Method and apparatus for managing an energy consuming load

• US 10,139,877 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encycle Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Encycle Corp.
• Inventors: Kulyk, Roman, Kerbel, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US14/807,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20150333518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• 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 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• 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 40/126 using wireless data transmission

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.

Claims

1. A system for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, the system comprising:

(a) a transmitter to transmit a set of load state data generated from the load;

(b) a receiver to receive sets of load state data generated from the other loads;

(c) a processor in communication with the receiver to generate the set of load state data from the load, to aggregate the sets of load state data from the group of loads, the processor configured to process the aggregated sets of load state data in order to make an enablement state decision for the load, the enablement state decision reflecting an enablement state of the load where the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, where each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand indication, the load state data comprising the energy demand indication, the enablement state decision incorporating the energy demand indication of the load and the energy demand indications of the other loads; and

(d) a controller in communication with the processor for causing the enablement state decision to be implemented,

wherein a goal of the enablement state decision is to achieve a target system equilibrium for the group of loads, wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to;

Σ

_i=1ⁿI_MAX*DC_i

wherein n=the number of loads in the group of loads;

I_MAX=the energy demand indication of load i; and

DC_i=the duty cycle of load i.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has a load enabled utilization value, wherein the load state data comprises the load enabled utilization values, and wherein the enablement state decision further incorporates the load enabled utilization values of each of the loads.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, Wherein the load enabled utilization value is a ratio of representing the energy consumption occurring during a time period in which the load is enabled, relative to the energy that would have been consumed if the load were operating at I_MAX over a time period of equal duration.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter, receiver, and processor are located remotely from the load.