Pool Pump Energy Savings via Off-Peak Scheduling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current home energy management systems do not effectively incorporate pool pumps to reduce peak energy demand, leading to increased costs due to high usage during peak hours.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a central controller that operates the pool pump system in energy savings modes by scheduling operations during off-peak hours and reducing water flow during peak demand periods, using a flow-reducing device and adjustable motor speed to minimize energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pool pump operates continuously to maintain proper pool filtration, then pool water quality is maintained, but peak energy demand increases and energy costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The pool pump system dynamically adjusts its operating speed based on real-time energy pricing signals from the utility provider. During off-peak hours with lower energy costs, the pump operates at higher speeds to perform filtration tasks. During peak demand periods with higher energy costs, the pump reduces speed or temporarily suspends operation, thereby reducing energy consumption during expensive periods while still maintaining adequate pool water quality through strategic scheduling of filtration cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtration actions during off-peak hours before peak demand periods begin. By scheduling intensive filtration cycles during nighttime or early morning hours when energy rates are lower, the system proactively maintains pool water quality in advance of peak usage periods, eliminating the need for continuous high-speed operation during expensive peak hours
2Productivity
If the pool pump operates at full speed to maximize filtration efficiency, then water circulation and filtration effectiveness are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pool pump system implements periodic operation patterns instead of continuous full-speed operation. The controller schedules alternating periods of high-speed filtration followed by low-speed or idle periods, synchronized with utility energy pricing cycles. This periodic action maintains adequate filtration effectiveness over complete cycles while significantly reducing average power consumption by utilizing lower-power intervals during peak demand periods
3Loss of energy
If the pool pump system is integrated into the home energy management system with scheduling capabilities, then energy costs are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pool pump system is integrated with a multi-functional home energy management platform that serves multiple purposes: it controls the pool pump scheduling, monitors energy consumption across various household devices, communicates with utility providers for real-time pricing data, and provides user interfaces for monitoring and control. By consolidating these functions into a single universal system rather than adding a dedicated standalone controller, the patent reduces overall system complexity while achieving energy cost savings through intelligent pool pump scheduling
Data Source
AI summary
An energy management system for a home network is provided. The energy management system includes one or more power consuming devices, including at least a pool pump system having a motor and a filter with a filtration cycle, a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state, and a display. The central controller is configured to operate the pool pump system in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, and to provide pool pump usage information to a user via a user interface on the display.