Component Models

This page provides concise explanations of how component models work specifically in the Real-Time Control (RTC) context.

As examples, these are component models that are modeled within HAMLET:

  1. Battery Storage

    In RTC, batteries are modeled with state-of-charge constraints and charging/discharging efficiency. The key decision variables are charging/discharging power at the current timestep.

    • Simplified time-coupling: Only considers a short horizon for state-of-charge evolution

    • Current state focus: Uses the current battery state as the initial condition

    • Operational constraints: Enforces power limits and prevents simultaneous charging/discharging

  2. PV Systems

    RTC models PV systems with available power as an input parameter and actual power utilization as a decision variable.

    • Real-time data integration: Uses current measurements of solar irradiance

    • Curtailment decisions: Determines whether to use or curtail available PV power

    • No forecasting complexity: Simplifies PV modeling compared to forecast-based controllers

  3. Heat Pumps

    Modeled with COP (Coefficient of Performance) as a parameter that converts electrical input to thermal output.

    • Current COP: Uses the current operating conditions to determine efficiency

    • Binary operation: Often modeled with on/off decisions for computational efficiency

    • Simplified thermal dynamics: Focuses on immediate heating/cooling capacity

  4. Grid Connection

    Models import/export power flows with current price signals as parameters.

    • Current prices: Uses current electricity prices rather than complex price forecasts

    • Power balance: Ensures instantaneous balance between generation and consumption

    • Grid constraints: Enforces power limits for grid connection

The RTC implementation emphasizes:

  • Computational efficiency: Formulated for real-time solving (seconds to minutes)

  • Current state focus: Uses current system states rather than complex forecasts

  • Simplified constraints: Focuses on immediate operational limits

  • Balance between optimality and solution speed: Trades off some optimality for faster decisions

These simplified models enable RTC to make quick decisions based on current conditions, which is essential for real-time energy management.