Method and apparatus for managing an energy consuming load

• US 9,703,339 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encycle Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Encycle Corp.
• Inventors: Kerbel, Mark, Kulyk, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US13/956,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20130317663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• 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 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 20/222 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. The method includes generating and compiling sets of load state data from the load and other loads, making an enablement state decision for the load using the compiled sets of data, wherein the enablement state decision reflects either a load enabled or load disabled state, and implementing the enablement state decision for the load. An apparatus for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads, including a transmitter for transmitting the set of load state data from the load, a receiver for receiving sets of load state data from other loads, a processor for processing the load state data to make an enablement state decision, and a controller for implementing the decision. A computer readable medium provides computer readable instructions for directing the processor, wherein the instructions perform the method.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a transmitter configured to transmit a set of load state data generated from the load;

(b) a receiver configured to receive sets of load state data generated from the other loads;

(c) a processor configured to generate the set of load state data from the load, to compile the set of load state data from the load with the sets of load state data from the other loads, and to process the compiled sets of load state data in order to make an enablement state decision for the load, wherein the enablement state decision reflects an enablement state of the load, and wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, wherein the enablement state decision is taken utilizing an enablement need of the load, wherein the enablement need is defined by a period of time during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle; and

(d) a controller for implementing the enablement state decision.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller is comprised of a control circuit and a switch.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the load is connected within an energization circuit and wherein the switch is actuatable so that the energization circuit is closed when the load is in the load enabled state and so that the energization circuit is open when the load is in the load disabled state.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the load is connected within a control line circuit and wherein the switch is actuatable so that the control line circuit is closed when the load is in the load enabled state and so that the control line circuit is open when the load is in the load disabled state.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enablement slate decision further includes utilizing the enablement needs of the other loads in the plurality of loads.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the enablement state decision is implemented during a predetermined segment of time, wherein the segment of time is one of a plurality of segments comprising a period, and wherein the enablement need of each of the loads is defined by a remaining number of segments in the period during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle.

7. A system for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads comprising the load and a plurality of other loads, the system comprising:

(a) a transmitter to transmit a set of load state data generated from the load;

(b) a receiver to receive sets of load state data generated from the other loads;

(c) a processor in communication with the transmitter and receiver to generate the set of load state data from the load, to compile the set of load state data from the load with the sets of load state data received from the other loads, and wherein the processor is configured to process the compiled sets of load state data in order to make an enablement state decision for the load, wherein the enablement state decision reflects an enablement state of the load, wherein the enablement state is either a load enabled state or a load disabled state, and wherein the enablement state decision is taken utilizing an enablement need of the load;

wherein the enablement need of each of the loads is defined by period of time during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle; and

(d) a controller in communication with the processor for causing the enablement state decision to be implemented.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein the enablement state decision further includes utilizing the enablement needs of the other loads in the plurality of loads.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein the enablement state decision is implemented during a predetermined segment of time, wherein the segment of time is one of a plurality of segments comprising the period, and wherein the enablement need of each of the loads is defined by a remaining number of segments in the period during which the load must be in the load enabled state in order to achieve its duty cycle.

10. The system as in claim 9, wherein the duty cycle is a natural duty cycle of the load.

11. The system as in claim 9, wherein the duty cycle is an assigned duty cycle of the load.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein the assigned duty cycle is less than the natural duty cycle of the load.

13. The system as in claim 9, wherein an enablement state decision for the load is made at least once per segment.

14. The system as in claim 8 wherein each of the loads in the group of loads has an energy demand indication, and wherein the enablement state decision is further dependent upon the energy demand indication of each of the loads.

15. The system as in claim 14, wherein the enablement state decision is made with a goal of achieving a target system equilibrium for the group of loads, wherein the target system equilibrium is equal to a sum for all of the loads in the group of loads of a product of the energy demand indication of one of the loads and the duty cycle of the one of the loads.