Patent ID: 6102487
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G05D,H02J,Y02B,Y02E,Y04S

Abstract:
A method for temperature and time control of electrically-operated heating devices installed at an end user in order to optimize energy consumption and energy costs, wherein the end user is connected to a power supply network wherein for the control there is employed a dedicated control system which forms part of a control and communication structure, wherein a local control unit is connected to at least one electrical heating device, and arranged to control the operation of one or more electrical heating devices, comprising the steps of:formulating a desired user profile for the heating device, wherein the user profile comprises at least a desired temperature variation with indication of a maximum permissible deviation from the desired temperature variation within specified periods;transferring the desired user profile from the end user to the control system via a first communication network;storing the desired user profile in a data base provided in the control system;modifying the desired user profile in the database on the basis of information concerning the operating conditions in the power supply network received in the control system via a second communication network, thus obtaining a modified user profile which takes into consideration the operating conditions in the power supply network, including total consumption, capacity and detected error conditions, wherein the modified user profile should at all times lie within limits which are given by the deviations in the temperature variation indicated in the desired user profile during specified periods;transferring control commands from the control system to the local control unit installed at the end user via a third communication network; andcontinuously modifying the control commands in the control system on the basis of the modified user profile, thus primarily optimizing the operation of the heating device primarily on the basis of the desired user profile and secondarily on the basis of the operating conditions in the power supply network.