SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING LOCAL CONTROL OF A SPACE CONDITIONING LOAD DURING A DIRECT LOAD CONTROL EVENT

• US 20120053745A1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverge Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ng, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

A system for establishing local control of a space conditioning load includes a switch for controlling a flow of energy for a space conditioning load. Control logic is operatively coupled to the switch, for receiving control parameters associated with a direct load control event from a utility provider. The control logic may also measure room temperature based on received temperature signals and determine if a room temperature is greater a comfort temperature range. The control logic may eliminate operation of a direct load control program if the room temperature is greater than or equal to the comfort temperature range. The control logic may log and signal back to the utility provider that the comfort temperature range is exceeded. The control logic may then restore local control of the switch and initiate a temperature setback control to a thermostat for the remainder of the control period.

Claims

1. A method for establishing local control of a space conditioning load during a direct load control event issued by a utility provider, comprising:

receiving one or more control parameters associated with the direct load control event;

measuring room temperature of a climate controlled space;

determining if the room temperature is one of greater than and equal to a comfort temperature range;

if the room temperature is one of greater than and equal to a comfort temperature range, then completely disabling direct load control of the space conditioning load from the utility provider; and

transitioning control of the space conditioning load using a temperature setback method.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise at least one of a duration for the direct load control event, parameters associating with cycling a space conditioning load, load shed time, and load restore time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein restoring local control of the space conditioning load comprises providing control to a thermostat.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a comfort temperature range with a user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user interface comprises one of a touch screen display, a key pad, a key board, and a button.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the comfort temperature range comprises a threshold set relative to a temperature set point of a thermostat.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the space conditioning load comprises at least one of an air conditioner and a furnace.

8. A system for establishing local control of a space conditioning load during a direct load control event issued by a utility provider, comprising:

means for receiving one or more control parameters associated with the direct load control event;

means for measuring room temperature of a climate controlled space;

means for determining if the room temperature is one of greater than and equal to a comfort temperature range;

means for eliminating direct load control of the space conditioning load from the utility provider if the room temperature is one of greater than and equal to a comfort temperature range;

means for transitioning control of the space conditioning load using a temperature setback method; and

means for logging and signaling to the utility provider that the temperature threshold is reached.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise at least one of a duration for the direct load control event, parameters associating with cycling a space conditioning load, load shed time, and load restore time.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for restoring local control of space conditioning load further comprises means for providing control to a thermostat.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for receiving a comfort temperature range.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for receiving the comfort temperature range comprises a user interface that comprises one of a touch screen display, a key pad, a key board, and a button.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the comfort temperature range comprises a magnitude set relative to a temperature set point of a thermostat.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the space conditioning load comprises at least one of an air conditioner and a furnace.

15. A system for establishing local control of a space conditioning load, comprising:

a switch for controlling a flow of energy;

control logic operatively coupled to the switch, for receiving one or more control parameters associated with a direct load control event from a communications network, for measuring a room temperature based on received temperature signals, for determining if the room temperature is one of greater than and equal to a comfort temperature range, for eliminating operation of a direct load control program associated with the one or more control parameters received if the room temperature is one of greater than and equal to a comfort temperature range, generating a signal indicating that the temperature threshold is reached, and for restoring local control of the switch if the room temperature is one of greater than and equal to a comfort temperature range.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising memory for storing instructions and the one or more control parameters.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the memory comprises one of a volatile component and a non-volatile component.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a thermostat coupled to the control logic.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a display.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the control logic receives the comfort temperature range from a user interface coupled to the control logic.