Patent ID: 6745085
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: F23N,F24D

Abstract:
A method of controlling a plurality of energy systems to meet an energy need while giving consideration to runtime equalization comprising the steps of:providing digital controllers; configuring said controllers for digital network communication with one controller acting as a sequencer and the remaining controllers acting as individual energy system controllers; determining said energy need based on measurements at said sequencer; maintaining a record of cumulative runtime hours of an associated energy system at said individual energy system controllers; sending messages including at least said cumulative runtime hours from said energy system controllers to said sequencer; ranking said energy systems at said sequencer based on said cumulative runtime hours; and sending control commands from said sequencer to said energy system controllers to add or delete energy systems based on said energy need wherein an energy system to be added has the lowest cumulative runtime hours among available non operating energy systems and an energy system to be deleted has the highest cumulative runtime hours among operating energy systems.