WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER DEMAND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE

• US 20120006525A1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lafleur, Robert, Besore, John K., Venkatakrishnan, Natarajan
• Granted Patent: US 8,943,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/238
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/027 mounted in wall openings, e.g. in windows
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• 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: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

An appliance for conditioning air of an associated room and an associated method for controlling an air conditioner are disclosed, the controller selectively adjusting operation of the air conditioning appliance based on historical operating data. The controller adjusts a set-point of the appliance for a preselected period of time in response to the historical operating data of the appliance when the appliance operates in an energy savings mode. In one arrangement, the controller is configured to receive and process data regarding whether the appliance has been operating over a predetermined time period before a utility demand state signal is received. The controller is configured to receive and process data relating to similar time periods of operation, and more particularly may include receiving data from the last two consecutive days where similar time periods of those days are analyzed. The controller may be configured to receive and process data relating to the rate of change in the temperature. Further, an override feature may be included to maintain operation of the appliance in a normal operation mode if ambient temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value. Another feature is that the controller determines whether the compressor has been operational less than a preselected period of time and, if so, the compressor is operated until such time period has elapsed.

Claims

1. An appliance for conditioning air of an associated room comprising:

one or more power consuming features/functions including a temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling, air; and

a controller operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions, the controller being configured to receive and process a demand response signal and in response thereto operate the appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, the controller being, configured in at least the energy savings mode to at least selectively adjust operation based on historical operating data of the appliance.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller adjusts a set point for a preselected period of time.

3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive and process whether the appliance has been operating for 100% of the time over a predetermined tune period prior to processing the utility demand state signal.

4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the predetermined time period is about one hour.

5. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the controller is configured to receive and process data relating to similar time periods.

6. The appliance of claim 5 wherein the similar time periods include data from the last two consecutive days.

7. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the similar time periods are representative of the same time of day.

8. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive and process data relating to a rate of change (i.e., slope) in temperature.

9. The appliance of claim 8 wherein the appliance includes an override to maintain operation of the appliance in a normal operation mode.

10. The appliance of claim 9 wherein the override is automatic if ambient temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value.

11. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to reduce the load or percent run time by a predetermined percentage in the energy savings mode.

12. The appliance of claim 11 wherein the controller is configured to reduce the load or percent run time for a predetermined time period in the energy savings mode.

13. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to override the signal indicative of the utility demand state if sensed temperature is above a preselected level.

14. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to continue with operation of a compressor if the compressor has been operational less than a preselected time period.

15. The appliance of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to continue with operation of the compressor until the compressor has operated at least the preselected time period.

16. A control method for an air conditioner, comprising:

receiving a demand response signal indicative of at least a peak demand period and an off-peak demand period;

operating the air conditioner in a normal mode during the off-peak demand period;

operating the air conditioner in an energy savings mode during the peak demand period;

selectively adjusting at least one power consuming feature of the air conditioner to reduce power consumption of the air conditioner in the energy savings mode based on historical operating data of the air conditioner.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the power consuming feature adjusting step includes adjusting a set point temperature.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the power consuming feature adjusting step includes reducing the load or percent run time by a predetermined percentage.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising assessing whether a compressor has been operational for a predetermined time period and overriding the power consuming feature adjusting step if the predetermined period has not been reached.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising assessing ambient temperature and overriding the power consuming feature adjusting step if the ambient temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

18. (canceled)