Methods and apparatus for controlling electric appliances during reduced power conditions

• US 6,891,478 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jay Warren Gardner
• Original Assignee: Jay Warren Gardner
• Inventors: Gardner, Jay Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie Bichngoc
• Application Number:
  US09/877,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/638, 340/644, 340/664, 307/11, 307/35, 307/38
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24139 Recovery from power loss, failure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

An electric power monitoring system includes a source monitor for measuring momentary power output of an electric source supplying electric power to a power distribution system having at least one electric load. The momentary power output is compared with a reference load capability for the electric source to determine the ability of the electric source to support additional load, and load capability data is transmitted based on the load capability. At least one load control receives the transmitted load capability data and controls the supply of power to the at least one corresponding electric load based on the load capability data.

Claims

1. An electric power monitoring system comprising:

a source monitor for measuring momentary power output of an electric source supplying electric power to a power distribution system having at least one electric load;

means for comparing the momentary power output with a reference load capability for the electric source to determine the ability of the electric source to support additional load, and for transmitting load capability data based on the load capability; and

at least one load control for receiving the transmitted load capability data and controlling the supply of power to the at least one corresponding electric load based on the load capability data.

2. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the reference load capability is determined based on at least one of a reference surge load and a reference continuous load.

3. The electric power monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the reference surge load or reference continuous load are programmable according to time of day.

4. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the source monitor comprises multiple source monitors, and wherein the means for comparing compares the momentary power output with multiple reference load capabilities, and transmits multiple load capability data to respective multiple loads according to unique load identifiers.

5. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the reference load is adjusted in accordance with electric source drive capability, electric source efficiency, or predetermined load patterns, during a power source initialization.

6. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one load control comprises an interrupt switch for interrupting the supply of power to the electric load when the transmitted load capability is less than a predetermined level.

7. The electric power monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the interrupt switch interrupts the supply of power for an interrupt time period upon the return of power following a power failure condition.

8. The electric power monitoring system of claim 7 wherein the interrupt time period is set to delays the return of power for a period of time for the purpose of reducing the total sudden load on the main power source at initial power return.

9. The electric power monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the interrupt switch further monitors electric power levels drawn by the at least one electric load and interrupts the supply of power to the electric load when the transmitted load capability is less than the monitored power levels of the at least one electric load.

10. The electric power monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the interrupt switch delays interruption of the supply of power until the electric load has completed an operation cycle.

11. The electric power monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the interrupt switch delays interruption of the supply of power until the electric load has completed an operation cycle if the electric load'"'"'s continuous load level is substantially equal to a predetermined level of normal operation.

12. The electric power monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the interrupt switch further comprises a signal transmission system that transmits interrupt switch identifier data and interrupt switch status data.

13. The electric power monitoring system of claim 12 wherein a switch open status is transmitted when the switch is open and wherein a switch closed status is transmitted just prior to closing the switch for transmitting status data when the corresponding electric load is without power and thereby unable to emit any electromagnetic interference that would compromise the interrupt switch status transmission.

14. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface indicating a condition of whether the electric source has sufficient load capability for supplying electrical power to the at least one electric load.

15. The electric power monitoring system of claim 14 wherein the user interface receives and displays data from the at least one load control related to the electric load level.

16. The electric power monitoring system of claim 14 wherein the user interface interprets a first difference in surge load capability in excess of the continuous load capability and compares this difference to a second difference between a start up surge and continuous load of electric load and determines a power level reported to the user on the interface.

17. The electric power monitoring system of claim 12 further comprising a user interface for reporting the interrupt switch status data to a user.

18. The electric power monitoring system of claim 17 wherein the user interface measures the time period an interrupt switch is open and reports data related the time period to a user.

19. The electric power monitoring system of claim 17 wherein the electric source is a fuel-based generator, wherein the source monitor measures fuel level in a fuel tank for the generator, and wherein fuel data based on the fuel level is provided on the user interface.

20. The electric power monitoring system of claim 19 wherein the user interface measures total electric power consumed by the power distribution system, measures the fuel consumed for generating the power, and presents a cost per energy unit for comparison with current or available utility rates.

21. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one load control comprises a variable circuit breaker that adjusts dynamically to the transmitted load capability.

22. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the at least one load control comprises an outlet adapter that closes an outlet to an appliance plug when load capability from the electric source is below a predetermined level.

23. The electric power monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the load capability is determined based on a reference output intended to reduce power consumption during peak load or reduced power conditions.