Compensating power used by air conditioning system

Abstract

A method for compensating power used by an air conditioning system coupled to an AC power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC), the method comprising: receiving a point of common coupling (PCC) setpoint, a charge limit, a discharge limit, and a power demand of a first unit; an operating mode is selected from the following operating modes: a normal mode during which a first unit of the air conditioning system is powered only by the AC power grid; a charging mode during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered only by the AC power grid and an energy storage device is charged; and a discharge mode during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered by both the AC power grid and the energy storage device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments described herein relate to air conditioning systems. Background Technology

[0002] Electricity powers a vast array of installations and equipment in commercial, industrial, residential applications, and data centers. For example, it powers lights, motors, home appliances, medical equipment, computers, air conditioning systems, electric vehicle charging stations, data center processing and cooling needs, and many other electrical installations. In most regions, power utilities generate electricity and distribute it through an AC power grid. Shortages and / or increased costs associated with factors such as fossil fuel use, the intermittency of renewable resources, variability in power demand and supply, and increased energy demand significantly impact the cost of electricity and continuous availability for consumers and businesses. Generally, shortages and / or increased costs often occur during peak demand periods. Peak demand can occur based on time of day (e.g., in the morning or evening). On a more stochastic basis, peak demand (or demand exceeding available supply) can occur due to natural disasters or during prolonged periods such as cloudy skies (if power from the grid comes from solar power) or wind variability (if power from the grid comes from wind turbines). For example, hurricanes or earthquakes can damage power utility generators and / or the power grid, resulting in significant power loss for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Repairing these damaged lines and generators can take hours, days, or weeks. Various locations may also lose power from the power grid for other reasons, including maintenance. During these periods of power loss, these locations may be unable to continue operating. Furthermore, the increasing number of data centers significantly increases the demand for energy from the power grid.

[0003] Often, during peak demand periods, electricity from the power grid is more expensive. For example, power utilities might use low-cost generators during periods of minimum demand and then further utilize high-cost generators during periods of peak demand. Unfortunately, existing infrastructure does not adequately address these different costs associated with peak and minimum demand. As a result, commercial, industrial, data center, and residential applications often draw power from the power grid during peak demand periods, regardless of the higher costs associated with generating their own electricity.

[0004] Some energy consumers (such as commercial, industrial, data center, and residential users) may be driven by factors other than cost, such as the expectation of supporting sustainable energy options, as described further below. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to an embodiment, a method for compensating for power used by an air conditioning system coupled to an AC power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC) includes: receiving a PCC setpoint, a charging limit, a discharging limit, and a power demand of a first unit; selecting an operating mode from the following operating modes: a normal mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint; a charging mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid and an energy storage device is charged such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein, during the charging mode, the power used to charge the energy storage device is limited by the charging limit; and a discharging mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered by both the AC power grid and the energy storage device such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein, during the discharging mode, the power provided by the energy storage device is limited by the discharging limit.

[0006] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the normal mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device having sufficient charge and the energy storage device having a charge / discharge limit of 0 W.

[0007] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the charging mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint, receiving a positive non-zero charging limit, and the energy storage device not having sufficient state of charge.

[0008] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the discharge mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being greater than the PCC setpoint and receiving a positive non-zero discharge limit.

[0009] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include wherein the PCC setpoint is positive.

[0010] According to another embodiment, an air conditioning system includes: a first unit configured to couple to an AC power grid at a common coupling point (PCC); a controller in the first unit; an energy storage device; and an energy storage device controller. The energy storage device controller receives a common coupling point (PCC) setpoint, charging limits, discharging limits, and the power requirements of the first unit. The energy storage device controller selects an operating mode from the following operating modes: a normal mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid, such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint; and a charging mode. During the charging mode, the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid, and the energy storage device is charged such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power used to charge the energy storage device during the charging mode is limited by the charging limit; in the discharging mode, the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered by both the AC power grid and the energy storage device, such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power provided by the energy storage device during the discharging mode is limited by the discharging limit.

[0011] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the normal mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device having sufficient charge and the energy storage device having a charge / discharge limit of 0 W.

[0012] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the charging mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint, receiving a positive non-zero charging limit, and the energy storage device not having sufficient state of charge.

[0013] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the discharge mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being greater than the PCC setpoint and receiving a positive non-zero discharge limit.

[0014] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include wherein the PCC setpoint is positive.

[0015] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include wherein the PCC setpoint and the power demand of the first unit are transmitted from the controller of the first unit to the energy storage device controller.

[0016] According to another embodiment, a computer program is embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program including instructions for causing a processor to implement a process for compensating for power consumed by an air conditioning system coupled to an AC power grid at a common point of coupling (PCC), the process including: receiving a common point of coupling (PCC) setpoint, a charging limit, a discharging limit, and a power demand of a first unit; selecting an operating mode from the following operating modes: a normal mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered only by the AC power grid, such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint; a charging mode; During the charging mode, the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid, and the energy storage device is charged such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power used to charge the energy storage device during the charging mode is limited by a charging limit; in the discharging mode, the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered by both the AC power grid and the energy storage device, such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power provided by the energy storage device during the discharging mode is limited by a discharging limit.

[0017] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the normal mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device having sufficient charge and the energy storage device having a charge / discharge limit of 0 W.

[0018] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the charging mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint, receiving a positive non-zero charging limit, and the energy storage device not having sufficient state of charge.

[0019] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include selecting the discharge mode in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being greater than the PCC setpoint and receiving a positive non-zero discharge limit.

[0020] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include wherein the PCC setpoint is positive.

[0021] The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various ways without exclusivity, unless otherwise expressly indicated. These features and elements, and their operation, will become more apparent from the following description and figures. However, it should be understood that the following description and figures are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature, and are not restrictive. Attached Figure Description

[0022] This disclosure is illustrated by way of example and is not limited to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate similar elements.

[0023] Figure 1 The system in the example embodiment is described.

[0024] Figure 2 A controller in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0025] Figure 3A The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0026] Figure 3B The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0027] Figure 4A The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0028] Figure 4B The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0029] Figure 5A The electrical architecture of a constant-speed compressor with a DC architecture in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0030] Figure 5B The electrical architecture of a constant-speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment is described.

[0031] Figure 5C The electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor with a DC architecture in an example embodiment is described.

[0032] Figure 5D The electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment is described.

[0033] Figure 6 The electrical architecture of a compressor powered by a multi-stage inverter in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0034] Figure 7 One phase branch of a five-stage multiphase inverter in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0035] Figure 8 The communication between the controller, thermostat, and remote system in the example embodiment is described.

[0036] Figure 9 The control process in the example embodiment is described.

[0037] Figure 10 A system for compensating for the power used by the air conditioning system is described.

[0038] Figure 11 The operating modes for compensating for the power used by the air conditioning system are described.

[0039] Figure 12 The control process for compensating for the power used by the air conditioning system is described. Detailed Implementation

[0040] There is an incentive for the use of efficient, optimized all-electric air conditioning systems that provide comfort and are dispatchable (on / off, adjustable, or variable) under different pricing conditions or after receiving utility signals. By way of example, utility signals can be received from an electric AC power grid and can include Independent System Operators (ISOs), which can comprise independent, federally regulated entities established to coordinate regional transmission in a non-discriminatory manner and ensure the reliability and security of the power system; or Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), which operate large power systems across a geographic region and are generally independent, membership-based, non-profit organizations that ensure reliability and optimize supply and demand bidding for wholesale power or from virtual power plants, which are generally considered to be interconnected aggregations of integrated distributed energy resources (DER) technologies that provide demand flexibility and renewable energy. The reference to a utility refers to one or more entities involved in the generation, transmission, and / or distribution of power.

[0041] The embodiments described herein relate to an air conditioning system that includes an energy storage system (e.g., a battery, a supercapacitor) to provide the level of dispatchability required for interconnection with a power grid.

[0042] Figure 1System 100 is depicted in an example embodiment. System 100 includes components of an air conditioning system. The phrase "air conditioning" is intended to encompass 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 any combination thereof. An air conditioning system may comprise known types of systems, such as heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, coolers, split systems, packaged systems, integrated systems, etc. 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 may be located separately (indoor or outdoor) or jointly (indoor or outdoor). For example, in a split system, the first unit 200 is an outdoor unit (e.g., a compressor and heat exchanger), and (one or more) second units 250 are indoor units (e.g., an expansion mechanism, heat exchanger). In a packaged system (e.g., a rooftop or ground-level system), the first unit 200 and the second unit 250 are jointly located within a single footprint outside the building. In the cooler, the first unit 200 and the second unit 250 can be located together (indoors or outdoors) or separately. Some integrated systems may have a first unit 200 and a second unit 250 located together inside a building.

[0043] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the first unit 200 can be an outdoor unit of a split system located on the ground plane adjacent to building 102, on the roof of building 102, or in any other location. One or more second units 250 can be located inside building 102 (as is common for split systems). It is understood that... Figure 1 This is an example, and the implementation is not limited to a split system.

[0044] System 100 includes controller 220, power converter 230 and energy storage device (ESD) 240. Figure 1 These are exemplary embodiments, and the location of the components is not limited to these examples. Figure 1The locations shown are as indicated. For example, the power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and controller 220 may be separate from the first unit 200, which houses the compressor 242, drive 244, fan 246, and (one or more) loads 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 into existing first units 200 and / or existing second units 250 of an air conditioning system. One or more of the power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and controller 220 may be located within the first unit 200. One or more of the power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and controller 220 may be located outside or adjacent to the first unit 200. One or more of the power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and controller 220 may be located within building 102.

[0045] 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.

[0046] In the figures, the positions of all components are illustrative, and embodiments include modifications to the positions of the components shown in the figures. For example, a component illustrated as being connected to the first unit 200 may be a retrofit component added to an existing first unit 200. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0047] 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 perform all the functions of controller 220, the air conditioning controller, and the energy storage device controller. Controller 220 communicates with components of the described system using wired and / or wireless connections, which are not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Figure 1 The system and its embodiments described herein allow one or more components of the air conditioning system, as well as other loads not associated with the air conditioning system, to be powered solely by the AC power grid, solely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the AC power 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.

[0049] Figure 2A controller 220 according to an embodiment is depicted. The controller 220 includes a sensor interface 222 that can acquire 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 a combination of hardware and software. The processor 224 allows the controller 220 to perform computations 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 computation.

[0050] Controller 220 includes memory 226, which can store computer programs, reference data, sensor data, etc., executable by processor 224. Memory 226 can be implemented using known devices such as random access memory. Controller 220 includes a communication unit 228, which allows controller 220 to communicate with other components of system 100, such as first unit 200, second unit 250, and thermostat 260. Communication unit 228 can be implemented using wired connections (e.g., LAN, Ethernet, twisted pair, etc.) and / or wireless connections (e.g., Wi-Fi, near field communication (“NFC”), Bluetooth, etc.).

[0051] In some embodiments, communication unit 228 can provide high-speed data communication and / or communication with newer devices having a high-speed bus via existing wiring systems, while maintaining communication with existing devices (e.g., devices with an RS-485 communication bus). In some embodiments, the HVAC equipment may include four lines for data communication: power, ground, data+, and data-. Of these lines, data+ and data- are used to carry low-speed standard RS-485 data. The power line is used to power the wall controls and originates from the second unit 250. This same power line is carried to the first unit 200, although it is generally not used. The ability of the power and ground lines in a four-wire system (referred to as “Power Line Communication” (PLC) technology) allows digital / data signals to be transmitted over the power lines. In some embodiments, PLC technology can allow data transmission at gigabit or near-gigabit rates using standard two-wire wiring. This includes the two lines represented by the power and ground of the HVAC equipment. It should be understood that other data transmission speeds are possible. In some embodiments, the communication unit 228 of this disclosure can be configured such that low-speed RS-485 communication can also occur on the data+ and data- lines while high-speed PLC communication is occurring through the power and ground lines of a 4-wire system. 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) or artificial intelligence (AI) based algorithms. In some embodiments, high-speed and low-speed communication can occur approximately simultaneously (e.g., within milliseconds of each other). This allows communication between standard HVAC lines and RS-485 controlled devices, as well as HVAC devices with additional PLC transceivers. This can be advantageous because new high-speed HVAC devices and existing RS-485 HVAC devices can coexist on the building's existing wiring.

[0052] 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 be included in several power converters located at different locations within system 100. One or more power converters 230 may operate bidirectionally, such that one or more power conversions are bidirectional. Figure 1As shown, power converter 230 is connected to an AC and / or DC power source and / or a load. Power converter 230 can also supply power to loads in building 102, including a second unit 250 (if in building 102), a thermostat 260, and a load 270. In normal mode, the loads in building 102 will receive AC power directly from the AC power grid. Controller 220 can select whether the power comes from the AC power grid or from power converter 230. An example embodiment of power converter 230 is described herein.

[0053] Energy storage device 240 is configured to provide at least a portion of the power under certain environmental conditions to operate one or more components of an air conditioning system, such as first unit 200, one or more second units 250, together with one or more indoor loads 270 and any other loads. Energy storage device 240 can be implemented using devices for storing electrical energy, including one or more of, for example, batteries, battery modules, individual battery cells, supercapacitors, etc. Battery 240 may comprise several cells in a modular form or as an array of independent cells. Battery 240 may be made from a single or multiple self-contained systems, battery modules, or individual cells. Battery 240 (such as a complete plug-and-play battery) may comprise boxes, wires, cells, and modules. For example, battery 240 may comprise a group of cells configured as self-contained mechanical and electrical units. Energy storage device 240 may include other components (e.g., an ESD management system (ESDMS)) electrically coupled to energy storage device 240 and adapted to communicate directly or via ESDMS with controller 220.

[0054] The first unit 200 also includes components that serve as part of an air conditioning system, and includes a compressor 242, one or more drives 244, a fan 246, and other loads 248, as well as a control unit (not shown). The heat exchanger (not shown) in the first unit 200 may function as an evaporator or a condenser / gas cooler. These components are described in more detail herein when relevant to embodiments.

[0055] In a split-type system, within building 102, one or more second units 250 are positioned to regulate one or more zones of building 102. Various known second units can be used to employ the second unit 250, including variable air volume (VAV) units, liquid-cooled second units, fan coil units, furnaces, air handling units(s), etc., which typically include heat exchangers. In other types of systems (e.g., packaged systems or chiller systems), the second unit(s) 250 may be located outdoors and include any form of heat exchanger, such as a cooling tower.

[0056] The optional thermostat 260 provides a user interface for the air conditioning system 100, allowing users to input the operating mode of the air conditioning system 100, input setpoints for each zone of the system 100, etc. Indoor loads 270 can be powered by the first unit 200. Indoor loads 270 include a variety of loads, such as electrical appliances, lighting, electric vehicle chargers, etc. The thermostat 260 is not essential, and other technologies can be used for the control of the air conditioning system.

[0057] Figure 3A The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 3A The positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0058] like Figure 3A As shown, the AC power grid 302 is connected to the first unit 200 via a grid disconnection 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 power grid 302. The first unit 200 can also be powered by a combination of the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. The disconnection device 304 can also be implemented as a mechanical switch (e.g., controlled by the controller 220) or by software (implemented by the controller 220 through controlling one or more power converters).

[0059] AC power grid 302 is connected to indoor AC load 308 (such as an air handling unit, or any fixed installation in a residential, commercial, industrial building, or data center). AC power grid 302 is also supplied to AC / AC converter 310, which supplies regulated AC power to compressor drive 244A and fan 246 of compressor 242. AC / AC converter 310 can control the amplitude, frequency, and phase of the AC power supplied to compressor drive 244A and fan 246 of compressor 242.

[0060] The AC power grid 302 can also be connected to one of a unidirectional or bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 that interfaces the AC power bus 305 with the DC power bus 313. The DC power bus 313 supplies power to a 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 components of the air conditioning system (e.g., compressor 242 and fan 246) via the bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 and AC / AC converter 310. This allows one or more components of the air conditioning system to operate independently of or in conjunction with the AC power grid 302. The bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 also allows power from the DC bus 313 to be directed to the AC power grid 302.

[0061] The DC power bus 313 can be powered by the energy storage device 240. In 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. A 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. A DC / DC converter 320 can be used to couple the indoor DC load 318 to the DC power bus 313. A DC / AC converter 347 can be used to couple the DC power bus 313 to the indoor AC load 308 (via 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, AC / DC converter 312, DC / DC converter 320, DC / DC converter 316, and DC / AC converter 347 can be... Figure 1 Implementation of the medium power converter 230. In some embodiments, the 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, the one or more auxiliary power sources provide AC power, which is connected to the AC bus 305 and / or the DC bus 313 via a suitable AC / AC converter or AC / DC converter.

[0062] The compressor drive 244A can be implemented in various ways. In one embodiment, the compressor drive 244A is a switch, such as a contactor or relay, that connects the compressor 242 to the output of the AC / AC converter 310. In other embodiments, the compressor drive 244A can be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter.

[0063] Optional DC / DC converter 241 can provide power conversion between energy storage device 240 and DC power bus 313. DC / DC converter 241 can be a bidirectional converter for boosting or reducing DC voltage, allowing energy storage device 240 to power DC power bus 313 and DC power bus 313 to charge energy storage device 240. DC / DC converter 241 can be part of energy storage device 240 or a separate component.

[0064] Figure 3A The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0065] Figure 3B The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 3B The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0066] Figure 3B Similar to Figure 3AExcept for the elimination of the AC / AC converter 310, the compressor 242 is supplied with power from the compressor drive 244A. The compressor drive 244A may be a switch, such as a contactor or relay, that connects the compressor 242 to the AC power bus 305. In other embodiments, the compressor drive 244A may be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter. The compressor drive 244A may be controlled by a controller 220.

[0067] Fan 246 is powered by fan driver 244B. Fan driver 244B may be a switch, such as a contactor or relay, that connects fan 246 to AC power bus 305. In other embodiments, fan driver 244B may be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter. Fan driver 244B may be controlled by controller 220.

[0068] Figure 3B The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0069] Figure 4A An electrical architecture in another example embodiment is depicted. Figure 4AThe positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0070] exist Figure 4A In this configuration, the compressor drive 244A and fan 246 are DC powered, and therefore there is no need for an AC / AC converter 310. The bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 allows the energy storage device 240 to supply power to one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or to feed power from the DC bus 313 to the AC power grid 302 (under certain conditions). The bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 interfaces the AC power bus 305 with the DC power bus 313.

[0071] The compressor drive 244A may be a switch, such as a contactor or relay, that connects the compressor 242 to the DC power bus 313. In other embodiments, the compressor drive 244A may be a power converter, such as a DC / AC converter or a DC / DC converter. The compressor drive 244A may be controlled by a controller 220.

[0072] Figure 4A The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0073] Figure 4B An electrical architecture in another example embodiment is depicted. Figure 4B The positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0074] Figure 4B Similar to Figure 4A In addition to fan 246, fan driver 244B is included. Fan driver 244B can be a switch, such as a contactor or 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.

[0075] Figure 4B The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0076] Figure 5A The DC electrical architecture of the constant speed first unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5AThe positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0077] 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 other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be connected (via a DC bus) to the energy storage device 240 to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240. Figure 5A As shown, AC power from AC power grid 302 is supplied to power converter 230 via grid disconnect device 304. Power converter 230 includes AC / DC converter 370 and DC / AC converter 372. The output of DC / AC converter 372 is supplied to compressor 242 via compressor drive 244A. Because compressor 242 is constant speed, compressor drive 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or relay.

[0078] Both AC / DC converter 370 and DC / AC converter 372 operate under the control of controller 220. Between AC / DC converter 370 and DC / AC converter 372 is DC link 371, which is optionally connected to energy storage device 240 via DC / DC converter 241. In this arrangement, energy storage device 240 can be charged by power converter 230. Alternatively, energy storage device 240 can provide DC power to DC link 371 to power DC / AC converter 372 and compressor 242. This allows first unit 200 to operate independently of or in conjunction with AC power grid 302. AC / DC converter 370 can be bidirectional, allowing energy storage device 240 to provide power to and from AC power grid 302.

[0079] Controller 220, power converter 230, energy storage device 240, DC / DC converters 320 and 316, DC / AC converter 347, and DC / DC converter 241 can be retrofitted to the existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system so that the first unit 200 can operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. It also allows auxiliary power sources to be added in a modular manner.

[0080] Figure 5A The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0081] Figure 5B The AC electrical architecture of the constant speed first unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5B The positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0082] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 may be used in conjunction with the embodiments described above or other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may be connected (via a DC bus) to the energy storage device 240 to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240.

[0083] exist Figure 5BIn this configuration, 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 can be bidirectional, allowing energy storage device 240 to supply power to and charge from AC power grid 302. Because compressor 242 is constant-speed, compressor drive 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or relay.

[0084] The controller 220, power converter 230, and energy storage device 240 can be retrofitted to the existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system so that the first unit 200 can operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0085] Figure 5B The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0086] Figure 5C The DC electrical architecture of the first speed-changing unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5CThe positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0087] Figure 5C Similar to Figure 5A In addition to the compressor drive 244A providing variable speed operation for the compressor 242, the other loads 248 of the first unit 200 can be powered from the output of the DC / AC converter 372.

[0088] The controller 220, power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and DC / DC converter 241 can be retrofitted to the existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system so that the first unit 200 can operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0089] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 may be used in conjunction with the embodiments described above or other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may be connected (via a DC bus) to the energy storage device 240 to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240.

[0090] Figure 5CThe electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0091] Figure 5D The DC electrical architecture of the first speed-changing unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5D The positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0092] Figure 5D Similar to Figure 5B In addition to the compressor drive 244A providing variable speed operation for the compressor 242, the other loads 248 of the first unit 200 can be powered from the AC power bus 305.

[0093] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 may be used in conjunction with the embodiments described above or other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may be connected (via a DC bus) to the energy storage device 240 to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240.

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

[0095] Figure 5D The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0096] Figure 6 An electrical architecture with a variable-speed compressor drive in an example embodiment is depicted, which includes a multi-stage inverter. For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. Figure 6 The positions of the components are illustrative, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0097] like Figure 6As shown, AC power from the AC power grid 302 is supplied to the power converter 230 via the grid disconnect device 304. The power converter 230 includes an AC / DC converter 380 and a multi-stage inverter 382. The output of the multi-stage inverter 382 is provided to the compressor 242. The output of the multi-stage inverter 382 can be a multiphase, multi-stage waveform configured to drive a multiphase motor of the compressor 242. In an example embodiment, the multi-stage inverter 382 is a five-stage three-phase inverter. In another example embodiment, the multi-stage inverter 382 is a three-stage three-phase inverter.

[0098] Multi-stage inverter 382 synthesizes a sinusoidal current waveform to operate and control compressor 242. Traditionally, this is accomplished with two-stage inverters. Integration with energy storage device 240 allows for a natural progression to higher-order inverters. Three-stage and five-stage inverters require independent power supplies to set the voltage levels. Figure 6 In this embodiment, the energy storage device 240 can be configured with voltage levels. The energy storage device 240 may include internal battery modules connected in series. The multi-stage inverter 382 directly utilizes these battery modules for each required voltage level, thereby enabling the benefits of a multi-stage inverter. The multi-stage inverter 382 benefits from lower harmonic output and lower dv / dt device stress. The multi-stage inverter 382 increases reliability through its ability to reconfigure to a lower number of stages after a failure has occurred (by integrating relays or back-to-back switches to connect or disconnect battery modules).

[0099] Figure 7 A phase branch of a five-stage multiphase inverter is shown in one embodiment of the multistage inverter 382. 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, along with the neutral point n, provides five voltage levels for creating a sinusoidal output waveform on one phase. Generally, N battery module voltages are used to provide N+1 stages of output waveform for each phase. Switches S1-S4 and S1'-S4' are controlled by controller 220 to generate a sine wave as known in the art. By integrating relays or back-to-back switches to connect or disconnect the battery modules, the multistage inverter 382 can be reconfigured to have fewer stages.

[0100] The voltage stages used in the multi-stage inverter 382 do not need to be supplied by separate battery modules. The voltage stages used to create the sinusoidal output waveform can be created using a single battery module (by, for example, splitting the battery voltage using capacitors).

[0101] refer to Figure 6Both the AC / DC converter 370 and the multistage inverter 382 operate under the control of the controller 220. Between the AC / DC converter 370 and the multistage inverter 382 is a DC link 381 connected to the energy storage device 240. In 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 multistage inverter 382 and the compressor 242. This allows the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. The AC / DC converter 380 can be bidirectional, allowing the energy storage device 240 to supply power to and from the AC power grid.

[0102] Figure 6 The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC loads 318 and indoor AC loads 308, can be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can also power one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) and / or other loads, either alone or in combination with the AC power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, 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 energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0103] In the embodiments described above, 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, etc.

[0104] Figure 8The communication between controller 220, thermostat 260, and remote system 410 in an example embodiment is depicted. As noted above, controller 220 may be integrated as part of an air conditioning controller and / or battery controller, or it may be standalone and communicate with an air conditioning controller and / or energy storage controller. Controller 220 communicates with thermostat 260 via local link 400. 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.). Thermostat 260 may also be implemented using software applications operating on user devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops). Thermostat 260 may also provide occupancy, past performance, and weather information to controller 220.

[0105] One or both of the controller 220 and the thermostat 260 can communicate with the remote system 410 via network 406. Network 406 can be a long-distance network and can be implemented using various communication protocols. Network 406 can be implemented via one or more networks, such as, but not limited to, one or more of the following: WiMax, Local Area Network (LAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Personal Area Network (PAN), Campus Area Network (CAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), or any broadband network, and further capable of implementing technologies such as (by way of example): Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Personal Communication Services (PCS), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Matter, Fixed Wireless Data, 2G, 2.5G, 3G (e.g., 3G networks based on UMTS / WCDMA), 4G, IMT-Advanced, 4G, LTE-Advanced, 5G, 6G, Mobile WiMax, WiMax2, Wireless MAN Advanced Network, Enhanced Data Rate 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.

[0106] Remote system 410 can 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 devices, web appliances, distributed computing systems (e.g., cloud computing), processor-based systems, and / or consumer electronic devices. Remote system 410 provides information used by controller 220 and / or thermostat 260 to implement energy management routines that control how the one or more components of the air conditioning system and load 270 consume power. The information provided by remote system 410 may include utility pricing (indicating the cost of power on the AC power grid 302) and weather information (which can be used to predict future utility pricing and the use of the one or more components of the air conditioning system). Utility pricing and weather can be pushed to or pulled by remote system 410 using known networking technologies. Utility pricing and / or weather can be determined in real time or as a forecast of future conditions.

[0107] In the embodiments described above, controller 220 communicates with components of the described system using wired and / or wireless connections (not illustrated in the figures). 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 source, etc.), controller 220 sends command signals to various system components (e.g., AC / DC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, DC / AC 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 multi-stage inverter 382, ​​AC disconnect device 304, etc.) to route power to one or more components of the air conditioning system, such as first unit 200, (one or more) second unit 250, together with (one or more) indoor loads 270 and any other loads.

[0108] Figure 9An energy management process is depicted in an example embodiment. This process may be performed by controller 220 and / or thermostat 260. At 600, controller 220 determines whether there is a request for reduced energy use, or whether there are any other communication signals, such as changes in energy pricing, or incentives. A utility provider may request reduced energy use during a specific period to avoid service interruptions (e.g., brownouts) or other penalties or incentives, such as changes in pricing. Requests for reduced energy use may be accompanied by incentives (e.g., a $5 reduction on the next energy bill). Requests for reductions may also originate from energy consumers, such as data centers, where data centers need to maintain their processing and / or cooling loads and encourage other users to reduce their consumption to ensure energy availability.

[0109] If a request for reduced energy consumption is received, the process proceeds to 602, where a user (e.g., a utility customer) can approve or reject the request. The approval or rejection determination can be pre-established by the user and pre-programmed into controller 220 and / or thermostat 260. For example, a user might want to always reduce energy consumption, regardless of terms. A user might want to never reduce energy consumption, regardless of terms. A user might want to reduce energy consumption only when encouraged by the utility. The approval or rejection determination at 602 can also be real-time, where the user inputs their approval or rejection of the energy consumption reduction via thermostat 260 or via a mobile device.

[0110] If the user approves a reduction in energy usage at 602, the process proceeds to 604, where one or more components of the air conditioning system (if required) 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., power from the AC power grid 302 is zero), and using only the energy storage device 240 to power one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads. Operating one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads may also involve using a combination of both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240 to power said 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 power grid 302 by controlling various power converters 230 in the system (e.g., AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, DC / AC 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 multi-stage inverter 382) to reduce the amount of AC power drawn from the AC power grid 302. The energy storage device 240 and the AC power 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.

[0111] The components of the air conditioning system that use energy storage device 240 to operate the air conditioning system may also include limiting the amount of power drawn from the AC power grid 302 to a power limit (e.g., 1 kW over a 2-hour period). Controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from the AC power grid 302 by controlling various power converters 230 in the system (e.g., AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, DC / AC 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 multi-stage inverter 382) to reduce the amount of AC power drawn from the AC power grid 302. At 604, other loads may be powered by 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.

[0112] At some point, the energy storage device 240 will lack sufficient charge, causing one or more components of the air conditioning system to require power from the AC power grid 302 alone. 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 outside 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 outside acceptable limits, the one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads require power from the AC power grid 302. This results in the interruption of discharging the energy storage device 240 and / or the initiation of charging the energy storage device 240.

[0113] If the utility or some other source has not requested a reduction in energy use by 600, the process proceeds to 606, where controller 220 determines whether system 100 should use power from energy storage device 240. An example of a situation where system 100 should use power from energy storage device 240 occurs when utility power is at peak price, close to grid capacity, or at grid capacity. This determination can be made in real time or in advance using forecasts and passed from the utility to the air conditioning system. Peak price does not necessarily require the power price to be at its maximum, but is generally known in the art to be a period above the average energy cost. Whether the utility is at peak price can be determined by utility pricing obtained from remote system 410 or current or future weather information obtained from remote system 410. This information can also be stored locally in controller 220. If the utility is at peak price, close to grid capacity, or at least within grid capacity, the process proceeds to 604, where the one or more components and loads 270 of the air conditioning system (including indoor AC loads 308 and / or other loads) are powered by energy storage device 240 alone or in conjunction with AC power grid 302. As noted above, controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from AC power grid 302 by controlling the various power converters 230 in the system. Peak utility price and grid capacity are not the only factors that can be relied upon when determining which power the system should use from energy storage device 240.

[0114] Regarding grid capacity, information about grid capacity and current grid load can be obtained from remote systems, such as sources of utility pricing. If the AC power grid 302 is at or near grid capacity (e.g., within the threshold range of grid capacity and optionally increasing), using power from the energy storage device 240 to avoid power interruptions may be robust.

[0115] Another example of a situation where the system should use power from energy storage device 240 when a user requests reduced energy usage occurs. A 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.

[0116] In another example, based on data from box 602 (e.g., user consent) or based on data from box 600 (e.g., a request to reduce energy usage), the system may use power from energy storage device 240 based on machine learning (ML) and / or artificial intelligence (AI) control algorithms implemented by controller 220.

[0117] If at 606 the system should not use power from energy storage device 240, the process proceeds to 608, where energy storage device 240 uses AC power grid 302 for charging. At 610, 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 exceeding safety and / or operating limits. If so, the process returns to 600. At 610, controller 220 can detect parameters of energy storage device 240 to confirm that parameters such as battery health, operating range, temperature range, voltage, capacity, etc., are within effective limits.

[0118] It should be noted that the energy storage device 240 can be charged even when utility power is at peak prices. This may include fault modes, test modes, etc. Therefore, charging the energy storage device 240 is not limited to off-peak utility power price times.

[0119] If at 610 the energy storage device is in a state 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 in accordance with safety and / or operational limits).

[0120] Although Figure 9 This involves operating one or more components and / or other loads of the air conditioning system to reduce power consumption, but other techniques may also be used to reduce power consumption, such as using a variable speed drive to reduce compressor speed, changing the thermostat setpoint, etc. In other embodiments, the utility may request increased energy usage. This request may be a real-time request or a future request based on predicted conditions. Increased energy usage may include charging the energy storage device 240.

[0121] If the thermostat 260 is equipped with a processor 261, then Figure 9One or more operations of the process can be performed by the thermostat 260. The processor 261 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 261 can be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or as a combination of hardware and software. The controller 220 and the thermostat can be combined or implemented separately. Figure 9 All operations or some operations in the operation.

[0122] In other embodiments, controller 220 and / or thermostat 260 execute system enhancement routines to improve the overall performance of the air conditioning system, based on optimization (including model predictive control) or machine learning techniques, taking into account carbon impact, energy performance, energy cost, lifecycle cost, impact on equipment lifespan, and reliability. These system enhancement routines can operate with or without information about weather, occupancy, historical usage, customer preferences, equipment performance profiles (HVAC, battery), and the likelihood of power outages. Machine learning techniques regarding customer preferences, usage, flexibility in temperature determination, cost, and environmental considerations can be used to improve control logic and optimization. Other control strategies (such as precooling and preheating) with advantages in terms of cost, performance, efficiency, environment, comfort, and reliability can be implemented by controller 220 and / or thermostat 260.

[0123] Figure 10 A system 800 for compensating for the power used by an air conditioning system is depicted. System 800 is used to maintain the power used by the air conditioning system equal to or less than, for example, a common coupling point (PCC) setpoint provided by a utility. The common coupling point is defined, for example, as the point where the power utility and customer interface occur in the power system. For ease of illustration, in... Figure 10 Many components of an air conditioning system are not shown in this document. For example, an air conditioning system may include components referenced herein. Figures 1-8 One or more of the components described.

[0124] exist Figure 10 In this document, remote system 810 provides utility information, including PCC setpoints. Remote system 810 can 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 electronics devices. Remote system 810 can be operated by the utility or another entity involved in power distribution (such as a virtual power plant).

[0125] The remote system 810 communicates with the controller 220 of the first unit 200 (e.g., the outdoor unit) and / or with the thermostat 260, which is generally referred to herein as the user interface 260. The user interface 260 may be a device installed in a building or a mobile device, such as a smartphone. The remote system 810 communicates with the controller 220 and the user interface 260, for example, via a network 406.

[0126] User interface 260 communicates with controller 220 via first link 812. First link 812 can be implemented using wired and / or wireless communication technologies. In an example embodiment, first link 812 uses a Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (UART) protocol, such as Carrier Comfort Networks®.

[0127] The controller 220 communicates with the drive 244 in the first unit 200, such as drives 244A and 244B described above. Drive 244 may be a variable frequency drive (VFD) that drives the compressor at a variable speed. The controller 220 can communicate with the drive 244 via a second link 814. The second link 814 can be implemented using wired and / or wireless communication technologies. In the example embodiment, the second link 814 uses the Modbus protocol.

[0128] Controller 220 communicates with energy storage device controller 820. Energy storage device controller 820 may be implemented using a processor-based controller (e.g., similar to controller 220), which includes a general-purpose microprocessor that executes a computer program stored on a storage medium to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively, energy storage device controller 820 may be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or a combination of hardware and software. Energy storage device controller 820 may be referred to as a battery management controller and is connected to energy storage device 240 via an interface. Energy storage device controller 820 may obtain information (e.g., state of charge, health status, temperature, etc.) from energy storage device 240. Energy storage device controller 820 may also control the charging or discharging of energy storage device 240 by controlling a power converter coupled to energy storage device 240. Controller 220 may communicate with energy storage device controller 820 via a third link 816. Third link 816 may be implemented using wired and / or wireless communication technologies. In an example embodiment, third link 816 uses the Modbus protocol. The energy storage device controller 820 may include a separate wired or wireless communication interface (e.g., Bluetooth) to allow a user (e.g., a service worker) to interact with the energy storage device controller 820.

[0129] System 800 can operate in various modes to control the power consumed by the air conditioning system. Figure 11The power requirements of the air conditioning system under various modes are depicted. Plot 900 shows the power requirements of the first unit 200 (e.g., compressor and fan). Figure 11 In the example, the first unit 200 is an outdoor unit or ODU. Other loads may also contribute to the power demand of the air conditioning system. Plot 1000 illustrates the power demand on the energy storage device 240 (e.g., a battery), which can be positive when the energy storage device 240 is being charged or negative when the energy storage device 240 is being discharged. Plot 1000 also illustrates a charge limit 1002, which indicates the maximum permissible power for charging the energy storage device 240. Plot 1000 also illustrates a discharge limit 1004, which indicates the maximum permissible power for discharging from the energy storage device 240 when, for example, power is supplied to the first unit 200 (and optionally other loads). Charge limit 1002 and discharge limit 1004 prevent the energy storage device 240 from receiving or supplying excessive power, which could be harmful to the energy storage device 240.

[0130] Plot 1100 shows the power requirements at the point of common coupling (PCC). For example... Figure 11 As shown, the power demand at the point of common coupling (PCC) is equal to the power demand of the first unit 200 plus the power used to charge the energy storage device 240 minus the power supplied by discharging the energy storage device 240. Plot 1100 also shows a PCC power setpoint 1102. The controller 220 operates the system 800 in various modes and controls the charging and discharging of the energy storage device 240 such that the power demand at the point of common coupling (PCC) is equal to or less than the PCC power setpoint 1102. Furthermore, in the example embodiment, the PCC power setpoint 1102 is positive (e.g., zero or greater) to prevent the system 800 from feeding power back from the energy storage device 240 to the AC power grid. In other embodiments, power feeding back to the AC power grid may be permitted.

[0131] The energy storage device controller (820) receives charge / discharge limits and PCC power setpoint 1102 via controller (220) and tracks the PCC power setpoint 1102 within these limits. A utility (or virtual power plant) can provide the PCC power setpoint 1102 or limits on the PCC power consumed or generated. If the utility wants the PCC power to not exceed a certain power limit, it will send that limit as the PCC power setpoint 1102. To avoid exceeding the PCC power setpoint 1102 by charging the energy storage device 240, the energy storage device 240 charging limit 1002 can be set to 0 W. Simultaneously, the energy storage device discharging limit 1004 can be set to, for example, a nominal discharging power limit. In this way, it is possible to track the PCC power setpoint 1102 by charging and discharging the energy storage device 240.

[0132] System 800 can operate in multiple modes, in Figure 11 The display shows normal mode, charging mode, and discharging mode. This article references... Figure 12 Each operating mode is described in more detail. Figure 12 The control process for compensating for the power used by the air conditioning system is described.

[0133] refer to Figure 12 At 1200, controller 220 receives PCC power setpoint 1102, charging limit 1002, discharging limit 1004, and the power requirement of the first unit. PCC power setpoint 1102 can be received directly from remote system 810 by controller 220. PCC power setpoint 1102 can be received from remote system 810 by user interface 260 and then forwarded to controller 220.

[0134] At 1202, the system enters an operating mode including normal mode, charging mode, and discharging mode. Controller 220 can transmit the power requirements of the first unit 200 (e.g., compressor power requirements plus fan power requirements, and optionally other loads), charging limit 1002, discharging limit 1004, and PCC setpoint to the energy storage device controller 820. The power requirements of the first unit 200 are determined by controller 220 based on parameters such as operating mode (e.g., high cooling, low cooling, idle), outside air temperature (OAT), and current and voltage measured at the PCC.

[0135] If the power demand of the first unit 200 is less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device 240 is fully charged (e.g., the state of charge of the energy storage device 240 is greater than a threshold), then at 1204, the energy storage device controller 820 can operate in normal mode. If the controller 820 selects normal mode, the process proceeds to 1204, where the system operates in normal mode, meaning that the first unit (e.g., outdoor unit 200 and optionally other loads) is powered solely by the AC power grid with little or no charging or discharging of the energy storage device 240. Normal mode is entered if the charging / discharging limit of the energy storage device 240 is 0 W. Normal mode can also be entered if the PCC power setpoint 1120 is not provided. Normal mode can also be entered if the PCC setpoint is invalid or unavailable. During normal mode, the energy storage device 240 can be trickled charged from the AC power grid 302 and / or trickled charged by an auxiliary DC source 314 (e.g., a photovoltaic source) to extend its lifespan by performing maintenance routines. (Reference) Figure 11 As can be seen, in normal mode, the power consumed by the first unit 200 in plot 900 reflects the power consumed at PCC in plot 1100. This is because the energy storage device 240 is not involved in the normal operating mode. Furthermore, the power consumed at PCC in plot 1100 remains equal to or less than the PCC power setpoint 1102.

[0136] If the power demand of the first unit 200 is less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device 240 is not fully charged (e.g., the state of charge of the energy storage device 240 is less than a threshold) and the charging limit 1002 is positive and non-zero, then at 1206, the energy storage device controller 820 can operate in charging mode. In charging mode, the first unit (e.g., outdoor unit 200 and optionally other loads) is powered solely by the AC power grid, wherein the energy storage device 240 is charged by the AC power grid. During charging mode, the energy storage device 240 may be charged from the AC power grid 302 and / or by an auxiliary DC source 314 (e.g., a photovoltaic source). During charging mode, the power used to charge the energy storage device is limited by the charging limit 1002. (Reference) Figure 11As can be seen, in charging mode, the power consumed by the first unit 200 in plot 900 plus the power used to charge the energy storage device 240 in plot 1000 equals the power consumed at PCC in plot 1100. Furthermore, the power consumed at PCC in plot 1100 remains equal to or less than PCC power setpoint 1102. Thus, the energy storage device 240 will only be charged until the power consumed at PCC in plot 1100 remains at or below PCC power setpoint 1102. For example, in time frame 1003 of plot 1000, the power demand of the first unit 200 is equal to PCC power setpoint 1102. Therefore, the energy storage device 240 is not charged in time frame 1003.

[0137] The energy storage device controller 820 knows the difference between the power demand of the first unit 200 and the PCC setpoint, and can apply this difference of excess power to charge the energy storage device 240. Therefore, the power consumed at the PCC in plot 1100 remains equal to or less than the PCC power setpoint 1102 in real time. The energy storage device controller 820 signals the controller 220 to enter the charging mode and operates one or more necessary power converters to charge the energy storage device 240.

[0138] If the power demand of the first unit 200 exceeds the PCC setpoint and the discharge limit 1004 is positive and non-zero, the energy storage device controller 820 can operate in discharge mode at 1208. Although the power flow in plot 1000 is shown as negative, the discharge limit 1004 can be represented by a positive number indicating the power limit. In discharge mode, the first unit (e.g., outdoor unit 200 and optionally other loads) is powered by the AC power grid and the energy storage device 240. (Reference) Figure 11 As can be seen, in discharge mode, the power consumed by the first unit 200 minus the power supplied by the energy storage device 240 in plot 900 yields the power consumed at PCC in plot 1100. In discharge mode, the power supplied to the energy storage device 240 is negative, as shown in plot 1000. During discharge mode, the power supplied by the energy storage device is limited by discharge limit 1004. Figure 11 In the example shown, the PCC power setpoint 1102 has been lowered (e.g., indicating a requirement for the consumer to use less power). Energy storage device 240 will only be discharged until the power consumed at the PCC in plot 1100 remains equal to or less than the PCC power setpoint 1102. For example, in time frame 902 of plot 900, the power demand of the first unit 200 is less than the PCC power setpoint 1102. Therefore, there is no need to discharge energy storage device 240 in time frame 902.

[0139] As described above, controller 220 can send charging / discharging power limits to energy storage device 240, thereby limiting whether energy storage device 240 is allowed to charge / discharge, i.e., enter charging or discharging mode. When deciding to enter charging / discharging mode, energy storage device controller 820 can consider utility pricing.

[0140] Figure 12 The process returns to 1200, and the mode can be continuously adjusted in real time.

[0141] As described above, embodiments may take the form of processor-implemented processes and means for performing those processes (such as controller 220, energy storage controller 820, 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, SD card, flash drive, floppy disk, CD ROM, hard disk drive, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a means for performing the embodiments. Embodiments may also take the form of computer program code, which may be stored in a storage medium, loaded into and / or executed by a computer, or transmitted via a transmission medium (such as via wires or cables, optical fibers, or via electromagnetic radiation), wherein when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a means for performing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

[0142] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “the” are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises and / or comprising” as used in this specification specify the presence of the stated 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, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0143] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various exemplary embodiments have been shown and described herein, each having certain features of a particular embodiment, but this disclosure is not intended to be limiting. Rather, this disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not previously described but commensurate with the scope of this disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of this disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of this disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Therefore, this disclosure should not be construed as limited by the foregoing description, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for compensating power used by an air conditioning system coupled to an AC power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC), the method comprising: Receive common point of coupling (PCC) setpoint, charging limit, discharging limit and power requirements of the first unit; Select an operation mode from the following operation modes: In normal mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered only by the AC power grid, the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint. In a charging mode, the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid, and the energy storage device is charged such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power used to charge the energy storage device is limited by the charging limit during the charging mode. In a discharge mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered by both the AC power grid and the energy storage device, such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power supplied by the energy storage device during the discharge mode is limited by the discharge limit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, In response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device having sufficient charge and the charge / discharge limit of the energy storage device being 0 W, the normal mode is selected.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The charging mode is selected in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint, receiving a positive non-zero charging limit, and the energy storage device not having sufficient charging status.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The discharge mode is selected in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system exceeding the PCC setpoint and the receipt of a positive non-zero discharge limit.

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The PCC setpoint is positive.

6. An air conditioning system, comprising: The first unit is configured to couple to an AC power grid at a point of common coupling (PCC); The controller in the first unit; Energy storage devices; Energy storage device controller; The energy storage device controller receives the common point of coupling (PCC) setpoint, charging limit, discharging limit, and power requirements of the first unit; The energy storage device controller selects an operating mode from the following operating modes: In normal mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered only by the AC power grid, the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint. In a charging mode, the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid, and the energy storage device is charged such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power used to charge the energy storage device is limited by the charging limit during the charging mode. In a discharge mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered by both the AC power grid and the energy storage device, such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power supplied by the energy storage device during the discharge mode is limited by the discharge limit.

7. The air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein, In response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device having sufficient charge and the charge / discharge limit of the energy storage device being 0 W, the normal mode is selected.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The charging mode is selected in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint, receiving a positive non-zero charging limit, and the energy storage device not having sufficient charging status.

9. The air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The discharge mode is selected in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system exceeding the PCC setpoint and the receipt of a positive non-zero discharge limit.

10. The air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The PCC setpoint is positive.

11. The air conditioning system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The PCC setpoint and the power requirement of the first unit are transmitted from the controller of the first unit to the energy storage device controller.

12. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a processor to implement a process for compensating for power used by an air conditioning system coupled to an AC power grid at a common point of coupling (PCC), the process comprising: Receive common point of coupling (PCC) setpoint, charging limit, discharging limit and power requirements of the first unit; Select an operation mode from the following operation modes: In normal mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered only by the AC power grid, the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint. In a charging mode, the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered solely by the AC power grid, and the energy storage device is charged such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power used to charge the energy storage device is limited by a charging limit during the charging mode. In a discharge mode, during which the first unit of the air conditioning system is powered by both the AC power grid and the energy storage device, such that the power consumed at the PCC is equal to or less than the PCC setpoint, wherein the power supplied by the energy storage device during the discharge mode is limited by a discharge limit.

13. The computer program according to claim 12, wherein, In response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint and the energy storage device having sufficient charge and the charge / discharge limit of the energy storage device being 0 W, the normal mode is selected.

14. The computer program according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, The charging mode is selected in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system being less than the PCC setpoint, receiving a positive non-zero charging limit, and the energy storage device not having sufficient charging status.

15. The computer program according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The discharge mode is selected in response to the power demand of the air conditioning system exceeding the PCC setpoint and the receipt of a positive non-zero discharge limit.

16. The computer program according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The PCC setpoint is positive.

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