A Hybrid Control Strategy for Multi-Timescale Air Conditioning Load Demand Response

Globally, the transition of energy structure towards clean and low-carbon is accelerating, with the increasing grid integration ratio of renewable energy. However, the inherent intermittency, volatility and randomness of such energy sources are in fundamental conflict with the traditional operation mode of existing power systems, which not only restricts the absorption capacity of renewable energy, but also poses severe challenges to the safe and stable operation of power systems. The integration of renewable energy sources into existing power systems poses numerous challenges that can be mitigated through the utilization of demand-side flexible resources. Among these, air-conditioning (AC) loads, as a prominent example, offer significant potential for enhancing flexibility in power systems. Nonetheless, determining an optimal AC control strategy to achieve the desired power response remains challenging, particularly in practical control settings where reliance on a single timescale control strategy may prove inadequate to address fluctuations in power system flexibility requirements. This paper investigates the characteristics of direct start-stop control and duty cycling control within a multi-timescale, source-load coordinated scheduling framework. Furthermore, a hybrid control strategy that combines these two methods is proposed, accompanied by the formulation of a power curtailment model tailored to the hybrid control strategy. Case study results demonstrate that the hybrid control strategy effectively augments AC load flexibility and enhances scheduling feasibility, thereby supporting the stable operation of the power system.