Water Heater Demand Side Management System

摘要

A system for shifting energy demand from on-peak time windows to off-peak time windows by using hot water heater load shifting, while providing the end user with the level of service (i.e., availability of hot water) according to the user's customary use described by service quality criteria. The shift is accomplished by a controller located at the end user establishment and in communication with a central control server. The controller monitors local water heater upper and/or lower temperature and controls upper and/or lower water heater heating elements in accordance with a demand shift process commanded by the central control server. The controller may determine usage and remaining capacity for reporting back to the central control server. A volumetric capacity and usage determination is disclosed. The control server may select water heaters according to use patterns and/or measured capacity. Further embodiments may regulate load dependent properties of the power including voltage, phase and/or frequency.

主权项

1. A method for controlling a plurality of water heaters to vary a loading profile of a load on a power grid to affect a load dependent property of power on said power grid comprising:
a water heater control server receiving remaining volume capacity information and reserve volume capacity information from a plurality of water heaters connected to said power grid at separate customer locations; generating historical usage pattern information for each water heater of said plurality of water heaters based on said remaining volume capacity information and said reserve volume capacity information, said reserve volume capacity information relating to a capability to deliver a reserve volume of hot water on immediate demand; generating predicted usage pattern information based on said historical usage pattern information; receiving present load demand information relating to a present load demand and desired load demand information by said water heater control server based on a power grid monitoring system monitoring said power grid, and a relationship between a load on said power grid and said load dependent property of said power; said water heater control server communicating a control strategy to each said water heater of said plurality of water heaters, said control strategy comprising a temperature limit over time for each said water heater of said plurality of water heaters, said temperature limit over time based on said remaining volume capacity information, said reserve capacity information, said present load demand information, said predicted load demand information and said predicted usage pattern information; said control strategy allowing recovery when said remaining volume capacity is less than said reserve volume capacity.