U.S. patent application number 13/452618 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-25 for systems and methods for analyzing energy usage.
This patent application is currently assigned to EXPANERGY, LLC. Invention is credited to Paul W. Donahue, Ganatios Y. Hanna, Michel Roger Kamel.
Application Number | 20120271576 13/452618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47021993 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120271576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamel; Michel Roger ; et
al. |
October 25, 2012 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING ENERGY USAGE
Abstract
A system for analyzing energy usage measures one or more
parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of
sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for the measuring is
substantially continuous, and automatically transmits information
related to at least one of the measured parameters at a rate that
enables monitoring of current energy usage. The system further
detects a significant change in a measured parameter, determines
whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused
by a change in energy usage, and automatically transmits
information related to the significant change in the measured
parameter caused by the change in energy usage after detecting the
significant change.
Inventors: |
Kamel; Michel Roger; (Buena
Park, CA) ; Hanna; Ganatios Y.; (Irvine, CA) ;
Donahue; Paul W.; (Newport Coast, CA) |
Assignee: |
EXPANERGY, LLC
Sparks
NV
|
Family ID: |
47021993 |
Appl. No.: |
13/452618 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61478446 |
Apr 22, 2011 |
|
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61483552 |
May 6, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
702/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02P 80/20 20151101;
Y04S 10/18 20130101; H02J 13/00034 20200101; Y04S 40/124 20130101;
H02J 13/0062 20130101; H02J 3/38 20130101; G08C 19/00 20130101;
H02J 13/00 20130101; H02J 13/0079 20130101; Y04S 20/30 20130101;
G01R 21/133 20130101; Y02E 60/00 20130101; H02J 13/0006 20130101;
H02J 3/00 20130101; H02J 13/00028 20200101; Y02P 90/84 20151101;
H02J 3/383 20130101; G05B 15/02 20130101; G06Q 10/10 20130101; Y02E
60/7838 20130101; H02S 50/00 20130101; Y02E 10/56 20130101; Y02P
90/845 20151101; H02J 13/00016 20200101; H02S 40/32 20141201; Y02E
60/7869 20130101; G01D 4/002 20130101; Y02B 70/34 20130101; Y04S
40/00 20130101; Y04S 40/128 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
702/62 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/00 20110101
G06F019/00 |
Claims
1. A method of measuring and analyzing energy usage, comprising:
measuring one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a
plurality of sub-circuits, wherein a sampling rate for measuring is
substantially continuous; automatically validating the one or more
measured parameters; automatically transmitting information related
to at least one of the validated measured parameters at a reporting
rate decoupled from the sampling rate that enables monitoring of
current energy usage; detecting a significant change in the
measured parameter; determining whether the significant change in
the measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage; and
automatically transmitting, independent of the sampling rate and
the reporting rate, information related to the significant change
in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage
after detecting the significant change.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sampling rate and the
reporting rate may vary from one measured parameter to another.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein a user defines what constitutes
the significant change.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of automatically
transmitting information may change based on the variability of the
measured parameter.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more measured
parameters includes at least one measured current and at least one
measured phase voltage, and wherein the measured current can be
referenced to any one of the measured voltage phases for
determination of power factor and phase angle.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more measured
parameters includes one or more voltage measurements of one or more
phases, the voltage measurement of any one phase can be referenced
to the voltage measurement of any other phase including one or more
neutrals.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter is stored
when it cannot be automatically transmitted.
8. A system for measuring, calculating and analyzing energy
efficiency of a facility or facility subsystem, the system
comprising: a plurality of energy measurement devices configured to
measure one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a
plurality of circuits, sub-circuits, or systems wherein an energy
sampling rate for measuring is substantially continuous; a
plurality of measurement devices configured to measure one or more
parameters indicative of energy efficiency of a facility or
facility subsystems, wherein an energy efficiency sampling rate for
measuring is substantially continuous; a plurality of measurement
devices configured to measure or acquire one or more parameters
indicative of an environmental condition of systems and facilities,
wherein an environmental sampling rate for measuring is
substantially continuous; computer hardware including at least one
computer processor; and computer-readable storage including
computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer
processor, cause the computer hardware to perform operations
defined by the computer-executable instructions, the
computer-executable instructions including: automatically
transmitting information related to at least one of the measured
parameters at a reporting rate decoupled from the energy, the
energy efficiency, and the environmental sampling rates that
enables monitoring of the energy efficiency; automatically
obtaining environmental conditions including weather data;
detecting a significant change in any of the measured parameter;
determining whether the significant change in the measured
parameter is caused by a change in the energy efficiency;
determining whether and the significant change in the measured
parameter caused a change in energy efficiency; automatically
transmitting, independent of the energy, the energy efficiency, and
the environmental sampling rates and a reporting rate, information
related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused
by the change in the energy efficiency after detecting the
significant change; and automatically transmitting, independent of
the energy, the energy efficiency, and the environmental sampling
rates and the reporting rate, information related to the
significant change in the energy efficiency caused by the change in
the measured parameter after detecting the significant change.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein a user defines what constitutes
the significant change.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein a rate of automatically
transmitting information may change based on variability of the
measured parameter.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the measured parameter is
selected from the group consisting of light intensity, rotational
speed, linear speed, temperature, vibration, carbon dioxide,
pressure, motion, flow, acceleration, voltage, current, sound, and
ultrasonic frequencies.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-executable
instructions further include deriving energy required by a facility
or facility subsystem, based at least in part on the measured
parameter that is selected from the group of measured parameters
consisting of building orientation, time of day, outside air
temperature, inside air temperature, reheat coil water temperature,
cold air temperature, CO2, and enthalpy of return air.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-executable
instructions further include deriving energy required by a facility
or a facility subsystem, based at least in part on derived factors
that are selected from the group of factors that contribute to
facility heat loading and energy use consisting of a building size,
a building type, a building occupancy, a time of day, a day of the
week, a day of the year, vacation schedules, ambient weather
information, forecast weather information, gas usage, hot water
usage, chilled water usage, ventilation requirements, lighting heat
loads, an equipment load, an appliance load, a server load, a
computer load, and number of computers that are present in the
facility.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-executable
instructions further include outputting data, based at least in
part on a comparison of the measured parameter of energy usage and
a derived parameter of energy required by the facility or subsystem
from the group consisting of a lighting circuit, a motor circuit,
an air handling system, a pump, a fan, a boiler, and an HVAC
compressor system.
15. The system of claim 8, wherein determining whether the
significant change in the measured parameter is caused by the
change in energy usage or energy required by a building or a
building subsystem includes: acquiring an additional sample of the
measured parameter; and determining whether the additional sample
of the measured parameter is proportional to the significant change
of the measured parameter, wherein when the additional sample of
the measured parameter is proportional to the significant change in
the measured parameter, the significant change in the measured
parameter is caused by the change in the energy usage or the energy
required by the building or the building subsystem.
16. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-executable
instructions further include disregarding the significant change in
the measured parameter when the additional sample of the measured
parameter is not proportional to the significant change in the
measured parameter.
17. A system for measuring, analyzing and controlling energy usage
of a facility or facility subsystem, the system comprising: a
plurality of energy measurement devices configured to measure one
or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of
circuits, sub-circuits, or systems wherein a first sampling rate
for measuring is substantially continuous; a plurality of
measurement devices configured to measure one or more parameters
indicative of energy efficiency of systems and facilities, wherein
a second sampling rate for measuring is substantially continuous; a
plurality of measurement devices configured to measure one or more
parameters indicative of an environmental condition of the systems
and facilities, wherein a third sampling rate for measuring is
substantially continuous; computer hardware including at least one
computer processor; and computer-readable storage including
computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer
processor, cause the computer hardware to perform operations
defined by the computer-executable instructions, the
computer-executable instructions including: automatically
transmitting information related to at least one of the measured
parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy
efficiency; automatically obtaining environmental conditions
including weather data; automatically determining at least one
control sequence to maximize energy efficiency; automatically
calculating at least one demand reduction potential; automatically
determining at least one control sequence to minimize demand usage
at any time; automatically transmitting at least one control
command to at least one of the systems and facilities including
equipment; detecting a significant change in a measured parameter;
determining whether the significant change in the measured
parameter is caused by a change in the energy usage; determining
whether the significant change in the measured parameter caused a
change in the energy efficiency; and automatically transmitting
information related to the significant change in the measured
parameter caused by the change in the energy efficiency after
detecting the significant change.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable
instructions further include outputting, based at least in part on
the measured parameter, a variable duty cycle signal for load
control of at least one electric circuit, wherein the load control
includes at least one of electric energy control and carbon
footprint control, and wherein the electric circuit is selected
from the group consisting of a lighting circuit, a motor circuit,
an air handling system, and an HVAC compressor system.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable
instructions further include outputting demand response energy load
use data that is based at least in part on a comparison of the
measured parameter of the energy usage to a derived parameter of
energy required for a facility subsystem, and providing an output
signal, based at least in part on the comparison, that enables
reduction in the energy usage in one or more building subsystems
selected from the group consisting of a lighting circuit, a motor
circuit, an air handling system, an HVAC reheat coil system, and an
HVAC compressor system.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the measured parameter includes
at least one of motor speed, motor temperature, motor vibration,
belt tension, motor balance, motor torque, motor power consumption,
motor phase imbalance, motor power factor, motor power quality,
motor harmonic energy, motor fundamental energy, facility demand
reduction requirements, utility demand reduction requirements, and
parameters upstream and downstream of a motor, analyzed data
includes at least one of motor efficiency and motor maintenance
requirements, and the control command includes at least one of
turning the motor on, turning the motor off, reducing motor speed,
reducing motor frequency, and pulse width modulation of motor
power.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority benefit under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/478,446, filed Apr. 22, 2011, titled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
UNIVERSAL ENERGY MEASUREMENT, ENERGY ANALYSIS, AND ENERGY
COMMUNICATION," and from U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/483,552, filed May 6, 2011, titled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
ENERGY MEASUREMENT, ENERGY ANALYSIS, ENERGY DATA COMMUNICATION, AND
ENERGY CONTROL," each of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety to be considered a part of this
specification. Provisional Application No. 61/497,421, filed Jun.
15, 2011, titled "SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR THE INTEGRATED AND
CONTINUOUS DESIGN, SIMULATION, COMMISSIONING, REAL TIME MANAGEMENT,
EVALUATION, AND OPTIMIZATION OF FACILITIES" and Provisional
Application No. 61/564,219, filed Nov. 28, 2011, titled "ENERGY
SEARCH ENGINE METHODS AND SYSTEMS", are hereby incorporated herein
by reference in their entireties to be considered a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The alternating-current power grid developed in the late
nineteenth century with features such as centralized unidirectional
electric power transmission and demand-driven control. In the
twentieth century, utilities inter-tied small local grids to form
larger and larger power grids, which lent to efficiencies of scale.
However, near the end of the twentieth century, the economies of
scale of power production were limited by difficulties in
propagating supply and demand price signals through the system,
environmental concerns about power production, and an increased
dependence on limited fossil fuel resources.
SUMMARY
[0003] Digital communications technology can be added to various
tiers of the power grid to create smart grids at the utility level,
the municipality level, the individual energy consumer level, and
as far as the circuit, device or appliance level that are able to
receive real-time energy data and react accordingly. Embodiments
are directed towards an energy management system that measures,
analyzes, communicates, and controls energy usage with two-way
energy information. Embodiments collect and analyze energy data
from electrical circuits and sensors, and communicate the energy
information to power grids, micro grids, electric circuits,
appliances, and devices for use by utilities, municipalities,
businesses, and individual consumers.
[0004] Other embodiments of the energy management system perform
real time continuous and automated digital measurement, analysis,
and communication of energy usage. External sensors, such as
temperature sensors, for example, provide additional energy-related
data. The energy management system additionally stores and reports
energy quality and metrics based on the analysis of the energy
measurement data, external sensor data, and information from power
utilities.
[0005] Further embodiments of the energy management system
integrate at least some of universally interoperable "smart grid
envisioned" digital energy measurement, energy use analysis, carbon
footprint analysis, greenhouse gas emission analysis, energy
quality and availability analysis, data correction algorithms, data
reduction algorithms, data encryption algorithms, data storage,
data communication, control of energy used, carbon footprints
associated with the energy used, energy generated, and greenhouse
gas emissions associated with the energy generated. Embodiments of
the energy management system interface with "a smart device" "a
smart appliance" "a smart building" the smart grid", renewable
energy generators, and the like.
[0006] Certain embodiments relate to a method of measuring and
analyzing energy usage. The method comprises measuring one or more
parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of
sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for measuring is
substantially continuous, automatically transmitting information
related to at least one of the measured parameters at a reporting
rate decoupled from the sampling rate that enables monitoring of
current energy usage, detecting a significant change in a measured
parameter, determining whether the significant change in the
measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and
automatically transmitting, independent of the sampling rate and
the reporting rate, information related to the significant change
in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage
after detecting the significant change.
[0007] According to a number of embodiments, the disclosure relates
to a system for analyzing energy usage. The system comprises a
plurality of energy measurement devices configured to measure one
or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of
sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for measuring is
substantially continuous, computer hardware including at least one
computer processor, and computer-readable storage including
computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer
processor, cause the computer hardware to perform operations
defined by the computer-executable instructions. The
computer-executable instructions include automatically transmitting
information related to at least one of the measured parameters at a
rate that enables monitoring of current energy usage, detecting a
significant change in a measured parameter, determining whether the
significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change
in energy usage, and automatically transmitting information related
to the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the
change in energy usage after detecting the significant change.
[0008] Further embodiments relate to a system for measuring,
analyzing and controlling energy usage of a facility or facility
subsystem. The system comprises a plurality of energy measurement
devices configured to measure one or more parameters indicative of
energy usage for a plurality of circuits, sub-circuits, or systems
where a sampling rate for measuring is substantially continuous, a
plurality of measurement devices configured to measure one or more
parameters indicative of the energy efficiency of systems, where a
sampling rate for measuring is substantially continuous, and a
plurality of measurement devices configured to measure one or more
parameters indicative of the environmental condition of systems and
facilities, wherein a sampling rate for measuring is substantially
continuous. The system further comprises computer hardware
including at least one computer processor, and computer-readable
storage including computer-readable instructions that, when
executed by the computer processor, cause the computer hardware to
perform operations defined by the computer-executable instructions.
The computer-executable instructions include automatically
transmitting information related to at least one of the measured
parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy
efficiency, automatically obtaining relevant environmental
conditions including weather data, automatically determining
control sequence to maximize energy efficiency, automatically
determining demand reduction potential, automatically determining
control sequence to minimize demand usage at any time without
affecting operations and comfort, automatically transmitting
control commands to at least one system or equipment, detecting a
significant change in a measured parameter, determining whether the
significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change
in energy usage, determining whether and the significant change in
the measured parameter caused a change in energy efficiency, and
automatically transmitting information related to the significant
change in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy
efficiency after detecting the significant change.
[0009] For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects,
advantages and novel features of the inventions have been described
herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such
advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular
embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or
carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or
group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving
other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of energy usage
including an energy management system to measure, analyze,
communicate and control the energy usage, according to certain
embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of an
energy management system, according to certain embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the exemplary
energy management system of FIG. 2, according to certain
embodiments
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a polarity correction
device, according to certain embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an exemplary data reduction and
data validation process, according to certain embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary energy data
management process, according to certain embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The features of the systems and methods will now be
described with reference to the drawings summarized above.
Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate
correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings,
associated descriptions, and specific implementation are provided
to illustrate embodiments of the inventions and not to limit the
scope of the disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of energy usage 100
including an energy management system 102 to measure, analyze,
communicate, and control the energy usage of a facility 104. Energy
entering the facility 104 can be of many forms, such as for
example, thermal, mechanical, electrical, chemical, light, and the
like. The most common forms are typically electricity or power,
gas, thermal mass (hot or cold air), and solar irradiance. The
electrical energy can be generated from traditional fossil fuels,
or alternate forms of power generation, such as solar cells, wind
turbines, fuel cells, any type of electrical energy generator, and
the like. Ambient weather conditions, such as cloudy days, or time
of day, such as nighttime, may be responsible for radiant energy
transfer (gains or losses). Facilities 104 can comprise one or more
buildings, residences, factories, stores, commercial facilities,
industrial facilities, one or more rooms, one or more offices, one
or more zoned areas in a facility, one or more floors in a
building, parking structures, stadiums, theatres, individual
equipment or machinery (motors, chillers, pumps, fans, elevators,
etc.), electric vehicles with energy and/or information flow, or
the like. In another embodiment, the energy management system 102
measures, analyzes, communicates, and controls the energy usage of
one or more electric circuits, appliances, devices, micro grids,
power grids, or the like associated with the facility 104.
[0018] The energy management system 102 measures energy parameters
from the energy entering and consumed in the facility 104. The
energy management system 102 additionally receives sensor signals
from sensors 106. The sensors 106 can comprise current sensors,
voltage sensors, EMF sensors, touch sensors, contact closures,
capacitive sensors, trip sensors, mechanical switches, torque
sensors, temperature sensors, air flow sensors, gas flow sensors,
water flow sensors, water sensors, accelerometers, vibration
sensors, GPS, wind sensors, sun sensors, pressure sensors, light
sensors, tension-meters, microphones, humidity sensors, occupancy
sensors, motion sensors, laser sensors, gas sensors (CO2, CO),
speed sensors (rotational, angular), pulse counters, and the
like.
[0019] The energy management system communicates with third parties
108 directly, over local area networks, over the world wide web
110, such as the Internet, over a smart grid, and the like. Third
parties are, for example, utility companies, building maintenance
personnel, other energy management systems, first responders,
emergency personnel, governmental energy agencies, equipment,
control systems, other facilities, information databases, software
systems, web services, equipment vendors, equipment technical
support personnel, administrators, managers, smart meters, circuit
breakers, machinery, equipment, vehicles, battery systems, power
generators, fuel cells, inverters, PV panels, RSS Feeds, weather
stations, measurement devices with digital output, and the like.
The energy management system 102 transmits the measured energy
parameters, energy performance metrics, energy reports, energy
alerts, control commands, activity logs, electricity demand
reduction potential, demand reduction potential (electricity, gas,
water), demand reduction measurements (electricity, gas, water),
baseline energy information, peak energy information, energy duty
cycle, power quality information, the sensor signals, and the like,
to the third party 108. In addition, the energy management system
102 can receive additional energy data from the third party 108.
Examples of the additional data include environmental data, weather
forecast, fuel type, energy rates, grid loading, prior energy
consumption, facility occupancy schedules, BIM (Building
Information Modeling) data, GIS (Geographic Information System)
data, facility data, equipment specification data, equipment
maintenance logs, asset inventory data, and the like.
[0020] The energy management system 102 analyzes the measured
energy parameters, the sensor signals, and the additional data to
provide analyzed energy data and energy controls. The energy
management system 102 analyzes the data to calculate energy loads,
determine possible energy reductions, identify malfunctioning
systems, determine carbon footprints, calculate phase imbalance,
calculate power quality, calculate power capacity, calculate energy
efficiency metrics, calculate equipment duty cycles, calculate
energy load profiles, identify peak energy, determine wasted
energy, analyze root cause of wasted energy, identify losses due to
simultaneous heating and cooling, calculate overcooling, calculate
overheating, calculate schedule losses, calculate rate analysis,
calculate payback of energy improvement measures, calculate optimum
capacity and maximum payback of alternate energy sources, calculate
demand reduction potential, calculate energy forecast, and the
like. In an embodiment, energy management system 102 provides
energy control signals based at least in part on the analysis of
the measured energy parameters, the sensor signals, and the
additional third party data. In one embodiment, the energy control
signals are pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals to control
the loading of electrical circuits associated with to the facility
104. Other examples of energy control signals are, but not limited
to, relay interrupts, software interrupts, analogue outputs,
digital outputs, frequency modulation, voltage modulation, current
clamping, wireless control (AM, FM, RF, Wi-Fi.TM., WiMax.TM.,
etc.), wired control (Ethernet.RTM., BACNET.RTM., ModBus.RTM.,
IonWorks.TM., etc.) and the like. In other embodiments, the energy
management system 102 transmits the analyzed energy data to the
third parties 108 through direct communications, over a local area
network, over the Internet, over a smart grid, and the like.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an
embodiment of the energy management system 102. The energy
management system 102 comprises one or more computers 202 and
memory 204, and communicates with one or more third parties 108
through a network 210.
[0022] The computers 202 comprise, by way of example, processors,
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), System on a Chip (SOC),
program logic, or other substrate configurations representing data
and instructions, which operate as described herein. In other
embodiments, the processors can comprise controller circuitry,
processor circuitry, processors, general-purpose single-chip or
multi-chip microprocessors, digital signal processors, embedded
microprocessors, microcontrollers and the like. In an embodiment,
the processor is an ADE 7880 by Analog Devices, an ADE 5169 by
Analog Devices, or ADE 7953 by Analog Devices, and the like.
[0023] The memory 204 can comprise one or more logical and/or
physical data storage systems for storing data and applications
used by the processor 202. In an embodiment, the memory 204
comprises program modules 212 and at least one data storage module
214. In an embodiment, the data storage module includes at least
one database.
[0024] In certain embodiments, the network 210 can comprise a local
area network (LAN). In yet other embodiments, the network 210 can
comprise one or more of the following communication means:
internet, Internet, intranet, wide area network (WAN), home area
network (HAN), public network, smart grid, combinations of the
same, or the like. In other embodiments, the network 210 can be any
communication system including by way of example, telephone
networks, wireless data transmission systems, two-way cable
systems, customized computer networks, interactive television
networks, and the like. In addition, connectivity to the network
210 may be through, for example, TCP IP, Ethernet.RTM.,
ZigBee.RTM., BlueTooth.RTM., Power Line Carrier (PLC), WiFi.TM.,
WiMax.TM., ModBus.RTM., BACnet.RTM., GSM.RTM. (Global System for
Mobile Communication), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service),
combinations of the same, or the like.
[0025] In an embodiment, the memory 204 comprises an interface
module, such as a Graphic User Interface (GUI), or the like, to
provide a user interface to the energy management system 102
through interface equipment 216. The interface equipment comprises,
by way of example, a personal computer, a display, a keyboard, a
QWERTY keyboard, 8, 16, or more segment LEDs, LCD panels, a
display, a smartphone, a mobile communication device, a microphone,
a keypad, a speaker, a pointing device, user interface control
elements, combinations of the same, and any other devices or
systems that allow a user to provide input commands and receive
outputs from the energy management system 102.
[0026] The energy management system 102 further comprises
input/output circuits 206 and analog to digital converter (ADCs)
modules 208. The input/output circuits 206 interface with
electrical circuits 218, including motors, such as, for example,
fans 220, pumps/compressors 222, variable air volume (VAV) valves,
elevators, and the like, temperature sensors 224, light ballasts,
light switches, and other internal or external sensors 226 to
provide current or voltage matching, voltage or current level
adjustment, control signals, frequency adjustment, phase
adjustment, or the like. The input/output circuits 206, in an
embodiment, scale the electrical measurements and sensor data so
that the energy measurement and sensor data can be analyzed and
stored by the processor 202 and the memory 204. The input/output
circuits 206 are digital, analog, or combinations of analog and
digital circuits.
[0027] The ADC modules 208 interface with the electrical circuits
218, 220, 222, to convert the analog energy measurements to digital
values for further analysis and processing by the processor 202 and
memory 204.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the energy management
system 102 comprising the processor 202, memory 204, one or more
temperature sensor compensation module 300, one or more sensor
compensation modules 304 for other sensors, one or more ADC modules
208, one or more polarity correction devices 304, one or more
multiplexing devices 338, and one or more phase ADC modules 306.
The memory 204 comprises the data storage module 214 and the
program modules 212. In an embodiment, the program modules 212
comprise an energy calculation module 308, a data gateway module
310, a data validation and reduction module 312, a data analysis
module 314, a data encryption module 316, a global positioning
system (GPS) module 318, a web server module 320, a human machine
interface module 322, a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller
module 324, and a communication module 326.
[0029] In an embodiment, the energy measurement system 102 measures
electrical parameters, such as voltage, current, line-to-line
voltage, line-to-line current, line to neutral voltage, line to
neutral current, total power, reactive power, active power,
fundamental and harmonic total energy per phase, fundamental and
harmonic reactive energy per phase, active energy per harmonic
frequency per phase, reactive energy per harmonic frequency per
phase, fundamental and harmonic active energy per phase, and the
like, of 1 to n electrical circuits or sub-circuits 218. In
addition, the measured parameter comprises, by way of example,
light intensity, rotational speed, linear speed, temperature,
vibration, carbon dioxide, pressure, motion, flow, acceleration,
voltage, current, sound, ultrasonic frequencies, and the like. The
electrical circuit 218 can be locally or remotely located from the
energy management system 102 and can measure voltages ranging from
0 volts in a de-energized state to up to approximately 600 VAC or
VDC in an energized state, and high speed voltage spikes to 4 KV.
The energy management system 102 measures electrical circuits 210
have various phase configurations, such as, for example, single
phase, split phase, three phase Delta, three phase Wye, and the
like. The energy management system 102 operates at voltages from 80
VAC to 600 VAC and multiple frequencies, such as, for example, 50
Hz, 60 Hz, and the like.
[0030] A measurement device 330 is associated with each electrical
circuit 218 and acquires an analog measurement of the current,
voltage, or power in its associated electrical circuit 218. In an
embodiment, the measurement devices 330 couple directly into the
facility's power distribution system where electrical measurements
can be acquired internally from the main power distribution bars or
through a connection to a circuit breaker. In another embodiment,
measurement devices 330 can be embedded in the circuit breakers to
measure the voltage and current of the circuit 218 associated with
the circuit breaker.
[0031] In an embodiment, the measurement device 330 electrically
couples to the energy management system 102 by directly connecting
the output leads of the measurement device 330 to the energy
management system 102. In another embodiment, the measurement
devices 330 communicate measured energy data from the circuit 218
to the energy management system 102 and control signals from the
energy management system 102 to the circuit 218 via wireless,
wired, optical, or power line carrier (PLC) communications.
[0032] The measurement devices 330 can be powered from the pickup
and rectification of the electromagnetic fields associated with the
circuit 218, by an electrical connection to energized circuits with
or without re-chargeable battery backup, or the like. The
measurement devices 330 comprise, by way of example, Rogowski
coils, DC shunts, external digital current sensors, external analog
current sensors, clamp on current measuring toroid transformers
(CTs), shunt resistor modules in series with a circuit breaker,
combinations of the same, and the like.
[0033] In an embodiment, the measurement devices 330 comprise
current transformers 330. When the current in a circuit 218 is too
high to directly apply to measuring instruments, the current
transformer 330 produces a reduced current approximately
proportional to the current in the circuit 218. The current
transformer 330 also isolates the measuring instrument from very
high voltage that could damage the measuring instrument if directly
connected to the circuit 218.
[0034] For each measured electrical circuit 218, the current
transformer 330 electrically couples to the ADC module 208 through
the polarity correction device 304. The polarity correction device
304 provides the correct polarity of the circuit 218 to the ADC 208
should the current transformer 330 be installed incorrectly. For
example, when the current transformer 330 is installed incorrectly,
such as by reversing the +/- outputs of the current transformer 330
with respect to the circuit 218 it is measuring, the phase of the
measurement can be approximately 180 degrees different from the
actual phase of the measured circuit 218.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of
the polarity correction device 304. As describe above, the current
transformer 330 electrically couples to the ADC module 208 through
the polarity correction device 304, for each circuit 208. The
energy management system 102 automatically corrects for the
polarity of the measured circuit 218 should the current transformer
330 be installed incorrectly by sending a control signal to the
polarity correction device 304. Polarity correction can also be
done via software in one or more of the energy calculation module
308, the data gateway module 310 or the data validation and
reduction module 312.
[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the polarity
correction device 304 comprises a latching double pole double throw
switch 400. The switch 400 is wire for polarity-reversal by
connecting the second throw of the first switch (1, 2) to the first
throw of the second switch (2, 1) and also by connecting the first
throw of the first switch (1, 1) to the second throw of the second
switch (2, 2). The switch 400 can be a hardware device which may be
internally wired for polarity-reversal applications or implemented
in the modules 212.
[0037] The energy management system 102 automatically corrects the
polarity of the measured circuit 218 by controlling the position of
the switch 400. In an embodiment, the data validation and reduction
module 312 evaluates when the voltage phase from the phase ADC
module 306 and the current phase from the ADC module 208 for a
given measured circuit 218 are separated by more than approximately
90 degrees and less than approximately 270 degrees, and/or when the
measured energy is negative in the absence of power generation.
When this condition exists, the current transformer 330 is
incorrectly coupled to the circuit 218 and is measuring an
incorrect phase of the circuit 218. The data validation and
reduction module 312 transmits a control signal to the switch 400
or applies a software correction. The switch 400 receives the
control signal and switches the contacts to the alternate position,
thereby correcting the measured polarity.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 3, the output of the polarity correction
device 304 comprises the measured signal from the measurement
device 330 with the correct polarity. The output of the polarity
correction module 304 electrically couples to the input of the ADC
module 208. The electrical signals from the electrical circuits 218
are analog signals that are continuous in time. The ADC module 208
samples the analog electrical signal from the measurement device
330 at a sampling rate and converts the analog measurements to
digital values for use by the processor 202 and program modules
212.
[0039] In an embodiment, the energy management system 102 measures
and analyzes energy data from the electrical circuit 222 comprising
an electric motor that is used for pumping water or fluids, or for
compressing a gas such as used for compressed air, compressed
oxygen, compressed nitrogen, a heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) system, or the like. Sensors 332 physically
attach or electrically couple to the motor/pump/compressor 222.
Examples of the sensors 332 are, but not limited to, an
accelerometer for measuring vibration, a thermocouple for measuring
temperature, the current transformer 330 and polarity correction
device 304 for measuring current and voltage that is supplied to
the motor 222 in 1 to n stages, and the like. Additionally, the
fluid flow rate of the motor/pump 222 or the gas pressure in the
motor/compressor 222 can be measured through direct flow
measurement, with an ultrasonic flow sensor, with a pressure gauge,
or the like. The output of the sensor 332 electrically couples to
the input of the ADC module 208. The ADC module 208 samples the
analog electrical signal from the sensors 332 at a sampling rate
and converts the analog measurements to digital values for use by
the processor 202 and the program modules 212.
[0040] In another embodiment, the energy management system 102
measures and analyzes energy data from an electrical circuit 220
comprising an electric motor that is connected to a fan to deliver
air flow. Sensors 334 physically attach or electrically couple to
the motor/fan 220. Examples of the sensors 334 are, but not limited
to, an accelerometer for measuring vibration, a thermocouple for
measuring temperature, the current transformer 330 and polarity
correction device 304 for measuring current and voltage that is
supplied to the motor/fan 220 in 1 to n stages, air flow sensors to
measure air flow from the motor/fan 220, and the like. The output
of the sensor 334 electrically couples to the input of the ADC
module 208. The ADC module 208 samples the analog electrical signal
from the sensors 334 at a sampling rate and converts the analog
measurements to digital values for use by the processor 202 and the
program modules 212.
[0041] In an embodiment, the ADC module 208 comprises an analog to
digital converter, such as, for example ADE 5169 by Analog Devices,
or the like, and at least one jumper. The jumper is field
selectable to measure the phase of the electric circuit 218 having
one of various possible phase configurations, such as single phase,
split phase, three-phase Delta, three-phase Wye, or the like. In
another embodiment, the ADC module 208 comprises an ADC, such as
ADE 5169 by Analog Devices, for example, and the phase
configuration and association of the ADC module 208 with its
respective phase voltage can be performed by the program modules
212. Further, the data sampling rate of the ADC module 208 can
range from approximately 10 Hz to approximately 1 MHz. In one
embodiment, more than one set of phase voltages can be connected to
the energy management system 102, such as voltage upstream and
downstream of a transformer. The phase configuration of the ADC
module 208 can be referenced to any of the voltage phases through
modules 212.
[0042] In another embodiment, a high speed ADC module 208 is
electrically coupled in parallel to a low speed ADC module 208
included in an ADE7880 by Analog Devices. The high speed ADC module
208 measures high speed voltage transients while the ADE7880 ADC
and microprocessor measure the active and reactive energy
parameters.
[0043] The phase ADC module 306 electrically couples to electrical
circuits having phases A, B, C through resistive voltage dividers
(not shown) or step down transformers (not shown) to digitally
measure the voltage amplitude and phase information for the phases
A, B, C. The resistive dividers proportionally reduce the amplitude
of the electrical signal such that the signal level is compatible
with the input signal requirements of the phase ADC module 306.
[0044] The phase signals from the phases A, B, C are analog signals
that are continuous in time. The energy management system 102 is
capable of measuring three-phase, 3-wire Delta electrical
connections and measuring three-phase, 4-wire Wye electrical
connections. For example, a three-phase Delta power generation
system transmits power on a 3-wire system where the phase of the
power on each wire is separated in phase from the other wires by
approximately 120 degrees. The energy management system 102 chooses
one of the phases as a reference point. In another example, a
three-phase Wye power generation system transmits power on a 4-wire
system where three of the wires carry electrical current with
phases separated by approximately 120 degrees from each other. The
fourth wire is neutral, which is the reference point. The phase ADC
module 306 samples these analog electrical signals at a sampling
rate and converts the analog measurements to digital values for use
by the processor 202 and modules 212. Each ADC module 306 can be
referenced to any of the voltage phase by software selection and
use of modules 212. In an embodiment, voltage phases are measured
once in module 306.
[0045] In one embodiment, a high speed phase ADC module 306 is
electrically coupled in parallel to a low speed phase ADC module
306 included in an ADE7880 by Analog Devices. The high speed phase
ADC module 306 measures high speed voltage transients while the
ADE7880 ADC and microprocessor measure the active and reactive
energy parameters.
[0046] In an embodiment, the energy management system 102 can be
used to measure currents and voltages of circuits on two or more
three-phase voltage sources. The three-phase voltage sources are
connected to two or more phase ADC modules 306. The multiplexing
device 338 is used to reference each line voltage in the phase ADC
modules 306 to any other line voltage in any of the phase ADC
modules 306. The multiplexing device 338 is also used to reference
the phase angle of the current in any of the ADC modules 208 to the
phase angle in any of the line voltages in any of the phase ADC
module 306.
[0047] In another embodiment, the energy management system 102 can
be used to measure currents and voltages of circuits on two or more
three-phase voltage sources. The three-phase voltage sources are
connected to two or more phase ADC modules 306. The multiplexing
device 338 is used to reference each line voltage in the phase ADC
modules 306 to any other line voltage in any of the phase ADC
modules 306. The multiplexing device 338 is also used to reference
the phase angle of the current in any of the ADC modules 208 to the
phase angle in any of the line voltages in any of the phase ADC
modules 306.
[0048] In yet another embodiment, the multiplexing function of the
multiplexing device 338 occurs by software. The digitized voltage
and current waveforms are digitally multiplexed in real time using
an FPGA or a digital signal processor. The digital multiplexer is
used to reference the phase angle of any of the current ADC modules
208 to the phase angle of any of the voltage phase ADC modules
306.
[0049] In an embodiment, the phase ADC module 306 comprises an
analog to digital converter, such as, for example, ADE 5169 by
Analog Devices, or the like, and at least one jumper. The jumper is
field selectable to measure the phase A, B, C having one of various
possible phase configurations, such as single phase, split phase,
three-phase Delta, three-phase Wye, or the like. Further, the data
sampling rate of the phase ADC module 306 can range from
approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 1 MHz.
[0050] In an embodiment, the energy management system 102 and its
sub-modules can be powered externally or internally through the
voltage connection in phase ADC module 306. In other embodiments,
external power can be from another energy management system 102, an
external AC/DC power supply, an external AC power, or the like.
[0051] The phase ADC module 306, the ADC modules 208 for the
electrical circuits 218, 220, 222 couple to the memory 204 over a
system bus 336. The system bus 336 can include physical and logical
connections to couple the processor 202, the memory 204, the sensor
compensation 300, 302, and the ADC modules 208, 306 together and
enable their interoperability.
[0052] The digital measurement information collected by the phase
ADC module 306, the ADC modules 208 for the 1 to n electrical
circuits 218, and the ADC modules 208 for the circuits 220, 222 is
sent to the energy calculation module 308. The energy calculation
module 308 performs energy calculations on the digital measurement
information and provides calculated energy data. Examples of the
calculated energy data are, but not limited to, line-to-line and
line-to-current voltage, total power, active power, reactive power,
line-to-line and line-to-neutral current, power factor, fundamental
and harmonic total energy per phase, fundamental and harmonic total
energy for the sum of phases, fundamental and harmonic active
energy per phase, fundamental and harmonic active energy for the
sum of phases, fundamental and harmonic reactive energy per phase,
fundamental and harmonic reactive energy for the sum of phases,
frequency, harmonic frequency, gas usage, chilled water usage, hot
water usage, total energy usage, and the like.
[0053] The data gateway module 310 samples the measured energy data
and the calculated energy data by controlling the sampling rate of
the phase ADC module 306 and the ADC modules 208. The sampling rate
ranges from approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 1 MHz, and is
preferably between approximately 1 KHz and approximately 20 KHz,
more preferably between approximately 5 KHz and approximately 18
KHz, and most preferably between approximately 1 KHz and
approximately 8 KHz. In another embodiment, the sampling rate
ranges from approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 24 KHz, and is
preferably between approximately 1 KHz and approximately 10 KHz,
more preferably between approximately 10 KHz and approximately 15
KHz, and most preferably between approximately 10 KHz and
approximately 24 KHz. In an embodiment, the sampling rate is user
selectable by the user from the user interface equipment 216. The
data gateway module 310 sends the measured data and the calculated
energy data to the data validation and reduction module 312. In
another embodiment, the ADC sampling rate is decoupled from the
data reporting rate sent to the 3.sup.rd party. The ADC sampling
rate ranges from 10 kHz to 1 MHz. The data reporting (push) rate to
the 3.sup.rd party can be user selectable and can be specific to
data from each of the sensors 330, 332, 334, 226, 224.
[0054] The data validation and reduction module 312 receives the
measured data and the calculated energy data from the data gateway
module 310. Further, the data validation and reduction module 312
compares the measured data and the calculated energy data with
prior data samples and/or near-in-time data samples to insure that
relevant and accurate data is passed to the data storage module 214
and to the data command and communication module 326. In an
embodiment, the data validation and reduction module 312 determines
data accuracy.
[0055] In another embodiment, the data validation and reduction
module 312 reduces the quantity of measured energy data. This is
important for embodiments where multiple energy management systems
102 are each acquiring measurement data at up to approximately 24
KHz from multiple circuits 218, 220, 222 because data collection
could overload a network, such as the smart-grid, or even the
communication network 210, with data. In a further embodiment, the
data validation and reduction module 312 performs both data
reduction and correction.
[0056] In one embodiment, the data validation and reduction module
312 analyzes significant changes in a measured energy parameter. In
an embodiment, the significant change in the measured energy
parameter may be indicative of a change in energy usage, or may be
corrupted data. The data validation and reduction module 312
analyzes energy spikes in the measured energy data to determine
whether the spike is a valid change in energy usage, noise, or
corrupted data by acquiring additional samples from the data
gateway module 310 at approximately the same time or near-in-time
as the energy spike. If the energy spike is a valid data
measurement, the amplitude of the later acquired sample will be
proportional to the energy spike. If the amplitude of the later
acquired data is substantially different than the energy spike, the
data validation and reduction module 312 determines that the energy
spike was caused by noise, and treats the bad data as irrelevant
and not worthy of being passed on for storage or "push" or "pull"
communication.
[0057] In an embodiment, if the significant change is relevant and
indicative of a change in energy usage, the energy management
system 102 automatically transmits or pushes information relating
to the significant change in the measured parameter within one hour
after the detected change occurs, preferably within 15 minutes
after the detected change occurs, more preferable within 1 minute
after the detected change occurs, and most preferably within one
second after the detected change occurs.
[0058] In one embodiment, the data validation and reduction module
312 reduces the quantity of measured energy data that will be
reported in substantially real time, stored in the data storage
module 214, pushed or automatically transmitted to a remote or
cloud database over the communication network 210, or pulled from a
user inquiry. The reduced quantity of energy data is based at least
in part on previously defined or user defined data filtering
parameters, such as, for example, the amount of change of measured
or calculated energy data, the rate of change of measured or
calculated energy data, a maximum threshold on any of the measured
or analyzed data, a minimum threshold on any of the measured or
analyzed data, or the like. Reducing the quantity of measured data
enables the energy measurement system 102 to use low, medium, or
high speed data communication channels over the network 210 to
deliver real time or near real time energy reporting for circuits
218, 220, 222 that are being digitally sampled at a higher
rate.
[0059] In an embodiment, the data filtering parameter is at least a
10% change in the detected value of the parameter, where the change
is one of an increase or a decrease, where the parameter is a
measured or a calculated parameter, and where the change is between
the current value and the previous value of the parameter. More
preferably, the data filtering parameter is at least a 5% change,
and most preferably, the data filtering parameter is at least a 1%
change. In another embodiment, the data filtering parameter is at
least a 10% change in the detected parameter.
[0060] In another embodiment, the data filtering parameter is at
least a 10% difference in the rate of change of a parameter, where
the change is one of an increase or a decrease, where the parameter
is a measured or a calculated parameter, and where the change is
between the detected current rate of change and the previous rate
of change of the parameter. More preferably, the data filtering
parameter is at least a 5% difference in the rate of change, and
most preferably, the data filtering parameter is at least a 1%
difference in the rate of change.
[0061] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an exemplary data reduction and
data validation process 500 for the data validation and reduction
module 312. In an embodiment, the process 500 reduces and validates
the data measured and/or calculated from at least one of the
electrical circuits 208, 220, 222. Beginning at block 502, the
process 500 acquires an initial energy measurement M.sub.0 from the
data gateway module 310. At block 504, the process 500 acquires a
next energy measurement M.sub.1 from the data gateway module 310.
M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 are measurements of the same electrical
parameter but separated in time, with M.sub.0 occurring first in
time. In an embodiment, M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 are separated in time
by one or more time periods of the sampling rate of the ADC module
208.
[0062] At block 506, the process compares M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 and
determines whether M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 have approximately the same
value. In an embodiment, M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 are approximately
equal if M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 differ from each other no more than a
percentage of their value, which is user-determined. For example,
M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 could be considered to have approximately the
same value if they differ from each other by no more than 1%. In
another embodiment, M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 have approximately the same
value when M.sub.0=M.sub.1.
[0063] If M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 are approximately the same value, the
process 500 determines M.sub.1 is redundant data or data with
little value and sets M.sub.0 to M.sub.1 at block 512 without
storing M.sub.1. From block 512, the process 500 returns to block
504 and acquires the next measurement M.sub.1.
[0064] If M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 are not approximately the same value
at block 506, the process 500 moves to block 508 where the process
500 determines whether the values of M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 differ
significantly, as could be indicative of an energy spike in the
measured parameter 218, 220, 222. In an embodiment, M.sub.0 and
M.sub.1 differ significantly if M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 differ from
each other more than approximately a percentage of their value,
which is user-determined. For example, M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 could be
considered to differ significantly if they differ from each other
by more than 50%.
[0065] If M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 do not differ significantly, the
process determines that M.sub.1 is a valid data measurement and is
not a redundant data measurement and stores M.sub.1 in the data
storage module 214. At block 512, the process 500 sets M.sub.0 to
M.sub.1 and returns to block 504, where it acquires the next
measurement M.sub.1.
[0066] If M.sub.0 and M.sub.1 differ significantly at block 508,
the process 500 moves to block 514 where at least one additional
measurement M.sub.2 is acquired. In an embodiment, the at least one
additional measurement M.sub.2 is acquired within 5 minutes of
detecting the significant change in the measured parameter, more
preferably within 1 minute, and most preferably within 10 msec.
[0067] At block 516, the process 500 determines whether M.sub.2 is
proportional to M.sub.1. M.sub.2 and M.sub.1 are measurements of
the same electrical parameter but separated in time with M.sub.1
occurring first in time. In an embodiment, M.sub.2 and M.sub.1 are
separated in time by one or more time periods of the sampling rate
of the ADC 208. In another embodiment, M.sub.2 is acquired
asynchronously with respect to M.sub.1. If the energy spike M.sub.1
is a valid data measurement, the amplitude of the later acquired
sample, M.sub.2, will be approximately proportional to the
amplitude of the energy spike M.sub.1. In an embodiment, M.sub.2,
is approximately proportional to M.sub.1. If the ratio
M.sub.2/M.sub.1 is approximately constant.
[0068] If M.sub.2 is approximately proportional to M.sub.1, then
M.sub.1 is a valid data measurement and the process 500 moves to
block 510. At block 510, the process 500 stores M.sub.1 in the data
storage module 214. At block 512, the process 500 sets M.sub.0 to
M.sub.1 and returns to block 504, where it acquires the next
measurement M.sub.1.
[0069] If M.sub.2 and M.sub.1 are not approximately proportional,
M.sub.1 is most likely not a valid data measurement. The process
500 determines that the energy spike M.sub.1 was caused by noise
and treats the bad data as irrelevant and not worthy of being
passed on to the data storage module 214 or for push/pull
communication. The process returns to block 504 and acquires the
next measurement M.sub.1. Thus, the process 500 validates and
reduces the measured and calculated energy data.
[0070] Referring to FIG. 3, the data validation and reduction
module 312 sends the validated and reduced energy data to the data
analysis module 314. The data analysis module 314 also receives and
processes data from 3.sup.rd party through data command and
communication module 326, and from data storage module 214. The
data analysis module 314 sends the validated and reduced energy
data, and/or results of energy analysis, efficiency analysis, usage
analysis, occupancy analysis, performance analysis, etc., to one or
more of the data storage module 214 for storage, the web server
module 312 for transmission over the Internet, the human interface
module 322 for review and manipulation by the user, and the data
command and communication module 326 for transmission over the
network 210.
[0071] In an embodiment, the data analysis module 314 receives an
indication from the data validation and reduction module 312 when
the voltage phase and the current phase from the ADC module 208
exhibits more than approximately 90 degrees and less than
approximately 270 degrees of phase differential. The data analysis
module 314 automatically identifies the correct phase that is
associated with the ADC module 208 and attaches this phase
information to the corresponding energy information from the
associated ADC module 208 in the data validation and reduction
module 312. The data analysis module 314 corrects the phase
selection settings for the ADC module 208 in energy calculation
module 308 so that the ADC module 208 is referenced to the correct
phase from the phase ADC module 306.
[0072] Further, the data analysis module 314 processes validated
and reduced energy data, sensor data, and external environmental
and facility use information to derive and deliver electric load,
device, and building management system/energy management system
(BMS/EMS) control signals that are used to reduce or increase the
electric energy in one or more specific circuits 218, 220, 222.
[0073] For example, the data analysis module 314 compares the
measured fluid flow rate or gas pressure to the energy used by the
motor 222, the temperature of the motor 222, the belt tension of
motor 222, the rotational speed of motor 222, and the vibration of
the motor 222. Efficiency factors and curves are then derived from
a comparison and analysis of these measured operating parameters
and design operational parameters. Motor specifications are
obtained from vendor data or BIM data through the data command and
communication module 108, the web server module 320 or the data
storage module 214. The efficiency factors are used to
automatically adjust the AC motor speed through a variable speed or
vector drive motor controller to derive and optimize energy use for
a required fluid flow rate or compressed gas rate. The measured
data and efficiency factors are also used to alert a 3.sup.rd party
through the data command and communication module 108 of any motor
malfunction or maintenance requirement. In the case of a DC motor
222, the PWM controller 324 is used to control the voltage to the
motor/pump/compressor 222.
[0074] In another example, the data analysis module 314 compares
the data from the sensor 334 and other sensor 226 and analytically
derives the air flow of the motor 220. Other sensor 226 may measure
upstream pressure, downstream pressure, motor parameters such as
speed and temperature. The data analysis module 314 further
compares the derived air flow to the motor efficiency and related
motor/fan operating parameters. This data is then used to
automatically adjust the AC motor speed and optimize its energy use
through a variable speed or vector drive motor controller to
deliver optimum energy use for a required air flow rate. In the
case of a DC motor/fan 220, the PWM controller 324 is used to
control the voltage to the motor/fan 220 for optimized
operation.
[0075] At least some of the external environmental information is
provided by the temperature sensor 224 which couples to the system
bus 336 through the temperature compensation device 300, by one or
more 3.sup.rd party which couples to the system bus 336 through the
data command and communication module 326, and by the other sensors
226 which couple to the system bus 336 through the other sensor
compensation device 302. The temperature compensation device 300
receives the temperature measurements from the temperature sensor
224 and scales the temperature measurements so that the temperature
data is compatible with the input requirements of the processor 202
and memory 204. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the
temperature sensors 224 are remotely located from the energy
management system 102. In other embodiments, the temperature
sensors 224 are located on the energy management system 102. The
temperature measurements provide weather or time of day related
temperature information of the areas surrounding the facility 104,
temperature information of locations internal to the facility 104,
device temperature information of the device associated with the
circuit 218, 220, 222, and the like. In an embodiment, the
temperature compensation 300 comprises calibration compensation
look up tables to correctly utilize J or K thermocouple devices or
wired/wireless thermostats for external local or remote measurement
of temperature.
[0076] Likewise, the other sensor compensation device 302 receives
the sensor measurements from the other sensors 226 and scales the
sensor measurements so that the sensor data is compatible with the
input requirements of the processor 202 and memory or modules 204.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the other sensors 226 are
remotely located from the energy management system 102. In other
embodiments, the other sensors 224 are located on the energy
management system 102. The other sensors, can be, by way of example
and not limited to pressure sensors, light sensors, acceleration
sensors, tension meters, flow sensors, gas sensors, microphones,
humidity sensors, occupancy sensors, motion sensors, vibration
sensors, wind speed, heat sensors, gas spectrometers, laser
sensors, humidity sensors, and other environmental sensors such as
water flow, air flow, and gas flow, and the like. The sensor data
is analyzed to calculate energy loads, determine possible energy
reduction, identify malfunctioning systems, and the like.
[0077] Based on analyzing and comparing at least the validated and
reduced energy data, input from the sensors 224, 226, 332, 334, and
input from 3.sup.rd party module 108, the data analysis module 314
provides control signals for load control. In an embodiment, the
energy management system 102 comprises the analog input/output
ports 206 and/or the digital input/output ports 206, and the
control signals are delivered to external devices through the ports
206 for load control of the external devices. In another
embodiment, the control signals are delivered to the circuits 218,
220, 222 through the PWM controller module 324. In another
embodiment, the control signals are delivered to 3.sup.rd party
through the data command and communication module 326.
[0078] In an embodiment, the energy management system 102 couples
to the electrical circuits 218, 220, 222 through external high
speed electronic switches such as high power MOSFETs, IGFETs, or
the like. The PWM controller module 324 outputs a variable duty
cycle pulsed signal for load control to the external high speed
electronic switches. Such variable width pulses enable the external
high speed electronic switch to control the electric energy and
carbon footprint of any electric circuit 218, 220, 222 by switching
the power to the electric circuit ON and OFF at high frequencies
and for varying amount of time. The switching frequency varies from
several times a minute to several KHz. The variable duty cycle
pulsed signal in combination with the external high speed
electronic switch is associated with a Class D or Class E control
system design.
[0079] The data analysis module 314 sends the validated and reduced
energy data and the analyzed energy data to the data command and
communication module 326. The data command and communication module
326 interfaces the energy management system 102 to third parties
108 through the communication network 210. The data command and
communication module 326 pushes data and pulls data, where a data
push is a request for the transmission of information initiated by
the energy management system 102 (the sender) or an automatic
transmission, and a data pull is a request for the transmission of
information initiated by the third party 108 (the receiver).
[0080] The data command and communication module 326 can push the
validated and reduced energy data and/or the analyzed energy data
using protocols to a remote device for real time or near real time
analysis, to a remote device for control of the remote device, to a
remote structured query language (SQL), SAP, or cloud database for
storage, or the like. Further, the pushed data can be used for
comparison of data, data mining, and additional data analysis. The
additional data analysis includes but is not limited to billing,
control of circuits, control of smart appliances, control of
electric vehicle energy use, control of electric transportation
systems energy use, and the like.
[0081] Examples of the protocols and communication systems are, but
not limited to, Ethernet.RTM. such as IEEE standard 802.3,
ZigBee.RTM., Power Line Carrier (PLC), WiFi.TM. such as the IEEE
family of standards 802.11, WiMax.TM. such as IEEE standard
802.16e-2005, and GSM. The data can be delivered in, for example,
XML, JSON, CSV, ASCII strings, binary strings, and other formats.
In an embodiment, the data command and communication module 326
uses data clock synchronization and system clocking via an
Ethernet.RTM. connection. Other system connections include
networked TCP/IP, client-server ModBus.RTM., BACnet.RTM., mesh
network ZigBee.RTM. wireless, WiFi.TM., WiMax.TM. that are
operating either individually or concurrently to interact with
third party hardware and software.
[0082] The data command and communication module 326 further can
store one or more of a copy of the measured data, the calculated
data, the validated and reduced energy data, the analyzed energy
data, and the sensor data in the data storage module 214 so that it
can be viewed and accessed through the web server 320 or data
command and communication module 326, according to certain
embodiments. The data storage module 214 can store data in any of
the data storage formats: binary, comma separated values, text
file, XML files, relational database or non-relational
database.
[0083] In one embodiment, the data command and communication module
326 can be configured to act as a slave to an acquisition host of
the third party 108, such as a PC or the like, and can be
configured to communicate with a master host of the third party 108
in one of several standard protocols, such as Ethernet.RTM.,
ModBus.RTM., BACnet.RTM., for example. The data command and
communication module 326 then acts as a translation of the protocol
to serial communication.
[0084] In another embodiment, the energy management system 102
comprises a software digital I/O module and an analog I/O module,
which interface with the data command and communication module 326
and with the data analysis module 314 to enable two-way software
commands and interrupts between the data analysis module 314 and
Building Management Systems (BMS), Building Energy Management
Systems (BEMS), electrical vehicle charge stations, motor control
systems, electrical control systems, smart appliances, programmable
logic controllers, energy management reporting systems, carbon
footprint reporting systems, other energy management system 102,
and the like. In another embodiment, the I/O modules interface with
pulse counters from natural gas or water meters to integrate this
additional data.
[0085] The data command and communication module 326 implements
predetermined and automated power reduction steps in energy use
systems, smart appliances, or plug loads, based at least in part on
at least one of the measured energy data, the calculated energy
data, the reduced and validated energy data, the analyzed energy
data, the sensor data, data from another energy management system
102, or on external demand response commands, according to certain
embodiments.
[0086] The data storage module 214 stores energy data, such as the
measured energy data, the calculated energy data, the reduced and
validated energy data, the analyzed energy data, the sensor data,
and any other data received or created by the energy management
system 102. In an embodiment, the data storage module 214 provides
a data buffer in case the communication channel with a local or
remote host is broken. The buffer 214 decouples data sampling rates
and data reporting rates. The energy data is stored locally at the
required sampling rate until the communication lines are
re-established. The energy data is then transferred to the host
ensuring no data loss from a communication breakdown.
[0087] In an embodiment, the energy management system 102 records
measurements from sensors 330, 332, 226, 224 at sampling
frequencies larger than approximately 20 KHz. The measurements are
validated in the data validation and reduction module 312 and
analyzed in the data analysis module 314. The data command and
communication module 326 automatically transfers the data to the
third party 108 or the data storage module 214 at a reporting rate
of approximately once every 1 minute. The sampling rate and the
reporting rate are decoupled.
[0088] In another embodiment, the energy management system 102
records measurements from sensors 330, 332, 226, 224 at a sampling
frequency of approximately 20 KHz. The measurements are validated
in the data validation and reduction module 312 and analyzed in the
data analysis module 314. The data command and communication module
326 automatically transfers the data to the third party 108 or the
data storage module 214 at a reporting rate of approximately once
every 1 minute. The measured data is compared to maximum and
minimum thresholds at the sampling frequency of approximately 20
KHz. The data that crosses a threshold is automatically transferred
to the third party 108 or the data storage module 214 at the time
the threshold is crossed, independent of the reporting rate. The
reporting of measured data at the rate of approximately once every
minute continues unabated.
[0089] In an embodiment, the data encryption module 316 encrypts
the energy data derived from measuring the electric circuits 218,
220, 222 using secure and anti-hacking data encryption algorithms.
In another embodiment, the data encryption module 316 uses
anti-tamper and anti-hacking handshaking from existing and emerging
"smart grid" and or IT security data protocols.
[0090] In an embodiment, each energy management system 102 further
comprises a unique address. In an embodiment, the address is a MAC
address. In another embodiment, the address is a Globally Unique
Identifier (GUID). In another embodiment, the unique identifier is
a combination of an address and GPS information. The GPS module 318
maps the location of each addressed energy management system 102
and sends the GPS location coordinates to the data and command
communication module 326 where the location coordinates are
associated with the energy measurement data from the addressed
energy management system 102. In an embodiment, the data encryption
module 316 encrypts the energy data and the location
information.
[0091] The human machine interface module (HMI) 322 provides an
interactive user interface between the interface equipment 216 and
the energy management system 102 over the communication bus 210.
The web server module 320 further interfaces with the HMI module
322 and/or the interface equipment 216 to further provide the user
with a Web-based user interface. In other embodiments, the energy
management system 102 further comprises a user interface software
module that is compatible with the ISO/IEEE 802/3 standard
(Ethernet.RTM.) from personal computers (PCs) on local area or wide
area networks.
[0092] The interface equipment 216 comprises, by way of example, a
personal computer, a display, a keyboard, a QWERTY keyboard, 8, 16,
or more segment LEDs or LCD panels, a display, a smartphone, a
mobile communication device, a microphone, a keypad, a speaker, a
pointing device, user interface control elements, tablet PCs,
combinations of the same, and any other devices or systems that
allow a user to provide input commands and receive outputs from the
energy management system 102.
[0093] In one embodiment, the user, through the user interface, can
define the grouping of sensors 330, 332, 334, 226, 224 to be
measured and analyzed, define the locations for the sensors 306,
304, 332, 226, 224 to be measured and analyzed. Analysis performed
on information from individual sensors 330, 332, 334, 224, 226 can
also be performed on any grouping of these sensors in quasi real
time or near real time. Groups may also include information from
sensors attached to other energy management system 102. In an
embodiment, the groupings and locations of the circuits 218 can be
implemented using "drag and drop" techniques. Grouping and location
information can be stored locally in data storage 214 and or in a
remote data base. In addition, the "drag and drop" techniques can
be used for charting and reporting. In another embodiment, the
energy management system 102 further comprises a mobile device
module to interface the energy management system 102 with a mobile
device. Users can view real time or stored and "pushed" or "pulled"
energy use on mobile platforms, such as for example, iPhone.RTM.,
Android.TM., BlackBerry.RTM., and the like.
[0094] Through the user interface, the user can define minimum and
maximum alert thresholds on measured and calculated energy metrics,
such as, for example, voltage, current, energies, energy
consumption rate, powers, power factor, cost, cost rate, energy
efficiency metric, energy efficiency rating, and the like, for each
sensor 330, 332, 334, 224, 226, group of sensors 330, 332, 334,
224, 226 and locations.
[0095] Comparative alert thresholds are set for alerts triggered by
relative energy signatures and/or readings between sensors 330,
332, 334, 224, 226, groups of sensors 330, 332, 334, 224, 226, and
locations with each other, with established baselines, or with
established benchmarks. Predictive alert thresholds are set for
alerts triggered by the projected energy consumption and values of
energy sensors 330, 332, 334, 224, 226, groups of sensors 330, 332,
334, 224, 226, or location. When an alert, as defined by the user,
is triggered, the energy management system 102 provides the user
with an alert through email, text message, Facebook.RTM.,
Twitter.RTM., voicemail, RSS feeds, multi-media message automatic
alerts, and the like. In one embodiment, the alert is accompanied
by a description of the trigger event including charts and reports
on the energy history before the alert trigger, the projected
consumption, the results of the trigger event, and the like.
[0096] In another embodiment, through the web server module or the
push capability, the energy management system 102 provides the user
with animated and interactive desktop and mobile widgets for
communicating energy consumption levels, energy ratings and
critical energy conservation measures to end users. In another
embodiment, the energy management system 102 communicates energy
consumption levels, energy ratings, energy efficiency metrics, and
critical energy conservation measures to end users through RSS
feeds with desktop tickers.
[0097] In other embodiments, the energy management system 102
determines and reports the need for equipment or system
maintenance, such as, for example, air filter replacement, fluid
filter replacement, belt tensioning, belt alignment, worn or
damaged belt, worn or damaged bearings, worn or damaged gears, poor
lubrication, damaged anchor or frame, damaged or worn brushes,
unbalanced voltage, poor power quality, distorted waveform, high
harmonic distortion, poor power factor, phase load imbalance,
critical power capacity, defective sensor, duct leak, pipe leak,
worn insulation, defective power capacitors, defective battery,
defective power filter, defective uninterruptable power supply
(UPS), defective voltage regulator, defective circuit breaker,
defective economizer vanes, defective air valves, defective gas
valves, defective water valves, defective meters, defective
indicators, and the like, based on an electrical signature from the
measured, calculated and analyzed electrical parameters, inputs
from other sensors 226, 224, data from the 3.sup.rd party 108, and
stored data from data storage 214. In an embodiment, the electrical
signature comprises at least one of a current and/or voltage
waveform, current and/or voltage levels and peaks, power factor,
other sensor information, such as temperature, vibration,
acceleration, rotation, speed, and the like, of any "downstream"
motor or pump.
[0098] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary energy data
management process 600. Beginning at blocks 602 and 603, the
process 600 acquires energy measurements and sensor measurements
respectively. In an embodiment, the measurements are acquired at a
rate of up to approximately 24 KHz.
[0099] In some embodiments, the bandwidth of the communications
between the energy management system 102 and third parties, over
for example, a LAN, an internet, the Internet, or the like, may be
insufficient to accommodate data at up to 24,000 samples per second
for 1 to n circuits 218, 220, 222 and 1 to n sensors 226 and 224.
To accommodate a smaller bandwidth, the process 600 at blocks 604
and 605 reduces the quantity of measurements stored and/or
transmitted by not saving a measurement that is approximately the
same as the prior measurement for each sensor 330, 332, 334, 224,
226 as described in FIG. 5 above. In an embodiment, the user
determines how much the next measurement and the previous
measurement differ before the measurements are not approximately
the same.
[0100] At blocks 606 and 607, the process 600 validates the reduced
measurements. When the next measurement differs significantly from
the previous measurement, the process 600 acquires additional
measurements of the parameter and compares the amplitudes of the
additional measurements with the amplitude of the significantly
different measurement, as described in FIG. 5 above. When the
amplitudes are not proportional, the differing measurement is
considered to have been caused by noise and it is not saved or
transmitted. Conversely, when the amplitudes are proportional, the
differing measurement is considered to be a valid measurement,
indicative of an energy usage event, and it is stored and/or
transmitted.
[0101] At block 610, the process 600 analyzes the acquired
measurements, the reduced measurements, and the validated
measurements to provide calculated energy measurements, energy
efficiency metrics, energy ratings, cost information, carbon
footprint, maintenance list, control signals, reports,
recommendations, and the like. In an embodiment, the analysis is
based at least in part on the sensor data.
[0102] At block 612, the process 600 communicates all or part of
the energy data, the reduced and validated energy data, and/or the
calculated energy data to third parties or to data storage 214. In
an embodiment, the process automatically transmits or pushes the
energy data directly to the third party, over a local area network,
over a wide area network, over a smart grid, over an internet, over
the Internet, or the like. The transmitted energy data comprises
control signals, reports, recommendations, or the like. In an
embodiment, the process 600 automatically transmits information
related to at least one measured parameter at a rate of at least
one per hour, more preferably at a rate of at least once per 15
minutes, and most preferably at a rate of at least once per minute.
In another embodiment, the rate of automatically transmitting
energy information may change based at least in part of the
variability of the measured parameter. In another embodiment, the
data is analyzed and transmitted at regular or user defined
intervals, in addition to when the data crosses a user defined
threshold. In another embodiment, the data from different sensors
330, 332, 334, 224, 226 is sampled and analyzed at different
intervals. In another embodiment, the data from different sensors
330, 332, 334, 224, 226 is reported at different intervals.
[0103] At block 614, in an embodiment, the process 600 transmits
control signal to at least one of the measured circuits 218, 220,
222, to another energy management system 102, or to a 3.sup.rd
party 108. In an embodiment, the control signals are pulse width
modulation (PWM) signals to control the loading on the measured
circuit 218, 220, 222. In an embodiment, the PWM signals are based
at least in part on the sensor data. In an embodiment, the PWM
signals are based at least in part on the measured energy data. In
an embodiment, the PWM signals are based at least in part on data
from the 3.sup.rd party 108. In another embodiment, the PWM signals
are based at least in part on the calculated energy data.
[0104] In an embodiment, the energy management system 102 can be
used to measure energy usage and energy efficiency parameters
related to the energy performance of electric motors. The acquire
energy measurements block 602 may include, for example, power,
current, voltage, power quality, harmonic energy, fundamental
energy, energy in each harmonic frequency, voltage sags, voltage
spikes, current drops, current spikes, and the like. The acquire
sensor data block 603 may include, for example, motor vibration,
motor speed, belt tension, motor temperature, motor imbalance,
motor torque, parameters upstream motor, parameters downstream
motor, and the like. The third party 108 and the data storage 214
may include, for example, facility demand reduction requirements,
utility demand reduction requirements, weather conditions, building
occupancy information, motor specifications from vendor, building
information modeling (BIM) data on building systems, and the like.
The communicate data block 612 may automatically transfer demand
reduction potential, motor efficiency metrics, motor maintenance
requirements, and motor maintenance alerts, motor activity log,
motor event log, projected motor energy usage, and the like. The
provide control signals block 614 includes, for example, pulse
width modulation control of motor power, motor speed control, motor
frequency control, turning motor ON, turning motor OFF, command
sequences to other energy management systems 102, command sequences
to third parties 108, and the like.
Additional Embodiments of the Energy Management System
[0105] In another embodiment, the energy management system 102 can
be used to monitor at substantially continuous sampling rates the
power quality of systems and report only power distortions
independent of the reporting rate of the energy parameters. The ADC
module 208 measures current and voltage at sampling rates exceeding
approximately 20 kHz and compares the measured waveform of every
circuit 218 and voltage from the phase ADC modules 306 to an
acceptable waveform. The energy contained at each harmonic
frequency is compared to an acceptable level of energy at each
harmonic frequency in modules 212. The total harmonic energy, total
fundamental energy, and the ratio of harmonic to fundamental
energies are compared to acceptable levels in modules 212. The
measured waveforms that are not acceptable waveforms, distorted
waveforms, or in other words, fall out of specification, may be
stored in the data storage module 214 and/or communicated via the
data command and communication module 326. Alerts can be sent when
a waveform is out of specification through the data command and
communication module 326 within a user-defined period of time from
when the distorted waveform was detected. In an embodiment,
algorithms can be in place to avoid sending repeated alerts when
sequential waveforms are distorted or when distorted waveforms are
detected within a specified period of time. The ADC module 208 and
the phase ADC module 306 can be used to detect high frequency
spikes and drops in the measured parameters. Information on
detected spikes can be stored in the data storage module 214 or
transferred through the data command and communication module 326
at rates independent of the sampling rate or the reporting rate. A
log of power quality, a count of acceptable waveforms, a count of
non-acceptable waveforms, non-acceptable waveforms, spikes in
measured data, drops in measured data, and the like, can be kept in
the data storage module 214 and/or transferred through the data
command and communication module 326.
[0106] Embodiments of the system relate to a method of measuring
and analyzing energy usage. The method comprises measuring one or
more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of
sub-circuits, wherein a sampling rate for measuring is
substantially continuous, automatically transmitting information
related to at least one of the measured parameters at a reporting
rate decoupled from the sampling rate that enables monitoring of
current energy usage, detecting a significant change in a measured
parameter, determining whether the significant change in the
measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and
automatically transmitting, independent of the sampling rate and
the reporting rate, information related to the significant change
in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage
after detecting the significant change.
[0107] In an embodiment, automatically transmitting information
related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused
by the change in energy usage after detecting the significant
change can occur within 30 seconds after the detected change
occurs. The sampling rate can be between approximately 0.1 Hz and
approximately 1 MHz, and the sampling rate is decoupled from the
reporting rate that enables monitoring of the current energy usage.
The reporting rate can be between approximately once per day and
approximately eight thousand times per second. The sampling rate
and the reporting rate may vary from one measured parameter to
another. The detected significant change can be approximately a
0.25% change in the measured parameter or the detected significant
change can be user-defined. The rate of automatically transmitting
information may change based on the variability of the measured
parameter. The measured parameter can be selected from the group
consisting of light intensity, rotational speed, linear speed,
temperature, vibration, carbon dioxide, pressure, motion, flow,
acceleration, position, tension, torque, voltage, current, sound,
and ultrasonic frequencies. The measured current can be referenced
to any of the measured voltage phases for determination of power
factor and phase angle. The measured circuits can be of Delta
configuration, Wye configuration, or any combination thereof and in
any sequence. The voltage measurements can be of one or more
phases, and the voltage measurement of any phase can be referenced
to the voltage measurement of any other phase including one or more
neutrals.
[0108] In an embodiment, the method further comprises outputting,
based at least in part on the measured parameter, a variable duty
cycle signal for load control of at least one electric circuit,
wherein the load control includes at least one of electric energy
control and carbon footprint control, and wherein the electric
circuit is selected from the group consisting of a lighting
circuit, a motor circuit, an air handling system, a pump, and an
HVAC compressor system. The measured parameter can be stored when
it cannot be automatically transmitted and a stored parameter can
be transmitted automatically when possible.
[0109] Further in an embodiment, determining whether the
significant change in the measured parameter is caused by the
change in energy usage includes acquiring an additional sample of
the measured parameter, and determining whether the additional
sample of the measured parameter is proportional to the significant
change of the measured parameter, wherein when the additional
sample of the measured parameter is proportional to the significant
change in the measured parameter, the significant change in the
measured parameter is caused by the change in energy usage. The
additional sample can be acquired within 10 msec of detecting the
significant change in the measured parameter. The method further
comprises storing the significant change in the measured parameter
when the significant change in the measured parameter is caused by
the change in energy usage and disregarding the significant change
in the measured parameter when the additional sample of the
measured parameter is not proportional to the significant change in
the measured parameter.
[0110] According to a number of embodiments, the disclosure relates
to a system for measuring and analyzing energy efficiency of a
facility or facility subsystem. The system comprises a plurality of
energy measurement devices configured to measure one or more
parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of circuits,
sub-circuits, or systems wherein a sampling rate for measuring is
substantially continuous, a plurality of measurement devices
configured to measure one or more parameters indicative of the
energy efficiency of systems, wherein a sampling rate for measuring
is substantially continuous, a plurality of measurement devices
configured to measure one or more parameters indicative of the
environmental condition of systems and facilities, wherein a
sampling rate for measuring is substantially continuous, computer
hardware including at least one computer processor, and
computer-readable storage including computer-readable instructions
that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the computer
hardware to perform operations defined by the computer-executable
instructions. The computer-executable instructions include
automatically transmitting information related to at least one of
the measured parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of
current energy efficiency, automatically obtaining relevant
environmental conditions including weather data, detecting a
significant change in a measured parameter, determining whether the
significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change
in energy efficiency, determining whether and the significant
change in the measured parameter caused a change in energy
efficiency, and automatically transmitting information related to
the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the
change in energy efficiency after detecting the significant
change.
[0111] In an embodiment, automatically transmitting information
related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused
by the change in energy efficiency after detecting the significant
change can occur within 30 seconds after the detected change
occurs. The sampling rate can be between approximately 0.1 Hz and
approximately 1 MHz, and the sampling rate is independent of the
rate that enables monitoring of the current energy usage. The
detected significant change can be approximately a 0.25% change in
the measured parameter or the detected significant change can be
user defined. The rate of automatically transmitting information
may change based on the variability of the measured parameter. The
measured parameter can be selected from the group consisting of
light intensity, rotational speed, linear speed, temperature,
vibration, carbon dioxide, pressure, motion, flow, acceleration,
voltage, current, sound, and ultrasonic frequencies.
[0112] The computer-executable instructions further include, in an
embodiment, outputting, based at least in part on the measured
parameter, a variable duty cycle signal for load control of at
least one electric circuit, where the load control includes at
least one of electric energy control and carbon footprint control,
and wherein the electric circuit is selected from the group
consisting of a lighting circuit, a motor circuit, an air handling
system, and an HVAC compressor system. The computer-executable
instructions further include providing derived analysis of energy
required by a facility or facility subsystem, based in part on the
measured parameter that is selected from the group of measured
parameters consisting of building orientation, time of day, outside
air temperature, inside air temperature, reheat coil water
temperature, cold air temperature, CO2, and enthalpy of return air.
The computer-executable instructions further include a providing a
derived analysis of energy required by a facility or a facility
subsystem, based in part on a group of derived factors that are
selected from those factors that contribute to facility heat
loading and energy use including consisting of building occupancy,
time of day, day of the week, day of the year, vacation schedules,
lighting heat loads, and number of PC computers that are present in
the facility. The computer-executable instructions further include
outputting data, based at least in part on a comparison of the
measured parameter of energy use compared to the derived parameter
of energy required for a facility or facility subsystem consisting,
of at least one of an electric circuit, and a gas circuit, outside
temperature, and inside temperature, and time of day and facility
occupancy, and wherein the measured electric circuit, gas circuit,
CO2, return air enthalpy is selected from the group consisting a
lighting circuit, a motor circuit, an air handling system, an HVAC
reheat hot water coil system, and a HVAC compressor system. The
computer-executable instructions further include outputting of
data, based at least in part on a comparison of the measured
parameter of energy used and compared to the derived parameter of
energy required by a facility or subsystem from the group
consisting of a lighting circuit, a motor circuit, an air handling
system, and a HVAC compressor system. The computer-executable
instructions further include outputting data, based at least in
part on a comparison of the measured parameter of energy use
compared to the derived parameter of energy required for a facility
or subsystem where the difference of measured energy used versus
derived energy required by a facility or subsystem provides a
differential signal that is proportional to the difference in
measured energy used parameter versus derived energy parameter
required from the group consisting of a lighting circuit, a motor
circuit, an air handling system, a boiler reheat coil system, and a
HVAC compressor system. The computer-executable instructions
further include outputting substantially instantaneous demand
response energy load use data that is based at least in part on a
comparison of the measured parameter of energy use compared to the
derived parameter of energy required for a facility subsystem from
the group consisting of a lighting circuit, a motor circuit, an air
handling system, and an HVAC compressor system.
[0113] Further, in an embodiment, determining whether the
significant change in the measure parameter is caused by the change
in energy usage or energy required by a building or a building
subsystem includes acquiring an additional sample of the measured
parameter, and determining whether the additional sample of the
measured parameter is proportional to the significant change of the
measured parameter, wherein when the additional sample of the
measured parameter is proportional to the significant change in the
measured parameter, the significant change in the measured
parameter is caused by the change in energy efficiency. The
additional sample can be acquired within 10 msec of detecting the
significant change in the measured parameter. The
computer-executable instructions further include storing the
significant change in the measured parameter when the significant
change in the measured parameter is caused by the change in energy
usage or a change in energy required. The computer-executable
instructions further include disregarding the significant change in
the measured parameter when the additional sample of the measured
parameter is not proportional to the significant change in the
measured parameter.
[0114] Certain other embodiments relate to a system for measuring,
analyzing and controlling energy usage of a facility or facility
subsystem. The system comprises a plurality of energy measurement
devices configured to measure one or more parameters indicative of
energy usage for a plurality of circuits, sub-circuits, or systems
where a sampling rate for measuring is substantially continuous, a
plurality of measurement devices configured to measure one or more
parameters indicative of the energy efficiency of systems, where a
sampling rate for measuring is substantially continuous, and a
plurality of measurement devices configured to measure one or more
parameters indicative of the environmental condition of systems and
facilities, wherein a sampling rate for measuring is substantially
continuous. The system further comprises computer hardware
including at least one computer processor, and computer-readable
storage including computer-readable instructions that, when
executed by the computer processor, cause the computer hardware to
perform operations defined by the computer-executable instructions.
The computer-executable instructions include automatically
transmitting information related to at least one of the measured
parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy
efficiency, automatically obtaining relevant environmental
conditions including weather data, automatically determining
control sequence to maximize energy efficiency, automatically
determining control sequence to minimize demand usage at any time
without affecting operations and comfort, automatically
transmitting control commands to at least one system or equipment,
detecting a significant change in a measured parameter, determining
whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused
by a change in energy usage, determining whether and the
significant change in the measured parameter caused a change in
energy efficiency, and automatically transmitting information
related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused
by the change in energy efficiency after detecting the significant
change.
[0115] In an embodiment, the computer-executable instructions
further include outputting, based at least in part on the measured
parameter, a variable duty cycle signal for load control of at
least one electric circuit, wherein the load control includes at
least one of electric energy control and carbon footprint control,
and where the electric circuit is selected from the group
consisting of lighting circuit, a motor circuit, an air handling
system, and an HVAC compressor system. The computer-executable
instructions further include outputting demand response energy load
use data that is based at least in part on a comparison of the
measured parameter of energy use compared to the derived parameter
of energy required for a facility subsystem for purposes of
providing an output signal that enables reduction in energy used in
one or more building subsystems consisting of a lighting circuit, a
motor circuit, an air handling system, an HVAC reheat coil system,
and an HVAC compressor system.
[0116] In an embodiment, the measured parameter includes at least
one of motor speed, motor temperature, motor vibration, belt
tension, motor balance, motor torque, motor power consumption,
motor phase imbalance, motor power factor, motor power quality,
motor harmonic energy, motor fundamental energy, facility demand
reduction requirements, utility demand reduction requirements, and
parameters upstream and downstream of a motor. In an embodiment,
analyzed data includes at least one of motor efficiency and motor
maintenance requirements. In another embodiment, the control
command includes at least one of turning the motor on, turning the
motor off, reducing motor speed, reducing motor frequency, and
pulse width modulation of motor power.
Additional Configurations of Embodiments of the Energy Management
System
[0117] In one arrangement, electrical power from the power
distribution grid enters the facility 104 through a main power bus
into the facility's power distribution system. The power
distribution system typically comprises a power distribution panel
including main power distribution bars, electrical circuits 218,
220, 222, and circuit breakers. Examples of a power distribution
panel are a main switch board, a sub panel, a distribution
panel/box, a motor control center (MCC), and the like. In an
embodiment, the energy management system 102 is enclosed in an
enclosure mounted adjacent to the facility's power distribution
panel and electrically connected to the panel's electrical circuits
218, 220, 222 through circuit breakers. In other embodiments, the
energy management system 102 is embedded in the facility's power
distribution system.
[0118] In another embodiment, the energy management system 102 is
embedded in a circuit breaker have an integral measuring device
330, such as a current sensor, a current transformer, a shunt
resistor module, or the like, and a wireless, wired or power line
carrier (PLC) communication and command module.
[0119] In other embodiments, the energy management system 102 is
enclosed in an enclosure mounted in the space to be monitored. In
further embodiments, the energy management system 102 can be
embedded in motors 220, 222, appliances, pumps 220, fans 222,
lighting fixtures, elevators, elevator motors, electrical
equipment, variable frequency devices, variable air volume valves,
thermostats, temperature sensors, computers, machinery, electric
vehicles, power supplies, generator controllers, or other
electrical equipment and appliances, such as power outlets, power
sockets, power strips, power extensions, power adapters, light
switches, motion sensors, gas sensors, security cameras, IR
detectors, load sensors, and the like.
Additional Features of Embodiments of the Energy Management
System
[0120] The energy management system 102 can further comprises one
or more of circuit protection, a circuit breaking capability, a
power factor correction capability, and a frequency shifting and
switching capability, such as currently employed by variable
frequency drives, Class D or Class E control circuits, and the
like, using high speed electronic switching devices, such as TRIAC
switches, MOSFET switches, solid state relays or any other high
speed high power switching devices, for example.
[0121] In other embodiments, the energy management system 102
further comprises one or more of a wireless or wired communication
module, occupancy sensor, occupancy counter, light sensor,
temperature sensor, wireless thermostat, current sensor, gas
sensor, heat sensor, rechargeable battery backup, solar
photovoltaic panel for self powered systems, LED displays, and the
like.
[0122] Other embodiments of the energy management system 102
communicate with other devices and/or instruments in the vicinity,
such as, for example, controlling/non-controlling and
wired/wireless thermostats, variable air volume (VAV) controllers,
mechanical or electrical shades, automatic door locks, door
sensors, card scanners, RFID devices, generator controller, and the
like.
[0123] Other embodiments of the energy management system 102 can be
part of a mesh network in peer-to-peer, client-server, or
master-slave configuration and yet further embodiments can be a
Plug & Play, install and forget, stand alone measurement,
communication, and control system.
[0124] Additional embodiments of the energy management system 102
can measure and analyze data from internal and external sensors
including current, voltage levels and waveforms, temperature,
vibration, motor speed, motor torque and mechanical load, and the
like. Other embodiments can calculate and communicate in real time
or near real time an efficiency rating of a motor 220, 222 or other
electrical equipment that may take into consideration an ambient
condition of the motor 220, 222 or other electrical equipment in
addition to the measured and analyzed data. The ambient condition
can be communicated to the device through the embedded
communication module, the analog inputs 206, or the digital inputs
206.
[0125] The embodiments of the method, technology, circuits, and
algorithms can be implemented, for example, on a circuit board with
discrete components such as integrated circuits (ICs), application
specific ICS (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), gate
arrays, and modules, or can be built into an ASIC, central
processing unit (CPU) 202, or system on a chip (SoC) for purposes
of local or remote digital measurement, analysis, communication,
and control of electric energy that is used by electrical systems,
motors, buildings, appliances, electric vehicles, and/or electric
transportation systems that are temporarily or permanently
connected to an electric grid, the envisioned "smart grid", or at a
point on a micro-grid, or in a residence, building, data center, or
commercial facility that uses electricity and that appears at any
point along an electric grid, micro grid, "smart grid", or at any
point in a power distribution system, including but not limited to
transformers, capacitors, and distribution panels.
[0126] Depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events, or
functions of any of the algorithms described herein can be
performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or left
out all together (e.g., not all described acts or events are
necessary for the practice of the algorithm). Moreover, in certain
embodiments, acts or events can be performed concurrently, e.g.,
through multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or
multiple processors or processor cores or on other parallel
architectures, rather than sequentially.
[0127] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and
algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments
disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware,
computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate
this interchangeability of hardware and software, various
illustrative components, blocks, modules, and steps have been
described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether
such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends
upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on
the overall system. The described functionality can be implemented
in varying ways for each particular application, but such
implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a
departure from the scope of the disclosure.
[0128] The various illustrative logical blocks and modules
described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can
be implemented or performed by a machine, such as a general purpose
processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a FPGA or
other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic,
discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed
to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose
processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the
processor can be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine,
combinations of the same, or the like. A processor can also be
implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0129] The steps of a method, process, or algorithm described in
connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied
directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor,
or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM
memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory,
registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form
of computer-readable storage medium known in the art. An exemplary
storage medium can be coupled to the processor such that the
processor can read information from, and write information to, the
storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be
integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can
reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in the energy management
system 102. In the alternative, the processor and the storage
medium can reside as discrete components in the energy management
system 102.
[0130] The above detailed description of certain embodiments is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples
for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes,
various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of
the invention, as those ordinary skilled in the relevant art will
recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in
a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having
steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and
some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided,
combined, and/or modified. Each of these processes or blocks may be
implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes
or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these
processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be
performed at different times.
[0131] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout
the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising,"
and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed
to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense
of "including, but not limited to." The words "coupled" or
connected", as generally used herein, refer to two or more elements
that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one
or more intermediate elements. Additionally, the words "herein,"
"above," "below," and words of similar import, when used in this
application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to
any particular portions of this application. Where the context
permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular
or plural number may also include the plural or singular number
respectively. The word "or" in reference to a list of two or more
items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the
word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list,
and any combination of the items in the list.
[0132] Moreover, conditional language used herein, such as, among
others, "can," "could," "might," "may," "e.g.," "for example,"
"such as" and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or
otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally
intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other
embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or
states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended
to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way
required for one or more embodiments or that one or more
embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without
author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or
states are included or are to be performed in any particular
embodiment.
[0133] The teachings of the invention provided herein can be
applied to other systems, not necessarily the systems described
above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described
above can be combined to provide further embodiments.
[0134] While certain embodiments of the inventions have been
described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example
only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be
embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and
systems described herein may be made without departing from the
spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their
equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as
would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
* * * * *