Load detection and prioritization for energy management systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting and prioritizing loads includes a load analyzer configured to receive at least one load monitoring signal from at least one channel, each channel configured to be connected to at least one load, and to analyze at least one load signature derived from the at least one load monitoring signal to detect a load type connected to the at least one channel and assign an energy consumption priority to the at least one load.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to energy management systems, and more particularly to load detection and prioritization within energy management systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy management systems manage energy distribution and consumption within a facility, such as a residential or commercial building, a campus, or a neighborhood. Generally, energy management systems receive energy from multiple energy sources (e.g., the power grid, alternative energy generators, and / or energy storage) and manage energy consumption through controlling the consumption of energy by various loads. To use energy most efficiently, energy management systems control energy generation, storage, and consumption. More specifically, the system optimizes energy production while controlling the amount of produced energy that is stored or consumed. Some systems also determine the amount of surplus energy to supply to the power grid.

[0003] One important aspect of an energy management system is controlling energy consumption in view of the amount of energy available from an energy source, e.g., distributed generators or storage. Typically, consumption control involves prioritizing loads and controlling the amount of energy consumed by the loads according to a priority schedule.

[0004] In some current energy management systems, energy is distributed throughout a facility through power cables to a service panel, and by monitoring the energy flow through the power cables, the energy management system classifies the types of loads connected to the service panel. This technique is known as software load disaggregation. Highly complex analytical algorithms are required to identify the energy utilization signatures of the various loads connected to the service panel. Using the load signatures, the energy management system detects load types, creates a priority map for each load type, and controls consumption by starting and stopping critical loads via Wi-Fi connections to each load in light of the priority map. Such systems are highly complex and require significant computational resources to classify loads connected to a single energy source to a service panel. Because the energy management system attempts to classify all loads through signature identification on a single power cable, these systems are notoriously inaccurate and require constant human intervention to modify the priority map.

[0005] Another energy management system uses hardware disaggregation, where individual loads are connected to individual electrical circuits. During installation, an installer connects each critical load to the energy management system through a circuit. The system is programmed to establish a priority for each circuit. For example, an air conditioner may receive higher priority during the day than a water heater. Thus, if there is not enough energy available to run both appliances simultaneously, the management system can reduce the water heater's power consumption during the afternoon and prioritize use of the air conditioner.

[0006] Each circuit is used to monitor the energy consumed by its associated loads, e.g., refrigeration units, air conditioners, water heaters, dishwashers, factory machinery, etc. Given the consumption and priority schedule, the system uses relays or switches on each circuit to disconnect certain loads at certain times to ensure energy consumption is optimized. During installation, the installer must manually map each critical load to a circuit and set priorities for the circuits, a process that is time-consuming and prone to error. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved load detection and prioritization techniques for energy management systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] So that the above-described features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a particular description of the invention may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting its scope, since the invention may admit of other equally effective embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an energy management system managing energy produced by distributed generators and energy storage in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 illustrates a block diagram of a controller used as part of the energy management system of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of the operation of a load analyzer that performs load detection and prioritization in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention comprise apparatus and methods for load detection and prioritization within an energy management system. The energy management system manages energy utilization within a commercial or residential facility. Typically, energy is available from the conventional power grid, distributed generators (e.g., solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, etc.), and energy storage (e.g., battery storage, thermal storage, kinetic storage, etc.). The energy management system manages the consumption or storage of available energy. Consumption management occurs through management of which loads receive energy at any given time. Consumption scheduling is prioritized to allow high priority loads to receive energy on a priority basis. Embodiments of the present invention automatically detect loads and establish priority schedules to avoid the need for a human installer to perform the task.

[0011] 1 depicts an energy generation and consumption scenario 100 including an energy management system 104 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the energy management system 104 is coupled between an energy source 102 and a load 106. The energy source 102 is connected to a conventional power grid 124, distributed generators 1081, 1082, ..., 108 n (collectively, distributed generators 108) (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, biomass, etc.) and energy storage 110 (e.g., battery storage, thermal storage, kinetic storage, etc.). The loads 106 include various appliances or machines that consume energy. Individual loads 1221, 1222, ..., 122 in a residential scenario nThe loads 106 (collectively) may include, but are not limited to, one or more of: a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, a water heater, a pool filtration system, an air conditioning / heating unit, a well pump, etc. In a commercial scenario, the individual loads may include, but are not limited to, a refrigeration unit, an air conditioning / heating unit, manufacturing equipment, robotic equipment, etc. The above load examples are merely illustrative of the types of loads that may be controlled by the energy management system 104. More broadly, a load may be any device, component, or system that consumes electrical energy.

[0012] In one embodiment, the energy management system 104 includes an energy control system 112 and a load controller 120. The energy control system 112 includes a controller 114 for executing a software program configured to detect and prioritize loads in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the depicted embodiment, the energy control system 112 is coupled to the load controller 120 via at least one control channel 116. Each channel is connected to a critical load 1221, 1222, ..., or 122 n The channels couple monitoring signals from and carry control signals to the load controller 120 to facilitate control of the load associated with each particular channel. The channels may be coupled via electrical circuits to multiple devices, components, or systems that form the load for a given channel.

[0013] Power from one or more of the energy sources 102 is coupled along path 118 to a load controller 120. The load controller 120 comprises an array of switches 126 that control the flow of energy to the load 106. Control signals on the control channel 116 control which of the switches 126 are closed or open.

[0014] In one embodiment, the load controller 120 monitors the current and voltage being supplied to each load 106. A monitor signal representing the current and voltage to each load 106 is coupled to the energy control system 112 via at least one channel 116. As described in detail below, the controller 114 analyzes the at least one monitor signal to determine what type of load is connected to the at least one channel and prioritizes the at least one detected load. In another illustrative embodiment, there are multiple channels, and the controller 114 monitors and analyzes multiple monitor signals to prioritize multiple loads coupled to the multiple channels.

[0015] 2 depicts a block diagram of one embodiment of the controller 114 of FIG. 1. The controller 114 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 200, support circuits 202, and memory 204. The CPU 200 comprises one or more processors, including, but not limited to, one or more of an application specific integrated circuit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, etc. The support circuits 202 comprise circuits and devices that support the functionality of the CPU and include, but are not limited to, one or more of a clock circuit, an analog-to-digital converter, a cache, a power supply, etc. In one embodiment, the support circuits 202 comprise a monitoring circuit 214 configured to digitize a monitoring signal associated with each channel 116. In another embodiment, the monitoring circuit 214 may be provided in the load controller 120 of FIG. 1 such that a digital representation of the monitoring signal is coupled to the controller 114.

[0016] Memory 204 is one or more non-transitory storage media consisting of read-only memory, random access memory, or a combination thereof for storing software and data. In one embodiment, the software includes an operating system 206 and application software (load analyzer 208). The operating system (OS 206) facilitates the functionality of CPU 200 and may be, for example, WINDOWS, LINUX, macOS, or the like. In some embodiments, CPU 200 may comprise an operating system-independent microcontroller. In such cases, memory 204 may not store operating system 206.

[0017] In one embodiment, the application software includes a load analyzer 208 that utilizes or generates data including channel associations 210, at least one load signature 212, at least one reference signature 216, at least one monitor signal 218, and a priority map 220. The load analyzer 208 analyzes the digitized at least one monitor signal 218 to generate at least one load signature 212 for at least one channel 116. The load signature 212 includes the unique voltage and current characteristics of the load as well as timing information (i.e., activation data) regarding when the load is activated. The load analyzer 208 compares the at least one load signature 212 to at least one reference signature 216. In an illustrative embodiment, the load signature 212 is compared to a set of reference signatures 216. The reference signatures 216 consist of pre-defined signatures for various appliance types, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, etc. The priority map 220 includes, for each load type, an indication of its energy consumption priority relative to other loads. For example, the priority map may specify that air conditioners have priority over water heaters during the afternoon. Using the priority map 220, the load signatures 212, and the reference signatures 216, the load analyzer 208 creates channel associations 210 that list the identified loads, the associated channels for the loads, and the priorities for the loads. In one embodiment, the priority map includes default priorities; however, users may customize the priorities to meet their personal or business requirements.

[0018] In one embodiment, the priority map 220 and channel associations 210 are discovered automatically by the load analyzer 208. In another embodiment, an installer may initially establish the channel associations and set priorities for the loads. Through repeated analysis of energy consumption over time, the load analyzer 208 may update the priorities (e.g., determine that some loads are being used less than others and therefore require a lower priority). In another embodiment, repeated historical analysis is used to correct installer mistakes; i.e., if the installer initially erroneously identifies a given channel as being associated with a water heater, after analysis the load analyzer realizes that the channel is actually associated with a refrigerator and updates the channel associations and priority map.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method 300 of operation of the load analyzer 208 of FIG. 2 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. Any block, step, module, or other described below may represent one or more instructions that can be stored as software on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and / or performed by hardware. Any such block, module, step, or other may be performed by various software and / or hardware combinations in a manner that can be automated, including the use of specialized hardware designed to achieve such purposes. As noted above, any number of blocks, steps, or modules may be performed in any order, including substantially simultaneously, i.e., even within the tolerances of the systems performing the blocks, steps, or modules. Of course, such blocks are presented merely for illustrative purposes, and any one or more blocks, steps, or modules may be combined with any others, removed, divided, or moved between the various systems and subsystems illustrated.

[0020] Method 300 begins at step 302 and proceeds to step 304, where method 300 selects a channel to be analyzed. In step 306, method 300 accesses the monitored signal for the selected channel and uses that data to determine a load signature for the load connected to the selected channel. The load signature includes the voltage and current signature (values ​​over time) for the load as well as historical start-up data (i.e., a refrigerator turns on and off repeatedly throughout the day, while a dishwasher may only be started once per day or less).

[0021] At step 308, method 300 analyzes the load signature by comparing it with a database of reference signatures. Thus, from the load signature, method 300 detects the type of load. At step 310, the method uses the database of priorities to determine the priority of the detected load relative to other detected loads. At step 312, the method determines or updates channel associations and priorities based on the detected load and its priority. Note that updating one priority may affect other priorities so that the priorities for other loads are also updated.

[0022] At step 314, the method queries whether the next channel should be analyzed. If the query is answered affirmatively, the method 300 proceeds along path 318 to step 304 to begin analyzing another channel. If the query is answered negatively, the method 300 ends at step 316.

[0023] The above-described embodiments of the present invention may be used to autonomously detect the loads connected to each channel and assign priorities to the loads. In this way, energy is consumed based on priorities so that energy consumption is optimized. By optimizing energy consumption, a given facility uses no or a minimum amount of grid-supplied energy.

[0024] Priorities may change based on the energy supply being used. For example, when energy is being supplied from the grid, loads may have no priority or limited priority (i.e., for efficiency purposes). However, when energy is being supplied from, for example, a solar array, the load priority map may prioritize certain critical loads over other loads. Similarly, when energy is being supplied from energy storage, where energy supply may be limited, the load priority map may have an entirely different prioritization to optimize the period during which the storage system can be used.

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention provide significant improvements in load detection and prioritization. The system according to the present invention avoids and / or corrects human error in load allocation and, through its use of a channelized load control strategy, improves the accuracy of load detection using load signatures when compared to previous software disaggregation techniques.

[0026] While examples are provided herein to illustrate various features, they are not intended to be limiting. Any one or more of the features are not limited to the specific examples presented herein, regardless of any order, combination, or connection described. Indeed, it should be understood that any combination of features and / or elements described as examples above is contemplated, including any variations or modifications not listed but capable of achieving the same. Unless otherwise specified, any one or more of the features may be combined in any order.

[0027] As such, the figures are presented herein for illustrative purposes and are not meant to impose any architectural limitations unless expressly stated. Various modifications to any of the structures shown in the figures are contemplated within the scope of the inventions presented herein. The invention is not intended to be limited by any of the terms of the claims.

[0028] Where "coupled" or "connected" is used, unless expressly stated, no limitation is intended to limit the coupling or connection to physical couplings or connections, but instead should be read to include communicative couplings, including wireless transmissions and protocols.

[0029] Any block, step, module, or otherwise described herein may represent one or more instructions that can be stored as software on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and / or executed by hardware. Any such block, module, step, or otherwise may be executed by various software and / or hardware combinations in a manner that may be automated, including the use of specialized hardware designed to achieve such purposes. As such, any number of blocks, steps, or modules may be executed in any order, including substantially simultaneously, i.e., even within the tolerances of the systems executing the blocks, steps, or modules.

[0030] When conditional language is used, including but not limited to "can," "could," "may," or "might," it should be understood that the associated feature or element is not required. As such, when conditional language is used, it should be understood that the elements and / or features are optionally present in at least some instances and are not necessarily contingent on anything unless expressly stated.

[0031] When a list is recited disjunctively or conjunctively (e.g., one or more of A, B, and / or C), it is understood to include one or more of each element, including any one or more combinations of any number of the listed elements (e.g., A, AB, AC, ABC, ABB, etc.), unless otherwise stated. When "and / or" is used, it should be understood that elements may be combined disjunctively or conjunctively.

[0032] While the forgoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, which scope is defined by the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 100 Energy Generation and Consumption Scenarios 102 Energy Sources 104 Energy Management System 106 Load 108 Distributed Generators 110 Energy Storage 112 Energy Control System 114 Controller 116 Control Channel 118 routes 120 Load Controller 122 Load 124 Power Grid 126 Switch 200 Central Processing Unit 202 Support Circuit 204 memory 206 Operating Systems 208 Load Analyzer 210 Channel Association 212 Load Signature 214 Monitoring circuit 216 Reference Signatures 218 Supervisory Signal 220 Priority Map

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for detecting and prioritizing loads, comprising: a load analyzer for an energy control system configured to connect to a power grid; The load analyzer receiving at least one load monitor signal from at least one channel, the at least one channel being connected to a load; analyzing at least one load signature derived from the load monitoring signal to automatically detect a load type connected to the at least one channel, and through iterative analysis of energy consumption over time for the at least one load, assigning an energy consumption priority such that energy consumption of the at least one load is optimized to use no grid-supplied energy or to use less than a maximum amount of grid-supplied energy; configured to: The apparatus, wherein the iterative analysis includes identifying errors in channel and load associations, correcting the errors in the channel and load associations, and updating the channel and load associations and a priority map including the energy consumption priorities.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one load signature comprises voltage and current values ​​on the at least one channel when the at least one load is consuming energy.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one load signature further comprises historical startup data for the at least one load.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the load analyzer detects the load type by comparing the at least one load signature to at least one reference signature.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the load analyzer generates the priority map including the energy consumption priorities.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the priority map includes a plurality of energy consumption priorities, each energy consumption priority in the plurality of energy consumption priorities establishing a priority for a particular load.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of energy consumption priorities are predetermined and updated with the assigned energy consumption priorities.

8. 1. A method for detecting and prioritizing at least one load, comprising: receiving at least one load monitor signal from at least one channel, the at least one channel configured to be connected to at least one load; analyzing at least one load signature derived from the at least one load monitoring signal to automatically detect a load type connected to the at least one channel, and through iterative analysis of energy consumption over time for the at least one load, assigning an energy consumption priority to optimize energy consumption of the at least one load so that it uses no grid-supplied energy or less than a maximum amount of grid-supplied energy; Including, The method, wherein the iterative analysis includes identifying errors in channel and load associations, correcting the errors in the channel and load associations, and updating the channel and load associations and a priority map including the energy consumption priorities.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one load signature comprises voltage and current values ​​on the at least one channel when the at least one load is consuming energy.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one load signature further comprises historical startup data for the at least one load.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of comparing the at least one load signature to at least one reference signature to detect the load type.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising generating the priority map including the energy consumption priorities.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the priority map includes a plurality of energy consumption priorities, each energy consumption priority in the plurality of energy consumption priorities establishing a priority for a particular load.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of energy consumption priorities are predetermined and updated with the assigned energy consumption priorities.

15. one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media for storing instructions, The instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receiving at least one load monitor signal from at least one channel, the at least one channel configured to be connected to at least one load; analyzing at least one load signature derived from the at least one load monitoring signal to automatically detect a load type connected to the at least one channel, and through iterative analysis of energy consumption over time for the at least one load, assigning an energy consumption priority such that energy consumption of the at least one load is optimized to use no grid-supplied energy or to use less than a maximum amount of grid-supplied energy; Perform an action including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the iterative analysis includes identifying errors in channel and load associations, correcting the errors in the channel and load associations, and updating the channel and load associations and a priority map including the energy consumption priorities.

16. 16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one load signature comprises voltage and current values ​​on the at least one channel when the at least one load is consuming energy.

17. 20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the at least one load signature further comprises historical startup data for the at least one load.

18. 16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the at least one load signature to at least one reference signature to detect the load type.

19. 16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise generating the priority map including the energy consumption priorities.

20. 20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the priority map includes a plurality of energy consumption priorities, each energy consumption priority in the plurality of energy consumption priorities establishing a priority for a particular load.

Images