Method for operating a plurality of devices having electrical consumers or gas consumers, and system having a plurality of such devices

Abstract

A method for operating a plurality of devices which each contain at least one electrical or gas consumer, with the following steps: before switching on the consumer, the device asks an allocation module whether the process can be started, on the basis of parameters of the requested process, parameters of currently running and/or planned processes of the other consumers and a predefined maximum power value, the allocation module decides whether the requested process is enabled, modified or at least temporarily disabled. A system having a plurality of devices which each have at least one electrical or gas consumer as well as a controller, and having an allocation module in which a maximum power value for the consumers is stored, wherein the controller of the devices can send information about planned and current processes via a communication link to the allocation module and receive an enable signal.

Claims

1. A method for operating a plurality of devices which each contain at least one consumer of electricity, wherein the plurality of devices are networked and configured to automatically generate proposals for an altered sequence planning in order to enable peak electricity values that are as low as possible, with the following steps: before at least one of the plurality of devices switches on the consumer, the at least one of the plurality of devices asks an allocation module whether a process is to be started, on the basis of parameters of the requested process, parameters of currently running and/or planned processes of at least one other consumer and a predefined maximum power value, the allocation module decides whether the requested process is enabled, modified or at least temporarily disabled, wherein the currently running and/or planned processes are allocated to one of several categories of priority, wherein, when there are so many pending processes within the same category of priority that the predefined maximum power value would be exceeded with them, a next target completion time is used for prioritization, wherein the allocation module is configured to access a database in which power data for the currently running and/or planned processes are stored, wherein the power data comprise typical energy consumption of the at least one consumer over the course of a day.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the parameters of the currently running and/or planned processes comprise at least one of the following parameters: remaining cooking time, power required for the cooking, power required for the heating-up or preheating.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a modified enabling consists of starting or carrying out the requested process with reduced power.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a modified enabling consists of starting the requested process only when the power consumption of at least one other process has been reduced.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a modified enabling consists of at least partially bringing forward said process.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one consumer makes a decision as to which of them implements the allocation module according to predefined rules.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the allocation module applies at least one of first in-first out, precedence for short, power-intensive processes, prioritization according to closest completion time, complex prioritization.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one of the plurality of devices is a cooking device and in that in the complex prioritization allocation strategy, at least one of the following priority viewpoints is taken into account: deviation from a cooking time expected by a user, effect on a cooking state, and need for user interaction.

9. A system comprising a plurality of devices which each have at least one consumer of electricity as well as a controller, wherein the devices are networked and configured to automatically generate proposals for an altered sequence planning in order to enable peak electricity values that are as low as possible, and having an allocation module in which a maximum power value for consumers of the plurality of devices is stored, wherein there is a communications link between the controllers of the plurality of devices and the allocation module via which the controllers of the plurality of devices send information about planned and current processes and receive an enabling signal, wherein the planned and current processes are allocated to one of several categories of priority, wherein, when there are so many pending cooking processes within the same category of priority that the predefined maximum power value would be exceeded with them, a next target completion time is used for prioritization, wherein the system comprises a database in which power data for the planned and current processes are stored, wherein the power data comprise typical energy consumption of said consumers over the course of a day, wherein the allocation module is configured to access the database.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the allocation module is implemented as a stationary master.

11. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the allocation module is a server application.

12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that the allocation module is a cloud-based server application.

13. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the allocation module is implemented as a dynamic master.

14. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the devices come from at least one of the following device groups: cooking device, dishwasher, washing machine, and cooling unit.

15. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that a display device is provided, with which information about an available power and/or proposals for an altered sequence of said planned and current processes is displayed to a user.

16. A system comprising: at least one allocation module, wherein the allocation module comprises software; a plurality of devices, wherein each of the devices comprises: a consumer of electricity; and a local controller connected to the consumer and controlling operation of the consumer; and at least one bi-directional communication link between the local controller of each of the plurality of devices and the at least one allocation module, wherein each local controller of the plurality of devices communicates a status of the consumer that the local controller is controlling and the at least one allocation module communicates a change in the operation of said consumer, whereby the local controller connected to said consumer executes the change in operation of said consumer; wherein the devices are networked and configured to automatically generate proposals for an altered sequence planning in order to enable peak electricity values that are as low as possible, wherein the allocation module is configured to override a predefined maximum power value and wherein the peak electricity value then resulting for electrical power is stored and used as a new maximum power value in a further sequence for a current accounting period, wherein different processes are allocated to one of several categories of priority, wherein, when there are so many pending cooking processes within the same category of priority that the predefined maximum power value would be exceeded with them, a next target completion time is used for prioritization.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a system master, the system master comprising the at least one allocation module and a database in communication with the at least one allocation module, wherein the at least one bi-directional communication link further comprises a plurality of bi-directional communication links connecting each of the local controllers of the plurality of devices to the at least one allocation module within the system master.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the database comprises information for a current operation of each of the devices and future operation of each of the devices and wherein the allocation module communicates a change in the operation of one of said consumers to manage future consumption of electricity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described below with reference to different embodiments, which are represented in the attached drawings. There are shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 a system having a plurality of devices according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 a system having a plurality of devices according to a second embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 a diagram with examples of possible load curves;

(5) FIG. 4 a diagram with an example curve of the maximum load in the daily profile;

(6) FIG. 5 a diagram of the energy required by a cooking device at full and half power; and

(7) FIG. 6 a diagram of an example of usable load capacitances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) In FIG. 1 three electrical devices 10 are represented, which each have a controller 12 and a consumer.

(9) In the embodiment example below, electrical consumers are used for illustration. In principle, however, they can also be gas consumers for which there may be the problem of an insufficient supply of gas.

(10) The electrical consumers 14 are components which have an electrical power requirement such that it determines the connected load of the device 10. The electrical consumers 14 are, for example, a heating device, with which air, water, oil, another medium or even another component of a device can be heated up. The electrical consumer can also be an electric motor or another electrical component.

(11) The devices 10, more precisely their controllers 12, are linked to a stationary master 1, which here is implemented as a cloud-based server application, via a communications link 16.

(12) Part of the master 18 is an allocation module 20 in which a predefined maximum power value is stored. This predefined maximum power value corresponds to the desired maximum power consumption of all devices 10 belonging to the system. This value is usually smaller than the totaled connected load of all devices 10 of the system.

(13) The allocation module 20 can access a database 22 in which power data and power profiles of different processes which can run in the devices 10 are stored. Profiles relating to typical electrical consumption values throughout the day can also be stored.

(14) Examples of different power data and power profiles are shown in FIG. 3, in which by way of example the possible load curves are plotted for three different devices, namely a first device in a normal, continuous line, a second device in the line marked with crosses and a third device in the line marked with circles.

(15) An example of the electrical consumption throughout the day is shown in FIG. 4. In this example the maximum electrical consumption is slightly above 80 kW, wherein this value is achieved only for a relatively short time around 13:00.

(16) In FIG. 4 two examples of possible maximum power values are also drawn in dashed, namely one power value just above 70 kW and a second at 60 kW. It can be seen that, when the allocation module 20 allows a maximum power consumption of all devices 10 of slightly above 70 kW, this leads to a limitation over a period of only two hours a day. In return, in the billing of electric power consumption using the consumption metering method the peak value of over 90 kW is no longer used, rather slightly above 70 kW is used. This leads to a substantial saving.

(17) If the maximum power value of for example 60 kW is used, it can be seen that this compromises the operation of the electrical devices 10 over three phases, namely in the mornings about 09:00, in the middle of the day from about 11:30 to 14:00 and in the evenings between 18:00 and 21:00. As a counter value for the reduced maximum power consumption of the devices 10, lower electricity costs result for the operator of the electrical devices.

(18) In the embodiment example shown, the allocation module 20 serves to check the maximum power consumption of the devices 10 and optionally limit it. Expressed in general terms this occurs by each device 10 before it puts an electrical consumer 14 into operation, obtaining an enabling for this from the allocation module 20. The allocation module 20 decides, on the basis of the power consumption of the other devices, whether the enabling can be granted.

(19) The allocation module 20 makes this decision not only on the basis of the current power consumption of the other consumers 14, but also taking into account the power consumption which will result in the future because of currently running processes. The corresponding values can be obtained from the database 22.

(20) An example of the power consumption of a cooking device is shown in FIG. 5, wherein the power consumption in a normal cooking program is represented by the continuous, normal line and the power curve for the same cooking program but operated at half power is represented in the line marked with crosses. It can be seen that in the case of operation at half power a first cooking process step, which corresponds to the heating up, lengthens, wherein the maximum power consumption is however reduced overall.

(21) If the devices 10 are cooking devices, the allocation module 20 checks, for example, whether the currently requested new process, for example roast pork, over the entire cooking time leads to a power consumption at which the predefined maximum power value is exceeded. A simulation of the power consumption of the devices corresponding to all currently requested and running processes is thus carried out in order to check whether the predefined maximum power value will be exceeded in the future.

(22) If this is not the case, the new process is enabled.

(23) If the new process would lead to the predefined maximum power value being exceeded, the allocation module 20 can respond in different ways.

(24) In the simplest case, the newly requested process is not enabled but has to wait until at least one other process has been concluded or has entered a phase in which the power consumption is reduced.

(25) In another scenario the allocation module 20 decides that the newly requested process either is enabled in a modified form, for example with reduced power consumption, or an already running process is being modified such that the power consumption there is reduced.

(26) It is also possible for the allocation module 20 to newly organize the already running processes in their sequence or in future process sections in such a way that the newly requested process can already be enabled now. For example, the allocation module can decide to switch on the compressor of a cold room early, although this is not actually necessary for another hour, on the basis of the temperature profile, if the electrical power for the electric motor driving the compressor can thereby be postponed to a time segment in which load capacitances are still present. Such load capacitances are represented hatched in FIG. 6 by way of example in a diagram which represents the entire power consumption over one day.

(27) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a system having a plurality of devices 10. This differs from the first embodiment in that the allocation module 20 here can be implemented in each of the controllers 12. In the embodiment example shown, the allocation module is implemented in the device 10 shown at the top left here, while the inactive allocation modules 20 in the other two devices 10 are ready to take over the function of the active allocation module 20 at any time.

(28) The allocation module 20 passes over from one device 10 to another device 10 for example when the device 10 which is currently implementing the allocation module 20 is switched off. Another event which can trigger a change of the allocation module 20, is for example when a particularly processing-intensive operation needs to be carried out in the controller which is currently implementing the allocation module 20, because of which it appears to be advantageous to free up the processing power tied up until now for the implementation of the allocation module 20.

(29) On each of the devices 10 a display device 24 can be provided, with which the usual operating parameters can be displayed and which can also be used as an operator interface for a user. By means of the display device 24 the user can also affect or access the allocation module 20 to the effect that the prioritization of particular processes is influenced. For example, if the devices 10 are cooking devices, an operator can mark a particular cooking process as necessarily to be brought forward if it is indispensable for the further sequence that the food to be cooked is finished at a particular point in time.

(30) Unless an operator intervenes manually, the allocation module 20 can decide, on the basis of stored features, which processes are to be prioritized over other processes. Here, in particular, the effects in practice are decisive. For example, the operation of a coolant compressor with which a cold store is cooled cannot be enabled only within certain limits. If the temperature in the cold store rises above a particular value, this can lead to a substantial financial loss. Another example is food which needs to be cooked under very precise conditions in order to achieve the desired result. For example, a certain temperature is indispensable for browning a steak. Here, the allocation module 20 must guarantee that the power needed for the browning is available at least for a comparatively short period of time. An example of the reverse situation is the heating-up of a dishwasher. The power and thus the speed at which the washing liquor is heated up have virtually no effect on the result of the washing process.