Intelligent metering demand response

• US 8,463,453 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Kevin Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S
• Application Number:
  US12/618,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/83, 700/291, 700/295, 340/2.24, 340/635, 340/870.02, 315149-159, 362 84- 85
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• 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: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• 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 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• 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

A system and method for real-time power management are provided. The system can include one or more lights, one or more light controllers, one or more meters to detect power demand of a building, and a central controller to modify the light output of the lights responsive to the detected power demand. The system can interface with other utility controls to manage the total power demand of the building on a real-time basis. The light controllers can provide individual metering of the lights for use by the central controller.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one light to illuminate a space in a building;

at least one meter to detect power demand for the building;

at least one sub-meter to detect usage demand for at least one building utility;

at least one light controller to control power to the at least one light, wherein the at least one light controller comprises a dimmer configured to adjust a light output over a range of light output values; and

a central controller to receive power demand data from the at least one meter and at least one sub-meter and to send a signal to modify at least one of a lighting load and a utility load of the building responsive to the power demand data and a power setpoint set by the building operator; and

wherein the central controller is configured to modify the lighting load by dimming the light output a certain percentage over a period of time such that the dimming is imperceptible to occupants of the building.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to maintain the power demand of the building below the power setpoint.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is further configured to log the power demand data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the central controller is further configured to:

analyze logged power demand data;

predict future power demand; and

modify the light output responsive to the predicted future power demand.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor to detect an amount of light in the space in the building, wherein the light controller adjusts the light output responsive to the sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the central controller is further configured to adjust a delay time associated with the sensor responsive to the power demand data and the power setpoint.

7. A method, comprising:

monitoring a current power demand by monitoring at least one lighting load using a sub-meter under control of the building operator and;

determining if the current power demand is approaching a setpoint set by the building operator;

determining whether to take corrective measures if the current power demand is approaching the setpoint;

determining which corrective measures to implement, wherein the corrective measures are set by the building operator; and

implementing the determined corrective measures, wherein the determined corrective measures include at least one of modifying lighting and modifying power demand; and

wherein implementing the corrective measures includes dimming the lighting by dimming the lighting a certain percentage over a period of time such that the dimming is imperceptible to the occupants of a building.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising logging the current power demand, wherein determining if the current power demand is approaching the setpoint includes comparing the setpoint to logged power demand.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether to take corrective measures includes analyzing logged power demand and predicting future power demand.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising logging the corrective measures.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of determining whether to take corrective measures and determining which corrective measures to implement includes analyzing the logged corrective measures.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an event; and

modifying the setpoint responsive to receiving the event.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the event comprises at least one of receiving an input of a new setpoint by a building operator, a predetermined time of day being reached, a predetermined light value being reached, and a demand response signal being received from a utility supplier.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that current power demand has exceeded the setpoint; and

implementing additional corrective measures to prevent future power demand from exceeding a second setpoint.

15. A system to manage power demand in a building, comprising:

a plurality of lights to illuminate spaces in the building;

at least one meter to detect power demand for the building;

at least one lighting sub-meter under control of the building operator to detect lighting power demand for the building;

a plurality of utility service sub-meters under control of the building operator to detect usage demand for the building;

at least one light controller to control a light output of the plurality of lights, wherein the light controller comprises a dimmer configured to adjust the light output over a range of light output values; and

a central controller to;

receive lighting power demand data from the at least one lighting sub-meter;

receive utility demand data from the plurality of utility service sub-meters; and

send a signal to modify at least one of light output from the lights and a utility load responsive to the lighting power demand data, usage data and a power setpoint set by the building operator; and

wherein the central controller is configured to modify the light output by dimming the light output a certain percentage over a period of time such that the dimming is imperceptible to occupants of the building.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of lights comprises a plurality of light circuits and wherein the central controller is further configured to send the signal to the at least one light controller to modify the light output from at least one of the light circuits without affecting the light output from at least one other of the light circuits.