Electrical appliance energy consumption control
First Claim
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1. A power control system configured to consume electrical power, at least a portion of which is generated from a renewable energy source, the system comprising:
- a plurality of electrical appliances each including an energy storage device comprising;
a heat storage medium;
a heater configured to heat the heat storage medium; and
a temperature sensor that produces a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the heat storage medium; and
a controller accesses, for each of the energy storage devices, the temperature of the heat storage medium indicated by the temperature sensor, and the controller controls the energy consumption of each energy storage device based on at least one of;
a heat deficit of the device in proportion to the heat deficits of the other devices, wherein the heat deficit of each device is based on a difference between a target temperature setting, which indicates a desired temperature for the heat storage medium of the device, and the temperature of the heat storage medium of the device, wherein the controller sets higher rates of energy consumption for the devices having higher heat deficits than the devices having lower heat deficits; and
a remaining heat capacity of the energy storage device in proportion to the remaining heat capacities of the other energy storage devices, wherein the remaining heat capacity of each device is based on a difference between a maximum temperature for the heat storage medium of the device, which is an operating parameter of the device, and the temperature of the heat storage medium of the device.
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Abstract
An electrical appliance configured to receive power and a power consumption signal from an electrical power distribution system comprises an energy storage device and a controller. The energy storage device includes a heat storage medium and a heater. The heater is configured to heat the heat storage medium at a heating rate. The controller adjusts the heating rate based on the power consumption signal.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power control system configured to consume electrical power, at least a portion of which is generated from a renewable energy source, the system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical appliances each including an energy storage device comprising; a heat storage medium; a heater configured to heat the heat storage medium; and a temperature sensor that produces a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the heat storage medium; and a controller accesses, for each of the energy storage devices, the temperature of the heat storage medium indicated by the temperature sensor, and the controller controls the energy consumption of each energy storage device based on at least one of; a heat deficit of the device in proportion to the heat deficits of the other devices, wherein the heat deficit of each device is based on a difference between a target temperature setting, which indicates a desired temperature for the heat storage medium of the device, and the temperature of the heat storage medium of the device, wherein the controller sets higher rates of energy consumption for the devices having higher heat deficits than the devices having lower heat deficits; and a remaining heat capacity of the energy storage device in proportion to the remaining heat capacities of the other energy storage devices, wherein the remaining heat capacity of each device is based on a difference between a maximum temperature for the heat storage medium of the device, which is an operating parameter of the device, and the temperature of the heat storage medium of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling consumption of electrical power, at least a portion of which is generated from a renewable energy source, by a group of energy storage devices, each energy storage device having a heater that heats a heat storage medium, the method comprising:
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determining at least one of a heat deficit and a remaining heat capacity of each energy storage device using a controller, wherein; the heat deficit of each device is based on a difference between a temperature of the heat storage medium of the device and a target temperature setting, which is indicative of a desired temperature of the heat storage medium of the device; and the remaining heat capacity of each device is based on a difference between a maximum temperature for the heat storage medium of the device, which is an operating parameter of the device, and the temperature of the heat storage medium of the device; and controlling the energy consumption of each energy storage device using the controller based on at least one of the heat deficit of the device in proportion to the heat deficits of the other devices, and the remaining heat capacity of the energy storage device in proportion to the remaining heat capacities of the other energy storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification