Method of managing energy consumption

• US 10,437,219 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2015
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grand Mate Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Grand Mate Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Huang, Chung-Chin, Huang, Chin-Ying, Huang, Hsin-Ming, Huang, Hsing-Hsiung, Yeh, Yen-Jen, Tsai, Yu-Chin
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Satish
• Application Number:
  US14/884,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 700275-306
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25387 Control sequences so as to optimize energy use by controlled machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

A method of managing energy consumption which is applied to a wireless control system is provided, wherein the wireless control system includes a plurality of appliances and a relay device. The method includes the steps below: first, obtain an amount of energy consumption from a start time point to a predetermined time point in an energy monitoring period; next, compare the amount of energy consumption with a second threshold during the energy monitoring period, which is lower than a first threshold; finally, if the amount of energy consumption exceeds the second threshold, determine whether to start an energy conservation mode; if the energy conservation mode starts, the relay device sends an energy conservation command to at least one of the appliances to control said appliance to consume less energy. Whereby, in the energy conservation mode, the energy consumed by the appliances would be reduced without stopping the energy supply.

Claims

1. A method of managing energy consumption which is applied to a wireless control system, wherein the wireless control system comprises a plurality of appliances and a relay device which wirelessly communicates with the plurality of appliances;

the plurality of appliances are respectively connected to at least one meter which is adapted to monitor energy consumption of each of the plurality of appliances and could wirelessly communicate with the relay device;

each of the plurality of the appliances is controllable by a control command sent from the relay device to change a operational status thereof, comprising the steps of;

A. classifying the plurality of appliances into a plurality of groups, wherein the plurality of groups comprise a first group and a second group;

the relay device does not send the energy conservation command to the appliances in the first group no matter whether an energy conservation mode starts or not, while the relay device sends the energy conservation command to the appliances in the second group when the energy conservation mode starts;

B. obtaining an amount of energy consumption from a start time point to a predetermined time point in an energy monitoring period of each of the plurality of appliances from the at least one meter with the relay device;

C. comparing the amount of energy consumption with a second threshold during the energy monitoring period, which is lower than a first threshold with the relay device; and

D. determining whether the energy conservation mode starts when the amount of energy consumption exceeds the second threshold with the relay device, wherein if the energy conservation mode starts, the relay device sends an energy conservation command to at least one of the plurality of appliances to control said at least one appliance to consume less energy;

wherein the plurality of appliances comprise a gas appliance;

before receiving the energy conservation command, a thermal energy generated by the gas appliance does not exceed a first thermal energy value;

if the energy conservation mode starts, the relay device sends the energy conservation command to the gas appliance to narrow a controllable range of a parameter of the gas appliance, and the thermal energy generated by the gas appliance does not exceed a second thermal energy value, wherein the second thermal energy value is lower than the first thermal energy value but not zero.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold reflects an actual amount of energy consumption in another energy monitoring period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are set by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of appliances comprise an electric appliance;

before receiving the energy conservation command, the electric appliance consumes no more than a first power;

if the energy conservation mode starts, the relay device sends the energy conservation command to the electric appliance to narrow a controllable range of a parameter of the electric appliance, and the electric appliance consumes no much than a second power, wherein the second power is lower than the first power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one appliance which receives the energy conservation command is controlled to consume less energy without being turned off.

6. A method of managing energy consumption which is applied to a wireless control system, wherein the wireless control system comprises a plurality of appliances and a relay device which wirelessly communicates with the plurality of appliances;

the plurality of appliances are respectively connected to at least one meter which is adapted to monitor energy consumption of each of the plurality of appliances and could wirelessly communicate with the relay device;

each of the plurality of the appliances is controllable by a control command sent from the relay device to change a operational status thereof, comprising the steps of;

A. classifying the plurality of appliances into a plurality of groups, wherein the plurality of groups comprise a first group and a second group;

the relay device does not send the energy conservation command to the appliances in the first group no matter whether an energy conservation mode starts or not, while the relay device sends the energy conservation command to the appliances in the second group when the energy conservation mode starts;

B. obtaining an amount of energy consumption from a start time point to a predetermined time point in an energy monitoring period of each of the plurality of appliances from the at least one meter with the relay device;

C. comparing the amount of energy consumption with a second threshold during the energy monitoring period, which is lower than a first threshold with the relay device; and

D. determining whether the energy conservation mode starts when the amount of energy consumption exceeds the second threshold with the relay device, wherein if the energy conservation mode starts, the relay device sends an energy conservation command to at least one of the plurality of appliances to control said at least one appliance to consume less energy;

the plurality of appliances comprise a water valve;

before receiving the energy conservation command, a maximum water flow allowed to flow through the water valve is defined as a first water flow;

if the energy conservation mode starts, the relay device sends the energy conservation command to the water valve to narrow a controllable range of a parameter of the water valve, and the maximum water flow allowed to flow through the water valve is defined as a second water flow, wherein the second water flow is lower than the first water flow but not zero.