CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ECONOMICAL OPTIMIZATION OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for economically optimal control of an electrical system. Some embodiments employ generalized multivariable constrained continuous optimization techniques to determine an optimal control sequence over a future time domain in the presence of any number of costs, savings opportunities (value streams), and constraints. Some embodiments also include control methods that enable infrequent recalculation of the optimal setpoints. Some embodiments may include a battery degradation model that, working in conjunction with the economic optimizer, enables the most economical use of any type of battery. Some embodiments include techniques for load and generation learning and prediction. Some embodiments include consideration of external data, such as weather.
1 . A controller to optimize overall economics of operation of an electrical system, the controller comprising:
a communication interface to connect to a communication path to an electrical system; and
one or more processors to:
determine a set of control values for a set of control variables to effectuate a change to the electrical system toward meeting a controller objective for economical optimization of the electrical system, wherein the set of control values are determined by the one or more processors utilizing an optimization algorithm to identify the set of control values in accordance with one or more constraints and one or more cost elements associated with operation of the electrical system; and
provide the values for the set of control variables to the electrical system via the communication interface.
2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further to receive a set of configuration elements specifying the one or more constraints of the electrical system and defining the one or more cost elements associated with operation of the electrical system.
3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further to receive, via the communication interface, a set of process variables that provide one or more measurements of a state of the electrical system.
4 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors determine the set of control values for the set of control variables by:
preparing a cost function to operate on the set of control variables, the cost function including the one or more constraints and the one or more cost elements associated with operation of the electrical system; and
executing a minimization of the cost function by utilizing the optimization algorithm to find the set of values for the set of control variables.
5 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cost elements include one or more of an electricity cost, a ESS degradation cost, an incentive associated with operation of the electrical system, a payment for contracted maneuvers, a value of a change in ESS energy, a value of reserve energy, revenue for demand response opportunities, revenue for ancillary services, a cost of local generation, and penalties and revenues associated with deviation from a prescribed or contracted operating plan.
6 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further to receive, via the communication interface, a set of external inputs providing indication of one or more conditions that are external to the controller and the electrical system, wherein the one or more processors determine the set of control values for the set of control variables with consideration of the one or more conditions.
7 . The controller of claim 1 , further comprising predicting one or more of a load on the electrical system and generation by a local generator of the electrical system during an upcoming time domain,
wherein the determining the set of control values for the set of control variables includes consideration of the predicted one or more of the predicted load and predicted generation during the upcoming time domain.
8 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the optimization algorithm is one or more of:
a continuous optimization algorithm,
a constrained optimization algorithm,
a generalized optimization algorithm, and
a multivariable optimization algorithm.
9 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the set of control variables is one of a plurality of control variable sets within a control parameter set X, each of the plurality of control variable sets to be applied to a different time segment within an upcoming time domain, the set of control variables to be applied to a corresponding time segment of the upcoming time domain and each other set of the plurality of control variable sets to be applied during a different time segment of the upcoming time domain,
wherein the one or more processors are further to determine a set of values for each control variable set of X and to provide the set of values for X.
10 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein providing the set of values for X comprises providing a given set of control values for each of the plurality of sets of control variables of X individually at a corresponding time segment of the upcoming time domain.
11 . A method of a controller to optimize overall economics of operation of an electrical system, the method comprising:
receiving a set of configuration elements specifying one or more constraints of the electrical system and defining one or more cost elements associated with operation of the electrical system;
receiving a set of process variables that provide one or more measurements of a state of the electrical system, the set of process variables to be used by the controller to determine progress toward meeting a controller objective for economical optimization of the electrical system;
determining a set of control values for a set of control variables to provide to the electrical system to effectuate a change to the electrical system toward meeting the controller objective for economical optimization of the electrical system, the determining the set of control values including utilization of an optimization algorithm to identify the set of control values in accordance with the one or more constraints and the one or more cost elements; and
providing the set of control values for the set of control variables to the electrical system.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the set of values for the set of control variables comprises:
preparing a cost function to operate on the set of control variables, the cost function including the one or more constraints and the one or more cost elements associated with operation of the electrical system; and
executing a minimization of the cost function by utilizing the optimization algorithm to find the set of control values for the set of control variables.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more cost elements include an electricity cost.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more cost elements include a tariff definition.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of configuration elements define the one or more cost elements by specifying how to calculate an amount for each of the one or more cost elements.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more cost elements include one or more incentives associated with operation of the electrical system.
17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving a set of external inputs providing indication of one or more conditions that are external to the controller and the electrical system,
wherein the set of control values for the set of control variables is determined by also considering the one or more conditions.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising predicting a load on the electrical system during the upcoming time domain,
wherein the determining the set of control values for the set of control variables includes consideration of the predicted load on the electrical system during an upcoming time domain.
19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising predicting generation by a local generator of the electrical system during an upcoming time domain,
wherein the determining the set of control values for the set of control variables includes consideration of the predicted load on the electrical system during the upcoming time domain.
20 . The method of claim 11 , the set of control variables comprising one of a plurality of control variables sets within a control parameter set X, each of the plurality of control variable sets to be applied to a different time segment within the upcoming time domain, the set of control variables to be applied to a corresponding time segment of the upcoming time domain and each other set within the control parameter set X to be applied during a different time segment of the upcoming time domain,
wherein determining the set of control values for the set of control variables further comprises determining a set of values for X,
wherein providing the set of control values for the set of control variables comprises providing the set of values for X.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein providing the set of values for X comprises providing a given set of control values for each of the plurality of sets of control variables of X in advance of a corresponding time segment of the upcoming time domain.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein determining the set of values for X comprises:
preparing a cost function to operate on a current set of values for X, the cost function including the one or more constraints and the one or more cost elements associated with operation of the electrical system; and
executing a minimization of the cost function based on the current set of values for X to determine an optimal set of values for X.
23 . The method of claim 21 , the determining the set of values for X is performed by an economic optimizer comprising a first processing device, wherein the economic optimizer provides the set of values for X to a dynamic manager,
wherein the dynamic manager determines the values for the set of control variables by utilizing the set of values for X in conjunction with a control law, and
wherein the dynamic manager provides the set of values for X to the electrical system.
24 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
preparing, by an economic optimizer, a cost function to operate on a current set of values for a control parameter set X comprising a plurality of sets of control variables each to be applied during different time segments of an upcoming time domain, the cost function including the one or more constraints and the one or more cost elements associated with operation of the electrical system;
executing, by the economic optimizer, a generalized minimization of the cost function based on the current set of values for a control parameter set X to determine optimal set of values for control parameter set X; and
providing X to a dynamic manager,
wherein the dynamic manager determines the set of control values for the set of control variables by utilizing X in conjunction with a control law, and
wherein the dynamic manager provides the set of values for the set of control variables to the electrical system.