METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A BUILDING LOAD IN TANDEM WITH A REPLENISHABLE ENERGY SOURCE IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE APPARENT SIZE OF THE REPLENISHABLE ENERGY SOURCE

• US 20120065801A1
• Filed: 09/11/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverge Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rossi, John, Ellis, David
• Application Number:
  US13/229,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065801A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/16 The load or loads being an Information and Communication Technology [ICT] facility
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• 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: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• 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 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A method and system for controlling a building load in tandem with a replenishable energy source includes generating a control signal comprising at least one of a source command and a sink command. The control signal is transmitted over a communications network to a replenishable energy storage controller. Next, a capacity of the replenishable energy source is determined in response to the control signal. Then a capacity of the building load is determined in relation to the capacity of the replenishable energy source. After this determination, the building load is used as one of a source for supplying energy and a sink for receiving energy in response to the control signal. The replenishable energy source may also be used as a source for supplying energy or a sink for receiving energy in response to the command signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a building load in tandem with a replenishable energy source, the method comprising:

producing a control signal comprising at least one of a source command and a sink command;

transmitting the control signal over a communications network;

determining a capacity of the replenishable energy source in response to the control signal;

determining a capacity of the building load in relation to the replenishable energy source; and

using the building load as one of a source for supplying energy and a sink for receiving energy in response to the control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the replenishable energy source as a source for supplying energy in response to a source command signal, the replenishable energy source supplying electrical energy to an electrical energy distribution system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the replenishable energy source as a sink for receiving energy in response to a source command signal, the replenishable energy source receiving electrical energy from an electrical energy distribution system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the replenishable energy source comprises at least one of a battery, a capacitor, and a combination of a battery and a capacitor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the building load comprises at least one of a digital lighting ballast;

heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment;

a water heater;

an arc furnace;

an electric motor; and

a piece of industrial production equipment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein using the building load as a source for supplying energy comprises applying a load shedding technique to the building load in which the building load operates at a reduced rate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein using the building load as a sink for receiving energy comprises operating the building load at a higher rate for consuming more energy relative to a normal state.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the replenishable energy source comprises a battery of an electric vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electric vehicle comprises at least one of an automobile, a motorcycle, and a truck.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the building load to reduce a number of charge and discharge events for the replenishable energy source.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for using the replenishable energy source as a source for supplying energy in response to a source command signal, the replenishable energy source supplying electrical energy to an electrical energy distribution system.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for using the replenishable energy source as a sink for receiving energy in response to a source command signal, the replenishable energy source receiving electrical energy from an electrical energy distribution system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the replenishable energy source comprises at least one of a battery, a capacitor, and a combination of a battery and a capacitor.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the building load comprises at least one of a digital lighting ballast;

heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment;

a water heater;

an arc furnace;

an electric motor; and

a piece of industrial production equipment.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for using the building load as a source for supplying energy comprises means for applying a load shedding technique to the building load in which the building load operates at a reduced rate.

11. A system for controlling a building load in tandem with a replenishable energy source, the system comprising:

means for producing a control signal comprising at least one of a source command and a sink command;

means for transmitting the control signal over a communications network;

means for determining a capacity of the replenishable energy source in response to the control signal;

means for determining a capacity of the building load in relation to the replenishable energy source; and

means for using the building load as one of a source for supplying energy and a sink for receiving energy in response to the control signal.

17. A system for controlling a building load in tandem with a replenishable energy source comprising:

a central controller for producing a control signal comprising at least one of a source command and a sink command;

a communications network for receiving and relaying the control signal;

an energy storage controller coupled to the communications network for determining a capacity of a replenishable energy source in response to the control signal, the energy storage controller generating commands to cause the building load to be used as one of a source for supplying energy and a sink for receiving energy in response to the control signal.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a building controller that determines a capacity of the building load in relation to the replenishable energy source.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the replenishable energy source comprises at least one of a battery, a capacitor, and a combination of a battery and a capacitor.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the building load comprises at least one of a digital lighting ballast;

heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment;

a water heater;

an arc furnace;

an electric motor; and

a piece of industrial production equipment.