Electrical appliance energy consumption control
First Claim
1. A power control system configured to consume electrical power, at least a portion of which is generated from a renewable energy source, 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 temperatures of the heat storage mediums of the other energy storage devices and a target temperature indicative of a desired temperature for the medium of the energy storage device;
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A power control system that includes a plurality of electrical appliances and a controller. Each of the electrical appliances includes an energy storage device comprising a heat storage medium, a heater, and a temperature sensor. The heater is configured to heat the storage medium at a heating rate. The temperature sensor produces a temperature signal that is indicative of a temperature of the heat storage medium. The controller adjusts the heating rate of each energy storage device from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based on the temperatures of the heat storage mediums of the other energy storage devices.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A power control system configured to consume electrical power, at least a portion of which is generated from a renewable energy source, 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 temperatures of the heat storage mediums of the other energy storage devices and a target temperature indicative of a desired temperature for the medium of the energy storage device; 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, 14)
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7. A method of controlling a group of energy storage devices to consume electrical power, at least a portion of which is generated from a renewable energy source, 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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determining a heat deficit of each energy storage device, which is based on a difference between a sensed temperature and a target temperature for the heat storage medium of the energy storage device using a controller, wherein the target temperature is indicative of a desired temperature of the heat storage medium; and adjusting the heating rate for at least one of the energy storage devices in the group from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based the heat deficit of the energy storage device and the heat deficits 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 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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16. A power control system controller configured to control a group of energy storage devices to consume electrical power, at least a portion of which is generated from a renewable energy source, 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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determining a heat deficit of each energy storage device, which is a difference between a sensed temperature and a target temperature of the heat storage medium, comprising; sensing a temperature of the heat storage medium of each of the energy storage devices in the group; receiving the target temperature for each of the energy storage devices; and calculating the heat deficits of the energy storage devices using the controller; and adjusting the heating rates of at least one of the energy storage devices in the group from a first heating rate to a second heating rate based on the heat deficits, wherein the first and second heating rates are greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification