Systems and methods for operating a climate control system on a microgrid

Abstract

Examples of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for operating a climate control system on a microgrid utilizing renewable sources of power including solar panels and wind turbines. In general, this disclosure focuses on utilizing a range of stepped or discrete demand responses for the climate control system to adjust power consumption levels in response to variable levels of power input associated with renewable power sources attached to the microgrid. These stepped or discrete demand responses of the climate control system may allow the microgrid to react to linear, continuous, or non-discrete fluctuations in the input power while reducing the likelihood of damage to the climate control system. Some examples may also allow the climate control system to more consistently maintain comfort settings of conditioned spaces. Some examples utilize a direct current (DC) microgrid and climate control system.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A climate control system coupled to a microgrid power unit and configured to provide a stepped demand response, the climate control system comprising:
 a plurality of components, wherein at least one component is powered from a power supply provided by the microgrid power unit; and   a controller operably coupled to the at least one component, the controller including a memory configured to store computer executable components and a processor configured to execute the computer executable components to cause the controller to at least:   receive a first indication from the microgrid power unit, the microgrid power unit including a renewable power source;
 determine a second indication; 
 determine an adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component of the climate control system based on the first indication and the second indication, wherein determining the adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component includes adjusting an operating parameter to the adjusted operating parameter based on a stepped adjustment in response to a linear change or a non-discrete change in the first indication; and 
   operate the at least one component of the climate control system at the adjusted operating parameter.   
     
     
         3 . The climate control system of  claim 2 , wherein causing the controller to operate the at least one component includes causing the controller to further maintain the adjusted operating parameter for a set period of time and not responding to any further changes in the first indication during the set period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The climate control system of  claim 2 , wherein the power supply provided by the microgrid power unit is configured to both power the at least one component and carry the first indication, and
 wherein the power supply provided by the microgrid power unit is further configured to carry the second indication to be interpreted by the climate control system.   
     
     
         5 . The climate control system of  claim 2 , wherein the adjusted operating parameter corresponds to a plurality of operating levels, the plurality of operating levels including a shut-off level, a 40% level, a 70% level, a 100% level, and a load-up level, and
 wherein causing the controller to determine the adjusted operating parameter includes causing the controller to further select an operating level from the plurality of operating levels based on the first indication.   
     
     
         6 . The climate control system of  claim 5 , wherein the first indication is a first voltage indication indicating a power level of the microgrid power unit and wherein the at least one component is a direct current (DC) powered compressor with a rated operating voltage of 350V, and
 wherein causing the controller to determine the adjusted operating parameter includes causing the controller to further operate the DC powered compressor at:   the 100% level when the first voltage indication is between 340V and 360V;   the 70% level when the first voltage indication is between 330V and 340V;   the 40% level when the first voltage indication is between 325V and 330V;   the shut-off level when the first voltage indication is less than 325V; and   the load-up level when the first voltage indication is between 360V and 380V.   
     
     
         7 . The climate control system of  claim 2 , wherein the climate control system is connected to both the microgrid power unit and a utility power grid, the utility power grid being an independent power network from the microgrid power unit,
 wherein the utility power grid provides an additional power source to the at least one component of the climate control system, the additional power source configured to both provide the power supply for the at least one component and carry one or more indications to be interpreted by the climate control system, the one or more indications including the second indication.   
     
     
         8 . The climate control system of  claim 2 , wherein the second indication is indicative of a demand response event by a utility power grid, the utility power grid being an independent power network from the microgrid power unit, and
 wherein causing the controller to determine the adjusted operating parameter includes causing the controller to confirm that the utility power grid has issued a demand response event.   
     
     
         9 . The climate control system of  claim 2 , wherein causing the controller to determine the adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component of the climate control system includes causing the controller to further adjust a user defined setpoint for the climate control system, the user defined setpoint being a temperature setpoint, and causing the controller to adjust the user defined setpoint includes causing the controller to further change the user defined setpoint from an unoccupied temperature setpoint to an occupied temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         10 . The climate control system of  claim 9 , wherein causing the controller to adjust the user defined setpoint includes causing the controller to further change the user defined setpoint from the unoccupied temperature setpoint to the occupied temperature setpoint when the climate control system operates a DC powered compressor at a load-up level. 
     
     
         11 . A controller of a climate control system coupled to a microgrid power unit, the climate control system including a controller and a plurality of components, at least one component of the plurality of components operably controllable by the controller, the controller comprising:
 a memory configured to store computer executable components; and   a processor configured to execute computer executable components to cause the controller to at least:   receive a first indication from the microgrid power unit, the microgrid power unit including a renewable power source;   determine a second indication;   determine an adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component of the climate control system based on the first indication and the second indication, wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component is further configured to adjust the operating parameter to an adjusted operating parameter based on a stepped adjustment in response to a linear change or a non-discrete change in the first indication;   direct power to the at least one component from a power supply provided by the microgrid power unit; and   operate the at least one component of the climate control system at the adjusted operating parameter.   
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the first indication is further configured to receive a first voltage indication from the power supply provided by the microgrid power unit. 
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein the adjusted operating parameter corresponds to a plurality of operating levels, the plurality of operating levels including a shut-off level, a 40% level, a 70% level, a 100% level, and load-up level, and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjusted operating parameter is further configured to select an operating level from the plurality of operating levels based on the first voltage indication.   
     
     
         14 . The controller of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one component is a direct current (DC) powered compressor with a rated operating voltage of 350V, and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjusted operating parameter is further configured to operate the DC powered compressor at:   the 100% level when the first voltage indication is between 340V and 360V;   the 70% level when the first voltage indication is between 330V and 340V;   the 40% level when the first voltage indication is between 325V and 330V;   the shut-off level when the first voltage indication is less than 325V; and   the load-up level when the first voltage indication is between 360V and 380V.   
     
     
         15 . The controller of  claim 11 , wherein the climate control system is connected to both the microgrid power unit and a utility power grid, the utility power grid being an independent power network from the microgrid power unit,
 wherein the controller is configured to receive the second indication is further configured to receive the second indication from an additional power source provided by the utility power grid, and   wherein the controlled is configured to power the at least one component is further configured to power the at least one component from the additional power source provided by the utility power grid.   
     
     
         16 . The controller of  claim 11 , wherein the second indication is a second voltage indication indicative of a demand response event by a utility power grid, the utility power grid being an independent power network from the microgrid power unit, and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjusted operating parameter is further configured to confirm that the utility power grid has issued a demand response event.   
     
     
         17 . The controller of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component of the climate control system is further configured to adjust a user defined setpoint for the climate control system, the user defined setpoint being a temperature setpoint, and the controller is configured to adjust the user defined setpoint is further configured to change from an unoccupied temperature setpoint to an occupied temperature setpoint; and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component of the climate control system is further configured to adjust a user defined setpoint offset for the climate control system, the user defined setpoint offset being a temperature value above or below the temperature setpoint.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more second processors of a computing device, cause the one or more second processors to:
 receive a first indication from a microgrid power unit that is coupled with the climate control system, the microgrid power unit including at least one renewable power source and the climate control system comprises at least one component;   determine a second indication;   determine an adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component of the climate control system based on the first indication and the second indication, wherein the controller is configured to determine the adjusted operating parameter for the at least one component is further configured to adjust the operating parameter to an adjusted operating parameter based on a stepped adjustment in response to a linear change or a non-discrete change in the first indication;   power the at least one component from a power supply provided by the microgrid power unit or the other power source; and   operate the at least one component of the climate control system at the adjusted operating parameter.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the computer-readable medium causing the processor to receive the first indication further causes the processor to receive a first voltage indication from a power supply provided by the microgrid power unit,
 wherein the adjusted operating parameter corresponds to a plurality of operating levels, the plurality of operating levels including a shut-off level, a 40% level, a 70% level, a 100% level, and load-up level, and   wherein the computer-readable medium causing the processor to determine the adjusted operating parameter further causes the processor to select an operating level from the plurality of operating levels based on the first voltage indication.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the power supply provided by the microgrid power unit is configured to both power the at least one component and carry the first indication,
 wherein the computer-readable medium causing the processor to receive the second indication further causes the processor to receive the second indication from an additional power source provided by the utility power grid, and   wherein the power supply provided by the microgrid power unit is further configured to carry the second indication to be interpreted by the climate control system.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second indication indicates a condition of at least one of the following the climate control system, the microgrid power unit, and a utility power grid,
 wherein the second indication is a second voltage indication indicative of a demand response event by a utility power grid, the utility power grid being an independent power network from the microgrid power unit;   wherein the computer-readable medium causing the processor to power the at least one component further causes the processor to power the at least one component from the additional power source provided by the utility power grid, and   wherein the computer-readable medium causing the processor to determine the adjusted operating parameter further causes the processor to confirm the utility power grid has issued a demand response event.