System and method for overriding demand system management enabled functions

• US 9,209,624 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hoff, Kyran Patricia, Newton, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US13/288,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/295
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

An energy management system for altering power consuming functions on an electrical device during specified periods of time, e.g., peak energy demand periods. The system includes an electrical device having one or more power consuming functions, a memory for storing power consuming function profiles corresponding to the one or more power consuming functions associated with the electrical device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to access the power consuming function profiles associated with the electrical device, identify the one or more power consuming functions configured to be changed during a specified period of time, output the identified one or more power consuming functions, receive a request to not change at least one of the identified one or more power consuming functions, and prevent the requested one or more power consuming functions from being changed.

Claims

1. A system to alter power consuming functions of an electrical device, the system comprising:

a memory to store one or more power consuming function profiles corresponding to one or more power consuming functions associated with the electrical device, at least one function profile including an indication as to when an associated power consuming function is or is not to be disabled during a targeted energy cost function profile; and

at least one processor coupled with the memory and programmed to;

detect a demand response signal requiring the electrical device to be operated in an energy savings mode, and while the demand response signal is being detected;

access the one or more power consuming function profiles associated with the electrical device;

identify, based on the accessed one or more power consuming function profiles, one or more operations of power consuming functions within the electrical device to be changed to operate the electrical device in accordance with the targeted energy cost function profile in the energy savings mode, wherein the processor excludes operations changes that would damage the electrical device, and excludes power consuming functions that are not to be disabled based on the time the demand response signal is detected;

output an alert identifying the one or more operations of the power consuming functions to be changed to operate the electrical device in accordance with the targeted energy cost function profile in the energy savings mode;

receive a request responsive to the alert to override the demand response signal and to not change at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions of the targeted energy cost function profile;

prevent the at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions from being changed during operation of the targeted energy cost function profile; and

wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to return the electrical device to a normal operating mode when transmission of the demand response signal has ceased, and

wherein the targeted energy cost function profile is calculated using at least one utility pricing tier and current operating and usage patterns of the electrical device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy savings mode is activated during a period of high or critical energy demand.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface coupled with the processor,

wherein the processor is further programmed to;

output the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions to be changed during the targeted energy cost function profile to the user interface; and

receive a request from the user interface to override the demand response signal and not change at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions of the targeted energy cost function profile.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a meter coupled with the processor, the meter configured to measure electric energy usage of the electrical device and to output data indicative of the measured electric energy usage,

wherein the processor is further programmed to receive the data outputted from the meter and to determine the targeted energy cost function profile based on at least this outputted data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor alters power consuming functions of the electrical device based on one or more of the following:

a demand limit;

a prioritization of the electrical device and one or more additional electrical device associated with the meter; and

an energy need level of the electrical device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is one of a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, an oven, a stove, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a heating system, a ventilation system, and an air conditioning system.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the memory is programmed to:

identify a current operating state of the electrical device;

determine if changing one or more of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions to operate the electrical device in the energy savings mode will cause the electrical device to not be able to perform an intended function; and

, if so,

override the demand response signal and maintain an operational state of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions in a non-energy savings mode.

7. A method of operating an electrical device, comprising:

detecting a demand response signal requiring the electrical device to be operated in an energy savings mode while the demand response signal is being detected;

accessing power consuming function profiles associated with the electrical device, at least one function profile including an indication as to when an associated power consuming function is or is not to be disabled during a targeted energy cost function profile;

identifying, based on the accessed power consuming function profiles, one or more operations of power consuming functions within the electrical device to be changed to operate the electrical device in accordance with the targeted energy cost function profile in the energy savings mode, excluding operations changes that would damage the electrical device and excluding power consuming functions that are not to be disabled based on the time the demand response signal is detected;

outputting an alert identifying the one or more operations of the power consuming functions configured to be changed to operate the electrical device in accordance with the targeted energy cost function profile in the energy savings mode;

receiving a request responsive to the alert to override the demand response signal and to not change at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions of the targeted energy cost function profile;

preventing the at least one of the identified operations of the one or more power consuming functions from being changed during operation of the targeted energy cost function profile; and

returning the electrical device to a normal operating mode when transmission of the demand response signal has ceased.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the energy savings mode is activated during a period of high or critical energy demand.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

presenting, via a user interface, the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions configured to be changed during the targeted energy cost function profile; and

receiving, via the user interface, a request to override the demand response signal and not change selected ones of the at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions during the targeted energy cost function profile.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an energy signal from one of a meter and a utility provider; and

determining the targeted energy cost function profile based on the received energy signal.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising operating the electrical device in the energy savings mode based on one or more of the following:

a demand limit;

a prioritization of the electrical device; and

an energy need level of the electrical device.

19. The method of claim 7, comprising:

identifying a current operating state of the electrical device;

determining if changing one or more of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions to operate the electrical device in the energy savings mode will cause the electrical device to not be able to perform an intended function; and

, if so,

overriding the demand response signal and maintain a state of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions to operate the electrical device in a non-energy savings mode.

12. An electrical appliance, comprising:

a memory to store one or more power consuming function profiles corresponding to one or more power consuming functions associated with the electrical device, at least one function profile including an indication as to when an associated power consuming function is or is not to be disabled during a targeted energy cost function profile; and

at least one processor coupled with the memory and programmed to;

detect a demand response signal requiring the electrical device to be operated in an energy savings mode, and while the demand response signal is being detected;

access the one or more power consuming function profiles associated with the electrical device;

identify, based on the accessed one or more power consuming function profiles, one or more operations of power consuming functions within the electrical device to be changed to operate the electrical device in accordance with the targeted energy cost function profile in the energy savings mode, wherein the processor excludes operations changes that would damage the electrical device, and excludes power consuming functions that are not to be disabled based on the time the demand response signal is detected;

output an alert identifying the one or more operations of the power consuming functions to be changed to operate the electrical device in accordance with the targeted energy cost function profile in the energy savings mode;

receive a request responsive to the alert to override the demand response signal and to not change at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions of the targeted energy cost function profile;

prevent the at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions from being changed during operation of the targeted energy cost function profile; and

wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to return the electrical device to a normal operating mode when transmission of the demand response signal has ceased.

13. The electrical appliance of claim 12, wherein the energy savings mode is activated during a period of high or critical energy demand.

14. The electrical appliance of claim 12, further comprising:

a user interface coupled with the processor,

wherein the processor is further programmed to;

output the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions to be changed during the targeted energy cost function profile to the user interface; and

receive a request from the user interface to override the demand response signal and not change at least one of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions of the targeted energy cost function profile.

15. The electrical appliance of claim 12, further comprising:

a meter coupled with the processor, the meter configured to measure electric energy usage of the electrical device and to output data indicative of the measured electric energy usage,

wherein the processor is further programmed to receive the data outputted from the meter and to determine the targeted energy cost function profile based on at least this outputted data.

16. The electrical appliance of claim 15, wherein the processor alters power consuming functions of the electrical device based on one or more of the following:

a demand limit;

a prioritization of the electrical device and one or more additional electrical device associated with the meter; and

an energy need level of the electrical device.

17. The electrical appliance of claim 12, wherein the electrical appliance is one of a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, an oven, a stove, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a heating system, a ventilation system, and an air conditioning system.

20. The electrical appliance of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:

identify a current operating state of the electrical appliance;

determine if changing one or more of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions to operate the electrical appliance in the energy savings mode will cause the electrical appliance to not be able to perform an intended function; and

, if so,

override the demand response signal and maintain a state of the identified one or more operations of the power consuming functions to operate the electrical appliance in a non-energy savings mode.