System and method for optimizing use of plug-in air conditioners and portable heaters

• US 8,090,477 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Steinberg, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles
• Application Number:
  US12/860,821
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/295, 700/299, 700/300, 236/91.D, 236/91.E, 236/91.F
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• 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 13/00028 : involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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

Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater.

Claims

1. A system for controlling plug-in air conditioners and heaters comprising:

at least one load control device at a first location comprising a temperature sensor, a microprocessor, the load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, the load control device further configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the plug-in air conditioner or the portable heater, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network;

one or more processors remotely located from the load control device that receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said load control device and compare said temperature measurements from said first location with said measurements of outside temperatures;

one or more databases that store at least said temperature measurements obtained from said first location; and

where said load control device is located inside the space conditioned by said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, and wherein said microprocessor in said load control device receives at least one operational instruction from said one or more processors via said network instructing the load control device to disconnect power to said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater; and

wherein the one or more processors compare the rate of change in temperature in said conditioned space based on measurements obtained by said temperature sensor in said load control device with a predicted rate of change to determine whether said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater has been connected to a second electrical outlet that bypasses said load control device.

2. A system as in claim 1 in which said one or more databases are stored in a computer located in the same structure as the load control device.

3. A system as in claim 1 in which said one or more databases are stored in a computer that is not located in the same structure as the load control device.

4. A system as in claim 1 in which said plug-in air conditioner is mounted through a window.

5. A system as in claim 1 in which said portable heater is a space heater.

6. A system as in claim 1 in which said load control device measures at least the temperature inside said conditioned space.

7. A system as in claim 1 in which said load control device measures the electrical current and/or voltage passing through said control device.

8. A system as in claim 1 in which said database obtains at least a measure of outside weather conditions via a network.

9. A system as in claim 1 in which said load control device is configured to sense occupancy of said conditioned space.

10. An apparatus for controlling a plug-in air conditioner or portable heater comprising:

a load control device comprising a temperature sensor and a microprocessor, said load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, the load control device further configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to a plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network;

a server capable of receiving messages from and sending messages to said load control device; and

where said load control device is located inside the space conditioned by said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, and wherein said microprocessor in said load control device receives at least one operational instruction from said server via said network instructing the load control device to disconnect power to said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater; and

wherein said server compares the rate of change in temperature in said conditioned space based on measurements obtained by said temperature sensor in said load control device with a predicted rate of change to determine whether said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater has been connected to a second electrical outlet that bypasses said load control device.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said server is a computer located in the same structure as the load control device.

12. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said server is not located in the same structure as the load control device.

13. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said plug-in air conditioner is mounted through a window.

14. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said portable heater is a space heater.

15. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said load control device measures at least the temperature inside said conditioned space.

16. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said load control device measures the electrical current and/or voltage passing through said control device.

17. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said server obtains at least a measure of outside weather conditions via a network.

18. An apparatus as in claim 10 in which said load control device is further configured to sense occupancy of said conditioned space.

19. An apparatus for optimizing the cooling of a habitable space comprising:

a plug-in air conditioner;

a load control device comprising a temperature sensor and a microprocessor, said load control device is configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to the plug-in air conditioner, the load control device further configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to said plug-in air conditioner, and said load control device further configured to communicate over a network;

a computer capable of receiving messages from and sending messages to said load control device; and

where said load control device is located inside the space conditioned by said plug-in air conditioner, and wherein said computer compares the rate of change in temperature in said conditioned space based on measurements obtained by said temperature sensor in said load control device with a predicted rate of change to determine whether said plug-in air conditioner has been connected to a second electrical outlet that bypasses said load control device.

20. An apparatus as in claim 19 in which said computer is located in the same structure as the load control device.

21. An apparatus as in claim 19 in which said computer is not located in the same structure as the load control device.

22. An apparatus as in claim 19 in which said plug-in air conditioner is mounted through a window.

23. An apparatus as in claim 19 in which said load control device measures at least the temperature inside said conditioned space.

24. An apparatus as in claim 19 in which said load control device measures the electrical current and/or voltage passing through said load control device.

25. An apparatus as in claim 19 in which said computer obtains at least a measure of outside weather conditions via a network.

26. An apparatus as in claim 19 in which said load control device is further configured to sense occupancy of said conditioned space.

27. An apparatus for optimizing the heating of a habitable space comprising:

a portable heater;

a load control device comprising a temperature sensor and a microprocessor, said load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a portable heater, the load control device further configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to said portable heater, and said load control device further configured to communicate over a network;

a computer capable of receiving messages from and sending messages to said load control device; and

where said load control device is located inside the space conditioned by said portable heater, wherein the computer compares the rate of change in temperature in said conditioned space based on measurements obtained by said temperature sensor in said load control device with a predicted rate of change to determine whether said portable heater has been connected to a second electrical outlet that bypasses said load control device.

28. An apparatus as in claim 27 in which said computer is located in the same structure as the load control device.

29. An apparatus as in claim 27 in which said computer is not located in the same structure as the load control device.

30. An apparatus as in claim 27 in which said load control device measures at least the temperature inside said conditioned space.

31. An apparatus as in claim 27 in which said load control device measures the electrical current and/or voltage passing through said control device.

32. An apparatus as in claim 27 in which said server obtains at least a measure of outside weather conditions via a network.

33. An apparatus as in claim 27 in which said load control device is further configured to sense occupancy of said conditioned space.