Unlocking lithium mine load flexibility

Abstract

The operational stability of isolated industrial and mining microgrids is critically challenged by the diverse response characteristics of heterogeneous flexible resources (FRs), such as varying ramp rates and response times. Conventional scheduling methods, which often overlook these multi-granularity attributes, result in significant power imbalances, mismatched execution of the dispatch commands, and degradation of industrial product quality. To address this gap, this paper proposes a novel dispatch command disaggregation strategy for the precise coordination of these resources. The strategy's core innovation begins with establishing a pioneering quantitative flexibility model for lithium mine loads (LMLs), mechanistically exploring the thermo-electric dynamics of the salt-lake lithium extraction process. This specific model is then integrated within a unified framework designed to systematically characterize and quantify the multi-granularity flexibility attributes of diverse resources. Finally, a Discrete Choice Model (DCM) is employed to optimize the dispatch priority of FRs, effectively translating the microgrid's aggregate dispatch command into individualized and feasible setpoints. Validated on a real-world microgrid in Xizang, the proposed strategy reduces system power deviation by 89.05% and decreases the total operating cost by 25.25%. This work provides a practical framework for enhancing the control precision and economic efficiency of isolated microgrids through effective coordination of diverse flexibility assets.