System and method for controlling usage of a commodity

• US 20040117330A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Beaudet, Joseph, Ehlers, Gregory A., Loughmiller, George, Turner, James H., Strich, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/66 one of the loads acting as master and the other or others acting as slaves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A system and method manage delivery of energy from a distribution network to one or more sites. Each site has at least one device coupled to the distribution network. The at least one device controllably consumes energy. The system includes a node and a control system. The node is coupled to the at least one device for sensing and controlling energy delivered to the device. A control system is coupled to the node and distribution network for delivering to the node at least one characteristic of the distribution network. The node for controls the supply of energy to the device as a function of the at least one characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for providing at least one program to a customer of a utility of a commodity, the program aimed at managing demand for the commodity, the utility delivering the commodity to at least one customer site, the customer site having a plurality of devices which use the commodity, including the steps of:

defining a program having a subset of the plurality of devices for which usage of the commodity may be managed by activating the program;

allowing the customer to subscribe to the program;

delivering the commodity to the subset of devices;

measuring the instantaneous rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices;

sending the instantaneous rate for each device within the subset to the utility.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the steps of:

activating the program; and

,

subsequently measuring at least one of a rate and a change in a rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, including the step of determining an actual change in a rate of consumption of the commodity and recording the rate of change in a memory.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, including the step of providing at least one of an alternative rate and a billing adjustment to the customer as a function of the actual capacity saved at the related customer site by the program.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least one of an alternative rate and a billing adjustment is also a function of historical usage information.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least one of an alternative rate and a billing adjustment is a function of an actual cost related to the commodity while the program is activated.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 2, including the step of verifying management of the devices within the subset of the devices.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of providing a user interface for interaction with the customer.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the user interface is accessible through a web browser.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each device has an associated node, and the method includes the step of allowing the customer to control one or more of the devices through the associated node.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the utility delivers the commodity to a plurality of customer sites, each customer site having a plurality of devices and the step of defining the program includes the step of including within the program all devices of a similar type at each customer site.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the utility delivers the commodity to a plurality of customer sites, each customer site having a plurality of devices and the step of defining at least one program includes the step of defining a plurality of programs, each program having a respective subset of the devices.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the steps of:

activating the program; and

,

allowing the customer to cancel the program when activated.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the steps of:

setting a budget goal; and

,

monitoring an aspect of usage of the commodity related to the budget goal.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the budget goal is defined in terms of usage of the commodity.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the budget goal is defined in terms of cost of actual amount of the commodity used.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the budget goal is defined relative to a predetermined time period and the method includes the step of generating an alert if actual usage will exceed the budget goal in the predetermined time period.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the alert is sent to the customer.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the alert is sent to the utility.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the commodity is electrical power.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the commodity is water.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the commodity is gas.

23. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of automatically activating the program under a predetermined set of conditions.

24. A method, as set forth in claim 23, wherein the predetermined set of conditions includes at least one of a time of day and a day.

25. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of manually activating the program as a function of an actual demand of the commodity.

26. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the program at least one of shifts demand away from a first time period and eliminates demand for the first period.

27. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of controlling the subset of devices in response to activation of the program.

28. A method, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the step of controlling the subset of devices includes the step of at least one of preventing and limiting usage of the commodity during a predetermined period of time.

29. A method, as set forth in claim 27, wherein at least one of the devices has an operating setpoint, and wherein the step of controlling the subset of devices includes the step of modifying the setpoint.

30. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each device has an associated node, and the method includes the step of downloading to each node, a program schedule containing scheduling information for the program.

31. A method for providing at least one program to a customer of a utility of a commodity, the program aimed at managing demand for the commodity, the utility delivering the commodity to at least one customer site, the customer site having a plurality of devices which use the commodity, including the steps of:

defining a program having a subset of the plurality of devices for which usage of the commodity may be managed by activating the program;

allowing the customer to subscribe to the program;

delivering the commodity to the subset of devices;

measuring the instantaneous rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices;

sending the instantaneous rate for each device within the subset to the utility;

activating the program;

determining an actual rate of change in consumption of the commodity induced by activating of the program; and

,

providing a at least one of an alternative rate and billing adjustment to at least one customer as a function of the actual capacity saved at the related customer site by the program.

32. A method for providing at least one program to a customer of a utility of a commodity, the program aimed at managing demand for the commodity, the utility delivering the commodity to at least one customer site, the customer site having a plurality of devices which use the commodity, including the steps of:

defining a program having a subset of the plurality of devices for which usage of the commodity may be managed by activating the program;

allowing the customer to subscribe to the program;

delivering the commodity to the subset of devices;

measuring the instantaneous rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices;

sending the instantaneous rate for each device within the subset to the utility;

activating the program; and

,

verifying management of the devices within the subset of the devices.

33. A system for providing a program to a customer of a utility of a commodity, the utility delivering the commodity to at least one customer site, the customer site having a plurality of devices which use the commodity, the program aimed at managing demand for the commodity and having a subset of the plurality of devices for which usage of the commodity may be managed by activating the program, comprising:

a user interface for allowing the customer to subscribe to the program;

a distribution network coupled to the subset of devices for delivering the commodity to the subset of devices; and

,

at least one node coupled to the subset of devices for measuring the instantaneous rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices and for sending the instantaneous rate for each device within the subset to the utility.

34. A system, as set forth in claim 33, further comprising a control system coupled to the distribution network for controlling delivery of the commodity and activating the program, the at least one node adapted to subsequently measure the rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices.

35. A system, as set forth in claim 34, wherein the control system determines an actual rate of change in the rate of consumption induced by activating the program.

36. A system, as set forth in claim 35, wherein the control system determines at least one of an alternative rate and billing adjustment to the customer as a function of the actual capacity saved at the related customer site by the program.

37. A system, as set forth in claim 36, wherein the at least one of an alternative rate and billing adjustment is also a function of historical usage information.

38. A system, as set forth in claim 36, wherein the at least one of an alternative rate and billing adjustment is a function of an actual cost related to the commodity while the program is activated.

39. A system, as set forth in claim 34, wherein the control system including verifies curtailment of the devices within the subset of the devices.

40. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the user interface is accessible through a web browser.

41. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein each device has an associated node for allowing the customer to control one or more of the devices through the associated node.

42. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the utility delivers the commodity to a plurality of customer sites, each customer site having a plurality of devices and the program includes all devices of a similar type at each customer site.

43. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the utility delivers the commodity to a plurality of customer sites, each customer site having a plurality of devices, wherein a plurality of programs are defined, each program having a respective subset of the devices.

44. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the user interface allows the customer to cancel the program after it has been activated.

45. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the user interface allows the customer to set a budget goal and the at least one node monitors an aspect of usage of the commodity related to the budget goal.

46. A system, as set forth in claim 45, wherein the budget goal is defined in terms of usage of the commodity.

47. A system, as set forth in claim 45, wherein the budget goal is defined in terms of cost of actual amount of the commodity used.

48. A system, as set forth in claim 45, wherein the budget goal is defined relative to a predetermined time period and the at least one node generates an alert if actual usage will exceed the budget goal in the predetermined time period.

49. A system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the alert is sent to the customer.

50. A system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the alert is sent to the utility.

51. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the commodity is electrical power.

52. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the commodity is water.

53. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the commodity is gas.

54. A system, as set forth in claim 34, wherein the control system automatically activates the program under a predetermined set of conditions.

55. A system, as set forth in claim 54, wherein the predetermined set of conditions includes at least one of a time of day and a day.

56. A system, as set forth in claim 34, wherein the control system allows the program to be manually activated as a function of an actual demand of the commodity.

57. A system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the program at least one of shifts demand away from a first time period and eliminates demand from the first time period

58. A system, as set forth in claim 34, wherein the control system controls the subset of devices in response to activation of the program.

59. A system, as set forth in claim 58, wherein the control system at least one of prevents and limits usage of the commodity during a predetermined period of time.

60. A system, as set forth in claim 34, wherein at least one of the devices has an operating setpoint, and wherein control system the subset of devices by modifying the setpoint.

61. A system, as set forth in claim 34, wherein the control system downloads a program schedule containing scheduling information for the program to the at least one node.

62. A system for providing at least one program to a customer of a utility of a commodity, the utility delivering the commodity to at least one customer site, the customer site having a plurality of devices which use the commodity, the program aimed at managing reducing demand for the commodity and having a subset of the plurality of devices for which usage of the commodity may be managed by activating the program, comprising:

a user interface for allowing the customer to subscribe to the program;

a distribution network coupled to the subset of devices for delivering the commodity to the subset of devices;

at least one node coupled to the subset of the devices for measuring the instantaneous rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices and for sending the instantaneous rate for each device within the subset to the utility;

a control system coupled to the user interface, the distribution network and the at least one node for controlling delivery of the commodity, for activating the program, for determining at least one of an actual rate of consumption of the commodity and a change in the rate of consumption by activating of the program, and for providing at least one of an alternative rate and a billing adjustment to at least one customer as a function of the actual rate of consumption saved at the related customer site by the program.

63. A system for providing at least one program to a customer of a utility of a commodity, the utility delivering the commodity to at least one customer site, the customer site having a plurality of devices which use the commodity, the program aimed at managing demand for the commodity and having a subset of the plurality of devices for which usage of the commodity may be managed by activating the program, comprising:

a user interface for allowing the customer to subscribe to the program;

a distribution network coupled to the subset of devices for delivering the commodity to the subset of devices;

at least one node coupled to the subset of devices for measuring the instantaneous rate at which the commodity is being delivered to the subset of the devices and for sending the instantaneous rate for each device within the subset to the utility; and

,

a control system for activating the program and verifying management of the devices within the subset of the devices.