Smart building manager

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10901446-B2
Application number	US-201615224205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2009
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A building manager includes a communications interface configured to receive information from a smart energy grid. The building manager further includes an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from and to provide outputs to a plurality of building subsystems. The integrated control layer includes a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs. The building manager further includes a fault detection and diagnostics layer configured to use statistical analysis on the inputs received from the integrated control layer to detect and diagnose faults. The building manager yet further includes a demand response layer configured to process the information received from the smart energy grid to determine adjustments to the plurality of control algorithms of the integrated control layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A building manager comprising:
a communications interface configured to receive time-of-use pricing information from a smart energy grid; and
a processing circuit comprising a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions executable by the processor stored thereon, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from at least one building subsystem and to provide an output to the at least one building subsystem, the integrated control layer including at least one control algorithm module configured to process the inputs and to determine outputs;
a demand response layer configured to process the time-of-use pricing information received from the smart energy grid to automatically determine which of a plurality of energy storage devices to operate and determine adjusted setpoints for one or more of the energy storage devices, the adjusted setpoints comprising setpoint energy transfer rates into one or more of the energy storage devices and out of one or more of the energy storage devices;
wherein the at least one control algorithm module of the integrated control layer is configured to use the setpoint energy transfer rates to generate control signals for the at least one building subsystem and provide the control signals as the outputs to the at least one building subsystem.

2. The building manager of claim 1 , further comprising:
an enterprise applications layer configured to provide a building occupant interface to at least one building occupant.

3. The building manager of claim 1 , comprising:
an automated measurement and validation layer configured to measure energy use or track energy savings based on representations of the inputs stored in memory according to an international performance management and verification protocol (IPMVP).

4. The building manager of claim 3 , further comprising:
an enterprise applications layer configured to provide services to enterprise level applications for communicating with the integrated control layer, the demand response layer, and the automated measurement and validation layer.

5. The building manager of claim 3 , wherein the automated measurement and validation layer is configured to monitor energy consumption for a building based on the inputs from the building subsystem.

6. The building manager of claim 5 , wherein the automated measurement and validation layer completes a calculation of energy consumption for the building without using inputs from a utility meter or power provider.

7. The building manager of claim 6 , wherein the automated measurement and validation layer is configured to validate energy use information provided by a utility or meter using the calculation of energy consumption for the building that is calculated without using the inputs from the utility meter or power provider.

8. The building manager of claim 3 , wherein the automated measurement and validation layer is included within a server that includes both the integrated control layer and the demand response layer.

9. The building manager of claim 1 , wherein the demand response layer is configured to monitor and control a power switching device to rout power to one or more destinations from the one or more of the energy storage devices.

10. The building manager of claim 9 , wherein the demand response layer is configured to controllably shift energy loads from peak to off peak times using the energy storage devices.

11. The building manager of claim 10 , wherein the demand response layer is configured to shed energy loads associated with the at least one building subsystem using one or more of the energy storage devices based on a signal received during peak times.

12. The building manager of claim 11 , wherein the signal is one of a high price signal and a contracted curtailment signal.

13. The building manager of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage devices include at least one of a battery, a thermal energy storage tank and one or more plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

14. The building manager of claim 1 , wherein the integrated control layer is configured to use inputs from the smart energy grid, building energy loads, and/or building energy storage in a control algorithm configured to reduce energy costs based on the inputs.

15. The building manager of claim 14 , wherein the demand response layer is configured to adjust or affect the control algorithm of the integrated control layer by planning a control strategy based on received real time pricing (RTP) information or forecasted pricing information for energy from a utility.

16. The building manager of claim 15 , wherein the demand response layer is further configured to calculate an estimate of demand loads for the building for upcoming time periods based on at least one of historical information, forecasted pricing, scheduled facility control events, and the inputs from the building subsystem.

17. The building manager of claim 16 , wherein the demand response layer is further configured to provide the calculated estimate of demand loads for the building to the smart energy grid for an energy provider.

18. The building manager of claim 14 , wherein the demand response layer is configured to automatically adjust or affect the control algorithm of the integrated control layer using model predictive control.

19. A building manager comprising:
a communications interface configured to receive time-of-use pricing information from a smart energy grid; and
a processing circuit comprising a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions executable by the processor stored thereon, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from at least one building subsystem and to provide outputs to the at least one building subsystem, the integrated control layer including at least one control algorithm module configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs; and
a demand response layer configured to process the time-of-use pricing information received from the smart energy grid to automatically determine which of a plurality of energy storage devices to operate and determine adjusted setpoints for one or more of the energy storage devices, the adjusted setpoints comprising setpoint energy transfer rates into the one or more energy storage devices and out of one or more of the energy storage devices, the demand response layer further configured to automatically adjust or affect one or more of the at least one control algorithm module using model predictive control;
wherein the at least one control algorithm module of the integrated control layer is configured to use the setpoint energy transfer rates to generate control signals for the at least one building subsystem and provide the control signals as the outputs to the at least one building subsystem.

20. A building manager comprising:
a communications interface configured to receive time-of-use pricing information from a smart energy grid; and
a processing circuit comprising a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions executable by the processor stored thereon, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from at least one building subsystem and to provide outputs to the at least one building subsystem, the integrated control layer including at least one control algorithm module config

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Nesler Clay G
• Drees Kirk H
• Kummer James P
• Supple Derek
• Andraca Marc D
• Ruiz John I
• Rode Paul Harrison

Classifications

• H02J2103/30

  Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks · CPC title

• H02J13/13

  characterised by the transmission of data to equipment in the power network · CPC title

• H02J13/1321

  using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus · CPC title

• H02J13/14

  the power network being locally controlled, e.g. home energy management systems [HEMS] · CPC title

• H02J13/10

  characterised by displaying of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition [SCADA] systems · CPC title