METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENERGY DEMAND MANAGEMENT

• US 20100217450A1
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Bachrach, Jonathan R., Beal, Jacob S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 Planning or developing urban green infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and systems for managing energy demand of one or more appliances. In one example, an appliance controller apparatus is provided, comprising a user interface configured to receive a user input indicative of a demand flexibility associated with an appliance, a communication interface configured to receive a control input indicative of a request to modify a power demand of the appliance, and a processor programmed to determine whether the power demand of the appliance is to be modified based on the user input and the control input. In a further aspect, a meter controller apparatus is provided, comprising a communication interface configured to receive a message from an appliance controller apparatus coupled to an appliance, the message comprising information regarding a power demand of the appliance and a demand category associated with the appliance. The meter controller apparatus may further comprise a processor programmed to compute an updated meter controller model based on the message received from the appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model.

Claims

1. An appliance controller apparatus for controlling a first power demand of at least one first appliance, the appliance controller apparatus comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a user input indicative of a first demand flexibility associated with the at least one first appliance;

a communication interface configured to receive a control input indicative of a request to modify the first power demand of the at least one first appliance; and

at least one processor programmed to determine whether the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is to be modified based at least in part on the user input and the control input.

2. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to modify the first power demand of the at least one first appliance based at least in part on the user input and the control input.

3. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control input comprises information indicative of a degree to which a reduction in the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is requested, and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to determine whether the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is to be reduced based at least in part on the user input and the control input.

4. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a multi-setting switch.

5. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a dial.

6. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appliance controller apparatus is a first appliance controller apparatus, and wherein:

the communication interface is further configured to receive at least one message from a second appliance controller apparatus, the at least one message comprising second information regarding a second power demand of at least one second appliance coupled to the second appliance controller apparatus and a second demand flexibility associated with the at least one second appliance.

7. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first appliance controller apparatus further comprises a storage medium, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to store in the storage medium summary information based at least in part on:

first information regarding the first power demand and the first demand flexibility; and

the second information regarding the second power demand and the second demand flexibility.

8. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one message from the second appliance controller apparatus is a first message, and wherein the communication interface is further configured to transmit a second message comprising the summary information.

9. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user input and the control input are both numerical values, and wherein the at least one processor determines that the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is to be reduced when the user input exceeds the control input.

10. The appliance controller apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an override interface configured to receive an override input, wherein, when the override input is received, the at least one processor determines that the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is not to be modified, regardless of the user input and the control input.

11. A method for controlling a first power demand of at least one first appliance, comprising acts of:

receiving, via a user interface of a first appliance controller, a user input indicative of a first demand flexibility associated with the at least one first appliance;

receiving, via a communication interface of the first appliance controller, a control input indicative of a request to modify the first power demand of the at least one first appliance; and

determining whether the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is to be modified based at least in part on the user input and the control input.

12. At least one computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that, when executed, perform a method for controlling a first power demand of at least one first appliance, the method comprising acts of:

receiving, via a user interface of a first appliance controller, a user input indicative of a first demand flexibility associated with the at least one first appliance;

receiving, via a communication interface of the first appliance controller, a control input indicative of a request to modify the first power demand of the at least one first appliance; and

determining whether the first power demand of the at least one first appliance is to be modified based at least in part on the user input and the control input.

13. A meter controller apparatus for managing energy demands of a plurality of appliances, the meter controller apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface configured to receive a first message from a first appliance controller apparatus coupled to at least one first appliance of the plurality of appliances, the first message comprising first information regarding a first power demand of the at least one first appliance and a first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance, wherein the first demand category is one of a plurality of demand categories; and

at least one processor programmed to compute an updated meter controller model for the plurality of appliances based at least in part on the first message received from the first appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model for the plurality of appliances.

14. The meter controller apparatus of claim 13, wherein the updated meter controller model comprises a first plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories.

15. The meter controller apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a meter interface configured to receive a meter input indicative of a total power demand value for the plurality of appliances.

16. The meter controller apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to adjust at least one subtotal power demand value in the updated meter controller model based at least partially on the total power demand value indicated by the meter input.

17. The meter controller apparatus of claim 13, wherein the meter controller apparatus is a first meter controller apparatus, and wherein:

the at least one communication interface is further configured to receive a second message from a second meter controller apparatus, the second message comprising a neighbor model; and

the at least one processor is further programmed to compute a representative model based at least in part on the updated meter controller model and the neighbor model.

18. The meter controller apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the updated meter controller model comprises a first plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories;

the neighbor model comprises a second plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value of the second plurality of subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories;

the representative model comprises a plurality of representative subtotal power demand values, each representative subtotal power demand value of the plurality of representative subtotal power demand values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of demand categories; and

for each of the plurality of demand categories, a corresponding representative subtotal power demand value is computed based at least partially on a corresponding first subtotal power demand value of the first plurality of subtotal power demand values of the meter controller model and a corresponding second subtotal power demand value of the second plurality of subtotal power demand values of the neighbor model.

19. The meter controller apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one communication interface is further configured to receive a third message comprising a target demand model; and

the at least one processor is further programmed to compute a control input based at least in part on the target demand model and the representative model.

20. The meter controller apparatus of claim 19, wherein the target demand model comprises information indicative of a degree to which a power demand reduction is requested.

21. The meter controller apparatus of claim 19, wherein the target demand model comprises a present power demand value and a target power demand value.

22. The meter controller apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one communication interface is further configured to transmit a fourth message comprising the control input.

23. A combination comprising the meter controller apparatus of claim 22 and the first appliance controller apparatus, wherein the first appliance controller apparatus is configured to:

receive the fourth message; and

control the first power demand of the at least one first appliance based at least partially on the control input and the first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance.

24. The combination of claim 23, wherein the control input comprises a control demand category, and wherein the first appliance controller apparatus is further configured to:

determine whether the first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance is inferior to the control demand category; and

reduce the first power demand of the at least one first appliance when the first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance is determined to be inferior to the control demand category.

25. A method managing energy demands of a plurality of appliances, the method comprising:

receiving, via at least one communication interface of a meter controller apparatus, a first message from a first appliance controller apparatus coupled to at least one first appliance of the plurality of appliances, the first message comprising first information regarding a first power demand of the at least one first appliance and a first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance, wherein the first demand category is one of a plurality of demand categories; and

computing, by at least one processor of the meter controller apparatus, an updated meter controller model for the plurality of appliances based at least in part on the first message received from the first appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model for the plurality of appliances.

26. At least one computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that, when executed, perform a method for managing energy demands of a plurality of appliances, the method comprising:

receiving, via at least one communication interface of a meter controller apparatus, a first message from a first appliance controller apparatus coupled to at least one first appliance of the plurality of appliances, the first message comprising first information regarding a first power demand of the at least one first appliance and a first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance, wherein the first demand category is one of a plurality of demand categories; and

computing, by at least one processor of the meter controller apparatus, an updated meter controller model for the plurality of appliances based at least in part on the first message received from the first appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model for the plurality of appliances.

27. A system for managing energy demands of a plurality of appliances, the system comprising:

a first meter controller apparatus comprising at least one communication interface and at least one processor; and

a first appliance controller apparatus coupled to at least one first appliance of the plurality of appliances, wherein;

the at least one communication interface is configured to receive a first message from the first appliance controller apparatus, the first message comprising first information regarding a first power demand of the at least one first appliance and a first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance, wherein the first demand category is one of a plurality of demand categories;

the at least one processor is programmed to compute an updated meter controller model for the plurality of appliances based at least in part on the first message received from the first appliance controller apparatus and a present meter controller model for the plurality of appliances;

the at least one communication interface is further configured to receive a second message from a second meter controller apparatus, the second message comprising a neighbor model;

the at least one processor is further programmed to compute a representative model based at least in part on the updated meter controller model and the neighbor model;

the at least one communication interface is further configured to receive a third message comprising a target demand model;

the at least one processor is further programmed to compute a control input based at least in part on the target demand model and the representative model;

the at least one communication interface is further configured to transmit a fourth message comprising the control input; and

the first appliance controller apparatus is configured to receive the fourth message and control the first power demand of the at least one first appliance based at least partially on the control input and the first demand category associated with the at least one first appliance.

28. A method for controlling at least a first power demand of a first appliance of a plurality of appliances operating in a first local environment, the first local environment and at least a second local environment constituting a city-wide environment to which power is supplied by a utility provider, the first appliance and at least some other appliances of the plurality of appliances being respectively associated with a corresponding appliance controller such that the first local environment includes a plurality of appliance controllers including a first appliance controller associated with the first appliance, the plurality of appliance controllers of the first local environment being in communication with a first meter controller associated with the first local environment, the method comprising:

A) maintaining, at the first appliance controller, a first local knowledge set comprising information relating to the plurality of appliance controllers in the local environment, the first local knowledge set including a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries corresponding to a unique appliance controller of the plurality of appliance controllers, each entry including;

a demand model associated with the unique appliance controller; and

a demand category associated with the unique appliance controller, the demand category being one of a plurality of predetermined demand categories corresponding to different degrees of demand flexibility;

B) transmitting the first local knowledge set to the first meter controller;

C) maintaining at the first meter controller a first meter controller model based at least in part on the first local knowledge set, the first meter controller model including a plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value corresponding to a different one of the plurality of predetermined demand categories;

D) maintaining at the first meter controller a first representative city-wide model based at least in part on the first meter controller model, the first representative city-wide model including a plurality of estimated mean per-consumer subtotal power demand values, each estimated mean per-consumer subtotal power demand value corresponding to a different one of the plurality of predetermined demand categories;

E) receiving at the first meter controller a present power demand and a target power demand for the city-wide environment;

F) calculating at the first meter controller a first control input for the first local environment based at least in part on the target power demand and the first representative city-wide model, the first control input representing a requested degree of power demand reduction in the first local environment;

G) receiving the first control input at the first appliance controller;

H) making a comparison, at the first appliance controller, of the first control input and the first demand category associated with the first appliance controller; and

I) controlling the first power demand of the first appliance based on the comparison in H).

29. The method of claim 28, wherein A) comprises:

A1) periodically monitoring the first power demand of the first appliance and a first demand category associated with the first appliance controller;

A2) periodically updating the first local knowledge set based on A1);

A3) periodically receiving, at the first appliance controller, second local knowledge set from at least one of the plurality of appliance controllers other than the first appliance controller;

A4) periodically updating the first local knowledge set based on A3); and

A5) periodically broadcasting the first local knowledge set to the plurality of appliance controllers other than the first appliance controller.

30. The method of claim 29, where in D) comprises:

D1) maintaining at the first meter controller a first neighbor model set, the first neighbor model set comprising information relating to a plurality of meter controllers in the city-wide environment, the first neighbor model set including a plurality of neighbor models, each neighbor model of the plurality of neighbor models corresponding to a unique meter controller of the plurality of meter controllers;

D2) periodically receiving at the first meter controller at least one neighbor model from at least one of the plurality of meter controllers other than the first meter controller;

D3) periodically updating the first neighbor model set based on D2);

D4) periodically updating the first representative city-wide model based on the first meter controller model and the first neighbor model set updated in D3); and

D5) periodically broadcasting the first representative city-wide model to the plurality of meter controllers other than the first meter controller.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein F) comprises:

F1) broadcasting the first control input to the plurality of appliance controllers.

32. A method for controlling at least a first power demand of a first appliance of a plurality of appliances operating in a first local environment, the first local environment and at least a second local environment constituting a city-wide environment to which power is supplied by a utility provider, the first appliance and at least some other appliances of the plurality of appliances being respectively associated with a corresponding appliance controller such that the first local environment includes a plurality of appliance controllers including a first appliance controller associated with the first appliance, the plurality of appliance controllers of the first local environment being in communication with a first meter controller associated with the first local environment, the method comprising:

A) maintaining, at the first appliance controller, first local knowledge set comprising information relating to the plurality of appliance controllers in the local environment, the first local knowledge set including a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries corresponding to a unique appliance controller of the plurality of appliance controllers, each entry including;

a demand model associated with the unique appliance controller; and

a demand category associated with the unique appliance controller, the demand category being one of a plurality of predetermined demand categories corresponding to different degrees of demand flexibility;

B) periodically monitoring the first power demand of the first appliance and a first demand category associated with the first appliance controller;

C) periodically updating the first local knowledge set based on B);

D) periodically receiving, at the first appliance controller, second local knowledge set from at least one of the plurality of appliance controllers other than the first appliance controller;

E) periodically updating the first local knowledge set based on D);

F) periodically broadcasting the first local knowledge set to the plurality of appliance controllers other than the first appliance controller;

G) transmitting the first local knowledge set to the first meter controller;

H) receiving a first control input at the first appliance controller;

I) making a comparison, at the first appliance controller, of the first control input and the first demand category associated with the first appliance controller; and

J) controlling the first power demand of the first appliance based on the comparison in I).

33. A method for controlling at least a first power demand of a first appliance of a plurality of appliances operating in a first local environment, the first local environment and at least a second local environment constituting a city-wide environment to which power is supplied by a utility provider, the first appliance and at least some other appliances of the plurality of appliances being respectively associated with a corresponding appliance controller such that the first local environment includes a plurality of appliance controllers including a first appliance controller associated with the first appliance, the plurality of appliance controllers of the first local environment being in communication with a first meter controller associated with the first local environment, the method comprising:

A) maintaining at the first meter controller a first meter controller model based at least in part on a first local knowledge set received from the first appliance controller, the first meter controller model including a plurality of subtotal power demand values, each subtotal power demand value corresponding to a different one of a plurality of predetermined demand categories corresponding to different degrees of demand flexibility;

B) maintaining at the first meter controller a first representative city-wide model based at least in part on the first meter controller model, the first representative city-wide model including a plurality of estimated mean per-consumer subtotal power demand values, each estimated mean per-consumer subtotal power demand value corresponding to a different one of the plurality of predetermined demand categories;

C) maintaining at the first meter controller a first neighbor model set, the first neighbor model set comprising information relating to a plurality of meter controllers in the city-wide environment, the first neighbor model set including a plurality of neighbor models, each neighbor model of the plurality of neighbor models corresponding to a unique meter controller of the plurality of meter controllers;

D) periodically receiving at the first meter controller at least one neighbor model from at least one of the plurality of meter controllers other than the first meter controller;

E) periodically updating the first neighbor model set based on D);

F) periodically updating the first representative city-wide model based on the first meter controller model and the first neighbor model set updated in E);

G) periodically broadcasting the first representative city-wide model to the plurality of meter controllers other than the first meter controller;

H) receiving at the first meter controller a present power demand and a target power demand for the city-wide environment;

I) calculating at the first meter controller a first control input for the first local environment based at least in part on the target power demand and the first representative city-wide model, the first control input representing a requested degree of power demand reduction in the first local environment; and

J) broadcasting the first control input to the plurality of appliance controllers.