Power control device, power control method, and power control system

Abstract

To provide a power control device that can remotely operate a hybrid water heater without requiring complicated operations from a consumer, thereby achieving control that increases the home's self-consumption rate of electricity.SOLUTION: A power control device that controls a consumer's power system including a hybrid water heater and a solar power generation device includes a surplus power prediction unit that predicts surplus power generated by the solar power generation device, a water heating power acquisition unit that acquires the amount of water heating power required for daytime water heating by the hybrid water heater, a water heating available period determination unit that compares the amount of predicted surplus power predicted by the surplus power prediction unit with the amount of water heating power acquired by the water heating power acquisition unit to determine a daytime water heating available period during which water heating operation using surplus power is possible, and a communication unit that transmits a scheduled time associated with the start and end times of the determined daytime water heating available period to the hybrid water heater.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to power control, a power control method, and a power control system for controlling a power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heater and a solar power generation device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, due to responses to environmental problems and soaring energy resources, the demand for self-consumption of electricity by consumers has been increasing. In addition, with the progress of communication technology, devices equipped with a communication function that can receive remote control of operation from external devices and provide the status of their own devices to external devices are increasing. In addition, a hybrid water heater that combines a gas water heater, an electric heat pump, and a hot water storage tank is known. It is a hot water supply system that boils water with an electric heat pump that utilizes heat in the atmosphere and stores it in a hot water storage tank, and then switches the operation to a gas water heater to instantly supply hot water even when the hot water in the tank runs out. Similar to a storage-type water heater with only an electric heat pump, the hybrid water heater has a function of learning the hot water supply pattern (usage amount, time zone, etc.) and optimizing the hot water temperature, hot water amount, and hot water storage timing when storing hot water in the hot water storage tank. In a hybrid water heating system having a heat pump heat source unit, a hot water storage tank, and a combustion-type auxiliary heat source unit and configured to be operable with electric power generated by a solar power generation device, the following control is known. The main control unit, which is a control means, acquires weather forecast information including hourly solar radiation amount data from an external server, and based on the solar radiation amount data of the acquired weather forecast information, sets the start time and end time of a hot water storage allowable period during which hot water storage is allowed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, although not intended for a hybrid water heater, the following technology is known for a storage water heating system for a consumer equipped with an electric heat pump, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, and a solar power generation facility. In order to self-consume surplus power obtained by a solar power generation device that exceeds the power consumed by the consumer during the day, the surplus power for the day is predicted. As a result, when there is a large amount of surplus power, the amount of heating in the night-time heating operation of the previous day's storage water heater is reduced compared to when there is a small amount of surplus power (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to the embodiment described in Patent Document 1, a main control unit that controls a heat pump water heater equipped with a gas combustion type auxiliary heat source machine, that is, a hybrid water heater and a solar power generation device, acquires hourly solar radiation amount data for that day from an external server. When the time period during which the solar radiation amount related to the power generation amount of the solar power generation device is predicted to exceed a predetermined value is set as the hot water storage allowable period, the start time and the end time are set on the remote control on behalf of the user. In parallel with this, the hot water storage heat amount for that day set by learning control is read, and the time period of the hot water storage operation is set so that all or part of the hot water storage heat amount is stored in advance (up to about one hour before the hot water supply specification) within the hot water storage allowable period. The one in Patent Document 1 considers the season and the hot water storage temperature in addition to the solar radiation amount when setting the start time and the end time of the hot water storage allowable period. However, the state of surplus power is not considered. Patent Document 2 relates to a storage water heater that uses only an electric heat pump as a heat source instead of a hybrid water heater. Therefore, it is a technology for suppressing the amount of boiling the previous night so as to match the amount of boiling using surplus power generated during the day. In hybrid water heaters as well, those equipped with the above-described communication function are increasing. Specifically, for example, it is a hybrid water heater equipped with a communication function compliant with the ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) standard. In such a hybrid water heater equipped with a communication function, the power control device that integrally controls the customer's power system communicates with the hybrid water heater to appropriately operate the hybrid water heater without increasing the customer's operation burden, and it is expected to increase the self-consumption rate of power. This invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a power control device that can realize control for remotely operating a hybrid water heater without requiring a complicated operation by the customer and increasing the self-consumption rate of power.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] This invention is a power control device for controlling a customer's power system including a hybrid water heater and a solar power generation device, and includes a surplus power prediction unit for predicting surplus power generated by the power generation of the solar power generation device, a boiling power acquisition unit for acquiring the magnitude of the boiling power required when the hybrid water heater performs daytime boiling, a boiling possible period determination unit for comparing the magnitude of the predicted surplus power predicted by the surplus power prediction unit and the boiling power acquired by the boiling power acquisition unit to determine a solar power generation utilization period during which boiling operation using surplus power is possible, and a communication unit for transmitting scheduled times related to the start and end of the determined daytime boiling possible period to the hybrid water heater.

[0006] Further, from a different perspective, the present invention provides a power control method comprising steps of: a processor of a power control device for controlling a power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heating device and a solar power generation device predicting surplus power generated by the solar power generation device; obtaining a magnitude of boiling power required when the hybrid water heating device performs boiling during the day; comparing the magnitude of the predicted surplus power with the obtained boiling power to determine a period during which boiling operation using the surplus power is possible; and transmitting to the hybrid water heating device scheduled times related to the start and end of the determined period during which boiling is possible during the day.

[0007] From yet another different perspective, the present invention provides a power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heating device, a solar power generation device, and the above power control device, wherein the hybrid water heating device, upon receiving the scheduled time from the power control device, sets the start time and end time of the period during which boiling is possible during the day, and performs boiling during the day during the period from the start time to the end time.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] The power control device according to the present invention includes a boiling - possible period determination unit that compares the magnitude of the predicted surplus power with the boiling power to determine a period during which boiling operation using the surplus power is possible during the day, and a communication unit that transmits to the hybrid water heating device scheduled times related to the start and end of the determined period during which boiling is possible during the day. Therefore, it is possible to remotely operate the hybrid water heating device without requiring complicated operations by the consumer, and to achieve control for increasing the self - consumption rate of electric power. The power control method and power control system according to the present invention also exhibit the same operational effects.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description is illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. (Embodiment 1) ≪Configuration Example of Power System≫ First, a configuration example of the power system according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a power system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a power system 10 according to this embodiment includes a solar power generation device 11, a hybrid water heater 12, electrical appliances 13-1 to 13-n, a power conditioner 14 (also called a PCS, taking the initials of Power Conditioning System), and a HEMS 15, and is connected to an external power grid 100. A HEMS (Home Energy Management System) 15 is a device that manages the power of the power system 10. It manages the generated power of the solar power generation device 11, the power used by the hybrid water heater 12 and the electrical appliances from 13-1 to 13-n, the charge and discharge of the storage battery 102, the power purchase and sale with the power grid 100. The HEMS 15 can communicate with an external HEMS server 17 via a network. The HEMS server 17 acquires weather information from the Japan Meteorological Agency and service providers and provides it to the HEMS 15.

[0011] In FIG. 1, the power generated by the solar power generation device 11 is denoted as P PV ; the power consumed by the electrical appliances 13-1 to 13-n is denoted as P L1 to P Ln ; the power consumed by the hybrid water heater 12 is denoted as P L0 ; further, the output power of the power conditioner is denoted as P PCS , and the received power from the power grid is denoted as P s . The solar power generation device 11 includes solar cell modules, and supplies the DC power generated by the solar cell modules to the power conditioner 14. The power conditioner 14 converts the DC power supplied from the solar power generation device 11 to a predetermined voltage by a DC / DC converter 14D and outputs it to the electrical appliances 13-1 to 13-n and the power grid 100 via an inverter 14V.

[0012] Note that, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 1, the power system 10 may include an arbitrary storage battery 102. In that case, the inverter 14V of the power conditioner 14 is a bidirectional inverter. The storage battery 102 is connected to the DC side of the inverter 14V, i.e., the side of the DC / DC converter 14D, via the bidirectional DC / DC converter 14B. When charging the storage battery 102, the bidirectional DC / DC converter 14B converts the voltage from the solar power generation device 11 or the power grid 100 into a DC voltage of an appropriate magnitude for charging and supplies it to the storage battery. When discharging, the DC power from the storage battery 102 is supplied to the hybrid water heater 12, the electrical appliances 13-1 to 13-n, and the power grid 100 via the bidirectional DC / DC converter 14B and the inverter 14V. Note that the HEMS 15 and the power conditioner 14 may be integrally configured.

[0013] The HEMS 15 is configured to include a CPU as the hardware resource, and also includes a memory, an input / output circuit, a communication interface circuit, and a timer circuit. In this embodiment, the HEMS 15 may include a power control unit 16. The power control unit 16 includes a surplus power prediction unit 16-1, a boiling-up power acquisition unit 16-2, a boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3, and a communication unit 16-4. Optionally, it also includes a boiling-up power storage unit 16-5. The power control unit 16 controls the power conditioner 14 to control the power of the power system 10. That is, the power generated by the solar power generation device 11 is supplied to the electrical appliances 13-1 to 13-n and the power grid 100. When the power system 10 includes the storage battery 102, the charging and discharging directions and the power (electric energy) thereof are further controlled. The power control unit 16 also communicates with the hybrid water heater 12. The content of the communication with the hybrid water heater 12 will be described later. For example, it is preferable to communicate with the hybrid water heater 12 based on a standardized communication specification such as ECONET Lite.

[0014] In addition to the configuration in which the HEMS 15 includes the power control unit 16, a configuration in which the HEMS server 17 includes the power control unit 16 may be adopted. Alternatively, the power control unit 16 may be distributed and arranged between the HEMS 15 and the HEMS server 17. In that case, the elements of the power control unit 16 arranged in the HEMS server 17 and the elements of the power control unit 16 arranged in the HEMS 15 jointly control the power system 10. Various modes of sharing the processing are conceivable between the HEMS 15 and the HEMS server 17 having different physical positions. As including them, the power control device 18 including the HEMS 15 and the HEMS server 17 is shown by a chain line frame in FIG. 1.

[0015] The power control unit 16 sequentially acquires the solar power generation power P of the solar power generation device 11 from the power conditioner 14 every predetermined time (for example, every 30 minutes). When the storage battery 102 is connected, the load power thereof (positive during charging, negative during discharging) P PV is also sequentially acquired. Also, the total power consumption P PB of each of the electric devices 13-1 to 13-n every said predetermined period L1 ~P Ln is sequentially acquired. The acquired solar power generation power P PV and the total power consumption (P L1 ~P Ln ) of each household device are stored in the memory as a history. The history is time-series data of the solar power generation power and the power consumption every said predetermined period. Further, although not shown in FIG. 1, the power transmission and reception power P s from the power system 100 every said predetermined period is acquired using a smart meter or a CT sensor. Also, a reference value for each hour of the power P L0 used by the hybrid water heater 12 for boiling may be stored in advance in the boiling power storage unit 16-5. Based on the history of those power information, the power control unit 16 determines the power consumption of the hybrid water heater 12 during normal operation, the power consumption P PV from the solar power generation power P, of the electric devices 13-1 to 13-n L01 ~P Ln and the load power P PBIt is possible to calculate the predicted value of surplus power (predicted surplus power) obtained by subtracting the total. Further, based on the power information sequentially acquired, it is possible to calculate the current surplus power. When the surplus power is a positive value, the received power P from the power grid 100 s is negative (selling electricity).

[0016] HEMS 15 notifies the user of the state of the power system 10 via communication to the user's information terminal 19. Further, it receives settings related to the control of the power system 10 by the user at the information terminal 19. An example of the information terminal 19 is a portable terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal owned by the user, or a stationary or portable personal computer, etc. Another example is a monitor installed in the home (regardless of whether it is dedicated or not).

[0017] ≪Communication with Hybrid Water Heater≫ The hybrid water heater 12 has a gas water heater, an electric heat pump, and a hot water storage tank. Using the electric heat pump, during the night time zone (late-night power time zone) when the electricity rate of the power grid 100 is low, it boils up an amount of hot water predicted to be used the next day and stores it in the hot water storage tank. Then, it supplies the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and when the hot water in the hot water storage tank runs out, it switches the operation to the gas water heater to supply the necessary hot water. The hybrid water heater 12 can take a plurality of modes as an operation mode (solar power generation cooperation mode) in cooperation with the solar power generation device 11. One of the modes that can be taken is the self-consumption mode. In the self-consumption mode, boiling by the electric heat pump is prioritized over the gas water heater during the period from the start time to the end time set as the solar power generation utilization time. The settings of the start time and the end time may be made by the user operating the remote control of the hybrid water heater 12 (not shown in FIG. 1). Alternatively, it may be made from an external device connected via communication such as ECHONET Lite.

[0018] Since it takes a certain amount of time to bring the water to a boil, it is necessary to start boiling the water earlier to avoid running out of hot water. Prediction of the amount of hot water that is expected to be used, in other words, prediction of the target amount of stored hot water, is performed based on, for example, learning the amount of hot water used daily in the past. The amount of hot water used varies depending on the season or time. The amount of hot water used also varies depending on the time of day within a day. For example, a large amount of hot water is used during the morning and evening hours. Therefore, the hybrid water supply device 12 has a function of learning past hot water supply patterns and autonomously controlling the boiling timing and the boiling amount. For example, it learns the amount of hot water used (history) in the past two weeks and predicts the amount of stored hot water for each day that should be targeted. Also, when the solar power generation cooperation mode is set to the self-consumption mode, it learns the hot water supply pattern in which boiling is performed using surplus power during the day in the self-consumption mode and suppresses the amount of hot water to be boiled the previous night. The HEMS 15 acquires the status and information from the hybrid water supply device 12 via communication. Then, it remotely controls the hybrid water supply device 12 to perform settings related to the boiling operation.

[0019] In addition, there is a normal mode among the other modes that the solar power generation cooperation mode can take. The normal mode is a mode in which there is no setting for the solar power generation utilization time. The hybrid water supply device 12 does not prioritize boiling by the electric heat pump over the gas water heater even during the day, and does not suppress the amount of hot water to be boiled at night in preparation for boiling during the day of the next day (the current day).

[0020] ≪Midday boiling operation in the self-consumption mode≫ The midday boiling operation when the solar power generation cooperation mode of the hybrid water supply device 12 is set to the self-consumption mode will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the transition of the power consumption in a day, the transition of the solar power generation power, and an example of the surplus power per unit time in the power system of FIG. 1. The horizontal axis indicates the passage of time in a day, and the vertical axis indicates the magnitude of the power. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the power consumption 22 is small at night, shows large peaks in the morning time zone and the evening time zone when changing from day to night, and is larger than at night and shows a small peak near noon during the day. This is a typical pattern for ordinary households.

[0021] The solar power generation device 11 generates electricity from sunrise to sunset. The period is shown in FIG. 2 as the solar power generation time zone. The solar power generation power 23 shows a peak around noon. However, the pattern of the solar power generation power 23 depends on the intensity of sunlight and changes under the influence of seasons and weather. The surplus power prediction unit 16-1 obtains the surplus power per unit time of the current day, and the boiling-up power acquisition unit 16-2 obtains the boiling-up power per unit time of the current day. The boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3 compares the surplus power and the boiling-up power per corresponding unit time. In FIG. 2, when the hybrid water heating device 12 is boiled up during the day, the surplus power 24 per unit time, which is greater than the boiling-up power, is shown by a gray rectangle. The unit time is a predetermined time, and in one example, it is 60 minutes. However, it is not limited thereto, and other lengths such as 30 minutes, 15 minutes, or 90 minutes may be used as the unit time.

[0022] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the unit time during which the surplus power 24 greater than the boiling-up power is obtained forms one continuous period during the day. That period is the midday boiling-up possible period. In this embodiment, if there is at least one unit time of the midday boiling-up possible period, as the boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 sets the midday boiling-up possible period for the hybrid water heating device 12 and causes it to perform the midday boiling-up operation. The midday boiling-up possible period is a period during which the surplus power 24 can be self-consumed by the hybrid water heating device 12 performing boiling-up. However, the capacity of the hot water storage tank of the hybrid water heating device 12 is limited, and when it is full, further boiling-up cannot be performed. Also, if hot water is not used from the full state, the next boiling-up cannot be performed. Therefore, the hybrid water heating device 12 does not always perform boiling-up during the period from the start time to the end time of the midday boiling-up possible period. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the period during which the surplus power 24 greater than the boiling-up power is obtained includes a plurality of unit times, but it may also be a case including one unit time.

[0023] ≪Processing related to the boiling-up operation of the hybrid water heating device≫ Next, an example of the process executed by the power control unit 16 regarding the heating operation of the hybrid water heater 12 will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the process executed by the power control unit 16 in this embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 3 is a process performed, for example, at a predetermined time on the previous day before the heating operation on the current day. As shown in FIG. 3, the power control unit 16 waits for a predetermined time before the heating operation on the current day to arrive (step S11), and executes the processes shown in step S12 and below. The predetermined time may be, for example, the time zone for performing nighttime heating on the previous day, that is, the start time (for example, 22:00) of the late-night rate time zone where the electricity rate is cheaper than during the day.

[0024] When the predetermined time arrives, the power control unit 16, as the surplus power prediction unit 16-1, obtains the predicted surplus power per unit time on the current day based on the weather forecast on the heating operation day, the solar power generation power of the power system 10, and the consumption power history (step S12). Further, when the hybrid water heater 12 is set to the solar power generation cooperation mode and heating is performed during the day, the magnitude of the heating power required is obtained (step S13). It is preferable to obtain the magnitude of the heating power on the current day from the hybrid water heater 12 if possible. However, no property for obtaining (Get) the past performance or predicted value of the heating power from the hybrid water heater 12 is defined in ECHONET Lite. When the heating power cannot be obtained from the hybrid water heater 12, it may be stored in advance in a memory where the reference value of the heating power can be referred to instead. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the reference value of the heating power is stored in advance in the heating power storage unit 16-5, and the power control unit, as the heating power acquisition unit 16-2, acquires the reference value stored in the heating power storage unit 16-5 as the magnitude of the heating power of the hybrid water heater 12.

[0025] As the boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 compares the predicted surplus power obtained in the process of step S12 described above with the boiling-up power obtained in the process of step S13. Then, it determines whether there is a unit time that can cover the power required when the hybrid water heater 12 performs a boiling-up operation during the day with the predicted surplus power (step S14). When there is one or consecutive unit times that can cover the power required for the boiling-up operation with the predicted surplus power (Yes in step S14), as the boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 determines the boiling-up possible period during which it is expected that the hybrid water heater 12 can perform a boiling-up operation using the surplus power during the day (step S15).

[0026] Based on that determination, as the communication unit 16-4, the power control unit 16 sets the solar power generation cooperation mode of the hybrid water heater 12 to the self-consumption mode via communication (step S16). Further, the start time and end time of the boiling-up possible period during the day determined in step S15 above are transmitted as the start time and end time of the solar power generation utilization time and set in the hybrid water heater 12 (step S17). Then, the process ends. The hybrid water heater 12 gives priority to boiling up by the electric heat pump over the gas water heater during the period from the set start time to the end time and operates.

[0027] On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination of step S14 that there is no unit time that can cover the power required when the hybrid water heater 12 performs a boiling-up operation during the day with the predicted surplus power, the power control unit 16, as the communication unit 16-4, performs the following process. It sets the solar power generation cooperation mode of the hybrid water heater 12 to the normal mode via communication (step S18). Then, the process ends.

[0028] (Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1, an example of FIG. 2 in which the daytime boiling-up available period forms a series of periods was shown, and it was described that if there is a daytime boiling-up available period of at least one unit time, the hybrid water heater 12 performs a boiling-up operation during that daytime boiling-up available period. In this embodiment, a case where there are a plurality of unit times in which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power, and these unit times are not a series but a plurality of them will be described. According to this embodiment, as the boiling-up available period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 adopts, as the daytime boiling-up available period, a period in which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power over a longer period when there are a plurality of unit times in which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power. Further, according to this embodiment, as the boiling-up available period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 adopts, as the daytime boiling-up available period, the earlier period when there are a plurality of unit times in which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power.

[0029] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in this embodiment where there are a plurality of unit times in which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power. The horizontal axis in FIG. 4 represents the passage of time, and the vertical axis represents the magnitude of the surplus power. The surplus power for the unit time when the magnitude of the surplus power exceeds the magnitude of the boiling-up power (threshold value) is shown by a gray rectangle. In the example shown in FIG. 4, there are two periods in which the magnitude of the surplus power exceeds the magnitude of the boiling-up power. They are the first candidate period from 9 to 11 o'clock and the second candidate period from 13 to 14 o'clock. The first candidate period from 9 to 11 o'clock continues for 3 hours continuously. In contrast, the second candidate period from 13 to 14 o'clock continues for 2 hours continuously. As the boiling-up available period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 adopts the first candidate period that continues longer as the daytime boiling-up available period. This is because if the predicted surplus power cannot be obtained on the day, it is more likely that there will be more unit times in which the surplus power on the day exceeds the boiling-up power when the longer first candidate period is adopted.

[0030] Furthermore, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in the case where the lengths of a plurality of time periods during which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power are equal. In that case, as the boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 adopts the earlier first candidate period as the daytime boiling-up possible period. This is because, even if more hot water volume than the learned pattern is used, there may be a time margin for additional boiling-up by filling the hot water storage tank earlier. Note that, even in the case where the lengths of a plurality of time periods during which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power are different, the power control unit 16 may adopt the earlier period as the daytime boiling-up possible period as the boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3.

[0031] (Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, it is assumed that the upper limit value of the daytime boiling-up possible period is predetermined. This is because the capacity of the hot water storage tank of the hybrid water supply device 12 is finite, and it is not reasonable to secure a daytime boiling-up possible period longer than the period required to boil the hot water storage tank from an empty state to a full state. As an example, the upper limit value of the daytime boiling-up possible period is 3 hours. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in this embodiment where the time period during which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power is longer than the upper limit of the boiling-up possible period. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the time during which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power is 7 hours long. On the other hand, when the upper limit value of the daytime boiling-up possible period is set to 3 hours, there are five possible starting times from 9 to 13 o'clock. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 6, it can be said that there are a plurality of (five) time periods during which the predicted surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power. In this embodiment, as the boiling-up possible period determination unit 16-3, the power control unit 16 adopts 9 o'clock, which is the start time of the earlier time period, as the start time of the daytime boiling-up possible period. This is because, even if more hot water volume than the learned pattern is used, there may be a time margin for additional boiling-up by filling the hot water storage tank earlier.

[0032] As described above, (i) The power control device according to the present invention is a power control device that controls a power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heater and a solar power generation device, and includes a surplus power prediction unit that predicts surplus power generated by power generation of the solar power generation device, a boiling power acquisition unit that acquires the magnitude of the boiling power required when the hybrid water heater performs boiling during the day, a boiling enable period determination unit that compares the predicted surplus power predicted by the surplus power prediction unit with the boiling power acquired by the boiling power acquisition unit and determines a midday boiling enable period during which boiling operation can be performed using the surplus power, and a communication unit that transmits scheduled times related to the start and end of the determined midday boiling enable period to the hybrid water heater.

[0033] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. (ii) The boiling enable period determination unit may be set to perform the boiling operation at the timing when the hybrid water heater is set using the solar power generation cooperation mode setting and the solar power generation utilization time defined as properties of ECHONET Lite, which is a communication standard. According to this aspect, by using the properties of the standardized ECHONET Lite solar power generation cooperation mode setting and solar power generation utilization time, it is possible to communicate with the hybrid water heater regardless of the manufacturer or model.

[0034] (iii) The surplus power prediction unit predicts the surplus power in a predetermined time period, and the boiling enable period determination unit compares the predicted surplus power in the time period with the boiling power to determine whether to cause the hybrid water heater to perform the boiling operation, and the scheduled times of the midday boiling enable period when the boiling operation is to be performed. According to this aspect, within a predetermined time period, it is possible to compare the predicted surplus power with the boiling power to determine whether to cause the hybrid water heater to perform the boiling operation, and the scheduled times of the midday boiling enable period when the boiling operation is to be performed.

[0035] (iv) The hybrid water heater further includes a boiling power storage unit that stores in advance a reference value of the power required when the hybrid water heater performs boiling, and the boiling power acquisition unit may acquire the reference value stored in the boiling power storage unit as the magnitude of the boiling power required when performing boiling. According to this aspect, for example, even if it is impossible to obtain a predicted value of the power required for boiling from the hybrid water heater, the reference value stored in advance can be applied to the magnitude of the boiling power.

[0036] (v) The boiling possible period determination unit may compare the magnitudes of the predicted surplus power and the boiling power every predetermined unit time, and if there is one or consecutive unit times during which the surplus power exceeds the boiling power, determine the start time and end time of that unit time as the scheduled times of the daytime boiling possible period. According to this aspect, the unit time is the minimum period for performing boiling using the surplus power, and it is possible to determine whether to perform boiling based on the result of comparing the magnitudes of the predicted surplus power and the boiling power for each unit time.

[0037] (vi) The boiling possible period determination unit may compare the magnitudes of the predicted surplus power and the boiling power every predetermined unit time, and when there are a plurality of one or consecutive unit times during which the surplus power exceeds the boiling power, it may be possible to determine a longer consecutive unit time as the scheduled time of the daytime boiling possible period. According to this aspect, by performing boiling during a unit time when it is expected that the state where the surplus power exceeds the boiling power will continue longer, it is possible to secure more room for postponing boiling in case the predicted surplus power does not occur.

[0038] (vii) When there are a plurality of the same number of consecutive unit times during which the surplus power exceeds the boiling power, it may be possible to determine the earlier one as the scheduled time of the daytime boiling possible period. According to this aspect, when there are a plurality of unit times during which boiling is possible, by performing boiling at the earlier unit time, it is possible to fill the hot water storage tank with hot water earlier.

[0039] (viii) One aspect of the present invention includes a step in which a processor of a power control device that controls a power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heating device and a solar power generation device predicts surplus power generated by the power generation of the solar power generation device; a step of obtaining the magnitude of the heating power required when the hybrid water heating device performs heating during the day; a step of comparing the magnitude of the predicted surplus power and the obtained heating power and determining a period during the day when heating operation using the surplus power is possible; and a step of transmitting scheduled times related to the start and end of the determined period during the day when heating is possible and setting them in the hybrid water heating device.

[0040] (ix) Further, one aspect of the present invention is a power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heating device, a solar power generation device, and the power control device according to any one of (i) to (vii) above, wherein when the hybrid water heating device receives the scheduled time from the power control device, it sets the start time and end time of the period during the day when heating is possible, and includes a power control system that performs heating during the day during the period from the start time to the end time.

[0041] Aspects of the present invention also include combinations of any of the above-described aspects. In addition to the above-described embodiments, various modifications can be made to the present invention. Those modifications should not be construed as not belonging to the scope of the present invention. The present invention should include all meanings equivalent to the claims and all of those modifications.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0042] 10: Power system, 11: Solar power generation device, 12: Hybrid water heater, 13-1 to 13-n: Electrical equipment, 14: Power conditioner, 14B: Bidirectional DC / DC converter, 14D: DC / DC converter, 14V: Inverter, 15: HEMS, 16: Power control unit, 16-1: Surplus power prediction unit, 16-2: Heating power acquisition unit, 16-3: Determination unit for heat-up possible period, 16-4: Communication unit, 16-5: Heating power storage unit, 17: HEMS server, 18: Power control device, 19: Information terminal, 22: Power consumption, 23: Solar power generation, 24: Surplus power, 100: Power grid, 102: Battery

Claims

1. A power control device for controlling a power system of a customer including a hybrid water heater and a solar power generation device, a surplus power prediction unit that predicts surplus power generated by the solar power generation device; a boiling power acquisition unit that acquires the magnitude of the boiling power required when the hybrid water heater performs boiling during the day; a boiling possible period determination unit that compares the predicted surplus power predicted by the surplus power prediction unit with the boiling power acquired by the boiling power acquisition unit and determines a midday boiling possible period during which boiling operation using the surplus power is possible; a communication unit that transmits the scheduled times related to the start and end of the determined midday boiling possible period to the hybrid water heater; A power control device comprising:

2. The power control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits the scheduled time to the hybrid water heater using a solar power generation cooperation mode setting and a solar power generation utilization time defined as properties of ECHONET Lite, which is a communication standard.

3. The surplus power prediction unit predicts surplus power in a predetermined time period, The power control device according to claim 1, wherein the boiling possible period determination unit compares the predicted surplus power in the time period with the boiling power and determines the scheduled time of the midday boiling possible period.

4. The power control device further includes a boiling power storage unit that stores in advance a reference value of the power required when the hybrid water heater performs boiling, The boiling power acquisition unit according to claim 1, wherein the boiling power acquisition unit acquires the reference value stored in the boiling power storage unit as the magnitude of the boiling power required when performing boiling.

5. The boiling possible period determination unit compares the magnitudes of the predicted surplus power and the boiling power every predetermined unit time, and if there is one or a continuous unit time in which the surplus power exceeds the boiling power, the start and end times of that unit time are determined as the scheduled times related to the start and end of the midday boiling possible period. The power control device according to claim 1.

6. The boiling possible period determination unit compares the magnitudes of the predicted surplus power and the boiling power every predetermined unit time, and when there are a plurality of one or continuous unit times in which the surplus power exceeds the boiling power, a longer continuous unit time is determined as the scheduled time of the midday boiling possible period. The power control device according to claim 1.

7. The boiling-up possible period determination unit compares the magnitudes of the predicted surplus power and the boiling-up power every predetermined unit time, and when there is one or a plurality of consecutive unit times in which the surplus power exceeds the boiling-up power, determines the earlier one as the scheduled time of the midday boiling-up possible period. The power control device according to claim 1.

8. A processor of a power control device that controls a power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heater and a solar power generation device Predicting surplus power generated by the power generation of the solar power generation device; Obtaining the magnitude of the boiling-up power required when the hybrid water heater performs midday boiling-up; Comparing the magnitudes of the predicted surplus power and the obtained boiling-up power to determine a midday boiling-up possible period during which boiling-up operation using the surplus power is possible; Transmitting the scheduled times related to the start and end of the determined midday boiling-up possible period to the hybrid water heater; A power control method comprising:

9. A power system of a consumer including a hybrid water heater, a solar power generation device, and the power control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the hybrid water heater receives the scheduled time from the power control device, it sets the start time and the end time of the midday boiling-up possible period, and performs midday boiling-up during the period from the start time to the end time. A power control system.

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