Modeling and Control of Aggregate Air Conditioning Loads for Robust Renewable Power Management

• Published in: IEEE transactions on control systems technology Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 1318 - 1327
• Main Authors: Bashash, S., Fathy, H. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.07.2013; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Aggregates; Air conditioning; Atmospheric modeling; Construction; Demand response; Energy management; Equations; Finite difference method; Load modeling; Management; Mathematical model; Mathematical models; Monte Carlo methods; Partial differential equations; Power management; sliding mode control (SMC); smart grid; Studies; thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs)
• ISSN: 1063-6536; 1558-0865
• DOI: 10.1109/TCST.2012.2204261

This paper examines the problem of demand-side energy management in smart power grids through the setpoint control of aggregate thermostatic loads. This paper models these loads using a novel partial differential equation framework that builds on existing diffusion- and transport-based load modeling ideas in the literature. Both this partial differential equation (PDE) model and its finite-difference approximations are bilinear in the state and control variables. This key insight creates a unique opportunity for designing nonlinear load control algorithms with theoretically guaranteed Lyapunov stability properties. This paper's main contribution to the literature is the development of the bilinear PDE model and a sliding mode controller for the real-time management of thermostatic air conditioning loads. The proposed control scheme shows promising performance in adapting aggregate air conditioning loads to intermittent wind power.