Virtual Power Infrastructure for Dynamic Energy Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale power distribution systems face challenges in efficiently managing power allocation between renewable and exhaustible energy sources, leading to overburdening or underutilization of power plants due to variability in energy production, which is not feasible for large groups of consumers.
Innovation Solution
A virtual power infrastructure and management method that allocates power distribution based on the location, flexibility, criticality, and environmental impact of power demanding units and generators, using a virtual power manager to optimize power load demands and emissions, incorporating demand and capacity managers to negotiate and automate power allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If power distribution is managed based on individual consumer needs without coordination, then each consumer can receive power from appropriate sources, but large-scale consumers cause overburdening or underutilization of power plants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual power infrastructure manager as an intermediary system that coordinates between multiple consumers and power generators. This manager allocates power distribution centrally, matching consumers with appropriate renewable or non-renewable sources based on current availability and demand, preventing any single consumer from causing overburdening or underutilization of power plants.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual power infrastructure enables a single power plant to serve multiple functions and multiple consumers simultaneously. The system dynamically routes power from the same generator to different consumers based on their specific needs and the current state of renewable energy availability, optimizing overall system utilization.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If renewable energy sources are used to reduce reliance on exhaustible materials, then environmental impact is reduced, but random unavailability occurs when sunlight or wind is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple power sources (renewable and non-renewable) into a unified virtual power infrastructure. The system combines the environmental benefits of renewable energy with the reliability of non-renewable sources, dynamically selecting the appropriate mix based on current conditions to ensure continuous power availability while minimizing environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of power source selection based on environmental conditions. When renewable energy availability is sufficient, the system prioritizes renewable sources to reduce environmental impact. When renewable sources are insufficient, the system transitions to non-renewable sources to maintain power availability, thus adapting to changing conditions.
3Reliability
If exhaustible material consuming power plants are used to ensure power availability, then reliable power supply is maintained, but excessive power generation occurs when renewable energy production is high
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual power infrastructure implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor renewable energy production levels and adjust power plant operations accordingly. When renewable energy production is high, the system reduces output from exhaustible material consuming plants to avoid excessive generation and energy waste, while maintaining sufficient total power supply.
4Productivity
If a virtual power infrastructure is implemented to optimize power distribution, then power utilization efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to virtualization and negotiation algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy or representation of the physical power infrastructure, including virtual power plants and virtual consumers. This virtual model allows for complex optimization and negotiation algorithms to operate on data representations rather than directly controlling physical systems, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining optimization benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual power infrastructure for managing distribution of power to a plurality of power demanding units from a plurality of power generators includes a demand manager having logical descriptions of the power demanding units, in which the demand manager is configured to determine power load demands of the power demanding units using the logical descriptions of the power demanding units, and a capacity manager having logical descriptions of the power generators. The capacity manager is configured to determine allocation of power capacity supplied to the power generators from one or more of the power generators to meet the power load demands of the power demanding units, while satisfying one or more predetermined constraints associated with at least one of the power demanding units and the power generators.