System and method for controlling the charge or discharge rate of a battery pack

Abstract

An air conditioning system includes: a controller; an energy storage device including a battery pack, wherein the energy storage device is operable to supply power to the air conditioning system; and an AC power bus for connecting the air conditioning system to an AC power grid to selectively charge the battery pack; wherein the controller is configured to: receive a request to charge or discharge the battery pack within a time window; determine whether the battery pack will remain within a predetermined operating temperature range when charged or discharged within the time window; and, in response to the determination, charge or discharge the battery pack according to the request, or reject the request.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments described herein relate to air conditioning systems, and more specifically to systems and methods for controlling the charging or discharging rate of a battery pack coupled to grid power for power operation of 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 an AC power grid). Shortages and / or increased costs associated with factors such as fossil fuel use, the intermittency of renewable resources, variability in power demand and supply, and increased energy demand significantly impact 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 for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Repairing these damaged lines and generators can take hours, days, or weeks. Various locations may also lose power from the 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] An air conditioning system includes: a controller; an energy storage device including a battery pack, wherein the energy storage device is operable to power the air conditioning system; and an AC power bus for connecting the air conditioning system to an AC power grid to selectively charge the battery pack; wherein the controller is configured to: receive a request to charge or discharge the battery pack within a time window; determine whether the battery pack will remain within a predetermined operating temperature range when charged or discharged within the time window; and, in response to the determination, charge or discharge the battery pack according to the request, or reject the request.

[0006] In addition to one or more of the aspects disclosed above or as an alternative to the system, the controller is configured to determine the current temperature of the battery pack and, based on a requirement associated with a request to charge or discharge the battery pack, to determine a temperature rise so as to reject the charging or discharging request if it is determined that the battery pack will exceed a predetermined operating temperature range when charged or discharged within a time window.

[0007] In addition to one or more of the aspects disclosed above or as an alternative to the system, the controller is configured to determine the current battery temperature by communicating with an energy storage device management system operatively coupled to the battery pack.

[0008] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the system, or as an alternative, the controller is configured to determine the highest charge or discharge rate that maintains the temperature of the battery pack within a predetermined operating temperature range and maintains the charging or discharging time within the requested range, and to delay charging or discharging when it is determined that there is no significant time to charge or discharge the battery pack at the highest charge or discharge rate while maintaining the temperature of the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range.

[0009] In addition to one or more of the aspects of the system disclosed above, or as an alternative, the controller is configured to stop charging or discharging if it determines that there is insufficient time to meet the requirements in the request while the battery pack is being charged or discharged.

[0010] In addition to one or more of the aspects disclosed above in the system, or as an alternative, the controller is configured to determine that the temperature rise in the battery pack will exceed a predetermined operating temperature range when the battery pack is being charged or discharged, and to stop charging or discharging.

[0011] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the system, or as an alternative, the controller is configured to, when determining that there is insufficient time to meet a requested charge or discharge requirement while charging or discharging the battery pack, modify the charging or discharging process within the time window identified in the request to meet the request requirement.

[0012] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the system, or as an alternative, the controller is configured to determine when the battery pack will exceed a predetermined operating temperature range during charging or discharging, and to modify the charging or discharging to meet the requirements in the request, while keeping the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range.

[0013] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the system, or as an alternative, the controller is configured to continuously monitor the current temperature of the battery pack throughout the entire charging or discharging process to determine whether to stop charging or discharging the battery pack.

[0014] In addition to one or more of the aspects disclosed above or as an alternative, the battery pack is cooled by liquid or air during charging or discharging to maintain the battery pack within a predetermined operating temperature range.

[0015] Disclosed is a method for controlling the charging or discharging of a battery pack of an energy storage device powering an air conditioning system, the method comprising: receiving a request from a controller of the air conditioning system to charge or discharge the battery pack of the energy storage device within a time window; determining, by the controller, whether the battery pack will remain within a predetermined operating temperature range when charged or discharged within the time window; and, in response to the determination, the controller charging or discharging the battery pack according to the request, or rejecting the request.

[0016] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the aspects of the method disclosed above, the method includes the controller determining the current temperature of the battery pack; the controller determining a temperature rise based on a requirement associated with the request to charge or discharge the battery pack; and the controller rejecting the charging or discharging request when it is determined that the battery pack will exceed a predetermined operating temperature range when charging or discharging within a time window.

[0017] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the aspects of the method disclosed above, the method includes determining the current battery temperature by the controller in communication with an energy storage device management system operatively coupled to the battery pack.

[0018] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the method described above, or as an alternative, the method includes the controller determining a maximum charge or discharge rate for maintaining the temperature of the battery pack within a predetermined operating temperature range and maintaining the charge or discharge time within a requested range; and delaying the charge or discharge when it is determined that the temperature of the battery pack is maintained within the predetermined operating temperature range without significant time for charging or discharging the battery pack at the maximum charge or discharge rate.

[0019] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the method, or as an alternative, the method includes the controller determining, while charging or discharging the battery pack, that there is insufficient time to meet the requirements in the request, and stopping the charging or discharging.

[0020] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the method, or as an alternative, the method includes the controller determining, during charging or discharging, that the temperature rise in the battery pack will exceed the predetermined operating temperature range, and stopping the charging or discharging.

[0021] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the method, or as an alternative, the method includes the controller determining, when charging or discharging the battery pack, that there is insufficient time to meet the charging or discharging requirements in the request, and modifying the charging or discharging within a time window identified in the request to meet the requirements in the request.

[0022] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the method, or as an alternative, the method includes the controller determining, during charging or discharging, that the battery pack will exceed the predetermined operating temperature range, and modifying the charging or discharging to meet the requirements in the request while keeping the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range.

[0023] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the method, or as an alternative, the method includes the controller continuously monitoring the current temperature of the battery pack throughout the entire charging or discharging process to determine whether to stop or modify the charging or discharging of the battery pack.

[0024] In addition to one or more of the disclosed aspects of the method, or as an alternative, the method includes controlling the cooling of the battery pack by the controller via liquid cooling or air cooling during charging or discharging of the battery pack to maintain the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range. Attached Figure Description

[0025] This disclosure is illustrated by way of example and is not limited to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate similar elements.

[0026] Figure 1 The system in the example embodiment is described.

[0027] Figure 2 A controller in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0028] Figure 3AThe electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0029] Figure 3B The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0030] Figure 4A The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0031] Figure 4B The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted.

[0032] Figure 5A The electrical architecture of a constant-speed compressor with a DC architecture in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0033] Figure 5B The electrical architecture of a constant-speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment is described.

[0034] Figure 5C The electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor with a DC architecture in an example embodiment is described.

[0035] Figure 5D The electrical architecture of a variable speed compressor with an AC architecture in an example embodiment is described.

[0036] Figure 6 The electrical architecture of a compressor powered by a multi-stage inverter in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0037] Figure 7 One phase branch of a five-stage multiphase inverter in an example embodiment is depicted.

[0038] Figure 8 The communication between the controller, thermostat, and remote system in the example embodiment is described.

[0039] Figure 9 The control process in the example embodiment is described.

[0040] Figure 10 The electrical architecture of an air conditioning system supporting a standby power mode is depicted in an example embodiment.

[0041] Figure 11 A first standby power mode is depicted in the example embodiment.

[0042] Figure 12 A second standby power mode is described in the example embodiment.

[0043] Figure 13 The control process for standby power operation in an example embodiment is described.

[0044] Figure 14Additional aspects of the air conditioning system in the example embodiment are described.

[0045] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the discharge rate of a battery pack used for standby power operation of a self-powered air conditioning system in an example embodiment.

[0046] Figure 16 This is another flowchart of a method for controlling the charging or discharging of a battery pack of an energy storage device that powers an air conditioning system, as described in an example embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0047] There is an incentive for the use of efficient, optimized all-electric air conditioning systems that provide comfort and are dispatchable (on / off, adjustable, or variable) under different pricing conditions or after receiving utility signals. By way of example, utility signals can be received from an electric AC power grid and can include Independent System Operators (ISOs), which can include independent, federally regulated entities established to coordinate regional transmission in a non-discriminatory manner and ensure the reliability and security of the power system; or Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), which operate large power systems across a geographic region and are generally independent, membership-based, non-profit organizations that ensure reliability and optimize supply and demand bidding for wholesale power or from virtual power plants, which are generally considered to be interconnected aggregations of integrated distributed energy resources (DER) technologies that provide demand flexibility and renewable energy. The term "utility" refers to one or more entities involved in generation, transmission, and / or distribution.

[0048] 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.

[0049] Figure 1System 100 is depicted in an example embodiment. System 100 includes components of an air conditioning system. The phrase "air conditioning" is intended to 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 the operations described above. Air conditioning systems 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.

[0050] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, 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 This is an example, and the implementation is not limited to a split system.

[0051] System 100 includes controller 220, power converter 230 and energy storage device (ESD) 240. Figure 1 These are exemplary embodiments, and the location of the components is not limited to these examples. Figure 1The locations shown are as indicated. For example, the power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and controller 220 may be separate from the first unit 200, which houses the compressor 242, drive 244, fan 246, and (one or more) loads 248. The first unit 200 may include a control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the first unit 200. This allows components of the described embodiments to be retrofitted to existing first units 200 and / or existing second units 250 of air conditioning systems. 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] Figure 1 The system and its embodiments described herein allow one or more components of the air conditioning system, as well as other loads not associated with the air conditioning system, to be powered solely by the AC power grid, solely by the energy storage device 240, or by a combination of the AC power grid and the energy storage device 240. The one or more components of the air conditioning system include components in the first unit 200 and components in the second unit 250.

[0056] Figure 2A controller 220 according to one embodiment is depicted. The controller 220 includes a sensor interface 222 that can acquire operating parameters of the air conditioning system, such as pressure, temperature, etc. As is known in the art, the controller 220 can adjust the operation of the air conditioning system based on the sensed operating parameters. The controller 220 includes a processor 224 that controls the operation of the system 100. The processor 224 can be implemented using a general-purpose microprocessor that executes a computer program stored on a storage medium to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively, the processor 224 can be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or a combination of hardware and software. The processor 224 allows the controller 220 to perform computations locally, also known as edge computing. The processor 224 can send commands to other components of the air conditioning system 100 based on the results of the local computation.

[0057] 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.).

[0058] 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 may 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 containing 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.

[0059] refer to Figure 1 Power converter 230 is used to perform any necessary power conversion, including one or more of AC-AC, AC-DC, DC-AC, and DC-DC. Power converter 230 may include several power converters located at different locations within system 100. One or more power converters 230 may operate bidirectionally, such that one or more power conversions are bidirectional. Figure 1As shown, power converter 230 is connected to AC and / or DC power sources and / or loads. Power converter 230 can also supply power to loads in building 102, including a second unit 250 (if in building 102), a thermostat 260, and a load 270. In normal mode, the loads in building 102 will receive AC power directly from the AC power grid. Controller 220 can select whether power will come from the AC power grid or from power converter 230. An example embodiment of power converter 230 is described herein.

[0060] 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 individual cells in a modular form or as an array of independent multi-cell 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 a self-contained mechanical and electrical unit. Energy storage device 240 may include other components (e.g., an ESD management system (ESDMS)) electrically coupled to energy storage device 240 and may be adapted to communicate directly or via ESDMS with controller 220.

[0061] The first unit 200 also includes components that serve as part of an air conditioning system, and includes a compressor 242, one or more drives 244, a fan 246, and other loads 248, as well as a control unit (not shown). A 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] The optional thermostat 260 provides a user interface for the air conditioning system 100, allowing users to input the operating mode of the air conditioning system 100, setpoints for each zone of the system 100, etc. Indoor loads 270 can be powered by the first unit 200. Indoor loads 270 include a variety of loads, such as electrical appliances, lighting, electric vehicle chargers, etc. The thermostat 260 is not required, and other technologies can be used to control the air conditioning system.

[0064] Figure 3A The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 3A The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0065] like Figure 3A As shown, the AC power grid 302 is connected to the first unit 200 via a grid disconnection device 304 under the control of the controller 220. This allows the first unit 200 to be powered by the energy storage device 240 independently of the AC power grid 302. The first unit 200 can also be powered by a combination of the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. The disconnection device 304 can also be implemented as a mechanical switch (e.g., controlled by the controller 220) or by software (implemented by the controller 220 through controlling one or more power converters).

[0066] AC power grid 302 is connected to indoor AC load 308 (such as an air handling unit, or any fixed installation in a residential, commercial, industrial building, or data center). AC power grid 302 is also supplied to AC / AC converter 310, which supplies regulated AC power to compressor drive 244A and fan 246 of compressor 242. AC / AC converter 310 can control the amplitude, frequency, and phase of the AC power supplied to compressor drive 244A and fan 246 of compressor 242.

[0067] The AC power grid 302 can also be connected to one of the unidirectional or bidirectional AC / DC converters 312 that interface the AC power bus 305 with the DC power bus 313. The DC power bus 313 supplies power to a DC load 248 that may be located in the first unit 200. Under certain conditions, the DC power bus 313 supplies power to one or more components of the air conditioning system (e.g., compressor 242 and fan 246) via the bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 and AC / AC converter 310. This allows one or more components of the air conditioning system to operate independently of or in conjunction with the AC power grid 302. The bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 also allows power from the DC bus 313 to be directed to the AC power grid 302.

[0068] The DC power bus 313 can be powered by the energy storage device 240. In charging mode, the DC power bus 313 is used to charge the energy storage device 240 (charger not shown). The DC power bus 313 can also be powered by one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, such as solar DC power, wind DC power, geothermal DC power, fuel cells, etc. A DC / DC converter 316 can be used to couple the auxiliary DC source 314 to the DC power bus 313. The DC power bus 313 can provide power to the indoor DC load 318. A DC / DC converter 320 can be used to couple the indoor DC load 318 to the DC power bus 313. A DC / AC converter 347 can be used to couple the DC power bus 313 to the indoor AC load 308 (via disconnect device 348). In some operating modes, the energy storage device 240 is used to power the indoor AC load 308. The AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, DC / DC converter 320, DC / DC converter 316, and DC / AC converter 347 can be... Figure 1 Implementation of the medium power converter 230. In some embodiments, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 are connected to the AC power bus 305 via a DC / AC converter (not shown). In other embodiments, the one or more auxiliary power sources provide AC power, which is connected to the AC bus 305 and / or the DC bus 313 via a suitable AC / AC converter or AC / DC converter.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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.

[0071] Figure 3A The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0072] Figure 3B The electrical architecture in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 3B The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0073] Figure 3B Similar to Figure 3AExcept for the elimination of the AC / AC converter 310, the compressor 242 is supplied with power from the compressor drive 244A. The compressor drive 244A may be a switch, such as a contactor or relay, that connects the compressor 242 to the AC power bus 305. In other embodiments, the compressor drive 244A may be a power converter, such as an AC / AC converter or an AC / DC converter. The compressor drive 244A may be controlled by a controller 220.

[0074] 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.

[0075] Figure 3B The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0076] Figure 4A An electrical architecture in another example embodiment is depicted. Figure 4AThe location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0077] exist Figure 4A In this configuration, the compressor drive 244A and fan 246 are DC powered, and therefore there is no need for an AC / AC converter 310. The bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 allows the energy storage device 240 to supply power to one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or to feed power from the DC bus 313 to the AC power grid 302 (under certain conditions). The bidirectional AC / DC converter 312 interfaces the AC power bus 305 with the DC power bus 313.

[0078] 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.

[0079] Figure 4A The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0080] Figure 4B An electrical architecture in another example embodiment is depicted. Figure 4B The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0081] Figure 4B Similar to Figure 4A In addition to fan 246, the system 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.

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

[0083] Figure 5A The DC electrical architecture of the constant speed first unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5AThe location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0084] For ease of illustration and explanation, not all components of the first unit 200 are shown. The power converter 230 can be used in conjunction with the embodiments described above or other embodiments. For example, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be connected (via a DC bus) to the energy storage device 240 to supplement the power from the energy storage device 240. Figure 5A As shown, AC power from AC power grid 302 is supplied to power converter 230 via grid disconnect device 304. Power converter 230 includes AC / DC converter 370 and DC / AC converter 372. The output of DC / AC converter 372 is supplied to compressor 242 via compressor drive 244A. Because compressor 242 is constant speed, compressor drive 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or relay.

[0085] Both AC / DC converter 370 and DC / AC converter 372 operate under the control of controller 220. Between AC / DC converter 370 and DC / AC converter 372 is DC link 371, which is optionally connected to energy storage device 240 via DC / DC converter 241. In this arrangement, energy storage device 240 can be charged by power converter 230. Alternatively, energy storage device 240 can provide DC power to DC link 371 to power DC / AC converter 372 and compressor 242. This allows first unit 200 to operate independently of or in conjunction with AC power grid 302. AC / DC converter 370 can be bidirectional, allowing energy storage device 240 to provide power to and from AC power grid 302.

[0086] Controller 220, power converter 230, energy storage device 240, DC / DC converters 320 and 316, DC / AC converter 347, and DC / DC converter 241 can be retrofitted to the existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system so that the first unit 200 can operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. It also allows auxiliary power sources to be added in a modular manner.

[0087] Figure 5A The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0088] Figure 5B The AC electrical architecture of the constant speed first unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5B The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

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

[0090] exist Figure 5B In this configuration, power converter 230 includes a DC / DC converter 241 and an AC / DC converter 370 coupled to energy storage device 240. AC / DC converter 370 can be bidirectional, allowing energy storage device 240 to supply power to and from AC power grid 302. Because compressor 242 is constant-speed, compressor drive 244A can be a switch, such as a contactor or relay.

[0091] The controller 220, power converter 230, and energy storage device 240 can be retrofitted to the existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system so that the first unit 200 can operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0092] Figure 5B The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0093] Figure 5C The DC electrical architecture of the first speed-changing unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5C The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0094] Figure 5C Similar to Figure 5A In addition to the compressor drive 244A providing variable speed operation for the compressor 242, the other loads 248 of the first unit 200 can be powered from the output of the DC / AC converter 372.

[0095] The controller 220, power converter 230, energy storage device 240, and DC / DC converter 241 can be retrofitted to the existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system so that the first unit 200 can operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240.

[0096] 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.

[0097] Figure 5CThe electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0098] Figure 5D The DC electrical architecture of the first speed-changing unit 200 in the example embodiment is depicted. Figure 5D The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0099] Figure 5D Similar to Figure 5B In addition to the compressor drive 244A providing variable speed operation for the compressor 242, the other loads 248 of the first unit 200 can be powered from the AC power bus 305.

[0100] 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.

[0101] The controller 220, power converter 230, and energy storage device 240 can be retrofitted to the existing first unit 200. This allows the energy storage device 240 to be added to an existing air conditioning system so that the first unit 200 can operate independently of the AC power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid and the energy storage device 240.

[0102] Figure 5D The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0103] Figure 6 An electrical architecture with a variable-speed compressor drive is depicted 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. Figure 6 The location of the components is an example, and any component in the assembly may be positioned as part of the first unit 200, part of one or more second units 250, or positioned separately from the first unit 200 or one or more second units 250. This allows the components to be retrofitted into existing air conditioning systems. Although shown as separate boxes, elements can be incorporated into sub-assemblies and assemblies anywhere in the system (indoor or outdoor) without departing from embodiments of this disclosure.

[0104] like Figure 6As shown, AC power from the AC power grid 302 is supplied to the power converter 230 via the grid disconnect device 304. The power converter 230 includes an AC / DC converter 380 and a multi-stage inverter 382. The output of the multi-stage inverter 382 is provided to the compressor 242. The output of the multi-stage inverter 382 can be a multiphase, multi-stage waveform configured to drive a multiphase motor of the compressor 242. In an example embodiment, the multi-stage inverter 382 is a five-stage three-phase inverter. In another example embodiment, the multi-stage inverter 382 is a three-stage three-phase inverter.

[0105] Multi-stage inverter 382 synthesizes a sinusoidal current waveform to operate and control compressor 242. Traditionally, this is accomplished with two-stage inverters. Integration with energy storage device 240 allows for a natural progression to higher-order inverters. Three-stage and five-stage inverters require independent power supplies to set the voltage levels. Figure 6 In this embodiment, the energy storage device 240 can be configured with voltage levels. The energy storage device 240 may include internal battery modules connected in series. The multi-stage inverter 382 directly utilizes these battery modules for each required voltage level, thereby enabling the benefits of a multi-stage inverter. The multi-stage inverter 382 benefits from lower harmonic output and lower dv / dt device stress. The multi-stage inverter 382 increases reliability through its ability to reconfigure to a lower number of stages after a failure has occurred (by integrating relays or back-to-back switches to connect or disconnect battery modules).

[0106] Figure 7 A phase branch of a five-stage multiphase inverter is shown in one embodiment of the multistage inverter 382. The energy storage device 240 includes at least four battery modules 240A, 240B, 240C, and 240D connected in series. The combination of battery modules 240A, 240B, 240C, and 240D, along with the neutral point n, provides five voltage levels for creating a sinusoidal output waveform on one phase. Generally, N battery module voltages are used to provide N+1 stages of output waveform for each phase. Switches S1-S4 and S1'-S4' are controlled by a 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.

[0107] 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).

[0108] refer to Figure 6Both 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 power grid 302, or under the power from both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240. The AC / DC converter 380 can be bidirectional, allowing the energy storage device 240 to supply power to and from the AC power grid.

[0109] Figure 6 The electrical architecture allows one or more components of the air conditioning system (first unit 200 and / or (one or more) second units 250) to be powered solely by the AC power grid 302, solely by the energy storage device 240, or a combination of both. The power supplied by the AC power grid 302 can be limited by a controller 220 that controls various power converters. Other loads, such as indoor DC load 318 and indoor AC load 308, can be powered solely by the AC power 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 power grid 302 and / or the energy storage device 240. The power supplied from the AC power grid 302, the energy storage device 240, the one or more auxiliary DC sources 314, or a combination thereof, is based on various factors such as utility status, utility electricity prices, the status of the energy storage device 240, and consumer preferences. See below for reference. Figure 9 Example conditions were discussed.

[0110] In the embodiments described above, one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may be used to provide DC power. The one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 may include sources such as solar DC power, wind DC power, geothermal DC power, fuel cells, etc.

[0111] Figure 8The communication between controller 220, thermostat 260, and remote system 410 in an example embodiment is depicted. As noted above, controller 220 may be integrated as part of an air conditioning controller and / or battery controller, or it may be standalone and communicate with an air conditioning controller and / or energy storage controller. Controller 220 communicates with thermostat 260 via local link 400. Local link 400 may be a wired connection (e.g., twisted pair, four-wire, power line communication, Modbus, CAN bus, etc.) and / or a wireless connection (e.g., WiFi, radio, or Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). Thermostat 260 may also be implemented using software applications operating on user devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops). Thermostat 260 may also provide occupancy, past performance, and weather information to controller 220.

[0112] 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.

[0113] Remote system 410 may be embodied as any type of processor-based computing or computer device capable of performing the functions described herein, including but not limited to computers, servers, workstations, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, mobile computing devices, wearable computing devices, network devices, web devices, distributed computing systems (e.g., cloud computing), processor-based systems, and / or consumer electronic devices. Remote system 410 provides information used by controller 220 and / or thermostat 260 to implement energy management routines that control how the one or more components of the air conditioning system and load 270 consume power. The information provided by remote system 410 may include utility pricing (indicating the cost of electricity on the AC power grid 302) and weather information (which can be used to predict future utility pricing and the use of the one or more components of the air conditioning system). Utility pricing and weather may be pushed to or pulled by remote system 410 using known networking technologies. Utility pricing and / or weather may be determined in real time or as a forecast of future conditions.

[0114] 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 power 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.

[0115] Figure 9An energy management process is depicted in an example embodiment. This process may be performed by controller 220 and / or thermostat 260. At 600, controller 220 determines whether there is a request for reduced energy use, or whether there are any other communication signals, such as changes in energy pricing, or incentives. A utility provider may request reduced energy use during a specific period to avoid service 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 reduction 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.

[0116] 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.

[0117] 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 power grid 302 is zero), and using only the energy storage device 240 to power one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads. Operating one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads may also include using a combination of both the AC power grid 302 and the energy storage device 240 to power said one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads. The controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from the AC power grid 302 by controlling various power converters 230 in the system (e.g., AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, DC / AC converter 347, DC / DC converter 320, DC / DC converter 316, DC / DC converter 241, AC / DC converter 370, DC / AC converter 372, AC / DC converter 380 and / or multi-stage inverter 382) to reduce the amount of AC power drawn from the AC power grid 302. The energy storage device 240 and the AC power grid 302 are used in combination to supply power to one or more components and / or one or more loads of the air conditioning system.

[0118] The one or more components of the air conditioning system that use energy storage device 240 to operate the air conditioning system may also include limiting the amount of power drawn from the AC power grid 302 to a power limit (e.g., 1 kW over a 2-hour period). Controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from the AC power grid 302 by controlling various power converters 230 in the system (e.g., AC / AC converter 310, AC / DC converter 312, DC / AC converter 347, DC / DC converter 320, DC / DC converter 316, DC / DC converter 241, AC / DC converter 370, DC / AC converter 372, AC / DC converter 380, and / or multi-stage inverter 382) to reduce the amount of AC power drawn from the AC power grid 302. At 604, other loads may be powered by energy storage device 240, including one or more indoor loads 270, which may include one or more indoor DC loads 318 and / or one or more indoor AC loads 308. The process returns to 600.

[0119] At some point, the energy storage device 240 will lack sufficient charge, causing one or more components of the air conditioning system to require power from the AC power grid 302 alone. The controller 220 can detect when the state of the energy storage device 240 (such as state of charge (SOC), state of health (SoH), voltage, temperature, etc.) is outside acceptable limits for powering one or more components of the air conditioning system or other loads. If the state of the energy storage device 240 is outside acceptable limits, the one or more components of the air conditioning system and / or other loads require power from the AC power grid 302. This results in the interruption of discharging the energy storage device 240 and / or the initiation of charging the energy storage device 240.

[0120] 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 least within 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 alone or in conjunction with AC power grid 302. As noted above, controller 220 can limit the amount of power drawn from AC power grid 302 by controlling the various power converters 230 in the system. Peak utility price and grid capacity are not the only factors that can be relied upon when determining which power the system should use from energy storage device 240.

[0121] Regarding grid capacity, information about grid capacity and current grid load can be obtained from remote systems, such as sources of utility pricing. If the AC power grid 302 is at or near grid capacity (e.g., within the threshold range of grid capacity and optionally increasing), using power from the energy storage device 240 to avoid power interruptions may be robust.

[0122] 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.

[0123] In another example, based on data from box 602 (e.g., user consent) or based on data from box 600 (e.g., a request to reduce energy use), 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.

[0124] If at 606 the system should not use power from energy storage device 240, the process proceeds to 608, where energy storage device 240 uses AC power grid 302 for charging. At 610, controller 220 determines whether the battery state is within acceptable limits, including state of charge (SOC), state of health (SoH), temperature, voltage, or a state exceeding safety and / or 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.

[0125] 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.

[0126] 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).

[0127] Although Figure 9 This involves operating one or more components and / or other loads of the air conditioning system to reduce power consumption, but other techniques may also be used to reduce power consumption, such as using a variable speed drive to reduce compressor speed, changing the thermostat setpoint, etc. In other embodiments, the utility may request increased energy usage. This request may be a real-time request or a future request based on predicted conditions. Increasing energy usage may include charging energy storage device 240.

[0128] If the thermostat 260 is equipped with a processor 261, then Figure 9One or more operations of the process can be performed by the thermostat 260. The processor 261 can be implemented using a general-purpose microprocessor that executes a computer program stored on a storage medium to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively, the processor 261 can be implemented in hardware (e.g., ASIC, FPGA) or as a combination of hardware and software. The controller 220 and the thermostat can be combined or implemented separately. Figure 9 All operations or some operations in the operation.

[0129] 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, and environmental concerns 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.

[0130] Figure 10 The electrical architecture of an air conditioning system 700 supporting a standby power mode in an example embodiment is depicted. The air conditioning system 700 is connected to an AC power grid 302 via a sensor switch 702 connected to an AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 acts as a disconnect between the AC power grid 302 and the AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 also monitors the presence of AC power from the AC power grid 302 and monitors the load on the AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 may be a single smart switch or a combination of a voltage / current sensor and a switch (e.g., a circuit breaker or relay). The sensor switch 702 communicates with a controller 220 via a wired and / or wireless connection. The AC power grid 302 is connected to an indoor AC load 308 on the AC bus 305.

[0131] The first unit 200 (e.g., an outdoor unit) includes a compressor 242 and a driver, the driver including an AC / DC converter 370 and a DC / AC converter 372. The output of the DC / AC converter 372 is supplied to the compressor 242. Both the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 operate under the control of a controller 220. Between the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 is a DC link 371, which is connected to an energy storage device 240. In this arrangement, the energy storage device 240 can be charged from the AC power grid 302 via the AC / DC converter 370. Alternatively, the energy storage device 240 can provide DC power to the DC link 371 to power the DC / AC converter 372 and the first unit 200 including the compressor 242. This allows the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC power grid 302. The AC / DC converter 370 can be configured to operate bidirectionally in response to commands from the controller 220, allowing the first unit 200 to feed power from the energy storage device 240 to the AC power bus 305 and the indoor AC load 308.

[0132] DC link 371 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 DC link 371. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be used to power the first unit 200, including compressor 242, charge energy storage device 240, power indoor AC load 308, and feed power to AC power grid 302.

[0133] Figure 10 The first unit 200 is depicted in a normal operating mode available from the AC power grid 302. In this normal operating mode, the controller 220 does not limit the operating speed of the compressor 242. Furthermore, the thermostat 260 can be set by the user to any temperature setpoint.

[0134] Figure 11 An air conditioning system 700 in its first standby power mode is depicted. Figure 11In this configuration, AC power grid 302 does not provide power. Losses in AC power grid 302 can be detected by sensor switch 702, which transmits the information to controller 220. In the first standby power mode, the first unit 200, including compressor 242, is powered by energy storage device 240 and / or auxiliary DC source 314 (if present). Controller 220 modifies the operating parameters of air conditioning system 700 to increase the operating time of the first unit 200, including compressor 242. One operating parameter controlled by controller 220 is the speed of compressor 242. Controller 220 limits the operating speed of compressor 242 to conserve power supplied from energy storage device 240. Another operating parameter controlled by controller 220 is the temperature setpoint at thermostat 260. Controller 220 can set the temperature setpoint at thermostat 260 to a predetermined value (e.g., 75 degrees Fahrenheit) or offset the current temperature setpoint at thermostat 260 by an offset amount (e.g., +5 degrees Fahrenheit when in cooling mode). The controller 220 can control one or both of the operating speed of the compressor 242 and the temperature setpoint at the thermostat 260. Controlling one or both of these operating parameters reduces the energy consumption of the first unit 200, including the compressor 242, and extends the operating time of the first unit 200 when powered by the energy storage device 240.

[0135] Figure 12 A second backup power mode is depicted in the example embodiment. Figure 12In this mode, the AC power grid 302 does not provide power. Losses in the AC power grid 302 can be detected by sensor switch 702, which transmits the information to controller 220. In the second standby power mode, the first unit 200, including compressor 242, is powered by energy storage device 240 and / or auxiliary DC source 314 (if present). Controller 220 alters the operating parameters of the air conditioning system 700 to increase the operating time of the first unit 200, including compressor 242. One operating parameter controlled by controller 220 is the speed of compressor 242. Controller 220 limits the operating speed of compressor 242 to conserve power supplied from energy storage device 240. Another operating parameter controlled by controller 220 is the temperature setpoint at thermostat 260. Controller 220 can set the temperature setpoint at thermostat 260 to a predetermined value (e.g., 75 degrees Fahrenheit) or offset the current temperature setpoint at thermostat 260 by an offset amount (e.g., +5 degrees Fahrenheit when in cooling mode). The controller 220 can control one or both of the operating speed of the compressor 242 and the temperature setpoint at the thermostat 260. Controlling one or both of these operating parameters reduces the power consumption of the first unit 200, including the compressor 242, and extends the operating time of the first unit 200 when powered by the energy storage device 240.

[0136] The second backup power mode also includes using energy storage device 240 and / or auxiliary DC source 314 (if present) to power indoor AC load 308. In the second backup power mode, controller 220 configures AC / DC converter 370 in bidirectional mode, such that DC power from energy storage device 240 and / or auxiliary DC source 314 (if present) is converted to AC power and applied to AC power bus 305. Controller 220 also activates sensor switch 702 to disconnect AC power bus 305 from AC power grid 302. Controller 220 can use smart switch 702 to monitor the power consumption of indoor AC load 308 and prioritize power supply to first unit 200, including compressor 242, instead of indoor AC load 308. For example, if the operating time of the first unit 200 (based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device 240) is less than a time limit (e.g., 4 hours), the controller 220 can put the AC / DC converter 370 into unidirectional mode, so that the power from the energy storage device 240 is supplied only to the first unit 200 and not to the indoor AC load 308. This will switch the standby power mode from... Figure 12 The second backup power mode in the system is changed to Figure 11 The first backup power mode in the system.

[0137] Figure 13A control process for standby power operation of an air conditioning system 700 in an example embodiment is described. The control process can be implemented by a controller 220. At 710, the controller 220 determines whether the AC power grid 302 is available. This can be performed by monitoring the power level sensed by the sensor switch 702. If the AC power grid 302 is available, then at 712, the air conditioning system 700 operates in normal mode (e.g., ...). Figure 10 As shown in the image).

[0138] If AC power grid 302 is unavailable, the process proceeds to 714, where controller 220 determines whether it is in the first standby power mode (e.g., ...). Figure 11 (as shown) or in the second backup power mode (as shown) Figure 12 (As shown in the diagram) Operation under the following conditions. The determination of operation in the first standby power mode or the second standby power mode can be based on the energy availability of the energy storage device 240 and / or the presence of one or more auxiliary DC sources 314. For example, the controller 220 may determine that the charging state of the energy storage device 240 is insufficient to power both the first unit 200, including the compressor 242, and the indoor AC load 308. The controller 220 may determine that one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 are absent or do not provide sufficient power to power both the first unit 200, including the compressor 242 and the fan, and the indoor AC load 308. In these cases, the first standby power mode is selected, and the process proceeds to 716.

[0139] At 716, controller 220 isolates AC bus 305 from energy storage device 240. This can be done without explicit operation, except to confirm that AC / DC converter 370 is in unidirectional mode, allowing only AC-to-DC conversion, and to prevent energy storage device 240 from supplying power to AC bus 305.

[0140] At 718, the controller 220 can control one or more operating parameters of the air conditioning system 700 by adjusting one or both of the operating speed of the compressor 242 and the temperature setpoint at the thermostat 260.

[0141] At 720, the first unit 200, including the compressor 242, is powered using an energy storage device 240 and one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 (if present).

[0142] If, at 714, controller 220 selects the second standby power mode, the process proceeds to 722, where controller 220 connects energy storage device 240 to AC power bus 305 by configuring AC / DC converter 370 for bidirectional operation. Controller 220 activates sensor switch 702 to disconnect AC power bus 305 from AC power grid 302. DC power from energy storage device 240 is converted to AC power by AC / DC converter 370 and applied to AC power bus 305.

[0143] At 724, controller 220 can control one or more operating parameters of air conditioning system 700 by adjusting one or both of the operating speed of compressor 242 and temperature setpoint at thermostat 260.

[0144] At 726, energy storage device 240 and one or more auxiliary DC sources 314 (if present) are used to power the first unit 200, including compressor 242, and the indoor AC load 308.

[0145] Both steps 720 and 726 can return to 710. In this way, controller 220 can switch between normal mode, first backup power mode and second backup power mode as needed.

[0146] Figure 13 The control process prioritizes powering the first unit 200, including the compressor 242, rather than other loads, such as the indoor AC load 308.

[0147] Figure 14 Similar to Figure 10 The document describes the electrical architecture of an air conditioning system 700 supporting a standby power mode in an example embodiment. The air conditioning system 700 is connected to an AC power grid 302 via a sensor switch 702 connected to an AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 acts as a disconnect between the AC power grid 302 and the AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 also monitors the presence of AC power from the AC power grid 302 and the load on the AC power bus 305. The sensor switch 702 may be a single smart switch or a combination of a voltage / current sensor and a switch (e.g., a circuit breaker or relay). The sensor switch 702 communicates with the controller 220 via a wired and / or wireless connection. The AC power grid 302 is connected to an indoor AC load 308 on the AC bus 305.

[0148] The first unit 200 (e.g., an outdoor unit) includes a compressor 242 and a driver, the driver including an AC / DC converter 370 and a DC / AC converter 372. The output of the DC / AC converter 372 is supplied to the compressor 242. Both the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 operate under the control of a controller 220. Between the AC / DC converter 370 and the DC / AC converter 372 is a DC link 371, which is connected to an energy storage device 240. In this arrangement, the energy storage device 240 can be charged from the AC power grid 302 via the AC / DC converter 370. Alternatively, the energy storage device 240 can provide DC power to the DC link 371 to power the DC / AC converter 372 and the first unit 200 including the compressor 242. This allows the first unit 200 to operate independently of the AC power grid 302. The AC / DC converter 370 can be configured to operate bidirectionally in response to commands from the controller 220, allowing the first unit 200 to feed power from the energy storage device 240 to the AC power bus 305 and the indoor AC load 308.

[0149] DC link 371 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 sources 314 to DC link 371. One or more auxiliary DC sources 314 can be used to power the first unit 200, including compressor 242, to charge energy storage device 240, to power indoor AC load 308, and to feed power to AC power grid 302. Figure 14 The first unit 200 is depicted in an operating mode available to the AC power grid 302. The thermostat 260 can be set by the user to any temperature setpoint.

[0150] According to an embodiment, the air conditioning system 700 (or system 700, for simplicity) is controlled, for example, by controller 220 to provide an energy infrastructure solution that meets ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives through cooperation with a utility company, in order to optimize energy use under the GRIP (Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership) program managed by the U.S. Department of Energy. System 700 is one of the most power-consuming household appliances and is a suitable technology for energy storage device 240 as backup power. Considering the power, energy density, and cycle life of the Li (lithium-ion) battery pack 1010, the Li (lithium-ion) battery pack 1010 is a suitable technology for energy storage device 240 as backup power. Due to its OVP (overvoltage protection) above 40°C (Celsius), or 104°F (Fahrenheit), the Li battery pack 1010 can be shut down before delivering the desired amount of energy.

[0151] The temperature rise of the batteries in the LI battery pack 1010 is proportional to the discharge rate. Therefore, the energy storage device 240 can be controlled by the controller 220 to employ a lower discharge rate over an extended discharge time period with the same amount of energy output. This keeps the LI battery pack 1010 operating within a safe operating temperature range. The actual discharge rate, for example, 0.2 °C to 0.5 °C per hour, is calculated based on the characterization of the cells 1012 of the LI battery pack 1010 and the thermal management data 1014 of the LI battery pack 1010, and is adjusted by real-time monitoring of parameter changes in the battery cells 1012. This adjustment can be achieved using a thermal management system (TMS) 1011 for the battery pack 1010, which can be liquid- or air-cooled, for example, using a fan 1013. Figure 14 A liquid-cooled TMS 1011 is shown. Thus, for example, the heat exchanger 1020 can be regulated based on the coolant temperature of the coolant 1016 in the cooler system 1018. As a non-limiting example, the heat exchanger 1020 can be liquid-cooled, and the pump 1022 is controlled by the controller 220 for cooling the battery cell 1012. For example, if the flow is not at a constant rate, the coolant flow can be regulated in CFM (cubic feet per minute). The thermal management of the battery (e.g., cooler system 1018) and the design of the ESDMS 1024 (which can be a separate processor or controller coupled to the energy storage device 240) can be designed to support operation at up to 50°C (122F) while meeting up to four hours of standby power requirements at a reduced discharge rate in improved liquid or air cooling of the group 1010.

[0152] Go to Figure 15 The flowchart illustrates a method executed by controller 220 to control the heating by using thermal management data 1014 to control the discharge rate of battery pack 1010. Controller 220 can thus maintain battery pack 1010 within a predetermined operating temperature range.

[0153] As shown in box 1210, the method includes controller 220 determining whether it has received a charging or discharging request within a time window, such as to power system 700 or to recharge battery pack 1010. When it is determined at box 220 that it is not, the process ends, i.e., the request is rejected.

[0154] When the determination at box 220 is yes, as shown in box 1220, the method includes the controller 220 checking the current battery temperature, for example, by communicating with ESDMS 1024.

[0155] As shown in box 1230, the method includes controller 220 calculating the temperature rise in battery pack 1010 during rated charging or discharging based on the requirements indicated in the request.

[0156] As shown in box 1240, the method includes controller 220 determining whether the temperature rise is within an acceptable range. When it is determined to be yes at box 1240, the process ends.

[0157] When the determination at box 1240 is negative, as shown in box 1250, the method includes controller 220 calculating the maximum charge or discharge rate that maintains the temperature and charge or discharge time of battery pack 1010 within a requested range. For example, the charge or discharge rate and temperature variation of battery pack 1010 may vary depending on external atmospheric conditions (which may be hot or cold) and the need for battery charging or discharging (e.g., recharging battery pack 1010 or powering system 700 or a portion thereof).

[0158] As shown in box 1260, the method includes controller 220 determining whether there is sufficient time available for the requested charging or discharging. For example, if the grid load is expected to be too large during the same time window to support drawing the power required to charge battery pack 1010, there may not be enough time for charging. If, for example, there is an anticipated demand for high usage of system 700 during the same time window, such as the need for greater energy output, for example during peak hours on a hot day, there may not be enough time for discharging. That is, discharging raises the temperature of battery pack 1010. If the ambient temperature is expected to peak, for example, within two hours after an immediate request, requiring the use of system 700 which would heat battery pack 1010, the immediate request to discharge battery pack 1010 can be rejected to keep battery pack 1010 at a desired cooler temperature.

[0159] As shown in box 1270, when the determination at box 1260 is negative, the controller 220 can suspend the charging or discharging of the battery pack 1010 at box 1270 until sufficient time has elapsed.

[0160] As shown in box 1280, when it is determined at box 1250, the method includes controller 220 initiating charging or discharging of battery pack 1010 at a calculated rate to maintain a target operating temperature.

[0161] As shown in box 1290, the method includes determining whether the temperature rise in the battery pack 1010 due to charging or discharging is within an acceptable range. If the determination at box 1290 is yes, then charging or discharging continues as shown in box 1300. As shown in box 1310, controller 220 continues to monitor the temperature of battery pack 1010 (box 1290) until the requested requirement is fulfilled and the process ends.

[0162] Alternatively, if the determination at box 1290 is negative, then at box 1320, controller 220 recalculates the charging or discharging range that allows battery pack 1010 to maintain an acceptable temperature range. Then, controller 220 proceeds to box 1300 as described above. That is, charging or discharging continues. As shown in box 1310, controller 220 continues to monitor the temperature of battery pack 1010 (box 1290) until the requested condition is met and the process ends.

[0163] Figure 16 This is another flowchart of a method for controlling the charging or discharging of the battery pack 1010 of the energy storage device 240 that powers the air conditioning system 700.

[0164] As shown in box 1410, the method includes receiving a request from the controller 220 of the air conditioning system 700 to charge or discharge the battery pack 1010 of the energy storage device 240 within a time window.

[0165] As shown in box 1420, the method includes the controller 220 determining whether the battery pack 1010 will remain within a predetermined operating temperature range when it is charged or discharged within a time window.

[0166] As shown in box 14302, the method includes, in response to the determination, the controller 220 charging or discharging the battery pack 1010 according to the request, or rejecting the request.

[0167] As shown in box 1440, the method includes determining the current temperature of the battery pack 1010 by the controller 220.

[0168] As shown in box 1450, the method includes the controller 220 determining a temperature rise based on a request associated with a request to charge or discharge the battery pack 1010.

[0169] As shown in box 1460, the method includes the controller 220 rejecting a charging or discharging request when it is determined that the battery pack 1010 will exceed a predetermined operating temperature range when charging or discharging within a time window.

[0170] As shown in box 1470, the method includes determining the current battery temperature by controller 220 through communication with energy storage device management system 1024 operatively coupled to battery pack 1010.

[0171] As shown in box 1480, the method includes the controller 220 determining a maximum charge or discharge rate that maintains the temperature of the battery pack 1010 within a predetermined operating temperature range and maintains the charge or discharge time within a requested range.

[0172] As shown in box 1490, the method includes delaying the charging or discharging when it is determined that there is no significant time to charge or discharge the battery pack 1010 at the highest charging or discharging rate while maintaining the temperature of the battery pack 1010 within a predetermined operating temperature range.

[0173] As shown in box 1500, the method includes the controller 220 determining, while charging or discharging the battery pack 1010, that there is insufficient time to meet the requirements in the request, and stopping the charging or discharging.

[0174] As shown in block 1510, the method includes the controller 220 determining, when charging or discharging the battery pack 1010, that the temperature rise in the battery pack 1010 will exceed a predetermined operating temperature range, and stopping the charging or discharging.

[0175] As shown in box 1520, the method includes the controller 220 determining, when charging or discharging the battery pack 1010, that there is insufficient time to meet the charging or discharging requirements in the request, and modifying the charging or discharging within the time window identified in the request to meet the requirements in the request.

[0176] As shown in block 1530, the method includes the controller 220 determining, when charging or discharging the battery pack 1010, that the battery pack 1010 will exceed a predetermined operating temperature range, and modifying the charging or discharging to meet the requirements in the request, while keeping the battery pack 1010 within the predetermined operating temperature range.

[0177] As shown in box 1540, the method includes the controller 220 continuously monitoring the current temperature of the battery pack 1010 throughout the entire charging or discharging period of the battery pack 1010 to determine whether to stop or modify the charging or discharging of the battery pack 1010.

[0178] As shown in block 1550, the method includes controlling the cooling of the battery pack 1010 by the controller 220 via liquid cooling or air cooling during charging or discharging of the battery pack 1010, so as to maintain the battery pack 1010 within a predetermined operating temperature range.

[0179] The processes disclosed above enable control over the charging or discharging of the battery pack 1010. This ensures that the battery pack 1010 operates within the desired temperature range. It can be understood that the system can be adjusted to achieve optimized power conversion efficiency, provided that the battery cooling meets the operational requirements of the air conditioning system.

[0180] As described above, embodiments may take the form of processor-implemented processes and means for performing those processes (such as controller 220 and / or thermostat 260). Embodiments may also take the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in a tangible medium, such as a network cloud storage device, 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.

[0181] 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.

[0182] 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. An air conditioning system, comprising: Controller; An energy storage device, the energy storage device including a battery pack, wherein the energy storage device is operable to supply power to the air conditioning system; and AC power bus, the AC power bus being used to connect the air conditioning system to an AC power grid to selectively charge the battery pack; The controller is configured to: Receive requests to charge or discharge the battery pack within a time window; Determine whether the battery pack will remain within a predetermined operating temperature range when charged or discharged within the time window, and In response to the determination, the battery pack may be charged or discharged according to the request, or the request may be rejected.

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is configured to determine the current temperature of the battery pack and, based on a requirement associated with the request to charge or discharge the battery pack, to determine a temperature rise, so as to reject the charging or discharging request if it is determined that the battery pack would exceed the predetermined operating temperature range when charged or discharged within the time window.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The controller is configured to determine the current battery temperature by communicating with an energy storage device management system operatively coupled to the battery pack.

4. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The controller is configured to determine a maximum charge or discharge rate that maintains the temperature of the battery pack within a predetermined operating temperature range and maintains the charge or discharge time within a requested range, and to delay the charge or discharge when it is determined that there is no significant time to charge or discharge the battery pack at the maximum charge or discharge rate while maintaining the temperature of the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range.

5. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The controller is configured to stop charging or discharging if it determines that there is not enough time to meet the requirements in the request while the battery pack is being charged or discharged.

6. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The controller is configured to determine, when charging or discharging the battery pack, that the temperature rise in the battery pack will exceed the predetermined operating temperature range, and to stop the charging or discharging.

7. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The controller is configured to, when it determines that there is insufficient time to meet the charging or discharging requirement in the request while charging or discharging the battery pack, modify the charging or discharging within the time window identified in the request to meet the requirement in the request.

8. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The controller is configured to determine, when charging or discharging the battery pack, that the battery pack will exceed the predetermined operating temperature range, and to modify the charging or discharging to meet the requirements in the request, while keeping the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range.

9. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein, The controller is configured to continuously monitor the current temperature of the battery pack throughout the entire charging or discharging process to determine whether to stop the charging or discharging of the battery pack.

10. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein, The battery pack is cooled by liquid or air during charging or discharging to maintain the predetermined operating temperature range of the battery pack.

11. A method for controlling the charging or discharging of a battery pack of an energy storage device that powers an air conditioning system, the method comprising: The controller of the air conditioning system receives a request to charge or discharge the battery pack of the energy storage device within a time window; The controller determines whether the battery pack will remain within a predetermined operating temperature range when it is charged or discharged within the time window; and In response to the determination, the controller may charge or discharge the battery pack according to the request, or reject the request.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising: The controller determines the current temperature of the battery pack; The controller determines the temperature rise based on the requirement associated with the request to charge or discharge the battery pack; and The controller rejects the charging or discharging request when it determines that the battery pack will exceed the predetermined operating temperature range when it is charged or discharged within the time window.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising: The controller determines the current battery temperature by communicating with the energy storage device management system operatively coupled to the battery pack.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising: The controller determines the highest charging or discharging rate that maintains the temperature of the battery pack within a predetermined operating temperature range and maintains the charging or discharging time within a requested range. and The charging or discharging is delayed when it is determined that the temperature of the battery pack is maintained within the predetermined operating temperature range without significant time for charging or discharging the battery pack at the highest charging or discharging rate.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, comprising: The controller determines that there is insufficient time to meet the requirements in the request when charging or discharging the battery pack, and stops the charging or discharging.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, comprising: The controller determines that the temperature rise in the battery pack will exceed the predetermined operating temperature range when charging or discharging the battery pack, and stops the charging or discharging.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, comprising: If the controller determines that there is insufficient time to meet the charging or discharging requirements in the request when charging or discharging the battery pack, it may modify the charging or discharging within the time window identified in the request to meet the requirements in the request.

18. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, comprising: The controller determines that the battery pack will exceed the predetermined operating temperature range when charging or discharging the battery pack, and modifies the charging or discharging to meet the requirements in the request, while keeping the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range.

19. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 18, comprising: The controller continuously monitors the current temperature of the battery pack throughout the entire charging or discharging process to determine whether to stop or modify the charging or discharging of the battery pack.

20. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, comprising: The controller controls the cooling of the battery pack by means of liquid cooling or air cooling while charging or discharging the battery pack, so as to maintain the battery pack within the predetermined operating temperature range.

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