System and method for establishing local control of a space conditioning load during a direct load control event

• US 8,352,083 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverge Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ng, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Carlos Ortiz
• Application Number:
  US12/869,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20120053745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/295, 700/299, 700/300
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• 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 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

A system for establishing local control of a space conditioning load includes a switch for controlling a flow of energy for a space conditioning load. Control logic is operatively coupled to the switch, for receiving control parameters associated with a direct load control event from a utility provider. The control logic may also measure room temperature based on received temperature signals and determine if a room temperature is greater a comfort temperature range. The control logic may eliminate operation of a direct load control program if the room temperature is greater than or equal to the comfort temperature range. The control logic may log and signal back to the utility provider that the comfort temperature range is exceeded. The control logic may then restore local control of the switch and initiate a temperature setback control to a thermostat for the remainder of the control period.

Claims

1. A method for establishing local control of a space conditioning load during a direct load control event having a duration and issued by a utility provider, comprising:

receiving one or more control parameters associated with the direct load control event from the utility provider;

initiating climate control, commanded by a load control logic, to maintain a room temperature of a climate controlled space within a comfort temperature range, the comfort temperature range comprising a temperature threshold value set relative to a desired temperature set point of a thermostat;

automatically measuring the room temperature during the direct load control event;

automatically determining, by the load control logic, if the temperature threshold value is reached during the direct load control event;

when the load control logic determines that the temperature threshold value is reached, the load control logic automatically and completely disables direct load control of the space conditioning load from the utility provider, setting a new temperature set point of the thermostat to the temperature threshold value, and automatically transitioning control to a temperature setback method of the thermostat;

performing the temperature setback method of the thermostat until the direct load control event duration expires; and

when the load control logic determines that the direct load control event duration expires, changing the new temperature set point of the thermostat back to the desired temperature set point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise at least one of a duration for the direct load control event, parameters associating with cycling a space conditioning load, load shed time, and load restore time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermostat comprises one of a touch screen display, a key pad, a key board, and a button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the space conditioning load comprises at least one of an air conditioner and a furnace.

5. A system for establishing local control of a space conditioning load during a direct load control event having a duration and issued by a utility provider, comprising:

a memory storing a load control logic;

means for receiving one or more control parameters associated with the direct load control event from the utility provider;

the load control logic initiating climate control, to maintain a room temperature of a climate controlled space within a comfort temperature range, the comfort temperature range comprising a temperature threshold value set relative to a desired temperature set point of a thermostat;

means for automatically measuring the room temperature during the direct load control event;

the load control logic automatically determining if the temperature threshold value is reached;

means for automatically eliminating direct load control of the space conditioning load from the utility provider, when the load control logic determines that the temperature threshold value is reached;

the load control logic setting a new temperature set point of the thermostat to the temperature threshold value for a temperature setback method of the thermostat;

means for automatically transitioning to the temperature setback method of the thermostat, the temperature setback method of the thermostat is performed with the new set point temperature until the direct load control event duration expires;

the load control logic, changing the new temperature set point of the thermostat to the desired temperature set point, when the load control logic determines that the direct load control event duration expires; and

means for automatically logging and signaling to the utility provider that the temperature threshold value is reached.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise at least one of a duration for the direct load control event, parameters associating with cycling a space conditioning load, load shed time, and load restore time.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the thermostat comprises a user interface that comprises one of a touch screen display, a key pad, a key board, and a button.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the space conditioning load comprises at least one of an air conditioner and a furnace.

9. A system for establishing local control of a space conditioning load, comprising:

a switch for controlling a flow of energy to the space conditioning load;

a memory storing a load control logic;

a thermostat coupled to the load control logic;

the load control logic operatively coupled to the switch, for receiving one or more control parameters associated with a direct load control event from a communications network, and for initiating climate control to maintain a room temperature within a comfort temperature range, the comfort temperature range comprising a temperature threshold set relative to a desired temperature set point of the thermostat;

the load control logic for automatically measuring the room temperature based on received temperature signals during the direct load control event, for automatically determining if the temperature threshold is reached, and for automatically eliminating operation of a direct load control program associated with the one or more control parameters, when the temperature threshold is reached during the direct load control event;

the load control logic for setting a new temperature set point of the thermostat to the temperature threshold, and for automatically transitioning control to a temperature setback method of the thermostat by restoring control to the switch, the temperature setback method of the thermostat is performed with the new temperature set point until a duration of the direct load control event expires; and

the load control logic for changing the new temperature set point of the thermostat to the desired temperature set point when the direct load control event duration expires.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising memory for storing instructions and the one or more control parameters.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory for storing the instructions and the one or more control parameters comprises one of a volatile component and a non-volatile component.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a display.