Backup power operation of self-powered air conditioning system

Abstract

The name of the invention is backup power operation of a self-powered air conditioning system. An air conditioning system includes: a first unit including a compressor; a controller; an energy storage device; and an AC power bus for connection to an AC power grid; wherein the controller is configured to supply power from the AC grid to the first unit in a normal mode, and to supply power from the energy storage device to the first unit in a backup power mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments described herein relate to air conditioning systems. Background Art

[0002] In commercial, industrial, residential applications and data centers, electric energy drives countless devices and equipment. For example, electric energy drives lights, motors, household appliances, medical equipment, computers, air conditioning systems, electric vehicle charging stations, data center processing and cooling needs, and many other electrical devices. In most areas, power companies (power utility) generate and distribute electricity through the AC power grid. Factors such as shortages and / or increased costs associated with the use of fossil fuels, intermittent nature of renewable resources, power demand and supply variability, and increased energy demand have significantly affected the cost and continuous availability of electricity to consumers and businesses. In general, shortages and / or increased costs often occur during the time of peak demand. Peak demand can occur based on the time of the day, such as in the morning or in the evening. On a more random basis, peak demand (or demand greater than the available supply) may occur due to natural disasters, or if the power from the power grid comes from solar energy, it occurs during long periods of time such as cloudy periods, or if the power from the power grid comes from wind turbines, it occurs during wind variability. For example, a hurricane or earthquake may damage the power company's generator and / or power grid, resulting in a significant loss of power to commercial, industrial and residential applications. Repairs to these damaged lines and generators may take hours, days, or weeks. Various sites may also lose power from the grid for other reasons, including maintenance. During these times of power loss, the site may not be able to continue operating. In addition, the increasing number of data centers has significantly increased the demand for energy from the grid.

[0003] Often, during times of peak demand, electrical energy from the grid is more expensive. For example, a power company may employ low-cost generators during periods of minimum demand, and further employ high-cost generators during periods of peak demand. Unfortunately, existing infrastructure does not adequately address these different costs associated with peak demand and minimum demand. As a result, commercial, industrial, data center, and residential applications typically draw power from the grid during times of peak demand, regardless of the higher costs associated with its generation.

[0004] As described further below, some energy consumers, such as commercial, industrial, data center, and residential users, may be driven by factors other than cost, such as a desire to support sustainable energy options. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to an embodiment, an air conditioning system comprises: a first unit including a compressor; a controller; an energy storage device; and an AC power bus for connecting to an AC power grid; wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the first unit from the AC power grid in normal mode and to supply power to the first unit from the energy storage device in backup power mode.

[0006] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein supplying power from the energy storage device to the first unit in the backup power mode includes changing an operating parameter of the air conditioning system to increase an operating time of the first unit in the backup power mode.

[0007] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the operating parameter of the air conditioning system includes a speed of the compressor.

[0008] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the speed of the compressor is maintained below a limit.

[0009] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the operating parameter of the air conditioning system includes a temperature set point at a thermostat.

[0010] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the temperature set point at the thermostat is set to a predetermined value.

[0011] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the temperature set point at the thermostat is adjusted by a predetermined offset.

[0012] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein supplying power from the energy storage device to the first unit in the backup power mode includes the controller selecting between a first backup power mode and a second backup power mode.

[0013] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the first backup power mode includes isolating the AC power bus from the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit.

[0014] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the second backup power mode includes connecting the AC power bus to the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit and the AC load.

[0015] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include where selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining a state of charge of the energy storage device.

[0016] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining availability of one or more auxiliary DC sources.

[0017] According to another embodiment, a method of operating an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising: a first unit including a compressor; a controller; an energy storage device; and an AC power bus for connecting to an AC power grid, the method comprising: supplying power to the first unit from the AC power grid in normal mode, and supplying power to the first unit from the energy storage device in backup power mode.

[0018] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein supplying power from the energy storage device to the first unit in the backup power mode includes changing operating parameters of the air conditioning system so as to increase the operating time of the first unit in the backup power mode.

[0019] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the operating parameter of the air conditioning system includes a speed of the compressor.

[0020] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the speed of the compressor is maintained below a limit.

[0021] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the operating parameter of the air conditioning system includes a temperature set point at a thermostat.

[0022] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the temperature set point at the thermostat is set to a predetermined value.

[0023] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the temperature set point at the thermostat is adjusted by a predetermined offset.

[0024] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein powering the first unit from the energy storage device in the backup power mode includes selecting between a first backup power mode and a second backup power mode.

[0025] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the first backup power mode includes isolating the AC power bus from the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit.

[0026] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein the second backup power mode includes connecting the AC power bus to the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit and the AC load.

[0027] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include where selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining a state of charge of the energy storage device.

[0028] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments may include wherein selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining availability of one or more auxiliary DC sources.

[0029] According to another embodiment, a computer program embodied on a computer-readable storage medium includes instructions for causing a processor to implement a process of operating an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system including an AC power bus for connecting to an AC power grid, the process including: supplying power to a first unit from the AC power grid in a normal mode, and supplying power to the first unit from an energy storage device in a backup power mode.

[0030] Unless otherwise expressly indicated, the foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity. These features and elements and their operation will become more apparent in view of the following description and drawings. However, it should be understood that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and are non-restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of examples and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements.

[0032] Figure 1 A system in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0033] Figure 2 A controller in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0034] Figure 3A Depicted is the electrical architecture of an example embodiment.

[0035] Figure 3B Depicted is the electrical architecture of an example embodiment.

[0036] Figure 4A Depicted is the electrical architecture of an example embodiment.

[0037] Figure 4B Depicted is the electrical architecture of an example embodiment.

[0038] Figure 5A Depicted is the electrical architecture of a fixed speed compressor having a DC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0039] Figure 5B Depicted is the electrical architecture of a fixed speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0040] Figure 5C Depicted is the electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor having a DC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0041] Figure 5D Depicted is the electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0042] Figure 6 Depicted is the electrical architecture of a compressor powered by a multilevel inverter in an example embodiment.

[0043] Figure 7 One phase leg of a five-level multiphase inverter in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0044] Figure 8 Depicted are communications between a controller, a thermostat, and a remote system in an example embodiment.

[0045] Fig. 9 A control process in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0046] Fig.10 An electrical architecture for an air conditioning system supporting a backup power mode in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0047] Fig.11 A first backup power mode in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0048] Fig.12 A second backup power mode in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0049] Fig.13 A control process for backup power operation in an example embodiment is depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In the context of current global electrification and decarbonization efforts, there is an incentive to use efficient, optimized, all-electric air conditioning systems that provide comfort while being dispatchable (on-off, modulating, or variable) under different pricing conditions or upon receipt of a utility signal. By way of example, the utility signal may be received from an electrical AC grid and may include an Independent System Operator (ISO), which may include an independent, federally regulated entity established to coordinate regional transmission and ensure reliability and security of the power system in a non-discriminatory manner; or a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), which may operate large electric power systems across most geographic areas and is generally an independent, membership-based, non-profit organization that ensures reliability and optimizes supply and demand bids for wholesale power or from virtual power plants, which are generally viewed as connected aggregations of integrated distributed energy resource (DER) technologies that provide demand flexibility and renewable energy. References to utilities refer to one or more entities involved in the generation, transmission, and / or distribution of electricity.

[0051] Embodiments described herein relate to an air conditioning system that includes an electrical energy storage system (eg, batteries, ultracapacitors) to provide the level of dispatchability required for interconnection with a power grid.

[0052] Figure 1A system 100 in an example embodiment is depicted. The system 100 includes components of an air conditioning system. The phrase "air conditioning" is intended to include one or more of the following: heating, cooling, ventilation, humidification, dehumidification, refrigeration, hot water heating, cooling water or fluid, air filtration and other known air handling operations, or a combination of any of the above operations. The air conditioning system may include known types of systems, such as heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, chillers, split systems, packaged systems, integrated systems, etc. The air conditioning system 100 includes a first unit 200 and one or more second units 250. Depending on the nature of the air conditioning system, the first unit 200 and (one or more) second units 250 can be located separately (indoors or outdoors) or co-located (indoors or outdoors). For example, in a split system, the first unit 200 is an outdoor unit (e.g., a compressor and a heat exchanger), and (one or more) second units 250 are indoor units (e.g., an expansion mechanism, a heat exchanger). In a packaged system (e.g., rooftop or ground), the first unit 200 and the second unit 250 are co-located in a single footprint outside the building. In the chiller, the first unit 200 and the second unit 250 may be co-located (both indoors or outdoors) or separately located.Some all-in-one systems may have the first unit 200 and the second unit 250 co-located inside a building.

[0053] exist Figure 1 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the first unit 200 may be an outdoor unit of a split system located at ground level next to the building 102, located on the roof of the building 102, or at any other location. As is common in the case of a split system, the second unit(s) 250 may be located inside the building 102. It should be understood that Figure 1 is an example, and embodiments are not limited to split systems.

[0054] System 100 includes a controller 220 , a power converter 230 , and an energy storage device (ESD) 240 . Figure 1 is an example embodiment, and the location of the components is not limited to Figure 1200. For example, the power converter 230, the energy storage device 240, and the controller 220 may be separate from the first unit 200 that houses the compressor 242, the drive 244, the fan 246, and the load(s) 248. The first unit 200 may include a control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the first unit 200. This allows the components of the described embodiments to be retrofitted to an existing first unit 200 of an air conditioning system and / or an existing second unit 250 of an air conditioning system. One or more of the power converter 230, the energy storage device 240, and the controller 220 may be located in the first unit 200. One or more of the power converter 230, the energy storage device 240, and the controller 220 may be located outside the first unit 200 or adjacent to the first unit 200. One or more of the power converter 230, the energy storage device 240, and the controller 220 may be located in the building 102.

[0055] The first unit 200 may include a heat exchanger (not shown) that will act as a condenser / gas cooler and / or as an evaporator as part of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.

[0056] In the figures, the positions of all components in the figures are examples, and the embodiments include modifications to the positions of the components shown in the figures. For example, the components illustrated as being connected to the first unit 200 may be retrofit components added to the existing first unit 200. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0057] The controller 220 can communicate with the air conditioning controller system controller and / or the energy storage device controller. In some embodiments, a single controller can implement all functions of the controller 220, the air conditioning controller, and the energy storage device controller. The controller 220 communicates with the components of the described system using wired and / or wireless connections, which are not illustrated in the drawings.

[0058] Figure 1 The system and its embodiments described herein allow one or more components of the air conditioning system and other loads not associated with the air conditioning system to be powered only by the AC grid, only by the energy storage device 240, and by a combination of the AC grid and the energy storage device 240. The one or more components of the air conditioning system include components in the first unit 200 and components in the second unit 250.

[0059] Figure 2A controller 220 according to an embodiment is depicted. The controller 220 includes a sensor interface 222, which can obtain operating parameters of the air conditioning system, such as pressure, temperature, etc. As is known in the art, the controller 220 can adjust the operation of the air conditioning system based on the sensed operating parameters. The controller 220 includes a processor 224 that controls the operation of the system 100. The processor 224 can be implemented using a general-purpose microprocessor that executes a computer program stored on a storage medium to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively, the processor 224 can be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or in a combination of hardware / software. The processor 224 allows the controller 220 to perform calculations locally, also known as edge computing. The processor 224 can send commands to other components of the air conditioning system 100 based on the results of the local calculations.

[0060] The controller 220 includes a memory 226 that can store computer programs executable by the processor 224, reference data, sensor data, etc. The memory 226 can be implemented using known devices such as random access memory. The controller 220 includes a communication unit 228 that allows the controller 220 to communicate with other components of the system 100, such as the first unit 200, the second unit 250, and the thermostat 260. The communication unit 228 can be implemented using a wired connection (e.g., LAN, Ethernet, twisted pair, etc.) and / or a wireless connection (e.g., Wi-Fi, near field communication ("NFC"), Bluetooth, etc.).

[0061] In some embodiments, the communication unit 228 can provide high-speed data communication and / or provide communication with newer devices having a high-speed bus through the existing wiring system while maintaining communication with existing devices (e.g., having an RS-485 communication bus). In some embodiments, the HVAC equipment may include 4 lines for data communication, power, ground, data + and data -. Among these lines, data + and data - are used to carry low-speed standard RS-485 data. The power line is used to power the wall control and comes from the second unit 250. Although it is generally not used, this same power line is carried to the first unit 200. The ability to utilize the power and ground lines of the 4-wire system (called "power line communication" (PLC) technology) allows digital / data signals to be sent through the power line. In some embodiments, PLC technology can allow data transmission at or near gigabit rates using standard 2-conductor wiring. This includes 2 lines represented by the power and ground of the HVAC equipment. It should be appreciated that other data transmission speeds are possible. In some embodiments, the communication unit 228 of the present disclosure can be configured so that when PLC high-speed communication is occurring over the power and ground lines of the 4-wire system, low-speed RS-485 communication can also be occurring on the data+ line and the data- line. In some embodiments, the ability to use high-speed communication or a combination of high-speed and low-speed communication enables the controller 220 to utilize machine learning (ML)-based or artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms. In some embodiments, high-speed and low-speed communications can occur approximately simultaneously (e.g., within a few milliseconds of each other). This can allow standard HVAC lines to communicate with both RS-485 controlled devices and HVAC devices containing additional PLC transceivers. This can be advantageous because both new high-speed HVAC equipment and existing RS-485 HVAC equipment can coexist on the existing wiring of a building.

[0062] refer to Figure 1 , power converter 230 is used to perform any necessary power conversion, including one or more of AC-AC, AC-DC, DC-AC, and DC-DC. Power converter 230 may include several power converters at different locations in system 100. (One or more) power converters 230 may operate in a bidirectional manner, so that one or more power conversions are bidirectional. Figure 1, power converter 230 is connected to an AC and / or DC power source and / or load. Power converter 230 may also provide power to loads in building 102, including second unit 250 (if in building 102), thermostat 260, and load 270. In normal mode, loads in building 102 will receive AC power directly from the AC grid. Controller 220 may select whether power will come from the AC grid or from power converter 230. Example embodiments of power converter 230 are described herein.

[0063] The energy storage device 240 is configured to provide at least a portion of the power under certain circumstances to operate one or more components of the components of the air conditioning system, such as the first unit 200, (one or more) second units 250, together with (one or more) indoor loads 270 and any other loads. The energy storage device 240 can be implemented using a device for storing electrical energy, which includes, for example, one or more of a battery, a battery module, a battery cell, a supercapacitor, etc. The battery 240 may include several cells in a modular form or as an independent multi-cell array. The battery 240 may be made of a single or multiple self-contained system, a battery module or a separate cell. The battery 240 (such as a complete plug and play battery) may include a box, a line, a cell and a module. For example, the battery 240 may include a group of cells configured as a self-contained mechanical and electrical unit. The energy storage device 240 may include other components (e.g., an ESD management system (ESDMS)) electrically coupled to the energy storage device 240 and may be suitable for communicating with the controller 220 directly or through the ESDMS.

[0064] The first unit 200 also includes components used as part of an air conditioning system and includes a compressor 242, one or more drivers 244, a fan 246 and other loads 248, and a control unit (not shown). The heat exchanger (not shown) in the first unit 200 can act as an evaporator or a condenser / gas cooler. These components are described in more detail herein when relevant to the embodiments.

[0065] In a split system, inside the building 102, one or more second units 250 are positioned to condition one or more zones of the building 102. The second unit 250 may be employed using a variety of known second units, including variable air volume (VAV) units, liquid-cooled second units, fan coil units, furnaces, (one or more) air handlers, etc., which typically include a heat exchanger. In other types of systems (e.g., packaged systems or chillers), the (one or more) second units 250 may be located outdoors and include any form of heat exchanger, such as a cooling tower, etc.

[0066] The optional thermostat 260 provides a user interface for the air conditioning system 100 and allows the user to input the operating mode of the air conditioning system 100, input set points for various zones of the system 100, etc. The indoor load 270 can be supplied with power by the first unit 200. The indoor load 270 includes a variety of loads such as appliances, lighting, electric vehicle chargers, etc. The thermostat 260 is not required, and other technologies can be used for control of the air conditioning system.

[0067] Figure 3A Depicted is the electrical architecture of an example embodiment. Figure 3A The locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0068] like Figure 3A , the AC grid 302 is connected to the first unit 200 through a grid disconnect device 304 under the control of the controller 220. This allows the first unit 200 to be powered by the energy storage device 240 independently of the AC grid 302. The first unit 200 can also be powered by a combination of the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. The disconnect device 304 can also be implemented as, for example, a mechanical switch controlled by the controller 220 or implemented by the controller 220 using software by controlling one or more power converters.

[0069] The AC grid 302 is connected to an indoor AC load 308 (such as an air handler, or any fixed device in a residential, commercial, industrial building, or data center). The AC grid 302 is also provided to an AC / AC converter 310, which supplies conditioned AC power to the compressor driver 244A of the compressor 242 and the fan 246. The AC / AC converter 310 can control the amplitude, frequency, phase, etc. of the AC power provided to the compressor driver 244A of the compressor 242 and the fan 246.

[0070] The AC grid 302 may also be connected to one of the unidirectional or bidirectional AC / DC converters 312 that interface the AC power bus 305 with the DC power bus 313. The DC power bus 313 supplies power to the DC load 248 that may be located in the first unit 200. Under certain conditions, the DC power bus 313 supplies power to one or more of the components of the air conditioning system (e.g., the compressor 242 and the fan 246) through the bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 and the AC / AC converter 310. This allows one or more of the components of the air conditioning system to operate independently of the AC grid 302 or in combination with the AC grid 302. The bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 also allows power from the DC bus 313 to be directed to the AC grid 302.

[0071] The DC power bus 313 can be powered by the energy storage device 240. In the charging mode, the DC power bus 313 is used to charge the energy storage device 240 (charger not shown). The DC power bus 313 can also be powered by one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, such as solar DC power, wind DC power, geothermal DC power, fuel cells, etc. The DC / DC converter 316 can be used to couple the auxiliary DC source 314 to the DC power bus 313. The DC power bus 313 can provide power to the indoor DC load 318. The DC / DC converter 320 can be used to couple the indoor DC load 318 to the DC power bus 313. The AC / DC converter 347 can be used to couple the DC power bus 313 to the indoor AC load 308 through the disconnect device 348. In some operating modes, the energy storage device 240 is used to power the indoor AC load 308. The AC / AC converter 310, the AC / DC converter 312, the DC / DC converter 320, the DC / DC converter 316, and the AC / DC converter 347 can be Figure 1 In some embodiments, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 are connected to the AC power bus 305 via a DC / AC converter (not shown). In other embodiments, one or more auxiliary power sources provide AC power that is connected to the AC bus 305 and / or the DC bus 313 via an appropriate AC / AC converter or AC / DC converter.

[0072] The compressor driver 244A can be implemented in various ways. In one embodiment, the compressor driver 244A is a switch, such as a contactor or a relay, that connects the compressor 242 to the output of the AC / AC converter 310. In other embodiments, the compressor driver 244A can be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter.

[0073] An optional DC / DC converter 241 may provide power conversion between the energy storage device 240 and the DC power bus 313. The DC / DC converter 241 may be a bidirectional converter for stepping up or down a DC voltage so that the energy storage device 240 may power the DC power bus 313 and the DC power bus 313 may charge the energy storage device 240. The DC / DC converter 241 may be part of the energy storage device 240 or may be a separate component from the energy storage device 240.

[0074] Figure 3A The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0075] Figure 3B Depicted is the electrical architecture of an example embodiment. Figure 3B The locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0076] Figure 3B Similar to Figure 3A, except that the AC / AC converter 310 is eliminated. The compressor 242 is provided with power from the compressor driver 244A. The compressor driver 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or a relay, that connects the compressor 242 to the AC power bus 305. In other embodiments, the compressor driver 244A can be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter. The compressor driver 244A can be controlled by the controller 220.

[0077] The fan 246 is provided with power from the fan driver 244B. The fan driver 244B may be a switch, such as a contactor or a relay, that connects the fan 246 to the AC power bus 305. In other embodiments, the fan driver 244B may be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter. The fan driver 244B may be controlled by the controller 220.

[0078] Figure 3B The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0079] Figure 4A An electrical architecture in another example embodiment is depicted. Figure 4AThe locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0080] exist Figure 4A In the embodiment of the present invention, compressor drive 244A and fan 246 are DC powered, and therefore there is no need for AC / AC converter 310. Under certain conditions, bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 allows energy storage device 240 to supply power to one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or feed power from DC bus 313 to AC grid 302. Bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 interfaces AC power bus 305 with DC power bus 313.

[0081] The compressor driver 244A may be a switch, such as a contactor or a relay, that connects the compressor 242 to the DC power bus 313. In other embodiments, the compressor driver 244A may be a power converter, such as a DC / AC converter or a DC / DC converter. The compressor driver 244A may be controlled by the controller 220.

[0082] Figure 4A The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0083] Figure 4B An electrical architecture in another example embodiment is depicted. Figure 4B The locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0084] Figure 4B Similar to Figure 4A , except that fan 246 includes fan driver 244B. Fan driver 244B can be a switch, such as a contactor or a relay, that connects fan 246 to DC power bus 313. In other embodiments, fan driver 244B can be a power converter, such as a DC / AC converter or a DC / DC converter. Fan driver 244B can be controlled by controller 220.

[0085] Figure 4B The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0086] Figure 5A The DC electrical architecture of the fixed speed first unit 200 in an example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5AThe locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0087] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 can be used in conjunction with the embodiments described above or in conjunction with other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be connected to the energy storage device 240 (via a DC bus) to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240. Figure 5A , AC power from the AC grid 302 is supplied to the power converter 230 through the grid disconnect device 304. The power converter 230 includes an AC / DC converter 370 and a DC / AC converter 372. The output of the DC / AC converter 372 is provided to the compressor 242 through the compressor driver 244A. Since the compressor 242 is fixed speed, the compressor driver 244A may be a switch, such as a contactor or a relay.

[0088] Both the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 operate under the control of the controller 220. Between the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 is a DC link 371, which is optionally connected to the energy storage device 240 through the DC / DC converter 241. Under this arrangement, the energy storage device 240 can be charged by the power converter 230. Alternatively, the energy storage device 240 can provide DC power to the DC link 371 to power the DC / AC converter 372 and the compressor 242. This allows the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC grid 302 or in combination with the AC grid 302. The AC / DC converter 370 can be bidirectional to allow the energy storage device 240 to provide power to the AC grid 302 and to be charged from the AC grid 302.

[0089] Controller 220, power converter 230, energy storage device 240, DC\DC converters 320 and 316, and AC\DC converter 347 and DC / DC converter 241 can be retrofitted to an existing first unit 200. This allows energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system to enable first unit 200 to operate independently of AC grid 302, or to operate under power from both AC grid 302 and energy storage device 240. It also allows auxiliary power supplies to be added in a modular manner.

[0090] Figure 5A The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0091] Figure 5B The AC electrical architecture of the fixed speed first unit 200 in an example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5B The locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0092] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 can be used in combination with the embodiments described above or other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be connected to the energy storage device 240 (via a DC bus) to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240.

[0093] exist Figure 5B, power converter 230 includes a DC / DC converter 241 and an AC / DC converter 370 coupled to energy storage device 240. AC / DC converter 370 may be bidirectional to allow energy storage device 240 to provide power to and be charged from AC grid 302. Because compressor 242 is fixed speed, compressor driver 244A may be a switch, such as a contactor or a relay.

[0094] The controller 220, power converter 230, and energy storage device 240 can be retrofitted to an existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system to enable the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC grid 302, or to operate under power from both the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0095] Figure 5B The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0096] Figure 5C The DC electrical architecture of the variable speed first unit 200 in an example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5C The locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0097] Figure 5C Similar to Figure 5A , except that the compressor driver 244A provides variable speed operation of the compressor 242. Other loads 248 of the first unit 200 may be powered by the output of the DC / AC converter 372.

[0098] The controller 220, power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and DC / DC converter 241 can be retrofitted to an existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system to enable the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC grid 302, or to operate under power from both the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0099] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 can be used in combination with the embodiments described above or other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be connected to the energy storage device 240 (via a DC bus) to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240.

[0100] Figure 5C The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0101] Figure 5D The AC electrical architecture of the speed-changing first unit 200 in an example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5DThe locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0102] Figure 5D Similar to Figure 5B , except that the compressor drive 244A provides variable speed operation of the compressor 242. Other loads 248 of the first unit 200 may be powered by the AC power bus 305.

[0103] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 can be used in combination with the embodiments described above or other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be connected to the energy storage device 240 (via a DC bus) to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240.

[0104] The controller 220, power converter 230, and energy storage device 240 can be retrofitted to an existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system to enable the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC grid 302, or to operate under power from both the AC grid and the energy storage device 240.

[0105] Figure 5D The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0106] Figure 6 An electrical architecture with a variable speed compressor drive including a multi-level inverter in an example embodiment is depicted. For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. Figure 6 The locations of the components in are examples, and any of the components described may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of the second unit(s) 250, or positioned separate from the first unit 200 or the second unit(s) 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted to existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be added to subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoors or outdoors) without departing from embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0107] like Figure 6 , AC power from the AC grid 302 is supplied to the power converter 230 through the grid disconnect device 304. The power converter 230 includes an AC / DC converter 380 and a multilevel inverter 382. The output of the multilevel inverter 382 is provided to the compressor 242. The output of the multilevel inverter 382 can be a multi-phase multi-level waveform configured to drive a multi-phase motor of the compressor 242. In an example embodiment, the multilevel inverter 382 is a five-level three-phase inverter. In another example embodiment, the multilevel inverter 382 is a three-level three-phase inverter.

[0108] The multi-level inverter 382 synthesizes a sinusoidal current waveform to operate and control the compressor 242. Traditionally, this is accomplished with a two-level inverter. Integration with the energy storage device 240 allows a natural progression to higher order inverters. Three-level and five-level inverters require independent power supplies to set the voltage levels. Figure 6 In an embodiment, the energy storage device 240 can set the voltage level. The energy storage device 240 may include internal battery modules connected in series. The multilevel inverter 382 uses the battery modules directly for each required voltage level, thereby enabling the benefits of a multilevel inverter. The multilevel inverter 382 benefits from lower harmonic output and lower dv / dt device stress. The multilevel inverter 382 increases reliability by the ability to reconfigure to a lower number of levels after a fault has occurred, by the integration of relays or back-to-back switches, connecting or disconnecting the battery modules together.

[0109] Figure 7A phase branch of a five-level multiphase inverter in an embodiment of a multilevel inverter 382 is shown. The energy storage device 240 includes at least four battery modules 240A, 240B, 240C and 240D connected in series. The combination of battery modules 240A, 240B, 240C and 240D and a neutral point n provides five voltage levels for creating a sinusoidal output waveform on one phase. In general, N battery module voltages are used to provide N+1 level output waveforms for each phase. Switches S1-S4 and S1'-S4' are controlled by a controller 220 to generate a sine wave as known in the art. By integrating relays or back-to-back switches, the battery modules are connected or disconnected together, and the multilevel inverter 382 can be reconfigured into fewer levels.

[0110] The voltage levels used in the multi-level inverter 382 do not need to be supplied by separate battery modules. The voltage levels used to create the sinusoidal output waveform can be created using one battery module, where the battery voltage is split by capacitors, for example.

[0111] refer to Figure 6 , both the AC / DC converter 380 and the multilevel inverter 382 operate under the control of the controller 220. Between the AC / DC converter 380 and the multilevel inverter 382 is a DC link 381, which is connected to the energy storage device 240. Under this arrangement, the energy storage device 240 can be charged by the power converter 230. Alternatively, the energy storage device 240 can provide DC power to the DC link 381 to power the multilevel inverter 382 and the compressor 242. This allows the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC grid 302, or to operate under power from both the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. The AC / DC converter 380 can be bidirectional to allow the energy storage device 240 to provide power to the AC grid and to be charged from the AC grid.

[0112] Figure 6The electrical architecture of the air conditioning system allows one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by the controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308 can be powered entirely by the AC grid 302, entirely by the energy storage device 240, or by both the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components (the first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) of the air conditioning system and / or other loads alone or in combination with the AC grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. Whether power is supplied from the AC grid 302, the energy storage device 240, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof is based on various factors, such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, consumer preferences, etc. Fig. 9 Example conditions are discussed.

[0113] In the above embodiments, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may be used to provide DC power. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may include sources such as solar DC power, wind DC power, geothermal DC power, fuel cells, and the like.

[0114] Figure 8 Depicted is the communication between the controller 220, the thermostat 260, and the remote system 410 in an example embodiment. As noted above, the controller 220 may be integrated as part of the air conditioning controller and / or the battery controller, or may be independent and communicate with the air conditioning controller and / or the energy storage controller. The controller 220 communicates with the thermostat 260 via a local link 400. The local link 400 may be a wired connection (e.g., twisted pair, four-wire, power line communication, Modbus, CAN bus, etc.) and / or a wireless connection (e.g., WiFi, radio or Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). The thermostat 260 may also be implemented using a software application operating on a user device (e.g., a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer). The thermostat 260 may also provide occupancy, past performance, and weather information to the controller 220.

[0115] One or both of the controller 220 and the thermostat 260 may communicate with the remote system 410 via a network 406. The network 406 may be a remote network and may be implemented via various communication protocols. The network 406 may be implemented via one or more networks such as, but not limited to, one or more of the following networks: WiMax, a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a personal area network (PAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), or any broadband network; and further enabled by technologies such as, for example, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Personal Communications Service (PCS), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Matter, Fixed Wireless Data, 2G, 2.5G, 3G (e.g., 3G networks based on UMTS / WCDMA), 4G, IMT-Advanced, pre-4G, LTE-Advanced, 5G, 6G, Mobile WiMax, WiMax 2. WirelessMAN-Advanced Networks, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced GPRS, iBurst, UMTS, HSPDA, HSUPA, HSPA, HSPA+, UMTS-TDD, 1xRTT, EV-DO, messaging protocols such as TCP / IP, SMS, MMS, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), Real-time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol (IMPP), Instant Messaging, USSD, IRC, or any other wireless data network, broadband network, or messaging protocol.

[0116] The remote system 410 may be embodied as any type of processor-based computing or computer device capable of performing the functions described herein, including but not limited to computers, servers, workstations, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, mobile computing devices, wearable computing devices, network appliances, web appliances, distributed computing systems (e.g., cloud computing), processor-based systems, and / or consumer electronic devices. The remote system 410 provides information used by the controller 220 and / or the thermostat 260 to implement energy management routines that control how power is consumed by one or more components of the air conditioning system and the load 270. The information provided by the remote system 410 may include utility pricing indicating the cost of electricity on the AC grid 302 and weather information, which may be used to predict future utility pricing and use of one or more components of the air conditioning system. Utility pricing and weather may be pushed to or pulled by the remote system 410 using known networking technologies. Utility pricing and / or weather may be determined in real time, or as a forecast of future conditions.

[0117] In the embodiments described above, the controller 220 communicates with the components of the described system using wired and / or wireless connections (which are not illustrated in the drawings). Depending on the power source used in the operating mode (e.g., one or more of AC grid power, energy storage device power, auxiliary power, etc.), the controller 220 sends command signals to various system components (e.g., AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, AC / DC converter 347, DC / DC converter 320, DC / DC converter 316, DC / DC converter 241, AC / DC converter 370, DC / AC converter 372, AC / DC converter 380 and / or multilevel inverter 382, ​​AC disconnect device 304, etc.) to route power to one or more components of the air conditioning system, such as the first unit 200, (one or more) second units 250, together with (one or more) indoor loads 270 and any other loads.

[0118] Fig. 9 An energy management process in an example embodiment is depicted. The process can be performed by the controller 220 and / or by the thermostat 260. At 600, the controller 220 determines whether there is a request to reduce energy usage, or whether there is any other communication signal, such as a change in energy pricing, or an incentive. A utility provider may request to reduce energy usage during a specific time period to avoid a service explanation (e.g., brownout) or other penalty or incentive, such as a change in pricing. A request to reduce energy usage may be accompanied by an incentive (e.g., $5 off the next energy bill). Requests for reduction may also originate from energy consumers, such as data centers, where the data center needs to maintain its processing and / or cooling loads and encourages other users to reduce their consumption to ensure energy availability.

[0119] If there is a request to reduce energy usage, the process proceeds to 602, where the user (e.g., a customer of a utility) can approve or deny the request to reduce energy usage. The approval or denial determination can be pre-established by the user and pre-programmed into the controller 220 and / or the thermostat 260. For example, the user may wish to always reduce energy consumption, regardless of terms. The user may wish to never reduce energy consumption, regardless of terms. The user may wish to reduce energy consumption only when the utility offers an incentive. The approval or denial determination at 602 can also be real-time, where the user enters approval or denial of the reduction in energy consumption through the thermostat 260 or through a mobile device.

[0120] If the user approves the reduction in energy usage at 602, the flow proceeds to 604, where one or more components of the air conditioning system (if needed) and / or other loads are at least partially powered by the energy storage device 240. This may involve opening the AC disconnect device 304 (e.g., zero power from the AC grid 302), and powering the one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads using only the energy storage device 240. Operating the one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads may also include using a combination of the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240 to power the one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads. The controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from the AC grid 302 by controlling various power converters 230 in the system (e.g., AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, AC / DC converter 347, DC / DC converter 320, DC / DC converter 316, DC / DC converter 241, AC / DC converter 370, DC / AC converter 372, AC / DC converter 380, and / or multilevel inverter 382) to reduce the amount of AC power drawn from the AC grid 302. The energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302 are used in combination to supply power to one or more components and / or one or more loads of the air conditioning system.

[0121] Using the energy storage device 240 to operate one or more components of the air conditioning system may also include limiting the amount of power used from the AC grid 302 to a power limit (e.g., 1 kW during a 2-hour period). The controller 220 may limit the amount of power drawn from the AC grid 302 by controlling various power converters 230 in the system (e.g., AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, AC / DC converter 347, DC / DC converter 320, DC / DC converter 316, DC / DC converter 241, AC / DC converter 370, DC / AC converter 372, AC / DC converter 380, and / or multilevel inverter 382) to reduce the amount of AC power drawn from the AC grid 302. At 604, other loads may be powered by the energy storage device 240, including (one or more) indoor loads 270, which may include (one or more) indoor DC loads 318 and / or (one or more) indoor AC loads 308. The process returns to 600.

[0122] At some point, the energy storage device 240 will lack sufficient charge so that one or more components of the air conditioning system will need to be powered entirely by the AC grid 302. The controller 220 can detect when the state of the energy storage device 240 (such as state of charge (SOC), state of health (SoH), voltage, temperature, etc.) is not within acceptable limits for powering one or more components of the air conditioning system or other loads. If the state of the energy storage device 240 is not within acceptable limits, one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads need to be powered by the AC grid 302. This results in interrupting the discharge of the energy storage device 240 and / or initiating charging of the energy storage device 240.

[0123] If the utility or some other source has not requested a reduction in energy usage at 600, the process proceeds to 606, where the controller 220 determines whether the system 100 should use electricity from the energy storage device 240. An example of a situation in which the system 100 should use electricity from the energy storage device 240 occurs when the utility power is at least one of peak price, close to grid capacity, or at grid capacity. This determination can be made in real time, or can be made in advance using a forecast and communicated from the utility to the air conditioning system. Peak price does not necessarily require the price of electricity to be at a maximum, but is generally known in the art as a period of time above the average energy cost. Whether the utility is at peak price can be determined by utility pricing obtained from the remote system 410 or current or future weather information obtained from the remote system 410. This information can also be stored locally at the controller 220. If the utility is at least one of at peak price, near grid capacity, or at grid capacity, flow proceeds to 604, where one or more components of the air conditioning system and loads 270 (including indoor AC loads 308 and / or other loads) are powered by energy storage device 240 alone or in combination with AC grid 302. As noted above, controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from AC grid 302 by controlling various power converters 230 in the system. Utility power being at peak price and grid capacity are not the only factors that can be relied upon when determining that the system should use power from energy storage device 240.

[0124] With respect to grid capacity, information regarding grid capacity and current grid load may be obtained from a remote system such as a source of utility pricing. If AC grid 302 is at or near grid capacity (e.g., within a threshold range of grid capacity, and optionally increasing), it may be prudent to use power from energy storage device 240 to avoid a power outage.

[0125] Another example of a situation in which the system should use power from energy storage device 240 occurs when a user requests a reduction in energy usage. The user can use thermostat 260 to place system 100 in a reduced energy usage mode (e.g., an eco-friendly mode), which causes the system to use power from energy storage device 240 to power one or more components of the air conditioning system.

[0126] In another example, based on data from block 602 (e.g., user consent) or based on data from block 600 (e.g., a request to reduce energy usage), the system may use power from energy storage device 240 based on a machine learning (ML) and / or artificial intelligence (AI) control algorithm implemented by controller 220.

[0127] If at 606, the system should not use power from the energy storage device 240, the process proceeds to 608, where the energy storage device 240 is charged using the AC grid 302. At 610, the controller 220 determines whether the battery state is within acceptable limits, including state of charge (SOC), state of health (SoH), temperature, voltage, or a state outside of safety and / or operating limits. If so, the process returns to 600. At 610, the controller 220 can detect parameters of the energy storage device 240 to confirm that parameters such as the battery's state of health, operating range, temperature range, voltage, capacity, etc. are within valid limits.

[0128] It should be noted that energy storage device 240 may be charged even when utility power is at peak prices. This may include fault modes, test modes, etc. Thus, charging energy storage device 240 is not limited to off-peak utility power price times.

[0129] If at 610, the energy storage device has a status that is not within acceptable limits, the process proceeds to 612, where the energy storage device 240 can be charged if the SoC is low or can be completely disconnected if the energy storage device 240 is not operating within safety and / or operating limits.

[0130] Although Fig. 9 Involving operating one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads to reduce power consumption, although other techniques may be used to reduce power consumption, such as using a variable speed drive to reduce compressor speed, changing thermostat set points, etc. In other embodiments, the utility may request an increase in energy usage. The request may be a real-time request or a future request based on predicted conditions. Increasing energy usage may include charging the energy storage device 240.

[0131] If the thermostat 260 is equipped with a processor 261, then Fig. 9One or more operations of the process may be performed by the thermostat 260. The processor 261 may be implemented using a general-purpose microprocessor that executes a computer program stored on a storage medium to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively, the processor 261 may be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or in a combination of hardware / software. The controller 220 and the thermostat may be implemented in conjunction or separately. Fig. 9 All or some of the operations in the operation.

[0132] In other embodiments, the controller 220 and / or the thermostat 260 perform system enhancement routines to improve the performance of the entire air conditioning system based on optimization (including model predictive control) or machine learning techniques, taking into account carbon impact, energy performance, energy cost, life cycle cost, impact on the life of the equipment, and reliability. The system enhancement routine can operate with or without information about weather, occupancy, historical usage, customer preferences, equipment performance maps (HVAC, battery), the possibility of energy outages, etc. Machine learning techniques for flexibility in customer preferences, usage, decisions about temperature, cost, environmental issues, etc. can be used to improve control logic and optimization. Other control strategies such as pre-cooling and pre-heating that have advantages in terms of cost, performance, efficiency, environment, comfort, and reliability can be implemented by the controller 220 and / or the thermostat 260.

[0133] Fig.10 The electrical architecture of an air conditioning system 700 supporting a backup power mode in an example embodiment is depicted. The air conditioning system 700 is connected to the AC grid 302 via a sensor switch 702 connected to the AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 serves as a disconnect device between the AC grid 302 and the AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 also monitors the presence of AC power from the AC grid 302 and monitors the load on the AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 can be a single smart switch, or a combination of a voltage / current sensor and a switch (e.g., a circuit breaker or relay). The sensor switch 702 communicates with the controller 220 via a wired and / or wireless connection. The AC grid 302 is connected to the indoor AC load 308 on the AC bus 305.

[0134] The first unit 200 (e.g., an outdoor unit) includes a compressor 242 and a driver including an AC / DC converter 370 and a DC / AC converter 372. The output of the DC / AC converter 372 is provided to the compressor 242. Both the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 operate under the control of the controller 220. Between the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 is a DC link 371 connected to the energy storage device 240. Under this arrangement, the energy storage device 240 can be charged by the AC grid 302 through the AC / DC converter 370. Alternatively, the energy storage device 240 can provide DC power to the DC link 371 to power the DC / AC converter 372 and the first unit 200 including the compressor 242. This allows the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC grid 302. The AC / DC converter 370 may be configurable to operate bidirectionally, in response to commands from the controller 220 , to allow the first unit 200 to feed power from the energy storage device 240 to the AC power bus 305 and the indoor AC loads 308 .

[0135] The DC link 371 may also be powered by one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, such as solar DC power, wind DC power, geothermal DC power, fuel cells, etc. A DC / DC converter 316 may be used to couple the auxiliary DC source 314 to the DC link 371. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may be used to power the first unit 200 including the compressor 242, charge the energy storage device 240, power the indoor AC load 308, and feed power to the AC grid 302.

[0136] Fig.10 The first unit 200 is depicted in a normal operating mode, where the AC grid 302 is available. In the normal operating mode, the controller 220 does not limit the operating speed of the compressor 242. In addition, the thermostat 260 can be set by the user to any temperature set point.

[0137] Fig.11 The air conditioning system 700 is depicted in a first backup power mode. Fig.11In the first backup power mode, the AC grid 302 does not provide power. The loss of the AC grid 302 can be detected by the sensor switch 702, which is transmitted to the controller 220. In the first backup power mode, the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 is powered using the energy storage device 240 and / or the auxiliary DC source 314 (if present). The controller 220 changes the operating parameters of the air conditioning system 700 to increase the operating time of the first unit 200 including the compressor 242. One operating parameter controlled by the controller 220 is the speed of the compressor 242. The controller 220 imposes a limit on the operating speed of the compressor 242 to conserve power supplied from the energy storage device 240. Another operating parameter controlled by the controller 220 is the temperature set point at the thermostat 260. The controller 220 can set the temperature set point at the thermostat 260 to a predetermined value (e.g., 75 degrees Fahrenheit), or offset the current temperature set point at the thermostat 260 by an offset (e.g., +5 degrees Fahrenheit when in cooling mode). The controller 220 can control one or both of the operating speed of the compressor 242 and the temperature set point at the thermostat 260. Controlling one or both of these operating parameters reduces the energy consumption of the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 and extends the operating time of the first unit 200 when powered by the energy storage device 240.

[0138] Fig.12 A second backup power mode is depicted in an example embodiment. Fig.12 In the second backup power mode, the AC grid 302 does not provide power. The loss of the AC grid 302 can be detected by the sensor switch 702, which is transmitted to the controller 220. In the second backup power mode, the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 is powered using the energy storage device 240 and / or the auxiliary DC source 314 (if present). The controller 220 changes the operating parameters of the air conditioning system 700 to increase the operating time of the first unit 200 including the compressor 242. One operating parameter controlled by the controller 220 is the speed of the compressor 242. The controller 220 imposes a limit on the operating speed of the compressor 242 to conserve power supplied from the energy storage device 240. Another operating parameter controlled by the controller 220 is the temperature set point at the thermostat 260. The controller 220 can set the temperature set point at the thermostat 260 to a predetermined value (e.g., 75 degrees Fahrenheit), or offset the current temperature set point at the thermostat 260 by an offset (e.g., +5 degrees Fahrenheit when in cooling mode). The controller 220 can control one or both of the operating speed of the compressor 242 and the temperature set point at the thermostat 260. Controlling one or both of these operating parameters reduces the power consumption of the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 and extends the operating time of the first unit 200 when powered by the energy storage device 240.

[0139] The second backup power mode also includes using the energy storage device 240 and / or the auxiliary DC source 314 (if present) to power the indoor AC load 308. In the second backup power mode, the controller 220 configures the AC / DC converter 370 in a bidirectional mode so that the DC power from the energy storage device 240 and / or the auxiliary DC source 314 (if present) is converted to AC power and applied to the AC power bus 305. The controller 220 also opens the sensor switch 702 to disconnect the AC power bus 305 from the AC grid 302. The controller 220 can monitor the power consumption of the indoor AC load 308 using the smart switch 702, and supply power to the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 in priority to the indoor AC load 308. For example, if the runtime of the first unit 200 (based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device 240) is less than the time limit (e.g., 4 hours), the controller 220 may place the AC / DC converter 370 in a unidirectional mode such that power from the energy storage device 240 is provided only to the first unit 200 and not to the indoor AC load 308. This changes the backup power mode from Fig.12 The second backup power mode in Fig.11 The first backup power mode.

[0140] Fig.13 2 depicts a control process for backup power operation of the air conditioning system 700 in an example embodiment. The control process may be implemented by the controller 220. At 710, the controller 220 determines whether the AC grid 302 is available. This may be performed by monitoring the power level sensed by the sensor switch 702. If the AC grid 302 is available, the air conditioning system 700 operates in a normal mode (e.g., Fig.10 ).

[0141] If the AC grid 302 is unavailable, the process proceeds to 714, where the controller 220 determines whether to use the first backup power mode (eg, Fig.11 ) or the second backup power mode (as shown in Fig.12 ) is operated. The determination to operate in the first backup power mode or the second backup power mode may be based on the energy availability of the energy storage device 240 and / or whether one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 exist. For example, the controller 220 may determine that the state of charge of the energy storage device 240 is insufficient to power both the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 and the indoor AC load 308. The controller 220 may determine that the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 do not exist or do not provide enough power to power the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 and the fan and the indoor AC load 308. In these cases, the first backup power mode is selected and the process proceeds to 716.

[0142] At 716 , controller 220 isolates AC bus 305 from energy storage device 240 . This may not require affirmative action other than confirming that AC / DC converter 370 is in unidirectional mode, allowing only AC to DC conversion, and preventing energy storage device 240 from supplying power to AC bus 305 .

[0143] At 718 , the controller 220 may control the operating parameter(s) of the air conditioning system 700 by adjusting one or both of the operating speed of the compressor 242 and the temperature set point at the thermostat 260 .

[0144] At 720, the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 is powered using the energy storage device 240 and one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, if present.

[0145] If at 714, the controller 220 selects the second backup power mode, the flow proceeds to 722 where the controller 220 connects the energy storage device 240 to the AC power bus 305 by configuring the AC / DC converter 370 for bidirectional operation. The controller 220 opens the sensor switch 702 to disconnect the AC power bus 305 from the AC grid 302. The DC power from the energy storage device 240 is converted into AC power by the AC / DC converter 370 and applied to the AC power bus 305.

[0146] At 724 , the controller 220 may control the operating parameter(s) of the air conditioning system 700 by adjusting one or both of the operating speed of the compressor 242 and the temperature set point at the thermostat 260 .

[0147] At 726, the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 and the indoor AC loads 308 are powered using the energy storage device 240 and one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 (if present).

[0148] Both steps 720 and 726 may return to 710. In this manner, the controller 220 may switch between the normal mode, the first backup power mode, and the second backup power mode as appropriate.

[0149] Fig.13 The control process powers the first unit 200 including the compressor 242 in priority over other loads (such as the indoor AC load 308).

[0150] As described above, embodiments may take the form of processor-implemented processes and apparatus for practicing those processes (such as controller 220 and / or thermostat 260). Embodiments may also take the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in a tangible medium, such as a network cloud storage device, an SD card, a flash drive, a floppy disk, a CD ROM, a hard drive, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and executed by it, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments may also take the form of computer program code, such as stored in a storage medium, loaded into a computer and / or executed by it, or transmitted through some transmission medium, loaded into a computer and / or executed by it, or transmitted through some transmission medium (such as through wires or cables, through optical fibers, or via electromagnetic radiation), wherein when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and executed by it, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

[0151] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises and / or comprising" when used in this specification specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components and / or groups thereof.

[0152] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each example embodiment having certain features in a particular embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereby. On the contrary, the present disclosure may be modified to incorporate any number of changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements that have not been described heretofore but are commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be considered to be limited by the foregoing description, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system, comprising: a first unit, the first unit comprising a compressor; Controller; Energy storage devices; and an AC power bus for connecting to an AC grid; The controller is configured to supply power to the first unit from the AC grid in a normal mode and to supply power to the first unit from the energy storage device in a backup power mode.

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein: Providing power from the energy storage device to the first unit in the backup power mode includes changing an operating parameter of the air conditioning system to increase an operating time of the first unit in the backup power mode.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein: The operating parameters of the air conditioning system include the speed of the compressor.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein: The speed of the compressor is maintained below a limit.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein: The operating parameters of the air conditioning system include a temperature set point at a thermostat.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein: The temperature set point at the thermostat is set to a predetermined value.

7. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein: The temperature set point at the thermostat is adjusted by a predetermined offset.

8. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: Providing power from the energy storage device to the first unit in the backup power mode includes the controller selecting between a first backup power mode and a second backup power mode.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein: The first backup power mode includes isolating the AC power bus from the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein: The second backup power mode includes connecting the AC power bus to the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit and the AC load.

11. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein: Selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining a state of charge of the energy storage device.

12. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein: Selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining availability of one or more auxiliary DC sources.

13. A method of operating an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising: a first unit, the first unit comprising a compressor; Controller; Energy storage devices; and an AC power bus for connection to an AC power grid, the method comprising: The first unit is powered from the AC grid in a normal mode, and is powered from the energy storage device in a backup power mode.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: Providing power from the energy storage device to the first unit in the backup power mode includes changing an operating parameter of the air conditioning system to increase an operating time of the first unit in the backup power mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: The operating parameters of the air conditioning system include the speed of the compressor.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: The speed of the compressor is maintained below a limit.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein: The operating parameters of the air conditioning system include a temperature set point at a thermostat.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein: The temperature set point at the thermostat is set to a predetermined value.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein: The temperature set point at the thermostat is adjusted by a predetermined offset.

20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein: Providing power from the energy storage device to the first unit in the backup power mode includes selecting between a first backup power mode and a second backup power mode.

21. The air conditioning system according to claim 20, wherein: The first backup power mode includes isolating the AC power bus from the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein: The second backup power mode includes connecting the AC power bus to the energy storage device and using the energy storage device to power the first unit and the AC load.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein: Selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining a state of charge of the energy storage device.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein: Selecting between the first backup power mode and the second backup power mode includes determining availability of one or more auxiliary DC sources.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a processor to implement a process for operating an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising an AC power bus for connecting to an AC power grid, the process comprising: The first unit is powered from the AC grid in a normal mode and powered from an energy storage device in a backup power mode.

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