Window air conditioner demand supply management response

• US 8,943,845 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lafleur, Robert, Besore, John K., Venkatakrishnan, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyler, Cheryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aviles Bosques, Orlando E
• Application Number:
  US12/834,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20120006525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 621/57, 622/31
• US Class Current: 62/157
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/027 mounted in wall openings, e.g. in windows
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

An appliance for conditioning air of an associated room and an associated method for controlling an air conditioner are disclosed, the controller selectively adjusting operation of the air conditioning appliance based on historical operating data. The controller adjusts a set-point of the appliance for a preselected period of time in response to the historical operating data of the appliance when the appliance operates in an energy savings mode. The controller is configured to receive and process data relating to the rate of change in the temperature. Further, an override feature may be included to maintain operation of the appliance in a normal operation mode if ambient temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value. Another feature is that the controller determines whether the compressor has been operational less than a preselected period of time and, if so, the compressor is operated until such time period has elapsed.

Claims

1. An appliance for conditioning air of an associated room, the appliance configured to receive and process data relating to a rate of change in temperature of the associated room, and the appliance is in receipt of a demand response signal representative of operation in an increased cost or demand for energy period, wherein the appliance has been operating for 100% of the time over a predetermined time period prior to processing the demand response signal, and wherein a temperature of the associated room is not nearing stabilization to a temperature set point that a user selected, the appliance comprising:

a refrigeration system comprising one or more power consuming elements for one of heating and cooling air;

a sensory device configured to measure temperature of the associated room; and

a controller operatively connected to the refrigeration system, the controller being configured to;

receive and process the demand response signal,

determine that the appliance has been operating for 100% of the time over the predetermined time period,

receive and process the data relating to the rate of change in the temperature of the associated room, and

analyze the data indicating the rate of change in temperature to determine that the temperature of the associated room is not nearing stabilization, and, in response to the determination that the temperature of the associated room is not nearing stabilization, the controller executing a percentage load reduction program based on historical operating data of the appliance,

wherein the percentage load reduction program is executed to reduce the load or percent run time of at least one of the one or more power consuming elements of the refrigeration system.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the predetermined time period is one hour.

3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive and process data relating to similar time periods.

4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the similar time periods include data from the last two consecutive days.

5. The appliance of claim 4 wherein the similar time period are representative of the same time of day.

6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance includes an override to maintain operation of the appliance in a normal operation mode.

7. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the override is automatic if ambient temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value.

8. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to reduce the load or percent run time of the at least one of the one or more power consuming elements for a predetermined time period in response to the demand response signal.

9. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to override the demand response signal if sensed temperature is above a preselected level.

10. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to continue with operation of a compressor if the compressor has been operational less than a preselected time period.

11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the controller is configured to continue with operation of the compressor until the compressor has operated at least the preselected time period.

12. A control method for an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner is configured to receive and process data relating to a rate of change in temperature of the associated room, and the air conditioner is in receipt of a demand response signal representative of operation in an increased cost or demand for energy period, wherein the air conditioner has been operating for 100% of the time over a predetermined time period prior to processing the demand response signal, and wherein a temperature of the associated room is not nearing stabilization to a temperature set point that a user selected the method comprising:

receiving and processing the demand response signal;

determining that the air conditioner has been operating for 100% of the time over the predetermined time period;

receiving and processing the data relating to the rate of change in the temperature of the associated room; and

analyzing the data indicating the rate of change in temperature to determine that the temperature of the associated room is not nearing stabilization, and, in response to the determination that the temperature of the associated room is not nearing stabilization, the executing a percentage load reduction program based on historical operating data of the air conditioner,

wherein the percentage load reduction program is executed to reduce the load or percent run time of at least one of the one or more power consuming elements of the refrigeration system.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the air conditioner includes an override to maintain operation of the air conditioner in a normal operation mode.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising reducing the load or percent run time of the at least one or more power consuming elements for a predetermined time period response to the demand response signal.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising, overriding the demand response signal if the ambient temperature is above a preselected level.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising, continuing with operation of the compressor until the compressor has operated at least the preselected time period.