Demand response system

• US 20110218680A1
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yang, Jang Beom, Cho, Sung Ho, Seo, Jae Yu, Kim, Hyun Ki, Pyung, Seong Uk, Park, Jung Won, Kim, Hyeng Kyun, Lim, Jae Min, Jeong, Seong Wook, Baek, Young Jin, Jin, Sun Il, Son, Chang Ho
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks

Abstract

A demand response (DR) system includes a DR control unit to generate different DR levels having different power rates for each power unit, and transmit a current DR level, and a household appliance to receive the DR level from the DR control unit, and differentially control energy output of a product in response to the received DR level so as to reduce power consumption of the product. As a result, the DR system reduces power consumption when power rates are high so as to reduce electricity bills.

Claims

1. A demand response system comprising:

a demand response (DR) control unit to generate different DR levels having different power rates for each power unit, and transmit a current DR level; and

a household appliance to receive the DR level from the DR control unit, and differentially control energy output of a product in response to the received DR level so as to reduce power consumption of the product.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the household appliance includes:

a storage unit to store information associated with the energy output for each DR level of the household appliance;

a receiving unit to receive a DR level from the DR control unit;

a controller to change the energy output of the household appliance to an output value corresponding to the received DR level according to the DR level received through the receiving unit so as to reduce power consumption of the household appliance; and

a load driving unit to drive a variety of loads of the household appliance in response to a control signal of the controller.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the controller reduces the energy output as the received DR level increases.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

the household appliance is an induction heating cooker including a working coil heating a container; and

the controller changes an initial output level of the working coil to a level corresponding to the received DR level in response to the received DR level.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

the household appliance is an air-conditioner; and

the controller changes an initial set temperature of the air-conditioner to a temperature value corresponding to the received DR level in response to the received DR level.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

the household appliance is a refrigerator; and

the controller changes an initial freezing-chamber temperature of the refrigerator to a temperature value corresponding to the received DR level in response to the received DR level.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein:

the household appliance is a refrigerator; and

the controller changes an initial compressor operation rate of the refrigerator to an operation rate corresponding to the received DR level in response to the received DR level.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

the household appliance includes an input unit to receive a command from a user; and

the controller disables or enables energy output control in response to the DR level upon receiving the user command from the input unit.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein:

the input unit includes a first button to establish a time zone and a second button to establish the DR level; and

the controller maintains a DR level entered through the second button during a time zone entered through the first button.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein:

the input unit includes a first button to establish a time and a second button to establish the DR level; and

the controller maintains a DR level entered through the second button during a time entered through the first button.

11. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

the household appliance includes a display unit; and

the controller displays a current DR level on the display unit.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the controller displays information associated with power rates reduced by energy output control in response to the DR level on the display unit.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the DR control unit receives power rate information, accumulates the received power rate information in predetermined time units, and establishes the plurality of DR levels using the accumulated power rate information.

14. An induction heating cooking apparatus comprising:

a load driving unit to drive a working coil heating a container;

a receiving unit to receive a demand response (DR) level related to power rate information for each power unit;

a storage unit to store output levels of individual DR levels; and

a controller to confirm an output level corresponding to the DR level received through the receiving unit, change the output level established in the working coil to the confirmed output level, and control an operation of the load driving unit in such a manner that the working coil is operated at the changed output level.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein information stored in the storage unit is stored so that the output level is reduced in proportion to the increasing DR level.

16. An air-conditioner comprising:

a load driving unit to drive a compressor;

a receiving unit to receive a demand response (DR) level related to power rate information for each power unit;

a storage unit to store temperature values of individual DR levels; and

a controller to confirm a temperature value corresponding to the DR level received through the receiver, change a set temperature established in the air-conditioner to the confirmed temperature value, and control an operation of the load driving unit in a manner that the set temperature value of the air-conditioner reaches the changed temperature value.

17. The air-conditioner according to claim 16, wherein information stored in the storage unit is stored in a manner that the temperature value increases in proportion to the increasing DR level.

18. A refrigerator comprising:

a load driving unit to drive a compressor;

a receiving unit to receive a demand response (DR) level related to power rate information for each power unit;

a storage unit to store freezing-chamber temperature values of individual DR levels; and

a controller to confirm a freezing-chamber temperature value corresponding to the DR level received through the receiver, change a set freezing-chamber temperature established in the refrigerator to the confirmed freezing-chamber temperature value, and control an operation of the load driving unit so that the freezing-chamber temperature value of the refrigerator reaches the changed freezing-chamber temperature value.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein information stored in the storage unit is stored in a manner that the freezing-chamber temperature value increases in proportion to the increasing DR level.

20. A refrigerator comprising:

a load driving unit to drive a compressor;

a receiving unit to receive a demand response (DR) level related to power rate information for each power unit;

a storage unit to store compressor operation rates of individual DR levels; and

a controller to confirm a compressor operation rate corresponding to the DR level received through the receiver, change a compressor operation rate established in the refrigerator to the confirmed compressor operation rate, and control an operation of the load driving unit so that the refrigerator is operated at the changed compressor operation rate.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein information stored in the storage unit is stored so that the compressor operate rate is reduced in proportion to the increasing DR level.