METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT TEMPERATURE-BASED SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

• US 20090211986A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/742
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/129 Systems for heating the water content of swimming pools solar collectors using pools F24S10/17, F24S10/10; by solar radiation F24S20/02
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

A system for load control in an electrical power system is described, wherein one or more temperature-monitoring devices are provided to control operation of a pool pump. When ambient temperatures are relatively high, and thus, electrical power demands from air conditioning systems are relatively high, the temperature-monitoring devices can remove power from the controlled device during the hottest portions of the day. The temperature-monitoring devices can provide power to the controlled devices during the cooler portions of the day. During heat waves or other periods of relatively continuous high heat, the temperature-monitoring devices can schedule power to the controlled devices to reduce overall power demands and to run the controlled devices during the cooler portions of the day when air conditioning electrical loads are reduced. The temperature-monitoring devices can also coordinate operation of the pool pump and a pool heater.

Claims

1. An apparatus for efficient operation of a pool pump and heater system, comprising:

a pump;

a control system configured to receive water temperature data from water in a pool serviced by said pump; and

a heater that heats said water, said controller calculating a start time to turn on said heater and said pump such that said water will be at a desired temperature at a desired future time, said control system calculating filtration times to run said pump before said start time, said filtration times computed based at least in part on said start time and at least in part on a desired average, said control system running said pump during said filtration times, said control system activating said heater at said start time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to receive a shutdown command.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to receive a command to shutdown for a specified period of time.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a modem.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a power line modem.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a wireless modem.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system controls an operating speed of said pump.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system operates said pump at a relatively higher speed when said heater is activated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system operates said pump relatively less on days when said heater is not activated.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system operates said pump for at least a specified amount of time during a 24-hour period.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system said operates said pump at specified times during relatively moderate ambient temperature conditions.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system calculates said filtration time to correspond to periods of expected relatively moderate ambient temperature conditions.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein ambient temperature data is provided by a temperature sensor provided to said control system.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power line networking modem configured to receive said ambient temperature data and provide said ambient temperature data to said control system.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver configured to receive ambient temperature data and provide said ambient temperature data to said control system.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system provides power to said pump according to ambient temperature conditions and according to how much time power has been provided to said pump during a specified time period.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said desired average is computed over a 24-hour time period.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said desired average is computed over a one week time period.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said desired average is computed over a time period specified by a user.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system operates said pump according to a user-specified schedule during periods of relatively moderate ambient temperature, and said control system operates said pump during relatively cooler portions of the day during periods of relatively high ambient temperature.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control system operates said pump according to a user-specified schedule during periods of relatively moderate ambient temperature, said apparatus configured to provide power to said water pump during relatively cooler portions of the day during periods of relatively high ambient temperature, said controller providing power to said pump for relatively shorter periods when said ambient temperature exceeds a specified temperature.