Electrical appliance energy consumption control
First Claim
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1. A power control system configured to receive power and a power consumption signal from an electrical power distribution system during an off-peak power consumption period, the power consumption signal indicative of a desire for energy to be consumed, the system comprising:
- a plurality of electrical appliances each comprising an energy storage device comprising;
a heat storage medium;
a heater configured to heat the heat storage medium at a heating rate; and
a temperature sensor that produces a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the heat storage medium; and
a controller adjusts the heating rate of each energy storage device from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based on the power consumption signal, the temperature of the heat storage medium, and the temperatures of the heat storage mediums of the other energy storage devices;
wherein;
the first and second heating rates are greater than zero; and
the second heating rates for the energy storage devices having lower temperature heat storage mediums are higher than the second heating rates of the energy storage devices having higher temperature heat storage mediums.
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Abstract
An electrical appliance configured to receive power and a power consumption signal from an electrical power distribution system comprises an energy storage device and a controller. The energy storage device includes a heat storage medium and a heater. The heater is configured to heat the heat storage medium at a heating rate. The controller adjusts the heating rate based on the power consumption signal.
63 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A power control system configured to receive power and a power consumption signal from an electrical power distribution system during an off-peak power consumption period, the power consumption signal indicative of a desire for energy to be consumed, the system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical appliances each comprising an energy storage device comprising; a heat storage medium; a heater configured to heat the heat storage medium at a heating rate; and a temperature sensor that produces a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the heat storage medium; and a controller adjusts the heating rate of each energy storage device from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based on the power consumption signal, the temperature of the heat storage medium, and the temperatures of the heat storage mediums of the other energy storage devices; wherein; the first and second heating rates are greater than zero; and the second heating rates for the energy storage devices having lower temperature heat storage mediums are higher than the second heating rates of the energy storage devices having higher temperature heat storage mediums. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of controlling consumption of power from an electrical power distribution system by a group of energy storage devices, each energy storage device having a heating rate at which a heater of the device heats a heat storage medium, the method comprising:
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receiving a first power consumption signal from the electrical power distribution system during an off-peak power consumption period using a controller; determining a condition of each energy storage device using a temperature of the heat storage medium of the energy storage device and a target temperature for the energy storage device, the target temperature is indicative of a desired temperature of the heat storage medium; and adjusting the heating rate for one or more of the energy storage devices in the group from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based on the first power consumption signal, the condition of the energy storage device, and the conditions of the other energy storage devices in the group using the controller, wherein the first and second heating rates are greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A power control system controller configured to control consumption of power from an electrical power distribution system by a group of energy storage devices, each energy storage device having a heating rate at which a heater of the device heats a heat storage medium, the controller comprising memory and at least one processor configured to execute program instructions stored in the memory to perform steps comprising:
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receiving a first power consumption signal from the electrical power distribution system during an off-peak power consumption period using a controller; determining a condition of each energy storage device using a temperature of the heat storage medium of the energy storage device and a target temperature for the energy storage device, the target temperature is indicative of a desired temperature of the heat storage medium; and adjusting the heating rate for one or more of the energy storage devices in the group from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based on the first power consumption signal, the condition of the energy storage device, and the conditions of the other energy storage devices in the group using the controller, wherein the first and second heating rates are greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification