Home energy management system incorporating a pool pump
First Claim
1. An energy management system for a home network comprising:
- one or more power consuming devices, including at least a pool pump system comprising a motor, a filter with a filtration cycle, and a bypass valve configured to redirect a portion of water inflow around the pool pump system without entering the filter;
a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state; and
a display;
wherein said central controller is configured to operate the pool pump system in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, and to provide pool pump usage information to a user via a user interface on said display; and
said central controller is operatively connected to the bypass valve to divert a portion of the water inflow around the pool pump system in the energy savings mode to reduce the energy consumed by the pool pump system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy management system for a home network is provided. The energy management system includes one or more power consuming devices, including at least a pool pump system having a motor and a filter with a filtration cycle, a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state, and a display. The central controller is configured to operate the pool pump system in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, and to provide pool pump usage information to a user via a user interface on the display.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An energy management system for a home network comprising:
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one or more power consuming devices, including at least a pool pump system comprising a motor, a filter with a filtration cycle, and a bypass valve configured to redirect a portion of water inflow around the pool pump system without entering the filter; a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state; and a display; wherein said central controller is configured to operate the pool pump system in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, and to provide pool pump usage information to a user via a user interface on said display; and
said central controller is operatively connected to the bypass valve to divert a portion of the water inflow around the pool pump system in the energy savings mode to reduce the energy consumed by the pool pump system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17)
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9. A method for reducing the peak power consumption of a pool pump system in an energy management system including one or more power consuming device, a central controller configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, the utility state being at least one of a peak demand period and an off-peak demand period, and a pool pump system having a motor and filter with a filtration cycle, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving and processing a utility state signal into said central controller; b) at least one of operating and scheduling to operate said pool pump system such that the pool pump system operates primarily during an off-peak demand period; and c) operating said pool pump system in a reduced-flow condition during periods of peak demand, including implementing a bypass valve and re-circulating water around the pool pump system and back into an associated pool without entering the filtration cycle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification