Demand response system

• US 8,983,672 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyun Ki, Lim, Jae Min, Pyung, Seong Uk, Jin, Sun Il, Kim, Hyeng Kyun, Seo, Jae Yu, Jeong, Seong Wook, Cho, Sung Ho, Park, Jung Won, Yang, Jang Beom, Son, Chang Ho, Baek, Young Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOPEZ ALVAREZ, OLVIN
• Application Number:
  US12/929,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20110218680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295, 700/276
• US Class Current: 700/295
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks

Abstract

A demand response (DR) system includes a DR control unit to generate different DR levels having different power rates for each power unit, and transmit a current DR level, and a household appliance to receive the DR level from the DR control unit, and differentially control energy output of a product in response to the received DR level so as to reduce power consumption of the product. As a result, the DR system reduces power consumption when power rates are high so as to reduce electricity bills.

Claims

1. An induction heating cooking apparatus comprising:

a load driving unit to drive a working coil heating a container;

a receiving unit to receive a demand response (DR) level related to power rate information;

a storage unit to store output levels of individual DR levels; and

a controller to confirm an output level corresponding to the DR level received through the receiving unit, change an output level established in the working coil to the confirmed output level, and control an operation of the load driving unit in such a manner that the working coil is operated at the changed output level,

wherein the demand response level is established by a demand response (DR) control unit which receives power rate information from a power company to establish DR levels representing different power rates using the received power rate information,

wherein the stored output levels in the storage unit are equal to initial output levels when the received DR level is a lowest possible DR level, and

wherein the stored output levels in the storage unit are values which are decreased from the initial output levels by an amount corresponding to the difference between the received DR level and the lowest possible DR level to a minimum of a lowest possible initial output level, when the received DR level is not the lowest possible DR level.

2. The induction heating cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information stored in the storage unit is stored so that the output level is reduced in proportion to the increasing DR level.

3. An air-conditioner comprising:

a load driving unit to drive a compressor;

a receiving unit to receive a demand response (DR) level related to power rate information;

a storage unit to store temperature values of individual DR levels; and

a controller to confirm a temperature value corresponding to the DR level received through the receiver, change a set temperature established in the air-conditioner to the confirmed temperature value, and control an operation of the load driving unit in a manner that the set temperature value of the air-conditioner reaches the changed temperature value,

wherein the demand response level is established by a demand response (DR) control unit which receives power rate information from a power company to establish DR levels representing different power rates using the received power rate information,

wherein the stored temperature values in the storage unit are equal to initial set temperature values if the received DR level is a lowest possible DR level, and

wherein the stored temperature values in the storage unit are increased, by one degree times a number equal to the difference between the received DR level and the lowest possible DR level, up to a maximum value equal to a maximum value for the initial set temperature, when the received DR level is not the lowest possible DR level.

4. The air-conditioner according to claim 3, wherein information stored in the storage unit is stored so that the temperature value increases in proportion to the increasing DR level.

5. A refrigerator comprising:

a load driving unit to drive a compressor;

a receiving unit to receive a demand response (DR) level related to power rate information;

a storage unit to store freezing-chamber temperature values of individual DR levels; and

a controller to confirm a freezing-chamber temperature value corresponding to the DR level received through the receiver, change a set freezing-chamber temperature established in the refrigerator to the confirmed freezing-chamber temperature value, and control an operation of the load driving unit so that the freezing-chamber temperature value of the refrigerator reaches the changed freezing-chamber temperature value,

wherein the demand response level is established by a demand response (DR) control unit which receives power rate information from a power company to establish DR levels representing different power rates using the received power rate information,

wherein the stored freezing-chamber temperature values in the storage unit are equal to initial freezing-chamber temperature values when the received DR level is a lowest possible DR level,

wherein the stored freezing-chamber temperature values in the storage unit are increased, by two degrees times a number equal to the difference between the received DR level and the lowest possible DR level, when the received DR level is not the lowest possible DR level, and

wherein a power defrosting heater is deactivated if the received DR level is higher than one level higher than the lowest possible DR level.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein information stored in the storage unit is stored so that the freezing-chamber temperature value increases in proportion to the increasing DR level.

7. A demand response system comprising:

a demand response (DR) control unit to receive power rate information from a power company, to establish DR levels representing different power rates using the received power rate information, and to transmit a current DR level;

a household appliance to receive the DR level from the DR control unit, and differentially control energy output of the household appliance in response to the received DR level and an energy output level set by a user so as to reduce power consumption of the household appliance;

wherein the household appliance includes a load driving unit to drive a plurality of load levels of the household appliance in response to a control signal of the controller; and

wherein the load level is decreased by an amount proportional to the difference between the current DR level and the lowest possible DR level such that the decrease load level is at least the minimum load level for the appliance.