SMART BUILDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20120095605A1
• Filed: 09/17/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bao Q. Tran
• Original Assignee: Bao Q. Tran
• Inventors: Tran, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US13/235,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20120095605A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/285
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0021 using phase change material [PCM] for storage
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time

Abstract

An appliance includes a memory storage location storing a flag indicative of a predicted demand-response (DR) period; and a controller coupled to the flag to autonomously place the appliance in an energy shedding mode during the predicted DR period. Additionally, a method is disclosed to fabricate a building structure includes depositing a phase change material (PCM) on a surface exposed to a conditioned air flow; and forming air channels on the PCM to increase thermal contact between the PCM and the conditioned air flow.

Claims

1. An appliance, comprising:

a memory storage location storing a flag indicative of a predicted demand-response (DR) period;

a non-electrical energy source to provide temporary energy during the DR period; and

a controller reading the flag to autonomously place the appliance in an energy shedding mode during the predicted DR period.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the predicted DR period occurs when the specified duty cycle comprises 60 hertz and the current AC power duty cycle comprises about 59.5 hertz or less.

3. The appliance of claim 1, comprising:

a wide area network coupled to the sensor; and

a server coupled to the wide area network, wherein for each appliance the server stores a location, a user preference, and appliance properties, and

wherein the server receives periodic operating state update and time stamp from each appliance.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the controller indicates the location of the appliance using an internet protocol (IP) address.

5. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the controller indicates the location of the appliance using an address selected from one of:

(consisting of) a user entered address, an address stored in another appliance, and an address determined by a positioning system.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the server determines a first group of appliances in an uninterruptible phase and sends a DR override instruction to the controller(s) in the first group.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the server modulates operations of appliances to avoid stressing the electrical grid.

8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises a sensor compares the current AC duty cycle against the specified AC duty cycle and sets the flag indicative of a predicted demand-response (DR) period.

9. The appliance of claim 1, comprising a power sensor external to the appliance, wherein the power sensor compares the current AC duty cycle against the specified AC duty cycle and sets the flag indicative of a predicted demand-response (DR) period.

10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator, further comprising:

an ice energy storage chamber providing a predetermined cold energy for a refrigerated volume for the predicted DR period; and

a fan to circulate cold air from the ice energy storage chamber inside the refrigerated volume during the predicted DR period.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator, further comprising a phase change material coupled to the refrigerated volume to maintain the refrigerated volume at a predetermined temperature during the predicted DR period.

12. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator and wherein the controller modulates compressor operation to reduce power consumption during the predicted DR period.

13. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator, and wherein the controller precharges the refrigerator prior to the predicted DR period.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator, and wherein the controller precharges the refrigerator based on weather or warning from an authority.

15. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator, comprising an ice storage to store coolth during night and used for air-conditioning during day.

16. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a water heater, comprising:

a back-up heated energy storage chamber to store a reserve heated water to maintained a predetermined temperature output for the water heater during the predicted DR period; and

a valve to mix the reserve heated water with the water in the main water heater tank during the predicted DR period.

17. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the appliance is a water heater, further comprising a phase change material coupled to the water volume to maintain the water at a predetermined temperature during the predicted DR period.

18. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the appliance is a water heater and wherein the controller modulates heater operation to reduce power consumption during the predicted DR period.

19. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the appliance is a water heater, and wherein the controller precharges the water heater prior to the predicted DR period.

20. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the appliance is a water heater, and wherein the controller precharges the water heater based on weather or warning from an authority.

21-28. -28. (canceled)