Controllers implement dynamic demand

15 October 2008 Power Electronics / Power Management

UK-based company RLtec specialises in demand-side energy management (dynamic demand) systems.

What dynamic demand does is fine-tune the demand side of the utility energy equation, making subtle, second-by-second adjustments to power drawn by certain commercial and domestic appliances to keep the grid in balance.

In effect, dynamic demand can turn fridges, electric heaters, water geysers and airconditioning units into ‘virtual power stations’. This could not only go a long way to alleviating the energy supply problems currently plaguing South Africa, it could also have a positive environmental impact by displacing coal-fired power stations without any discernable effect on the nation’s power supply. To use the UK as an example, RLtec says that if all of the nation’s fridges were fitted with dynamic demand, they could decommission a 750 megawatt power station which currently acts as a backup supply, without any loss of performance.

The UK government has already done its sums, and it estimates that dynamic demand has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 2 million tons of CO₂ equivalent a year. It can also reduce the costs associated with energy balancing by around £80 million a year, which is good news for consumers facing rising energy bills.

Dynamic demand is not a complicated technology to introduce. It does not require major upheavals to the grid, planning permission, major construction work or a radical overhaul of electricity use. All it requires is for smart devices to be fitted to certain electrical appliances whose power supply is not time critical.

If a light bulb loses power the effect is immediately noticeable. But because refrigeration, cooling and heating units store a certain amount of power to keep the temperature under control, they can take a drop in power consumption and still maintain their performance.

To employ dynamic demand, white goods manufacturers implement a control unit containing RLtec’s technology in new appliances with electronic control, although the technology can also be fitted into appliances without electronic control units. The company is targeting South Africa as a prime candidate for this technology, and sees water geysers as an ideal application.

For more information visit www.rltec.com

Further reading:

Selecting primary batteries for maximum service life
Uniross Batteries Power Electronics / Power Management
Primary batteries play an important role in IoT applications. Designed for longevity, they have a high-energy capacity and are often used in standalone applications where charging is impractical or impossible.

Read more...

---

4 kW e-mobility DC-DC converter
Brabek Power Electronics / Power Management
The RECOM RMOD4000 series of compact, plug-and-play DC-DC converters is a cost-effective solution to provide isolated 14 V, 28 V, or 56 V DC network rails from a high input voltage between 180 and 950 V DC.

Read more...

---

Aluminium case upgrade boosts performance
Vepac Electronics Power Electronics / Power Management
The SQBF Quarter Brick 300 W DC to DC Converter is now available in a newly upgraded metal case designed to deliver improved durability and superior electrical performance across demanding applications.

Read more...

---

Extending the range of power converters
RS South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
Power Integrations recently announced a breakthrough in flyback topology extending the power range of flyback converters to 440 W - well beyond the limits that traditionally required more complex resonant and LLC topologies.

Read more...

---

Power-dense modules operate up to 115 V DC
Brabek Power Electronics / Power Management
The RPMVH-0.5 series of cost-effective, non-isolated buck regulator modules from RECOM delivers 0,5A of output at fully regulated voltages up to 24 V DC.

Read more...

---

Finding value for money with your IoT battery
Uniross Batteries Power Electronics / Power Management
Designing an IoT application involves a lot of choices. Designers are looking for performance and quality, but need to balance those alongside a low Total Cost of Ownership.

Read more...

---

Powering the IoT
Uniross Batteries Power Electronics / Power Management
Choosing the right battery is not simply a technical detail, but a defining factor in the longevity and cost-effectiveness of any IoT deployment.

Read more...

---

The move to DC infrastructure
IOT Electronics Power Electronics / Power Management
The shift toward direct current infrastructure in data centres is accelerating as operators pursue higher efficiency, improved reliability, and stronger alignment with renewable energy goals.

Read more...

---

Power inductor for automotive applications
Würth Elektronik eiSos Power Electronics / Power Management
The WE-MXGA inductor features RDC values up to 25% lower and a saturation current up to 47% higher compared to other components currently available on the market.

Read more...

---

High-performance DC-DC converter
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
With a wide 9 - 40 V DC input range, the Claf Power DWHB400-F24xxN series is a high-performance DC-DC converter family ideally suited for 12 V and 24 V battery-based systems including vehicles, off-grid installations, and distributed power architectures.

Read more...

---