LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An energy management system configured to control operation of one or more electrical loads, wherein the operation is controlled such that the energy usage of the electrical loads remains below a predetermined maximum energy limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy management system controls electrical load operation to maintain the loads'"'"' energy usage below a maximum energy limit. An OFF priority list specifies enabled loads that can be disabled, with an enabled load having higher priority if further from the load'"'"'s action threshold (such as a desired operating temperature). An ON priority list specifies disabled loads that can be enabled, with a disabled load having higher priority if closer to the load'"'"'s action threshold. If the collective loads'"'"' energy consumption is below a control energy level set below the maximum energy limit (preferably by an amount approximating the projected consumption of the largest disabled load), the load atop the ON priority list is enabled and moved to the OFF priority list. If the collective loads'"'"' energy consumption is above the control energy level, the load atop the OFF priority list is disabled and moved to the ON priority list.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An energy management system configured to control operation of one or more electrical loads, wherein the operation is controlled such that the energy usage of the electrical loads remains below a predetermined maximum energy limit.
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17. An energy management system for controlling operation of one or more electrical electrical loads, the system including:
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A. an incoming energy monitor configured to provide a measure of the energy consumption of the electrical loads; B. one or more load controllers, each configured to enable or disable operation of at least one of the electrical loads, wherein the system is configured to; a. determine a control energy level, the control energy level being less than a maximum energy limit defining an undesirable level of energy consumption by the electrical loads; maintain an OFF priority list of the enabled electrical loads suitable for disabling, wherein the OFF priority of each electrical load on the list is dependent on the electrical load'"'"'s distance from an action threshold for the electrical load; c. maintain an ON priority list of the disabled electrical loads suitable for enabling, wherein the ON priority of each electrical load on the list is dependent on the electrical load'"'"'s proximity to an action threshold for the electrical load; d. compare the measure of the energy consumption of the electrical loads provided by the incoming energy monitor to the control energy level, and; (1) if the measure of the energy consumption of the electrical loads is less than the control energy level; (a) enable the electrical load on the ON priority list having the highest ON priority, and (b) add the enabled electrical load to the ON priority list; (2) if the measure of the energy consumption of the electrical loads is greater than the control energy level; (a) disable the electrical load on the OFF priority list having the highest OFF priority, and (b) add the disabled electrical load to the ON priority list. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An energy management system for controlling operation of one or more electrical electrical loads, the system including:
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A. an incoming energy monitor configured to provide a measure of the energy consumption of the electrical loads; B. one or more load controllers, each configured to enable or disable operation of at least one of the electrical loads, wherein the system is configured to; a. determine a control energy level, the control energy level being less than a maximum energy limit defining an undesirable level of energy consumption by the electrical loads; maintain an OFF priority list of any enabled electrical loads which are suitable for disabling, wherein the OFF priority of each enabled electrical load on the list is dependent on the electrical load'"'"'s distance from an action threshold for the electrical load; c. maintain an ON priority list of any disabled electrical loads which are suitable for enabling, wherein the ON priority of each disabled electrical load on the list is dependent on the electrical load'"'"'s proximity to an action threshold for the electrical load; d. if one of the disabled electrical loads on the ON priority list passes the disabled electrical load'"'"'s action threshold; (1) enable the disabled electrical load, and (2) remove the newly-enabled electrical load from the ON priority list. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification