Investigating the Regulatory Potential of Virtual Energy Storage in Ice Thermal Storage Air Conditioning Loads

Air conditioning loads constitute a significant portion of peak electricity demand. Ice thermal storage air conditioning systems can store ice during off-peak nighttime hours and release cooling during peak daytime periods to meet cooling demands, effectively functioning as virtual energy storage devices to alleviate peak grid loads. Existing research lacks a comprehensive virtual energy storage model for these systems and an analysis of their regulatory capabilities. This study analyzes ice thermal storage air conditioning systems and, by integrating the control methods of their refrigeration units, establishes a virtual energy storage model to derive parameters such as virtual charging and discharging power, virtual energy storage capacity, and virtual state of charge. The regulatory potential of virtual energy storage in these systems is then evaluated. Using basic operational strategies and virtual energy storage control approaches under peak-shaving scenarios, a practical ice thermal storage air-conditioned building is examined as a case study, confirming that these loads possess excellent virtual energy storage regulation capabilities.