Power management system

Abstract

To provide a power management system capable of flexibly implementing power measurement at measurement points located in various places while suppressing increase of cost.SOLUTION: A power management system comprises: power measurement means for measuring power consumption of an apparatus; acquisition means for acquiring cycle data relating to a cycle time of the apparatus on the basis of a picked-up image obtained by imaging display means for displaying ON / OFF of the apparatus; and a power management device which calculates power consumption for each cycle of the apparatus based on measurement data relating to the power consumption measured by the power measurement means and the cycle data acquired by the acquisition means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power management system.

Background Art

[0002] A technique for measuring power used at a demand site such as a factory, an office, or a house using a power measuring device is known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an energy management controller including: an acquisition unit that acquires measurement data regarding power values measured by a plurality of devices from each device in a plurality of power lines at a demand site and stores the acquired measurement data in a storage unit; a display instruction unit that causes information indicating the power values measured in each power line to be displayed on a display device in a predetermined manner, and when there are a plurality of power values measured in the same power line, causes information indicating one power value selected from the plurality of power values based on priorities previously assigned to the respective devices to be displayed; and a correction unit that reads out measurement data for a predetermined period from the storage unit, detects the power rise time from each of the read measurement data, and corrects the deviation in the measurement time of the power values measured in each power line by comparing the detected times with each other among the measurement data in different power lines.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] For example, in a factory, as the equipment used in the manufacturing process of products consumes electricity, carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted. Therefore, as a measure to address environmental issues, in order to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions, efforts are being promoted to make visible the CO2 emissions per product. Thus, when determining the power consumption per cycle of the equipment, it is conceivable to obtain data related to the cycle time from an external device such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) that controls the equipment, along with the measurement results by the power measurement device. However, since complicated connection work and communication settings are required for wired connection and communication between the power measurement device and external devices such as PLCs, not only does the cost increase, but there is also a problem that it is not possible to easily measure the power at measurement locations in various places within the factory with a single power measurement device.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a power management system that can flexibly perform power measurements at measurement locations in various places while suppressing an increase in cost.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A power management system according to an embodiment includes a power measurement means for measuring the power consumption of equipment, an acquisition means for acquiring cycle data related to the cycle time of the equipment based on a captured image of a display means for displaying on and off of the equipment, and a power management device for calculating the power consumption per cycle of the equipment based on measurement data related to the power consumption measured by the power measurement means and the cycle data acquired by the acquisition means.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a power management system that can flexibly perform power measurements at measurement locations in various places while suppressing an increase in cost.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate. In the following description, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0011] With reference to FIG. 1, the outline of the power management system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the power management system according to Embodiment 1. The power management system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to the devices 10 included in the facilities in the factory. The power management system 100 is a system for managing the power consumption of the devices 10 for each cycle. The facility has the device 10, the control device 20, and the display device 30.

[0012] The device 10 consumes the power supplied from the distribution board 40 provided in the factory via the control device 20 and is driven. The device 10 is communicably connected to the control device 20 via wired or wireless communication. In the present embodiment, an example where the device 10 is an industrial robot will be described, but the device 10 is not limited to an industrial robot. Also, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the device 10 performs predetermined operations such as welding and painting on the vehicle.

[0013] The control device 20 is constituted by, for example, a computer. The control device 20 is incorporated, for example, in a control panel installed near the device 10. Note that the control device 20 may be mounted inside the device 10. The control device 20 is communicably connected to each of the device 10 and the display device 30 via wire or wirelessly.

[0014] The control device 20 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a storage device including an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a flash memory, and a communication interface. The control device 20 comprehensively controls the equipment by the processor executing a control program stored in the storage device. The control device 20 can transmit and receive data and control signals between each of the device 10 and the display device 30 via the communication interface. The control device 20 also has an interface with the distribution board 40, the device 10, the display device 30, etc.

[0015] The display device 30 is incorporated, for example, in an operation panel installed near the device 10. The display device 30 is communicably connected to the control device 20 via wire or wirelessly. Note that the display device 30 may be mounted inside the control panel.

[0016] The display device 30 displays information regarding the work performed by the device 10. The display device 30 has a screen 31 and a plurality of lamps including a home position lamp 32. The screen 31 is constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display. The screen 31 displays various display information according to the control by the control device 20. The control device 20 stores a list of vehicle identification information in the storage device, and can display the identification information of the vehicle in operation among this list on the screen 31. The vehicle identification information is, for example, the vehicle number of the vehicle.

[0017] The plurality of lamps are constituted by, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). The lamps are turned on and off according to the control by the control device 20. When the device 10 is in the on state, that is, when the device is starting or continuing a cycle, the control device 20 turns off the home position lamp 32 among the plurality of lamps. Further, when the device 10 is in the off state, that is, when the device 10 has ended the cycle, the control device 20 turns on the home position lamp 32. That is, the control device 20 can display that the device 10 is starting or continuing a cycle by turning off the home position lamp 32. The home position lamp 32 is a lamp that indicates whether the device 10 is in the home position. The home position lamp 32 is a specific example of a display means for displaying the on and off of the device 10.

[0018] The power management system 100 includes a power measurement kit 50 and a server 60. The power measurement kit 50 includes a power measurement device 51 and an imaging device 52. The power measurement kit 50 houses the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52, for example, in a housing 53. The power measurement kit 50 may be a portable measurement kit.

[0019] The power measurement device 51 has a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a storage device including an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a flash memory, and a communication interface.

[0020] The processor controls the power measurement device 51 by executing a program stored in the storage device. The storage device stores a program including a measurement program for measuring power, data used during program execution, data generated during program execution, and the like. The storage device stores, for example, measurement data.

[0021] The power measurement device 51 has a power sensor that measures the power transmitted through the power line L provided between the distribution board 40 and the control device 20. The power sensor is preferably a clamp-type sensor that clamps the power line L to measure the power. By using a clamp-type sensor, it is not necessary to connect the power sensor to the power line L when measuring the power, so a simple and portable power measurement kit 50 can be realized. The power measurement device 51 measures the power transmitted through the power line L as the power consumption of the device 10 based on the detection result of the power sensor. The power measurement device 51 is a specific example of a power measurement means for measuring the power consumption of the device 10. The power measurement device 51 generates measurement data regarding the measured power consumption.

[0022] The imaging device 52 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a storage device including an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a flash memory, and a communication interface.

[0023] The processor controls the imaging device 52 by executing a program stored in the storage device. The storage device stores programs including an imaging program for performing imaging, a data acquisition program for acquiring cycle data of the device 10, an identification information acquisition program for acquiring identification information of the vehicle, etc., data used during the execution of the program, and data generated during the execution of the program. The storage device stores, for example, imaging images, cycle data, and identification information of the vehicle.

[0024] The imaging device 52 is, for example, a camera having an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. The imaging device 52 images the display device 30 at a predetermined time interval (for example, at one-second intervals). The imaging device 52 is installed at an imaging position where the display device 30 can be imaged. The imaging device 52 generates an imaging image of the display device 30.

[0025] The imaging device 52 recognizes the state (lighting and extinguishing) of the lamp from the imaging image by performing image recognition on the imaging image. Then, by recognizing the state of the lamp, the imaging device 52 acquires the imaging time of the imaging image when the lamp switches from the lighting state to the extinguishing state as the start time of the cycle, and acquires the imaging time of the imaging image when the lamp switches from the extinguishing state to the lighting state as the end time of the cycle. That is, the imaging device 52 acquires the start time and the end time of the cycle as cycle data based on the imaging image. The imaging device 52 is a specific example of an acquisition means for acquiring cycle data regarding the cycle time of the device 10 based on the imaging image.

[0026] Also, the imaging device 52 recognizes the identification information of the vehicle displayed on the screen 31 from the imaging image by performing image recognition on the imaging image. That is, the imaging image acquires the identification information of the vehicle in operation based on the imaging image.

[0027] Furthermore, each of the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52 has a circuit for performing wireless communication as a communication interface. Each of the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52 is communicably connected to the server 60 via wireless. Each of the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52 performs data communication with the server 60 according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). However, each of the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52 may have a circuit for performing wired communication as a communication interface and be communicably connected to the server 60 via wired.

[0028] The power measurement device 51 transmits measurement data to the server 60 in response to a request from the server 60. Further, the imaging device 52 transmits cycle data to the server 60 in response to a request from the server 60. Furthermore, the imaging device 52 transmits the identification information of the vehicle to the server 60 in response to a request from the server 60.

[0029] The server 60 is a specific example of a power management device that calculates the power consumption of the device 10 for each cycle based on the measurement data and the cycle data. The server 60 can be installed in a central monitoring room or the like of a factory where the power management system 100 is provided. The server 60 is constituted by, for example, a computer. The server 60 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a storage device including an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a flash memory, and a communication interface.

[0030] The processor controls the server 60 by executing a program stored in the storage device. The storage device stores a program including a power management program for managing the power consumption of the device 10, data used during the execution of the program, data generated during the execution of the program, and the like. The storage device stores, for example, cycle data, measurement data, and identification information of the vehicle. Further, the storage device stores, for example, the power consumption of the device 10 for each cycle in association with the identification information of the vehicle.

[0031] The communication interface is, for example, a circuit that performs wireless communication. The server 60 is communicably connected to each of the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52 via wireless. The server 60 performs data communication with each of the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52 according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). However, the server 60 may have a circuit that performs wired communication as the communication interface and be communicably connected to each of the power measurement device 51 and the imaging device 52 via wired.

[0032] Next, the functions of the server 60 will be described. The server 60 acquires cycle data from the imaging device 52. Then, the server 60 stores the acquired cycle data. Also, the server 60 acquires measurement data from the power measurement device 51. Then, the server 60 stores the acquired measurement data. Further, the server 60 calculates the power consumption of the device 10 for each cycle based on the cycle data and the measurement data. Specifically, the server 60 divides the measurement data in cycle units according to the cycle data by specifying the start time and the end time of the cycle included in the cycle data for the measurement data. The server 60 can calculate the power consumption of the device 10 for each cycle based on the divided measurement data. Further, the server 60 acquires the identification information of the vehicle from the imaging device 52. Then, the server 60 stores the calculated power consumption of the device 10 for each cycle in association with the identification information of the vehicle.

[0033] Furthermore, the server 60 may have a power consumption performance database in which the power consumption of the device 10 for each cycle is associated with the identification information of the vehicle. Furthermore, the server 60 may have an electricity rate table - CO2 conversion table database that stores an electricity rate table for converting power consumption into electricity charges and a CO2 conversion table for converting power consumption into CO2. In this case, the power consumption performance database and the electricity rate table - CO2 conversion database may be physically configured by independent auxiliary storage devices, or may be configured by different storage areas included in a common auxiliary storage device.

[0034] Also, in this case, the server 60 may calculate the electricity cost for each cycle of the device 10 based on the power consumption for each cycle of the device 10 stored in the power consumption performance database and the electricity rate table stored in the electricity rate table·CO2 conversion table database. Further, the server 60 may calculate the CO2 emission amount for each cycle of the device 10 based on the power consumption for each cycle of the device 10 stored in the power consumption performance database and the CO2 conversion table stored in the electricity rate table·CO2 conversion table database. When the server 60 has a monitor or the like, the server 60 may display at least one of the calculation result of the electricity cost and the calculation result of the CO2 emission amount on the monitor or the like.

[0035] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an example of a power management method using the above power management system 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a power management method using the power management system shown in FIG. 1.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, after the operator who performs the power measurement work transports the power measurement kit 50 to the vicinity of the distribution board 40, the operator attaches the power measurement device 51 of the power measurement kit 50 to the power line L (step S100). When the power sensor of the power measurement device 51 is a clamp-type sensor, the operator can easily attach the power measurement device 51 to the power line L by clamping the power line L with the clamp-type sensor. Subsequently, the power measurement device 51 measures the power consumption of the device 10 by measuring the power of the power line L (step S200).

[0037] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the operator installs the imaging device 52 of the power measurement kit 50 at the imaging position (step S300). Subsequently, the imaging device 52 acquires cycle data and acquires the identification information of the vehicle (step S400). Here, the flow of the process executed by the imaging device 52 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the process executed by the imaging device.

[0038] The series of processes shown in FIG. 3 are repeatedly executed, for example, at predetermined time intervals. When the processor of the imaging device 52 executes the imaging program stored in the storage device, the imaging process shown in step S401 is executed. When the imaging process is executed, the imaging device 52 starts imaging the display device 30 (step S410). After generating the captured image of the display device 30, the imaging device 52 executes the data acquisition process shown in steps S421 to S426 and the identification information acquisition process shown in step S431, for example, simultaneously.

[0039] By executing the data acquisition process, the imaging device 52 acquires the cycle data of the device 10. When the processor of the imaging device 52 executes the data acquisition program stored in the storage device, the data acquisition process shown in steps S421 to S426 is executed.

[0040] When the data acquisition process is executed, the imaging device 52 performs image recognition on the captured image and recognizes the state of the home position lamp 32 from the captured image. The imaging device 52 determines whether the home position lamp 32 is turned off by this image recognition (step S421). If the home position lamp 32 is turned off (step S421: YES), since the device 10 has left the home position, the imaging device 52 estimates that the cycle of the device 10 has started (step S422), and acquires the imaging time of this captured image as the start time of the cycle. Then, the imaging device 52 proceeds to the process of step S424. On the other hand, if the home position lamp 32 is not turned off (step S421: NO), since the device 10 is at the home position, the imaging device 52 estimates that the cycle of the device 10 has not started (step S423), and returns the process to step S421.

[0041] Subsequently, the imaging device 52 performs image recognition on the next captured image and recognizes the state of the home position lamp 32 from the captured image. The imaging device 52 determines whether the home position lamp 32 is lit or not by this image recognition (step S424). When the home position lamp 32 is lit (step S424: YES), since the device 10 has returned to the home position, the imaging device 52 estimates that the cycle of the device 10 has ended (step S425), and acquires the imaging time of this captured image as the end time of the cycle. Then, the imaging device 52 proceeds to the process in step S440. On the other hand, when the home position lamp 32 is not lit (step S424: NO), since the device 10 is away from the home position, the imaging device 52 estimates that the cycle of the device 10 has not ended, that is, the cycle of the device 10 is continuing (step S426), and returns the process to step S424.

[0042] Also, the imaging device 52 acquires the identification information of the vehicle in operation by executing the identification information acquisition process. The processor of the imaging device 52 executes the identification information acquisition program stored in the storage device, whereby the identification information process shown in step SS431 is executed. When the identification information process is executed, the imaging device 52 performs image recognition on the captured image and recognizes the identification information of the vehicle from the captured image. The captured image acquires the identification information of the vehicle by this image recognition (step S431). Then, the imaging device 52 stores the acquired cycle data and the acquired identification information of the vehicle (step S440).

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, following steps S200 and S400, server 60 calculates the power consumption of device 10 for each cycle based on the cycle data and the measurement data (step S500). In step S500, server 60 requests the imaging device 52 to transmit the cycle data, and receives the cycle data transmitted from the imaging device 52 in response to the request. Also, server 60 requests the power measurement device 51 to transmit the measurement data, and receives the measurement data transmitted from the power measurement device 51 in response to the request. Then, server 60 calculates the power consumption of device 10 for each cycle based on the measurement data divided into cycle units of device 10 corresponding to the cycle data.

[0044] Subsequently, server 60 stores the power consumption of device 10 for each cycle in association with the identification information of the vehicle (step S600). In step S600, server 60 requests the imaging device 52 to transmit the identification information of the vehicle, and receives the identification information of the vehicle transmitted from the imaging device 52 in response to the request. Then, server 60 stores the received identification information of the vehicle in association with the power consumption of device 10 for each cycle calculated in step S500.

[0045] By such a power management method, the power consumption of device 10 for each cycle can be managed.

[0046] As described above, in the present embodiment, complicated connection work and communication settings for performing wired connection and communication between the power measurement device 51 and external devices such as the server 60 and the control device 20 are unnecessary. Therefore, an increase in cost due to performing wired connection and communication between the power measurement device 51 and the external device can be suppressed. Also, in the present embodiment, since the power measurement kit 50 is portable, the power measurement of measurement locations at various places in the factory can be easily performed with one power measurement device 51.

[0047] Therefore, according to the power management system 100 according to the present embodiment, the power measurement of measurement locations at various places can be flexibly performed while suppressing an increase in cost.

[0048] Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist. For example, in the above-described embodiments, an example in which the power management system 100 is applied to the equipment 10 in the factory has been described, but it is not limited thereto, and for example, it can also be applied to electric appliances in the home.

[0049] Also, in the above-described embodiments, a configuration example in which necessary functions are provided by the processor executing a program has been shown, but a part or all of these provided functions may be implemented using a dedicated hardware circuit (for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), etc.).

Description of Reference Numerals

[0050] 10 Equipment 20 Control Device 30 Display Device 31 Screen 32 Home Position Lamp 40 Distribution Board 50 Power Measurement Kit 51 Power Measurement Device 52 Imaging Device 53 Housing 60 Server 100 Power Management System L Power Line

Claims

【Claim 1】 Power measurement means for measuring the power consumption of the device, Acquisition means for acquiring cycle data regarding the cycle time of the device based on a captured image obtained by imaging display means for displaying on and off of the device, A power management device that calculates the power consumption for each cycle of the device based on measurement data regarding the power consumption measured by the power measurement means and the cycle data acquired by the acquisition means, A power management system having the above.

Images