Energy Management System And Method

• US 20110046792A1
• Filed: 07/20/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Allure Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin R., Hollister, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 : variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 : Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 : Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 : Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 : Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• 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: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

A system and method migrating virtualized environments is disclosed. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a home energy management system and method includes a database configured to store site report data received from a plurality of residential sites using a wireless home energy network at each site. Each residential site includes a thermostat accessible to the wireless home energy network. A processor is operably coupled to the database and configured to access the site report data and detect a current temperature set-point of the thermostat at a first residential site; detect a first seasonal profile of the thermostat; detect a current operating mode of a HVAC system operably coupled to the thermostat; and determine a thermostat schedule of the thermostat using the first seasonal profile and the current operating mode of the HVAC system.

Claims

1. An energy management system comprising:

a database configured to store site report data received from a plurality of residential sites using a wireless home energy network at each site, wherein each residential site includes a thermostat accessible to the wireless home energy network;

a processor operably coupled to the database and configured to access the site report data and;

detect a current temperature set-point of the thermostat at a first residential site;

detect a first seasonal profile of the thermostat;

detect a current operating mode of a HVAC system operably coupled to the thermostat; and

determine a thermostat schedule of the thermostat using the first seasonal profile and the current operating mode of the HVAC system.

2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is further configured to detect a second seasonal profile of the thermostat;

the first seasonal profile includes at least a minimum seasonal setting;

the second seasonal profile includes at least a maximum seasonal setting;

the processor is further configured to initiate generation of a control action report to communicate to the first residential site, wherein the control action report is generated using one or more of;

an updated temperature set-point having a value between the current temperature set-point and the minimum seasonal set-point in response to the current operating mode of the HVAC being in a heating mode;

an updated temperature set-point having a value between the current temperature set-point and the maximum seasonal set-point in response to the current operating mode of the HVAC being in a cooling mode;

an efficiency rating of the first residential site;

an estimated time period to generate an updated temperature reading an updated temperature set-point;

a current energy price; and

a future energy price.

3. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a distance between a location reporting device and the first residential site;

detect a current zone from a plurality of zones operably associated with the first residential site using the distance; and

initiate generation of a control action report to be communicated to the first residential site using the current zone.

4. The energy management system of claim 3, further comprising the processor configured to:

detect an efficiency rating of the first residential site;

detect an external temperature at the first residential site;

determine a real-time travel time between the location reporting device and the residential site; and

modify a distance range of the plurality of zones using one or more of;

the efficiency rating;

the external temperature; and

the real-time travel time.

5. The energy management system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect the location reporting device moving away from the first residential site;

detect a percentage change value associated with the current zone;

detect a base set-point of the wireless thermostat of the first residential site;

determine a difference between the base set-point and a minimum seasonal set-point in response to the current operating mode of the HVAC being in a heating mode;

determine a difference between the base set-point and a maximum seasonal set-point in response to the current operating mode of the HVAC being in a cooling mode;

determine an updated thermostat set-point as a percent change based on the determined difference and the current operating mode of the HVAC; and

output the updated thermostat set-point to be used within the control action report.

6. The energy management system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect the location reporting device moving toward the first residential site;

detect the current zone and a percentage change value associated with the current zone;

determine a difference between the base set-point and a minimum seasonal set-point in response to the current operating mode of the HVAC being in a heating mode;

determine a difference between the base set-point and a maximum seasonal set-point in response to the current operating mode of the HVAC being in a cooling mode; and

determine an updated thermostat set-point as a percent change based on the difference and the current operating mode of the HVAC; and

output the updated thermostat set-point to be used within the control action report.

7. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a group of residential sites within a specified region;

access thermostat schedules of each of the residential sites within the group;

aggregate scheduling data using the thermostat schedules; and

initiate an outputting of the aggregated scheduling data.

8. The energy management system of claim 1, further comprising a web services enabled scheduling tool configured to provide a user access to schedule energy use at a first residential site using a web based graphical user interface, wherein the scheduling tool includes:

a thermostat selector configurable to enable selection of one or more wireless thermostats located at the first residential site;

an event scheduler operably associated with the thermostat selector and configurable to enable the user to graphically select a utilization schedule of the one or more wireless thermostats;

wherein the utilization schedule includes a time of day and temperature setting capabilities to control the one or more wireless thermostats; and

an energy savings preference selector configured to graphically modify the utilization schedule and display a resulting energy savings.

9. The energy management system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a user interaction with the wireless thermostat;

suggest a modification of the utilization schedule to the user during a user access to the scheduling tool; and

modify the utilization schedule to include the suggestion in response to the user validating the modification.

10. The energy management system of claim 8, wherein the scheduling tool further comprises:

a proximity control selector configured to enable and disable proximity control of the first residential site;

a demand response selector configured to enable and disable participation in demand response event; and

an auto update selector configured to enable an automatic update of the utilization schedule in response to a detection of a user interaction with the one or more wireless thermostats.

11. The energy management system of claim 8, further comprising a demand response selector operable to be displayed with the scheduling tool, wherein the demand response selector includes:

an always participate selection configured to always enable a curtailment of the HVAC system at the first residential site in response to a demand response event;

a never participate selection configured to not allow a curtailment of the HVAC system at the first residential site in response to a demand response event; and

a request participation selection configured to initiate a communication to the user to request participation in a demand response event.

12. The energy management system of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of energy templates accessible using the scheduling tool, wherein each template includes a predetermined utilization schedule selectable by the user based on a user'"'"'s scheduling profile;

wherein the predetermined utilization schedule is modifiable by the user with the scheduling tool; and

an energy personality detection module configured to;

detect an interaction of the user with the wireless thermostat;

display of an energy personality indicia in response to the interaction; and

enable the user to display the energy personality indicia within a social network.

13. The energy management system of claim 1, further comprising the processor configured to:

determine a random sample size of residential sites in connection with estimating an energy consumption of a specific region;

accessing a plurality of thermostat schedules within the specified region based on the random sample size; and

output thermostat scheduling data of the plurality of thermostat schedules in connection with forecasting production.

14. The energy management system of claim 1, further comprising the processor configured to:

detect an enabled demand response setting of the first residential site;

detect a demand response event condition; and

enable a curtailment action of a corresponding HVAC system at the first residential site.

15. The energy management system of claim 1, further comprising the processor configured to:

initiate a demand response event request communication to the users of the plurality of residences;

detect a user response level to participate in a demand response event; and

enable a curtailment of a corresponding HVAC system at the residential sites of the users electing to participate in the demand response event.

16. The energy management system of claim 1, further comprising the processor configured to:

identify a group of residences within the plurality of residences;

determine an energy reduction capacity of each of the residences within the group using an efficiency rating of each of the residences within the group; and

estimate an aggregate energy reduction capacity based on the energy reduction capacity of each of the residences within the group.

17. The energy management system of claim 16, further comprising the processor configured to:

initiate an auction process to sell the aggregate energy reduction capacity to a third party;

detect a sale of the aggregate energy reduction capacity in connection with the auction process; and

initiate a curtailment of the HVAC system at each of the residences within the group.

18. The energy management system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile client module configured to be operably coupled to a mobile device associated with the first residential site, wherein the mobile client module is configured to:

receive a site readings request of the first residential site from the first mobile device;

access the database to retrieve site report data of the first residential site;

format the accessed site report data as mobile device data;

output the mobile device data to the first mobile device using a mobile device network;

receive a request from the mobile device to modify a current temperature set-point of the HVAC system at the first residential site;

initiate generation of a control report including an updated temperature set-point input using the mobile device; and

output a confirmation of the updated temperature set-point.

19. The energy management system of claim 18, wherein the mobile client module is further configured to:

enable access to a proximity setting of the first residential site;

detect multiple control zones at the first residential site;

detect a corresponding wireless thermostat of each of the multiple control zones;

output mobile device data to the mobile device indicating a current reading within each zone;

wherein the current reading is acquired from the site data;

enable access to the corresponding wireless thermostat of each zone; and

enable the mobile device control of the corresponding wireless thermostat.

20. The energy management system of claim 18, further comprising the processor further configured to:

detect a manual input condition to the wireless thermostat at the first residential site;

identify a mobile device associated with the first residential site;

initiate a text message indicating the manual input condition; and

enable a user to alter the manual input condition using the mobile device.