Development of the algorithm for the automated synchronization of energy consumption by electric heaters under condition of limited energy resource

• Main Authors: Viktor Tkachov, Gerhard Gruhler, Alexander Zaslavski, Andrey Bublikov, Stanislav Protsenko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PC Technology Center 2018-03-01
• Series: Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies
• Subjects: electric heating; heater with a thermostat; power allocation; automated management of power consumption
• Online Access: http://journals.uran.ua/eejet/article/view/126949
• ISSN: 1729-3774; 1729-4061

A special feature of the proposed algorithm that automatically synchronizes operation of electric heaters is to divide the heaters into prioritized and non-prioritized ones, with subsequent synchronization of operation of the prioritized heaters in time so that the non-prioritized heaters would receive the maximum amount of excessive electric resource. The first condition for the prioritized heaters is the predictability of their modes of operation, when it is possible to predict the times of their turning on and off and to apply this information in order to synchronize operation of the heaters. The second condition is the maximal utilization of the proposed electric resource under condition of simultaneous connection of all prioritized heaters. The synchronization of operation of the prioritized heaters in time is based on two rules – in case among the non-prioritized heaters there are more heaters with a greater capacity, the prioritized heaters combine their work so that at moments of their simultaneous shutdown they would offer a resource to more powerful non-prioritized heaters. And when among the non-prioritized heaters there are more heaters with a less capacity, the prioritized heaters distribute their operation in time in order to constantly offer the resource to less powerful non-prioritized heaters. Such a coordinated work of prioritized and non-prioritized heaters in time makes it possible to use, at any time, the proposed electric resource for heating to the fullest. Taking into consideration the amount of electricity used for heating the premises by the algorithm that automatically manages the allocation of power among heaters, as well as control over this parameter, allows the user to find a balance between a comfortable temperature at the premises and the amount of electricity consumed. This in turn is a precondition for the transition to energy efficient electric heating of buildings. The result of study into the patterns of the process of allocation of power among electrical heaters based on the proposed algorithm confirmed effectiveness of the synchronization of operation of heaters at electric heating at premises. It was established that the duration of synchronization of heaters in time is between 1 to 2 minutes. Therefore, the procedure of change in the optimal combination of prioritized heaters and the synchronization of their operation makes sense only when the period over which other household appliances are connected to the grid exceeds 4 minutes. We also confirmed the possibility to control temperature regimes at premises by changing the limit of power for electric heating. It was established that when changing conditions of heating or power consumption, the period for the adjustment of thermal modes in heated zones due to a change in the power limit is 15‒20 minutes. The proposed algorithm that automatically synchronizes power consumption by electric heaters could be used in order to improve existing systems that manage energy supply in a house. As an additional feature of modern systems, it would allow private users to directly participate in the management of power consumption in their house in order to save electricity.