INTERACTIVE SYSTEM FOR PRICE-POINT CONTROL OF POWER CONSUMPTION

• US 20120101646A1
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Greennet, LLC
• Original Assignee: Greennet, LLC
• Inventors: Nydegger, Neil K., Taylor, James Eric
• Application Number:
  US12/908,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20120101646A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25289 Energy saving, brown out, standby, sleep, powerdown modus for microcomputer

Abstract

A system and method for controlling energy consumption at a facility requires categorizing operational devices at the facility into first and second groups, and prioritizing them within the group according to their energy demand requirements. A meter is provided for monitoring an actual real-time energy consumption for each device at the facility, and a totalizer is connected to the meter for measuring a total Energy Consumption Level (ECL) for all devices. A computer/controller is provided for comparing the total ECL with a first price-point (PP₁) and with a second price-point (PP₂). In operation, the computer/controller implements a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the first group whenever a cost for the total ECL exceeds the first price-point (PP₁), and a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the second group whenever a cost for the total ECL exceeds the second price-point (PP₂).

Claims

1. A system for controlling the collective energy consumption by a plurality of operational devices, wherein the operational devices are categorized into a first group and a second group, and are prioritized according to their functional utility and their energy demand requirements, the system comprising:

a meter for monitoring an actual real-time energy consumption for each operational device;

a totalizer connected to the meter for measuring, in real-time, a total Energy Consumption Level (ECL) for the plurality of operational devices;

a computer for comparing the total ECL with a first price-point (PP₁) and with a second price-point (PP₂), wherein PP₁ is less than PP₂;

an input unit connected to the meter to establish respective operational parameters for each of the operational devices; and

a controller, responsive to the computer for implementing a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the first group whenever a cost for the total ECL exceeds the first price-point (PP₁), and for implementing a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the second group whenever a cost for the total ECL exceeds the second price-point (PP₂).

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein, in descending order of energy demand requirements, the operational devices comprise:

“

A”

devices having high-demand energy requirements;

“

B”

devices having intermittent-demand energy requirements; and

“

C”

devices having marginal-demand energy requirements.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the first group of operational devices includes “

B” and

“

C”

devices, and the second group of operational devices includes “

A”

devices.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein operationally functional “

C”

devices and operationally functional “

B”

devices are considered, in this order, for sequential shut down.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein “

B”

devices are shut down for a respective predetermined time interval, and are subsequently automatically re-activated.

6. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein at least one operational device is categorized into a third group, and the ECL is compared with a third price-point (PP₃) for the shutdown of devices in the third group, and wherein PP₃ is greater than PP₂.

7. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein “

C”

devices are selectively turned on when the total ECL is between PP₁ and PP₂.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein a selective turn-on of “

A” and

“

B”

devices will not cause the total ECL to exceed PP₁.

9. A system for controlling the collective energy consumption by a plurality of operational devices, wherein the operational devices are categorized into a first group and a second group, and are prioritized according to their functional utility and their energy demand requirements, the system comprising:

a totalizer electronically connected with the plurality of operational devices for measuring, in real-time, a total Energy Consumption Level (ECL) for the plurality of operational devices;

a computer preprogrammed with a plurality of preset price-points; and

a controller, responsive to the computer for implementing a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the first group whenever a cost for the ECL exceeds a first price-point (PP₁), and for implementing a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the second group whenever a cost for the ECL exceeds a second price-point (PP₂), wherein PP₁ is less than PP₂.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

a meter for monitoring an actual real-time energy consumption for each operational device, wherein the meter is connected to the totalizer; and

an input unit connected to the computer to establish respective operational parameters for each of the operational devices.

11. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein, in descending order of energy demand requirements, the operational devices comprise:

“

A”

devices having high-demand energy requirements;

“

B”

devices having intermittent-demand energy requirements; and

“

C”

devices having marginal-demand energy requirements, wherein the first group of operational devices includes “

B” and

“

C”

devices, and the second group of operational devices includes “

A”

devices.

12. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein at least one operational device is categorized into a third group, and the ECL is compared with a third price-point (PP₃) for the shutdown of devices in the third group, and wherein PP₃ is greater than PP₂.

13. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein “

C”

devices are selectively turned on when the total ECL is between PP₁ and PP₂.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein a selective turn-on of “

A” and

“

B”

devices will not cause the total ECL to exceed PP₁.

15. A method for controlling the collective energy consumption by a plurality of operational devices which comprises the steps of:

categorizing the operational devices into a first group and a second group;

prioritizing the operational devices according to their functional utility and their energy demand requirements;

monitoring an actual real-time energy consumption for each operational device;

measuring, in real-time, a total Energy Consumption Level (ECL) for the plurality of operational devices;

establishing a first price-point (PP₁) and a second price-point (PP₂), wherein PP₁ is less than PP₂;

comparing the total ECL with the first price-point (PP₁) and with the second price-point (PP₂); and

implementing a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the first group whenever a cost for the total ECL exceeds the first price-point (PP₁), and implementing a prioritized shut down of operational devices in the second group whenever a cost for the total ECL exceeds the second price-point (PP₂).

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the prioritizing step is accomplished by identifying “

A”

devices having high-demand energy requirements, “

B”

devices having intermittent-demand energy requirements, and “

C”

devices having marginal-demand energy requirements; and

wherein the categorizing step is accomplished by placing “

B” and

“

C”

devices in the first group of operational devices, and by placing “

A”

devices in the second group of operational devices.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein “

C”

devices are selectively turned on when the total ECL is between PP₁ and PP₂.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein a selective turn-on of “

A” and

“

B”

devices will not cause the total ECL to exceed PP₁.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein at least one operational device is categorized into a third group, and the ECL is compared with a third price-point (PP₃) for the shutdown of devices in the third group, and wherein PP₃ is greater than PP₂.

20. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of resetting the plurality of operational devices when a selective turn-on of “

A” and

“

B”

devices will not cause the total ECL to exceed PP₁.