Machine Learning Application To Predictive Energy Management

Abstract

A system for automatically learning and adapting to the energy usage of an equipment operating according to a control input including at least one sensor for measuring an energy usage of the equipment an generating a baseline energy usage over time signature that is used to compare active energy usage measurements to so as to determine operational deviations. The system includes software that matches and compares equipment operation to established norms and can modify the functioning of the equipment when threshold deviations are detected. The system includes the ability to learn the functioning of the equipment and can adjust for dynamically changing conditions to avoid generation of false alerts or alarms while at the same time detecting longer term deviations that if left unchecked, could shorten the lifespan of the equipment and increase the costs associated with running the equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system automatically learning and adapting to the energy usage of an equipment, the system comprising:
 a computer coupled to a network, the computer comprising a processor and a storage, the storage having baseline energy usage data for the equipment and a threshold data stored therein;   a first sensor coupled to the network and generating energy usage data for the equipment; and   a second sensor coupled to the network and generating a second sensor data, the computer generating either adjusted baseline energy usage data or adjusted threshold data based on the second sensor data;   wherein when the energy usage data exceeds either the adjusted baseline energy usage data or adjusted threshold data, the computer initiates at least one of setting the equipment to a preset setting, controlling the equipment based on a preset program, and generating an alarm.   
     
     
         2 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first sensor comprises a current sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the preset setting comprises at least one of a preset level of operation, a preset duration of operation or turning the equipment off. 
     
     
         4 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the preset program is selected to perform at least one of run the equipment through a diagnostic routine, cycle the equipment, turning the equipment off, or resetting the equipment. 
     
     
         5 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor data is at least one of: temperature, humidity, wind, a door status, and an occupancy status. 
     
     
         6 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the alarm is at least one of a visual indication, an audio indication and a digital message. 
     
     
         7 . The control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the alarm escalates from an initial visual indication or audio indication to a digital message if the alarm is not cleared within a specified time duration. 
     
     
         8 . The control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the digital message comprises at least one of a text message and an email. 
     
     
         9 . The control system according to  claim 8 , wherein the digital message includes one of a diagnostic data for the equipment or a link for connecting to the diagnostic data for the equipment. 
     
     
         10 . The control system according to  claim 9 , wherein an operation of the equipment is adjusted when a link is included in the digital message. 
     
     
         11 . The control system according to  claim 9 , wherein a parts listing is provided in the digital message or the link. 
     
     
         12 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the baseline energy usage data is based on criteria selected from at least one of a time of day, a date, a geographic location where the equipment is installed, a perm rating of a building in which the equipment is installed, historical usage data for the equipment, and an expected degradation in the efficiency of the equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the alarm is not generated until either a threshold for the adjusted baseline energy usage data is exceeded or the adjusted threshold data is exceeded for a minimum number of equipment cycles. 
     
     
         14 . The control system according to  claim 13 , wherein the minimum number of cycles is programmable. 
     
     
         15 . The control system according to  claim 13 , wherein the threshold for the adjusted baseline energy usage data or the adjusted threshold data comprises a range including: an upper threshold value and a lower threshold value. 
     
     
         16 . The control system according to  claim 15 , wherein the alarm is generated when the energy usage data exceeds the upper threshold value or the lower threshold value. 
     
     
         17 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the baseline energy usage data is reflective of cycling of the equipment including at least one of a frequency in the cycling of the equipment, a duration of each cycle, and a magnitude of energy usage during each cycle.