Methods for optimizing electricity consumption

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for optimizing electricity consumption, in particular in a circuit (10), by means of at least two smart home devices (20a, 20b) of a smart home system, characterized in that a first smart home device (20a, 20b) monitors (120) whether a second smart home device announces an increased electricity demand by means of a communication message, in particular in a period specified by it, and that the smart home device, when it receives an announcement of increased electricity consumption (130), controls itself or the connected consumer in such a way, depending on the amount of the announced increased electricity consumption, that no increased electricity consumption is generated by the first smart home device or the consumer in the same period, and that the first smart home device, when it itself predicts an increased electricity demand, announces this by means of a communication message to at least the second smart home device (140).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for optimizing, in particular monitoring, electricity consumption, a computer program, a machine-readable storage medium, a smart home device and a smart home system. State of the art

[0002] Circuit breakers are known to trip after a certain time when there is an increased current and disconnect a circuit. Depending on the conductor cross-section or coupling elements between cables, critical heating can occur even earlier – in the worst case, leading to a cable fire.

[0003] In particular, it can be used, for example, in an old building with 0.75mm 2Problems can arise when using copper wiring and a 12A fuse. If a device is connected that requires a peak power of 3600W, but not continuously, another device drawing a similar current peak can, in an unfavorable scenario, lead to significant heating of the wiring – without the circuit breaker tripping in time.

[0004] Furthermore, for example, a kitchen contains many electrical appliances (induction hob / cooktop, steam cooker, oven, extractor hood, refrigerator, kettle...) with potentially high power requirements or high current peaks in certain operating states, such as when switching on an electric motor or when initially energizing a coil.

[0005] If several of these increased power consumptions, especially power spikes from different devices, happen to coincide, it can happen that the relevant circuit breaker trips in old or marginally designed electrical installations. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The task includes preventing cable fires or damage to the electrical installation, and in particular, preventing damage to any electrical appliances. Furthermore, it is especially important to prevent circuit breakers from tripping unnecessarily.

[0007] The problem is solved with a method according to the invention, a computer program, a machine-readable storage medium, a smart home device and a smart home system.

[0008] The advantage is that the electricity consumption of consumers, especially all consumers and / or smart home devices operating on the same circuit, is monitored. Smart home devices, particularly those that are part of a smart home system, are used for this monitoring.

[0009] Smart home devices are home technology control devices, home technology devices, household appliances, garden devices that have a communication interface which allows them to communicate with other smart home devices and / or other devices, especially input devices, the cloud, and / or servers.

[0010] Examples of smart home devices include plug adapters, especially for switching electrical appliances and / or controls / actuators for light sources (smart actuators) and / or controls for roller shutters / awnings / blinds (smart actuators) and / or controls for heating components (actuator for controlling valves or pumps) and / or especially for controlling appliances, particularly the heating system itself, refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, etc.

[0011] Adapter plugs have a plug and a socket and are inserted between the socket and the consumer.

[0012] Consumers include light sources, roller shutters / awnings / blinds, heating components (actuators for controlling valves or pumps), the heating system itself (heat pump), refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, multimedia devices, induction hob / cooktop, steam cooker, oven, extractor hood, refrigerator, kettle, etc.

[0013] Furthermore, modern smart home devices can be controlled remotely, for example, via an input device, especially a mobile input device such as a smartphone, tablet, console, or computer. "Remotely" in this context means that the input device is not part of the smart home device itself. Communication can also take place via the internet or a cloud. In particular, the input device can also be located in the same area. "Area" refers to a space, a building, or even a part of a space or building, especially a room.

[0014] Smart home devices are interconnected and can provide, in particular receive and / or send and / or retrieve, communication messages, especially signals, data packets, information, control commands and / or sensor data.

[0015] Smart home devices have a communication interface. Communication is primarily wired, especially via a bus system, Powerline, M-Bus, Ethernet, ELB, CAN, KNX, EMS, 1-Wire, DALI, DMX, OpenTherm, or wireless, preferably Bluetooth, NFC, RFID, ANT+, Dash7, GPRS, UMTS, 5G, LTE, WiMAX, LoRaWAN, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, 868 MHz or Wi-Fi, or optical, especially using pulse-modulated light.

[0016] Communication messages can be exchanged via the communication interface. These messages include, in particular, signals, data packets, information, control commands, and / or sensor data. The sensor data consists primarily of physical measurements that characterize the area or parts thereof.

[0017] In particular, smart home devices can determine, and preferably measure, electricity consumption. Alternatively, smart home devices can determine electricity consumption based on their control signals. Preferably, a table is stored that allows a mapping between control signals and electricity consumption / power.

[0018] Communication can be unidirectional or bidirectional.

[0019] The smart home system comprises at least two smart home devices. Preferably, each appliance is connected to the electrical circuit via a smart home device, where the smart home device is designed as an intermediate plug / actuator, or the appliance itself constitutes a smart home device.

[0020] If the consumer themselves constitutes a smart home device, then they possess the functionalities of a smart home device. In particular, they are part of a smart home system and can communicate with at least one other smart home device.

[0021] The method according to the invention is characterized in that a first smart home device monitors whether a second smart home device announces an increased power demand by means of a communication message, particularly within a period specified by the announcing smart home device. In particular, at least the communication of the second smart home device, and preferably of all relevant smart home devices, is monitored. Preferably, all smart home devices, especially those on the same circuit, are monitored.

[0022] Ideally, smart home devices should announce increased power consumption before it occurs, for example, shortly before the booster function on an induction cooktop is activated. Specifically, increased consumption is also announced shortly before the electric motor of a washing machine or dryer starts. These smart home devices send a communication message to network participants, particularly within the smart home system, indicating the expected peak (in watts or current) and duration of the increased power demand, and, if applicable, the circuit breaker to which the device is connected.

[0023] The other participants, especially smart home devices, receive the communication message and adjust their own increased consumption accordingly, preferably peak loads, so that their own peak load does not coincide with the communicated / announced one. This preferably prevents two or more smart home devices or consumers from simultaneously generating a peak load, particularly when the combined peak load exceeds the current limit.

[0024] Furthermore, the method includes the provision that, upon receiving a notification of increased electricity consumption, the smart home device controls itself or the connected device, depending on the magnitude of the announced increase, in such a way that no increased electricity consumption is generated by the first smart home device or device during the same period. Preferably, this control is based on the increased electricity consumption and the current limit. In particular, it may occur that although increased electricity consumption is announced, it is lower than the current limit when combined with the self-consumption of the first smart home device or the connected device.

[0025] Preferably, if several smart home devices indicate increased electricity consumption over a period of time, the individual increased electricity consumptions are added together.

[0026] The advantage is that if the first smart home device predicts increased power consumption, it will notify at least the second smart home device via a communication message. Ideally, it will communicate the increased power consumption to all smart home devices, especially those connected to the same electrical circuit.

[0027] Communication takes place before the scheduled peak load. A communication message is sent with the expected peak (watts or electricity) and duration of the peak load.

[0028] The advantage is that it allows for the coordinated switching on of electrical power in a house or circuit, for example in a kitchen. This is particularly beneficial for older or inadequately designed electrical installations, including circuit breakers, as it prevents the breaker from tripping, since there is no random, simultaneous increase in power consumption.

[0029] Increased power consumption occurs, for example, during start-up processes where short-term high current peaks occur, especially when starting an electric motor or using the booster function of an induction cooker.

[0030] Furthermore, for houses that have a photovoltaic system which, depending on its size and solar radiation, can only provide a limited amount of power, it is interesting to distribute the load of the electrical consumers somewhat in order to maximize self-consumption.

[0031] The measures listed in the dependent claims result in advantageous further developments and improvements of the features specified in the main claim.

[0032] According to a preferred further development, a current limit value is received. This reception is carried out in particular via an HMI (Human Machine Interface) or is provided by a system.

[0033] According to a training course, the user can adjust the parameters via the HMI if necessary, such as the distance of the message to their own load peak, the way in which the peak and the duration of the load peak are calculated for the device, how long the maximum waiting time is, etc.

[0034] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the smart home device determines its power consumption by measuring or calculating it itself. The smart home device can also access other devices or other smart home devices to determine power consumption. Furthermore, the smart home devices can determine power consumption based on their control signals. Preferably, a table is stored that allows a mapping between control signals and power consumption / power.

[0035] In an optional further process step, it is monitored whether the total consumption of all increased electricity usage, particularly within a specific period, remains below the received electricity limit. This monitoring can be performed continuously or at defined time intervals.

[0036] An advantageous further development of the invention is that the first smart home device adjusts its increased power consumption depending on at least one increased power consumption announced by another smart home device, in particular in stages.

[0037] Preferably, the smart home device or the consumer can smooth out its own load peaks if other smart home devices or consumers communicate increased electricity consumption and / or produce load peaks, for example by slowly switching on the power in stages, which is more favorable for the user.

[0038] Preferably, smart home devices and consumers that are connected to the same circuit breaker or the same electrical circuit are always optimized together.

[0039] According to an advantageous further development, the first smart home device, upon receiving a notification of increased consumption, delays its own increased power consumption depending on the period of the announced increased consumption or by a defined period, in particular 1 s, 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 30 s, or 1 min. Preferably, the delay does not exceed a defined maximum value. This advantageously prevents misuse, e.g., by hackers. Preferably, the delay is for the period of increased power consumption communicated in the notification. However, preferably, the delay is limited to a maximum of the defined maximum value.

[0040] According to a beneficial further education, the increased electricity consumption includes one or more electricity peaks.

[0041] It has been shown that a beneficial further development is to include in the communication message the value of the increased electricity consumption and / or the period in which the increased electricity consumption occurs and / or the duration and / or the peak value, in particular how long the increased electricity consumption lasts.

[0042] An advantageous further development is that increased electricity consumption is determined based on an operating sequence of the smart home device or the consumer connected to it, or a request by a user.

[0043] According to an advantageous further development, the procedure includes determining the current limit value by measuring the resistance of the line and the smart home devices.

[0044] An advantageous further development of the invention is that the existing settings / parameters only need to be adjusted when necessary. Preferably, AI-based optimization can optimize the settings by collecting data over a sufficiently long typical period and then optimizing for the specific requirements.

[0045] Ideally, data can be recorded in the event of a failure, which can then be used to optimize the settings / parameters. This optimization can be performed on a microcontroller, smartphone, tablet, computer, or even in the cloud if the data is sent there.

[0046] Preferably, data from the circuit breaker is also included, such as amperage, type and tripping characteristics of the circuit breaker.

[0047] Furthermore, the invention relates to a machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored.

[0048] The invention relates to a smart home device which is configured to execute the method according to the invention.

[0049] A smart home system is designed to improve living comfort and quality of life, security, and energy efficiency. A smart home system relies on at least two or more networked and controllable smart home devices and installations, as well as automated processes. Ideally, the system can be controlled by a smart home device or a smart home hub.

[0050] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to the following drawings. The drawings show: Fig. Figure 1 reveals an example of an electrical circuit and Fig. 2 the method according to the invention.

[0051] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of an electrical circuit 10. To simplify the representation of circuit 10, the solid lines represent the phase, the neutral conductor, and, depending on the country, also an earth conductor. Circuit 10 is connected to the power grid 5 via a circuit breaker 15. The circuit breaker 15 is also referred to as a fuse. Two socket outlets 17a and 17b are shown as examples on circuit 10.

[0052] A first example of a smart home device (20a) is a standalone unit. In this case, the consumer itself possesses the characteristics of a smart home device. Examples of such smart home devices include stoves, kettles, ovens, washing machines, televisions, robotic vacuum cleaners, induction hobs / cooktops, steam cookers, extractor hoods, refrigerators, and dryers.

[0053] The second smart home device 20b is designed as an example of an intermediate plug or actuator. It controls a connected load 30 by means of a switching element, which is designed in particular as a relay, transistors, field-effect transistors, preferably MOSFET, FET, IGBT, thyristor, contactor.

[0054] The smart home device 20a, 20b, or the consumer 30 itself preferably has a power meter. This meter records the power consumption of consumer 30 or the smart home device 20a. For smart home devices, especially type 20a, the power meter can be omitted if the power consumption is known from the control of the consumer. The power consumption is then determined using a table / database. Furthermore, the power consumption can be recorded, and a table can be created. In the future, instead of taking measurements, only the table needs to be read. The smart home devices are designed to determine power consumption, particularly using a table / database or by measurement.

[0055] In Fig.Figure 2 shows the method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 is not limited to the sequence of process steps shown. Rather, the sequence of the individual process steps can be reversed.

[0056] In an optional process step 105, a current limit value is received. "Received" also includes retrieving or requesting the value.

[0057] According to one version, the current limit value can be queried by a user in an optional procedure step 105a using a HMI. The HMI can be provided by a display, indicator, wall thermostat, computer, smartphone, smartwatch, server, cloud, or even as a voice assistant.

[0058] In an alternative embodiment, the current limit is determined in the optional process step 105b. In particular, the current limit is determined by measuring the resistance of the line and connected smart home devices 20a, 20b or consumers 30.

[0059] The current limit is the maximum permissible current allowed, particularly in an electrical circuit. This is primarily determined by the cross-section of the cables and / or the circuit breaker.

[0060] In a further process step 120, a first Smart Home 20a, 20b device monitors whether a second Smart Home 20a, 20b or another Smart Home 20x device announces an increased power demand by means of a communication message, particularly within a period specified by the second Smart Home device. The first Smart Home device can be a Smart Home device according to 20a or 20b.

[0061] In a further process step 130, the first smart home device 20a, 20b, upon receiving an announcement of increased electricity consumption, controls itself or the connected consumer 30, depending on the magnitude of the announced increase, in such a way that neither the first smart home device nor the connected (i.e., the controlled) consumer generates increased electricity consumption during the same period. Preferably, the total consumption should remain below the electricity limit.

[0062] Preferably, the first smart home device delays the onset of increased power consumption. Preferably, the first smart home device delays the onset of increased power consumption until the other smart home device no longer exhibits increased consumption. Preferably, however, the delay is limited to a defined maximum value.

[0063] According to a beneficial further training, the smart home device, which has announced an increased electricity demand via a communication message, sends another communication message announcing the end of the increased demand.

[0064] Preferably, the first smart home device, upon receiving a notification of increased consumption, delays its own increased power consumption by a defined period, in particular 1 s, 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 30 s, or 1 min. This time can be chosen arbitrarily. The delay can be determined based on the announced duration of the increased consumption. Preferably, however, this delay does not exceed the defined maximum value.

[0065] Preferably, an increased electricity consumption is announced shortly before or when the defined maximum value is exceeded, or after a defined time, in the hope that the smart home device or consumer that has been producing increased electricity consumption will reduce its increased electricity consumption itself.

[0066] In a further process step 125, which is in particular part of process step 120, the total consumption is determined. The total consumption is determined from the electricity consumption received via communication messages and the increased consumption planned by the first smart home device itself. In particular, the received electricity consumption data provided by a smart home device 20a, 20b, which is part of the circuit, is used to determine the total consumption.

[0067] In a further process step 127, it is monitored whether the total consumption is greater than or equal to the received current limit. If the total consumption is greater than or equal to the limit, process step 130 is continued. Preferably, a defined time is waited or a defined time constant must be exceeded before process step 120 is continued.

[0068] Preferably, method 100 is not limited to two smart home devices 20a, 20b. Advantageously, however, only the power consumption values ​​belonging to smart home devices 20a, 20b on a single circuit are used.

[0069] In process step 140, if the first smart home device predicts an increased electricity demand, it announces this to at least the second smart home device by means of a communication message.

[0070] In process step 150, the smart home device or the connected consumer is controlled in such a way that it carries out the increased power consumption.

[0071] Preferably, the first smart home device adjusts its increased power consumption in response to the announced increased power consumption of at least one other smart home device, particularly in stages. Furthermore, the smart home device or consumer is controlled in such a way that the total consumption remains below the power limit.

[0072] In an optional procedure step, the available Smart Home devices 20a, 20b are determined.

[0073] The determination can be made in particular by a selection by a user or by means of measurement.

[0074] Each room usually has its own circuit 10. It can therefore be assumed that all smart home devices 20a, 20b in a room belong to circuit 10.

[0075] In particular, the relevant smart home devices can be detected by means of a measurement.

[0076] Alternatively, the relevant smart home devices can be assigned by a user.

Claims

[1] Method (100) for optimizing electricity consumption, in particular in a circuit (10), using at least two smart home devices (20a, 20b) of a smart home system, characterized by , that a first smart home device (20a, 20b) monitors (120) whether a second smart home device announces an increased power demand by means of a communication message, especially within a period specified by it, and that the first smart home device, when it receives an announcement of increased electricity consumption (130), depending on the amount of the announced increased electricity consumption, controls itself or the consumer connected to it in such a way that no increased electricity consumption is generated by the first smart home device or the consumer during the same period, and that the first smart home device, when it predicts an increased electricity demand, announces this to at least the second smart home device by means of a communication message (140). [2] Method (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the first smart home device and / or the consumer connected to the first smart home device adjusts its increased power consumption depending on the announced increased power consumption of at least one other smart home device, in particular in stages. [3] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first smart home device, when it receives an announcement of increased consumption, delays its own increased electricity consumption depending on the announced period with an increased electricity consumption or by a defined period, in particular 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 30s, 1min (130), wherein the defined period is preferably limited to a defined maximum value. [4] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the increased electricity consumption is due to one or more power surges. [5] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the communication message includes the value of the increased electricity consumption and / or the period in which the increased electricity consumption occurs and / or the duration and / or the peak value, in particular how long the increased electricity consumption lasts. [6] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that increased electricity consumption is determined based on the operating sequence of the smart home device or the consumer connected to it, or a request by a user. [7] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a current limit for the circuit is determined, in particular by means of a resistance measurement of the line or an HMI (105). [8] Computer program which is configured to perform all steps of the method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. [9] Machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program according to the preceding claim is stored. [10] Smart Home device that is trained and configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. [11] Smart Home System comprising at least a first Smart Home device configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a second Smart Home device configured and set up to send a communication message when it detects an increased demand for electricity.

Images