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ON-FARM ELECTRICAL LOAD MANAGEMENT
Abstract
Electrical load management is used to reduce peak electrical demand from two or more electrical loads. The success of on-farm electrical load management depends on its technical feasibility and its potential for reducing peak demand without disrupting critical farm opertions. A computer simulation model was developed for studying potential on-farm electrical load management systems. The model was used for fine tuning parameters and for comparing alternative strategies. Model inputs included the frequency and duration of all simulated farm operations. Model output consisted of the daily electrical demand profile for the farm and the operation history for each electrical load. A load management system was developed for the feed processing and grain handling loads at a University farm near Mead, Nebraska. Field experiments demonstrated the technical feasibility of a computer-based load management system and provided data for validating the model. Simulations of the University farm system using input data from the field experiments were used to fine tune electrical load management parameters and logic. Sensitivity analyses showed that success of the electrical load management system depended on careful selection of parameters used in sophisticated load priority schemes. Statistical distributions governing the behavior of each load at the feed and grain center were used for obtaining random samples of service and interarrival times in stochastic simulation experiments. These experiments tested the effects of five demand setpoints (12 to 24 kW) at three levels of task frequency. Experiments were performed both with and without the generation of miscellaneous, uncontrolled electrical loads. Simulation results indicated several tradeoffs when selecting an electrical demand setpoint. Low setpoints improved daily load factor with greater peak reductions but also increased the risk of not satisfactorily completing all farm tasks. The approach used in evaluating on-farm electrical load management systems was illustrated. Several simulations of a potential load management system at a commercial grain and livestock farm were conducted for a typical high demand day.
Subject Area
Agricultural engineering
Recommended Citation
HEBER, ALBERT J, "ON-FARM ELECTRICAL LOAD MANAGEMENT" (1984). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8423791.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8423791