Method and apparatus for managing an energy consuming load
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for managing a group of energy consuming loads comprising a plurality of loads, the method comprising:
- (a) generating a set of load state data from each of the loads in the group of loads, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand and wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has a duty cycle;
(b) making an enablement state decision for each of the loads using the sets of load state data from the loads, wherein each of the enablement state decisions reflects an enablement state of a corresponding load in the group of loads, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the corresponding load is capable of operating even when the corresponding load is not actually operating, wherein the load disabled state is a state where the corresponding load is not capable of operating, wherein the enablement state decisions are made with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads and wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads; and
(c) implementing the enablement state decisions.
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Abstract
A method for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads and a method for managing the group of energy consuming loads. The method includes generating sets of load state data from the loads, making enablement state decisions for one or more loads using the sets of load state data, and implementing the enablement state decisions. Each of the enablement state decisions reflects an enablement state of a load, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state where the load is capable of operating even when the load is not actually operating or a load disabled state where the load is not capable of operating. A computer readable medium may include computer readable instructions for directing a processor to perform the methods and make the enablement state decision. Further, an apparatus comprised of a processor may be programmed to perform the methods.
99 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for managing a group of energy consuming loads comprising a plurality of loads, the method comprising:
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(a) generating a set of load state data from each of the loads in the group of loads, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand and wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has a duty cycle; (b) making an enablement state decision for each of the loads using the sets of load state data from the loads, wherein each of the enablement state decisions reflects an enablement state of a corresponding load in the group of loads, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the corresponding load is capable of operating even when the corresponding load is not actually operating, wherein the load disabled state is a state where the corresponding load is not capable of operating, wherein the enablement state decisions are made with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads and wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads; and (c) implementing the enablement state decisions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, the method comprising:
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(a) generating a set of load state data from the load, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand and wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has a duty cycle; (b) compiling the set of load state data generated from the load with sets of load state data generated from the other loads; (c) making an enablement state decision for the load using the compiled sets of load state data, wherein the enablement state decision reflects an enablement state of the load, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the load is capable of operating even when the load is not actually operating, and wherein the load disabled state is a state where the load is not capable of operating, wherein the enablement state decision is made with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads and wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads; and (d) implementing the enablement state decision for the load. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A non-transitory computer readable medium providing computer readable instructions for directing a processor to make an enablement state decision reflecting an enablement state of an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the load is capable of operating even when the load is not actually operating, and wherein the load disabled state is a state where the load is not capable of operating, the instructions comprising:
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(a) generating a set of load state data from the load; (b) compiling the set of load state data from the load with sets of load state data from the other loads; and (c) processing the compiled sets of load state data in order to make the enablement state decision and making the enablement state decision with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has a duty cycle, and wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An apparatus for making an enablement state decision reflecting an enablement state of an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the load is capable of operating even when the load is not actually operating, and wherein the load disabled state is a state where the load is not capable of operating, the apparatus comprising a processor programmed to:
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(a) generate a. set of load state data from the load; (b) compile the set of load state data from the load with sets of load state data from the other loads; and (c) process the compiled sets of load state data in order to make the enablement state decision, wherein the processor is programmed to make the enablement state decision with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has a duty cycle, and wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification