DYNAMIC THERMOSTATIC CONTROL OF SMALL-SCALE ELECTRICAL LOADS FOR MATCHING VARIATIONS IN ELECTRIC UTILITY SUPPLY

• US 20120086273A1
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rognli, Roger W.
• Application Number:
  US13/252,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20120086273A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/43
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• 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 3/381 Dispersed generators
• 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: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• 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 method of dynamically controlling a small-scale electrical load receiving energy from an electricity grid that includes sources of renewable generation causing variations in electricity supply of the electricity grid. The small-scale electrical loads are coupled to a load-matching thermostat having a communication module and a controller that manage electricity load to electrical supply for the electrical load.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a small-scale electrical load receiving energy from an electricity grid that includes sources of renewable generation causing variations in electricity supply of the electricity grid, the small-scale electrical load coupled to a load-matching thermostat that manages electricity load to electrical supply for the electrical load, the method comprising:

providing a runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat;

determining a load-start temperature based upon a set-point temperature and the runtime temperature offset;

sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply;

causing the load-matching device to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat based upon the first parameter of the electricity supply, thereby adjusting the load-start temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply comprises sensing a frequency of the electricity supply.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply comprises sensing a voltage of the electricity supply.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply comprises sensing a power factor of the electricity supply.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply comprises sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply at a remote location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply comprises sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply at a premise where the electrical load is located.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing a second parameter of the electricity supply, and causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime thermostat offset based upon the first and the second parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat comprises receiving a runtime thermostat offset at a communication module of the load-matching thermostat, the runtime thermostat offset transmitted over a communications network by a remote controller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset based upon the first parameter comprises increasing the thermostat offset so as to decrease load on the electricity supply.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset based upon the first parameter comprises decreasing a temperature offset so as to increase load on the electricity supply.

11. A load-matching thermostat to dynamically control a small-scale electrical load receiving energy from an electricity grid that includes sources of renewable generation causing variations in electricity supply so as to manage electricity load to the variable electricity supply, the thermostat comprising:

an electricity supply sensor that senses a first parameter of an electricity supply;

a temperature sensor that senses a space temperature of a premise where the load-matching thermostat is located;

a controller that causes an electrical load to receive power when the space temperature substantially reaches a set point temperature plus a runtime temperature offset, the controller being configured to receive the first parameter from the electricity supply sensor and adjust the runtime temperature offset in response to the first parameter, thereby changing a temperature at which the electrical load receives power.

12. The load-matching thermostat of claim 11, wherein the runtime thermostat offset is a positive temperature offset.

13. The load-matching thermostat of claim 11, wherein the runtime thermostat offset is a negative temperature offset.

14. The load-matching thermostat of claim 11, further comprising a communications module.

15. The load-matching thermostat of claim 14, wherein the communications module is configured to receive the runtime temperature offset as transmitted from a remote source over the communications network.

16. The load-matching thermostat of claim 11, wherein the electrical load comprises a compressor of a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system.

17. The load-matching thermostat of claim 11 further comprising a processor configured to adjust the runtime thermostat offset based on the first parameter.

18. The load-matching device of claim 11, wherein the electricity supply sensor is configured to sense a first parameter that includes a frequency condition of the electricity supply.

19. The load-matching device of claim 11, wherein the electricity supply sensor is configured to sense a first parameter that includes a voltage condition of the electricity supply.

20. The load-matching device of claim 11, wherein the first parameter of the electricity supply is a parameter measured at a remote location.

21. The load-matching device of claim 11, wherein the electricity supply sensor is integral to the load-matching thermostat.

22. A load-matching thermostat to dynamically control a small-scale electrical load receiving energy from an electricity grid that includes sources of renewable generation causing variations in electricity supply so as to manage electricity load to the variable electricity supply, the thermostat comprising:

means for providing a runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat;

means for determining a load-start temperature based upon a set-point temperature and the runtime temperature offset;

means for sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply; and

means for causing the load-matching device to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat based upon the first parameter of the electricity supply, thereby adjusting the load-start temperature.

23. The load-matching thermostat of claim 22, wherein the means for sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply comprises means for sensing a first parameter selected from the group consisting of a frequency of the electricity supply, a voltage of the electricity supply, and a power factor of the electricity supply.

24. The load-matching thermostat of claim 22, wherein the means for causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset based upon the first parameter comprises increasing the thermostat offset so as to decrease load on the electricity supply.

25. The load-matching thermostat of claim 22, wherein the means for causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset based upon the first parameter comprises decreasing a temperature offset so as to increase load on the electricity supply.

26. The load-matching thermostat of claim 22, further comprising means for sensing a second parameter of the electricity supply, and causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime thermostat offset based upon the first and the second parameter.

27. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions for implementing a method of controlling a small-scale electrical load receiving energy from an electricity grid that includes sources of renewable generation causing variations in electricity supply of the electricity grid, the small-scale electrical load coupled to a load-matching thermostat that manages electricity load to electrical supply for the electrical load, the method comprising the steps:

providing a runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat;

determining a load-start temperature based upon a set-point temperature and the runtime temperature offset;

sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply; and

causing the load-matching device to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat based upon the first parameter of the electricity supply, thereby adjusting the load-start temperature.

28. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the method step of sensing a first parameter of the electricity supply comprises sensing one of a frequency of the electricity supply, a voltage of the electricity supply, or a power factor of the electricity supply.

29. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises sensing a second parameter of the electricity supply, and causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime thermostat offset based upon the first and the second parameter.

30. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the method step of providing a runtime temperature offset of the load-matching thermostat comprises receiving a runtime thermostat offset at a communication module of the load-matching thermostat, the runtime thermostat offset transmitted over a communications network by a remote controller.

31. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the method step of causing the load-matching thermostat to automatically adjust the runtime temperature offset based upon the first parameter comprises increasing the thermostat offset so as to decrease load on the electricity supply.