Method and apparatus for managing an energy consuming load

• US 8,527,109 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encycle Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Regen Energy Inc.
• Inventors: Kulyk, Roman, Kerbel, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/012,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295, 700/296
• US Class Current: 700/296
• 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. An apparatus for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads, including a transmitter, a receiver, a processor for processing sets of load state data to make an enablement state decision for the load, and a controller for implementing the enablement state decision. A method for managing an enablement state of an energy consuming load, including assigning an assigned duty cycle to the load, determining a load enabled utilization value for the load, and adjusting the assigned duty cycle using the load enabled utilization value.

Claims

1. A method for managing an enablement state of an energy consuming load, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the load is capable of operating even when the load is not actually operating, and wherein the load disabled state is a state where the load is not capable of operating, the method comprising:

(a) assigning an assigned duty cycle to the load which represents a percentage of time that the load is in the load enabled state;

(b) determining a load enabled utilization value for the load, wherein the load enabled utilization value provides an indication of an extent to which the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state; and

(c) adjusting the assigned duty cycle for the load using the load enabled utilization value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load is configured to operate according to a natural duty cycle which represents a percentage of time that the load must actually operate in order to provide a particular result, and wherein the operation of the load according to the natural duty cycle is constrained by the assigned duty cycle for the load.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the load is a discretionary load and wherein the natural duty cycle for the load is less than 100 percent.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is less than 100 percent.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load enabled utilization value is a ratio of an amount of energy consumed by the load while the load is in the load enabled state to an amount of energy which would be consumed by the load if the load were actually operating at all times while the load is in the load enabled state.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising measuring the amou of energy consumed by the load while the load is in the load enabled state.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load enabled utilization value is a ratio of an amount of time that the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state to an amount of time that the load is in the load enabled state.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising measuring the amount of time that the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load, is adjusted by increasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is above an upper limit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is not adjusted by increasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is above the upper limit if the assigned duty cycle is at a ceiling limit.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is adjusted by decreasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is below a lower limit.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is not adjusted by decreasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is below the lower limit if the assigned duty cycle is at a floor limit.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method is performed in accordance with a schedule.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the schedule is comprised of at least one period.

15. The Method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the period is comprised of a plurality of segments, and wherein during each of the segments the load is either in a load enabled state or a load disabled state.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising generating a set of load state data from the load for each segment in the period in which the load is in a load enabled state, wherein each set of load state data is comprised of an indication of an extent to which the load is actually operating during the segment, and wherein the load enabled utilization value is determined from the sets of load state data.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the schedule is comprised, of a plurality of periods and wherein the method is repeated throughout the periods.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium providing computer readable instructions for directing a processor to manage an enablement state of an energy consuming load, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the load is capable of operating even when the load is not actually operating, and wherein the load disabled state is a state where the load is not capable of operating, the instructions comprising:

(a) assigning an assigned duty cycle to the load which represents a percentage of time that the load is in the load enabled state; and

(b) determining a load enabled utilization value for the load, wherein the load enabled utilization value provides an indication of an extent to which the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state; and

adjusting the assigned duty cycle for the load using the load enabled utilization value.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18 wherein the load is configured to operate according to a natural duty cycle which represents a percentage of time that the load must actually operate in order to provide a particular result, and wherein the operation of the load according to the natural duty cycle is constrained by the assigned duty cycle for the load.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19 wherein the load is a discretionary load and wherein the natural duty cycle for the load is less than 100 percent.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed claim 20 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is less than 100 percent.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18 wherein the load enabled utilization value is a ratio of an amount of energy consumed by the load while the load is in the load enabled state to an amount of energy which would be consumed by the load if the load were actually operating at all times while the load is in the load enabled state.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 22, further comprising measuring the amount of energy consumed by the load while the load is in the load enabled state.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed, in claim 18 wherein the load enabled utilization value is a ratio of an amount of time that the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state to an amount of time that the load is in the load enabled state.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 24, further comprising measuring the amount of time that the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is adjusted by increasing, the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is above an upper limit.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 26 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is not adjusted by increasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is above the upper limit if the assigned, duty cycle is at a ceiling, limit.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is adjusted by decreasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is below a lower limit.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 28 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is not adjusted by decreasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is below the lower limit if the assigned duty cycle is at a floor limit.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18 wherein the method is performed in accordance with a schedule.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 30 wherein the schedule is comprised of at least one period.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 31 wherein the period is comprised of a plurality of segments, and wherein during each of the segments the load is either in a load enabled state or a load disabled state.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 32, further comprising generating a set of load state data from the load for each segment in the period in which the load is in a load enabled state, wherein each set of load state data is comprised of an indication of an extent to which the load is actually operating during the segment, and wherein the load enabled utilization value is determined from the sets of load state data.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 33 wherein the schedule is comprised of a plurality of periods and wherein the method is repeated throughout the periods.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18 wherein the instructions are further comprised of directing, an adjusting device to implement the adjusting of the assigned duty cycle for the load.

36. An apparatus for managing an enablemem state of an energy consuming load, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the load enabled state is a state where the load is capable of operating even when the load is not actually operating, and wherein the load disabled state is a state where the load is not capable of operating, the apparatus comprising a processor programmed to

(a) assign an assigned duty cycle to the load which represents a percentage of ne that the load is in the load enabled state;

(b) determine a load enabled utilization value for the load, wherein the load enabled utilization value provides an indication of an extent to which the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state; and

(c) adjust the assigned duty cycle for the load using the load enabled utilization value.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the load is configured to operate according to a natural duty cycle which represents a percentage of time that the load must actually operate in order to provide a particular result, and wherein the operation of the load according to the natural duty cycle is constrained by the assigned duty cycle for the load.

38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein the load is a discretionary load, and wherein the natural duty cycle for the load is less than 100 percent.

39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 38 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is less than 100 percent.

40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the load enabled utilization value is a ratio of an amount of energy consumed by the load while the load is in the load enabled state to an amount of energy which would be consumed by the load if the load were actually operating, at all times while the load is in the load enabled state.

41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40, further comprising measuring the amount of energy consumed by the load while the load is in the load enabled state.

42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the load enabled utilization value is a ratio of an amount of time that the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state to an amount of time that the load is in the load enabled state.

43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, further comprising measuring the amount of time that the load is actually operating while the load is in the load enabled state.

44. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is adjusted by increasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is above an upper limit.

45. The apparatus as claimed in claim 44 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is not adjusted by increasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is above the upper limit if the assigned duty cycle is at a ceiling limit.

46. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is adjusted by decreasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is below a lower limit.

47. The apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein the assigned duty cycle for the load is not adjusted by decreasing the assigned duty cycle when the load enabled utilization value is below the lower limit if the assigned duty cycle is at a floor limit.

48. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the method is performed in accordance with a schedule.

49. The apparatus as claimed in claim 48 wherein the schedule is comprised of at least one period.

50. The apparatus as claimed in claim 49 wherein the period is comprised of a plurality of segments, and wherein during each of the segments the load is either in a load enabled state or a load disabled state.

51. The apparatus as claimed in claim 50, further comprising generating a set of load state data from the load for each segment in the period in which the load is in a load enabled state, wherein each set of load state data is comprised of an indication of an extent to which the load is actually operating during the segment, and wherein the load enabled utilization value is determined from the sets of load state data.

52. The apparatus as claimed in claim 51 wherein the schedule is comprised of a plurality of periods and wherein the method is repeated throughout the periods.

53. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the processor is programmed to direct an adjusting device to implement the adjusting of the assigned duty cycle for the load.