IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,206,240
Granted Patent B2
US 12,206,240 · App. 18/196,330 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Systems and methods to manage and control energy management systems

Inventors: Michel Roger Kamel (Buena Park, CA); Paul W. Donahue (Newport Beach, CA)
Assignee: MELROK, LLC
H02J13/00034G01D4/002G01R21/133G05B15/02G06Q10/10G08C19/00H02J3/00H02J3/38H02J3/381H02J13/00002H02J13/00022H02S40/32H02S50/00H02J13/00H02J13/00016H02J13/00028Y02E60/00Y02P80/20Y02P90/84Y02P90/845Y04S10/18Y04S40/00Y04S40/124Y04S40/128
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,206,240
App. No.
18/196,330
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for analyzing energy usage measures one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for the measuring is substantially continuous, and automatically transmits information related to at least one of the measured parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy usage. The system further detects a significant change in a measured parameter, determines whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and automatically transmits information related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage after detecting the significant change.

Claims (28)

1. A method to manage and control a pump/compressor system, the method comprising:

receiving first digital data associated with electrical energy consumed by a pump/compressor system associated with a facility, wherein the first digital data is received in accordance with a first protocol, and further wherein the first digital data is received at a first rate of at least once per minute;

receiving second digital data from a smart meter or one or more submeters associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data provides an indication of electrical energy associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data is received in accordance with a second protocol, and further wherein the second digital data is received at a second rate of at least once per minute;

receiving one or more of weather-related data, carbon footprint-related data, and grid-related data over a network, wherein the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data are received in accordance with a third protocol; and

providing, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, and the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, a control signal to control the pump/compressor system, wherein the control signal is provided at a third rate of at least once per minute.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the weather-related data comprises one or more of actual weather data, predicted weather data, and solar irradiance data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the carbon footprint-related data comprises one or more of a carbon footprint associated with energy used and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the energy generated.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the grid-related data comprises one or more of grid loading data, grid capacity data, pricing data, energy rates, grid condition data, utility demand reduction requirements, and grid forecast data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the control comprises one or more of pulse width modulation (PWM) control, digital control, and analog control.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises one of a digital control signal and an analog control signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the air handling system is configured to be part of a heating ventilation and air conditioning system of the facility.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving energy-related data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the energy-related data comprises one or more of environmental data, fuel type, prior energy consumption, facility occupancy schedules, BIM (Building Information Modeling) data, GIS (Geographic Information System) data, facility data, equipment specification data, equipment maintenance logs, equipment data, electric vehicle data, and asset inventory data.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein providing the control signal further comprises providing, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, and the energy-related data, the control signal to control the pump/compressor system.

11. An apparatus to manage and control an air handling system, the apparatus comprising:

a first input/output (I/O) module configured to receive first digital data associated with electrical energy consumed by an air handling system associated with a facility, wherein the first digital data is received in accordance with a first protocol, and further wherein the first digital data is received at a first rate of at least once per minute;

a second I/O module configured to receive second digital data from a smart meter or one or more submeters associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data provides an indication of electrical energy associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data is received in accordance with a second protocol, and further wherein the second digital data is received at a second rate of at least once per minute;

a communication port configured to receive one or more of weather-related data, carbon footprint-related data, and grid-related data over a network, wherein the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data are received in accordance with a third protocol; and

a third I/O module configured to provide, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, and the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, a control signal to control the air handling system, wherein the control signal is provided at a third rate of at least once per minute.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the weather-related data comprises one or more of actual weather data, predicted weather data, and solar irradiance data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the carbon footprint-related data comprises one or more of carbon footprint associated with energy used, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the energy generated.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the grid-related data comprises one or more of grid loading data, grid capacity data, pricing data, energy rates, grid condition data, utility demand reduction requirements, and grid forecast data.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control comprises one or more of pulse width modulation (PWM) control, digital control, and analog control.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control signal comprises one of a digital control signal and an analog control signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the air handling system is configured to be part of a heating ventilation and air conditioning system of the facility.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the communication port is further configured to receive energy-related data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the energy-related data comprises one or more of environmental data, fuel type, prior energy consumption, facility occupancy schedules, BIM (Building Information Modeling) data, GIS (Geographic Information System) data, facility data, equipment specification data, equipment maintenance logs, equipment data, electric vehicle data, and asset inventory data.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the third I/O module is further configured to provide, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, the one or more of the weather-related data, the carbon footprint-related data, and the grid-related data, and the energy-related data, a control signal to control the air handling system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: KAMEL, MICHEL ROGER; DONAHUE, PAUL W
To: MELROK, LLC
Reel/Frame 063671/0522 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 17301647 · Apr 9, 2021
Continuation 17008013 · Aug 31, 2020
Continuation 16257436 · Jan 25, 2019
Continuation 15875562 · Jan 19, 2018
Continuation 14876400 · Oct 6, 2015
Continuation 13452618 · Apr 20, 2012
Provisional Application 61483552 · May 6, 2011
Provisional Application 61478446 · Apr 22, 2011
Related Publication 20240113557A1 · Apr 4, 2024
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