INTELLIGENT METERING DEMAND RESPONSE

• US 20110118890A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• 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: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• 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: 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• 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 and method for real-time power management are provided. The system can include one or more lights, one or more light controllers, one or more meters to detect power demand of a building, and a central controller to modify the light output of the lights responsive to the detected power demand. The system can interface with other utility controls to manage the total power demand of the building on a real-time basis. The light controllers can provide individual metering of the lights for use by the central controller.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one light to illuminate a space in a building;

at least one meter to detect power demand for the building;

at least one utility service meter to detect utility service demand for at least one building utility;

at least one light controller to control power to the at least one light, wherein the at least one light controller comprises a dimmer configured to adjust a light output over a range of light output values;

at least one utility controller to control power to the at least one building utility; and

a central controller to receive power demand data from the at least one meter and to send a signal to at least one of the light controller and the utility controller to modify at least one of a lighting load and a utility load of the building responsive to the power demand data and a power setpoint.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to maintain the power demand of the building below the power setpoint.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is further configured to log the power demand data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the central controller is further configured to:

analyze logged power demand data;

predict future power demand; and

modify the light output responsive to the predicted future power demand.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor to detect an amount of light in the space in the building, wherein the light controller adjusts the light output responsive to the sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the central controller is further configured to adjust a delay time associated with the sensor responsive to the power demand data and the power setpoint.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to modify the lighting load by dimming the light output at a rate that is substantially imperceptible to occupants of the building.

8. A method, comprising:

monitoring a current power demand by monitoring at least one lighting load and at least one utility load;

determining if the current power demand is approaching a setpoint;

determining whether to take corrective measures if the current power demand is approaching the setpoint;

determining which corrective measures to implement; and

implementing the determined corrective measures, wherein the determined corrective measures include at least one of modifying lighting and modifying utility demand.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising logging the current power demand, wherein determining if the current power demand is approaching the setpoint includes comparing the setpoint to logged power demand.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether to take corrective measures includes analyzing logged power demand and predicting future power demand.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising logging the corrective measures.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of determining whether to take corrective measures and determining which corrective measures to implement includes analyzing the logged corrective measures.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein implementing the corrective measures includes dimming the lighting.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein dimming the lighting includes dimming the lighting at a rate that is substantially imperceptible to occupants of a building.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an event; and

modifying the setpoint responsive to receiving the event.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the event comprises at least one of receiving an input of a new setpoint by a building operator, a predetermined time of day being reached, a predetermined light value being reached, and a demand response signal being received from a utility supplier.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that current power demand has exceeded the setpoint; and

implementing additional corrective measures to prevent future power demand from exceeding a second setpoint.

18. A system to manage power demand in a building, comprising:

a plurality of lights to illuminate spaces in the building;

at least one meter to detect power demand for the building;

at least one lighting sub-meter to detect lighting power demand for the building;

a plurality of utility service sub-meters to detect utility service demand for the building;

at least one light controller to control a light output of the plurality of lights, wherein the light controller comprises a dimmer configured to adjust the light output over a range of light output values; and

a central controller to;

receive lighting power demand data from the at least one lighting sub-meter;

receive utility demand data from the plurality of utility service sub-meters; and

send a signal to at least one of the light controller and a utility controller to modify at least one of light output from the lights and a utility load responsive to the lighting power demand data, utility demand data, and a power setpoint.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lights comprises a plurality of light circuits and wherein the central controller is further configured to send the signal to the at least one light controller to modify the light output from at least one of the light circuits without affecting the light output from at least one other of the light circuits.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the central controller is configured to modify the light output by dimming the light output at a rate that is substantially imperceptible to occupants of the building.

21. A controller, comprising:

a communication interface to receive current power demand data from at least one lighting meter and at least one utility meter and to transmit a control signal to at least one lighting controller and at least one utility controller; and

a processor to;

monitor the current power demand data;

determine if current power demand is approaching a setpoint;

determine whether to take corrective measures if the current power demand is approaching the setpoint;

determine which corrective measures to implement; and

implement the determined corrective measures, wherein the determined corrective measures include at least one of modifying lighting and modifying utility demand.

22. The controller of claim 21, further comprising a memory, wherein the processor is further to log the current power demand data in the memory and compare the setpoint to logged power demand.

23. The controller of claim 22, wherein the processor is further to analyze logged power demand and predict future power demand.

24. The controller of claim 21, wherein the determined corrective measures include dimming the lighting.

25. The controller of claim 24, wherein the processor is further to dim the lighting at a rate that is substantially imperceptible to occupants of a building.