System and method for optimizing shed/restore operations for electrical loads
First Claim
1. A method for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total power delivered to the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of a control system, the control system including a plurality of load switching means for controllably connecting the controlled loads to and disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line the control system also including power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads, said method comprising operating a processor to effect the steps of:
- (a) computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line;
(b) comparing the selected power limit to the total power consumed by the electrical loads and, if the total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit, electrically disconnecting a sufficient number of the controlled loads, in order of increasing priority, to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit;
(c) computing a first power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded;
(d) comparing a stored power consumption number of a first highest-priority one of the controlled loads not presently electrically connected to the power line with said first power availability number and electrically connecting said first controlled load to the power line of said electrical connecting of said first controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded; and
(e) electrically disconnecting a second, lowest-priority one of the controlled loads presently electrically connected to the power line from the power line if said stored power consumption number of said first controlled load is greater than said first power available number and the priority of said second controlled load is lower than the priority of said first controlled load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling electrical load shedding and restoring operations includes a microprocessor system, a power measuring circuit, and a plurality of load switching relays controlled by the microprocessor system to electrically connect controlled loads of a residence to, and electrically disconnect the controlled loads from, a power line in accordance with priorities associated with the controlled loads. The system is operated to electrically disconnect or shed, in order of increasing priority, as many of the controlled loads as is necessary to cause the total power delivered to the residence to be less than a selected power limit, to compute power availability numbers which represent amounts of power which can be additionally consumed by the residence without exceeding the selected power limit, to restore, in order of decreasing priority, as many previously shed controlled loads as possible without exceeding the selected power limit, and to shed, in order of increasing priority, as many controlled loads presently electrically connected to the power line as is necessary to allow restoring of higher priority, previously shed controlled loads. The selected power limit is manually settable by means of a switch which is read by the microprocessor system.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total power delivered to the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of a control system, the control system including a plurality of load switching means for controllably connecting the controlled loads to and disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line the control system also including power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads, said method comprising operating a processor to effect the steps of:
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(a) computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line; (b) comparing the selected power limit to the total power consumed by the electrical loads and, if the total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit, electrically disconnecting a sufficient number of the controlled loads, in order of increasing priority, to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit; (c) computing a first power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; (d) comparing a stored power consumption number of a first highest-priority one of the controlled loads not presently electrically connected to the power line with said first power availability number and electrically connecting said first controlled load to the power line of said electrical connecting of said first controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (e) electrically disconnecting a second, lowest-priority one of the controlled loads presently electrically connected to the power line from the power line if said stored power consumption number of said first controlled load is greater than said first power available number and the priority of said second controlled load is lower than the priority of said first controlled load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19)
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12. A system for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total energy consumption of the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of said system, said system comprising in combination:
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(a) a plurality of load switching means for controllably electrically connecting the controlled loads to and electrically disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line; (b) power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads; (c) computing and storing means for computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line; (d) first comparing means for comparing the selected power limit with the total power consumed by the electrical loads; (e) first means for electrically disconnecting, in order of increasing priority, a sufficient number of the controlled loads to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit on the condition that total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit; (f) computing means for computing a first power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; (g) second comparing means for comparing a stored power consumption number of a first highest-priority one of the controlled loads which is not presently electrically connected to the power line with said first power availability number; (h) second means for electrically connecting said first controlled load to the power line if said electrical connecting of said first controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (i) third means for electrically disconnecting a second, lowest-priority one of the controlled loads which is presently electrically connected to the power line from the power line on the conditions that said stored power consumption number of said first controlled load is greater than said first power availability number and the priority of said second controlled load is lower than the priority of said first controlled load. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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22. A method for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total power delivered to the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of a control system and also can be electrically disconnected from the power line by means of the control system, the control system including a plurality of load switching means for controllably connecting the controlled loads to and disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line, the control system also including power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads, said method comprising operating a processor to effect the steps of:
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(a) computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from or electrically connected to the power line; (b) comparing the selected power limit to the total power consumed by the electrical loads and, if the total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit, electrically disconnecting a sufficient number of the controlled loads, to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit; (c) computing a first power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; (d) comparing a stored power consumption number of a first highest-priority one of the controlled loads not presently electrically connected to the power line with said first power availability number and electrically connecting said first controlled load to the power line if said electrical connecting of said first controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (e) electrically disconnecting a second, lowest-priority one of the controlled load presently electrically connected to the power line from the power line if said stored power consumption number of said first controlled load is greater than said first power available number and the priority of said second controlled load is lower than the priority of said first controlled load.
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23. A method for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total power delivered to the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a controlled load which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line by means of a control system, the control system including a load switching means for controllably connecting the controlled load to and disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line, the control system also including power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads, said method comprising operating a processor to effect the steps of:
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(a) computing and storing a power consumption number for the controlled load when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line; (b) comparing the selected power limit to the total power consumed by the electrical loads and, if the total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit, electrically disconnecting the controlled load to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit; (c) computing a first power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical load without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (d) comparing a stored power consumption number of the controlled load, if the controlled load is not presently electrically connected to the power line, with said first power availability number and electrically connecting the controlled load to the power line if said electrical connecting of the controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded.
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24. A method for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total power delivered to the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of a control system, the control system including a plurality of load switching means for controllably connecting the controlled loads to and disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line, the control system also including power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads, said method comprising operating a processor to effect the steps of:
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(a) computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line; (b) comparing the selected power limit to the total power consumed by the electrical loads and, if the total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit, electrically disconnecting a sufficient number of the controlled loads, in order of increasing priority, to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit; (c) computing a power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (d) comparing stored power consumption numbers of the controlled loads not presently electrically connected to the power line with said power availability number and electrically connecting the highest priority controlled load having a power consumption number less than or equal to said power availability number to the power line.
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25. A method for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total power delivered to the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of a control system, the control system including a plurality of load switching means for controllably connecting the controlled loads to and disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line, the control system also including power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads, said method comprising operating a processor to effect the steps of:
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(a) computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line; and (b) using said power consumption numbers for selecting from those controlled loads which have been electrically disconnected from the power line a controlled load which may be reconnected to the power line without causing said selected power limit to be exceeded.
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26. A system for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total energy consumption of the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of said system and which can be also electrically connected to the power line, said system comprising in combination:
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(a) a plurality of load switching means for controllably electrically connecting the controlled loads to and electrically disconnecting the controlled loads from the power line; (b) power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads; (c) computing and storing means for computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line; (d) first comparing means for comparing the selected power limit with the total power consumed by the electrical loads; (e) first means for electrically disconnecting a sufficient number of the controlled loads to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit on the condition that total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit; (f) computing means for computing a first power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; (g) second comparing means for comparing a stored power consumption number of a first highest-priority one of the controlled loads which is not presently electrically connected to the power line with said first power availability number; (h) second means for electrically connecting said first controlled load to the power line if said electrical connecting of said first controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (i) third means for electrically disconnecting a second, lowest-priority one of the controlled loads which is presently electrically connected to the power line from the power line on the conditions that said stored power consumption number of said first controlled load is greater than said first power availability number and the priority of said second controlled load is lower than the priority of said first controlled load.
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27. A system for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total energy consumption of the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a controlled load which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line by means of said system, said system comprising in combination:
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(a) load switching means for controllably electrically connecting the controlled load to and electrically disconnecting the controlled load from the power line; (b) power measuring means for measuring power delivered from the power line to the electrical loads; (c) computing and storing means for computing and storing a power consumption number for the controlled load when the controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line; (d) first comparing means for comparing the selected power limit with the total power consumed by the electrical loads; (e) first means for electrically disconnecting the controlled load to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit on the condition that total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit; (f) computing means for computing a power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; (g) second comparing means for comparing a stored power consumption number of the controlled load with said first power availability number if the controlled load is not presently electrically connected to the power line; and (h) second means for electrically reconnecting the controlled load to the power line if said electrical reconnecting of the controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded.
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28. A system for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total energy consumption of the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of said system, said system comprising in combination:
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(a) computing and storing means for computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line or when that controlled load is electrically connected to the power line; (b) first means for electrically disconnecting, in order of increasing priority, a sufficient number of the controlled loads to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit on the condition that total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit; (c) computing means for computing a first power availability number representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded and comparing a stored power consumption number of a first highest-priority one of the controlled loads which is not presently electrically connected to the power line with said first power availability number; (d) second means for electrically connecting said first controlled load to the power line if said electrical connecting of said first controlled load will not cause the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (e) third means for electrically disconnecting a second, lowest-priority one of the controlled loads which is presently electrically connected to the power line from the power line on the conditions that said stored power consumption number of said first controlled load is greater than said first power availability number and the priority of said second controlled load is lower than the priority of said first controlled load.
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29. In a system for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total energy consumption of the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of said system, the improvement comprising:
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(a) computing and storing means for computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line or when that controlled load is electrically connected to the power line; and (b) means for utilizing said power consumption numbers to select from those controlled loads which have been electrically disconnected from the power line a controlled load which may be reconnected to the power line without causing said selected power line to be exceeded.
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30. A system for controlling delivery of electrical energy from a power line to an establishment having a plurality of electrical loads in order to maintain the total energy consumption of the electrical loads below a selected power limit, the electrical loads including a plurality of controlled loads which can be electrically connected to and disconnected from the power line in accordance with priorities of the controlled loads by means of said system, said system comprising in combination:
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(a) computing and storing means for computing and storing a power consumption number for any one of the controlled loads when that controlled load is electrically disconnected from the power line or when that controlled load is electrically connected to the power line; (b) first means for electrically disconnecting, in order of increasing priority, a sufficient number of the controlled loads to reduce the total power consumed by the electrical loads to a level which is lower than the selected power limit on the condition that total power consumed by the electrical loads exceeds the selected power limit; (c) computing means for computing power availability numbers representing an amount of power which additionally can be consumed by the electrical loads without causing the selected power limit to be exceeded; and (d) means for comparing stored power consumption numbers of the controlled loads which are not presently electrically connected to the power line with said power availability number and electrically connecting the highest priority controlled load having a power consumption number less than or equal to said power availability number to the power line.
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Specification