Virtual Power Station Load Capacity Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of power distribution networks face challenges in accurately assessing available responsive load capacity and determining appropriate financial rewards for autonomously-controlled power consuming devices, particularly those with intermittent usage patterns, due to uncertainties in load balancing and susceptibility to communication disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A virtual power station with a controller that communicates with responsive load controls to execute response signatures, monitor power consumption, and determine available responsive load capacity, ensuring robustness and reliability through real-time monitoring and scheduling of power adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomously-controlled responsive loads are used in power distribution networks, then load balancing capability is improved, but measurement precision of available responsive load capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller receives status information from responsive load controls and sends control signals back to adjust power consumption. This closed-loop feedback enables the controller to accurately assess available responsive load capacity by monitoring actual load responses and using this information to make precise control decisions, thereby resolving the measurement precision problem while maintaining load balancing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the power distribution network operator and the autonomously-controlled responsive loads. It receives requests from the operator, translates them into control signals for the responsive loads, and reports back on the actual capacity utilized. This intermediary role enables accurate measurement and assessment of available responsive load capacity while preserving the load balancing benefits of autonomous control.
2Ease of operation
If communication systems are used for remote control of spatially distributed power consuming devices, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to cyberspace attacks and communication disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares for potential communication failures by implementing beforehand cushioning measures. The controller is designed to handle communication disruptions gracefully, with mechanisms to detect lost communications and switch to alternative operation modes. This prior preparation ensures that the system maintains reliability even when communication systems are attacked or disrupted, while still providing ease of operation through remote control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert communication environment by implementing secure communication protocols and authentication mechanisms that protect against cyberspace attacks. The controller and responsive load controls use encrypted channels and verified identification to establish trusted communication, effectively creating a protected communication atmosphere that maintains reliability while enabling remote operation.
3Measurement precision
If response signatures are executed by responsive loads to verify capacity, then measurement precision of available responsive load capacity is improved, but loss of time increases due to execution and monitoring overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring response signatures in the responsive load controls before they are needed. The controller can store multiple pre-defined response signatures that represent different capacity levels. When verification is needed, the system can quickly activate pre-prepared signatures rather than creating and testing new ones, significantly reducing the time required for verification while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by scheduling response signature executions at optimized intervals rather than continuously. The controller can monitor key parameters and only trigger response signature executions when necessary, such as when capacity assessments are needed or when communication is restored after a disruption. This periodic approach maintains accurate measurement capability while minimizing time loss from continuous monitoring and execution.
Data Source
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AI summary
The virtual power station (10) includes electrical power generators (20) for providing electrical power via an electrical power distribution network (40, 50) to power consuming devices (60). The virtual power station (10) further includes responsive load controls (120) with associated responsive loads (30). The responsive load controls (120) control power consumption of the responsive loads (30) with respect to a physical variable of the electrical power distribution network (40, 50) for stabilizing operation of the electrical power distribution network (40, 50). The responsive loads (30) execute a response signature and monitor and communicate their power demand arising from execution of the response signature to a central controller (140). From the information supplied by the responsive loads (30), the central controller (140) determines a measure of available responsive load capacity which, in turn, offers improvements in the management of the supply of power by the virtual power station.