Multi-utility energy control and facility automation control system with dashboard having a plurality of interface gateways

• US 7,870,080 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lothar E.S. Budike Jr
• Original Assignee: Lothar E.S. Budike Jr
• Inventors: Budike, Lothar E. S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US11/976,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 705/412, 705/36.R, 705/37, 705/26, 705/27, 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 705/10, 705/413, 705/30, 700/17, 700/22, 700/83, 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/296, 700/297, 702/182, 702/188
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A multi-utility energy and facility automation control system has control center computer(s) connected to various utility consuming systems and software that formats pertinent systems'"'"' energy data, stores, retrieves, diagnoses and acts in response to changes and includes a multi-utility master meter device and a plurality of sensors for utilities and other facility operational data. The system includes at least one dashboard screen as a control screen, and a plurality of interconnected gateways for selection of separate networks for various utility-facility related subscreens. The sensors monitor consumption of a plurality of different utilities and other pertinent data and, using the presentation of the facility information as processed by the computer and presented on the dashboard, exercise c control of the facility to optimize performance and reduce the cost of purchased utilities and other facility operations.

Claims

1. An energy control system comprising:

a remote device configured to control energy consumption of an energy consuming device;

a control computer configured to generate a control signal to control a plurality of utility types; and

a data processing device configured to receive the control signal from the control computer and to forward the control signal to the remote device and send facility operations related data including characteristics of a fire system, sprinkler system, and power quality and at least two characteristics selected from a group of electrical, HVAC, occupancy, air quality, and lighting systems to the control computer,

wherein the control computer is further configured to calculate alternative costs to procure energy from one or more alternative providers using the sent facility operations related data and at least two characteristics,

wherein the data processing device is further configured to receive the alternative costs information from the control computer, and based on the alternative costs information, procure energy from one of the alternative providers.

2. The energy control system of claim 1, wherein the data processing device forwards the control signal to the remote device wirelessly.

3. The energy control system of claim 2, wherein the remote device curtails the energy consumption of the energy consuming device in response to the control signal.

4. The energy control system of claim 1, further comprising a network, wherein the data processing device receives the control signal from the control computer through a gateway coupled to the network.

5. The energy control system of claim 4, wherein the network is the Internet.

6. The energy control system of claim 4, wherein the data processing device receives the control signal from the gateway wirelessly.

7. The energy control system of claim 1, wherein the remote device monitors the energy consumption of the energy consuming device and forwards the monitored information to the control computer.

8. The energy control system of claim 7, wherein the remote device monitors the energy consumption of the energy consuming device in real time.

9. The energy control system of claim 8, wherein the remote device forwards the monitored information in real time to the control computer through the data processing device.

10. The energy control system of claim 9, wherein the data processing device forwards the monitored information to the control computer through a gateway coupled to the network.

11. The energy control system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of remote devices, the data processing device receiving a plurality of monitored information from the plurality of remote devices and forwarding the plurality of monitored information as a single stream to the control computer through a gateway coupled to the network.

12. The energy control system of claim 7, further comprising an input device to allow a user to input information into the control computer for subsequent control of the energy consumption of the energy consuming device.

13. The energy control system of claim 1, wherein the energy consuming device is a device from at least one of a HVAC system, lighting system, and electrical system.

14. The energy control system of claim 1, wherein the control computer forwards a signal indicating a warning regarding the energy consumption of the energy consuming device through a gateway coupled to the network.

15. The energy control system of claim 12, wherein the control computer receives utility information from a utility source and generates the control signal based on the utility information, the user input information, and the monitored information.

21. The energy control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of utility types comprises steam and oil.

16. An energy control system comprising:

a control computer configured to send a control signal to control a plurality of utility types;

an input device configured to allow a user to input energy curtailment information that is received by the control computer;

a sensor configured to sense an energy consumption of an energy consuming device;

a data processing device comprising a processor and coupled to the sensor, the data processing device configured to transmit the energy consumption information and facility operations related data including characteristics of a fire system, sprinkler system, and power quality and at least two characteristics selected from a group of electrical, HVAC, occupancy, air quality, and lighting systems to the control computer,

wherein the control computer is further configured to;

receive the energy consumption information from the data processing device;

determine an energy curtailment event of the energy consuming device based on the energy curtailment information and the energy consumption information;

calculate alternative costs to procure energy from one or more alternative providers using the sent facility operations related data and at least two characteristics; and

send alternative costs information and a control signal to the data processing device to control a plurality of utility types based on the energy curtailment event,

wherein the data processing device is further configured to;

receive the alternative costs information and control signal;

based on the alternative costs information, procure energy from one of the alternative providers; and

based on the control signal, control the plurality of utility types.

17. The energy control system of claim 16, wherein the data processing device is coupled to the control computer through a network.

18. The energy control system of claim 16, wherein the control computer is coupled to energy consuming device through a network.

19. The energy control system of claim 16, wherein the control computer is configured to receive utility information from a utility source.

20. The energy control system of claim 16, wherein the control computer receives the energy consumption information in real time.

22. The energy control system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of utility types comprises steam and oil.