Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system battery transfer switch

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The HVAC system includes a first HVAC unit, a second HVAC unit including a battery, a panel that receives grid power, and a switching element. The switching element is separate from the panel and is configured to assume a first state in which power is transmittable from the panel to the first and second HVAC units when the grid power is available, and a second state in which power is transmittable from the panel to the first and second HVAC units when the grid power is not available. Power is deliverable from the battery to the first HVAC unit.

Description

Battery transfer switch for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems 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 and distribute electricity (via the AC 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 power costs and continuous availability for consumers and businesses. Generally, shortages and / or increased costs often occur during periods of peak demand. Peak demand can occur based on the time of day, such as 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 generators and / or the power grid of utility companies, resulting in significant power loss to commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Repairs to these damaged lines and generators can take hours, days, or weeks. Various locations may also lose power from the 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 grid.

[0003] Often, electricity from the grid is more expensive during peak demand periods. For example, power utilities might use low-cost generators during periods of minimum demand and then switch to higher-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 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 aspect of this disclosure, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The HVAC system includes: a first HVAC unit, a second HVAC unit including a battery, a panel receiving mains power, and a switching element. The switching element is separate from the panel and configured to present: a first state, in which power is available from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit when mains power is available; and a second state, in which power is available from the battery to the first HVAC unit when mains power is unavailable.

[0006] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the power can be delivered from the battery as direct current (DC) to the first HVAC unit.

[0007] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the switching element is automatic and includes a controller for placing the switching element in a first state and a second state, respectively, based on whether the grid power is available or unavailable.

[0008] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the first HVAC unit includes an additional battery, and the controller operates the switching element to optimize power distribution between the battery and the additional battery.

[0009] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically inserted between the panel and the second HVAC unit, and the first switch and the second switch operate independently of each other.

[0010] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the HVAC system further includes at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

[0011] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically inserted between the panel and the second HVAC unit, and the first switch and the second switch operate in concert.

[0012] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the HVAC system further includes at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

[0013] According to an aspect of this disclosure, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The HVAC system includes: a first HVAC unit; a second HVAC unit including a battery; a panel receiving mains power; a first power line and a second power line, through which power can be transmitted from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit, respectively; and a switching element. The switching element is separate from the panel and configured to present: a first state, in which power is available from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit via the first power line and the second power line, respectively, when mains power is available; and a second state, in which the first power line and the second power line are electrically disconnected, and power is available from the battery to the first HVAC unit when mains power is unavailable.

[0014] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the power can be delivered from the battery as direct current (DC) to the first HVAC unit.

[0015] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the switching element is automatic and includes a controller for placing the switching element in a first state and a second state, respectively, based on whether the grid power is available or unavailable.

[0016] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the first HVAC unit includes an additional battery, and the controller operates the switching element to optimize power distribution between the battery and the additional battery.

[0017] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted along the first power line between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically inserted along the second power line between the panel and the second HVAC unit, wherein the first switch and the second switch operate independently of each other.

[0018] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the HVAC system further includes at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

[0019] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted along the first power line between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically inserted along the second power line between the panel and the second HVAC unit, and the first switch and the second switch operate in concert.

[0020] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the HVAC system further includes at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

[0021] According to an aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided for retrofitting a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system with battery switching. The HVAC system initially includes a first power line and a second power line, respectively electrically inserted between a panel receiving mains power and a first HVAC unit and a second HVAC unit. The method includes: separately arranging a first switch and a second switch along the first power line and the second power line, respectively; and configuring the first switch and the second switch to present: a first state, in which, when mains power is available, power is available from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit via the first power line and the second power line, respectively; and a second state, in which the first power line and the second power line are electrically disconnected, and when mains power is unavailable, power is available from a battery in the second HVAC unit to the first HVAC unit.

[0022] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the first HVAC unit includes an additional battery, and the configuration of the first switch and the second switch includes configuring the first switch and the second switch to optimize power distribution between the battery and the additional battery.

[0023] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the configuration of the first switch and the second switch includes configuring the first switch and the second switch to operate independently of each other.

[0024] According to one or more additional and / or alternative embodiments, the configuration of the first switch and the second switch includes configuring the first switch and the second switch to operate in a cooperative manner.

[0025] 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

[0026] This disclosure is illustrated by way of example and is not limited to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate similar elements.

[0027] Figure 1 depicts the system in an example embodiment.

[0028] Figure 2 depicts the controller in an example embodiment.

[0029] Figure 3A depicts the electrical architecture in an example embodiment.

[0030] Figure 3B depicts the electrical architecture in an example embodiment.

[0031] Figure 4A depicts the electrical architecture in an example embodiment.

[0032] Figure 4B depicts the electrical architecture in an example embodiment.

[0033] Figure 5A depicts the electrical architecture of a constant-speed compressor with a DC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0034] Figure 5B depicts the electrical architecture of a constant-speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0035] Figure 5C depicts the electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor with a DC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0036] Figure 5D depicts the electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment.

[0037] Figure 6 illustrates the electrical architecture of a compressor powered by a multi-stage inverter in an example embodiment.

[0038] Figure 7 depicts one phase branch of a five-stage multiphase inverter in an example embodiment.

[0039] Figure 8 illustrates the communication between the controller, thermostat, and remote system in the example embodiment.

[0040] Figure 9 illustrates the control process in an example embodiment.

[0041] Figures 10A and 10B depict an HVAC system with battery switching capability according to an embodiment.

[0042] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the manual switch of the HVAC system of Figures 10A and 10B according to an embodiment.

[0043] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the controller for the switch of the HVAC system of Figures 10A and 10B according to an embodiment.

[0044] Figure 13 depicts an HVAC system with parallel battery switching capability according to an embodiment.

[0045] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method for retrofitting an HVAC system with battery switching capability according to an embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0046] 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 a utility signal. By way of example, a utility signal can be received from the electrical AC grid and can include an Independent System Operator (ISO), which can comprise an independent, federally regulated entity established to coordinate regional transmission in a non-discriminatory manner and ensure the reliability and security of the power system; or a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), which operates a large portion of the power system across a geographic region and is generally an independent, membership-based, non-profit organization that ensures reliability and optimizes 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 generation, transmission, and / or distribution.

[0047] 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 the power grid.

[0048] Figure 1 depicts system 100 in an example embodiment. System 100 includes components of an air conditioning system. The phrase "air conditioning" is intended to include one or more of heating, cooling, ventilation, humidification, dehumidification, refrigeration, hot water heating, cooling water or fluid, air filtration, and other known air handling operations, or any combination of such operations. An air conditioning system may include known types of systems, such as heat pumps, geothermal 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 co-located (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 co-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.

[0049] In the example shown in Figure 1, the first unit 200 may 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 may be located inside building 102 (as is common for split systems). It should be understood that Figure 1 is an example, and the embodiment is not limited to split systems.

[0050] System 100 includes a controller 220, a power converter 230, and an energy storage device (ESD) 240. Figure 1 is an example embodiment, and the location of the components is not limited to the locations shown in Figure 1. For example, the power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and controller 220 may be separate from a first unit 200 that houses a compressor 242, a drive 244, a 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 to an existing first unit 200 of an air conditioning system and / or an existing second unit 250 of an air conditioning system. One or more of the power converter 230, 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] The system of Figure 1 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 grid, solely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the AC grid and the energy storage device 240. The one or more components of the air conditioning system include components in the first unit 200 and components in the second unit 250.

[0055] Figure 2 depicts a controller 220 according to one embodiment. The controller 220 includes a sensor interface 222 that can acquire operating parameters of the air conditioning system, such as pressure and temperature. 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.

[0056] 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 means, 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.).

[0057] 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.

[0058] Referring to Figure 1, power converter 230 is used to perform any necessary power conversions, 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. As shown in Figure 1, power converter 230 is connected to AC and / or DC power sources and / or loads. Power converter 230 may 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 grid. Controller 220 can select whether power will come from the AC grid or from power converter 230. Example embodiments of power converter 230 are described herein.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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, and 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] The optional thermostat 260 provides a user interface for the air conditioning system 100 and allows the user to input the operating mode of the air conditioning system 100, input setpoints for each zone of the system 100, etc. The indoor load 270 can be powered by the first unit 200. The indoor load 270 includes 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.

[0063] Figure 3A depicts the electrical architecture in an example embodiment. The location of the components in Figure 3A is an example, and any component 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 can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0064] As shown in Figure 3A, the AC 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 grid 302. The first unit 200 can also be powered by a combination of the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. The 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 the control of one or more power converters).

[0065] AC 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 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.

[0066] AC grid 302 can also be connected to one of unidirectional or bidirectional AC / DC converters 312 that interface AC power bus 305 with DC power bus 313. DC power bus 313 supplies power to a DC load 248, which may be located in the first unit 200. Under certain conditions, DC power bus 313 supplies power to one or more components of the air conditioning system (e.g., compressor 242 and fan 246) via 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 AC grid 302. Bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 also allows power from DC bus 313 to be directed to AC grid 302.

[0067] 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 implementations of the power converter 230 in Figure 1. 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 and are connected to the AC bus 305 and / or the DC bus 313 via a suitable AC / AC converter or AC / DC converter.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] The electrical architecture of Figure 3A 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0071] Figure 3B depicts the electrical architecture in an example embodiment. The location of the components in Figure 3B is an example, and any component 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 can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0072] Figure 3B is similar to Figure 3A, except that the AC / AC converter 310 is eliminated. The compressor 242 is supplied with power from the compressor drive 244A. The compressor drive 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or relay, connecting the compressor 242 to the AC power bus 305. In other embodiments, the compressor drive 244A can be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter. The compressor drive 244A can be controlled by a controller 220.

[0073] 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.

[0074] The electrical architecture of Figure 3B 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0075] Figure 4A depicts an electrical architecture in another example embodiment. The location of the components in Figure 4A is an example, and any component 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 can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0076] In Figure 4A, 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 grid 302 (under certain conditions). The bidirectional (or unidirectional) AC / DC converter 312 interfaces the AC power bus 305 with the DC power bus 313.

[0077] 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.

[0078] The electrical architecture of Figure 4A 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0079] Figure 4B depicts an electrical architecture in another example embodiment. The location of the components in Figure 4B is an example, and any component 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 can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0080] Figure 4B is similar to Figure 4A, except that fan 246 includes fan driver 244B. 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.

[0081] The electrical architecture of Figure 4B 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0082] Figure 5A depicts the DC electrical architecture of the constant-speed first unit 200 in an example embodiment. The component locations in Figure 5A are illustrative, and any component may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or separate from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows for the retrofitting of components into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, components may be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0083] 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. As shown in FIG5A, AC power from the AC grid 302 is supplied to the power converter 230 via the grid disconnect device 304. The power converter 230 includes an AC / DC converter 370 and a DC / AC converter 372. The output of the DC / AC converter 372 is provided to the compressor 242 via a compressor drive 244A. Because the compressor 242 is constant speed, the compressor drive 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or a relay.

[0084] 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 the first unit 200 to operate independently of or in conjunction with AC grid 302. AC / DC converter 370 can be bidirectional, allowing energy storage device 240 to provide power to and from AC grid 302.

[0085] 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, enabling the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC grid 302, or under power from both the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. It also allows auxiliary power sources to be added in a modular manner.

[0086] The electrical architecture of Figure 5A 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0087] Figure 5B depicts the AC electrical architecture of the constant-speed first unit 200 in an example embodiment. The component positions in Figure 5B are illustrative, and any component may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or separate from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows for the retrofitting of components into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, components can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0088] 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.

[0089] In Figure 5B, power converter 230 includes a DC / DC converter 241 and an AC / DC converter 370 coupled to energy storage device 240. AC / DC converter 370 can be bidirectional, allowing energy storage device 240 to supply power to and charge from AC grid 302. Because compressor 242 is constant-speed, compressor drive 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or relay.

[0090] 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 grid 302, or under the power from both the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0091] The electrical architecture of Figure 5B 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0092] Figure 5C depicts the DC electrical architecture of the first transmission unit 200 in an example embodiment. The component locations in Figure 5C are illustrative, and any component may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or separate from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows for the retrofitting of components into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, components may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0093] Figure 5C is similar to Figure 5A, except that compressor drive 244A provides variable speed operation for compressor 242. The other loads 248 of the first unit 200 can be powered from the output of DC / AC converter 372.

[0094] 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 grid 302, or under the power from both the AC grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0095] 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.

[0096] The electrical architecture of Figure 5C 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0097] Figure 5D depicts the DC electrical architecture of the first transmission unit 200 in an example embodiment. The component locations in Figure 5D are illustrative, and any component may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or separate from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows for the retrofitting of components into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, components may be incorporated into subassemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0098] Figure 5D is similar to Figure 5B, except that compressor drive 244A provides variable speed operation for compressor 242. Other loads 248 of the first unit 200 can be powered from the AC power bus 305.

[0099] 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.

[0100] 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 grid 302, or under the power from both the AC grid and the energy storage device 240.

[0101] The electrical architecture of Figure 5D 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0102] Figure 6 depicts an electrical architecture with a variable-speed compressor drive in an example embodiment, which includes a multi-stage inverter. For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The positions of the components in Figure 6 are illustrative, and any component may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or separate from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows for the retrofitting of components into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0103] As shown in Figure 6, AC power from the AC 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.

[0104] Multistage 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 voltage stages. In the embodiment of Figure 6, energy storage device 240 can set voltage stages. Energy storage device 240 may contain internal battery modules connected in series. Multistage inverter 382 directly uses these battery modules for each required voltage stage, thereby enabling the benefits of a multistage inverter. Multistage inverter 382 benefits from lower harmonic output and lower dv / dt device stress. Multistage 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).

[0105] Figure 7 illustrates one phase branch of a five-stage multiphase inverter in one embodiment of the multistage inverter 382. The energy storage device 240 comprises 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.

[0106] 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).

[0107] Referring to Figure 6, both the AC / DC converter 380 and the multistage inverter 382 operate under the control of the controller 220. Between the AC / DC converter 380 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 grid 302, or under the power from both the AC 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 grid.

[0108] The electrical architecture of Figure 6 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 grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of the energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302. The power supplied by the AC grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or 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 grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC 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. Example conditions are discussed below with reference to Figure 9.

[0109] In the embodiments described above, one or more auxiliary DC sources may be used to provide DC power. These auxiliary DC sources may include sources such as solar DC power, wind DC power, geothermal DC power, fuel cells, etc.

[0110] Figure 8 illustrates the communication between controller 220, thermostat 260, and remote system 410 in an example embodiment. 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.

[0111] 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.

[0112] 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 devices, distributed computing systems (e.g., cloud computing), processor-based systems, and / or consumer electronic devices. Remote system 410 provides information for 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 electricity on the AC 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.

[0113] 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.

[0114] Figure 9 illustrates the energy management process 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 time period to avoid service explanations (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.

[0115] If a request for reduced energy use is received, the process proceeds to 602, where a user (e.g., a utility consumer) 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 energy consumption reduction via thermostat 260 or via a mobile device.

[0116] If the user approves a reduction in energy use 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 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 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 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 grid. The energy storage device 240 and the AC grid 302 are used in conjunction to supply power to one or more components and / or one or more loads of the air conditioning system.

[0117] The one or more components that use energy storage device 240 to operate the air conditioning system may also include limiting the amount of power drawn from AC 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 AC 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 AC 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.

[0118] 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 mains 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 mains 302. This results in interrupting the discharge of the energy storage device 240 and / or initiating a recharging of the energy storage device 240.

[0119] 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 relayed from the utility to the air conditioning system. Peak price does not necessarily require the price of electricity to be at its maximum, but is generally known in the art as 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 of the air conditioning system and loads 270 (including indoor AC loads 308 and / or other loads) are powered by energy storage device 240, either alone or in conjunction with AC grid 302. As noted above, controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from AC 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.

[0120] Regarding grid capacity, information about grid capacity and current grid load can be obtained from remote systems, such as utility pricing sources. If AC grid 302 is at or near grid capacity (e.g., within grid capacity thresholds and optionally increasing), using power from energy storage device 240 to avoid power interruptions may be robust.

[0121] 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 an energy-reducing 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.

[0122] In another example, based on data from block 602 (e.g., user consent) or based on data from block 600 (e.g., a request to reduce energy usage), the system may use power from energy storage device 240 based on machine learning (ML) and / or artificial intelligence (AI) control algorithms implemented by controller 220.

[0123] 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 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 operational limits. If so, the process returns to 600. At 610, controller 220 may 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.

[0124] 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 periods.

[0125] If at 610, the energy storage device has 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).

[0126] While Figure 9 relates to operating one or more components and / or other loads of the air conditioning system to reduce power consumption, other techniques can 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 energy storage device 240.

[0127] If the thermostat 260 is equipped with a processor 261, one or more operations of the process in FIG9 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 in a hardware / software combination. The controller 220 and the thermostat can perform all or some of the operations in FIG9, either together or separately.

[0128] In other embodiments, controller 220 and / or thermostat 260 execute system enhancement routines to improve the performance of the entire air conditioning system, based on optimization (including model predictive control) or machine learning techniques, taking into account carbon impact, energy performance, energy cost, lifecycle cost, impact on equipment lifespan, and reliability. These system enhancement routines can operate with or without information about weather, occupancy, historical usage, consumer preferences, equipment performance profiles (HVAC, battery), and the likelihood of power outages. Machine learning techniques regarding consumer preferences, usage, flexibility in temperature determination, cost, environmental concerns, etc., 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.

[0129] Typically, in HVAC systems with batteries similar to those described above, batteries can serve as a temporary backup power source for high energy demands on outdoor units during certain periods, such as when grid power is expensive. This type of solution can significantly reduce grid power requirements while keeping the HVAC system operational, but only as long as grid power is still supplied to the system. When the grid is unavailable, using batteries to power indoor units would require costly rewiring.

[0130] Therefore, as described below, the HVAC system is provided with outdoor and indoor units, a battery for the outdoor unit, and a unique transfer and redirection switch (hereinafter referred to as the "switch") located near the building's electrical panel. In the event of a power outage, the switch disconnects the indoor and outdoor units from the panel and connects the power line of the outdoor unit to the power line of the indoor unit, which is typically used to transfer power from the panel to the outdoor unit. This allows the battery of the outdoor unit to feed power back to the components of the indoor unit, thereby maintaining the building's HVAC operation in the absence of grid power.

[0131] Referring to Figures 10A and 10B, an HVAC system 1001 is provided and includes: a first HVAC unit 1010, which may include or be provided as an indoor unit; and a second HVAC unit 1020, which includes a battery 1021 capable of powering certain components of the second HVAC unit 1020, and which may include or be provided as an outdoor unit. The HVAC system 1001 also includes a panel 1030 receiving power from the mains, a first power line 1040, a second power line 1050, and a switching element 1060 separate from the panel 1030. The first power line 1040 is configured such that power can be transmitted from the panel 1030 to the first HVAC unit 1010 via the first power line 1040. The first power line 1040 includes a first segment 1041 adjacent to the panel 1030 and a second segment 1042 adjacent to the first HVAC unit 1010. The second power line 1050 is set and configured such that power can be transmitted from panel 1030 to second HVAC unit 1020 via the second power line 1050. The second power line 1050 includes a first segment 1051 near panel 1030 and a second segment 1052 near second HVAC unit 1020.

[0132] As shown in Figure 10A, the switching element 1060 can be positioned at a distance D from the panel 1030 and can include a housing 1061 that is separate from and distinct from the housing 1031 of the panel 1030. Furthermore, although the panel 1030 can be installed together with the first HVAC unit 1010 and the second HVAC unit 1020, as well as the first power line 1040 and the second power line 1050, when the HVAC system 1001 is initially assembled and installed, the switching element 1060 can be installed at a later time to retrofit the HVAC system 1001 for battery switching capabilities.

[0133] Switching element 1060 is separate from panel 1030 and configured to present a first state when mains power is available and a second state when mains power is unavailable. Switching element 1060 may include a first switching element portion 1062, a second switching element portion 1063, and a third switching element portion 1064. When switching element 1060 is in the first state (see FIG. 10A), the third switching element portion 1064 is electrically disconnected from the first switching element portion 1062 and the second switching element portion 1063. When switching element 1060 is in the second state (see FIG. 10B), the third switching element portion 1064 is electrically inserted and connected between the first switching element portion 1062 and the second switching element portion 1063.

[0134] As shown in Figure 10A, the first state of the switching element 1060 is characterized in that, when grid power is available, power can be transmitted from the panel 1030 to the first HVAC unit 1010 and the second HVAC unit 1020 via the first power line 1040 and the second power line 1050, respectively. That is, when the switching element 1060 is set to the first state, the first switching element portion 1062 is electrically connected to the first segment 1041 and the second segment 1042 of the first power line 1040, allowing power to flow from the panel 1030 along the first power line 1040 to the first HVAC unit 1010, and the second switching element portion 1063 is electrically connected to the first segment 1051 and the second segment 1052 of the second power line 1050, allowing power to flow from the panel 1030 along the second power line 1050 to the second HVAC unit 1020.

[0135] As shown in Figure 10B, the second state of the switching element 1060 is characterized in that, when grid power is unavailable, the first power line 1040 and the second power line 1050 are electrically disconnected, and power can be transmitted from the second HVAC unit 1020 and the battery 1021 to the first HVAC unit 1010. That is, when the switching element 1060 is set to the second state, the first switching element portion 1062 and the second switching element portion 1063 electrically disconnect the corresponding first segments 1041 and 1051 of the first power line 1040 and the second power line 1050 from the corresponding second segments 1042 and 1052 of the first power line 1040 and the second power line 1050, and electrically connect the corresponding second segments 1042 and 1052 of the first power line 1040 and the second power line 1050 across the third switching element portion 1064, so that power can flow from the second HVAC unit 1020 and the battery 1021 to the first HVAC unit 1010.

[0136] Referring to FIG11, the switching element 1060 may include a manually operable switch actuator 1101. The switch actuator 1101 may be coupled to a first switching element portion 1062 and a second switching element portion 1063, and may be configured to be manually operated by an operator to manipulate the first switching element portion 1062 and the second switching element portion 1063, thereby placing the switching element 1060 in a first state or a second state.

[0137] Referring to Figure 12, the switching element 1060 may be automatic and may include a controller 1200 for automatically placing the switching element 1060 into a first state based on the availability of mains power and into a second state based on the unavailability of mains power. In this case, the HVAC system 1001 may further include a sensor 1201 (see Figure 10A) for sensing whether mains power is available. The sensor 1201 may include or be provided as one or more, such as a current sensor and a voltage sensor, and may be positioned along the mains power input line leading to the panel 1030. As shown in Figure 12, the controller 1200 may include a processor 1210, a memory unit 1220, an input / output (I / O) unit 1230 through which the processor 1210 communicates with the sensor 1201, and a servo unit 1240 through which the processor 1210 controls a first switching element portion 1062 and a second switching element portion 1063 of the switching element 1060. Memory unit 1220 has executable instructions stored thereon, which are readable and executable by processor 1210. When the executable instructions are read and executed by processor 1210, processor 1210 operates as described herein. Specifically, when the executable instructions are read and executed by processor 1210, processor 1210 determines whether grid power is available based on the reading of sensor 1201. If grid power is available, switching element 1060 is brought to a first state by means of servo unit 1240, and if grid power is unavailable, switching element 1060 is brought to a second state by means of servo unit 1240.

[0138] In some cases, it should be understood that one of the first and second states of the switching element 1060 can be biased. That is, the switching element 1060 can be biased to present the first state, in which case the switching element 1060 must be actively operated (i.e., manually operated or automatically operated by the controller 1200) to present the second state.

[0139] In some cases, the first HVAC unit 1010 may include an auxiliary battery 1011 (see FIG. 10A) that can power certain components of the first HVAC unit 1010. In these or other cases, the processor 1210 may be further configured such that when executable instructions are read and executed by the processor 1210, the processor 1210 operates the switching element 1060 to optimize power distribution between the battery 1021 and the auxiliary battery 1011.

[0140] Referring back to Figure 10A, the switching element 1060 may include a first switch 1071 and a second switch 1072, where the first switching element portion 1062 is an assembly of the first switch 1071 and the second switching element portion 1063 is an assembly of the second switch 1072. The first switch 1071 is electrically inserted along a first power line 1040 between panel 1030 and the first HVAC unit 1010, and the second switch 1072 is electrically inserted along a second power line 1050 between panel 1030 and the second HVAC unit 1020, typically as described above. In these or other cases, the first switch 1071 and the second switch 1072 may operate independently of each other (i.e., each of the first switch 1071 and the second switch 1072 may be manually operated individually and / or the controller 1200 may have separate logic for automatically operating the first switch 1071 and the second switch 1072) and / or cooperatively (i.e., where only one of the first switch 1071 and the second switch 1072 is actively operated, e.g., in a master-slave configuration).

[0141] Referring to Figure 13, the HVAC system 1001 may further include at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources 1301 connected in parallel with the battery 1021; one or more additional first switches 1310 connected in parallel with the first switch 1071; one or more additional loads 1302 connected in parallel with the first unit 1010; and one or more additional second switches 1320 connected in parallel with the second switch 1072. With this configuration, the first switch 1071 and the second switch 1072, the one or more additional first switches 1310, and the one or more additional second switches 1320 can be controlled to present an additional state in which the one or more additional power sources 1301, the second HVAC unit 1020, and the battery 1021 can electrically communicate with the one or more additional loads 1302 and the first HVAC unit 1010.

[0142] Referring to Figure 14, a method 1400 is provided for retrofitting an HVAC system (e.g., HVAC system 1001 of Figures 10A-13) with battery switching. The HVAC system initially includes a first power line and a second power line electrically inserted between a panel receiving mains power and a first HVAC unit and a second HVAC unit, respectively. Method 1400 includes configuring a first switch and a second switch separately from the panel and along the first and second power lines (block 1401), and configuring the first and second switches (block 1402) to independently and / or collaboratively present the aforementioned first state when mains power is available and the aforementioned second state when mains power is unavailable. In the case where the first HVAC unit includes an additional battery, the configuration of the first and second switches in block 1402 may further include configuring the first and second switches to optimize power distribution between the mains battery and the additional battery (block 14021).

[0143] It should be understood that the embodiments of Figures 10A, 10B, 11, and 13 can relate to situations where the current is AC or DC. In the case of DC current, for example, when panel 1030 is disconnected and the first HVAC unit 1010 operates relying on power drawn from battery 1021, the DC current from battery 1021 can be directly sent to the first HVAC unit 1010 through the feedback circuit of the first power line 1040 and the second power line 1050, as well as the switching element 1060, instead of converting DC to AC. Therefore, as shown in Figures 10A and 10B, for example, the second segment 1052 of the second power line 1050 can be directly electrically connected to and / or directly electrically connected to battery 1021 (this is also true for the embodiment of Figure 13).

[0144] The technical effects and benefits of this disclosure include providing an HVAC system capable of maintaining operation without grid power. While typical backup battery (or generator) solutions are implemented at the switchboard to disconnect circuitry from the grid and power them from an alternative source, where all wiring still supplies power to the unit from the panel, the method described herein redirects the branch circuitry to the outdoor unit to reverse the power flow along the branch circuitry and transfer power from the outdoor battery to the indoor unit.

[0145] As described above, embodiments may take the form of processor-implemented processes and means for performing those processes (such as controller 240 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.

[0146] 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.

[0147] 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 heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: First HVAC unit; A second HVAC unit including a battery; a panel for receiving grid power; And a switching element, which is separate from the panel and configured to present: a first state in which power can be transferred from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit when the mains power is available, and a second state in which power can be transferred from the battery to the first HVAC unit when the mains power is unavailable.

2. The HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein, The power can be delivered from the battery as direct current (DC) to the first HVAC unit.

3. The HVAC system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The switching element is automatic and includes a controller for placing the switching element in a first state and a second state, respectively, based on whether the grid power is available or unavailable.

4. The HVAC system according to claim 3, wherein, The first HVAC unit includes an auxiliary battery, and the controller operates the switching element to optimize power distribution between the main battery and the auxiliary battery.

5. The HVAC system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically inserted between the panel and the second HVAC unit, and the first switch and the second switch operate independently of each other.

6. The HVAC system of claim 5, further comprising at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

7. The HVAC system according to any one of claims 1-4 and 6, wherein, The switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted between the panel and the first HVAC unit and a second switch electrically inserted between the panel and the second HVAC unit, and the first switch and the second switch operate in concert.

8. The HVAC system of claim 7, further comprising at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

9. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: A first HVAC unit; a second HVAC unit including a battery; a panel for receiving grid power; a first power line and a second power line, through which power can be transmitted from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit, respectively; The panel includes a switching element, which is separate from the panel and configured to present: a first state in which, when the mains power is available, power can be delivered from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit via the first power line and the second power line, respectively; and a second state in which the first power line and the second power line are electrically disconnected, and when the mains power is unavailable, power can be delivered from the battery to the first HVAC unit.

10. The HVAC system according to claim 9, wherein, The power can be delivered from the battery as direct current (DC) to the first HVAC unit.

11. The HVAC system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The switching element is automatic and includes a controller for placing the switching element in a first state and a second state, respectively, based on whether the grid power is available or unavailable.

12. The HVAC system according to claim 11, wherein, The first HVAC unit includes an auxiliary battery, and the controller operates the switching element to optimize power distribution between the main battery and the auxiliary battery.

13. The HVAC system according to any one of claims 9-12, wherein, The switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted along the first power line between the panel and the first HVAC unit, and a second switch electrically inserted along the second power line between the panel and the second HVAC unit, wherein the first switch and the second switch operate independently of each other.

14. The HVAC system of claim 13, further comprising at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

15. The HVAC system according to any one of claims 9-12 and 14, wherein, The switching element includes a first switch electrically inserted along the first power line between the panel and the first HVAC unit, and a second switch electrically inserted along the second power line between the panel and the second HVAC unit, wherein the first switch and the second switch operate in concert.

16. The HVAC system of claim 15, further comprising at least one of the following: one or more additional power sources connected in parallel with the battery and one or more additional first switches connected in parallel with the first switch; and one or more additional loads connected in parallel with the first HVAC unit and one or more additional second switches connected in parallel with the second switch.

17. A method for retrofitting a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system with battery switching, the HVAC system initially comprising a first power line and a second power line electrically inserted between a panel receiving mains power and a first HVAC unit and a second HVAC unit, the method comprising: A first switch and a second switch are respectively disposed separately from the panel and along the first power line and the second power line; The first switch and the second switch are configured to present: a first state in which, when the mains power is available, power can be transmitted from the panel to the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit via the first power line and the second power line, respectively; and a second state in which the first power line and the second power line are electrically disconnected, and when the mains power is unavailable, power can be transmitted from the battery of the second HVAC unit to the first HVAC unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein: The first HVAC unit includes an auxiliary battery, and the configuration of the first switch and the second switch includes configuring the first switch and the second switch to optimize power distribution between the battery and the auxiliary battery.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein, The configuration of the first switch and the second switch includes configuring the first switch and the second switch to operate independently of each other.

20. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein, The configuration of the first switch and the second switch includes configuring the first switch and the second switch to operate in a coordinated manner.

Images