Method and system for regulating peak residential power demand

• US 3,925,680 A
• Filed: 04/04/1975
• Issued: 12/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William A. Dixon
• Original Assignee: William A. Dixon
• Inventors: Dixon, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, M.
• Application Number:
  US05/565,224
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 307/38,34,35,39,62,140 235/151.21 236/91D,91E 62/157
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• 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: 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: 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 temperature monitoring means monitors temperature outside the residence and a supply system responsive to the monitoring means controls the supply of electrical power to major home appliances such as air conditioning devices, food preparation devices, clothes drying devices and water heating devices and the like. In one embodiment, major home appliances are arranged in pairs and connected to a main power distribution system in these pair arrangements through a load dispatcher including continuity sensitive switches. The appliances are continuously connected to the electrical power distribution system when the outdoor temperature is below a predetermined value. However, when the outdoor temperature exceeds the predetermined value, the continuity switches then control the supply of power to the appliances by supplying power to one of the appliances to the exclusion of the other in each pair arrangement. Whenever electrical power is not being supplied to the one of the appliances in the pair arrangement requiring power, the other of the appliances is supplied with electrical power. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the outdoor temperature is monitored and controls the operation of an air conditioning unit. When the outdoor temperature exceeds a predetermined value, the air conditioner is cycled between on and off conditions on a timed, periodic basis without regard to the temperature inside the residence at least until the temperature outside the residence drops below the predetermined value. The air conditioner may be cycled between on and off conditions on the periodic basis until the outdoor temperature drops a predetermined amount below the predetermined value, for example, drops at least 5* or 6* below the predetermined value.

Claims

1. Apparatus for regulating peak electrical power demands of residential users having a plurality of major home appliances including an air conditioning unit connected to a main electrical power distribution system of a residence comprising:

means for disconnecting the appliances from the main electrical power distribution system in response to the temperature outside the residence, related to the peak power demands, exceeding a predetermined value;

a plurality of continuity sensitive switches;

means for connecting the appliances arranged in pairs to the main electrical power distribution system through said continuity sensitive switches;

said continuity switches each including means for detecting requirements for electrical poweR for one of the appliances in each pair arrangement;

means for supplying electrical power to said one of the appliances requiring power to the exclusion of the other appliance in each pair arrangement; and

, means for supplying electrical power to said other of the appliances in each pair arrangement whenever electrical power is not being supplied to said one of the appliances in each pair arrangement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for cyclically operating one of the appliances requiring power on a timed basis in response to the temperature outside the residence exceeding a predetermined value.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cyclically operated one of the appliances is an air conditioning unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including thermostatic control means connected to said disconnecting means and disposed outside the residence for monitoring outdoor temperature and controlling said disconnecting means in response to the monitored outdoor temperature.

5. Apparatus for regulating peak power demands of major residential appliances including air conditioning and food preparation devices of residential users in an electrical power distribution system connected to a residence comprising:

means for monitoring the temperature outside the residence related to the peak power demands; and

, means for supplying electrical power to the devices in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a predetermined value, said supplying means including;

means for detecting requirements for electrical power for at least some of the devices; and

, means for supplying electrical power to one of the devices requiring power to the exclusion of at least one of the others irrespective of a requirement for power of said at least one of the others.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said one of the devices comprises an air conditioning unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for cyclically operating one of the appliances requiring power on a timed basis in response to the temperature outside the residence exceeding a predetermined value.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cyclically operated one of the devices is an air conditioning unit.

9. A method of regulating peak electrical power demands of major home appliances of residential users in an electrical power distribution system including a main electrical power supply connected to supply electrical power to a residence, the method comprising the steps of:

disconnecting the appliances from the main electrical power supply in response to the temperature outside the residence, related to the peak power demands, exceeding a predetermined value;

connecting the appliances arranged in pairs to the main electrical power supply through continuity sensitive switches;

detecting requirements for electrical power for one of the appliances in each pair arrangement;

supplying electrical power to said one of the appliances requiring power to the exclusion of the other of the appliances in each pair arrangement; and

, supplying electrical power to said other of the appliances in each pair arrangement whenever electrical power is not being supplied to said one of the appliances in each pair arrangement.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of the cyclically operating said one of the appliances requiring power in at least one pair arrangement on a timed basis between on and off conditions in response to the temperature outside the residence exceeding the predetermined value.

11. A method for regulating peak electrical power demands of major residential appliances including air conditioning and food preparation devices of residential users in an electrical power distribution system serving a residence comprising the steps of:

monitoring the temperature outside the residence related to the peak power demands and, in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a predetermined value, supplying electrical poWer to the devices by;

detecting requirements for electrical power for at least some of the devices;

supplying electrical power to one of the devices requiring power to the exclusion of at least some of the others; and

, supplying electrical power to another of the devices requiring power to the exclusion of said one and at least some of the remaining ones of the devices.

12. A method for regulating peak electrical power demands of residential users having an air conditioning unit connected in an electric power system comprising the steps of:

monitoring the temperature outside the residence related to the peak power demands and, in response to the monitored temperature outside the residence exceeding a predetermined value, cycling the air conditioning unit between on and off conditions on a timed, periodic basis without regard to the temperature inside the residence at least until the temperature outside the residence drops below the predetermined value, and in response to the latter temperature, controlling the air conditioning unit with regard to the temperature inside the residence.