ENERGY MANAGER WITH MINIMUM USE ENERGY PROFILE

• US 20120065796A1
• 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: Brian, Joseph Mark, Beyerle, Michael Thomas, Broniak, Jay Andrew, Bingham, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 10/30 Wind power
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A system and method for maximizing the value of power generated by a residential power generator. A home energy manager device is configured to implement a minimum energy usage profile during a peak demand event such that a maximum amount of power generated by the consumer can be sold back to the utility. For renewable energy sources such as solar cells, peak demand events often correspond with peak output of the renewable energy source. For example, hot sunny summer days are conducive to maximum solar power output and, typically, also result in maximum power demand for powering air conditioners.

Claims

1. A home energy management system comprising:

at least one energy consuming device;

at least one residential power generator; and

a home energy manager in communication with said at least one energy consuming device and said at least one residential power generator, the home energy manager device adapted to control the at least one energy consuming device in accordance with an energy use profile;

wherein the home energy manager is configured to detect a peak demand condition corresponding to increased energy rates, and in response thereto, compare a power output total of the at least one residential power generator to a power rating of predetermined minimum energy use profile and, if the power output exceeds the power rating of the minimum energy use profile, the controller activates the minimum energy use profile;

whereby during periods of peak demand, excess power generated by the at least one residential power generator can be sold at the increased rate.

2. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the home energy manager is adapted to receive a signal from a power utility supplying power to the at least one energy consuming device, the signal indicative of a peak demand condition.

3. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a user input device for enabling a user to customize the minimum energy use profile.

4. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one energy consuming device includes at least one appliance.

5. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least one appliance includes at least one of a hot water heater, a HVAC unit, a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, a heater, a dishwasher, a microwave, a pool pump, or a 120V/240V plug load.

6. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the home energy manager is configured to disable the at least one energy consuming device when the minimum energy use profile is implemented.

7. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the home energy manager is configured to switch the at least one energy consuming device to a low power mode when the low energy profile is implemented.

8. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one residential power generator includes at least one of a gas generator, a solar cell, a wind turbine, a hydroelectric power generator, or a battery powered inverter.

9. A home energy management device comprising:

a controller for controlling at least one energy consuming device in accordance with an energy use profile, said controller in communication with at least one residential power generator and adapted to receive power output information from said at least one generator; and

a communication interface for receiving a signal indicative of a peak demand condition corresponding to increased energy rates;

wherein when the signal indicative of a peak demand condition is received, the controller compares a power output total of the at least one generator to a predetermined minimum energy use profile and, if the power output exceeds a power rating of the minimum energy use profile, the controller activates the minimum energy use profile;

whereby during periods of peak energy demand, excess power generated by the at least one renewable power generator can be sold at the increased rate.

10. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 9, comprising a user input device for enabling a user to customize the minimum energy use profile.

11. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the at least one energy consuming device that the controller is configured to control includes at least one appliance.

12. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the at least one appliance includes at least one of a hot water heater, a HVAC unit, a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, a heater, a dishwasher, a microwave, a pool pump, or a 120V/240V plug load.

13. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to disable the at least one energy consuming device when the minimum energy use profile is implemented.

14. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to switch the at least one energy consuming device to a low power mode when the minimum energy use profile is implemented.

15. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the at least one residential power generator includes at least one of a gas generator, a solar cell, a wind turbine, a hydroelectric power generator, or a battery powered inverter.

16. A method of maximizing the value of power generated by a residential energy power generator connected to a home energy manager of a home energy management system, the home energy manager configured to control at least one energy consuming device in accordance with an energy use profile, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a peak energy demand condition corresponding to increased energy rates;

comparing an output of the residential power generator to a power rating of a minimum energy use profile; and

activating the minimum energy use profile if the power output of the generator exceeds the power rating of the minimum energy use profile.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of activating the minimum energy use profile includes switching off at least one non-essential energy consuming device.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of activating the minimum energy use profile includes switch at least one energy consuming device to a low energy mode.

19. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of detecting a peak energy demand includes receiving a signal indicative of a peak energy demand condition from a power utility.

20. A method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the step of, after activating the minimum energy use profile, deactivating the minimum energy use profile upon the occurrence of a deactivating event including expiration of a prescribed period of time, when the power output of the generator decreases below the power rating of the minimum energy use profile for a prescribed period of time, restoration of utility power, or manual deactivation by a consumer.