i) determining, by a smart load coupled to a grid, a first grid stress value; (ii) comparing, by the smart load, the first grid stress value to an activation threshold; (iii) waiting, by the smart load, when the first grid stress value is less than the activation threshold, a delay period; (iv) determining, by the smart load and after the delay period ends, a second grid stress value; (v) comparing, by the smart load, the second grid stress value to the activation threshold; and (iv) activating, by the smart load, when the second grid stress value is less than the activation threshold.