Time-variant, multi-stage control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12528725-B2
Application number	US-202017770450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2020
Priority date	Oct 21, 2019
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A control system includes one or more levels of control of power and energy. At one level, a first controller optimally divides power between two or more processes, to maximize instantaneous production, for a given amount of currently available power. In the case of EDR desalination, electric power is optimally divided between ion exchange membranes and pumps to maximize instantaneous production of desalinated water for a given amount of available electric power. Optionally, at another level, a second controller divides time-varying power between the processes fed by the first level controller and an energy storage unit, based on a prediction of future power availability and a function. In the EDR case, power generated by a photovoltaic array is divided between the EDR desalination process and a battery, based on a prediction of future PV power availability and a function, to ensure reliable water production in the future.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A control system comprising:
an input port configured to receive time-varying electric power; a plurality of output ports, each output port configured to supply electric power to a respective associated process of a plurality of processes; a first controller configured to automatically allocate, in real time, at least a portion of the time-varying electric power received at the input port between respective output ports of the plurality of output ports, based on respective characteristics of the plurality of processes, so as to maximize instantaneous aggregate production by the plurality of processes; a predictor configured to automatically predict future availability of the time-varying electric power; an electric energy storage unit; and a second controller configured to automatically allocate, in real time: (a) a first portion of the time-varying electric power received at the input port to the electric energy storage unit, (b) a second portion of the time-varying electric power received at the input port to the first controller for allocation to the plurality of processes and (c) a third portion of power from the electric energy storage unit to the first controller for allocation to the plurality of processes, wherein the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions based on the predicted future availability of the time-varying electric power and a function.

2 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein:
a first process of the plurality of processes comprises an electrochemical desalination process; and a second process of the plurality of processes comprises a pumping process configured to pump a fluid within the first process.

3 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein production by at least one process of the plurality of processes is non-linear, with respect to power input into the process.

4 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second controller comprises a model predictive controller.

5 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second controller comprises an optimal controller.

6 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions so as to minimize the function.

7 . A control system according to claim 6 , wherein the function is configured to represent a cost of failing to meet a predetermined aggregate production goal by the plurality of processes.

8 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the function is a cost function.

9 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the function is an objective function.

10 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions so as to meet a predetermined aggregate production goal by the plurality of processes.

11 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions so as to meet a predetermined aggregate production goal by the plurality of processes currently and in the future.

12 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the function is configured to represent a likelihood of meeting a predetermined aggregate production goal by the plurality of processes.

13 . A control system according to claim 12 , wherein the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions so as to maximize the likelihood of meeting the predetermined aggregate production goal.

14 . A control system according to claim 12 , wherein the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions so as to maximize the likelihood of meeting the predetermined aggregate production goal currently and in the future.

15 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions so as to maximize the function.

16 . A control system according to claim 15 , wherein the function is configured to represent reliability of at least one process of the plurality of processes.

17 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the predictor comprises a data-driven algorithm.

18 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the predictor comprises a model of solar irradiance variance over a day.

19 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the predictor comprises a model of solar irradiance variance over a year.

20 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the predictor comprises a weather forecast that includes predicted cloud cover information.

21 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the predictor is configured to receive weather forecasts via a radio link.

22 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the predictor is configured to receive weather forecasts via a computer network link.

23 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the predictor is configured to automatically predict the future availability of the time-varying electric power at least in part based on current weather.

24 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric energy storage unit comprises a battery.

25 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric energy storage unit comprises a capacitor.

26 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric energy storage unit comprises a mechanical energy storage unit configured to convert between electrical and mechanical energy.

27 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein:
a first process of the plurality of processes comprises an electrochemical desalination process; and a second process of the plurality of processes comprises a pumping process configured to pump a fluid within the first process.

28 . A control system according to claim 27 , wherein a third process of the plurality of processes is configured to fill a tank with irrigation water.

29 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein production by at least one process of the plurality of processes is non-linear, with respect to power input into the process.

30 . A control system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a product storage unit coupled to at least one process of the plurality of processes and configured to store, for future use, a product produced by the process; and wherein: the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions based at least in part on capacity of the product storage unit.

31 . A control system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a product storage unit coupled to at least one process of the plurality of processes and configured to store, for future use, a product produced by the process; and wherein: the second controller is configured to allocate the first, second and third portions based at least in part on an amount of product currently stored in the product storage unit.

32 . A control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a data-driven control algorithm configured to automatically adjust parameters, according to which the second controller allocates the first, second and third portions.

33 . A control system according to

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Le Henaff Anne-Claire Elisabeth Marie
• He Wei
• Connors Grace
• Gelmini Simone
• Winter Amos G
• Costello Jeffrey Dennis
• Peters Ian Marius
• Conforti Kameron

Classifications

• C02F2103/06

  Contaminated groundwater or leachate · CPC title

• C02F1/008

  Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F · CPC title

• B01D2313/367

  Renewable energy sources, e.g. wind or solar sources · CPC title

• C02F2201/4614

  Current · CPC title

• G05B13/048 Primary

  using a predictor · CPC title