Granted Patent B1

US 12,188,667 · App. 17/980,744 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Inventors: Seth Frader-Thompson (Brooklyn, NY); Benjamin Hertz-Shargel (Roslyn Estates, NY); Michael DeBenedittis (Brooklyn, NY)

Assignee: EnergyHub, Inc.

F24F11/30F24F11/62G05B17/02F24F11/46F24F11/52F24F11/58F24F11/63F24F11/64F24F2110/10F24F2130/00F24F2130/10G06F2119/08H02J3/003H02J2310/14Y04S20/242Y04S40/20

Abstract

Claims (178)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining characteristics associated with a physical site;

grouping the characteristics that satisfy similarity criteria;

determining thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped characteristics, wherein determining the thermal characteristics of the physical site comprises:

determining a deadband using the grouped characteristics;

generating a steady state model using the grouped characteristics

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband;

determining a thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain; and

determining a thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product;

generating a thermal model for a demand response event using the determined thermal potential, the determined internal heat gain, and the generated steady state model;

simulating the physical site using the generated thermal model:

generating, using a result of the simulation of the physical site, a control strategy for controlling one or more devices at a plurality of physical sites; and

providing, using the control strategy and to each of one or more devices each of which are at the physical site of the plurality of physical sites, an instruction that indicates a desired setting change to cause the respective device to change energy consumption to meet the demand response event.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the deadband using the grouped characteristics further comprises, for a thermostat system of the physical site:

determining an upper temperature set-point for the thermostat system;

determining a lower temperature set-point for the thermostat system; and

determining the deadband for the thermostat system using the upper temperature set-point and the lower temperature set-point.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the steady state model represents a function that maps a difference between an indoor temperature of the physical site and an external temperature of the physical site to an estimated duty cycle, wherein the estimated duty cycle estimates a proportion of time a monitoring system at the physical site is cycled on and off over a time period.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband further comprises determining, using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband, the internal heat gain that represents an amount of heat generated at the physical site irrespective of monitoring systems included at the physical site.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain further comprises:

determining a thermal capacitance of the physical site;

determining a thermal resistance of the physical site; and

determining the thermal product using the thermal capacitance and thermal resistance of the physical site.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product further comprises determining the thermal potential that represents a removal of heat inside the physical site by measuring a change in rate of overall heat gain within the physical site when a monitoring system is turned on in comparison to when the monitoring system is turned off.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the thermal model represents how a physical site consumes energy according to (i) one or more set-point temperatures of one or more consumption systems at the physical site and (ii) one or more external temperatures proximate to the physical site, and the method further comprises:

generating, using the thermal model, a likely energy consumption for the site by performing simulations for the site under a control strategy to meet a demand response event.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the characteristics associated with the physical site comprises obtaining, from one or more monitoring systems located at the physical site, (i) monitoring data that comprises temperature readings associated with the physical site and (ii) weather data that comprises weather readings that describe a temperature external to the physical site.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein grouping the characteristics that have similar characteristics further comprises:

grouping the monitoring data and the weather data according to a specified time interval; and

aligning the monitoring data and the weather data for the physical site according to the specified time interval.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining second characteristics associated with multiple physical sites;

for each physical site of the multiple physical sites:

grouping the second characteristics that satisfy similar criteria;

determining second thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped second characteristics;

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped second characteristics and the determined second thermal characteristics; and

generating, using the determined thermal characteristics and the determined internal heat gain, a site specific thermal model for use in meeting a demand response event.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining a subset of the multiple physical sites that are currently enrolled in a load controlled event;

generating, for each physical site of the subset of physical sites, a likely energy consumption by performing simulations using the respective site specific thermal model for each of the physical sites; and

determining an optimal control strategy for the load controlled event using the likely energy consumption for each currently enrolled physical site.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the internal heat gain further comprises determining the internal heat gain using an amount of heat generated by objects at the physical site and incident sunlight that generates heat at the physical site.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

aggregating the generated thermal model with one or more other thermal models;

using the aggregated models, generating a control strategy for controlling one or more devices at a plurality of physical sites; and

providing, using the control strategy and to each of one or more devices each of which are at a physical site of the plurality of physical sites, an instruction that indicates a desired amount of load change to cause the respective device to change energy consumption to meet a demand response event.

14. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

obtaining characteristics associated with a physical site;

grouping the characteristics that satisfy similarity criteria;

determining thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped characteristics, wherein determining the thermal characteristics of the physical site comprises:

determining a deadband using the grouped characteristics;

generating a steady state model using the grouped characteristics

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband;

determining a thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain; and

determining a thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product;

generating a thermal model for a demand response event using the determined thermal potential, the determined internal heat gain, and the generated steady state model;

simulating the physical site using the generated thermal model;

generating, using a result of the simulation of the physical site, a control strategy for controlling one or more devices at a plurality of physical sites; and

providing, using the control strategy and to each of one or more devices each of which are at the physical site of the plurality of physical sites, an instruction that indicates a desired setting change to cause the respective device to change energy consumption to meet the demand response event.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein determining the deadband using the grouped characteristics further comprises, for a thermostat system of the physical site:

determining an upper temperature set-point for the thermostat system;

determining a lower temperature set-point for the thermostat system; and

determining the deadband for the thermostat system using the upper temperature set-point and the lower temperature set-point.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the steady state model represents a function that maps a difference between an indoor temperature of the physical site and an external temperature of the physical site to an estimated duty cycle, wherein the estimated duty cycle estimates a proportion of time a monitoring system at the physical site is cycled on and off over a time period.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein determining the internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband further comprises determining, using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband, the internal heat gain that represents an amount of heat generated at the physical site irrespective of monitoring systems included at the physical site.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein determining the thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain further comprises:

determining a thermal capacitance of the physical site;

determining a thermal resistance of the physical site; and

determining the thermal product using the thermal capacitance and thermal resistance of the physical site.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein determining the thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product further comprises determining the thermal potential that represents a removal of heat inside the physical site by measuring a change in rate of overall heat gain within the physical site when a monitoring system is turned on in comparison to when the monitoring system is turned off.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the thermal model represents how a physical site consumes energy according to (i) one or more set-point temperatures of one or more consumption systems at the physical site and (ii) one or more external temperatures proximate to the physical site, and the operations further comprise:

generating, using the thermal model, a likely energy consumption for the site by performing simulations for the site under a control strategy to meet a demand response event.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein obtaining the characteristics associated with the physical site comprises obtaining, from one or more monitoring systems located at the physical site, (i) monitoring data that comprises temperature readings associated with the physical site and (ii) weather data that comprises weather readings that describe a temperature external to the physical site.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein grouping the characteristics that have similar characteristics further comprises:

grouping the monitoring data and the weather data according to a specified time interval; and

aligning the monitoring data and the weather data for the physical site according to the specified time interval.

23. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

obtaining second characteristics associated with multiple physical sites;

for each physical site of the multiple physical sites:

grouping the second characteristics that satisfy similar criteria;

determining second thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped second characteristics;

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped second characteristics and the determined second thermal characteristics; and

generating, using the determined thermal characteristics and the determined internal heat gain, a site specific thermal model for use in meeting a demand response event.

24. The system of claim 23 , further comprising:

determining a subset of the multiple physical sites that are currently enrolled in a load controlled event;

generating, for each physical site of the subset of physical sites, a likely energy consumption by performing simulations using the site specific thermal model for each of the physical sites; and

determining an optimal control strategy for the load controlled event using the likely energy consumption for each currently enrolled physical site.

25. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

obtaining characteristics associated with a physical site;

grouping the characteristics that satisfy similarity criteria;

determining thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped characteristics, wherein determining the thermal characteristics of the physical site comprises:

determining a deadband using the grouped characteristics;

generating a steady state model using the grouped characteristics

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband;

determining a thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain; and

determining a thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product, wherein determining the thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product further comprises determining the thermal potential that represents a removal of heat inside the physical site by measuring a change in rate of overall heat gain within the physical site when a monitoring system is turned on in comparison to when the monitoring system is turned off;

generating a thermal model for a demand response event using the determined thermal potential, the determined internal heat gain, and the generated steady state model;

simulating the physical site using the generated thermal model;

generating, using a result of the simulation of the physical site, a control strategy for controlling one or more devices at a plurality of physical sites; and

providing, using the control strategy and to each of one or more devices each of which are at the physical site of the plurality of physical sites, an instruction that indicates a desired setting change to cause the respective device to change energy consumption to meet the demand response event.

26. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining characteristics associated with a physical site;

grouping the characteristics that satisfy similarity criteria;

determining thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped characteristics, wherein determining the thermal characteristics of the physical site comprises:

determining a deadband using the grouped characteristics;

generating a steady state model using the grouped characteristics

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband;

determining a thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain; and

determining a thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product, wherein determining the thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product further comprises determining the thermal potential that represents a removal of heat inside the physical site by measuring a change in rate of overall heat gain within the physical site when a monitoring system is turned on in comparison to when the monitoring system is turned off;

generating a thermal model for a demand response event using the determined thermal potential, the determined internal heat gain, and the generated steady state model;

simulating the physical site using the generated thermal model;

generating, using a result of the simulation of the physical site, a control strategy for controlling one or more devices at a plurality of physical sites; and

providing, using the control strategy and to each of one or more devices each of which are at the physical site of the plurality of physical sites, an instruction that indicates a desired setting change to cause the respective device to change energy consumption to meet the demand response event.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26 , wherein determining the deadband using the grouped characteristics further comprises, for a thermostat system of the physical site:

determining an upper temperature set-point for the thermostat system;

determining a lower temperature set-point for the thermostat system; and

determining the deadband for the thermostat system using the upper temperature set-point and the lower temperature set-point.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 26 , wherein the steady state model represents a function that maps a difference between an indoor temperature of the physical site and an external temperature of the physical site to an estimated duty cycle, wherein the estimated duty cycle estimates a proportion of time a monitoring system at the physical site is cycled on and off over a time period.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 26 , wherein determining the internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband further comprises determining, using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband, the internal heat gain that represents an amount of heat generated at the physical site irrespective of monitoring systems included at the physical site.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 26 , wherein determining the thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain further comprises:

determining a thermal capacitance of the physical site;

determining a thermal resistance of the physical site; and

determining the thermal product using the thermal capacitance and thermal resistance of the physical site.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 26 , wherein the thermal model represents how a physical site consumes energy according to (i) one or more set-point temperatures of one or more consumption systems at the physical site and (ii) one or more external temperatures proximate to the physical site, and the method further comprises:

generating, using the thermal model, a likely energy consumption for the site by performing simulations for the site under a control strategy to meet a demand response event.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 26 , wherein obtaining the characteristics associated with the physical site comprises obtaining, from one or more monitoring systems located at the physical site, (i) monitoring data that comprises temperature readings associated with the physical site and (ii) weather data that comprises weather readings that describe a temperature external to the physical site.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32 , wherein grouping the characteristics that have similar characteristics further comprises:

grouping the monitoring data and the weather data according to a specified time interval; and

aligning the monitoring data and the weather data for the physical site according to the specified time interval.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 26 , further comprising:

obtaining second characteristics associated with multiple physical sites;

for each physical site of the multiple physical sites:

grouping the second characteristics that satisfy similar criteria;

determining second thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped second characteristics;

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped second characteristics and the determined second thermal characteristics; and

generating, using the determined thermal characteristics and the determined internal heat gain, a site specific thermal model for use in meeting a demand response event.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34 , further comprising:

determining a subset of the multiple physical sites that are currently enrolled in a load controlled event;

generating, for each physical site of the subset of physical sites, a likely energy consumption by performing simulations using the respective site specific thermal model for each of the physical sites; and

determining an optimal control strategy for the load controlled event using the likely energy consumption for each currently enrolled physical site.

36. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

obtaining characteristics associated with a physical site;

grouping the characteristics that satisfy similarity criteria;

determining thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped characteristics, wherein determining the thermal characteristics of the physical site comprises:

determining a deadband using the grouped characteristics;

generating a steady state model using the grouped characteristics

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband;

determining a thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain, wherein determining the thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain further comprises:

determining a thermal capacitance of the physical site;

determining a thermal resistance of the physical site; and

determining the thermal product using the thermal capacitance and thermal resistance of the physical site;

determining a thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product;

generating a thermal model for a demand response event using the determined thermal potential, the determined internal heat gain, and the generated steady state model;

simulating the physical site using the generated thermal model;

generating, using a result of the simulation of the physical site, a control strategy for controlling one or more devices at a plurality of physical sites; and

providing, using the control strategy and to each of one or more devices each of which are at the physical site of the plurality of physical sites, an instruction that indicates a desired setting change to cause the respective device to change energy consumption to meet the demand response event.

37. The system of claim 36 , wherein determining the deadband using the grouped characteristics further comprises, for a thermostat system of the physical site:

determining an upper temperature set-point for the thermostat system;

determining a lower temperature set-point for the thermostat system; and

determining the deadband for the thermostat system using the upper temperature set-point and the lower temperature set-point.

38. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining characteristics associated with a physical site;

grouping the characteristics that satisfy similarity criteria;

determining thermal characteristics of the physical site using the grouped characteristics, wherein determining the thermal characteristics of the physical site comprises:

determining a deadband using the grouped characteristics;

generating a steady state model using the grouped characteristics

determining an internal heat gain using the grouped characteristics and the determined deadband;

determining a thermal product using the grouped characteristics and the determined internal heat gain, wherein determining the thermal product further comprises:

determining a thermal capacitance of the physical site;

determining a thermal resistance of the physical site; and

determining the thermal product using the thermal capacitance and thermal resistance of the physical site;

determining a thermal potential using the determined internal heat gain and the determined thermal product;

generating a thermal model for a demand response event using the determined thermal potential, the determined internal heat gain, and the generated steady state model;

simulating the physical site using the generated thermal model;

generating, using a result of the simulation of the physical site, a control strategy for controlling one or more devices at a plurality of physical sites; and

providing, using the control strategy and to each of one or more devices each of which are at the physical site of the plurality of physical sites, an instruction that indicates a desired setting change to cause the respective device to change energy consumption to meet the demand response event.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (82)