System and method for managing utility consumption
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsDaniel Reaume, Randall Urbance, Craig Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus are disclosed for managing utility consumption. An embodiment is disclosed for reducing peak demand for a utility by staggering requests for that utility. Another embodiment is disclosed in which sensors monitor utility consumption throughout a facility. Those items of equipment not in active use, but still drawing utility resources, are shut down after a predetermined interval. Another embodiment is disclosed in which storage and conversion technologies are used to offset peak demand and the associated peak demand costs.
Claims20
A method for managing utility consumption by one or more loads, the method comprising:
- identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;
- identifying an objective function to be optimized;
- identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;
- identifying constraints on the utility draws;
- utilizing an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject to identified utility draws and constraints within the optimization horizon;
- and
- outputting a derived substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.
A system for managing utility consumption, comprising:
- a first network of sensors in a facility to detect utility consumption in a plurality of loads within the facility;
- a second network of switches in the facility to regulate a supply of a utility to each of the plurality of loads within the facility;
- a computing device operatively connected to the first network and to the second network;
- wherein the computing device receives sensor data from the first network and operates switches of the second network according to an optimization method;
- and
- wherein the optimization method comprises:
- identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;
- identifying an objective function to be optimized;
- identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;
- identifying constraints on the utility draws;
- utilizing an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject td identified utility draws and constraints within the optimization horizon;
- and
- deriving a substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.
(canceled)
An apparatus for managing utility consumption in a facility, comprising:
- a first network of sensors in a facility to detect utility consumption in a plurality of loads within the facility;
- a second network of switches in the facility to regulate a supply of a utility to each of the plurality of loads within the facility;
- a computing device operatively connected to the first network and to the second network;
- wherein the computing device receives sensor data from the first network and operates switches of the second network according to an optimization method;
- and
- wherein the optimization method comprises:
- identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;
- identifying an objective function to be optimized;
- identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;
- identifying constraints on the utility draws;
- utilizing an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject to identified utility draws and constraints within the optimization horizon;
- and
- deriving a substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.
(canceled)
A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer, the set of instructions comprising:
- instructions for identifying an optimization horizon over which to substantially optimize utility consumption decisions;
- instructions for identifying an objective function to be optimized;
- instructions for identifying likely utility draws over the optimization horizon;
- instructions for identifying constraints on the utility draws;
- instructions for identifying magnitudes and durations of utility draws based on available data;
- an optimization algorithm to substantially optimize the objective function subject to identified draws and constraints within the optimization horizon and derive a substantially optimal utility consumption strategy;
- instructions providing a stopping criterion for the optimization algorithm;
- and
- instructions for applying the substantially optimal utility consumption strategy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.