Systems and methods for utilizing a grid-connected heat pump coupled to an energy management system

Abstract

A method is provided. The method comprises: obtaining a current state of charge of an energy storage device of a thermal pump system, wherein the thermal pump system comprises a heat pump; determining one or more operating modes for the thermal pump system based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device; and controlling the thermal pump system based on the one or more operating modes, wherein controlling the thermal pump system comprises electrically connecting the energy storage device and/or an external power source to the heat pump such that the energy storage device and/or the external power source provide power to the heat pump.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a thermal pump system, comprising:
 a heat pump; 
 an energy storage device configured to provide power to the heat pump; and 
 a controller configured to:
 receive, from a remote computing system, a request for a current state of charge of the energy storage device; 
 provide, to the remote computing system, the current state of charge of the energy storage device; 
 receive, from the remote computing system, one or more control instructions instructing the thermal pump system to power the heat pump using the energy storage device and/or an external power source; and 
 based on the one or more control instructions, electrically connect the energy storage device and/or the external power source to the heat pump such that the energy storage device and/or the external power source provide power to the heat pump; and 
 
   the remote computing system configured to:
 provide the request for the current state of charge of the energy storage device; 
 receive the current state of charge of the energy storage device; 
 generate the one or more control instructions based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device; and 
 provide the one or more control instructions to the controller of the thermal pump system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal pump system further comprises:
 one or more transformers and rectifiers configured to transform alternating current (AC) power from the external power source to direct current (DC) power, wherein the one or more transformers and rectifiers are in series with the energy storage device and the heat pump.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal pump system further comprises:
 a charge controller comprising a first relay associated with the external power source and a second relay associated with the energy storage device, and   wherein the controller is configured to electrically connect the energy storage device and/or the external power source to the heat pump by:
 based on the one or more control instructions indicating for the heat pump to be provided power from the external power source, controlling the first relay of the charge controller to electrically connect the external power source to the heat pump; and 
 based on the one or more control instructions indicating for the heat pump to be provided power from the energy storage device, controlling the second relay of the charge controller to electrically connect the energy storage device to the heat pump. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal pump system further comprises:
 an energy management system (EMS) configured to provide the current state of charge of the energy storage device to the controller.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal pump system further comprises:
 an air handler, wherein the controller is further configured to:
 control a fan speed of the air handler. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal pump system comprises a communication interface, and wherein the communication interface comprises the controller. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote computing system is configured to generate the one or more control instructions by:
 determining whether the energy storage device is able to be discharged based on comparing the current state of charge of the energy storage device with one or more thresholds; and   generating the one or more control instructions indicating for the heat pump to be powered by the energy storage device or by the external power source based on the comparison.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the remote computing system is further configured to:
 receive information indicating an active grid event or an external power disruption, and wherein generating the one or more control instructions indicating for the heat pump to be powered by the energy storage device or by the external power source is further based on the information indicating the active grid event or the external power disruption.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote computing system is configured to generate the one or more control instructions by:
 determining whether the energy storage device is charged based on comparing the current state of charge of the energy storage device with one or more thresholds; and   generating, based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device being below the one or more thresholds, the one or more control instructions indicating:
 for the heat pump to be powered by the external power source; and 
 for the energy storage device to be charged by the external power source. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the remote computing system is further configured to:
 receive information indicating a current energy cost, and   wherein generating the one or more control instructions indicating for the energy storage device to be charged by the external power source is based on the information indicating the current energy cost.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote computing system is configured to generate the one or more control instructions by:
 determining whether the energy storage device is charged based on comparing the current state of charge of the energy storage device with one or more thresholds; and   generating, based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device being above the one or more thresholds, the one or more control instructions indicating:
 for the heat pump to be powered by the external power source; and 
 idling the energy storage device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source comprises one or more solar panels that are configured to provide solar power. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump is an air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 receiving external data from an external data source;   obtaining an electrical measurement associated with a thermal pump system, wherein the thermal pump system comprises a heat pump and an energy storage device;   determining one or more operating modes for the thermal pump system based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device and the external data; and   controlling the thermal pump system based on the one or more operating modes, wherein controlling the thermal pump system comprises electrically connecting the energy storage device and/or an external power source to the heat pump such that the energy storage device and/or the external power source provide power to the heat pump.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein obtaining the electrical measurement associated with the thermal pump system comprises:
 providing, to the thermal pump system, a request for a current state of charge of the energy storage device; and   receiving, from the thermal pump system, the current state of charge of the energy storage device,   wherein controlling the thermal pump system based on the one or more operating modes comprises:
 generating one or more control instructions based on the current state of charge of the energy storage device; and 
 providing the one or more control instructions to a controller of the thermal pump system, wherein the controller electrically connects the energy storage device and/or an external power source to the heat pump based on the one or more control instructions. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein obtaining the electrical measurement associated with the thermal pump system comprises:
 providing, by a gateway controller and to an energy management system (EMS), a request for a current state of charge of the energy storage device, wherein the thermal pump system further comprises the gateway controller and the EMS; and   receiving, by the gateway controller and from the EMS, information indicating the current state of charge of the energy storage device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining, based on external data, whether the external power source is encountering a power disruption, and   wherein determining the one or more operating modes for the thermal pump system is further based on whether the external power source is encountering the power disruption.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining, based on external data, whether the external power source is renewable or carbon-based, and   wherein determining the one or more operating modes for the thermal pump system is further based on whether the external power source is renewable or carbon-based.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 obtaining an electrical measurement associated with a thermal pump system comprising a heat pump and an energy storage device, wherein an electrical connection connects the heat pump to the energy storage device and the electrical measurement is at a location along the electrical connection;   determining one or more operating modes for the thermal pump system based on the electrical measurement; and   controlling the thermal pump system based on the one or more operating modes, wherein controlling the thermal pump system comprises electrically connecting the energy storage device and/or an external power source to the heat pump such that the energy storage device and/or the external power source provide power to the heat pump.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein determining the one or more operating modes for the thermal pump system based on the electrical measurement comprises:
 determining a current operating mode of the thermal pump system;   comparing the electrical measurement at the location along the electrical connection between the energy storage device and the heat pump with an operating threshold; and   determining to switch from the current operating mode to a new operating mode based on the comparison.