Solar-Powered Relay Nodes for Outage-Resilient Utility Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network device relays for remotely-located network devices in utility distribution infrastructures face issues with power outages, high costs, and network latency due to overloading, as they rely on mains power and complex power management systems.
Innovation Solution
A solar-powered device relay node system that uses a solar hybrid battery system, including a solar panel and secondary power cell, to provide continuous power during outages and distribute network traffic efficiently across multiple relay nodes, reducing latency and deployment costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional network device relays are deployed on utility poles with mains power connection, then network devices can access the wireless network reliably, but the relays lose power during power outages causing loss of network connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into multiple independent components: a primary power source (mains power), a secondary power source (battery), and a tertiary power source (solar panel). This segmentation ensures that if one power source fails, the others can maintain operation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and duration by providing redundant power pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating a battery that charges during daylight hours and provides power during nighttime or power outages. This pre-prepared energy buffer ensures continuous operation without interruption, addressing both the reliability and duration requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional network device relays include backup batteries for power outages, then network connectivity is maintained for a short period, but the holdup period is insufficient (around eight hours) for utility providers
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges three power sources (mains power, battery, and solar panel) into a hybrid power architecture. The solar panel recharges the battery during daylight, extending the holdup period beyond what a battery alone could provide, thus resolving the insufficient duration issue while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The solar panel provides self-service by generating electricity during daylight hours to recharge the battery, reducing dependence on external power sources and extending operational duration without requiring larger battery capacity or manual intervention.
3Reliability
If conventional network device relays are deployed individually to serve remotely-located network devices, then each device has dedicated relay support, but deployment and maintenance costs are high due to technician requirements and pole lease fees
Solution Approach 1:
The relay node is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: it provides network access for remotely-located devices, extends power supply through hybrid power architecture, and can potentially provide other utility functions. This universality reduces the need for separate dedicated relays for each device, lowering deployment costs while maintaining individual device support.
4Ease of manufacture
If multiple remotely-located network devices are coupled to a single network device relay to minimize relay数量, then deployment costs are reduced, but the relay becomes overloaded with traffic causing significant network latencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single-relay architecture to a multi-relay distributed architecture, adding spatial dimensionality to the network topology. This distribution across multiple relay nodes prevents any single relay from becoming overloaded, reducing network latency while maintaining cost efficiency through shared infrastructure.
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
The solar-powered relay node system ensures continuous operation during power outages and reduces network latency by distributing traffic processing across multiple nodes, meeting utility providers' holdup period requirements and minimizing deployment costs.
Implementation Method 1
The solar-powered relay node is powered by a solar hybrid battery system that includes a solar panel
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a first node includes determining a routing metric for individual nodes in a set of nodes, receiving a network packet from a second node, selecting a third node in the set of nodes based on the routing metrics, and transmitting the network packet to the third node. The routing metric for a respective one of the set of nodes being based on at least one of a power storage status of the respective one of the set of nodes or a solar power generation status of the respective one of the set of nodes.