Energy management method and process using analytic metrics.
First Claim
1. A novel computer implemented method for optimizing the energy management and energy efficiency monitoring of a facility or a plurality of facilities, substantially in real time, using a new metric described herein, called the Energy Performance Index (EPI), including the steps of:
- defining a novel metric called the energy performance index (EPI) which describes the absolute minimum cost of energy in the time period under observation, and, deriving this new metric by defining a set of parameters for the facility system operating over a set of time intervals; and
, using a optimization technique, taking into account said set of parameters, to produce energy management output data which satisfies a total energy consumption constraint that the total energy allocated to the facility not exceed a target energy consumption level, and which is representative of an optimal management of energy in each of said time intervals, and, using a computer system to determine this novel metric called the energy performance index (EPI) which describes as an output, the absolute minimum cost of energy in the time period under observation, and, using this new parameter (EPI) to compare efficiencies between a plurality of operations, and, making the information and energy outputs available, substantially in real time.
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Abstract
A method and process provides an approach to optimizing energy costs or any similar fungible, consumable commodity in real time use by defining and utilizing a novel analytic metric based on the ratio of the actual cumulative cost of the commodity used compared to the absolute minimum cost of the commodity during the time period under consideration. The historical energy management approach uses the price of the commodity and then tries to lower the total cost of energy use during the most expensive time periods. It may not be possible with the existing energy management techniques to be able to meet all the operational requirements of the user and still have the minimum cost of use. As a result of this invention, the user can be guaranteed the optimal energy use at the absolute minimum cost, and if the minimum is not achievable the invention allows the user to quantify how efficient his operation is, compared to the theoretical optimum. The use of a new metric called the Energy Performance Index (EPI) allows this comparison to be made across all energy use platforms. Substantial increases in efficiency, performance and economics can be achieved with this invention.
68 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A novel computer implemented method for optimizing the energy management and energy efficiency monitoring of a facility or a plurality of facilities, substantially in real time, using a new metric described herein, called the Energy Performance Index (EPI), including the steps of:
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defining a novel metric called the energy performance index (EPI) which describes the absolute minimum cost of energy in the time period under observation, and, deriving this new metric by defining a set of parameters for the facility system operating over a set of time intervals; and
,using a optimization technique, taking into account said set of parameters, to produce energy management output data which satisfies a total energy consumption constraint that the total energy allocated to the facility not exceed a target energy consumption level, and which is representative of an optimal management of energy in each of said time intervals, and, using a computer system to determine this novel metric called the energy performance index (EPI) which describes as an output, the absolute minimum cost of energy in the time period under observation, and, using this new parameter (EPI) to compare efficiencies between a plurality of operations, and, making the information and energy outputs available, substantially in real time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification