IP Library Granted Patent US 9,913,406
Granted Patent B2
US 9,913,406 · App. 14/447,968 · Granted Mar 6, 2018

System and method for controlling ambient temperature at a power-consuming site

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,913,406
App. No.
14/447,968
Granted
Mar 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for controlling ambient temperature at a power-consuming site includes a hybrid generator-battery power system. The generator-battery power system includes an engine-generator set and one or more DC-powered batteries that alternately share the site load. Thus, the method includes providing one or more temperature sensors communicatively coupled to a battery management system at the power-consuming site. Another step includes monitoring the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site via the one or more temperature sensors when one or more of the DC-powered batteries are discharging (i.e. when the engine-generator set is off). The method also includes sending, via the battery management system, a start-up command to the engine-generator set when the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site reaches a threshold temperature such that the engine-generator set can provide AC power to an air conditioning unit at the power-consuming site.

Claims (32)

1. A method for controlling ambient temperature at a power-consuming site having a generator-battery hybrid power system, the method comprising:

alternating power supply to the power-consuming site between an alternating current (AC) engine-generator set and one or more direct current (DC)-powered batteries;

providing one or more temperature sensors communicatively coupled to a battery management system at the power-consuming site, the battery management system comprises at least one processor and is communicatively coupled with one or more DC-powered batteries so as to provide control of the one or more DC-powered batteries;

monitoring the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site via the one or more temperature sensors when one or more of the DC-powered batteries are discharging and the AC engine-generator set is off; and,

sending, via the battery management system, a start-up command to the AC engine-generator set when the one or more of the DC-powered batteries are discharging and the monitored ambient temperature of the power-consuming site when the engine-generator set is off reaches a threshold temperature such that the AC engine-generator set provides AC power to an air conditioning unit at the power-consuming site.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a local temperature of the battery management system;

determining a temperature offset between the local temperature of the battery management system and the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site; and

calibrating the one or more temperature sensors to account for the temperature offset.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising re-calibrating one or more of the temperature sensors after a predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the ambient temperature after sending the start-up command to the engine-generator set and sending a shut-down command to the engine-generator set when the ambient temperature is below the threshold temperature.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site via an internal thermostat of the air conditioning unit when one or more of the DC-powered batteries are charging.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power-consuming site comprises a telecommunications facility.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engine-generator set comprises a diesel generator.

8. A method for controlling an alternating current (AC) engine-generator set located at a power-consuming site, the method comprising:

providing one or more temperature sensors within a battery management system at the power-consuming site, the battery management system comprising at least one processor and being communicatively coupled with one or more direct current (DC) powered batteries so as to provide control of the one or more DC-powered batteries;

monitoring an ambient temperature of the power-consuming site via the one or more temperature sensors when the one or more of the DC-powered batteries are discharging and the AC engine-generator set is off; and,

sending, via the battery management system, a start-up command to the AC engine-generator set when the one or more of the DC-powered batteries are discharging and the monitored ambient temperature of the power-consuming site when the engine-generator set is off reaches a threshold temperature such that the AC engine-generator set provides power to one or more AC-powered components of the power-consuming site.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining a local temperature of the battery management system;

determining a temperature offset between the local temperature of the battery management system and the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site; and

calibrating the one or more temperature sensors to account for the temperature offset.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising re-calibrating one or more of the temperature sensors after a predetermined time period.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising monitoring the ambient temperature after sending the start-up command to the engine-generator set and sending a shut-down command to the engine-generator set when the ambient temperature is below the threshold temperature.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising monitoring the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site via an internal thermostat of the air conditioning unit when one or more of the DC-powered batteries are charging.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more AC-powered components comprises an air conditioning unit.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the power-consuming site comprises a telecommunications facility.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the engine-generator set comprises a diesel generator.

16. A system for controlling ambient temperature at a power-consuming site having a generator-battery hybrid power system, the system comprising:

a battery power source comprising a battery management system and at least one direct current (DC) powered battery, the battery management system comprising at least one processor; and

at least one temperature sensor communicatively coupled to the battery management system, the temperature sensor configured to monitor the ambient temperature of the power-consuming site when the at least one DC-powered battery is discharging and the engine-generator set is off,

wherein the processor of the battery management system is configured to send a start-up command to an alternating current (AC) engine-generator set when the at least one DC-powered battery is discharging and the monitored ambient temperature of the power-consuming site when the engine-generator set is off reaches a threshold temperature such that the AC engine-generator set provides AC power to an air conditioning unit at the power-consuming site.

Assignments (5)
QUITCLAIM ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 9, 2026
From: EDISON INNOVATIONS LLC
To: BUNKER HILL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074326/0549 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2025
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 070636/0815 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 26, 2025
From: GE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
To: DOLBY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 070643/0907 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: DOLBY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
To: EDISON INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 070293/0273 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2014
From: CHUAH, CHRISTOPHER JAMES; GOTOBED, MARK EDWARD; KOLASIENSKI, SHANON; SAKOLISH, SCOT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 033433/0734 →