Determining reference power values for estimating saved energy

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to determining a reference power value for estimating saved energy. A method is disclosed that includes collecting operational data associated with a motor controlled by a variable speed drive, where the operational data includes at least a speed value and a power value of the motor; determining a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor based on the operational data; and estimating an amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive compared to direct on-line motor control based on the reference power value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following example embodiments relate to variable speed drives. Background Art

[0002] There is a growing awareness of energy consumption and its impact on the environment, particularly CO2 emissions. Modern electronic devices are increasingly equipped with the ability to monitor and calculate their own energy consumption as an embedded feature. This data can be used to improve the efficiency of systems or production processes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The scope of protection sought for the various example embodiments is defined by the claims. Example embodiments and features described in this specification that do not fall within the scope of the claims, if any, are to be construed as useful examples for understanding the various embodiments.

[0004] According to one aspect, an apparatus for estimating energy savings is provided, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: collect operational data associated with a motor controlled by a variable speed drive, wherein the operational data comprises at least a speed value and a power value of the motor; determine a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor based on the operational data; and estimate an amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive compared to direct on-line motor control based on the reference power value.

[0005] According to another aspect, a method for estimating energy savings is provided, the method comprising: collecting operating data associated with a motor controlled by a variable speed drive, wherein the operating data comprises at least a speed value and a power value of the motor; determining a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor based on the operating data; and estimating an amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive compared to direct on-line motor control based on the reference power value.

[0006] According to another aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to at least perform the following operations: collect operational data associated with a motor controlled by a variable speed drive, wherein the operational data comprises at least a speed value and a power value of the motor; determine a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor based on the operational data; and estimate an amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive compared to direct-online motor control based on the reference power value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Hereinafter, various example embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0008] Figure 1 An example of a communication system is shown;

[0009] Figure 2 A signal flow diagram is shown;

[0010] Figure 3 A flow chart is shown;

[0011] Figure 4 A flow chart is shown;

[0012] Figure 5A An example of operating data is shown;

[0013] Figure 5B An example of generating a curve is shown;

[0014] Figure 5C An example of identifying a reference power value is shown;

[0015] Figure 6 An example of an error between a nominal power value and a reference power value is shown; and

[0016] Figure 7 An example of an apparatus is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The following embodiments are illustrative. Although the specification may refer to "one," "an," or "some" embodiments in several places in the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is to the same embodiment, or that a particular feature applies only to a single embodiment. Individual features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, the words "comprising" and "including" should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consisting only of those features mentioned, and such embodiments may also include features not specifically mentioned. The reference numerals in the specification and / or claims are used to illustrate the embodiments with reference to the drawings, rather than to limit the embodiments to these examples alone.

[0018] There is a growing awareness of energy consumption and its impact on the environment, particularly CO2 emissions. Modern electronic devices are increasingly equipped with the ability to monitor and calculate their own energy consumption as an embedded feature. This monitoring data can be used to improve the efficiency of systems or production processes or to evaluate the merits of recent investments.

[0019] For example, in pump applications, the use of a variable speed drive (VSD) can be a significant energy saver when compared to a traditional system that includes throttling control paired with a direct-on-line (DOL) starter, especially where secondary torque loads are involved. In DOL motor control, a DOL motor starter connects the electric motor directly to the line voltage. The DOL starter acts as a basic stop / start switch for the electric motor and can be equipped with overload protection to prevent short circuits and overheating.

[0020] The main difference between DOL motor control and VSD is that DOL starters provide full voltage for direct motor starting, resulting in high inrush current and fixed speed operation, while VSDs gradually vary the speed and torque of the motor by regulating the frequency and voltage of the power supply, providing greater control and efficiency.

[0021] In order to calculate the energy savings provided by a variable speed drive application, a reference motor power value under DOL control is required. This reference motor power value represents the power required to run the process or actuator according to the torque requirement. In fan or pump applications with VSD control, the reference (nominal) speed of the motor generally results in a reduction in the power used to maintain torque compared to DOL control. The difference in power required between DOL and VSD control can be used as the basis for calculating the energy savings provided by the VSD. Traditionally, it is assumed that the DOL reference power value remains constant over the motor's speed range (from zero to its maximum speed).

[0022] The challenge here is to accurately define a reference power value for calculating energy savings. While the nominal (nameplate) motor power can be used as a potential reference, variations in motor and actuator sizing can lead to significant deviations from this nominal (nameplate) value. For example, using the nominal power value of an oversized motor as a reference in energy savings calculations can lead to overestimation of energy savings. Typically, the range of motor operating points under VSD control, in terms of speed, is lower than the rated speed of the asynchronous motor. Therefore, specialized setup and measurements may be required to determine the correct reference power value.

[0023] The definition of a reference power value can be set during the initial commissioning of a variable speed drive. However, there is often little operational data available at this stage. In practice, the nominal (nameplate) power value of the motor is often used as a reference for energy savings calculations. Due to this uncertainty in the reference power value, the energy savings monitoring feature of a VSD is rarely used.

[0024] The advent of cloud technology provides the ability to remotely monitor variable speed drives and related applications. Considering the increasing importance of energy consumption and conservation, improving the accuracy of calculating energy savings is necessary for sustainability.

[0025] Some example embodiments provide a method for determining a reference power value to accurately estimate the amount of energy saved by a variable speed drive compared to DOL motor control. In some example embodiments, the reference power value can be determined based on remotely collected variable speed drive operating data. Therefore, no additional on-site measurement is required. Accurately estimating energy savings is beneficial for optimizing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

[0026] The following uses a single unit, model, device and memory to describe different embodiments and examples without limiting the embodiments and examples to such solutions. Concepts known as cloud computing and / or virtualization can be used. Virtualization can allow a single physical computing device to host one or more instances of virtual machines that appear and operate as independent computing devices, so that a single physical computing device can dynamically create, maintain, delete or otherwise manage virtual machines. Device operations can also be distributed among multiple servers, nodes, devices or hosts. In cloud computing network devices, computing devices and / or storage devices provide shared resources. Some other technological advances, such as software-defined networking (SDN), can enable one or more functions described below to be migrated to any corresponding abstraction or device or device. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly, and they are intended to illustrate rather than limit the example embodiments.

[0027] Figure 1 An example of a communication system in which some example embodiments may be applied is shown. Figure 1 Some example embodiments may be based on wireless or wired communications, such as 3G (third generation), 4G (fourth generation), LTE (long term evolution), LTE-A (long term evolution advanced), 5G (fifth generation), 5GNR (new radio), 6G (sixth generation), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), Bluetooth, WLAN (wireless local area network), Wi-Fi, Li-Fi (Light Fidelity), Ethernet, or any other mobile or wireless or wired network. Communication may also occur between nodes belonging to different but compatible systems (e.g., LTE and 5G).

[0028] It should be noted that Figure 1 A simplified system architecture is shown, showing only some elements and functional entities, all of which are logical units, the implementation of which may differ from what is shown. Figure 1 The connections shown are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. Data collection may use a so-called master protocol, in which a master network node subscribes to data from a slave device (the device whose data is intended to be owned), and the slave device or network node automatically sends its data to the receiver / master device based on a query or based on a subscription. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the system may also include other functions and structures. It should be understood that the functions, structures, elements, and protocols used in or for communication are not relevant to the example embodiments. Therefore, there is no need to discuss them in more detail here.

[0029] refer to Figure 1The system may include at least one variable speed drive 101 , at least one motor 102 , one or more sensor devices 103 , a gateway device 106 , a cloud platform 104 , and a user device 105 .

[0030] The variable speed drive 101 may also be referred to as a variable frequency drive. The variable speed drive 101 may be used to operate or rotate an electric motor 102 at different speeds, wherein the electric motor 102 may operate a pump or any other rotating device (e.g., a fan, a gearbox, a belt drive, etc.). The variable speed drive 101 may be electrically connected to the electric motor 102. The variable speed drive 101 may include or be connected to a controller, such as a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. The controller may be configured to send control signals to the variable speed drive 101. The variable speed drive 101 may control highly dynamic industrial processes, wherein, for example, the speed or torque applied to the motor 102 must vary according to the needs of the industrial process.

[0031] The variable speed drive 101 can be equipped with a short-range communication interface, such as Bluetooth, Ethernet, Zigbee, Li-Fi, Wi-Fi, wireless mesh network, near field communication (NFC), or any other wireless or wired connection. The short-range communication interface can be included, for example, in the variable speed drive 101 or in a control panel of the variable speed drive 101. The variable speed drive 101 can be configured to communicate with the gateway device 106, the motor 102, and / or the one or more sensor devices 103 via the short-range communication interface.

[0032] The one or more sensor devices 103 can be configured to measure operational data associated with the motor 102. The operational data can include values ​​of one or more variables associated with the motor 102. For example, the one or more sensor devices 103 can measure the value of at least one of the following: the speed, torque, vibration, temperature, magnetic flux density, and / or current of the motor 102 over time. There can be separate sensor devices for measuring each variable (e.g., separate sensors for vibration and temperature, respectively), or the variables can be measured by the same sensor device. The one or more sensor devices 103 can be included in the motor 102, attached to the motor 102, or in close proximity to the motor 102.

[0033] The variable speed drive 101 can be configured to estimate or calculate the speed and power output of the motor 102. For example, the variable speed drive 101 can use one or more algorithms to estimate the speed of the motor based on electrical parameters such as voltage, current, and electrical characteristics of the motor. In this way, the variable speed drive 101 can control the speed of the motor 102 without requiring a physical speed sensor. The power output of the motor 102 can be calculated by the variable speed drive 101 based on the voltage and current supplied to the motor 102 and the efficiency and power factor of the motor.

[0034] The variable speed drive 101 can be configured to communicate with the cloud platform 104 via a gateway device 106. For example, the variable speed drive 101 can send operational data to the cloud platform 104 via the gateway device 106. The gateway device 106 can include, for example, an edge gateway or a user device (which can be the same as or different from the user device 105). For example, a mobile phone (or any other user device) can be used as the gateway device 106 to push operational data to the cloud platform 104 via an Internet connection. The user device used as the gateway device 106 can also be used to view historical measurement information from one or more sensor devices 103 (stored at the cloud platform 104) via the Internet connection.

[0035] To enable connection between the variable speed drive 101 and the gateway device 106 , the gateway device 106 may also be equipped with a short-range communication interface, such as Bluetooth, Ethernet, Zigbee, Li-Fi, Wi-Fi, wireless mesh network, NFC, or any other wireless or wired connection.

[0036] The gateway device 106 can be connected to the Internet via a network interface such as 3G, 4G, LTE, LTE-A, 5G, 5GNR, 6G, UMTS, EDGE, WCDMA, WLAN, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Ethernet, or any other mobile, wireless, or wired network. The gateway device 106 can be connected to the cloud platform 104 via a network interface.

[0037] Cloud platform 104 (also known as cloud computing platform) refers to a comprehensive and integrated collection of cloud-based services and resources that enables users to build, deploy, manage, and scale various applications and services over the Internet. It provides a flexible and scalable infrastructure for hosting applications, storing data, and performing computing tasks without the need for on-site hardware and infrastructure.

[0038] The cloud platform 104 may be configured to collect or receive operational data from the variable speed drive 101 via the gateway device 106. The cloud platform 104 may also be configured to store the received operational data in at least one memory or database.

[0039] The cloud platform 104 or the variable speed drive 101 may be configured to determine a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor 102 based on the operating data; and estimate an amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive 101 compared to direct online motor control based on the reference power value.

[0040] The cloud platform 104 may also be connected to the user device 105 to enable a user of the user device 105 to monitor the condition of the motor 102 based on the operational data via the user interface. The cloud platform 104 may be configured to indicate to the user device 105 the amount of energy saved.

[0041] User device 105 may include a user device such as a smartphone, mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer, or any other computing device. User device 105 may be a remote device located at a different location from motor 102. Alternatively, user device 105 may be a local device located on-site near motor 102.

[0042] The user device 105 can be connected to the Internet via a network interface such as 3G, 4G, LTE, LTE-A, 5G, 5GNR, 6G, UMTS, EDGE, WCDMA, WLAN, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Ethernet, or any other mobile, wireless, or wired network. The user device 105 can be configured to exchange information with the cloud platform 104 via the network interface, i.e., send and / or receive data.

[0043] Figure 2 A signal flow diagram according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0044] Reference Figure 2 At 201, the cloud platform 104 collects or receives operating data associated with the motor 102 controlled by the variable speed drive 101 from the variable speed drive 101, wherein the operating data includes at least a speed value and a power value of the motor 102. The speed value (speed output) and the power value (power output) of the motor 102 can be measured during operation of the motor 102 and transmitted to the cloud platform 104 in real time or at certain time intervals.

[0045] Operational data can be collected over a predetermined period of time, where the length of the predetermined period depends on the process variations of the target application. For example, motor 102 can be part of a pump application or a fan application. The predetermined period of time can be, for example, at least one day, one week, or another suitable duration.

[0046] In pump or fan applications, the operating speed of motor 102 is typically maintained below the field weakening point (i.e., the point at which the motor's magnetic field becomes saturated, resulting in a reduction in torque) of motor 102. Due to the efficiency characteristics of the actuator (i.e., the device that converts the motor's rotational motion into useful mechanical work), the controlled speed value can be within a relatively narrow range.

[0047] At 202 , the cloud platform 104 generates a curve representing the relationship between speed values ​​and power values ​​of the motor 102 based on the operational data starting from zero speed. In other words, the curve represents how the motor 102 operates at different speeds. Figure 5B and Figure 5C An example of a curve 510 is shown in .

[0048] The curve can be represented by a third-order polynomial function P VSD(n) ≈an 3 +bn 2 +cn+d represents, where a, b, c and d are adjustment constants. A curve can be fitted to the collected operating data using any suitable calculation software.

[0049] In this way, a model may be created for defining a reference power value for estimating the amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive 101 .

[0050] At 203 , the cloud platform 104 determines or identifies a reference power value based on a point on the curve corresponding to the nominal speed value of the motor 102 . Figure 5C An example of identifying a reference power value 523 on the curve 510 based on a nominal speed value 521 is shown. The nominal speed value of the motor 102 is information available at the variable speed drive 101, and the cloud platform 104 can obtain this information from the variable speed drive 101 (e.g., by reading the nominal speed value from a parameter setting of the variable speed drive 101).

[0051] In other words, at the nominal speed of the motor (i.e., the speed at which it is designed to operate most efficiently, typically indicated on its nameplate), a specific operating point is defined. This operating point represents the motor power output under direct-on-line motor control. This operating point serves as a reference power value for calculating the energy savings of the variable speed drive 101 compared to direct-on-line motor control.

[0052] At 204 , the cloud platform 104 estimates the amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive 101 compared to direct online motor control based on the reference power value. In other words, the reference power value can be used as a reference for estimating the amount of energy saved.

[0053] The energy consumption of the motor 102 under DOL motor control can be estimated, for example, using the following formula: E DOL =P ref *T, where E DOL is the amount of energy consumed by the motor 102 under DOL control (e.g., in kilowatt-hours), P ref is a reference power value (eg, in kilowatts), and T is an operating time of the motor 102 (eg, in hours or days).

[0054] The variable speed drive 101 regulates the speed and load of the motor 102, which results in different energy consumption patterns. The energy consumed by the motor 102 under VSD control can be approximated using the affinity law, which states that power varies as the cube of the speed of the centrifugal load. For example, the energy consumed by the motor 102 under VSD control can be estimated using the following formula: Among them E VSD is the amount of energy consumed by the motor 102 under VSD control (e.g., in kilowatt-hours), P ref is a reference power value (e.g., in kilowatts), T is the operating time of the motor 102 (e.g., in hours or days), LF is the load factor (i.e., the ratio of the actual load to the rated load), N VSD is the average speed of the motor 102 with the VSD, and N rated is the rated speed of the motor 102. ref The values ​​refer to the motor power when connected directly to the mains. When calculating energy savings, the P ref The value can be used as a reference. The accuracy of the energy saving calculation depends directly on P ref The precision of the value.

[0055] The energy saved can then be calculated as the difference in energy consumption of the motor 102 in DOL and VSD operation: Energy Savings = E DOL -E VSD .

[0056] The calculation of the amount of energy saved can have various purposes. For example, the calculation of the amount of energy saved can be used to demonstrate the energy savings effect of the selected target application (e.g., compared to similar assets and / or fleets), or to enable review of the energy consumption of the selected target application (e.g., in terms of energy usage, actual load factor, or oversizing or undersizing of the motor 102 or actuator). As another example, the calculation of the amount of energy saved can be used to detect whether advanced energy optimization functions in the application can increase the efficiency of the powertrain. Furthermore, it is believed that the energy savings calculation results can enable further energy improvement concepts.

[0057] At 205 , the cloud platform 104 may indicate to the user device 105 the amount of energy saved.

[0058] At 206 , the user device 105 may display the amount of energy saved to the user, such as via a graphical user interface.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the amount of energy saved may be estimated as an embedded function of the variable speed drive 101 (rather than the cloud 104). Figure 3 Describe this.

[0060] Figure 3 A flow chart according to an example embodiment of a method performed by the variable speed drive 101 is shown.

[0061] See also Figure 3 In block 301 , the variable speed drive 101 collects operating data associated with a motor 102 controlled by the variable speed drive 101 , wherein the operating data includes at least a speed value and a power value of the motor 102 .

[0062] Operational data may be collected over a predetermined period of time sufficient to represent process changes in the target application.For example, motor 102 may be part of a pump application or a fan application.

[0063] In block 302 , the variable speed drive 101 generates a curve representing a relationship between speed values ​​and power values ​​of the motor 102 based on operational data.

[0064] The curve can be represented by a third-order polynomial function P VSD(n) ≈an 3 +bn 2 +cn+d represents, where a, b, c and d are adjustment constants. A curve can be fitted to the collected operating data using any suitable calculation software.

[0065] In block 303 , the variable speed drive 101 determines or identifies a reference power value based on a point on the curve corresponding to a nominal speed value for the motor 102 .

[0066] In block 304, the variable speed drive 101 estimates the amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive 101 compared to direct on-line motor control based on the reference power value. In other words, the reference power value may be used as a reference for estimating the amount of energy saved.

[0067] In block 305 , the variable speed drive 101 indicates to the user the amount of energy saved (eg, via a user interface).

[0068] The variable speed drive 101 may determine one or more control parameter changes of the variable speed drive 101 (eg, optimize flux control) based on the amount of energy saved and suggest the one or more control parameter changes to the user (eg, via a user interface).

[0069] Figure 4 A flow chart according to an example embodiment of a method (eg, a computer-implemented method) for estimating energy savings is shown. Figure 4 The method may be performed by one or more cloud services of the cloud platform 104, or the apparatus 700 included or contained in the cloud platform 104, or the variable speed drive 101, or any other computing device.

[0070] Reference Figure 4In block 401, the apparatus 700 collects operational data associated with a motor 102 controlled by a variable speed drive 101, wherein the operational data includes at least a speed value and a power value of the motor 102. The motor 102 may be an electric motor.

[0071] Operational data may be collected over a predetermined period of time sufficient to represent process changes in the target application.For example, the target application may include a pump application or a fan application of which the motor 102 may be a part.

[0072] In block 402 , the apparatus 700 determines a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor 102 based on operational data.

[0073] In block 403, the apparatus 700 estimates the amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive 101 compared to direct-on-line motor control based on the reference power value. In other words, the reference power value may be used as a reference for estimating the amount of energy saved.

[0074] The apparatus 700 may generate, based on the operation data, a curve representing the relationship between the speed value and the power value of the motor 102. The curve may be represented by a cubic polynomial function.

[0075] The reference power value may be identified based on a point on the curve corresponding to a nominal speed value for the motor 102 .

[0076] The device 700 may indicate to the user the amount of energy saved.

[0077] The above passed Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 The functions and / or blocks described are not in absolute chronological order. Some of them may be executed simultaneously or in a different order than described. Other functions and / or blocks may also be executed between or within them. Some functions and / or blocks may also be omitted or replaced by corresponding functions or blocks.

[0078] As used herein, “at least one of”: ” and “at least one of ” and similar expressions, where a list of two or more elements is linked by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one element, or at least any two or more elements, or at least all elements.

[0079] Figure 5A An example of operating data is shown. Figure 5AIn Figure 5, three motor speed and power points 501, 502, and 503 for a selected application are shown in a scatter plot, where the vertical axis represents motor power (kW) and the horizontal axis represents motor speed (RPM). In other words, each point 501, 502, and 503 represents a pair of power and speed values. In effect, this is a set of measurement points from the monitoring period.

[0080] Figure 5B An example of generating a curve 510 is shown. Figure 5B In FIG, curve 510 is fitted to follow operating points 501, 502, 503. It is not necessary to have the operating point at the maximum power of motor 102. The loading function representing the curve can be automatically formed using appropriate calculation software.

[0081] Figure 5C An example of identifying a reference power value 523 based on a point 522 on the curve 510 corresponding to a nominal speed value 521 of the motor 102 is shown. Figure 5C In FIG, a vertical line is drawn for the rated speed 521 of the motor 102. This line intersects the curve 510 at a point 522, which represents the power required for the DOL motor control. Separately, the reference power value 523 can be automatically calculated.

[0082] Figure 6 An example of an error 601 between a nominal (nameplate) power value 602 of a motor 102 and a reference power value 523 defined according to actual application is shown. Figure 6 , area 603 visualizes the amount of energy saved, as estimated based on the reference power value 523. Using the nominal power value 602 would result in an overestimation of the energy savings. Therefore, by estimating the energy savings using the reference power value 523, the error in the energy savings estimate can be reduced compared to estimating the energy savings using the nominal power value 602.

[0083] Figure 7 An example of a device 700 including means for executing one or more of the above-described example embodiments is shown. Means 700 may include or be included in cloud platform 104 or a server of cloud platform 104. For example, the means may include one or more cloud services of cloud platform 104, or the means may include a virtualized infrastructure. Cloud services refer to a variety of on-demand computing resources and applications that can be provided to users by cloud platform 104 via the internet. Alternatively, means 700 may include or be included in variable speed drive 101 or any other computing device.

[0084] The apparatus 700 may include, for example, circuitry or a chipset that can be used to implement one or more of the example embodiments described above. The apparatus 700 may be an electronic device or a computing system that includes one or more electronic circuitry. The apparatus 700 may include control circuitry 710, such as at least one processor, and at least one memory 720 storing instructions 722 that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus 700 to perform one or more of the example embodiments described above. These instructions 722 may include, for example, computer program code (software). The at least one processor and the at least one memory storing instructions may provide means for providing or causing the execution of any of the methods and / or blocks described above.

[0085] The processor is coupled to the memory 720. The processor is configured to read data from the memory 720 and write data to the memory 720. The memory 720 may include one or more memory cells. The memory cells may be volatile or non-volatile. It should be noted that there may be one or more non-volatile memory cells and one or more volatile memory cells, or alternatively one or more non-volatile memory cells, or alternatively one or more volatile memory cells. Volatile memory may be, for example, random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM). Non-volatile memory may be, for example, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, optical storage, or magnetic storage. In general, memory may be referred to as non-transitory computer-readable media. The term "non-transitory" as used herein is a limitation on the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal), rather than a limitation on the persistence of data storage (e.g., RAM versus ROM). The memory 720 stores computer-readable instructions executed by the processor. For example, non-volatile memory stores computer-readable instructions, and the processor executes the instructions using volatile memory for temporary storage of data and / or instructions.

[0086] The computer readable instructions may be pre-stored in the memory 720, or alternatively or additionally, they may be received by the device via an electromagnetic carrier signal and / or may be copied from a physical entity such as a computer program product. Execution of the computer readable instructions causes the apparatus 700 to perform one or more of the functions described above.

[0087] Memory 720 may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and / or removable memory.

[0088] The apparatus 700 may also include or be connected to a communication interface 730, which includes hardware and / or software for implementing a communication connection according to one or more communication protocols. The communication interface 730 may include at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, which may be integrated into the apparatus 700 or may be connected to the apparatus 700. The communication interface 730 may provide a means for performing some blocks of one or more example embodiments described above. The communication interface 730 may include one or more components, such as: a power amplifier, a digital front end (DFE), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a frequency converter, a (de)modulator, and / or an encoder / decoder circuit system, controlled by a corresponding control unit.

[0089] The communication interface 730 provides the apparatus with a communication capability to communicate in a wireless communication network. For example, the communication interface 730 may provide a network interface for communicating with one or more sensor devices 103 and / or gateway device 106 .

[0090] It should be noted that the apparatus 700 may also include Figure 7 Various components not shown in the figure. The various components can be hardware components and / or software components.

[0091] As used in this application, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following: a) a hardware circuit implementation only (such as an implementation in analog and / or digital circuitry only); and b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as (as applicable): i) a combination of (multiple) analog and / or digital hardware circuits and software / firmware, and ii) any portion of (multiple) hardware processors working together with software (including (multiple) digital signal processors), software and memory to enable a device such as a mobile phone to perform various functions); and c) (multiple) hardware circuits and / or processor(s), such as (multiple) microprocessors or portions of (multiple) microprocessors, which require software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but which may not be present when the software is not required for operation.

[0092] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As another example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or its) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers (for example, and if applicable to a particular claim element) a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or networking device.

[0093] The techniques and methods described herein can be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques can be implemented using hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or a combination thereof. For hardware implementations, the devices of the example embodiments can be implemented in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. For firmware or software, the implementation can be performed by modules (e.g., processes, functions, etc.) of at least one chipset that performs the functions described herein. The software code can be stored in a memory unit and executed by a processor. The memory unit can be implemented within the processor or external to the processor. In the latter case, it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means known in the art. In addition, the components of the systems described herein can be rearranged and / or supplemented by additional components to facilitate implementation of various aspects thereof, and are not limited to the precise configurations illustrated in the given figures, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0094] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the concepts of the present invention may be implemented in various ways within the scope of the claims. The embodiments are not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, but may vary within the scope of the claims. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly, and they are intended to illustrate rather than limit the embodiments.

Claims

1. An apparatus for estimating energy savings, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: collecting operational data associated with a motor controlled by a variable speed drive, wherein the operational data includes at least speed and power values ​​of the motor; determining a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor based on the operating data; and Based on the reference power value, an amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive compared to direct-on-line motor control is estimated.

2. The device according to claim 1, further configured to: generating a curve representing a relationship between the speed value and the power value of the motor based on the operation data, The reference power value is determined by identifying the reference power value according to a point on the curve corresponding to the nominal speed value of the motor. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the curve is represented by a cubic polynomial function.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the operational data is collected over a predetermined period of time sufficient to represent process variations in a target application of which the motor is a part.

5. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the motor is part of a pump application or a fan application. 6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of saved energy is estimated by using the reference power value as a reference for estimating the amount of saved energy.

7. The device according to claim 1 or 2, further configured to: The amount of energy saved is indicated to the user.

8. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the device comprises or is comprised in the variable speed drive.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus comprises a cloud platform or is included in a cloud platform.

10. A method for estimating energy savings, the method comprising: collecting operational data associated with a motor controlled by a variable speed drive, wherein the operational data includes at least speed and power values ​​of the motor; determining a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor based on the operating data; and An amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive compared to direct-on-line motor control is estimated based on the reference power value.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: generating a curve representing a relationship between the speed value and the power value of the motor based on the operation data, The reference power value is determined by identifying the reference power value according to a point on the curve corresponding to the nominal speed value of the motor. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the curve is represented by a cubic polynomial function.

13. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the operational data is collected over a predetermined period of time sufficient to represent process variations in the target application.

14. The method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising: The amount of energy saved is indicated to the user.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to at least: collecting operational data associated with a motor controlled by a variable speed drive, wherein the operational data includes at least speed and power values ​​of the motor; determining a reference power value corresponding to a nominal speed value of the motor based on the operating data; and An amount of energy saved by the variable speed drive compared to direct-on-line motor control is estimated based on the reference power value.

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