System and method for optimizing use of plug-in air conditioners and portable heaters

• US 8,712,590 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Steinberg, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US13/725,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/295, 700/299, 700/300, 236/91.D, 236/91.E, 236/91.F, 340/12.32
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• 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 11/62 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 : using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 : characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 : involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• 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: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater.

Claims

1. A system for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising:

at least one load control device at a first location, the load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “

on”

or “

off”

, and wherein the load control device comprises at least one microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network;

a thermostat that is in communication with the load control device via the computer network, wherein the thermostat obtains temperature measurements of the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater; and

one or more processors remotely located from the first location, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive temperature measurements from the thermostat, and receive measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location from at least one other source, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate operational control instructions to the microprocessor in the load control device via the computer network;

wherein when the microprocessor in the load control device turns the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “

on”

or “

off”

based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the thermostat comprises a user interface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors generate the operational control instructions based at least in part on the temperature measurements received from the thermostat and based at least in part on the measurements of outside temperatures from at least one other source.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the plug-in air conditioner is mounted through an opening in a building envelope.

5. The system of claim 1 in which the plug-in portable heater is a space heater.

6. The system of claim 1 in which the load control device further measures the temperature of the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater.

7. The system of claim 1 in which the load control device further measures at least one of the group consisting of the electrical current, and voltage passing through the load control device.

8. The system of claim 1 in which the load control device is configured to sense occupancy of the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater.

9. A method for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising:

connecting at a first location, at least one load control device to a first electrical outlet and to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “

on”

or “

off”

, the load control device comprising at least a microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network;

obtaining from a thermostat temperatures of the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, wherein the thermostat is in communication with the load control device via the computer network;

communicating the temperatures to one or more processors remotely located from the first location, wherein the one or more processors receives temperature measurements from the thermostat and further receive measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location from at least one other source;

receiving operational control instructions for the load control device from the one or more processors via the computer network; and

turning the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “

on”

or “

off”

with the load control device based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying a user interface on the thermostat.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the operational control instructions received from the one or more processors are based at least in part on the temperature measurements received from the thermostat and based at least in part on measurements of outside temperatures obtained from the at least one other source.

12. The method of claim 9 in which the plug-in air conditioner is mounted through an opening in a building envelope.

13. The method of claim 9 in which the plug-in portable heater is a space heater.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising measures the temperature of the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater with the load control device.

15. The method of claim 9 in which the load control device further measures at least one of the group consisting of electrical current, and voltage passing through the load control device.

16. The method of claim 9 in which the load control device further senses occupancy of the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater.