3732 results about "Energy management" patented technology

A business methodology for optimizing energy procurement energy demand (usage) and energy supply for a facility or complex. After ascertaining a baseline model, energy consumption is monitored and adjusted to reflect dynamic economic factors of operations. With the accumulation of data, contract negotiations with energy suppliers may provide further energy savings. Over time and patterns of usage determined further savings and optimization in energy, equipment, staffing and other operational areas are obtained. Remote access provides efficient monitoring of established systems.

Systems and methods for providing energy management utilize wireless wide-area network broadcast signals and a decentralized receiver architecture to allow customers to make informed choices with regard to energy consumption and load shedding for particular appliances. A receiver assembly embedded within an appliance receives a broadcast signal, e.g., an FM subcarrier signal, including tariff data and other electrical grid data. A processor coupled with the receiver controls the appliance in accordance with the received data and in accordance with user-defined preferences. In some embodiments, a transceiver assembly is embedded in one or more appliances in a household. Each transceiver is configured to receive broadcast signals regarding grid data, and to communicate with other appliances and / or a usage meter over a wireless personal area network. Meter data from one or more households may be aggregated and uplinked back to the energy provider or other entities.

A context-aware smart home energy management (CASHEM) system and method is disclosed. CASHEM dynamically schedules household energy use to reduce energy consumption by identifying contextual information within said household, selecting a comfort of service preference, wherein said comfort of service preference is based on different said contextual information, and extracting an appliance use schedule for maximum energy savings based on said contextual information in light of said comfort of service preferences, by executing a program instruction in a data processing apparatus. CASHEM correlates said contextual information with energy consumption levels to dynamically schedule said appliance based on an energy-saving condition and a user's comfort. Comfort of service preferences are gathered by CASHEM by monitoring occupant activity levels and use of said appliance. CASHEM can also recommend potential energy savings for a user to modify comfort of service preferences.

Systems and methods are disclosed for using 802.11 based wireless protocols in various energy management applications wherein a host controller uses various types of communication networks to distribute information to an on-premise processor that in turn uses 802.11 based wireless protocols to communicate with various types of end devices, such as utility meters. Various forms of communication are defined between the end device, the on-premise processor, and the energy management host for accomplishing power load control, including determining when to activate or deactivate a load, requesting permission to activate a load, reading usage data, activating or deactivating a meter, and determining rate schedules. A flexible scheme allows control to be shifted to be resident in various entities. The architecture is applicable not only for power load control, but other control type and metering devices.

Systems and methods are disclosed for using 802.11 based wireless protocols in various energy management applications wherein a host controller uses various types of communication networks to distribute information to an on-premise processor that in turn uses 802.11 based wireless protocols to communicate with various types of end devices, such as utility meters. Various forms of communication are defined between the end device, the on-premise processor, and the energy management host for accomplishing power load control, including determining when to activate or deactivate a load, requesting permission to activate a load, reading usage data, activating or deactivating a meter, and determining rate schedules. A flexible scheme allows control to be shifted to be resident in various entities. The architecture is applicable not only for power load control, but other control type and metering devices.

The invention discloses an internet-of-things and android system based intelligent home system which comprises a control host and a plurality of terminal devices. The control host is provided with a high-performance arm processor, a touch screen and an android operation system, supports zigbee, blueTooth, wifi (wireless fidelity), 3G (the third generation) communication, is provided with a built-in web server and a built-in database, has functions of display, operation, control data storage, server, energy management, and particularly has functions of automatic control, hand-operated control, voice control and remote control. The terminal devices include a sensor terminal, a security terminal and a control terminal, are provided with independent processors and network addresses, have functions of data acquisition, data transmission, instruction receiving, transmitting and processing and IO (input / output) control, and support one or multiple wireless communication manners of zigbee, blueTooth, wifi and 3G.

The present invention discloses a system for transferring electrical power between a grid and at least one vehicle. The vehicle can be Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) or Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). The type of vehicle will be recognized and controlled by the system to support demand response and supply side energy management. Vehicle recognition can be carried out by load signature analysis, power factor measurement or RFID techniques. In an embodiment of the invention, the grid is a Smart Grid. The present invention also discloses a method for facilitating electrical power transfer between the grid and the vehicle.

An energy scavenging power system and method may include an energy conversion system having at least one transducer configured to harvest energy, an energy management and storage system configured to store harvested energy; and a load regulation system configured to provide stored energy to power one or more low power-consumption loads. The energy management and storage system may include a start-up capacitor having a small capacitance to allow for quick charging and fast turn-on, a short term capacitor to provide energy to the load or loads once turned-on, and a long term capacitor having a large capacitance to provide for sustained energy delivery to the loads. The system also may include a common charging bus that receives energy from each transducer, conditioned if necessary, and which then determines the capacitor to which the energy should be delivered.

Embodiments of the present invention assist customers in managing the four types of energy assets, that is, generation, storage, usage, and controllable load assets. Embodiments of the present invention for the first time develop and predict a customer baseline (“CBL”) usage of electricity, using a predictive model based on simulation of energy assets, based on business as usual (“BAU”) of the customer's facility. The customer is provided with options for operating schedules based on algorithms, which allow the customer to maximize the economic return on its generation assets, its storage assets, and its load control assets. Embodiments of the invention enable the grid to verify that the customer has taken action to control load in response to price. This embodiment of the invention calculates the amount of energy that the customer would have consumed, absent any reduction of use made in response to price. Specifically, the embodiment models the usage of all the customer's electricity consuming devices, based on the customer's usual conditions. This model of the expected consumption can then be compared to actual actions taken by the customer, and the resulting consumption levels, to verify that the customer has reduced consumption and is entitled to payment for the energy that was not consumed.

A decentralized load management and control system and method are provided herein. A plurality of loads in a system are associated with a multitude of respective networked load controllers. If energy demand exceeds optimum limits in operation then the networked load controllers collaborate to determine which load(s) will be shed based on an optimization algorithm that considers, inter alia, variable load priority and business objectives. Additionally and / or alternatively, if the metered energy demand is less than optimum, the load controllers can determine which loads to reconnect again based at least upon load priority and business objectives.

Methods and systems for energy management are disclosed. An example system includes a first port connected to an energy storage device for bidirectional flow of energy, a second port connected to an energy source device for unidirectional flow of energy, a third port connected to a utility grid for bidirectional flow of energy, and a unified control system with control logic configured to simultaneously control energy flow between the first, second, and third ports based on at least two factors from the group consisting of: a state of charge of the energy storage device, a state of the energy source device, and a state of the utility grid. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

The present invention provides a system, method and computer program for energy use management and reduction. The invention enables managing and reducing energy usage by monitoring energy usage of users and rewarding users for reducing energy usage. It includes monitoring energy consumption for users. Any reduction in energy consumption is commoditized. The commoditized energy can be sold on a market. Some or all of the revenues realized from the sale may be distributed to the users as encouragement to further reduce energy usage.

A method and system for energy management via energy-aware process scheduling provides per-process energy use / power dissipation control to manage system energy requirements and thermal conditions without throttling overall system performance. Use of energy by a particular process is measured or is estimated from resource requirements that are determined by the operating system or reported by the application owning the process. The scheduler then determines whether or not to allocate execution slices to the process in conformity with the measured or estimated energy requirements of the process. The scheduler may insert “idle” execution slices to reduce energy use / power dissipation or may prefer low energy-use processes over high energy-use processes. Pragmatic faults may be issued as warnings from the operating system to an application to indicate that energy requirements need to be curtailed. If the warning sent to the application does not result in sufficient energy use / power dissipation reduction, then the scheduler may implement the selective allocation of slices to processes that have an excessive energy requirement. The scheduler may be notified of such a condition through pragmatic “critical” faults that indicate a higher degree of severity than the previously-issued warning faults.

The invention concerns a method of managing energy consumed by a group of energy consuming devices (31 to 39) and energy consuming devices (31 to 36) for executing this method. Energy consuming devices (31 to 36) of the group of energy consuming devices exchange messages according to an energy management control protocol via a communication media (4). The energy management control protocol comprises an energy booking message type for announcing future energy consumption, an energy reduction indication message type for announcing possible reduction of energy consumption and a granting message type for granting an energy booking message and / or an energy reduction indication. The energy consuming devices (31 to 36) negotiate their energy consumption by means of the messages exchanged according to the energy management control protocol and control their energy consumption according to the result of this negotiation.

A system for providing network infrastructure for energy management and control is disclosed. A controller integrates powerline and wireless networking technologies in order to provide an integrated network. A gateway sends and receives command and control data across the integrated network. Client devices may connect to the integrated network and perform a variety of functions. An appliance module may send and receive data across the integrated network in relation to a particular appliance. A panel meter may send and receive data across the integrated network in relation to data measured at a distribution panel. A serial bridge may connect various devices to the integrated network. Computing devices may remotely or locally connect to the integrated network and send and receive data.

Systems and methods for providing energy management utilize wireless wide-area network broadcast signals and a decentralized receiver architecture to allow customers to make informed choices with regard to energy consumption and load shedding for particular appliances. A receiver assembly embedded within an appliance receives a broadcast signal, e.g., an FM subcarrier signal, including tariff data and other electrical grid data. A processor coupled with the receiver controls the appliance in accordance with the received data and in accordance with user-defined preferences. In some embodiments, a transceiver assembly is embedded in one or more appliances in a household. Each transceiver is configured to receive broadcast signals regarding grid data, and to communicate with other appliances and / or a usage meter over a wireless personal area network. Meter data from one or more households may be aggregated and uplinked back to the energy provider or other entities.

A method and system are provided for auditing, monitoring and controlling the energy consumption within a utility. Energy consumption data is obtained from a series of modules monitoring and controlling a variety of physical conditions, such as ambient light, temperature, pressure, air velocity, cooling, and heating, and devices. These modules transmit energy consumption and physical conditions data over a wireless personal area network (WPAN) through a transceiver. A central control station obtains the energy consumption data and stores it in an energy usage database. Energy management logic calculates and provides to the user an energy management solution, to reduce energy consumption and costs, by applying rule-based artificial intelligence to the stored energy consumption data in conjunction with information from the Internet. In one embodiment, the energy management solution can automatically control devices to effectively conserve energy.

A PeakPower Energy Management and Control System having one or more roll-lock snap-on current transformer power monitoring devices, each to avoid interrupting power when installing current and / or power monitors. Each roll-lock snap-on current transformer power monitoring device may be snapped onto existing power wires inside a power panel or near equipment being monitored without disconnecting any wires or turning off power. Each roll-lock snap-on current transformer power monitoring device may be utilized in standalone mode as well as within a PeakPower Energy Management and Control System in accordance with disclosed embodiments. Each roll-lock snap-on current transformer power monitoring device may communicate via the power lines (Power Line Controller) or communicate via wireless using an integrated microprocessor based RF transceiver.

A system, method and apparatus for automatically adapting power grid usage by controlling internal and / or external power-related assets of one or more users in response to power regulation and / or frequency regulation functions in a manner beneficial to both the power grid itself and the users of the power grid.

The present invention provides for multiple energy pooling stations to combine renewable energy, utility energy and back-up power services in the form of Green and Black Energy with energy storage to create a multi-income stream. An energy pooling station is an advanced part of an evolving “energy network” in which multiple energy pooling stations are communicating with each other to share energy credit, bank energy, and distribute the energy to customers.

Automatic energy management is provided, in even the most complex multi-building system. The necessity of a human operator for managing energy in a complex, multi-building system is reduced and even eliminated. Computer-based monitoring and computer-based recognition of adverse energy events (such as the approach of a new energy peak) is highly advantageous in energy management. Immediate automatic querying of energy users within a system of buildings for energy curtailment possibilities is provided. Such immediate, automatic querying may be answered by the energy users through artificial intelligence and / or neural network technology provided to or programmed into the energy users, and the queried energy users may respond in real-time. Those real-time computerized responses with energy curtailment possibilities may be received automatically by a data processing facility, and processed in real-time. Advantageously, the responses from queried energy users with energy curtailment possibilities may be automatically processed into a round-robin curtailment rotation which may be implemented by a computer-based control system. Thus, impact on occupants is minimized, and energy use and energy cost may be beneficially reduced in an intelligent, real-time manner. The invention also provides for early-recognition of impending adverse energy events, optimal response to a particular energy situation, real-time analysis of energy-related data, etc.

The invention concerns a method of managing energy consumed by a group of energy consuming devices (31 to 39) and energy consuming devices (31 to 36) for executing this method. Energy consuming devices (31 to 36) of the group of energy consuming devices exchange messages according to an energy management control protocol via a communication media (4). The energy management control protocol comprises an energy booking message type for announcing future energy consumption, an energy reduction indication message type for announcing possible reduction of energy consumption and a granting message type for granting an energy booking message and / or an energy reduction indication. The energy consuming devices (31 to 36) negotiate their energy consumption by means of the messages exchanged according to the energy management control protocol and control their energy consumption according to the result of this negotiation.

An energy management method for controlling electric vehicle charging by managing plural local energy sources, to optimize charging speed and minimize energy cost.

The method, terminal and computer program product determine the acceleration of a mobile terminal associated with the short-range communication transceiver and adjusts the power consumption of the short-range communication transceiver based upon whether a predefined acceleration threshold has been exceeded. To adjust the power consumption, the frequency at which the transceiver is activated may be altered. Thus, the power consumption of the transceiver may be reduced when the acceleration threshold is exceeded and / or may be increased when the acceleration threshold is not exceeded. Due to the adjustment of power consumption by transceivers, power is conserved in the mobile terminals associated with transceivers, which permits the mobile terminals and the transceivers to operate longer without requiring charging or replacement of the power supply.

A building automation system having: a plurality of wireless remote devices, each wireless remote device including a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving digital information and an interface for energy management which can read a sensor, such as a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, an electronically readable gas or electric meter, or provide an output, such as a relay driver; and a controller having a wireless transceiver for digital communication with the wireless remote devices and a computer interface. Each wireless remote device includes an identifier to identify the type of interface present in the remote device and a serial number to allow the controller to communicate exclusively with any individual remote device. The controller interface allows the controller to communicate with a computer, and ultimately with a server to allow monitoring and control of the system from virtually anywhere in the world.

Automatic energy management is provided, in even the most complex multi-building system. The necessity of a human operator for managing energy in a complex, multi-building system is reduced and even eliminated. Computer-based monitoring and computer-based recognition of adverse energy events (such as the approach of a new energy peak) is highly advantageous in energy management. Immediate automatic querying of energy users within a system of buildings for energy curtailment possibilities is provided. Such immediate, automatic querying may be answered by the energy users through artificial intelligence and / or neural network technology provided to or programmed into the energy users, and the queried energy users may respond in real-time. Those real-time computerized responses with energy curtailment possibilities may be received automatically by a data processing facility, and processed in real-time. Advantageously, the responses from queried energy users with energy curtailment possibilities may be automatically processed into a round-robin curtailment rotation which may be implemented by a computer-based control system. Thus, impact on occupants is minimized, and energy use and energy cost may be beneficially reduced in an intelligent, real-time manner. The invention also provides for early-recognition of impending adverse energy events, optimal response to a particular energy situation, real-time analysis of energy-related data, etc.

Methods and systems are described for providing a graphical user interface suitable for viewing and modifying home automation, home security, and / or energy management devices. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface may include a scene selection list displaying multiple selectable items representing various scenes. In certain instances, control and monitoring of one or more devices may at least be accessed through a transitory user interface element such as, for example, a drawer control, a pullable view, or the like. Multiple device states may be set in accordance with a scene definition associated with a selectable list item in a scene selection list displayed in the transitory user interface element. The contents of the scene selection, in certain embodiments, may be determined in part based on a detected application context, user context, or both.

A user interface is visibly displayed on a display device operatively connected to a first computer. The user interface enables an end user to enter at least one energy management rule for each of a plurality of electrical loads at a location, each rule including a command to be transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule if a condition is met. The energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads are received by a second computer. An energy management profile containing the energy management rules for each of the plurality of electrical loads at the location is created and stored using a second computer. The energy management profile is activated using the second computer. For each of the energy management rules where the condition has been met, the command associated with the rule is transmitted to the electrical load associated with the rule.

A method and system for energy management in a simultaneous multi-threaded (SMT) processing system including per-thread device usage monitoring provides control of energy usage that accommodates thread parallelism. Per-device usage information is measured and stored on a per-thread basis, so that upon a context switch, the previous usage evaluation state can be restored. The per-thread usage information is used to adjust the thresholds of device energy management decision control logic, so that energy use can be managed with consideration as to which threads will be running in a given execution slice. A device controller can then provide for per-thread control of attached device power management states without intervention by the processor and without losing the historical evaluation state when a process is switched out. The device controller may be a memory controller and the controlled devices memory modules or banks within modules if individual banks can be power-managed. Local thresholds provide the decision-making mechanism for each controlled device and are adjusted by the operating system in conformity with the measured usage level for threads executing within the processing system. The per-thread usage information may be obtained from a performance monitoring unit that is located within or external to the device controller and the usage monitoring state is then retrieved and replaced by the operating system at each context switch.

A hybrid energy market and currency system is provided to manage energy consumption in an energy market comprising a community of users. A central energy authority issues energy currency units to users and sets an exchange rate between the energy currency units and a monetary currency unit, thereby setting a variable price for energy. Energy currency units have a defined validity period at the end of which the energy currency unit is automatically converted to monetary currency units by the central energy authority. Users consume energy currency units through use of energy consumptive services, such as domestic consumption of electricity and water, and through use of transportation. Users are also able to buy additional energy currency units from the central energy authority, and to sell them back. Users cannot speculatively trade energy currency units. Prices are set by comparing the cumulative actual and desired demand