Residential Heating System Control for Future Electric Power Grid Services Using Minimal Measurements

The study presented focuses on control of central electric resistance heating (often referred to as electric furnaces) in a manner to meet a specified target reduction in average electric power demand over 5-minute utility verification periods. The paper describes a supervisory control method that uses a small number of sensed points to meet these target power demand reductions while ensuring that indoor temperature is maintained within a comfortable range. Testing of the control method is performed in two identical test homes with the control methodology augmented to account for practical complexities in the operation of the heating system equipment (e.g., minimum-off [lock-out] time, response activation delay, and data latency). The test homes, equipment in them, data collection apparatus, and control platform are described as well as results of the testing. The analysis of results shows the potential for control of electric heating systems to provide demand response as well as some limitations when used alone without coordinated control with other end-use equipment and appliances. Discussion of results includes a brief introduction to a method for coordinated control of multiple appliances in homes and identification of potential future research to realize the underlying vision of homes providing services to the power grid.