HOUSEHOLD ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONE OR MORE APPLIANCES AND POWER GENERATOR

• US 20120065787A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Broniak, Jay Andrew, Beyerle, Michael Thomas, Brian, Joseph Mark, Bingham, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,246,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/287
• 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: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• 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 device and method for enabling an home energy management (HEM) system to work with a home power generator to run the home in a “survival mode” when the home has lost power from the main utility feed. The HEM controls the operation of the main appliances/loads to enable the homeowner to have basic functionality (hot water, lights, heat, cooking & preserving food) of their home, all while ensuring the max draw on the home does not exceed the output rating of the generator thereby allowing the use of a smaller generator while still providing functionality similar to larger generators resulting in energy and cost savings to the consumer.

Claims

1. A home energy management system comprising:

a plurality of energy consuming devices adapted to receive power from at least one circuit;

a generator for supplying power to the at least one circuit for use by the plurality of energy consuming devices when sufficient utility power is unavailable; and

a home energy manager having a controller in communication with said plurality of energy consuming devices, the controller configured to actively control one or more aspects of the operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator.

2. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the home energy manager is configured to detect when the generator is supplying power to the circuit and automatically implement a low energy use profile to actively control one or more aspects of the operation of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator.

3. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the home energy manager is configured to receive a signal from the generator when the generator is supplying power to the at least one circuit.

4. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching off a non-essential energy consuming device.

5. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the non-essential energy consuming device is user-defined.

6. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices to a different state of operation.

7. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the different state of operation is a low power state of operation.

8. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller selectively activates a subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a first period of time, said subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

9. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 8, wherein, after the first period of time, the controller deactivates the first subset and activates a second subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a second period of time, said second subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

13. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching off a non-essential energy consuming device.

14. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 1, wherein the non-essential energy consuming device is user-defined.

15. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices to a different state of operation.

16. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 6, wherein the different state of operation is a low power state of operation.

17. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller selectively activates a subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a first period of time, said subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

18. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 8, wherein, after the first period of time, the controller deactivates the first subset and activates a second subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a second period of time, said second subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

10. A home energy manager comprising:

a controller for controlling a plurality of energy consuming devices; and

a communications interface for communicating with the plurality of energy consuming devices and a power generator;

wherein the controller is configured receive a signal from the power generator indicating that the power generator is supplying power to the plurality of energy consuming devices and, in response thereto, actively control one or more aspects of the operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator.

11. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 10, wherein the home energy manager is configured to detect an interruption in utility power ordinarily supplied to the plurality of energy consuming devices, and automatically implement a low energy use profile wherein the controller actively controls one or more aspects of the operation of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator.

12. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 11, wherein the home energy manager is configured to receive a signal from the utility indicative of a power interruption.

19. A method for managing a plurality of energy consuming devices being powered by an auxiliary power generator during a utility power interruption, said devices having a combined power rating in excess of a power generating capacity of the power generator, the method comprising:

detecting an interruption of utility power; and

actively controlling one or more aspects of the operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the step of actively controlling includes implementing a user-defined low energy use profile.