A Two-Way Direct Control of Central Air-Conditioning Load Via the Internet

A novel real-time optimization approach for two-way direct load control (TWDLC) of central air-conditioning chillers is proposed. For TWDLC, the main computer in the control center constantly monitors the average controllable load of every customer. For real-time calculations, a computationally fast and effective approach based on linear programming is proposed to determine the shedding ratio of every customer. The proposed optimization approach will minimize the difference between the load required to shed and the load actually shed at each sampling interval. Every customer's contribution to the load shedding is also leveled by the proposed approach. A gateway is installed at every customer's site to coordinate shedding control with the main computer through the Internet. As soon as the gateway receives the expected shedding ratio, it calculates the load required to shed and coordinates all chiller units in operation to conduct load shedding, thereby achieving the load reduction amount.