Surplus Energy Recovery Control Loop for Power Plants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power plants that generate electrical energy from renewable sources face challenges in recovering excess energy without degrading the power supply to the primary electrical installation, such as telecommunications sites, which require a reliable and efficient method to harness surplus energy without impacting the charging of batteries.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for recovering surplus current from a power plant using a control loop and power converter, where the surplus current setpoint is incremented and decremented based on predetermined values to maximize recovered energy while ensuring the charging current of the main storage means is not significantly reduced, utilizing a microcontroller and control software to implement this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a harvesting device is connected to draw surplus current from the plant, then the recovered surplus energy is maximized, but the charging current of the main storage means may be significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control loop continuously monitors the charging current of the main storage means and adjusts the surplus current setpoint accordingly. When the charging current drops below a threshold, the system automatically reduces or stops surplus current extraction, ensuring the telecommunications site's power supply is never compromised while maximizing energy recovery during safe operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The surplus current setpoint is dynamically adjusted based on real-time plant conditions and battery charge levels. The system transitions from a static extraction approach to a dynamic one where the harvesting intensity varies continuously, allowing maximum surplus energy recovery when batteries are fully charged while automatically reducing extraction when charging is needed, thus resolving the contradiction between energy recovery and power supply reliability.
2Productivity
If the surplus current setpoint is continuously incremented to maximize recovered energy, then the energy recovery efficiency increases, but the charging current of the main storage means decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by extracting only the surplus current portion that exceeds the minimum required for battery charging. Instead of maximizing total current extraction, it selectively extracts only the excess portion above the threshold, thereby improving energy recovery efficiency without significantly impacting the charging power needed to maintain reliable operation of the telecommunications site.
3Quantity of substance
If the power converter operates at high current to maximize surplus energy harvesting, then the recovered energy quantity increases, but the system complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system manages complexity by dynamically changing key operating parameters including the surplus current setpoint, conversion ratio, and operating mode of the power converter. These parameter changes are automatically adjusted based on plant conditions, allowing the system to maximize recovered surplus current while the control algorithm handles the complexity of coordinating multiple parameters to maintain stable operation.
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 allows for the maximization of recovered surplus current while maintaining the integrity of the power supply to the telecommunications site, ensuring that the recovered energy corresponds to the excess energy available in the plant without degrading the charging of the main storage means.
Implementation Method 1
a harvesting device for drawing surplus current from the plant, the harvesting device comprising a power converter
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for recovering surplus energy in a power station in order to supply power to an electrical device, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a recovery device comprising a power converter to the power station; carrying out current control on the power converter; defining a residual current set point (Is_n) at the time Tn; incrementing, at the time Tn+1=Tn+[delta]T0, the residual current set point (Is_n) by a first predetermined value; measuring a battery current (Ibatt_n+1) through a storage device; if the a decrease of the battery current caused by increment of the residual current set point is higher than a second predetermined value (k. [delta]Is0), decrementing the residual current set point by the first predetermined value ([delta]Is0); If not, incrementing the residualcurrent set point by the first predetermined value again. A recovery device which adapts to be connected to the power station is provided.