Method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours

• US 9,316,431 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Lee Lockwood, Vishnu Sivadas
• Original Assignee: Timothy Lee Lockwood, Vishnu Sivadas
• Inventors: Sivadas, Vishnu, Lockwood, Timothy Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Paolo
• Application Number:
  US14/668,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20160040926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 621/26, 621/57, 621/58, 622/281, 622/31, 700/276, 700/278, 700/295, 700/296, 340/870.17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 16/00 Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2600/02 Timing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• 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 20/20 End-user application control systems
• 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 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

The present invention is a method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours. In a first iteration, a real-time temperature of the refrigeration device is cooled to a target temperature over a first time duration. The refrigeration device compressor and fan are disabled over a second time duration and the real-time temperature is allowed to slowly rise, never exceeding an established maximum temperature. The real-time temperature is periodically monitored over the first time duration and the second time duration and adjustments are made for a subsequent iteration if the target temperature is reached before the end of the first time duration, if the target temperature is not reached during the first time duration, and if the maximum temperature is reached during the second time duration.

Claims

1. A method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method comprises the steps of:

(A) providing the refrigeration device, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a compressor and a fan and wherein the refrigeration device operates at peak hours and non-peak hours during a 24 hour cycle;

(B) providing an internal clock, a first time duration, a second time duration, a normal-operation temperature, a target temperature, and a maximum temperature;

(C) cooling a real-time temperature of the refrigeration device from the normal-operation temperature to the target temperature over the first time duration during non-peak hours in a manner that ensures the real-time temperature stays below the maximum temperature during the second time duration;

(D) periodically monitoring the real-time temperature of the refrigeration device over the first time duration;

(E) disabling the compressor and the fan over the second time duration during peak hours;

(F) periodically monitoring the real-time temperature of the refrigeration device over the second time duration;

(G) returning the real-time temperature of the refrigeration device to the normal-operation temperature after the second time duration.

2. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

providing that the real-time temperature does reach the target temperature during step (D);

maintaining the real-time temperature as the target temperature until an end of the first time duration;

shortening the first time duration, if time remaining before the end of the first time duration is equal to an excessive idle period.

3. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 2 comprises the step of:

shortening the first time duration by the excessive idle period.

4. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the excessive idle period is 30 minutes.

5. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the step of:

providing that the real-time temperature does not reach the target temperature during step (D);

extending the first time duration, if the time remaining before the end of the first time duration is equal to a final monitoring period.

6. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 5 comprises the steps of:

extending the first time duration by the final monitoring period.

7. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the final monitoring period is 30 minutes.

8. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

providing that the real-time temperature reaches the maximum temperature during step (F);

activating the compressor and the fan.

9. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

executing steps (C) through (G) for an arbitrary iteration within the 24 hour cycle;

executing steps (C) through (G) for a subsequent iteration within the 24 hour cycle, wherein the subsequent iteration occurs immediately after the arbitrary iteration;

adjusting the first time duration for the subsequent iteration, if the first time duration of the arbitrary iteration is shortened or extended during step (D) of the arbitrary iteration;

lowering the target temperature of the subsequent iteration, if the real-time temperature of the arbitrary iteration reaches the maximum temperature during step (F) of the arbitrary iteration.

10. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 9 comprises the steps of:

providing that the real-time temperature of the arbitrary iteration does reach the maximum temperature during step (F) of the arbitrary iteration;

lowering the target temperature of the subsequent iteration by 1°

Celsius.

11. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

providing an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), wherein the AMI monitors electrical power usage of the refrigeration device and the AMI is communicably coupled to the refrigeration device;

providing normal operation settings for the refrigeration device during peak hours;

receiving override commands from the AMI, wherein the override commands are sent by the AMI during times of heavy local power usage;

returning the real-time temperature to the normal-operation temperature by reverting the compressor and the fan to the normal operation settings,

if the override commands are received during the first time duration;

continuing to disable the compressor and the fan,

if the override commands are received during the second time duration.

12. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

executing steps (C) through (G) for an initial iteration within the 24 hour cycle;

receiving user input to set the first time duration, the second time duration, the normal-operation temperature, the target temperature, and the maximum temperature for the initial iteration.

13. The method of regulating a refrigeration device by storing thermal energy during non-peak hours for use during peak hours in order to shift refrigeration device operation to non-peak hours, the method as claimed in claim 1 comprises the steps of:

synchronizing the internal clock to the actual time;

reading a current time from the internal clock;

executing step (C), if the current time falls within the non-peak hours.