DESC:ENERGY TRANSFER CONTROL STRATEGY FOR MICROGRID
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority from Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202221055800 filed on 28/09/2022, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by a reference. 5
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to a technique to transfer energy from an energy supply system (microgrid). Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method to supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads.
BACKGROUND 10
Currently, most electric power is generated and distributed by utility grids (i.e., main power grids). The utility grids are large, centralized power plants, such as nuclear power plants, hydroelectric plants, and fossil fuel powered plants along with the distribution network. The utility grids commonly have good economies of scale. The utility grid is connected to a central power source. However, when a 15 power outage occurs, everyone connected to the network is unable to receives power from the utility grid.
To overcome the issues of outage with utility grids, microgrids are developed and utilized. A microgrid is a self-sufficient energy system that serves a discrete geographic footprint, such as a college campus, hospital complex, business centre 20 or neighbourhood. The microgrid is a localized grouping of electric power generation sources and energy receiving devices. The localized grouping of electric power generation sources and energy receiving devices may also be referred to as, without limitation, a smart-grid, mini-grid, or virtual power plant. The microgrids are designed to operate in a grid mode where the microgrid is 25 electrically connected to the utility grid for receiving power and operate in an island mode where the microgrid is disconnected from the utility grid and the
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microgrid is powered by the energy supplying device available in the microgrid itself. However, in the island mode of the microgrid, it is difficult to maintain steady power supply to the plurality of loads connected in the microgrid as the power supply in the microgrid is not stable.
Therefore, there exists a need for a grid control mechanism that ensures steady 5 power supply to the loads and overcomes the one or more problems associated as set forth above.
SUMMARY
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an energy supply system configured to supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads. 10
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of supplying energy to a plurality of loads.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an energy supply system configured to supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads, the energy supply system comprises: 15
- a control device;
- a first energy unit;
- a second energy unit; and
- a third energy unit,
wherein the control device is configured to control the third energy unit, based on 20 a first specific condition and an inoperable state of the first energy unit, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, and wherein the first specific condition corresponds to a condition in which state of charge of the second energy unit is less than a first threshold value.
The present disclosure provides energy supply system that beneficially supply 25 uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads. The system of the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of maintaining stable supply of the power to the loads
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irrespective of the microgrid condition. Moreover, the system of the present disclosure beneficially eliminates stability issue in the loads when the microgrid switches in a utility grid connected mode from an island mode.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of supplying energy to a plurality of loads, the method comprises: 5
identifying, by a control device, that a first energy unit is in an inoperable state;
identifying specific condition of a second energy unit by the control device, wherein the specific condition of the second energy unit corresponds to a condition in which state of charge of the second energy unit is less than a 10 threshold value; and
controlling a third energy unit, by the control device, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, wherein the third energy unit is controlled based on the identification of the specific condition of the second energy unit and identification that the first energy unit is in the inoperable state. 15
Additional aspects, advantages, features, and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments constructed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to 20 being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended 25 drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed
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herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an energy supply system configured to 5 supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method of supplying energy to a plurality of loads, in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure.
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an 10 item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is 15 pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art 20 would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of energy supply system configured to supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads and is not 25 intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various structures and/or functions in connection with
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the illustrated embodiments; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein 5 are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is 10 not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include(s)”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a 15 setup, or system that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or system. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements 20 in the system or apparatus.
In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which are shown by way of illustration-specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to 25 practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
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The present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the description with unnecessary detail.
As used herein, the terms “power pack” “battery pack”, “battery”, and “power 5 source” are used interchangeably and refer to multiple individual battery cells connected to provide a higher combined voltage or capacity than a single battery. The power pack is designed to store electrical energy and supply it as needed to various devices or systems. Power pack, as referred herein may be used for various purposes such as power electric vehicles and other energy storage 10 applications. Furthermore, the power pack may include additional circuitry, such as a battery management system (BMS), to ensure the safe and efficient charging and discharging of the battery cells. The power pack comprises a plurality of cell arrays which in turn comprises a plurality of battery cells.
As used herein, the term “energy supply system” refers to a localized group of 15 electric loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) with clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the utility grid.
As used herein, the term “control device” refers to a control unit comprising microprocessor, electronic and electrical control modules that control the 20 operation of the microgrid by controlling the various energy supply and energy consuming devices connected in the microgrid.
As used herein, the terms “microcontroller”, “microprocessor” and “processor” are used interchangeably and refer to a computational element that is operable to respond to and process instructions that drive the system. Optionally, the 25 microprocessor may be a micro-controller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, or any other type of processing unit. Furthermore, the term “microprocessor” may refer to one or more individual
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processors, processing devices, and various elements associated with a processing device that may be shared by other processing devices. Furthermore, the microprocessor may be designed to handle real-time tasks with high performance and low power consumption. Furthermore, the microprocessor may comprise custom and/or proprietary processors. 5
Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment, describes an energy supply system 100 configured to supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads. The energy supply system 100 comprises a control device 108, a first energy unit 102, a second energy unit 104, and a third energy unit 106. The control device 108 is configured to control the third energy unit 106, based on a first specific condition 10 and an inoperable state of the first energy unit 102, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, and wherein the first specific condition corresponds to a condition in which state of charge of the second energy unit 104 is less than a first threshold value.
The energy supply system 100, beneficially supply uninterrupted energy to a 15 plurality of loads. The energy supply system 100 is advantageous in terms of maintaining stable supply of the power to the loads irrespective of the microgrid condition. Moreover, the energy supply system 100 beneficially eliminates stability issue in the loads when the microgrid switches in a utility grid connected mode from an island mode. Beneficially, the energy supply system 100 is capable 20 of handling non-linear loads.
The first energy unit 102 is a renewable energy source used to describe power derived from environmentally friendly sources of energy including renewable (or regenerative), non-polluting energy sources. Specifically, the first energy unit 102 includes, but is not limited to, wind power source, solar power source, 25 hydropower source, geothermal power source, and biomass/biofuel power source.
The second energy unit 104 is an energy storage system that stores electric energy in order to supply the power to the plurality of loads.
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As used herein, the terms ‘energy storage solution’, ‘energy storage system’ are used interchangeably and refer to any combination of battery packs that are capable of storing electrical energy and capable of being charged from an external electrical power source.
The third energy unit 106 is a diesel generator (DG) that is the combination of a 5 diesel engine with an electric generator. The diesel generates generate electrical energy by using the diesel engine and the electric generator.
Each of the plurality of loads includes energy receiving device capable of receiving energy from the energy supply system 100.
In an embodiment, the inoperable state of the first energy unit 102 includes one of 10 a fault condition of the first energy unit 102, or power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102 is less than a second threshold value. Bene
In an embodiment, the control device 108 is configured to control the first energy unit 102, based on a second specific condition, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, and wherein the second specific condition corresponds to a condition in 15 which the first energy unit 102 is in an operable state. Beneficially, the first energy unit 102, generates power to increase the state of charge of the second energy unit 104.
In an embodiment, the control device 108 is configured to firstly identify whether power requirement of the plurality of loads is greater than the power transfer 20 capacity of the first energy unit 102. In a specific embodiment, the control device 108 is configured to control the first energy unit 102 and the second energy unit 104, based on the first identification, to simultaneously supply energy to the plurality of loads. Beneficially, the uninterrupted power supply is maintained to the plurality of loads by simultaneously supplying power from the first energy 25 unit 102 and the second energy unit 104.
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In an embodiment, the control device 108 is configured to secondly identify whether the power requirement of the plurality of loads, is greater than a total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102 and the second energy unit 104. In a specific embodiment, the control device 108 is configured to control the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 106, 5 based on the second identification, to simultaneously supply power to the plurality of loads. Beneficially, the uninterrupted power supply is maintained to the plurality of loads by simultaneously supplying power from the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104 and third energy unit 106.
In an embodiment, the control device 108 is configured to thirdly identify whether 10 c, is greater than a total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 106. In a specific embodiment, the control device 108 is configured to select at least one load from the plurality of loads based on the third identification and the total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 15 106, and to control the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 106 to simultaneously supply power to the selected at least one load. Beneficially, the uninterrupted power supply is maintained to the selected at least one load by simultaneously supplying power from the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104 and third energy unit 106. 20
In an embodiment, the energy supply system 100 is connected to a utility grid. Beneficially, the energy supply system 100 is configured to supply the energy from the first energy unit 102, when the state of charge of the second energy unit 104 is high and the the power requirement of the plurality of loads is lesser than the power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102. 25
In an embodiment, an energy supply system 100 configured to supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads. The energy supply system 100 comprises a control device 108, a first energy unit 102, a second energy unit 104, and a third energy unit 106. The control device 108 is configured to control the
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third energy unit 106, based on a first specific condition and an inoperable state of the first energy unit 102, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, and wherein the first specific condition corresponds to a condition in which state of charge of the second energy unit 104 is less than a first threshold value. Furthermore, the inoperable state of the first energy unit 102 includes one of a fault condition of the 5 first energy unit 102, or power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102 is less than a second threshold value. Furthermore, the control device 108 is configured to control the first energy unit 102, based on a second specific condition, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, and wherein the second specific condition corresponds to a condition in which the first energy unit 102 is in an operable 10 state. Furthermore, the control device 108 is configured to firstly identify whether power requirement of the plurality of loads is greater than the power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102. Furthermore, the control device 108 is configured to control the first energy unit 102 and the second energy unit 104, based on the first identification, to simultaneously supply energy to the plurality 15 of loads. Furthermore, the control device 108 is configured to secondly identify whether the power requirement of the plurality of loads, is greater than a total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102 and the second energy unit 104. Furthermore, the control device 108 is configured to control the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 106, based on the 20 second identification, to simultaneously supply power to the plurality of loads. Furthermore, the control device 108 is configured to thirdly identify whether the power requirement of the plurality of loads, is greater than a total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 106. Furthermore, the control device 108 is configured to select at 25 least one load from the plurality of loads based on the third identification and the total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 106, and to control the first energy unit 102, the second energy unit 104, and the third energy unit 106 to simultaneously supply power to the selected at least one load. Furthermore, the energy supply system 30 100 is connected to a utility grid.
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Figure 2, describes method 200 of supplying energy to a plurality of loads. The method 200 starts at step 202 and finishes at step 206. At step 202, the method 200 comprises identifying, by a control device 108, that a first energy unit 102 is in an inoperable state. At step 204, the method 200 comprises identifying specific condition of a second energy unit 104 by the control device 108, wherein the 5 specific condition of the second energy unit 104 corresponds to a condition in which state of charge of the second energy unit 104 is less than a threshold value. At step 206, the method 200 comprises controlling a third energy unit 106, by the control device 108, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, wherein the third energy unit 106 is controlled based on the identification of the specific condition 10 of the second energy unit 104 and identification that the first energy unit 102 is in the inoperable state.
It would be appreciated that all the explanations and embodiments of the energy supply system 100 also apply mutatis-mutandis to the method 200.
The steps 202 to 206 are only illustrative and other alternatives can also be 15 provided where one or more steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
In the description of the present invention, it is also to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms “disposed”, “mounted,” and 20 “connected” are to be construed broadly, and may for example be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, either mechanically or electrically. They may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific 25 cases to those skilled in the art.
Modifications to embodiments and combinations of different embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims.
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Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “have”, and “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural where appropriate. 5
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component 10 parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the present disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. ,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. An energy supply system (100) configured to supply uninterrupted energy to a plurality of loads, the energy supply system (100) comprises:
- a control device (108);
- a first energy unit (102); 5
- a second energy unit (104); and
- a third energy unit (106),
wherein the control device (108) is configured to control the third energy unit (106), based on a first specific condition and an inoperable state of the first energy unit (102), to supply energy to the plurality of loads, and wherein the first specific 10 condition corresponds to a condition in which state of charge of the second energy unit (104) is less than a first threshold value.
2. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inoperable state of the first energy unit (102) includes one of a fault condition of the first energy unit (102), or power transfer capacity of the first energy unit (102) 15 is less than a second threshold value.
3. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device (108) is configured to control the first energy unit (102), based on a second specific condition, to supply energy to the plurality of loads, and wherein the second specific condition corresponds to a condition in which the first energy unit 20 (102) is in an operable state.
4. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control device (108) is configured to firstly identify whether power requirement of the plurality of loads is greater than the power transfer capacity of the first energy unit (102). 25
5. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control device (108) is configured to control the first energy unit (102) and the second
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energy unit (104), based on the first identification, to simultaneously supply energy to the plurality of loads.
6. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control device (108) is configured to secondly identify whether the power requirement of the plurality of loads, is greater than a total power transfer capacity of the first 5 energy unit (102) and the second energy unit (104).
7. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control device (108) is configured to control the first energy unit (102), the second energy unit (104), and the third energy unit (106), based on the second identification, to simultaneously supply power to the plurality of loads. 10
8. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control device (108) is configured to thirdly identify whether the power requirement of the plurality of loads, is greater than a total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit (102), the second energy unit (104), and the third energy unit (106).
9. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control 15 device (108) is configured to select at least one load from the plurality of loads based on the third identification and the total power transfer capacity of the first energy unit (102), the second energy unit (104), and the third energy unit (106), and to control the first energy unit (102), the second energy unit (104), and the third energy unit (106) to simultaneously supply power to the selected at least one 20 load.
10. The energy supply system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy supply system (100) is connected to a utility grid.
11. A method (200) of supplying energy to a plurality of loads, the method (200) comprises: 25
identifying, by a control device (108), that a first energy unit (102) is in an inoperable state;
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identifying specific condition of a second energy unit (104) by the control device (108), wherein the specific condition of the second energy unit (104) corresponds to a condition in which state of charge of the second energy unit (104) is less than a threshold value; and
controlling a third energy unit (106), by the control device (108), to supply 5 energy to the plurality of loads, wherein the third energy unit (106) is controlled based on the identification of the specific condition of the second energy unit (104) and identification that the first energy unit (102) is in the inoperable state.