Energy manager with minimum use energy profile

• US 8,930,037 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Brian, Joseph Mark, Beyerle, Michael Thomas, Broniak, Jay Andrew, Bingham, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gami, Tejal
• Application Number:
  US12/896,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295, 700/276, 700/291, 700/297, 705/412, 715/738
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 10/30 Wind power
• 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: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A system and method for maximizing the value of power generated by a residential power generator. A home energy manager device is configured to implement a minimum energy usage profile during a peak demand event such that a maximum amount of power generated by the consumer can be sold back to the utility. For renewable energy sources such as solar cells, peak demand events often correspond with peak output of the renewable energy source. For example, hot sunny summer days are conducive to maximum solar power output and, typically, also result in maximum power demand for powering air conditioners.

Claims

1. An energy management system for a home, comprising:

a refrigerator;

at least one residential power generator; and

a home energy manager in communication with said at least one energy consuming device and said at least one residential power generator, the home energy manager device comprising a controller coupled with the refrigerator,

wherein the controller is configured to detect when a peak demand condition corresponding to increased energy rates occurs at the same time as a period of high renewable energy availability that maximizes a total power output of the at least one residential power generator, and

wherein, in response to both the peak demand condition and the period of high renewable energy availability, the controller is configured to operate the refrigerator in accordance with a minimum energy use profile,

wherein the minimum energy use profile reduces a setpoint on the refrigerator to a value that reduces overall energy consumption and that prevents food spoilage, and

wherein the minimum energy use profile instructs the controller to direct energy from the at least one residential power generator to a power grid coupled with the home.

2. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from a power utility supplying power to the refrigerator, the signal indicative of the peak demand condition.

3. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a user input device for enabling a user to customize the minimum energy use profile.

4. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to disable the refrigerator when the minimum energy use profile is implemented.

5. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to switch the refrigerator to a low power mode when the minimum energy profile is implemented.

6. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one residential power generator includes at least one of a gas generator, a solar cell, a wind turbine, a hydroelectric power generator, or a battery powered inverter.

7. A home energy management device comprising:

a controller for controlling a refrigerator in accordance with a minimum energy use profile, said controller in communication with at least one residential power generator and configured to receive power output information from said at least one residential power generator; and

a communication interface coupled with the controller, the communication interface for receiving a signal indicative of a peak demand condition corresponding to increased energy rates,

wherein, in response to the signal indicative of a peak demand condition, the controller detects when the peak demand condition corresponding to increased energy rates occurs at the same time as a period of high renewable energy availability that maximizes a total power out output of the at least one residential power generator, and

in response to both the peak demand condition and the period of high renewable energy availability, the controller operates the at least one energy consuming device in accordance with the minimum energy use profile,

wherein the minimum energy use profile reduces a setpoint on the refrigerator to a value that reduces overall energy consumption and that prevents food spoilage, and

wherein the minimum energy use profile instructs the controller to direct energy from the at least one residential power generator to a power grid coupled with the home.

8. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 7, comprising a user input device coupled with the controller, the user input device for enabling a user to customize the minimum energy use profile.

9. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to disable the refrigerator when the minimum energy use profile is implemented.

10. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to switch the refrigerator to a low power mode when the minimum energy use profile is implemented.

11. A home energy management device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one residential power generator includes at least one of a gas generator, a solar cell, a wind turbine, a hydroelectric power generator, or a battery powered inverter.

12. A method of maximizing the value of power generated by a residential energy power generator and delivered to a home, the residential energy power generator connected to a home energy manager of a home energy management system, the home energy manager configured to control a refrigerator in accordance with an minimum energy use profile, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting when a peak energy demand condition corresponding to increased energy rates occurs at the same time as a period of high renewable energy availability that maximizes a total power output of the at least one residential power generator;

and

in response to both the peak demand condition and the period of high renewable energy availability, operating the refrigerator in accordance with the minimum energy use profile if the power output of the generator exceeds the power rating of the minimum energy use profile,

wherein the minimum energy use profile reduces a setpoint on the refrigerator to a value that reduces overall energy consumption and that prevents food spoilage, and

Wherein the minimum energy use profile instructs the controller to direct energy from the at least one residential power generator to a power grid coupled with the home.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising switching off the refrigerator.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the step of detecting a peak energy demand includes receiving a signal indicative of the peak energy demand condition from the residential energy power generator.

15. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein, if the power output total of the residential energy power generator decreases below the power rating of the minimum energy use profile air a prescribed period of time, operating the refrigerator in accordance with a different energy use profile.