Demand response method, computer-readable medium and system

• US 20110208369A1
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jang, Young Ho, Yang, Jang Beom, Cho, Sung Ho, Jeong, Seong Wook, Baek, Young Jin, Lee, Chang Hern, Jin, Sun Il, Park, Jung Won, Son, Chang Ho, Gim, Seong Chan, Lim, Jae Min
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• 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

Abstract

A demand response (DR) system, computer-readable medium and method are disclosed. The DR system controls a high-power-consumption load to be pre-operated or post-operated in a low-power-rate interval instead of a high-power-rate interval, and reduces an amount of power consumption required for a high-power-rate interval, resulting in reduction of power rates. In addition, limitation to household appliance operation is minimized, to greatly reduce inconvenience of a user.

Claims

1. A demand response method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, electricity demand information;

extracting, by the processor, an electricity demand pattern in response to the received electricity demand information;

dividing, by the processor, a unit interval into a high-power-rate interval and a low-power-rate interval in response to the extracted electricity demand pattern;

estimating, by the processor, an estimated operation time point of a load; and

changing, by the processor, if the estimated operation time point is in the high-power-rate interval, an operation time point of the load to any time of the low-power-rate interval to operate the load in the low-power-rate interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the estimating of the estimated operation time point of the load, the load is a high-power-consumption load.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the load is any one of a defrosting heater of a refrigerator, a defrosting heater of an air-conditioner, or a heater of a washing machine.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changing of the operation time of the load to any time of the low-power-rate interval includes:

determining, if the estimated operation time point is in the high-power-rate interval, whether a limit delay time point at which the load operation is maximally delayed falls within the high-power-rate interval; and

performing a pre-operation for moving the operation time point of the load forward or a post-operation for moving the operation time point of the load backward according to the determined result to allow the operation time point of the load to move from the high-power-rate interval.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein one of the performing of the pre-operation and the post-operation includes:

if a limit delay time point of the load falls within the high-power-rate interval, shifting the operation time point of the load to the low-power-rate interval located before the high-power-rate interval, and

if the limit delay time point of the load does not fall within the high-power-rate interval, delaying the operation time point of the load toward a low-power-rate interval located after the high-power-rate interval.

18. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that control at least one processor to implement the method of claim 1.

6. A demand response method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, electricity demand information;

extracting, by the processor, an electricity demand pattern in response to the received electricity demand information;

dividing, by the processor, a unit interval into a high-power-rate interval and a low-power-rate interval in response to the extracted electricity demand pattern; and

performing, by the processor, at least one of a pre-cooling operation wherein a household appliance starts a cooling operation in a low-power-rate interval before the high-power-rate interval, or a post-cooling operation wherein a start time of a final-cycle cooling operation performed in the high-power-rate interval is delayed to a low-power-rate interval located after the high-power-rate interval.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the performing of the pre-cooling operation, the pre-cooling operation is compulsorily cooled to a specific temperature lower than a predetermined temperature of a previous-cycle cooling operation.

8. A demand response system, comprising:

a receiving unit to receive electricity demand information;

an electricity demand recording unit to record information an electricity demand amount in response to the received electricity demand information;

an electricity demand pattern extracting unit to extract an electricity demand pattern from the electricity demand amount recorded in the electricity demand recording unit; and

a demand response (DR) controller to compare an electricity demand amount of an electricity demand pattern extracted from the electricity demand pattern extracting unit with a predetermined electricity demand amount, divide a unit interval into a high-power-rate interval and a low-power-rate interval, estimate an estimated operation time point of a load, and shift a start time point of the load operation to the low-power-rate interval when the estimated operation time point falls within the high-power-rate interval to start the load operation in the low-power-rate interval.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the load is any one of a defrosting heater of a refrigerator, a defrosting heater of an air-conditioner, or a heater of a washing machine.

10. The system according to any one of claim 8, wherein the DR controller determines, if the estimated operation time point falls within the high-power-rate interval, whether a limit delay time point at which the load operation is maximally delayed falls within the high-power-rate interval, moves the operation time point of the load toward the low-power-rate interval located before the high-power-rate interval when the limit delay time point of the load falls within the high-power-rate interval, and delays the operation time point of the load toward a low-power-rate interval located after the high-power-rate interval when the limit delay time point of the load does not fall within the high-power-rate interval.

11. A demand response method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, power rate information;

establishing, by the processor, a plurality of demand response (DR) levels having different power rates and different allowed amounts of power in response to the received power rate information;

recognizing, by the processor, a current DR level;

measuring, by the processor, an amount of current power consumed by a household appliance;

comparing, by the processor, the measured current power amount with an allowed power amount corresponding to the recognized DR level; and

delaying, by the processor, if the current power amount is equal to or higher than the allowed power amount corresponding to the current DR level, a load operation to an interval of a DR level lower than a current DR level until the current power amount reaches the allowed power amount corresponding to the current DR level.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the establishing of the plurality of DR levels includes:

establishing a plurality of DR levels having different power rates and different allowed power amounts based upon a minimum power rate and a maximum power rate of the received power rate information.

13. The method according to claim 13, wherein, in the delaying of the load operation, the load includes a plurality of loads having different priorities, and operation time points of individual loads are sequentially delayed in ascending numerical order of priorities toward a low-DR-level interval having a DR level lower than the current DR level.

14. A demand response system, comprising:

a receiving unit to receive power rate information;

a demand response (DR) level setup unit to establish a plurality of DR levels having different power rates and different allowed power amounts in response to the received power rate information; and

a DR controller to recognize a current DR level, measure an amount of current power consumed by a household appliance, compare the measured current power amount with an allowed power amount corresponding to the recognized DR level, to delay, when the current power amount is equal to or higher than the allowed power amount corresponding to the current DR level, a load operation toward an interval of a DR level lower than a current DR level until the current power amount reaches the allowed power amount corresponding to the current DR level.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the load includes a plurality of loads having different priorities, and the DR controller delays an operation time point of each load in ascending numerical order of priorities toward a low-DR-level interval having a DR level lower than the current DR level.

16. A demand response method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, power rate information;

establishing, by the processor, a plurality of demand response (DR) levels having different power rates in response to the received power rate information;

recognizing, by the processor, a current DR level;

determining, by the processor, whether the current DR level is equal to or higher than a predetermined DR level; and

delaying, by the processor, if the current DR level is equal to or higher than the predetermined DR level, a start time point of a load to be performed in the current-DR-level interval toward a low-DR-level interval having a low DR level.

17. A demand response system, comprising:

a receiving unit to receive power rate information;

a demand response (DR) level setup unit to establish a plurality of DR levels having different power rates in response to the received power rate information; and

a DR controller that recognizes a current DR level, determines whether the current DR level is equal to or higher than a predetermined DR level, and delays, if the current DR level is equal to or higher than the predetermined DR level, a start time point of a load to be performed in the current-DR-level interval to a low-DR-level interval having a low DR level.

19. A method, comprising:

interpreting, by a processor, electricity demand information to generate an electricity demand pattern;

determining, by the processor, demand rate levels to generate a high power rate time period and a low power rate time period by using the electricity demand pattern; and

modifying, by the processor, an electrical appliance operation time forward or backward in time to the low power rate time period if the electrical appliance operation time is preset in the high power rate time period, where the modifying is dependent upon at least one of a maximum delay time, a priority of an electrical appliance and an influence on quality.

20. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that control at least one processor to implement the method of claim 19.