US 12,276,952 B2
HVAC system and control methods for operation within a microgrid
Douglas Glass Benefield, Mt. Pleasant, SC (US)
Assigned to Scientific Environmental Design, Inc., High Point, NC (US)
Filed by Scientific Environmental Design, Inc., High Point, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/409,724.
Application 17/409,724 is a continuation of application No. 16/282,184, filed on Feb. 21, 2019, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0042708 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G05B 15/02 (2006.01); F24F 5/00 (2006.01); F24F 11/65 (2018.01); F24F 110/10 (2018.01); F24F 140/60 (2018.01); H02J 3/00 (2006.01); H02J 3/28 (2006.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 15/02 (2013.01) [F24F 5/0046 (2013.01); F24F 11/65 (2018.01); H02J 3/0075 (2020.01); H02J 3/28 (2013.01); H02J 3/381 (2013.01); H02J 7/0048 (2020.01); F24F 2110/10 (2018.01); F24F 2140/60 (2018.01); H02J 2300/26 (2020.01); H02J 2300/28 (2020.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for renewable energy management comprising:
an HVAC system comprising a compressor, a motor, a blower, and a variable speed drive, wherein a power consumption of the HVAC system comprises an HVAC load;
at least one electronic appliance, wherein a power consumption of the at least one electronic appliance comprises a non-HVAC load;
a distributed energy resource comprising at least one solar panel;
a voltage converter operably engaged with the distributed energy resource, the HVAC system and the at least one electronic appliance;
a controller operably engaged with the distributed energy resource, the voltage converter, the HVAC system and the at least one electronic appliance, the controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to cause the processor to perform one or more operations, the one or more operations comprising:
monitoring a voltage and current output of the distributed energy resource,
wherein monitoring the voltage and current output comprises monitoring a maximum power point tracking signal for a photovoltaic power output of the at least one solar panel;
measuring the power consumption for the HVAC load and the non-HVAC load;
modulating a duty cycle of the voltage converter according to the voltage and current output of the distributed energy resource;
establishing a power flow between the distributed energy resource, the HVAC system and the at least one electronic appliance according to the voltage and current output of the distributed energy resource and a load priority parameter,
wherein the load priority parameter is configured to prioritize the HVAC load over the non-HVAC load such that the power flow between the distributed energy resource and the at least one electronic appliance is restricted when the voltage and current output of the distributed energy resource is insufficient to satisfy both the HVAC load and the non-HVAC load;
determining, at one or more time points, whether the maximum power point tracking signal for the photovoltaic power output of the distributed energy resource is greater than or equal to a power requirement for operation of the HVAC system; and
modulating, at the one or more time points, one or more components of the HVAC system according to the maximum power point tracking signal,
wherein the one or more components of the HVAC system are modulated according to one or more set point in response to determining the maximum power point tracking signal is greater than or equal to the power requirement for operation of the HVAC system.