DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to a demand controlling system for managing supply demand in environments.
Background
In our home or at even commercial spaces, there are multiple electronic appliances, for our daily lifestyle, such as air conditioner, refrigerator, chimney, television, and water heater. A lot of significant efforts are being made to save electric energy and ensure optimum usage of appliances. Development of smart home appliances is a step in that direction.
Many smart home appliances have a current measuring function for measuring their own current consumption, which may then be shared with other appliances using a wired or wireless external communication protocol. Nowadays, smart plugs are gaining widespread popularity. Whenever an electronic device operates, the smart plug has a function of measuring consumption power and transmitting the measured consumption power to another device, for example, a centralized controller. When such a smart plug is used, a smart living space may be established even with the existing general electronic appliances.
Now, in environments, such as households, garages, parking stations, etc., a predefined sanctioned load is provided by an electricity manufacturer to a user as per a subscription plan. As per the subscription plan, as long as the current consumption is lower than the sanctioned load, no penalty is applied to the user.
However, in case when power hungry appliances, such as washing machines, room heaters, air conditioners, and an AC charging outlet, for example, for electric vehicles, are operated simultaneously, it is quite probable that the current consumption may increase beyond the sanctioned load. In such a case, extra penalty may be levied on the user, which is undesirable.
Therefore, there is a need for solution to regulate demand of the current in the appliances.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a demand controlling system for controlling demand of an electrical supply is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of smart plugs connected to a plurality of appliances, wherein each smart plug is adapted to monitor power consumption details of the connected appliances. The system includes a smart Alternating Current (AC) charging outlet unit adapted to supply power to a high current-consumption appliance (high power-consumption appliance) and a current monitoring unit configured to record current consumption data indicative of a total current value drawn by the plurality of appliances and the smart AC charging outlet unit, wherein the smart AC charging outlet unit is configured to receive the current consumption data from the current monitoring unit and control a current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit based on the total current value and a predefined sanctioned load.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an AC charging outlet unit coupled to an electrical supply system comprising a plurality of smart plugs coupled to a plurality of appliances is disclosed. The AC charging outlet unit includes an Energy Measurement (EM) Integrated Circuit (IC) configured to measure a voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system; and detect whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold. The AC charging outlet unit includes a Microcontroller Unit (MCU) configured to transmit a control signal to one or more smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the one or more smart plugs, in response to the said detecting.
In yet another embodiment, an AC charging outlet unit coupled to an electrical supply system comprising a plurality of smart plugs coupled to a plurality of appliances is disclosed. The AC charging outlet unit is configured to obtain a predefined sanctioned load on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system. The AC charging outlet unit is configured to calculate a remaining available load, wherein the remaining available load is indicative of difference between the predefined sanctioned load and the current consumption of the plurality of smart plugs and transmit the remaining available load to an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) for controlling a charging rate of an Electric Vehicle (EV).
In an embodiment, a demand controlling method for controlling demand of an electrical supply. The method includes monitoring power consumption details of a plurality of appliances. The method includes supplying power to a high current-consumption appliance (high power-consumption appliance) with a smart Alternating Current (AC) charging outlet unit. The method includes recording current consumption data indicative of a total current value drawn by the plurality of appliances and the smart AC charging outlet unit. The method includes receiving the current consumption data and controlling a current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit based on the total current value and a predefined sanctioned load.
In another embodiment, a method for controlling supply of electric power is disclosed. The method includes measuring voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system. The method includes detecting whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold and transmitting a control signal to one or more smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the one or more smart plugs, in response to the said detecting.
In yet another embodiment, a method for controlling a charging rate of an Electric Vehicle (EV) is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a predefined sanctioned load on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system. The method includes calculating a remaining available load, wherein the remaining available load is indicative of difference between the predefined sanctioned load and the current consumption of a plurality of smart plugs and transmitting the remaining available load to the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) for controlling the charging rate of the Electric Vehicle (EV).
To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates an environment for implementation of a demand controlling system for controlling demand in an electrical power supply system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2(A) illustrates a block diagram of the demand controlling system 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2(B) illustrates another block diagram of the demand controlling system 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an AC charging outlet unit 202 in communication with an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment 302, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method of controlling demand of the electrical supply, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method of controlling supply of electric power, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method for controlling a charging rate of an Electric Vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skills in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates an environment for implementation of a demand controlling system 100 for controlling demand in an electrical power supply system, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure 1, an AC power supply 102 may be delivered to a household that includes a plurality of appliances 106, for example, a fridge, an air conditioner, a washing machine, a room heater, and a water heater. In an example, the AC power supply 102 may be one of a single-phase power supply or a three-phase power supply.
In an example, each of these appliances is connected to the power supply 102 using a smart plug 104. This smart plug 104, in an example, includes a radio frequency transceiver. Further, the smart plug 104 is adapted to monitor power consumption details of the connected appliances 106. Accordingly, the smart plug 104 may be configured to connect to a gateway (not shown in the figure) and may exchange data with a cloud server (not shown in the figure). The data may include details of operation of the corresponding device to which a given smart plug 104 is connected.
As is known, as per a subscription of the user, a predefined sanctioned load is made available to the household of the user. Accordingly, at a given point in time, the user may only be able to operate only a limited number of appliances such that the total demand does not go beyond the predefined sanctioned load. As is also known, the appliances usually have a static operation mechanism whereby they demand a fixed current supply during their operation. Now, in such a scenario, when an AC charging outlet 106, say, for electric vehicles (EV charging outlet), is also provided in the household it may also have substantial current demand. Accordingly, there may arise a situation where the EV charging outlet is operating, along with other heavy current consuming appliances, such as air conditioner, washing machine, etc. Now in such scenario, there may be two possibilities:
A) Either the demand may exceed the sanctioned load and accordingly, the user may be provided with additional monitory penalties; and/or
B) The AC charging outlet 106 supplying current to an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) may not receive desired current according to capacity for charging the electric vehicle.
Thus, such situations are not desirable.
Figure 2(A) and Figure 2(B) illustrate a block diagram of a demand controlling system 100, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake of readability demand controlling system 100, is hereinafter interchangeably referred to as the system 100.
In an embodiment, the system 100 may include a smart AC charging outlet unit 202 and the plurality of smart plugs 104. In an embodiment, each of the smart plugs 104 may include a current monitor. Accordingly, the smart plug 104 may be configured to measure and record the current drawn by the corresponding device. In the embodiment, where the smart plug 104 does not include a current monitor, a separate current monitor in between the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 and the smart plugs 104 may be provided in the electrical circuit. Accordingly, the current monitor may be configured to record the current drawn by the smart plugs 104. In an example, the current monitor may be one or more hardware circuits as known in the art that are configured to measure and records the current consumed in an electrical circuit.
In an embodiment, the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 may be adapted to supply power to a high current-consumption appliance (high power-consumption appliance). The smart AC charging outlet unit 202 may be configured to receive current consumption data associated with the plurality of appliances 106. This current consumption data may include details of the plurality of appliances 106 and their corresponding current consumption. Thus, in other words, the current consumption data incudes the total current that is being consumed by the appliances. An example current consumption data is shown below.
Example current consumption data

The current consumption data, in an example, may be transmitted to the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 by the smart plug 104 or the current monitor. In the case of current monitor, the current monitor may be coupled to a controller and a radio frequency transceiver, using which the controller may transmit the current consumption data to the smart AC charging outlet unit 202. In an example, the current monitor, the controller, and the RF transceiver may be collectively referred to as a current monitoring unit 204, for example as shown in. In an example, the current monitoring unit 204 may be provided within the smart plug 104, as shown in Figure 2(A). In another example, the current monitoring unit 204 may be provided as a standalone unit outside the smart plug 104. Herein, in the example, the current monitoring unit 204 may be placed ahead in order than the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 and the smart plugs 104.
On receiving the current consumption data, the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 may be configured to compare the total current value with the predefined sanctioned load. In case the total current value is more than the predefined sanctioned load, the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 may be configured to reduce its current demand, based on the difference between the total current value and the predefined sanctioned load. Accordingly, the total demand is brought within the sanctioned load and any penalties may be avoided. In an example, the predefined sanctioned load may be the maximum allotted load capacity provided on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system by electricity manufacturer. In the example, the predefined sanctioned load may be defined based on the plurality of appliances 106 and on an operational current demand of the plurality of appliances 106.
In an embodiment, the smart AC outlet 202 may be configured to implement one or more priority profiles for the appliances 106. In an example, the one or more priority profiles may be implemented based on a predefined time-period. For example, a first priority profile may have a first priority sequence of appliances 106 and may be applicable for a first time period, say, during the day. In another example, a second priority profile may have a second priority sequence of appliances 106 and may be applicable for a second time-period, say, during the night. In the example, the priority sequence of appliances 106 may be provided by a user. In an example, the one or more priority profiles may be configurable by the user. For instance, the user may use a user device, for example, a smart phone for connecting to the smart AC charging outlet unit 202. Accordingly, the user may change any of the one or more priority profiles to be implemented at the time-period, say at 09:00 am and the first priority sequence of appliances 106 may include the refrigerator, the water heater. In this example, the refrigerator, the water heater may have the maximum load available during the time-period of 09:00 am as defined by the user.
In an example, when a priority profile is implemented and the device 106 that is lower in priority than the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 starts consuming current, a notification may be transmitted to the smartphone of the user. Accordingly, the user may provide permission to reduce the consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit 202, as described above.
In an example, the AC supply 102 may be a three-phase power supply. In such a case, in an example embodiment, the system 100 may further include a phase selection unit 206. In an example, the current monitoring unit 204 may be configured to transmit the current consumption data to the phase selection unit 206. In said embodiment, the current consumption data may further include details of current consumption on each of the three phases. Accordingly, on receiving the current consumption data from the current monitoring unit 204, the phase selection unit 206 may be configured to identify a phase having lowest corresponding current consumption. Based on the identified phase, the phase selection unit 206 may be configured to connect the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 to the identified phase. To that end, the phase selection unit 206 may include a plurality of circuit connectors and breakers, such that any one of the three phases may be connected to the smart AC charging outlet unit 202.
In an embodiment, the AC charging outlet 202 may comprises an Energy measurement (EM) Integrated Circuit (IC) that is configured to measure a voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system. The EM IC is further configured to detect whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold. The AC charging outlet 202 further comprises an MCU configured to transmit a control signal to one or more smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the one or more smart plugs, in response to the said detecting.
Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 of the demand control system 100, in communication with an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment 302, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The AC charging outlet 202 may be coupled to the electrical supply system including the plurality of smart plugs coupled to the plurality of appliances 106. The AC charging outlet may be configured to obtain the predefined sanctioned load on the electrical supply line of the electrical supply system. The AC charging outlet 202 may calculate a remaining available load. In an example, the remaining available load is indicative of difference between the predefined sanctioned load and the current consumption of the plurality of smart plugs. The remaining available load may be transmitted by the AC charging outlet 202 to an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) 302 for controlling a charging rate of an Electric Vehicle (EV) 306.
In an embodiment, the EVSE 302 may be coupled to the EV 304. In an example, the EVSE 302 is a type-2 EVSE. Accordingly, the EVSE 302 may be configured to transmit a control pilot signal 304 to the electric vehicle for controlling the charging rate based on the remaining available load. In an example, the predefined sanctioned load on the on the electrical supply line of the electrical supply system may be ‘X’ and the current consumption of the plurality of smart plugs 104 may be ‘Y’, then the remaining available load may be ‘X-Y’. The remaining ‘X-Y’ is indicative of power capacity remaining from the predefined sanctioned load and which may be consumed by the EVSE 302 for charging the EV 306. Accordingly, the remaining available load is transmitted to the type-2 EVSE 302. In the example, the type-2 EVSE 302, coupled with the EV 306 transmits the remaining available load ‘X-Y’ to a battery management system of the EV 306 through the control pilot signal 304. In the example, the control pilot line 304 may be a communication line used to signal charging level between the EV 306 and the EVSE 302. The battery management system of the EV 306 may alter the charging rate based on the remaining available load.
As would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, each of the smart plug units 104, the current monitoring unit 204, and the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 may include, but is not limited to, a processor, memory, modules, and data. The modules and the memory may be coupled to the processor.
The processor can be a single processing unit or several units, all of which could include multiple computing units. The processor may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor is configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions and data stored in the memory.
The memory may include any non-transitory computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes.
The modules, amongst other things, include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which perform particular tasks or implement data types. The modules may also be implemented as, signal processor(s), state machine(s), logic circuitries, and/or any other device or component that manipulate signals based on operational instructions.
Further, the modules can be implemented in hardware, instructions executed by a processing unit, or by a combination thereof. The processing unit can comprise a computer, a processor, such as the processor, a state machine, a logic array, or any other suitable devices capable of processing instructions. The processing unit can be a general-purpose processor which executes instructions to cause the general-purpose processor to perform the required tasks or, the processing unit can be dedicated to performing the required functions. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the modules may be machine-readable instructions (software) which, when executed by a processor/processing unit, perform any of the described functionalities.
Further, the data serves, amongst other things, as a repository for storing data processed, received, and generated by one or more of the modules.
Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 400 of controlling demand of the electrical supply, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 400 may be a computer-implemented method executed, for example, by various processors of the system 100 as explained above. For the sake of brevity, constructional and operational features of the system 100 that are already explained in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2(A), Figure 2(B), and Figure 3 are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 4.
At block 402, the method 400 includes monitoring power consumption details of the appliances 106. In an embodiment, the smart plugs 104 may be adapted to monitor the power consumption details of the connected appliances 106.
At block 404, the method 400 includes supplying power to a high current-consumption appliance (high power-consumption appliance) with the smart AC charging outlet unit 202.
At block 406, the method 400 includes recording a current consumption data indicative of a total current value drawn by the appliances 106 and the smart AC charging outlet unit 202. In an embodiment, the current monitoring unit 204 may be adapted to record the current consumption data.
At block 408, the method 400 includes receiving the current consumption data from the current monitoring unit 204. In an example, the current consumption data is received by the smart AC charging outlet unit 202.
At block 410, the method 400 includes controlling the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 based on the total current value and a predefined sanctioned load.
In an embodiment, the method 400 includes obtaining the predefined sanction load value, determining whether the total current value is greater than the predefined sanction load value, calculating a difference between the total current value and the predefined sanction load value. In the example, the difference is calculated when the total current value is determined to be greater than the predefined sanction load value. The method includes reducing the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit based on the calculated difference.
In another embodiment, the method 400 includes implementing the priority profile based on the user selection input, detecting that the appliance 106 that is lower in priority than the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 in the priority profile has started consuming current based on the current consumption data and transmit the notification to the user device of the user, and transmitting a notification to a user device of the user. In an example, the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 implements the priority profile based on time-period defined by the user selection input.
In another embodiment, the method 400 includes receiving a further user input indicative of an instruction to control the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 and controlling the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit 202. In the example, the smart AC charging outlet unit 202 based on the user input control the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit 202.
In another embodiment, the method 400 includes receiving the current consumption data from the current monitoring unit 204, identifying a phase having lowest corresponding current consumption, and connecting the smart AC charging unit 202 to the identified phase.

Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method of controlling supply of electric power, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 500 may be a computer-implemented method executed, for example, by the processor of the AC charging outlet unit 202 of the system 100. For the sake of brevity, constructional and operational features of the system 100 that are already explained in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2(A), Figure 2(B), Figure 3, and Figure 4 are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 5.
At block 502, the method 500 includes measuring voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system.
At block 504, the method 500 includes detecting whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold.
At block 506, the method 500 includes transmitting a control signal to one or more smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the one or more smart plugs, in response to the said detecting.
Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method for controlling a charging rate of the Electric Vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 600 may be a computer-implemented method executed, for example, by the processor of the AC charging outlet unit 202 of the system 100. For the sake of brevity, constructional and operational features of the system 100 that are already explained in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2(A), Figure 2(B), Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5 are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 6.
At block 602, the method 600 includes obtaining a predefined sanctioned load on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system.
At block 604, the method 600 includes calculating a remaining available load, wherein the remaining available load is indicative of difference between the predefined sanctioned load and the current consumption of a plurality of smart plugs 104.
At block 606, the method 600 includes transmitting the remaining available load to the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) 302 for controlling the charging rate of the Electric Vehicle (EV) 306. In an example, the method 600 includes transmitting a control pilot signal 304 to the electric vehicle 306 for controlling the charging rate based on the remaining available load.
The present disclosure has some advantages which are as follows:
a) In the present disclosure, the user may configure the priority logic for appliances according to current consumption data.
b) In the present disclosure, the user may configure the current consumption to the device in sequential manner in accordance with time-period.
c) In the present disclosure, the user may receive be able to monitor the current consumption of the appliances through a user device.
d) In the present disclosure, the system calculates the remaining available load post calculating the current consumption of appliances and communicate with the EVSE to control charging rate of the electric vehicle
e) In the present disclosure, thus a closed loop system is formed based on the load offering to EVSE.
f) In the present disclosure, the user does not require re-wiring for the EVSE communication.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. ,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A demand controlling system (100) for controlling demand of an electrical supply, the system (100) comprising:
a plurality of smart plugs (104) connected to a plurality of appliances (106), wherein each smart plug (104) is adapted to monitor power consumption details of the connected appliances (106);
a smart Alternating Current (AC) charging outlet unit (202) adapted to supply power to a high power-consumption appliance; and
a current monitoring unit (204) configured to record current consumption data indicative of a total current value drawn by the plurality of appliances (106) and the smart AC charging outlet unit (202),
wherein the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) is configured to:
receive the current consumption data from the current monitoring unit (204); and
control a current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) based on the total current value and a predefined sanctioned load.
2. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current monitoring unit (204) comprising a current monitor, a controller, and a radio frequency transceiver.
3. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the current monitoring unit (204) is provided in each of the plurality of smart plugs (104).
4. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) is configured to:
obtain a predefined sanction load value;
determine whether the total current value is greater than the predefined sanction load value;
calculate a difference between the total current value and the predefined sanction load value, when the total current value is determined to be greater than the predefined sanction load value; and
reduce the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) based on the calculated difference.
5. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) is configured to:
implement a priority profile based on a user selection input;
detect that the appliance (106) that is lower in priority than the smart AC charging outlet unit (100) in the priority profile has started consuming current, based on the current consumption data; and
transmit a notification to a user device of the user.
6. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) is configured to:
receive a further user input indicative of an instruction to control the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202); and
control the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202).
7. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) is configured to implement the priority profile based on a time period defined by the user selection input.
8. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical supply is a three-phase supply, wherein the current consumption data further includes a current consumption on each of the three phases.
9. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 7, comprising a phase selection unit (206), wherein the phase selection unit is configured to:
receive the current consumption data from the current monitoring unit (204);
identify a phase having lowest corresponding current consumption; and
connect the smart AC charging unit (202) to the identified phase.
10. The demand controlling system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the predefined sanctioned load is based on an operational current demand of the plurality of appliances (106).
11. An AC charging outlet unit (202) coupled to an electrical supply system comprising a plurality of smart plugs coupled to a plurality of appliances (106), the AC charging outlet unit (202) comprising:
an Energy Measurement (EM) Integrated Circuit (IC) configured to:
measure a voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system; and
detect whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold; and
a Microcontroller Unit (MCU) configured to transmit a control signal to one or more smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the one or more smart plugs, in response to the said detecting.
12. An AC charging outlet unit (202) coupled to an electrical supply system comprising a plurality of smart plugs (104) coupled to a plurality of appliances (106), the AC charging outlet (202) unit configured to:
obtain a predefined sanctioned load on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system;
calculate a remaining available load, wherein the remaining available load is indicative of difference between the predefined sanctioned load and the current consumption of the plurality of smart plugs (104); and
transmit the remaining available load to an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) (302) for controlling a charging rate of an Electric Vehicle (EV) (306).
13. The AC charging outlet unit (202) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the EVSE (302) is a type-2 connector coupled with the electric vehicle (304) and configured to transmit a control pilot signal (304) to the electric vehicle (306) for controlling the charging rate based on the remaining available load.
14. A demand controlling method (400) for controlling demand of an electrical supply, the method (400) comprising:
monitoring (402) power consumption details of a plurality of appliances (106);
supplying (404) power to a high power-consumption appliance with a smart Alternating Current (AC) charging outlet unit (202);
recording (406) current consumption data indicative of a total current value drawn by the plurality of appliances (106) and the smart AC charging outlet unit (202);
receiving (408) the current consumption data; and
controlling (410) a current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) based on the total current value and a predefined sanctioned load.
15. The demand controlling method (400) as claimed in claim 14, comprising:
obtaining a predefined sanction load value;
determining whether the total current value is greater than the predefined sanction load value;
calculating a difference between the total current value and the predefined sanction load value, when the total current value is determined to be greater than the predefined sanction load value; and
reducing the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) based on the calculated difference.
16. The demand controlling method (400) as claimed in claim 14, comprising:
implementing a priority profile based on a user selection input;
detecting that the appliance (106) that is lower in priority than the smart AC charging outlet unit (202) in the priority profile has started consuming current, based on the current consumption data; and
transmitting a notification to a user device of the user.
17. The demand controlling method (400) as claimed in claim 16, comprising:
receiving a further user input indicative of an instruction to control the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202); and
controlling the current consumption of the smart AC charging outlet unit (202).
18. The demand controlling method (400) as claimed in claim 16, comprising:
implementing the priority profile based on a time period defined by the user selection input.
19. The demand controlling method (400) as claimed in claim 14, comprising:
receiving the current consumption data;
identifying a phase having lowest corresponding current consumption; and
connecting the smart AC charging unit (202) to the identified phase.
20. A method (500) for controlling supply of electric power, comprising:
measuring (502) voltage on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system;
detecting (504) whether a first predetermined number of consecutive samples of the measured voltage is greater than a first threshold or less than a second threshold; and
transmitting (506) a control signal to one or more smart plugs of the plurality of smart plugs for controlling supply of electric power to the one or more smart plugs, in response to the said detecting.
21. A method (600) for controlling a charging rate of an Electric Vehicle (EV) (306) comprising:
obtaining (602) a predefined sanctioned load on an electrical supply line of the electrical supply system;
calculating (604) a remaining available load, wherein the remaining available load is indicative of difference between the predefined sanctioned load and the current consumption of a plurality of smart plugs (104); and
transmitting (606) the remaining available load to the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) (302) for controlling (608) the charging rate of the Electric Vehicle (EV) (306).
22. The method (600) as claimed in claim 21 comprising:
transmitting a control pilot signal (304) to the electric vehicle (306) for controlling the charging rate based on the remaining available load.