Multi Sensor Pack and Control of Energy Consumption Devices
First Claim
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1. An energy demand management system for minimizing energy usage above a peak demand value associated with a facility comprising:
- a plurality of adaptors which measure energy usage at the adaptor and include controllers for controlling energy usage, the plurality of adaptors configured to control energy usage devices at the facility downstream of an electrical meter of the facility;
a computer in communication with said plurality of adaptors via a network;
software executing on said computer which is configured to generate a control input for transmission to at least one of the plurality of adaptors, the control input being generated based on energy usage in comparison to a threshold of energy usage and a control rule to control one or more of the energy usage devices;
the threshold of energy usage associated with the peak demand value of electrical energy usage for the facility where a charge for energy usage by the facility below the threshold is of a first value and the charge for energy usage by the facility above the threshold is of a second value greater than the first value, wherein the second value is applicable based upon said threshold having been exceeded;
wherein the charge for energy usage remains at the second value for a time period after said threshold is exceeded such that after said threshold is exceeded and during the time period, the charge for energy usage by the facility is of the second value despite the energy usage of the facility being below the threshold; and
the control input curtails energy usage of one or more of the energy usage devices at the facility to avoid the peak demand value of energy usage of the facility.
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Abstract
A system which can curtail energy usage in response to increasing energy demands in order to avoid peak demand or demand based charges using networked adaptors and sensors. In certain aspects, adaptors are in wireless communication with a controller which is configured to monitor usage of the adaptors and control the adaptors as needed to respond to usage events or environmental conditions. A multiple sensor pack may be provided in wireless communication with multiple devices, or adaptors and the controls may be implemented based on readings from the sensors or adaptors or both.
34 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An energy demand management system for minimizing energy usage above a peak demand value associated with a facility comprising:
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a plurality of adaptors which measure energy usage at the adaptor and include controllers for controlling energy usage, the plurality of adaptors configured to control energy usage devices at the facility downstream of an electrical meter of the facility; a computer in communication with said plurality of adaptors via a network; software executing on said computer which is configured to generate a control input for transmission to at least one of the plurality of adaptors, the control input being generated based on energy usage in comparison to a threshold of energy usage and a control rule to control one or more of the energy usage devices; the threshold of energy usage associated with the peak demand value of electrical energy usage for the facility where a charge for energy usage by the facility below the threshold is of a first value and the charge for energy usage by the facility above the threshold is of a second value greater than the first value, wherein the second value is applicable based upon said threshold having been exceeded; wherein the charge for energy usage remains at the second value for a time period after said threshold is exceeded such that after said threshold is exceeded and during the time period, the charge for energy usage by the facility is of the second value despite the energy usage of the facility being below the threshold; and the control input curtails energy usage of one or more of the energy usage devices at the facility to avoid the peak demand value of energy usage of the facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for management of energy usage comprising:
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a plurality of adaptors which measure energy usage at the adaptor and include controllers for controlling energy usage; a sensor pack having a housing containing a plurality of sensors and in wireless communication with one or more of said plurality of adaptors, wherein the housing of said sensor pack is separate from said plurality of adaptors such that said sensor pack is configured to be positioned remote from one or more of said plurality of adaptors and to have a power source separate from the one or more of said plurality of adaptors; a computer in communication with said plurality of adaptors and receiving energy usage data from the plurality of adaptors and sensor data from said sensor pack; software executing on said computer which controls energy usage at one or more of the plurality of adaptors based on control data which includes said sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An energy management system for controlling energy usage at a facility comprising:
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one or more voltage regulation devices which are configured to modify an electrical potential drawn downstream of an electrical meter of the facility; a computer in communication with said one or more voltage regulation devices; software executing on said computer which is configured to generate a control input for transmission to at least one of the one or more voltage regulation devices, the control input being generated to modify the electrical potential; one or more energy usage devices downstream of the one or more voltage regulation devices which receive electrical potential which is modified in accordance with the control input. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification