Household energy management system and method for one or more appliances and power generator

• US 9,246,332 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Broniak, Jay Andrew, Beyerle, Michael Thomas, Brian, Joseph Mark, Bingham, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARLAND, STEVEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/896,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 700/287, 700291-293, 700/295, 700/296, 307/23, 307/29, 307/39, 307/41, 307/64
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• 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: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

A device and method for enabling an home energy management (HEM) system to work with a home power generator to run the home in a “survival mode” when the home has lost power from the main utility feed. The HEM controls the operation of the main appliances/loads to enable the homeowner to have basic functionality (hot water, lights, heat, cooking & preserving food) of their home, all while ensuring the max draw on the home does not exceed the output rating of the generator thereby allowing the use of a smaller generator while still providing functionality similar to larger generators resulting in energy and cost savings to the consumer.

Claims

1. A home energy management system comprising:

a plurality of energy consuming devices adapted to receive power from at least one circuit;

a generator for supplying power to the at least one circuit for use by the plurality of energy consuming devices when sufficient utility power is unavailable; and

a home energy manager having a controller in communication with said plurality of energy consuming devices, the controller configured to actively control one or more aspects of the operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed a capacity of the generator;

wherein the controller is further configured to detect when the generator is supplying power to the at least one circuit and to automatically implement a user-defined low energy use profile such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator while the low energy use profile is implemented; and

wherein implementing the low energy use profile selectively adjusts at least one user-defined power consuming feature or function of one or more of the plurality of energy consuming devices without turning off the one or more of the plurality of energy consuming devices, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the plurality of energy consuming devices relative to an amount of power consumed by the plurality of energy consuming devices when sufficient utility power is available.

2. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the home energy manager is configured to receive a signal from the generator when the generator is supplying power to the at least one circuit.

3. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching off a non-essential energy consuming device.

4. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the non-essential energy consuming device is user-defined.

5. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices to a different state of operation.

6. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the different state of operation is a low power state of operation.

7. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller selectively activates a first subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a first period of time, said first subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

8. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 7, wherein, after the first period of time, the controller deactivates the first subset and activates a second subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a second period of time, said second subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

9. A home energy management system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are predetermined.

10. A home energy manager comprising:

a controller for controlling a plurality of energy consuming devices; and

a communications interface for communicating with the plurality of energy consuming devices and a power generator;

wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from the power generator indicating that the power generator is supplying power to the plurality of energy consuming devices and, in response thereto, actively control one or more aspects of the operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed a capacity of the generator;

wherein the controller is further configured to detect an interruption in utility power ordinarily supplied to the plurality of energy consuming devices, and automatically implement a user-defined low energy use profile such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator while the low energy use profile is implemented; and

wherein implementing the low energy use profile selectively adjusts at least one user-defined power consuming feature or function of one or more of the plurality of energy consuming devices without turning off the one or more of the plurality of energy consuming devices, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the plurality of energy consuming devices relative to an amount of power consumed by the plurality of energy consuming devices when utility power is supplied to the plurality of energy consuming devices.

11. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 10, wherein the home energy manager is configured to receive a signal from the utility indicative of a power interruption.

12. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching off a non-essential energy consuming device.

13. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 12, wherein the non-essential energy consuming device is user-defined.

14. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to actively control one or more aspects of operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices by switching at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices to a different state of operation.

15. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 14, wherein the different state of operation is a low power state of operation.

16. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 10, wherein the controller selectively activates a first subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a first period of time, said first subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

17. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 16, wherein, after the first period of time, the controller deactivates the first subset and activates a second subset of the plurality of energy consuming devices for a second period of time, said second subset having a total load less than the capacity of the generator.

18. A home energy manager as set forth in claim 17, wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are predetermined.

19. A method for managing a plurality of energy consuming devices being powered by an auxiliary power generator during a utility power interruption, said devices having a combined power rating in excess of a power generating capacity of the power generator, the method comprising:

detecting an interruption of utility power; and

actively controlling one or more aspects of the operation of at least one of the plurality of energy consuming devices such that the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator;

wherein the step of actively controlling includes automatically implementing a user-defined low energy use profile responsive to the detecting step wherein the total load of the plurality of energy consuming devices does not exceed the capacity of the generator while the low energy use profile is implemented; and

wherein implementing the low energy use profile selectively adjusts at least one user-defined power consuming feature or function of one or more of the plurality of energy consuming devices without turning off the one or more of the plurality of energy consuming devices, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the plurality of energy consuming devices relative to an amount of power consumed by the plurality of energy consuming devices when utility power is supplied to the plurality of energy consuming devices.