Controller for reducing electricity demand spikes
First Claim
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1. An electronic controller including a memory module and at least one processor for controlling a start-up sequence of two or more electrical devices, wherein the electronic controller is configured to perform the following:
- intercepting at the electronic controller a group of two or more externally generated initiation signals configured to initiate two or more different electrical devices;
storing the group of two or more externally generated initiation signals in the memory module in sequence as they are received;
prioritizing the sequence of initiation signals stored in the memory module such that initiation signals associated with electrical devices with higher priority are scheduled to be passed to their respective electrical devices before the initiation signals associated with lower-priority electrical devices;
determining an electricity demand value for each of the two or more different electrical devices, where the electricity demand value comprises the amount of electricity required to simultaneously initiate each of the two or more different electrical devices;
determining a usage threshold, the usage threshold specifying an electricity usage limit beyond which additional cumulative demand electricity fees will apply regardless of the time of day at which the usage threshold is exceeded, the cumulative demand electricity fees comprising fees charged for stacked spikes in electricity demand that exceed the usage threshold;
upon determining that the cumulative electricity demand values from the two or more different electrical devices is determined to be less than the usage threshold, passing initiation signals to the two or more different electrical devices based on the prioritized sequence of initiation signals;
implementing one or more delays in passing initiation signals that would cause the usage threshold to be exceeded, such that the remaining initiation signals within the prioritized sequence of initiation signals are passed to the associated electrical devices after the implemented one or more delays, wherein the implemented one or more delays are calculated, based on the electricity demand values associated with each electrical device, to be long enough to avoid surpassing the usage threshold due to multiple stacked electricity demand spikes and thereby avoid cumulative demand spike fees; and
passing the group of two or more externally generated initiation signals that do not exceed the usage threshold to the associated two or more different electrical devices without delay.
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Abstract
Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for controlling the start-up sequence of two or more electrical devices. An electronic controller intercepts a plurality of initiation signals configured to start a plurality of electrical devices. The controller then implements a delay between the initiation signals so as to avoid demand spike surcharges.
14 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electronic controller including a memory module and at least one processor for controlling a start-up sequence of two or more electrical devices, wherein the electronic controller is configured to perform the following:
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intercepting at the electronic controller a group of two or more externally generated initiation signals configured to initiate two or more different electrical devices; storing the group of two or more externally generated initiation signals in the memory module in sequence as they are received; prioritizing the sequence of initiation signals stored in the memory module such that initiation signals associated with electrical devices with higher priority are scheduled to be passed to their respective electrical devices before the initiation signals associated with lower-priority electrical devices; determining an electricity demand value for each of the two or more different electrical devices, where the electricity demand value comprises the amount of electricity required to simultaneously initiate each of the two or more different electrical devices; determining a usage threshold, the usage threshold specifying an electricity usage limit beyond which additional cumulative demand electricity fees will apply regardless of the time of day at which the usage threshold is exceeded, the cumulative demand electricity fees comprising fees charged for stacked spikes in electricity demand that exceed the usage threshold; upon determining that the cumulative electricity demand values from the two or more different electrical devices is determined to be less than the usage threshold, passing initiation signals to the two or more different electrical devices based on the prioritized sequence of initiation signals; implementing one or more delays in passing initiation signals that would cause the usage threshold to be exceeded, such that the remaining initiation signals within the prioritized sequence of initiation signals are passed to the associated electrical devices after the implemented one or more delays, wherein the implemented one or more delays are calculated, based on the electricity demand values associated with each electrical device, to be long enough to avoid surpassing the usage threshold due to multiple stacked electricity demand spikes and thereby avoid cumulative demand spike fees; and passing the group of two or more externally generated initiation signals that do not exceed the usage threshold to the associated two or more different electrical devices without delay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling a start-up sequence of electrical devices comprising:
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intercepting a group of two or more externally generated initiation signals configured to initiate two or more different electrical devices; storing the group of two or more externally generated initiation signals in a memory module in sequence as they are received; prioritizing the sequence of initiation signals stored in the memory module such that initiation signals associated with electrical devices with higher priority are scheduled to be passed to their respective electrical devices before the initiation signals associated with lower-priority electrical devices; determining an electricity demand value for each of the two or more different electrical devices, where the electricity demand value comprises the amount of electricity required to simultaneously initiate each of the two or more different electrical devices; determining a usage threshold, the usage threshold specifying an electricity usage limit beyond which additional cumulative demand electricity fees will apply regardless of the time of day at which the usage threshold is exceeded, the cumulative demand electricity fees comprising fees charged for stacked spikes in electricity demand that exceed the usage threshold; upon determining that the cumulative electricity demand values from the two or more different electrical devices is determined to be less than the usage threshold, passing initiation signals to the two or more different electrical devices based on the prioritized sequence of; implementing one or more delays in passing initiation signals that would cause the usage threshold to be exceeded, such that the remaining initiation signals within the prioritized sequence of initiation signals are passed to the associated electrical devices after the implemented one or more delays, wherein the implemented one or more delays are calculated, based on the electricity demand values associated with each electrical device, to be long enough to avoid surpassing the usage threshold due to multiple stacked electricity demand spikes and thereby avoid cumulative demand spike fees; and passing the group of two or more externally generated initiation signals that do not exceed the usage threshold to the associated two or more different electrical devices without delay. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic controller for controlling a start-up sequence of two or more electrical devices, the electronic controller comprising one or more modular micro-controller boards adaptable for controlling a variable number of electrical devices, and is configured to perform the following:
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intercepting at the electronic controller a group of two or more externally generated initiation signals configured to initiate two or more different electrical devices; storing the group of two or more intercepted initiation signals in a memory module in sequence as they are received; prioritizing the sequence of initiation signals stored in the memory module such that initiation signals associated with electrical devices with higher priority are scheduled to be passed to their respective electrical devices before the initiation signals associated with lower-priority electrical devices; determining an electricity demand value for each of the two or more different electrical devices, where the electricity demand value comprises the amount of electricity required to simultaneously initiate each of the two or more different electrical devices; determining a usage threshold, the usage threshold specifying an electricity usage limit beyond which additional cumulative demand electricity fees will apply regardless of the time of day at which the usage threshold is exceeded, the cumulative demand electricity fees comprising fees charged for stacked spikes in electricity demand that exceed the usage threshold; upon determining that the cumulative electricity demand values from the two or more different electrical devices is determined to be less than the usage threshold, passing initiation signals to the two or more different electrical devices based on the prioritized sequence of initiation signals; implementing one or more delays in passing initiation signals that would cause the usage threshold to be exceeded, such that the initiation signals within the prioritized sequence of initiation signals are passed to the associated electrical devices after the implemented one or more delays, wherein the one or more delays are calculated, based on the electricity demand values associated with each electrical device, to be long enough to avoid surpassing the usage threshold due to multiple stacked electricity demand spikes and thereby avoid cumulative demand spike fees; and passing the group of two or more externally generated initiation signals that do not exceed the usage threshold to the associated two or more different electrical devices without delay.
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Specification