Electrical load optimization device

• US 5,687,139 A
• Filed: 05/12/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley M. Budney
• Original Assignee: Stanley M. Budney
• Inventors: Budney, Stanley M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/440,347
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/107-113, 307/35, 307/39, 307/40, 307/52, 307/141, 307/141.4, 315/159, 361/22
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00014 carrying signals having the network frequency or DC signals
• 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 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

A demand control apparatus includes a switch in the control signal line of an electrically powered piece of equipment. The switch is controlled by a digital recycle counter so as to periodically cycle off and on during times when an equipment generated control signal is present in the control signal line. The control signal line could be a thermostat control line on a standard air conditioning unit and the equipment generated control signal would normally correspond to the thermostat calling for cooling. When the switch is opened the equipment reacts as though the thermostat has been satisfied. When the equipment generated AC control signal is sensed in the control signal line, a digital counter is activated to hold the switch open until a preset number of AC pulses have occurred. The switch is then closed until a second preset number of AC pulses have occurred. The open-closed cycle is repeated as long as the equipment control signal is present. The cycle periods can be adjusted in response to external conditions such as ambient temperature or line frequency. In multiple applications, load diversity is improved and aggregate demand is reduced after power outages. Sequential start of diverse and multiple loads is assured.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically controlling and managing load demand and operation of energy-consuming equipment powered by alternating electrical power current on electric power supply lines from a utility company, the equipment having individual loads, the power to each of which is controlled by oscillating control signals on control signal lines, wherein the oscillating control signals are derived from and synchronized with the alternating electrical power current and the control signal lines are separate from the electric power supply lines, comprising:

demand control means, interposed in the control signal lines of the individual loads of the equipment, each said demand control means comprising;

switch means in series with the control signal line to open and close the control signal line;

digital recycle counter means, connected only to the control signal line and to said switch means, and operable to open and close the control signal line by cyclically opening and closing said switch means only when the equipment provides the oscillating control signals on the control signal line, wherein said digital recycle counter means comprises;

counting means for generating a count of the oscillations of the oscillating control signal in the control signal line,

setting means for manually presetting a desired number of counts for an "off" cycle and a desired number of counts for an "on" cycle,

means for closing said switch means and restarting said counting means when said count of the oscillations equals said desired number of counts for an "off" cycle,

means for opening said switch means and restarting said counting means when said count of the oscillations equals said desired number of counts for an "on" cycle, and

means for alternating continuously between said "off" cycle and said "on" cycle as long as the oscillating control signal is present in the control signal line; and

means for closing said switch means and stopping the counting means upon cessation of the oscillating control signal in the control signal line; and

means for opening said switch means and restarting said counting means from a count of zero in said "off" cycle immediately upon restoration of the control signal in the control signal line;

thereby

imposing said "off" cycle, as set by said setting means, followed by said "on" cycle, as set by said setting means, upon the control signal during all times when the control signal is present and delaying initiation of any control signal by at least the period of said "off" cycle, wherein

the energy consumed by the equipment is reduced and the efficiency of the equipment is increased and whereby absolutely no electrical power is consumed by said demand control means when said energy consuming equipment is not operating.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said setting means for manually presetting a desired number of counts is adjusted to impose optimum efficiency on its corresponding equipment, and

reduced electrical energy will be required by the individual loads of the equipment thereby reducing the overall demands on the electric power lines of the utility, resulting in lower utility service charges, higher equipment efficiency, and longer equipment life.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said setting means for manually presetting a desired number of counts are banks of DIP switches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said setting means for manually presetting a desired number of counts are optical adjuster means including a hand held transmitter and a receiver in said digital recycle counter means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal line is a thermostat line of a refrigeration unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal line is a thermostat line of a resistance heating unit.

7. An apparatus for automatically controlling and managing load demand and operation of energy-consuming equipment powered by alternating electrical power current on electric power supply lines from a utility company, the equipment having individual loads, the power to each of which is controlled by oscillating control signals on control signal lines, wherein the oscillating control signals are derived from and synchronized with the alternating electrical power current and the control signal lines are separate from the electric power supply lines, comprising:

demand control means, interposed wholly within the control signal lines of the individual loads of the equipment, each said demand control means comprising;

switch means in series with the control signal line to open and close the control signal line;

digital recycle counter means operable to open and close the control signal line by providing counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means only when the equipment provides the oscillating control signals on the control signal line; and

external conditioning means, responsive to external signals, for regulating said digital recycle counter means by altering the counts of said counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means in response to said external signals;

wherein said digital recycle counter comprises;

counting means for generating a count of the oscillations of the oscillating control signal in the control signal line,

setting means for manually presetting a number of counts for a normal "off" cycle, a number of counts for a normal "on" cycle, a number of counts for an "off extend" cycle, and a number of counts for an "on extend" cycle;

extend means, responsive to said external conditioning means, said extend means operable to

set a desired number of counts in an "off" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "off" cycle when said external condition means indicates a normal external condition,

set a desired number of counts in an "off" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "off" cycle plus said number of counts in said "off extend" cycle when said external condition means indicates an abnormal external condition,

set a desired number of counts in an "on" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "on" cycle when said external condition means indicates a normal external condition, and

set a desired number of counts in an "on" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "on" Cycle plus said number of counts in said "on extend" cycle when said external condition means indicates an abnormal external condition;

means for closing said switch means and restarting said counting means when said count of the oscillations equals said desired number of counts for an "off" cycle,

means for opening said switch means and restarting said counting means when said count of the oscillations equals said desired number of counts for an "on" cycle, and

means for alternating continuously between said "off" cycle and said "on" cycle as long as the oscillating control signal is present in the control signal line; and

means for closing said switch means and stopping the counting means upon cessation of the oscillating control signal in the control signal line; and

means for opening said switch means and restarting said counting means from a count of zero in said "off" cycle immediately upon restoration of the control signal in the control signal line;

thereby

imposing said "off" cycle, as set by said extend means, followed by said "on" cycle, as set by said extend means, upon the control signal during all times when the control signal is present and delaying initiation of any control signal by at least the period of said "off" cycle, wherein

the energy consumed by the equipment is reduced and the operation efficiency of the equipment optimized in accordance with said external signals and whereby absolutely no electrical power is consumed by said demand control means when said energy consuming equipment is not operating.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said setting means for manually presetting a desired number of counts are banks of DIP switches.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said setting means for manually presetting a desired number of counts are optical adjuster means including a hand held transmitter and a receiver in said digital recycle counter means.

10. An apparatus for automatically controlling and managing load demand and operation of energy-consuming equipment powered by alternating electrical power current on electric power supply lines from a utility company, the equipment having individual loads, the power to each of which is controlled by oscillating control signals on control signal lines, wherein the oscillating control signals are derived from and synchronized with the alternating electrical power current and the control signal lines are separate from the electric power supply lines, comprising:

demand control means, interposed wholly within the control signal lines of the individual loads of the equipment, each said demand control means comprising;

switch means in series with the control signal line to open and close the control signal line;

digital recycle counter means operable to open and close the control signal line by providing counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means only when the equipment provides the oscillating control signals on the control signal line; and

external conditioning means, responsive to an external signal, said external signal being derived from an outside temperature sensor in the vicinity of the equipment and said external condition means only indicates an abnormal condition when the sensed outside temperature is abnormally hot or abnormally cold, said signal for regulating said digital recycle counter means by altering the counts of said counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means in response to said external signals;

wherein

the energy consumed by the equipment is reduced and the operation efficiency of the equipment optimized in accordance with said external signals.

11. An apparatus for automatically controlling and managing load demand and operation of energy-consuming equipment powered by alternating electrical power current on electric power supply lines from a utility company, the equipment having individual loads, the power to each of which is controlled by oscillating control signals on control signal lines, wherein the oscillating control signals are derived from and synchronized with the alternating electrical power current and the control signal lines are separate from the electric power supply lines, comprising:

demand control means, interposed wholly within the control signal lines of the individual loads of the equipment, each said demand control means comprising;

switch means in series with the control signal line to open and close the control signal line;

digital recycle counter means operable to open and close the control signal line by providing counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means only when the equipment provides the oscillating control signals on the control signal line; and

external conditioning means, responsive to an external signal, said external signal being derived from the power supply line frequency, controllable by the utility, and said external condition sensor only indicates an abnormal condition when said power line frequency differs by a predetermined amount from a standard operating frequency, said signal for regulating said digital recycle counter means by altering the counts of said counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means in response to said external signals;

wherein

the energy consumed by the equipment is reduced and the operation efficiency of the equipment optimized in accordance with said external signals.