Smart building manager

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11416017-B2
Application number	US-202117142502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2021
Priority date	Jun 22, 2009
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

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 information from a smart energy grid; and
a processing circuit comprising a processor configured to receive inputs from a plurality of building subsystems and to provide outputs to the plurality of building subsystems using a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs and wherein the processor is configured to process the time-of-use information from the smart energy grid to determine one or more times at which to use one or more energy devices and adjusted setpoints for the plurality of control algorithm modules, the adjusted setpoints comprising setpoint energy transfer rates into the one or more energy devices and out of the one or more energy devices at each of the one or more times, wherein the processor is configured to use the setpoint energy transfer rates to generate control signals for the plurality of building subsystems and provide the control signals as the outputs to the plurality of building subsystems.

2. The building manager of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to provide a building occupant interface to a plurality of building occupants.

3. The building manager of claim 1 , wherein the processor is 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 , wherein the processor is configured to provide services to enterprise level applications.

5. The building manager of claim 3 , wherein the processor comprises a remote server and the plurality of building subsystems are located in multiple buildings.

6. The building manager of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to calculate an energy consumption without using inputs from a utility meter or power provider.

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

8. The building manager of claim 3 , wherein the processor comprises a server that includes both an integrated control layer and a demand response layer.

9. The building manager of claim 8 , 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 energy 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 one or more energy devices.

11. The building manager of claim 10 , wherein the demand response layer is configured to shed energy loads associated with the plurality of building subsystems using the one or more energy devices based on information received during the peak times.

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

13. The building manager of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy devices comprises 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 9 , 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 plurality of building subsystems.

17. The building manager of claim 16 , wherein the demand response layer is further configured to provide the 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 information related to cost from a smart energy grid; and
a processing circuit configured to receive inputs from a plurality of building subsystems and to provide outputs to the plurality of building subsystems, the processing circuit providing a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs;
wherein the processing circuit is configured to process the information from the smart energy grid to determine one or more times at which to use one or more energy devices and adjusted setpoints for the plurality of control algorithm modules, the adjusted setpoints comprising setpoint energy transfer rates into the one or more energy devices and out of the one or more energy devices at each of the one or more times;
wherein the processing circuit is configured to use the setpoint energy transfer rates to generate control signals for the plurality of building subsystems and provide the control signals as the outputs to the plurality of building subsystems.

20. A building manager comprising:
a communications interface configured to receive information from a smart energy grid; and
a processing circuit configured to receive inputs from a plurality of building subsystems and to provide outputs to the plurality of building subsystems, the processing circuit providing a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs;
wherein the processing circuit is configured to process the information received from the smart energy grid to determine one or more times at which to use one or more energy devices and adjusted setpoints for the plurality of control algorithm modules, the adjusted setpoints comprising setpoint energy transfer rates into one or more energy storage devices and out of the one or more energy storage devices at each of the one or more times, the processing circuit further configured to controllably shift energy loads from peak to off peak times using the one or more energy storage devices;
wherein the processing circuit is configured to use the setpoint energy transfer rates to generate control signals for the plurality of building subsystems and provide the control signals as the outputs to the plurality of building subsystems.

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