Abstract: A water tank management system that connects either to a hot water tank directly or to an electric panel connected to the tank. The system comprises at least two temperature sensors, each of which is attached on the surface of the hot water tank near respective heating elements. The system comprises a control box which includes a solid-state relay that modulates the flow of electrical power to the heating elements in order to lower the energy used by the tank. The modulation is controlled by a program stored in a memory in the control box or communicated to the control box via an external controller. The system optionally comprises a third temperature sensor placed outdoors to measure the ambient outdoor temperature. With this feature, the system can activate a program to reduce energy consumption when the outdoor ambient temperature is outside a critical temperature range.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for determining airflow in a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) system to reduce overall power consumption. Methods include receiving efficiency data for one or more compressors of the HVACR system, receiving airflow power consumption data, determining, using a processor, a flow rate based on the efficiency data for the one or more compressors and the airflow power consumption data, and when the HVACR system is in a partial load condition and at least one of the one or more compressors are in operation, operating the HVACR system at the determined flow rate. Systems include one or more compressors, one or more blower fans, and a processor configured to determine an airflow rate for the one or more blower fans based on efficiency data for the one or more compressors and airflow power consumption data.

Abstract: A method of supplying power in a power grid, a system supplying power in a power grid, a method of consolidating power injection and consumption in a power grid, a system for consolidating power injection and consumption in a power grid, a metering system for a power grid, and a metering method for a power grid. The method of supplying power in a power grid, the method comprises determining an initial forward probabilistic power supply time profile of an aggregate intermittent power source connected to the power grid; determining a target power demand time profile of at least one load connected to the power grid; and associating at least respective portions of the initial forward probabilistic power supply time profile and the target demand time profile such that a probability of supply of power from the intermittent power source to the load meets a specified criterion.

Abstract: A monitoring system for distributed utilities. A generation device is provided for converting an available resource to a desired utility; the resource may be water, in which case the generator is a purifier for providing potable water, or, alternatively, the generator may convert a fuel to electrical power. In either case, an input sensor is provided for measuring input to the generation device, while an output sensor is provided for measuring consumption of output from the generation device. The monitoring system has a controller for concatenating measured input and consumption of output on the basis of the input and output sensors. Measured parameters are telemetered to a remote site where utility generation and use are monitored and may also be controlled.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes a battery and an energy storage controller. The battery is configured to store electrical energy purchased from a utility and to discharge the stored electrical energy for use in satisfying a building energy load. The energy storage controller is configured to generate a cost function including multiple demand charges. Each of the demand charges corresponds to a demand charge period and defines a cost based on a maximum amount of the electrical energy purchased from the utility during any time step within the corresponding demand charge period. The controller is configured to modify the cost function by applying a demand charge mask to each of the multiple demand charges. The demand charge masks cause the controller to disregard the electrical energy purchased from the utility during any time steps that occur outside the corresponding demand charge period when calculating a value for the demand charge.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling an industrial process is provided. The method may be performed in process control system and includes: issuing, in the process control system, a first alarm; determining, in the process control system, at least a first sequence of alarms which the first alarm is part of; and displaying, on a display means, at least a second alarm expected to follow the first alarm at a future point in time, the second alarm being part of the at least first sequence of alarms. A process control system is also provided, and a computer program and a computer program product.

Abstract: Provided is a power grid adjustment method based on a load of a variable frequency air conditioner. The method includes: establishing a mathematical simulation model of a virtual synchronous motor in a variable frequency air conditioner controller; establishing a virtual inertia control segment and a droop control segment of power grid adjustment according to the mathematical simulation model; obtaining a reference value ?? of rotation speed variation of a compressor by the virtual inertia control segment; obtaining a reference value ?ref of rotational angular frequency of the compressor by the droop control segment; and inputting a sum of the reference value ?ref of rotational angular frequency of the compressor and the reference value ?? of rotation speed variation of the compressor into a field-oriented controller (FOC) to control rotation of a motor.

Abstract: A flow rate signal correction method applicable to a pressure-type flow rate control device that controls a flow rate by controlling pressure existing upstream of a restriction part includes a step of generating a primary signal indicating the flow rate in accordance with an output of a pressure sensor provided upstream of the restriction part and a step of generating a secondary signal as a corrected signal of the primary signal such that the current value of the primary signal and a value including information regarding one or a plurality of past values of the primary signal are used to derive a current value corrected according to a predetermined relational expression. The secondary signal is output as a flow rate signal during a stable flow rate period, and the secondary signal is not output as a flow rate signal during a transient change period.

Abstract: A simulation method for milling by use of a dynamic position error includes the steps of: (a) generating a milling surface from a numerical control code, the milling surface having a plurality of grid points, the numerical control code having a position command; (b) calculating a normal vector for each of the plurality of grid points on the milling surface; (c) feeding back a position feedback of each of the plurality of grid points by the controller of the machine tool, and deriving a corresponding three-axis dynamic position error of the milling surface according to the position command and the position feedback; (d) calculating a component of the normal vector for the three-axis dynamic position error so as to obtain a normal-vector error value of the corresponding grid point; and, (e) displaying undercutting information of the normal-vector error value of the corresponding grid point on the milling surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing electrical load control events in an electric power grid are disclosed. A server processor is operable to generate an energy consumption profile for each of the plurality of service points. Each energy consumption profile comprises energy consumption information for a plurality of controllable energy consuming devices. The server processor selects at least one service point from the plurality of service points based on a predetermined criterion and sends at least one load control event to the at least one service point in response to an energy reduction request. The server processor determines an energy saving resulting from the at least one load control event at the at least one service point. The energy saving is determined based on a monetary supply equivalent value for each of the plurality of controllable energy consuming devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for responding to an emergency using orienteering methods. An Augmented Virtual Model (AVM) may assist in determining the nature of the emergency and a path to be taken by an emergency responder. By referencing the AVM on a smart device, such as one located in the visor of a firefighter, the emergency responder can quickly and easily locate a cause of the emergency and address it, as well as rescue lives endangered by the emergency.

Abstract: A factory server receives part requests from customer devices and controls one or more manufacturing tools, such as 3D printers, to fabricate the requested parts. The factory server implements several features to streamline the process of fabricating parts using the manufacturing tools. For instance, the factory server can facilitate the design of a part by extracting features from the part request and identifying model files having those features. The factory server can also select an orientation in which to fabricate the part and determine print settings to use when fabricating the part. In addition, the factory server can implement a process to fabricate a three-dimensional part with a two-dimensional image applied to one or more of its external surfaces. Furthermore, the factory server can also generate a layout of multiple part instances on a build plate of a 3D printer so that multiple part instances can be fabricated at once.

Abstract: Various embodiments may include methods and systems for improving the energy efficiency of a building at the planning stage, such as: building a basic digital model of the building using a computer; defining a plurality of different function-related room categories; assigning existing technical building automation functions, previously stored in a memory coupled to the computer, to the different room categories; arranging rooms by assigning the defined categories to the model on the basis of an occupancy plan; coupling the rooms to supply lines of a automation system based on the assigned functions; determining an energy efficiency of the virtual building; and selecting suitable technical system modules from available modules based on the determined energy efficiency.

Abstract: An example of a building automation system utilizes intelligent system elements, some of which are lighting devices having light sources, and some of which are utility building control and automation elements. Some utility building control and automation elements include a controllable mechanism for use in control of some aspect of the building other than lighting. Another intelligent system element may include either a user interface component and be configured as a building controller, or include a detector and be configured as a sensor. Each intelligent system element includes a network communication interface, processor, memory and programming to configure the intelligent system element as a lighting device, utility building control and automation element, controller or sensor. At least one of the intelligent lighting devices is configured as a building control and automation system server. Several examples, however, implement the overall control using distributed processing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for Orienteering using a wireless communication between transceivers. A smart device is operative to generate a vector based upon the wireless communications. A query may be made based upon the vector. A response to the query may include a direction of travel, a virtual image based upon location and location and direction, and annotative and pictorial information.

Abstract: A building management system (BMS) including a controller having an adaptive interaction manager and an agent manager. The system further includes one or more input-output (I/O) devices, in communication with the adaptive interaction manager. The controller further including a number of BMS field devices. The I/O devices are configured to receive an input from a user, and further configured to communicate the input to the adaptive interaction manager. The agent manager is configured to determine if one or more existing software agents are capable of performing the desired action, and to automatically transmit the existing software agents to one or more of the BMS field devices based on the agent manager determining the existing software agents are capable of performing the desired action. The software agents are configured to automatically be installed in a processing circuit of the BMS field device to perform the required action.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for presenting data to a user with an augmented reality headgear that has been oriented in a direction based upon unique automated generation of a vector. Systems for determining a direction of interest are based upon orientation of an apparatus. Data collection systems such as cameras, stereoscopic cameras, and scanner systems may be included in the augmented reality headgear. In combination with a geospatial position, the direction of interest may be referenced in the provision of content via a user interface displayed in a worn augmented reality headgear of the user at the site of interest. Updating of model data may be coordinated through the interface of an oriented augmented reality headgear with data collection systems.

Abstract: Method, and corresponding system, for iteratively distributing improved process parameters to a fleet of additive manufacturing machines. The method includes receiving sensor data from a sensor for a first machine of the fleet of machines. The method further includes comparing the sensor data values at the working tool positions of the plurality of layers to reference data values at the working tool positions for the plurality of layers to determine a set of comparison measures for the first machine. The method further includes selecting a machine from among the first machine and at least a second machine of the fleet of machines based at least in part on the comparison measures of each of the machines. The method further includes receiving, from the selected machine, process parameters of the selected machine; and transmitting at least part of the process parameters of the selected machine to other machines of the fleet.

Abstract: An exemplary lighting system utilizes intelligent system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors, and utilizes network communication amongst such intelligent system elements. Some processing functions performed within the system are implemented on a distributed processing basis, by two or more of the intelligent elements of the lighting system. Distributed processing, for example, may enable use of available processor and/or memory resources of a number of intelligent system elements to process a particular job. Another distributed processing approach might entail programming to configure two or more of the intelligent system elements to implement multiple instances of a server functionality with respect to client functionalities implemented on intelligent system elements.

Abstract: A system for control and/or analytics of an industrial process, includes at least one plant-side automation unit, and at least one external processing unit. The automation unit receives process input variables, determines results of a first process control algorithm based on the process input variables within a defined period of time and sends the process input variables to the processing unit. The processing unit executes a second process control algorithm on the basis of the process input variables and the local automation unit receives the results of the second process control algorithm. The plant-side automation unit checks whether the results of the second process control algorithm were received within a time less than or equal to the defined time period. The plant-side automation unit applies the results of the second process control algorithm to the process, when the results were received within a time less than or equal to the defined time period.