The TGM System is equipped to integrate with the Smart Grid. Availability is dependent on your electric service provider (utility) — however load management features in addition to Smart Grid are also available.
The System generates an index for how long a fan may safely be off and signals your utility for potential load shedding at each of your sites. Fans will not* be shut off when grain is at risk but can be shut off during peak periods to lower costs for the utility. Load shedding is merely a means for a utility to turn off current demand instead of buying high priced power from the Grid when its own generating capacity is exceeded.
For example a site has 4 bins each with a 30hp fan or 120 hp draw if all were running. The utility sends a signal requesting shedding 60 hp or half of the fans for the next 3 hours. The System will not shut off any fans to fulfill this request if it risks the grain. Otherwise it will shut off two of the fans to accommodate the request. It will shut off the two with the safest index (airflow is less critical). This will be updated periodically and the fans may be rotated from off to on during this period — but only two on at a time.
Rotating which fans are on is known as load queuing; the index mentioned earlier is updated so the bin that needs airflow the most goes to the head of the line (queue).
Management of electric loads must include an understanding of the conditions in each bin so fans may be shut off without jeopardizing the grain.
Utilities indicate special rates may be available for this capability.
Other electric load management capabilities include:
Time of day lockouts
- Configurable for each fan and/or an entire site.
Load queuing
This is a local capability in addition to integration with the Smart Grid. This enables automatically rotating fan run times so limited transformer capacity can be accommodated.
Optionally, other electric loads can be integrated, e.g. do not run more than 50 hp of fans when all 3 legs are on.
* If an emergency develops somewhere on the electric grid (local to national) such that load balancing may prevent a blackout, the system will respond by shutting off fans. Load balancing will normally be only for a few minutes. When the event passes, the System will bring the fans back on line in a controlled manner in coordination with the power supplier. This feature may help prevent loss of power at your site for an extended period of time if the grid were to otherwise fail. Also, other sites far from you responding in this manner may prevent the loss of your power.