Load shed system for demand response without AMI/AMR system

• US 8,386,087 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Spicer, Lucas Bryant, Besore, John K., Worthington, Timothy Dale, Finch, Michael Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US12/848,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291, 700/295, 700/22, 702/62, 702/183
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling load shedding and payback spikes of a population by segregating the population into subsets based on predicted energy consumption usage and peak load profiles. Subset populations respond independently from another based on a communication message sent to the population. Each subset population of homes with one or more energy consuming devices responds based on a generated value generated from a randomizing distribution routine.

Claims

1. A method for an energy control system to control load shedding and payback spikes of a total population having a plurality of subset populations of homes that include one or more energy consuming devices, executed via a controller with at least one memory storing executable instructions for the method, comprising:

determining an energy usage and peak load profile for the total population of homes based on physical parameters of each home;

segregating the total population of homes into the plurality of subset populations by a randomizing distribution routine; and

controlling each subset population independently for a demand response event to operate each subset population independently in a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on a state of an energy supplying utility that is indicative of at least one of a peak demand period and an off peak-demand period,

wherein the demand response event is executed for the total population by each subset population responding dependently via an incoming communication message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a demand response event length time to each subset population based on the profile of each subset population of homes;

assigning a start time of the demand response event and a temperature setpoint change for each subset population independently based on a generated value for the randomizing distribution routine generated within an appliance micro of the one or more energy consuming devices; and

sending the demand response event length time, the start time and the temperature setpoint change assigned to each subset population via the incoming communication message for the one or more energy consuming devices of each home within each subset population having a load that the controller commands to adjust based on the incoming communication message;

wherein the start time, the demand response event length time and/or the temperature setpoint change is different for respective subset populations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the energy usage and peak load profile comprises simulating via a computer model a power consumption for the total population based on a number of homes that is less than a total number of homes in the total population that operate at a specified internal temperature and/or a revised internal temperature to predict the power consumption of the total population.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer model generates a dynamic model of the total population by directly modeling an average residence and building the model of the total population therefrom by adjusting the parameters between the extreme limits of the total population.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming communication message initiates the subset populations of homes to shift to a different subset population after the demand response event, wherein the subset populations respectively comprises different temperature setpoints of the one or more energy consuming devices to reduce power consumption and ensure an equal treatment of homes in the total population.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the random distribution routine comprises assigning each home to one subset population of the plurality of subset populations based on a generated value comprising a percentage generated from an original serial number of the energy consuming devices respectively.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

overriding the assignment of the home to a subset population upon receiving a request from a user and assigning the home to a different subset population of the plurality of subset populations; and

presenting to the user cost savings data for remaining in the different subset population assigned.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the generated value is calculated from a generated serial number formed from an original serial number of an appliance or a microcontroller of the appliance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical parameters comprise at least one of a home age range, size, an internal home temperature, and outside temperature, a time period, and power consumption.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the demand response event length time is determined based on a generated value generated from the randomizing distribution routine, a user chosen cost/comfort settings of the home, thermal characteristics of the home, a load of a HVAC system of the home, and/or past demand response events experienced by the home.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming communication message comprises a one-way communication message that enables operation of the energy control system without any smart meters or a head end manager being employed in the energy control system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subset populations comprises at least two populations of homes, and at least one of the one or more energy consuming devices comprises a programmable communicating thermostat.

13. A method for an energy control system to control load shedding and payback spikes of a total population having a plurality of subset populations of homes that include one or more energy consuming devices, executed via a controller with at least one memory storing executable instructions for the method, comprising:

determining an energy usage and peak load profile for the total population of homes based on parameters of each home;

segregating the total population of homes into the plurality of subset populations by a randomizing distribution routine; and

controlling each subset population independently for a demand response event to operate each subset population in a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on a state of an energy supplying utility that is indicative of at least one of a peak demand period and an off peak-demand period, wherein the demand response event is signaled to the total population for each subset population to respond independently via a communication message,

wherein the communication message comprises a demand response event length time, a start time of the demand response event, and a temperature setpoint change for the demand response event, which correspond to and are respectively different for the subset populations;

wherein the communication message is configured to instruct appliances of homes within each subset population to receive the subset population each home was specifically segregated into, and based on the subset population each home belongs to, and receive the demand response event length time, the start time and the temperature setpoint change for the subset population the home belongs to.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication message initiates the subset populations of homes to shift to a different subset population after the demand response event, wherein the subset populations respectively comprises different temperature setpoints of the one or more energy consuming devices to reduce power consumption and ensure an equal treatment of homes in the total population.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the random distribution routine comprises assigning each home to one subset population of the plurality of subset populations based on a random process producing an even distribution that changes the subset population assigned over time for subsequent demand response events by using the serial number associated with the one or more energy consuming devices or microcontroller of the one or more energy consuming devices of each home.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a home age range, size, an internal home temperature, and outside temperature, a time period, and power consumption, and wherein the demand response event length time is determined based on a generated value generated from the randomizing distribution routine, a user chosen cost/comfort settings of the home, thermal characteristics of the home, a load of an HVAC system of the home, and/or past demand response events experienced by the home.

17. An energy management system for a household that is part of a randomized distribution of homes in a total population of homes, said energy management system comprising:

an appliance; and

a controller coupled with the appliance, the controller is configured to manage power consumption within the household,

wherein the controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy supplying utility, including at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period,

wherein the controller is configured to send a command instruction to the appliance to command the appliance to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode,

wherein the appliance operates in the normal operating mode during the off-peak demand period and operates in the energy savings mode during the peak demand period,

wherein the controller is configured to control the return of the appliance to the normal operating mode after the peak demand period is over to prevent an energy surge for the associated energy supplying utility, and

wherein the controller is configured to permit an end user to override instructions from the associated enemy supplying utility and to allow the end user to select a different population from one or more subset populations of the total population of homes.

18. The energy management system of claim 17, wherein the appliance includes a serial number, the randomized distribution being based at least partially on the serial number of the appliance.

19. The energy management system of claim 17, wherein the appliance includes an HVAC system having a setpoint temperature, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the setpoint temperature to an adjusted temperature in the energy savings mode, wherein the controller is configured to return to the setpoint temperature from the adjusted temperature over a demand response event length time received by the command instruction.

20. The energy management system of claim 17, wherein the command instruction initiates the subset populations of homes to respectively shift to a different subset population after a demand response event, wherein the subset populations respectively comprises different temperature setpoints of the appliance to reduce power consumption and ensure an equal treatment of homes in the total population for load shedding during the demand response event.