Residential load power management system

• US 20050216131A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Inventors: Stair, Kenny J., Sodemann, Wesley C., Gull, Philip
• Application Number:
  US11/086,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216131A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• 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: H02J 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution 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 load management system for residential use is disclosed. The system includes a first signal-responsive switch connected to a first load, and a second signal-responsive switch connected to a second load that has a lower priority than the first load. The system also includes a sensor to sense first and second electrical signals associated with the respective first and second loads. The system also includes a controller to ensure that the second signal-responsive switch is in an OPEN state after the sensor senses that the first electrical signal exceeds a first threshold value, and that the first signal-responsive switch is in a CLOSED state after the first electrical signal exceeds a second threshold value.

Claims

1. A load management system for residential use, the system comprising:

a first signal-responsive switch adapted to be connected to a first load;

a second signal-responsive switch adapted to be connected to a second load that has a lower priority than the first load;

a sensor adapted to sense first and second electrical signals associated with the respective first and second loads; and

a controller adapted to ensure that the second signal-responsive switch is in an OPEN state after the sensor senses that the first electrical signal exceeds a first threshold value, and that the first signal-responsive switch is in a CLOSED state after the first electrical signal exceeds a second threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third signal-responsive switch adapted to be connected to a third load that is larger than the second load; and

a fourth signal-responsive switch adapted to be connected to a fourth load that has a lower priority than the third load.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first signal-responsive switch is closed before the third signal-responsive switch is closed, and the third signal-responsive switch is closed before the second and fourth signal-responsive switches are closed.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a timer adapted to generate a time delay after the first signal-responsive switch is opened, wherein the second signal-responsive switch is closed after the time delay.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the time delay is between 2 to 600 seconds.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first threshold value equals the second first threshold value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical signals are at least one of a voltage, current, and power signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first threshold value is between 60 to 95 percent.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third signal-responsive switch adapted to be connected to a third load that is smaller than the second load, and the second signal-responsive switch is closed before the third signal-responsive switch is closed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second signal-responsive switches comprise relays.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one current transformer.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a generator operable to supply power to the first load when the first signal-responsive switch is closed.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to keep the second signal-responsive switch in an OPEN state if the second signal-responsive switch is in an OPEN state when the first electrical signal exceeds the first threshold value, and to open the second signal-responsive switch if the second signal-responsive switch is in a CLOSED state when the first electrical signal exceeds the first threshold value;

and

wherein the controller is adapted to keep the first signal-responsive switch in a CLOSED state if the first signal-responsive switch is in a CLOSED state when the first electrical signal exceeds the second threshold value, and to close the first signal-responsive switch if the first signal-responsive switch is in an OPEN state when the first electrical signal exceeds the second threshold value.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third signal-responsive switch adapted to be connected to a third load that has a lower priority than the second load, wherein the controller is adapted to ensure that the second signal-responsive switch is in a CLOSED state before the third signal-responsive switch is in a CLOSED state after the first electrical signal drops below the first threshold value, and that the first signal-responsive switch is in an OPEN state after the first electrical signal drops below the second threshold value.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to ensure that the second signal-responsive switch is in a CLOSED state after the first electrical signal drops below the first threshold value, and that the first signal-responsive switch is in an OPEN state after the first electrical signal drops below the second threshold value.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises

a first comparator adapted to determine if the first electrical signal exceeds the first threshold value;

and

a second comparator adapted to determine if the first electrical signal exceeds the second threshold value.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a memory adapted to record a first value of the first electrical signal before the second signal-responsive switch is open.

18. A method of managing loads for residential use, the method comprising:

connecting a first signal-responsive switch to a first load;

connecting a second signal-responsive switch to a second load that has a lower priority than the first load;

sensing first and second electrical signals from the respective first and second loads; and

ensuring the second signal-responsive switch is open after the first electrical signal exceeds a first threshold value, and the first signal-responsive switch is closed after the first electrical signal exceeds a second threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

connecting a third signal-responsive switch to a third load that has a higher priority than the second load; and

connecting a fourth signal-responsive switch to a fourth load that has a lower priority than the third load.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

closing the first signal-responsive switch before the third signal-responsive switch; and

closing the third signal-responsive switch before the second and fourth signal-responsive switches.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising closing the second signal-responsive switch after a time delay and after opening the first signal-responsive switch.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising setting the time delay to between 2 to 600 seconds.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising equating the first threshold value the second first threshold value.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second electrical signals comprise at least one of a voltage, current, and power signals.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein setting the first threshold value to between 60 to 95 percent.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

connecting a third signal-responsive switch to a third load that has a lower priority than the second load; and

closing the second signal-responsive switch before the third signal-responsive switch.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second signal-responsive switches comprise relays.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the first and second electrical signals comprises sensing with at least one current transformer.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating power at a generator; and

supplying the power from the generator to the first load when the first signal-responsive switch is closed.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein ensuring the second signal-responsive switch is open and the first signal-responsive switch is closed further comprises:

keeping the second signal-responsive switch open when the second signal-responsive switch is open after the first electrical signal exceeds the first threshold value;

opening the second signal-responsive switch when the second signal-responsive switch is closed after the first electrical signal exceeds the first threshold value;

keeping the first signal-responsive switch closed when the first signal-responsive switch is closed after the first electrical signal exceeds the second threshold value; and

closing the first signal-responsive switch when the first signal-responsive switch is open after the first electrical signal exceeds the second threshold value.

31. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

connecting a third signal-responsive switch to a third load that has a lower priority than the second load; and

ensuring the second signal-responsive switch is closed before the third signal-responsive switch after the first electrical signal drops below the first threshold value, and the first signal-responsive switch is opened after the first electrical signal drops below the second threshold value.

32. The method of claim 18, further comprising ensuring the second signal-responsive switch is closed after the first electrical signal drops below the first threshold value, and the first signal-responsive switch is open after the first electrical signal drops below the second threshold value.

33. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining if the first electrical signal exceeds the first threshold value; and

determining if the first electrical signal exceeds the second threshold value.

34. The method of claim 18, further comprising recording a first value of the first electrical signal before the second signal-responsive switch is open.