Determining energy consumption in a structure
First Claim
1. A method performed by a consumable-product distribution system comprising:
- generating, by a meter, a time-sequence of data by measuring over a time-interval a series of loads;
measuring, with a meter of a consumable-product distribution system, a value of a consumable product supplied through the consumable-product distribution system to a facility, wherein the measured value comprises a second time-sequence of data of the facility'"'"'s access to the consumable product, and wherein the consumable-product distribution system connects a plurality of loads in the facility to the consumable product;
transmitting, by the meter of the consumable-product distribution system to a processor of the consumable-product distribution system, the measured value of the consumable product supplied through the consumable-product distribution system to the facility;
retrieving, by the processor of the consumable-product distribution system, a plurality of load signatures from a database of the consumable-product distribution system, each load signature comprising a time-sequence of data of a corresponding load'"'"'s access to the consumable product;
comparing, by a-the processor of the consumable-product distribution system, the time-sequence of data of each of the plurality of load signatures to the second time-sequence of data of the measured value; and
determining, by the processor of the consumable-product distribution system, an amount of the consumable product accessed by a first load of the plurality of loads based on the comparing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product/energy source, such as electrical power, to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility'"'"'s envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures, which characterize access to the consumable product by particular users. In doing so, costs for the product may be more accurately divided between different tenants of the facility without having to install individual services or measurement equipment for each individual tenant. Operating conditions and facility characteristics, such as temperatures, load factors, insulation factors, etc., may be further considered in determining a particular user'"'"'s access of the consumable product. To aid in the controlling of energy use, thermal resistance factors of the building are determined, which are based on the induced and residual heat flow through the facility. Various algorithms are used including smart agents (e.g. neural networks) to determine the consumption of the consumable product by a particular user, to create the database of consumption signatures, and to determine the thermal resistance factors.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method performed by a consumable-product distribution system comprising:
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generating, by a meter, a time-sequence of data by measuring over a time-interval a series of loads; measuring, with a meter of a consumable-product distribution system, a value of a consumable product supplied through the consumable-product distribution system to a facility, wherein the measured value comprises a second time-sequence of data of the facility'"'"'s access to the consumable product, and wherein the consumable-product distribution system connects a plurality of loads in the facility to the consumable product; transmitting, by the meter of the consumable-product distribution system to a processor of the consumable-product distribution system, the measured value of the consumable product supplied through the consumable-product distribution system to the facility; retrieving, by the processor of the consumable-product distribution system, a plurality of load signatures from a database of the consumable-product distribution system, each load signature comprising a time-sequence of data of a corresponding load'"'"'s access to the consumable product; comparing, by a-the processor of the consumable-product distribution system, the time-sequence of data of each of the plurality of load signatures to the second time-sequence of data of the measured value; and determining, by the processor of the consumable-product distribution system, an amount of the consumable product accessed by a first load of the plurality of loads based on the comparing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification