System and method for monitoring and controlling energy usage
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for monitoring and controlling power usage among a plurality of facilities, for reducing a real-time aggregate power load across said plurality of facilities, said method comprising:
- providing a remotely controllable power control device on at least one power consuming device at each facility;
providing a wireless communication network including a plurality of two-way RF node components, wherein said two-way RF node components serve to both communicate with other ones of said two-way RF node components; and
to communicate within said facilities with said remotely controllable power control devices;
remotely monitoring power usage at each facility from one location using said wireless communication network, wherein said one location can control said remotely controllable power control devices using said wireless communication network; and
activating and deactivating said power consuming devices by said remotely controllable power control devices from said one location, based on said remotely monitored power usage among said plurality of facilities.
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Abstract
A system and method for real time monitoring and control of energy consumption at a number of facilities to allow aggregate control over the power consumption. A central location receives information over a communications network, such as a wireless network, from nodes placed at facilities. The nodes communicate with devices within the facility that monitor power consumption, and control electrical devices within the facility. The electrical devices may be activated or deactivated remotely by the central location. This provides the ability to load balance a power consumption grid and thereby proactively conserve power consumption as well as avoid expensive spikes in power consumption. The present invention also includes a wireless network for communicating with the number of facilities, and which allows other information to be collected and processed.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring and controlling power usage among a plurality of facilities, for reducing a real-time aggregate power load across said plurality of facilities, said method comprising:
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providing a remotely controllable power control device on at least one power consuming device at each facility; providing a wireless communication network including a plurality of two-way RF node components, wherein said two-way RF node components serve to both communicate with other ones of said two-way RF node components; and
to communicate within said facilities with said remotely controllable power control devices;remotely monitoring power usage at each facility from one location using said wireless communication network, wherein said one location can control said remotely controllable power control devices using said wireless communication network; and activating and deactivating said power consuming devices by said remotely controllable power control devices from said one location, based on said remotely monitored power usage among said plurality of facilities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for monitoring and controlling power usage among a plurality of facilities, for reducing a real-time aggregate power load across said plurality of facilities, said system comprising:
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a device controller coupled to at least one power consuming device at each facility, said device controller to control said at least one power consuming device; a power measurement device within each facility, to measure power consumption by power consuming devices within said facility; a communications network, in communication with said device controllers and said power measurement devices, said communications network including a plurality of two-way RF node components, wherein said two-way RF node components serve to both communicate with other ones of said two-way RF node components; and
to communicate with said device controllers and said power measurement devices;a central location, in communication with said communications network, to remotely monitor power usage at each facility as measured by said power measurement device; wherein said central location communicates with said device controllers over said communications network in order to individually control said at least one power consuming device at each facility. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling energy distribution to energy consumers comprising:
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a centralized data center; a plurality of device controllers in communication with said centralized data center through a communications network, said communications network including a plurality of two-way RF node components, wherein said two-way RF node components serve to both communicate with other ones of said two-way RF node components; and
to communicate with said device controllers;a plurality of parameter measuring devices in communication with said centralized data center through said communications network; wherein said centralized data center reads parameters from said parameter measuring devices, computes control signals according to efficient power control algorithms operating on said parameters, said algorithms for reducing a real-time aggregate power load across a plurality of said energy consumers, and communicates said control signals to said device controllers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification