Apparatus and method for evaluating equipment operation in a demand coordination network

• US 9,189,003 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc. (ENEL SPA)
• Original Assignee: Enernoc
• Inventors: Willig, Randy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Halim, Sahera
• Application Number:
  US14/548,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20150074282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/04 involving the use of models or simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/048 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/004 Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• 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: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An apparatus, including a plurality of devices, a network operations center (NOC), and a plurality of control nodes. Each device consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and performs a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. The NOC generates a plurality of run time schedules that coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to control the peak demand of the resource. Each of the control nodes is coupled to a corresponding one of the devices. The plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the plurality of run time schedules, and executes selected ones of the run time schedules to cycle the plurality of devices on and off, and each control node monitors a corresponding device for deviations from nominal operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a resource within a facility, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of devices, disposed within the facility, each consuming a portion of the resource when turned on, and said each capable of performing a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off;

a network operations center (NOC), disposed external to the facility, configured to generate a plurality of run time schedules, wherein said plurality of run time schedules coordinates run times for said each of said plurality of devices to control the peak demand of the resource, and wherein one or more of said run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments while operating within corresponding acceptable operating margins; and

a plurality of control nodes, disposed within the facility, each coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of devices, wherein said plurality of control nodes is coupled together via a demand coordination network that is operatively coupled to said NOC, and wherein said plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to said NOC via said demand coordination network for generation of said plurality of run time schedules, and wherein said plurality of control nodes executes selected ones of said run time schedules to cycle said plurality of devices on and off, and wherein each of said plurality of control nodes monitors a corresponding one of said plurality of devices for deviations from nominal operation.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein coordination of said run times for said plurality of devices comprises advancing a first one or more of a plurality of start times, deferring a second one or more of said plurality of start times, and increasing one or more of a plurality of duty cycles.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said NOC develops sets of descriptors, each set characterizing an associated one of said corresponding local environments.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said NOC employs said sensor data and said device status to adjust associated sets of descriptors.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a second monitor node, coupled to a non-system device and to said demand coordination network, configured to broadcast when said non-system device is consuming the resource, wherein said NOC accounts for consumption of the resource by said non-system device when generating said global run time schedule.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said NOC develops and maintains a global run time schedule that specifies start time, duration, and duty cycle for said each of said plurality of devices.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said NOC generates two or more of said plurality of run time schedules for said each of said plurality of devices, and wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes uses latency of a last communication with said NOC as an index to select one of said two or more of said plurality of run time schedules.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said demand coordination network comprises an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network.

9. A peak demand control system, for managing peak energy demand within a facility, the peak demand control system comprising:

a network operations center (NOC), disposed external to the facility, configured to generate a plurality of run time schedules, wherein said plurality of run time schedules coordinates run times for each of a plurality of devices to manage the peak energy demand, and wherein one or more of said run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments while operating within corresponding acceptable operating margins;

a plurality of control nodes, disposed within the facility, each coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of devices, wherein said plurality of control nodes is coupled together via a demand coordination network that is operatively coupled to said NOC, and wherein said plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to said NOC via said demand coordination network for generation of said plurality of run time schedules, and wherein said plurality of control nodes executes selected ones of said run time schedules to cycle said plurality of devices on and off, and wherein each of said plurality of control nodes monitors a corresponding one of said plurality of devices for deviations from nominal operation; and

one or more sensor nodes, coupled to said demand coordination network, configured to provide one or more global sensor data sets to said NOC, wherein said NOC employs said one or more global sensor data sets in determining said run times.

10. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein coordination of said run times for said plurality of devices comprises advancing a first one or more of a plurality of start times, deferring a second one or more of said plurality of start times, and increasing one or more of a plurality of duty cycles.

11. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said NOC develops sets of descriptors, each set characterizing an associated one of said corresponding local environments.

12. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 11, wherein said NOC employs said sensor data and said device status to adjust associated sets of descriptors.

13. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a second monitor node, coupled to a non-system device and to said demand coordination network, configured to broadcast when said non-system device is consuming energy, wherein said NOC accounts for consumption of said energy by said non-system device when generating said global run time schedule.

14. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said NOC develops and maintains a global run time schedule that specifies start time, duration, and duty cycle for said each of said plurality of devices.

15. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said NOC generates two or more of said plurality of run time schedules for said each of said plurality of devices, and wherein said each of said plurality of control nodes uses latency of a last communication with said NOC as an index to select one of said two or more of said plurality of run time schedules.

16. The peak demand control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said demand coordination network comprises an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network.

17. A method for controlling peak demand of a resource within a facility, the method comprising:

via a network operations center (NOC) external to the facility, generating a plurality of run time schedules, wherein the plurality of run time schedules coordinates run times for each of a plurality of devices to control the peak demand of the resource, and wherein one or more of the run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments while operating within corresponding acceptable operating margins;

controlling each of the plurality of devices via corresponding control nodes, wherein the each of the plurality of devices consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and wherein the each of the plurality of devices is capable of performing a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off, and wherein the corresponding control nodes execute selected ones of the plurality of run time schedules to cycle the plurality of devices on and off, and wherein each of the plurality of control nodes monitors a corresponding one of the plurality of devices for deviations from nominal operation; and

first coupling the corresponding control nodes together via a demand coordination network that is operatively coupled to the NOC, and employing the demand coordination network to transmit sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the plurality of run time schedules.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein coordination of the run times for the plurality of devices comprises advancing a first one or more of a plurality of start times, deferring a second one or more of the plurality of start times, and increasing one or more of a plurality of duty cycles.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the NOC develops sets of descriptors, each set characterizing an associated one of the corresponding local environments.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the NOC employs the sensor data and the device status to adjust associated sets of descriptors.

21. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the NOC develops and maintains a global run time schedule that specifies start time, duration, and duty cycle for the each of the plurality of devices.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

second coupling a non-system device and to the demand coordination network, and broadcasting when the non-system device is consuming the resource, wherein the NOC accounts for consumption of the resource by the non-system device when generating the global run time schedule.