# US 2017/0288401 A1 · Orchestrated energy

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- Number: US 2017/0288401 A1
- Document ID: US20170288401A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/476,857
- Filed: 2017-03-31
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Assignees: Tendril OE, LLC
- Applicants: Tendril Networks, Inc.
- Inventors: Marissa Hummon; Chris Black; Jake Meier; Patrick Sullivan; Brett Feldman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288401A1

## CPC

- G05B 15/02: electric
- G06Q 10/04: Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202)
- H02J 3/003: {Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand}
- H02J 2103/30: Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks
- Y02E 40/70: Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
- Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y04S 10/50: Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
- Y04S 40/20: Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A facility providing systems and methods for managing and optimizing energy consumption and/or production is provided. The facility provides techniques for optimizing energy-consuming and energy-producing systems to meet specified demands or goals in accordance with various constraints. The facility relies on models to generate an optimization for an energy system. In order to use generic models to simulate and optimize energy consumption for an energy system, the generic models are calibrated to properly represent or approximate conditions of the energy system during the optimization period. After the appropriate models have been calibrated for a given situation using one or more modeling parameter sets, the facility can simulate inputs and responses for the corresponding system. The facility uses the generated simulations to generate a plan or control schedule to be implemented by the energy system during the optimization period.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, performed by a computing system, for managing energy consumption within an energy-consuming system during a period, the method comprising:
determining, by the computing system, environmental conditions for the energy-consuming system, wherein determining at least one environmental condition for the energy system comprises invoking a device abstraction layer or service to communicate with a first device;
calibrating, by the computing system, at least one of a plurality of models;
identifying, by the computing system, one or more constraints for the period;
identifying, by the computing system, one or more objectives for the period;
determining, for the energy-consuming system,
susceptibility of the energy system to change conditions based on a component within the energy system that drives conditions within the energy-consuming system,
drive strength of the component within the energy system that drives conditions within the energy-consuming system, and
an entropy rate in the absence of the component within the energy system that drives conditions within the energy-consuming system;
linearizing the susceptibility, drive strength, and entropy rate;
generating, by the computing system, a control schedule for the energy-consuming system during the period based at least in part on the identified one or more constraints for the period, the linearized susceptibility, and the linearized drive strength, the linearized entropy rate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in accordance with the generated control schedule.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
periodically generating a modeling parameter set for the energy-consuming system and storing the generated modeling parameter set in a modeling parameter set library in association with the energy-consuming system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the generated control schedule to the energy-consuming system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the models include:
a thermal model, and
an electrical model.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determined environmental conditions comprise:
at least one weather-related value for the energy-consuming system during the period;
at least one occupancy-related value for the energy-consuming system during the period; and
at least one size-related value for the energy-consuming system during the period.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one weather-related value for the energy-consuming system comprises a forecasted minimum outdoor temperature, a forecasted median outdoor temperature, and a forecasted maximum outdoor temperature for the energy-consuming system for the period, wherein the at least one occupancy-related value for the energy-consuming system comprises a day of the week for the period, and wherein the at least one size-related value for the energy-consuming system comprises an area of the energy-consuming system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the energy system is one of: a pool pump, an electric vehicle charger, a lighting system, or a water heater.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining, by the computing system, a plurality of generic models representative of energy consumption; and
selecting, by the computing system, from among a library of modeling parameter sets and based at least in part on the determined environmental conditions, a modeling parameter set for the period,
wherein the calibrating comprises calibrating at least one of the obtained generic models representative of energy consumption based at least in part on the selected modeling parameter set for the period.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
performing a plurality of simulations, wherein each simulation generates,
a plurality of simulated input values to the calibrated at least one model; and
a plurality of simulated responses to the simulated input values.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
linearly optimizing, by the computing system, the simulated input values generated for a prediction quantity by the performed simulation.

### Claim 12

A method for managing energy within an energy system over a period, the method comprising:
determining, by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system controller, a plurality of physical characteristics of the energy system;
determining, by the HVAC system controller, a plurality of environmental conditions that can affect energy consumption by the energy system;
selecting, by the HVAC system controller, from among a plurality of modeling parameter sets and based at least in part on the determined environmental conditions, at least one modeling parameter set;
calibrating, by the HVAC system controller, a model based at least in part on:
one or more of the determined plurality of physical characteristics of the energy system, and
the selected at least one modeling parameter set;
generating, by the HVAC system controller, a control schedule for the energy system based at least in part on the calibrated model.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
selecting, by the HVAC system controller, at least one simulation for the calibrated model based at least in part on comparing the one or more constraints to a simulated response curve of the at least one simulation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the energy system comprises a single building.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the energy system comprises a plurality of buildings.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein selecting the at least one modeling parameter set comprises:
for each of a plurality of modeling parameter sets,
for each of a plurality of attributes of the modeling parameter set,
determining a value for the attribute of the modeling parameter set,
determining a value for a corresponding attribute of a determined physical characteristic of the energy system or a determined environmental condition, and
calculating a difference between each of the values determined for the attribute of the modeling parameter set;
calculating a distance for the modeling parameter set based at least in part on the calculated differences.

### Claim 17

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method for managing energy within an energy system over a period, the method comprising:
obtaining a plurality of generic models representative of energy consumption;
determining environmental conditions for the energy system, wherein determining at least one environmental condition for the energy system comprises invoking a device abstraction layer or service to communicate with a first device;
identifying one or more constraints for the period;
identifying one or more objectives for the period;
linearizing one or more constraints for the energy system; and
generating a control schedule for the energy system during the period based at least in part on the identified one or more constraints for the period, the identified one or more objectives for the period, and the linearized constraints for the energy system.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:
controlling one or more end-user devices in accordance with the generated control schedule.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the one or more end-user devices comprise at least one thermostat, at least one pool pump, at least one light, and at least one electric vehicle charger.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein calibrating the thermal model comprises:
identifying one or more modeling parameter sets based at least in part on forecasted environmental conditions and environmental conditions associated with the modeling parameter sets.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising:
simulating a plurality of outputs from the energy system at least in part by invoking a particle swarm optimization simulator.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein linearizing one or more constraints for the energy system comprises:
determining, for the energy-consuming system,
susceptibility of the energy system to change conditions based on a component within the energy system that drives conditions within the energy-consuming system,
drive strength of the component within the energy system that drives conditions within the energy-consuming system, and
an entropy rate in the absence of the component within the energy system that drives conditions within the energy-consuming system; and
linearizing the susceptibility, drive strength, and entropy rate.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising:
comparing the plurality of the simulated outputs to the user-specified optimization goal at least in part by:
for each of the one or more simulations,
generating a time-based output curve for an output related to the user-specified optimization goal; and
calculating one or more values related to the user-specified optimization goal based at least in part on the generated time-based output curve.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, the method further comprising:
determining whether the generated time-based output curve violates the at least one user-specified constraint.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein generating the control schedule comprises:
determining a plurality of simulated inputs for the selected simulation; and
for each of the plurality of simulated inputs,
determining an adjustment time for the simulated input, and
storing an indication of the adjustment time and an adjustment value.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, the method further comprising:
identifying at least one controlling device associated with the energy system; and
converting one or more of the simulated inputs to a control for the at least one controlling device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the at least one controlling device is a thermostat.

### Claim 28 (depends on 17)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:
selecting from among a library of modeling parameter sets a modeling parameter set for the period;
calibrating at least one of the plurality of generic models based at least in part on the selected modeling parameter set for the period.