Cooling Devices in Demand Response: A Comparison of Control Methods

Demand response plays an important role in the development of the smart grid, which can effectively manage society´s energy consumption. Cooling devices, such as refrigerators and freezers, are ideal devices for demand-response programs because their energy states can be controlled without reducing the lifestyle and comfort of the residents. Conversely, managing air conditioning and space heating would affect a resident´s comfort level. Direct compressor control and thermostat control methods have been proposed in the past for controlling cooling devices but they are never studied concurrently. This paper proposes a new control mechanism and compares the effectiveness of the three control mechanisms for cooling devices in demand response. In addition, this paper illustrates the need for a damping strategy to mitigate demand oscillations that occur from synchronous fleet control.