System For Monitoring Optimal Equipment Operating Parameters

• US 20110071960A1
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Abtar
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A method includes obtaining a present value of a set point for at least one piece of equipment with a remote monitor in communication with a controller that controls the at least one piece of equipment according to the set point. The method also includes determining a first power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The first power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at the present value of the set point. The method also includes determining a second power consumption rate with the remote monitor. The second power consumption rate corresponds to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at a predetermined benchmark value of the set point. The method also includes determining a monetary cost associated with a difference between the first power consumption rate and the second power consumption rate, based on a power consumption cost, when the first power consumption rate is greater than the second power consumption rate. The method also includes communicating the monetary cost, with the remote monitor, to a remote user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a present value of a set point for at least one piece of equipment with a remote monitor in communication with a controller that controls the at least one piece of equipment according to the set point;

determining a first power consumption rate with the remote monitor, the first power consumption rate corresponding to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at the present value of the set point;

determining a second power consumption rate with the remote monitor, the second power consumption rate corresponding to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at a predetermined benchmark value of the set point;

determining a monetary cost associated with a difference between the first power consumption rate and the second power consumption rate, based on a power consumption cost, when the first power consumption rate is greater than the second power consumption rate;

communicating the monetary cost, with the remote monitor, to a remote user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined benchmark value of the set point is a previous value of the set point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined benchmark value is determined during a system performance analysis for the at least one piece of equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the power consumption cost based on a location of the at least one piece of equipment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining the power consumption cost based on the location of the at least one piece of equipment includes accessing, with the remote monitor, a power consumption cost database that stores power consumption cost data for at least one of a plurality of regions and a plurality of particular locations.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating, with the remote monitor, at least one of the present value of the set point, the benchmark value of the set point, the first power consumption rate, and the second power consumption rate, to the remote user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of a refrigeration system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a pressure, a temperature, a control method, a suction float point, a minimum float point, a maximum float point, a suction group set point, a control sensor offset, a condenser set point, an ambient sensor offset, a minimum head pressure, an air-cooled condenser fan speed, a hold-back valve pressure, an evaporator condenser sump temperature, a receiver pressurization valve pressure, an EPR valve pressure, a suction pressure, and a discharge pressure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an HVAC system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a cooling set point, a heating set point, a dehumidification set point, a cooling override, a heating override, and a fan override.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an a defrost system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a number of defrosts per day, a defrost duration, a termination type, and a termination temperature.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an lighting system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a light level, an on time, and an off time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an anti-condensate heating system.

12. A system comprising a remote monitor that obtains a present value of a set point for at least one piece of equipment by communicating with a controller controlling the at least one piece of equipment according to the set point, that determines a first power consumption rate corresponding to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at the present value of the set point, that determines a second power consumption rate corresponding to power consumption of the at least one piece of equipment while operating at a predetermined benchmark value of the set point, and that communicates a monetary cost to a remote user when the first power consumption rate is greater than the second power consumption rate, the monetary cost being based on a difference between the first power consumption rate and the second power consumption rate and a power consumption cost.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined benchmark value of the set point is a previous value of the set point.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined benchmark value is determined during a system performance analysis for the at least one piece of equipment.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the power consumption cost is based on a location of the at least one piece of equipment.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote monitor determines the power consumption cost by accessing a power consumption cost database that stores power consumption cost data for at least one of a plurality of regions and a plurality of particular locations.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote monitor communicates at least one of the present value of the set point, the benchmark value of the set point, the first power consumption rate, and the second power consumption rate, to the remote user.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of a refrigeration system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a pressure, a temperature, a control method, a suction float point, a minimum float point, a maximum float point, a suction group set point, a control sensor offset, a condenser set point, an ambient sensor offset, a minimum head pressure, an air-cooled condenser fan speed, a hold-back valve pressure, an evaporator condenser sump temperature, a receiver pressurization valve pressure, an EPR valve pressure, a suction pressure, and a discharge pressure.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an HVAC system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a cooling set point, a heating set point, a dehumidification set point, a cooling override, a heating override, and a fan override.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an a defrost system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a number of defrosts per day, a defrost duration, a termination type, and a termination temperature.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an lighting system and the set point is selected from the group comprising:

a light level, an on time, and an off time.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is a component of an anti-condensate heating system.