APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEMAND COORDINATION NETWORK

• US 20110196513A1
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc. (ENEL SPA)
• Original Assignee: Enernoc
• Inventors: O'Kelley, Matthew B., WILLIG, RANDY C., Mathews, Jeffrey P., Reh, Jeffrey G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/29
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• 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 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• 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: 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

An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a resource. The apparatus includes a plurality of devices and a plurality of control nodes. Each of the plurality of devices consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and the each are capable of performing a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. Each of the plurality of control nodes is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of devices, where the plurality of control nodes is coupled together via a demand coordination network, and where the plurality of control nodes coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to reduce the peak demand of the resource, and where one or more of the run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments, but which still operate within the acceptable operating margin for the corresponding local environments.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a resource, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of devices, each consuming a portion of the resource when turned on, and said each capable of performing a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off; and

a plurality of control nodes, each coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of devices, wherein said plurality of control nodes is coupled together via a demand coordination network, and wherein said plurality of control nodes coordinates run times for said each of said plurality of devices to reduce the peak demand of the resource, and wherein one or more of said run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments, but which still operate within said acceptable operating margin for said corresponding local environments.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein coordination of said run times for each of said plurality of devices comprises advancing a first one or more of a plurality of start times, deferring a second one or more of said plurality of start times, and increasing one or more of a plurality of duty cycles.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes maintains a replica copy of a global run time schedule for all of said plurality of devices.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes develops a set of descriptors characterizing an associated one of said corresponding local environments.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said plurality of control nodes employs additional sensor data to adjust an associated set of descriptors.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes develops and maintains a replica copy of a global run time schedule that specifies start time, duration, and duty cycle for said each of said plurality of devices.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a monitor node, coupled to non-system device and to said demand coordination network, configured to broadcast when said non-system device is consuming the resource, wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes accounts for consumption of the resource by said non-system device when generating said global run time schedule.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said demand coordination network comprises an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network.

9. A peak demand control system, for managing peak energy demand, the peak demand control system comprising:

a plurality of control nodes, each coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of devices, wherein said plurality of control nodes are coupled together via a demand coordination network, and wherein said plurality of control nodes coordinates run times for said each of said plurality of devices to reduce the peak energy demand, and wherein one or more of said run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments, and wherein advancement of said one or more start times allows for operation of a corresponding one or more of said plurality of devices within an acceptable operating margin; and

one or more sensor nodes, coupled to said demand coordination network, configured to provide one or more global sensor data sets to said plurality of control nodes, wherein said plurality of control nodes employs said one or more global sensor data sets in determining said run times.

10. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein coordination of said run times for each of said plurality of devices comprises advancing a first one or more of a plurality of start times, deferring a second one or more of said plurality of start times, and increasing one or more of a plurality of duty cycles.

11. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes maintains a replica copy of a global run time schedule for all of said plurality of devices.

12. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes develops a set of descriptors characterizing an associated one of said corresponding local environments.

13. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 12, wherein one of said plurality of control nodes employs said one or more global sensor data sets to adjust an associated set of descriptors.

14. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said each of said plurality control nodes develops and maintains a replica copy of a global run time schedule that specifies start time, duration, and duty cycle for said each of said plurality of devices.

15. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a monitor node, coupled to non-system device and to said demand coordination network, configured to broadcast when said non-system device is consuming energy, wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes accounts for consumption of said energy by said non-system device when generating said global run time schedule.

16. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said demand coordination network comprises an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network.

17. A method for controlling peak demand of a resource, the method comprising:

controlling devices via corresponding control nodes, where each of the devices consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and where the each of the devices is capable of performing a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off; and

first coupling the control nodes together via a demand coordination network, and employing the demand coordination network to coordinate run times for the each of the devices to reduce the peak demand of the resource, wherein one or more of the run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments, but which still operate within the acceptable operating margin for the corresponding local environments.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein coordination of the run times for each of the devices comprises advancing a first one or more of a plurality of start times, deferring a second one or more of the plurality of start times, and increasing one or more of a plurality of duty cycles.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein each of the corresponding control nodes maintains a replica copy of a global run time schedule for all of the devices.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the each of the corresponding control nodes develops a set of descriptors characterizing an associated one of the corresponding local environments.

22. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the each of the corresponding control nodes develops and maintains a replica copy of a global run time schedule that specifies start time, duration, and duty cycle for the each of the devices.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

second coupling a non-system device and to the demand coordination network, and broadcasting when the non-system device is consuming the resource, wherein said each of the corresponding control nodes accounts for consumption of the resource by the non-system device when generating said global run time schedule.

21. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein one of the corresponding control nodes employs additional sensor data to adjust an associated set of descriptors.