Energy cost allocation method and system

• US 4,591,988 A
• Filed: 07/13/1983
• Issued: 05/27/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Control Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Control Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Klima, Dennis P., Pakel, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/513,219
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 364/464, 364/465, 364/560, 364/577, 165/11 R, 374/39, 374/41
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/06 Measuring quantity of heat conveyed by flowing media, e.g. in heating systems G01K17/02, G01K17/04 take precedencee.g. the quantity of heat in a transporting medium, delivered to or consumed in an expenditure device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A method for allocating energy costs comprises sensing a first parameter; comparing the sensed parameter with a selectable value of the parameter; initiating recording of data when the sensed parameter bears a predetermined relation to the selectable value; and recording data corresponding in a predetermined fashion to the quantity of energy consumed. The invention also extends to a system for allocating energy costs as a function of at least one sensed parameter. This system comprises a condition responsive element for providing a sensor signal which is a function of the sensed parameter; a control apparatus for comparing the sensor signal with a controllably variable signal corresponding to a selectable value of the parameter, and for producing a control output signal when the sensor signal bears a predetermined relation to the controllably variable signal; a recording apparatus is selectively actuatable for recording data corresponding in a predetermined fashion to the quantity of energy consumed and is actuated in response to the control output signal.

Claims

1. A system for allocating heating energy costs among a plurality of units served by a common heat generating installation, each said unit including a heat inlet line and a heat return line coupled to the heat generating installation, said heat return line having a valve therein responsive to given control signals for opening and closing, and a thermostat in each said unit for producing the control signals for opening and closing the return line;

said allocating system comprising;

temperature responsive means located on each said heat return line for providing a temperature signal which is a predetermined function of the temperature at said return line; and

microcomputer means responsive to said temperature signal and to the control signal from said thermostat for recording the time during which said temperature signal corresponds to a temperature at or above a predetermined temperature and said thermostat signal simultaneously corresponds to the open condition of said valve; and

allocating means responsive to said recorded time data for each of said units for allocating heating energy costs among said units.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 and further including transmitting means coupled to said microcomputer means for transmitting the data recorded thereby to a remote location.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said allocating means is located at said remote location for periodically allocating energy costs in a predetermined fashion in accordance with the recorded data received from said transmitting means.

4. A method for allocating energy costs among a plurality of units served by a common heat generation installation, each unit having a heat inlet line and a heat return line coupled with said heat generating installation, said heat return line having a valve therein responsive to a control signal for opening and closing, and each unit having a thermostat for producing said control signals for opening and closing said return line valve;

said method comprising;

monitoring the signal condition of said thermostat and the temperature in said control line; and

recording data corresponding to the duration of such times during which both the temperature in said return line exceeds a predetermined temperature and also the control signal produced by said thermostat corresponds to the open condition of said return line valve; and

allocating, based upon said recorded time data, heating energy costs among said plurality of units.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 and further including the step of transmitting the data recorded to a remote location.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 and wherein the step of periodically allocating energy costs is performed at said remote location in a predetermined fashion in accordance with the recorded data received during said transmitting.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the step of allocating includes the step of calculating energy costs on the basis of energy profile data for a given location and the step of periodically updating said energy profile data.