Home energy management with predictive capacitor-based load startup control

Abstract

A home energy management system includes a bus for distributing electrical energy, a switch for selectively coupling a load to the bus, and a capacitor module coupled under control of a controller. The controller charges the capacitor module to a target charge level that corresponds to an expected peak inrush current or energy demand of the load, couples the capacitor module to the bus after the target charge level is reached, and then closes the switch to connect the load while the capacitor module remains engaged. Stored energy from the capacitor module is discharged during startup of the load to support the inrush demand and maintain bus voltage stability until the load reaches steady-state operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.