Control apparatus for an energy distribution system and method for controlling an energy distribution system

A control apparatus for an energy distribution system, in which the energy distribution system includes a connection to an alternating current supply system and to a plurality of predetermined loads, each predetermined load having an energy storage capacity and being electrically connected by a respective switching device to the alternating current supply system for a duration of a half-wave or a whole number times of the half-wave, the predetermined loads being operated at their rated output when connected, the control apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• control the respective switching devices such that the plurality of predetermined loads are supplied from the alternating current supply system for a respective control time period within a predetermined common cycle time period of 1 second to a few 100 seconds with a respective predetermined magnitude of electrical energy that is averaged over a time period;
• and
• establish a start and end of each respective control time period within the common cycle time period prior to a start of the common cycle time period such that during the common cycle time period an electrical loading on the alternating current supply system by the plurality of predetermined loads is optimized to create a substantially constant loading graph,
• wherein optimization of the plurality of predetermined loads includes a substitution of (i) a continuous control time period for at least one load of the plurality of predetermined loads with (ii) at least two non-continuous block time periods of an equal total duration for the at least one load;
• and
• wherein the processor is configured to determine block time periods based on additional data from the at least one load, wherein the additional data contains information regarding whether and how many block time periods within the common cycle time period are maximally admissible for the at least one load.

A method for controlling an energy distribution system, the energy distribution system having a connection to an alternating current supply system and to a plurality of predetermined loads, each predetermined load including an energy storage capacity, each predetermined load being electrically connected to the alternating current supply system by a respective switching device for a duration of a half-wave or a whole number times of the half-wave, the predetermined loads being operated at their rated output when connected, the method comprising:

• in a processor of a control apparatus:
• providing a duration of a respective cycle time period of 1 second to a few 100 seconds;
• determining a respective predetermined magnitude of electrical energy with which each of the plurality of predetermined loads is to be supplied from the alternating current supply system averaged over the cycle time period;
• ascertaining a resultant duration of a respective control time period for each of the plurality of predetermined loads;
• iteratively optimizing a start of each respective control time period within the cycle time period with respect to a substantially constant graph of the electrical loading on the alternating current supply system by the plurality of predetermined loads, wherein optimizing comprises substituting a control time period by multiple summated equal length block time periods, wherein the start and the duration of the respective block time periods are determined;
• and
• controlling the switching devices according to the optimized start and duration of the control time periods or the block time periods from the starting time of the cycle time period.