POWER MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130297089A1
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Karimi, Kamiar J., Fu, Sheau-Wei J., Mesbahi, Mehran, Zelazo, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,811,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/466 Scheduling the operation of the generators, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a given demand
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

A system to control a power distribution system includes a system controller configured to determine an allocation of power during a first time period for each of a plurality of subsystems. The system also includes a subsystem controller communicatively coupled to the system controller. The subsystem controller is associated with a device and configured to receive power allocation data indicating the allocation of power for the device from the system controller. The subsystem controller is further configured to receive operation request data indicating a request to operate the device and produce a model operation of the device for a second time period based on the power allocation data, the operation request data, and a cost-utility function associated with the device. The subsystem controller is also configured to communicate, to the system controller, projected power demand data associated with the modeled operation of the device during the second time period.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a system controller configured to determine an allocation of power during a first time period for each of a plurality of subsystems; and

a subsystem controller communicatively coupled to the system controller, the subsystem controller associated with a device, the subsystem controller configured to;

receive power allocation data indicating the allocation of power for the device from the system controller;

receive operation request data indicating a request to operate the device;

model operation of the device for a second time period based on the power allocation data, the operation request data, and a cost-utility function associated with the device to produce a modeled operation of the device; and

communicate, to the system controller, prior to the second time period, projected power demand data associated with the modeled operation of the device during the second time period.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device includes one of a source device, a load device, or a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the subsystem controller is associated with multiple devices, and wherein the subsystem controller controls operation of each device of the multiple devices using a corresponding cost-utility function.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system controller determines the allocation of power using a subgradient optimization process, and wherein the subsystem controller determines the projected power demand data of the device using a shortest path algorithm.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the shortest path algorithm is configured to estimate a lowest cost path, based on the cost-utility function associated with the device, from a current operational state to a desired operational state indicated by the operation request data, wherein a cost of the lowest cost path is estimated based at least partially on the power allocation data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system controller and the subsystem controller are included in a power distribution system of an aircraft, and wherein the second time period occurs subsequent to the first time period.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is further configured to allocate power to the plurality of subsystems subject to an upper power demand constraint for total power consumed during the first time period by all loads, subject to a lower power demand bound associated with each of one or more loads, and subject to an upper power output bound associated with each of one or more sources.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of subsystems corresponds to a schedulable unit, operation of which is optional during the first time period within predefined constraints, and wherein the system controller is further configured to determine an allocation of power during the first time period for one or more non-schedulable units, operation of which is not optional during the first time period.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the non-schedulable units include flight safety systems and wherein the schedulable units include convenience systems.

10. A method comprising:

determining an allocation of power for each of a plurality of subsystems, each of the plurality of subsystems associated with at least one corresponding device;

generating power allocation data indicating the allocation of power for a particular subsystem of the plurality of subsystems;

receiving operation request data indicating a request to operate a device of the particular subsystem;

modeling operation of the device based on the power allocation data, the operation request data, and a cost-utility function associated with the device to produce a modeled operation of the device; and

identifying projected power demand data associated with the modeled operation of the device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising updating the allocation of power for each of the plurality of subsystems in response to the projected power demand data.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a total power projected to be generated based on one or more source devices.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining, based on the projected power demand data, whether a total power projected to be consumed is equal to a total power projected to be generated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, when the total power projected to be consumed is not equal to the total power projected to be generated, initiating a source device to increase an amount of power provided or reducing an allocation of power to a load device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the operation request data is received via a user input indicating an operational set point associated with the device.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine an allocation of power for each of a plurality of subsystems, each of the plurality of subsystems associated with at least one corresponding device;

generate power allocation data indicating the allocation of power for a particular subsystem of the plurality of subsystems;

receive operation request data indicating a request to operate a device of the particular subsystem;

model operation of the device based on the power allocation data, the operation request data, and a cost-utility function associated with the device to produce a modeled operation of the device; and

identify a projected power demand data associated with the modeled operation of the device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the allocation of power is determined based on operating constraints of a plurality of source devices.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive projected power demand data from multiple subsystem controllers, wherein each of the subsystem controllers is associated with one of the plurality of subsystems; and

determine, based on the received projected power demand data, whether a total power projected to be consumed is less than or equal to a total power projected to be generated.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to update the allocation of power for each of the plurality of subsystems in response to the projected power demand data when the total power projected to be consumed is not less than or equal to the total power projected to be generated.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to maintain the allocation of power for each of the plurality of subsystems when the total power projected to be consumed is less than or equal to the total power projected to be generated.