Hierarchal Model-Free Transactive Control of Building Loads to Support Grid Services

This project will develop a robust, scalable hierarchical transactional control mechanism incorporating elements of model-free control and game theory to harness buildings to provide grid services. This approach addresses the implementation of transactional control schemes by separating the control mechanism into two layers above and below the aggregator. Model-free control can be used below the aggregator to modulate flexible building loads in response to pricing signals with guaranteed performance. This allows the burden of identifying an accurate model of the system to be shifted to the above-aggregator layer, where fluctuations in individual building usage have less impact on predicted building system behavior. Game theory concepts can then be used to determine pricing curves and control signals among regional aggregators. Additionally, the usage of model-free control lowers the computational burden and communication requirements, making it easily deployable on small embedded devices.

Project Impact

This project will enable the use of residential and small commercial buildings to offer a potentially substantial source of ancillary grid services that are currently underutilized. A hierarchal, model-free transactive building control provides a seamless interface between the grid service requests of utilities and the reliable control required by participating buildings. Model-free control, which supports distributed control architecture, will be a scalable solution that can be deployed in neighborhood-size systems as well as individual buildings.