1161 results about "Energy cost" patented technology

An energy distribution may include a server and one or more databases. The system may communicate with an energy provider to receive energy provider data, at least one information collector to receive information collector data such as individualized energy usage data, customer preferences, and customer or location characteristics, and the one or more databases for receiving data for optimization. The system may calculate a cost of service or avoided cost using at least one of the individualized energy usage data and a system generation cost at a nearest bus. The system may also forecast individualized demand by end-use, individualized demand by location, energy prices, or energy costs. The system may optimize energy distribution, energy use, cost of service, or avoided cost using the forecasted individualized demand by end-use, the forecasted individualized demand by location, the forecasted energy prices, and the forecasted energy costs.

The present invention provides a system and method relating to the operation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles powered both by electricity from rechargeable batteries and by consumable fuel powered means, such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. More particularly, the system and method of the claimed invention enable optimization of the energy cost associated with the operation of such plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, especially when the cost of recharging batteries from external electric power sources may be less than the cost of recharging batteries from the onboard consumable fuel powered means. To this end, the invention enables maximization of the use of electricity from external electric power sources and minimization of the use of electricity produced by the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle's onboard consumable fuel powered means, when the cost of recharging batteries from external electric power sources is less than the cost of recharging batteries from the onboard consumable fuel powered means.

An energy management system uses an expert engine and a numerical solver to determine an optimal manner of using and controlling the various energy consumption, producing and storage equipment in a plant / communities in order to for example reduce energy costs within the plant, and is especially applicable to plants that require or that are capable of using and / or producing different types of energy at different times. The energy management system operates the various energy manufacturing and energy usage components of the plant to minimize the cost of energy over time, or at various different times, while still meeting certain constraints or requirements within the operational system, such as producing a certain amount of heat or cooling, a certain power level, a certain level of production, etc. In some cases, the energy management system may cause the operational equipment of the plant to produce unneeded energy that can be stored until a later time and then used, or that can be sold back to a public utility, for example, so as to reduce the overall cost of energy within the plant.

A method of generating energy in a power plant (30) having a gas turbine (29), includes a first step a gas containing air (1) is compressed in a first compressor (2) of the gas turbine (29), a second step the compressed gas (3, 3a, 3b; 5; 7a, 7b) is fed to a combustion process with the addition of fuel (8) in a combustor (23), a third step the hot flue gas (9) from the combustor (23) is expanded in an expander or a turbine (10), driving a generator (18), of the gas turbine (29) while performing work, and a fourth step a partial flow of the expanded flue gas (11) is recirculated to the inlet of the first compressor (2) and admixed with the gas containing air (1). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is separated from the compressed gas (3, 3a, 3b; 5; 7a, 7b) in a CO2 separator (6) before the third step. In such a method, the overall size and energy costs are reduced by virtue of the fact that, to permit increased CO2 concentrations in the CO2 separator (6), not more than about 70% of the carbon dioxide contained in the compressed gas (3, 3a, 3b; 5, 5a, 5b; 7a, 7b) is removed from the compressed gas (3, 3a, 3b; 5, 5a, 5b; 7a, 7b).

An energy management system uses an expert engine and a numerical solver to determine an optimal manner of using and controlling the various energy consumption, producing and storage equipment in a plant / communities in order to for example reduce energy costs within the plant, and is especially applicable to plants that require or that are capable of using and / or producing different types of energy at different times. The energy management system operates the various energy manufacturing and energy usage components of the plant to minimize the cost of energy over time, or at various different times, while still meeting certain constraints or requirements within the operational system, such as producing a certain amount of heat or cooling, a certain power level, a certain level of production, etc. In some cases, the energy management system may cause the operational equipment of the plant to produce unneeded energy that can be stored until a later time and then used, or that can be sold back to a public utility, for example, so as to reduce the overall cost of energy within the plant.

If the energy service enterprise is responsible for paying costs for applying energy-saving measures to the object facilities, measures the energy consumption after taking the energy-saving measures, calculates the amount of curtailed energy cost by comparing the measured value with the energy consumption before taking the energy-saving measures previously stored in the database, and receives at least a part of the curtailed amount, the customer is not required to plan equipment investment in energy-saving measures and collection thereof. Introduction of the energy-saving measures is thus made easier.

Automatic energy management is provided, in even the most complex multi-building system. The necessity of a human operator for managing energy in a complex, multi-building system is reduced and even eliminated. Computer-based monitoring and computer-based recognition of adverse energy events (such as the approach of a new energy peak) is highly advantageous in energy management. Immediate automatic querying of energy users within a system of buildings for energy curtailment possibilities is provided. Such immediate, automatic querying may be answered by the energy users through artificial intelligence and / or neural network technology provided to or programmed into the energy users, and the queried energy users may respond in real-time. Those real-time computerized responses with energy curtailment possibilities may be received automatically by a data processing facility, and processed in real-time. Advantageously, the responses from queried energy users with energy curtailment possibilities may be automatically processed into a round-robin curtailment rotation which may be implemented by a computer-based control system. Thus, impact on occupants is minimized, and energy use and energy cost may be beneficially reduced in an intelligent, real-time manner. The invention also provides for early-recognition of impending adverse energy events, optimal response to a particular energy situation, real-time analysis of energy-related data, etc.

An energy management method for controlling electric vehicle charging by managing plural local energy sources, to optimize charging speed and minimize energy cost.

To reduce energy costs in buildings where there is an input of natural light, a method of maintaining an ambient light intensity in a building area at a predetermined level is proposed. It comprises obtaining an ambient light intensity level for the building area; comparing the ambient level to the predetermined level of light intensity; if the ambient level differs from the predetermined level, calculating an artificial lighting input to be generated in the building area to attain the predetermined level. It can further comprise generating the artificial lighting input in the building area and carrying out the steps of obtaining, comparing and calculating a second time to determine a quality of the calculating and modify the generating.

Automatic energy management is provided, in even the most complex multi-building system. The necessity of a human operator for managing energy in a complex, multi-building system is reduced and even eliminated. Computer-based monitoring and computer-based recognition of adverse energy events (such as the approach of a new energy peak) is highly advantageous in energy management. Immediate automatic querying of energy users within a system of buildings for energy curtailment possibilities is provided. Such immediate, automatic querying may be answered by the energy users through artificial intelligence and / or neural network technology provided to or programmed into the energy users, and the queried energy users may respond in real-time. Those real-time computerized responses with energy curtailment possibilities may be received automatically by a data processing facility, and processed in real-time. Advantageously, the responses from queried energy users with energy curtailment possibilities may be automatically processed into a round-robin curtailment rotation which may be implemented by a computer-based control system. Thus, impact on occupants is minimized, and energy use and energy cost may be beneficially reduced in an intelligent, real-time manner. The invention also provides for early-recognition of impending adverse energy events, optimal response to a particular energy situation, real-time analysis of energy-related data, etc.

A method of controlling energy consumption in a building. The method includes receiving occupant request data comprising a plurality of requests, wherein each of the plurality of requests corresponds to one of a plurality of zones in the building wherein the occupant request data is received via a cloud computing resource. The method also includes receiving weather data comprising at least one of current weather measurement data and weather forecast data wherein the weather data is received via a cloud computing resource. In addition, a facility management rule is received via a cloud computing resource. Further, the method includes generating a plurality of output control signals via cloud computing resource, wherein each of the plurality of output control signals is based on one of a plurality of requests and predicted occupant schedules, energy price data and the facility management rule. The control signals are generated by using simulation-based model predictive control method to determine a set of optimized control signals based on optimized energy use or optimized energy cost. The optimized control signals are transmitted to controllers.

Probe data is analyzed to derive Longitudinal Speed Profiles (LSPs) and an Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) for each road segment or link in a digital map network. The Longitudinal Speed Profiles (LSPs) profiles are calculated during defined time spans whereas the Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) is based on the LSP for the time span corresponding only to free flow traffic conditions. All of the LSPs can used to create a respective energy cost for each time span, or only the OLSP (18) can be used (or alternatively the RRDSL 16 or LRRDSL 17) to calculate an energy cost for the free flow conditions only. The energy cost can be used to predict the energy required by a vehicle to traverse the link Navigation software can use the energy cost to plan the most energy efficient route between two locations in the digital map. Sensory signals can be activated if a driver strays from the Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) to achieve extremely high levels of energy efficiency.

The invention relates to systems for stored compressed air without use of combustion. The systems can be installed on the customer side of the meter and creates electricity during peak hours after it has been stored in off peak hours. The invention creates a financial incentive for conserving energy costs by building compressed air storage systems which heretofore have seen little application.

Methods and systems are provided for realizing energy cost savings through load shifting utilizing a battery bank that may serve as a battery back-up on a premises for providing power in the event of a grid power outage or curtailment. A budget of unreserved cycles of battery charging and discharging is determined, taking into account the rated battery life in terms of both time (e.g., years) and number of cycles. That cycle budget is allocated to days of the year identified as days on which the greatest savings can be realized through load shifting. These days are identified by taking into account the peak and off-peak usage rates applicable on those days, any rate tiers that may be entered as a result of the additional energy expended to load shift, and the round trip efficiency of the charge / discharge cycles. Load shifting is executed in accordance with an established schedule of the identified days, by discharging the batteries during peak usage hours and charging the batteries during off-peak periods. In the event the budget of unreserved cycles exceeds the number of profitable days for load shifting, the depth of discharge on each cycle may be increased to realize greater savings on the scheduled days, at the tolerable cost of losing cycles not expected to be used in any event.

The present invention provides compact adsorption systems that are capable of rapid temperature swings and rapid cycling. Novel methods of thermal swing adsorption and thermally-enhanced pressure swing adsorption are also described. In some aspects of the invention, a gas is passed through the adsorbent thus allowing heat exchangers to be very close to all portions of the adsorbent and utilize less space. In another aspect, the adsorption media is selectively heated, thus reducing energy costs. Methods and systems for gas adsorption / desorption having improved energy efficiency with capability of short cycle times are also described. Advantages of the invention include the ability to use (typically) 30-100 times less adsorbent compared to conventional systems.

An inexpensive energy monitoring device and method for measuring energy usage and power costs in real time. The invention can include an external type digital battery powered camera that can be mounted away from and adjacent to the outdoor utility meter on a rotatable arm, which can send data signals to remote locations indoors using wireless such as an RF signal to a detector / display inside the residence. The indoor unit can be programmed to display desirable energy status information to a home owner on power usage and power costs on a daily bases, monthly bases, and yearly bases so that the home owner can budget energy usage and energy costs as needed. A shield can also be used with device and method for shielding power meters from adverse weather conditions.

A communicating environmental control system for a dwelling or building is provided. The environmental control system is intended for use in a dwelling which may be unoccupied for a long period of time, e.g., months. The control system operates in an economy mode to prevent damage to the dwelling and its contents by avoiding condensation of moisture within the dwelling. At the same time, the control system minimizes operating costs by running more when energy costs are lower and running less when energy costs are higher. The control system switches to a comfort mode when the dwelling occupants return. The control system is in communication with a remote owner, a remote utility, or a remote service provider, or more than one of these, through the Internet or other communication system.

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a communications system that includes a mobile wireless device, a first and a second base station and a radio network controller. The communications system may allocate frequency bands to users on a multiplicity of channels associated with a multi-layer access network across at least two cells communicatively coupled to a first and a second base station, respectively. The method comprises monitoring a radio emission parameter associated with the first and second base stations that communicate with the mobile wireless device. A radio emission parameter associated with the first and second base stations, such as signal strength or quality, is monitored, to select a target cell among a set of candidate cells for the mobile wireless device and to transfer the mobile wireless device from a first frequency band to a second frequency band. For example, radio resource management algorithms may cause emission-controlled cell selection and inter-frequency handover from a first frequency band to a second frequency band with a transmit power level lower than that of the first frequency band. In accordance with one aspect of the instant application, electromagnetic exposure to a user of the mobile wireless device is substantially decreased, resulting in lower energy costs and reduced environmental impacts.

The invention relates to an energy storing method and apparatus for use by end-users of energy, such as commercial property owners and operators. The system differs from past systems, insofar as it is not intended to be used by and in connection with energy suppliers, such as large utility and power supply plants and grids. The system preferably relates to the manner in which an end-user of energy can implement energy and costs savings, by using energy storage and time-shifting methods, to control and regulate the consumption of energy in a manner that achieves a cost savings over a period of time. One aspect of the method relates to accurately forecasting and predicting the energy demands and peaks that might occur on a daily basis, by recording and analyzing the prior day's history, as well as the overall energy demand histories, using short and long term forecasts, and then setting up a variable energy storage / use plan or schedule that helps to reduce the peak demands by time-shifting the energy that is used, i.e., reducing consumption during high demand / high cost periods, and using the energy stored during low demand / low cost periods during the high demand / high cost periods.

Energy costs for conducting compute tasks at diverse data center sites are determined and are then used to route such tasks in a most efficient manner. A given compute task is first evaluated to predict potential energy consumption. The most favorable real-time energy costs for the task are determined at the various data center sites. The likely time period of the more favorable cost as well as the stability at the data center are additional factors. A workload dispatcher then forwards the selected compute task to the data center having the most favorable real-time energy costs. Among the criteria used to select the most favorable data center is a determination that the proposed center presently has the resources for the task. A stabilizer is utilized to balance the workload among the data centers. A computer implementation for performing the various steps of the cost determination and allocation is also described.

A computer-based system, computer-implemented method and computer program product facilitate determining energy cost savings in an energy-consuming facility, such as a commercial building, using an artificial intelligence model, for example a neural network model, that projects or estimates the amount of energy that would have been consumed by the facility but for the implementation of energy efficiency or conservation measures. Energy savings are represented by the difference between the estimate of energy that would have been consumed but for the measures and the actual amount of energy consumed by the facility under actual conditions during a time interval after the measures have been implemented.

The selection of an optimal data center location for running a computational workload is based on multiple energy criteria. The location is chosen based on multivariate and predictive analysis of total direct and indirect energy costs, and other user-defined factors. Among the direct and indirect costs are power costs and cooling costs as well as structural and other details of a given data center. Among the other factors to be considered that can have an impact on present and future costs are weather patterns, data and forecasts, availability of energy providers, and energy attributes. A forecaster factors these direct and indirect costs along with extrinsic information such as historical trends and predictive sources into a forecast which is then input to a decision engine along with user defined criteria and with anticipated compute tasks and requirements to select a final location or locations for handling the workload.

The present invention provides a method of coating a coating solution comprising: providing a web; providing a coating solution; coating the coating solution on at least one surface of the web; and drying the coating solution to form a coated layer, wherein a temperature of the web is maintained at 35° C. or more during coating. According to the coating method, a multi-layered planographic printing plate can be manufactured at low energy cost and running cost.

A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to calculate global energy utility targets and define optimal driving force distribution for a process or cluster of processes under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approach values, simultaneously, and without enumeration, are provided. The program product can utilize stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ΔTmini, where the superscript i represents the specific hot stream, as the optimization parameters instead of the single global ΔTmin currently used, in addition to identifying the optimal operating conditions. The program product can define optimal process conditions and an optimal driving force distribution in heat recovery systems, and can produce an optimal Pareto-curve that shows the rigorous trade off between energy cost and capital cost for any energy recovery system.

The invention discloses an intelligent environment monitoring system. The system comprises an LED lamp provided with a light-dimming or light-dimming and color-matching power supply, electric equipment, a sensor module, a control module and a control terminal. The system can automatically control the lightness of the lamp by sensing and measuring luminance / human body / objects so as to realize intelligent lighting control and reduce unnecessary energy waste; by measuring the environmental temperature / humidity, an air conditioner / heating equipment / air drying equipment / humidifying equipment can be automatically controlled; when the temperature / humidity is abnormal, the system automatically alarms to remind a manager by a short message / email so as to avoid safety accidents in the production and management. Meanwhile, the system can further monitor the use condition of energy sources in real time, provide an accurate energy consumption data report for a manager, and reduce the energy cost for the production and management.

The present invention provides an energy management system which comprises a data acquisition module, an energy real-time monitoring module, an energy planning management module, an energy comprehensive statistics module, an energy efficiency diagnosis and optimization module, a benchmarking evaluation module, an energy cost analysis module, an environmental-friendly discharge monitoring module and a basic data management module. According to the present invention, an automatic and information technology and an integrated management mode are adopted; production information of different workshops, such as energy consumption, output, production processes, product quality and the like, is integrated; integrated flattened comprehensive dynamic monitoring and digital management are adopted for the four links of purchase and storage, processing and conversion, conveying and distribution and consumption and use; energy balance is improved and optimized; and the management and control integrated system which systemically saves energy and reduces consumption is realized.

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a communications system that includes a mobile wireless device, a first and a second base station and a radio network controller. The communications system may allocate frequency bands to users on a multiplicity of channels associated with a multi-layer access network across at least two cells communicatively coupled to a first and a second base station, respectively. The method comprises monitoring a radio emission parameter associated with the first and second base stations that communicate with the mobile wireless device. A radio emission parameter associated with the first and second base stations, such as signal strength or quality, is monitored, to select a target cell among a set of candidate cells for the mobile wireless device and to transfer the mobile wireless device from a first frequency band to a second frequency band. For example, radio resource management algorithms may cause emission-controlled cell selection and inter-frequency handover from a first frequency band to a second frequency band with a transmit power level lower than that of the first frequency band. In accordance with one aspect of the instant application, electromagnetic exposure to a user of the mobile wireless device is substantially decreased, resulting in lower energy costs and reduced environmental impacts.

The invention relates to an energy storing method and apparatus for use by end-users of energy, such as commercial property owners and operators. The system differs from past systems, insofar as it is not intended to be used by and in connection with energy suppliers, such as large utility and power supply plants and grids. The system preferably relates to the manner in which an end-user of energy can implement energy and costs savings, by using energy storage and time-shifting methods, to control and regulate the consumption of energy in a manner that achieves a cost savings over a period of time. One aspect of the method relates to accurately forecasting and predicting the energy demands and peaks that might occur on a daily basis, by recording and analyzing the prior day's history, as well as the overall energy demand histories, using short and long term forecasts, and then setting up a variable energy storage / use plan or schedule that helps to reduce the peak demands by time-shifting the energy that is used, i.e., reducing consumption during high demand / high cost periods, and using the energy stored during low demand / low cost periods during the high demand / high cost periods.

A system is disclosed comprising memory configured to store a temperature value based on a cost of a given energy resource, wherein the cost-based temperature value differs from a temperature value based on a temperature schedule. The system also comprises a controller operatively coupled to the memory and configured to compare the cost-based temperature value to the schedule-based temperature value, and to direct one of a cooling system and a heating system to maintain a temperature of an environment at the one of the cost-based temperature value and the schedule-based temperature value that results in an energy cost savings.