System and method for managing utility consumption

• US 20060190139A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Jackson, Craig A., Reaume, Daniel J., Urbance, Randall J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus are disclosed for managing utility consumption. An embodiment is disclosed for reducing peak demand for a utility by staggering requests for that utility. Another embodiment is disclosed in which sensors monitor utility consumption throughout a facility. Those items of equipment not in active use, but still drawing utility resources, are shut down after a predetermined interval. Another embodiment is disclosed in which storage and conversion technologies are used to offset peak demand and the associated peak demand costs.

Claims

1. A method for managing utility consumption by one or more loads, the method comprising:

identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;

identifying an objective function to be optimized;

identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;

identifying constraints on the utility draws;

utilizing an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject to identified utility draws and constraints within the optimization horizon; and

outputting a derived substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a stopping criterion for the optimization algorithm; and

applying the substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein optimization of the objective function comprises minimization of peak utility demand.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein optimization of the objective function comprises maximization of a joint function of both quality production rate and peak demand.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying magnitudes and durations of utility draws based on current data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying magnitudes and durations of utility draws based on historical data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimization algorithm runs continuously and the method further comprises dynamically modifying the optimization algorithm.

8. A system for managing utility consumption, comprising:

a first network of sensors in a facility to detect utility consumption in a plurality of loads within the facility;

a second network of switches in the facility to regulate a supply of a utility to each of the plurality of loads within the facility;

a computing device operatively connected to the first network and to the second network;

wherein the computing device receives sensor data from the first network and operates switches of the second network according to an optimization method; and

wherein the optimization method comprises;

identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;

identifying an objective function to be optimized;

identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;

identifying constraints on the utility draws;

utilizing an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject td identified utility draws and constraints within the optimization horizon; and

deriving a substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the method operates according to predetermined criteria, and the predetermined criteria comprise idle time for a load.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the method operates according to predetermined criteria, and the predetermined criteria comprise production planning data.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the method operates according to predetermined criteria, and the predetermined criteria comprise an amount of utility consumption in the facility.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the method operates according to predetermined criteria, and the predetermined criteria comprise an averaged time rate of change of utility consumption in the facility.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the method operates according to predetermined criteria, and the predetermined criteria comprise availability of a utility consumption time slice for a load.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the method operates according to predetermined criteria, and the predetermined criteria comprise an amount of utility consumption in a predetermined set of loads in the facility.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein a load is a utility storage/conversion device.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network of sensors comprises a self-organizing network.

9. (canceled)

18. An apparatus for managing utility consumption in a facility, comprising:

a first network of sensors in a facility to detect utility consumption in a plurality of loads within the facility;

a second network of switches in the facility to regulate a supply of a utility to each of the plurality of loads within the facility;

a computing device operatively connected to the first network and to the second network;

wherein the computing device receives sensor data from the first network and operates switches of the second network according to an optimization method; and

wherein the optimization method comprises;

identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;

identifying an objective function to be optimized;

identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;

identifying constraints on the utility draws;

utilizing an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject to identified utility draws and constraints within the optimization horizon; and

deriving a substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.

19. (canceled)

20. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions for identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;

instructions for identifying an objective function to be optimized;

instructions for identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;

instructions for identifying constraints on the utility draws;

instructions for identifying magnitudes and durations of utility draws based on available data;

an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject to identified draws and constraints within the optimization horizon and derive a substantially optimal utility consumption strategy;

instructions providing a stopping criterion for the optimization algorithm; and

instructions for applying the substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.