Energy efficiency optimization by automatic coordination of motor speeds in conveying systems

This paper addresses the optimization of energy flows between electric drives in conveying systems. Thereby, load peaks and the feedback of electric energy into the grid are reduced. The approach is based on the solution of a mixed integer quadratic optimization problem which incorporates models for energy flows and energy consumption of the electric drives. Models for energy flows and energy consumption can be parametrized from sensor data. Besides, movement constraints such as start positions, end positions and time limits are taken into account. The solution of the optimization problem is accomplished in realtime by application of standard solvers. Experimental results show that the proposed methods allows recovering regenerative energy of electric drives as motoric power for other drives. Integration into material flow planning of an automated warehouse is straightforward so that an inexpensive and simply usuable way for power saving in intralogistics is presented.