초록 ▼

A cold load pickup device includes a load controller comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller. The device is programmed to detect restoration of power after a power outage on a circuit powering an electric load. A power outage time for the power outage is determined, and a startup delay for th

A cold load pickup device includes a load controller comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller. The device is programmed to detect restoration of power after a power outage on a circuit powering an electric load. A power outage time for the power outage is determined, and a startup delay for the electric load is determined based on the power outage time. A startup delay mechanism, such as a power relay operated by the load controller or switching of the load on/off by the load controller, is configured to apply the startup delay after the detected restoration of power before restarting the electric load. In some embodiments, the startup delay for the electric load is determined based on the power outage time and a startup delay versus power outage time curve stored in a non-volatile memory of the load controller.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising: an electric load on a circuit powering the electric load, the electric load storing thermal energy by heating or cooling a thermal mass; anda load controller comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller programmed to perform operations including: (i) detecting restorati

1. An apparatus comprising: an electric load on a circuit powering the electric load, the electric load storing thermal energy by heating or cooling a thermal mass; anda load controller comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller programmed to perform operations including: (i) detecting restoration of power after a power outage on the circuit powering the electric load;(ii) determining a power outage time for the power outage via measuring a change in temperature of the thermal mass over the power outage;(iii) determining a startup delay for the electric load based on the power outage time; and(iv) in response to detecting restoration of power, delaying the restart of the electric load by the startup delay and thereafter restarting the electric load. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electric load is an electric water heater. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the operation (ii) comprises determining the power outage time based on change in water temperature of water in a water tank of the electric water heater before and after the power outage. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the operation (ii) comprises determining the power outage time based on change in energy stored by the electric load before and after the power outage. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein operation (iii) quantifies the power outage time as one of (a) a time interval and (b) the measured temperature change of the thermal mass over the power outage. 6. A cold load pickup method comprising: (i) operating the electric load to store thermal energy by heating or cooling a thermal mass;(ii) detecting restoration of power after a power outage on a circuit powering the electric load;(iii) determining a power outage time for the power outage via measuring a change in temperature of the thermal mass over the power outage;(iv) determining a startup delay for the electric load based on the power outage time; and(v) in response to detecting restoration of power, delaying the restart of the electric load by the startup delay and thereafter restarting the electric load. 7. A cold load pickup method comprising: (i) detecting, via a load controller of an electric load, restoration of power after a power outage on a circuit powering the electric load;(ii) determining a power outage time for the power outage;(iii) determining the startup delay for the electric load based on the power outage time and a startup delay versus power outage time curve stored in a non-volatile memory of the load controller; and(iv) in response to detecting restoration of power, delaying the restart of the electric load by the startup delay and thereafter restarting the electric load.