Server device, power control system, and power control method

Abstract

To improve the follow-up accuracy of supplying additional power in response to fluctuations in power supply and demand in the community.SOLUTION: A server device includes: a communication unit; and a control unit configured to communicate by the communication unit with another server device configured to direct, on the basis of predicted power demand by a power load in a jurisdiction and an actual power generation record of an amount of power generated to be supplied to the power load, a first operation amount to a power load to consume power that can be consumed by the power load, and change the first operation amount to a second operation amount on the basis of an actual power consumption record consumed by the power load. Therein the control unit is configured to send out a discharge instruction to cause a storage battery to discharge power to be further supplied to the power load, on the basis of: a power purchase amount, determined by the other server device, to be further purchased from a system in order to be supplied to the power load; the first operation amount; the actual power consumption record; and the actual power generation record.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a server device, a power control system, and a power control method. [Background technology]

[0002] In communities managed by local governments, companies, etc., a Community EMS (Community Energy Management System, or CEMS) is being developed to manage the overall power generation by power generation facilities distributed within the community, the power supply by the power company's power grid, and the power demand generated within the community. Various technologies have been proposed for predicting the power consumption in a community in order to supply power that matches the power demand within the community. Patent Document 1 discloses a system that controls the power supply based on the predicted power. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 116960 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When additional power supply is required in response to sudden fluctuations in power supply and demand, there is room for improvement in the accuracy of power supply tracking.

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a server device and the like that enables improved accuracy in tracking additional power supply in response to fluctuations in power supply and demand in a community. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The server device in the present disclosure includes a communication unit, another server device that instructs the power load to use a first operation variable to consume consumable power based on a forecast of power demand by the power load within a jurisdiction and actual power generation results of the amount of power generated to supply to the power load, and changes the first operation variable to a second operation variable based on actual power consumption results of the power consumed by the power load, and a control unit that communicates via the communication unit, and the control unit sends a discharge instruction to discharge the power to be further supplied to the power load to a storage battery based on the amount of power to be further purchased from the grid to supply to the power load, the first operation variable, the actual consumption results, and the actual power generation results, which are determined by the other server device.

[0007] The system disclosed herein is a power control system having a plurality of server devices that are communicatively connected, in which a first server device instructs the power load to use a first control variable to consume consumable power based on a forecast of power demand by the power load within a jurisdiction and actual power generation results of the amount of power generated to supply to the power load, and changes the first control variable to a second control variable based on actual power consumption results of the power consumed by the power load, and a second server device sends a discharge instruction to discharge the power to be further supplied to the power load to a storage battery based on the amount of power to be further purchased from the grid to supply to the power load, the first control variable, the actual consumption results, and the actual power generation results, which are determined by the first server device.

[0008] The system operation method disclosed herein is a power control method using multiple server devices that are communicatively connected, in which a first server device instructs the power load to use a first control variable to consume consumable power based on a forecast of power demand by the power load within a jurisdiction and actual power generation results of the amount of power generated to supply to the power load, and changes the first control variable to a second control variable based on actual power consumption results of the power consumed by the power load, and a second server device sends a discharge instruction to discharge the power to be further supplied to the power load to a storage battery based on the amount of power to be further purchased from the grid to supply to the power load, the first control variable, the actual consumption results, and the actual power generation results, which are determined by the first server device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The server device and the like according to the present disclosure can improve the accuracy of tracking additional power supply in response to fluctuations in power supply and demand in a community. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a CEMS. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of a server device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the server device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the server device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following describes the embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a CEMS in one embodiment. In this CEMS, a CEMS server 10 manages the supply and receipt of electricity in a community 1. Hereinafter, a community refers to any block or area managed by a local government, a company, or the like. The CEMS server 10 is communicatively connected to one or more battery management servers (hereinafter referred to as BM servers) 13, storage batteries 14, power loads 15, and power generation facilities 16 via a network 11. The CEMS server 10 is also communicatively connected to a grid 12 via a network 17. The CEMS server 10 executes information processing to instruct the power generation facilities 16 to generate electricity and to purchase electricity from the grid 12 in response to the power demand of the power loads 15 distributed within the community 1. Through the operation of the CEMS server 10, the power loads 15 receive power from the power generation facilities 16 and the grid 12. The BM server 13, in cooperation with the CEMS server 10, controls the operation of the storage batteries 14 to provide additional power supply to the power loads 15. The storage battery 14 and the power generation facility 16 may be located within the community 1 or may be installed outside the community 1.

[0013] The CMES server 10 and the BM server 13 are, for example, server computers belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system. The networks 11 and 17 are, for example, the Internet, an ad hoc network, a LAN, a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), or other networks, or any combination thereof. The power loads 15 are, for example, electrical appliances, lighting, air conditioning equipment, etc. installed in homes, commercial facilities, etc. The power loads 15 may also include electric vehicles and their charging / discharging equipment. The storage battery 14 is a large-scale stationary storage battery, such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery, and its controller. The power generation equipment 16 is, for example, a power generation device using alternative energy such as solar power or wind power, and its controller, or various fuel cells and their controllers.

[0014] In this embodiment, the BM server 13 corresponds to a "server device." The BM server 13 issues a first control variable (hereinafter referred to as a planned control variable) to the power load 15 to consume available power based on a forecast of power demand by the power load 15 in the jurisdiction, i.e., the community 1, and the actual power generation amount of power generated to supply to the power load 15. The BM server 13 communicates with another server device, i.e., the CEMS server 10, which changes the planned control variable to a second control variable (hereinafter referred to as a corrected control variable) based on the actual power consumption amount of the power load 15. The BM server 13 sends a discharge command to discharge the power to be further supplied to the power load 15 to the storage battery 14 based on the amount of power purchased from the grid 12 to supply to the power load 15, the planned control variable, the actual power consumption, and the actual power generation, all determined by the CEMS server 10. When covering the power consumption of the power load 15, additional power supply may be required due to a sudden increase in power demand by the power load 15, a sudden decrease in the power generation amount of the power generation facility 16 due to a sudden change in weather, etc. Even if power generation equipment 16 is operated additionally to supply such additional power, it takes a certain amount of time to start up power generation equipment 16, which may prevent it from quickly responding to sudden changes in power demand. Furthermore, purchasing additional, unplanned power from grid 12 may result in increased costs, such as penalty fees. Therefore, by operating BM server 13 as described above, additional power can be supplied by storage battery 14, which has a higher responsiveness than power generation equipment 16. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of tracking the additional power supply.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of the BM server 13. The BM server 13 has a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The BM server 13 may be a single server computer, or may be configured from two or more computers that are communicably connected and operate in cooperation with each other. In the case of two or more computers, the configuration shown in Fig. 2 is appropriately arranged on the two or more computers.

[0016] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces. The communication interface is, for example, a LAN interface. The communication unit 21 receives information used in the operation of the BM server 13 and transmits information obtained by the operation of the BM server 13. The BM server 13 is connected to the network 11 by the communication unit 21 and communicates information with the CEMS server 10, storage battery 14, power load 15, power generation equipment 16, etc. via the network 11.

[0017] The storage unit 22 includes, for example, one or more semiconductor memories, one or more magnetic memories, one or more optical memories, or a combination of at least two of these, that function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM). The RAM is, for example, a static RAM (SRAM) or a dynamic RAM (DRAM). The ROM is, for example, an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM). The storage unit 22 stores information used in the operation of the BM server 13 and information obtained by the operation of the BM server 13.

[0018] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) specialized for specific processing. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 23 executes information processing related to the operation of the BM server 13 while controlling each unit of the BM server 13.

[0019] The functions of the BM server 13 are realized by executing a control program on a processor included in the control unit 23. The control program is a program that causes a computer to execute processing of steps included in the operation of the BM server 13, thereby causing the computer to realize functions corresponding to the processing of those steps. In other words, the control program is a program that causes a computer to function as the BM server 13. Some or all of the functions of the BM server 13 may also be realized by a dedicated circuit included in the control unit 23. The control program may also be stored in a non-transitory recording / storage medium that is readable by the BM server 13, and read by the BM server 13 from the medium.

[0020] The description of the configuration in FIG. 2 also applies to the CEMS server 10.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a diagram explaining the operation procedure performed by the BM server 13 in cooperation with the CEMS server 10. Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the flow of information in the control operation between the CEMS server 10 and the BM server 13. The CEMS server 10 executes a feedforward process and a feedback process for managing and controlling the supply and demand of electricity in the community 1. In addition, the BM server 13 executes an adjustment process for supplying additional electricity in the community 1.

[0022] The CEMS server 10 executes a feedforward process at an arbitrary period, for example, every few hours. In the feedforward process, the CEMS server 10 creates a supply and demand plan 31 based on a power demand forecast 30 for the power loads 15 and actual power generation results 35 of the amount of power generated to supply the power loads 15. The supply and demand plan 31 includes information on the amount of power consumed by the power loads 15 and the amount of power to be supplied to the power loads 15. The CEMS server 10 generates the power demand forecast 30 taking into account the season, day of the week characteristics, etc., using an arbitrary algorithm, corrects the demand forecast by taking into account the amount of power consumed by the power loads 15 (i.e., actual demand) 34 in the past feedforward process (step 300), and derives the amount of power to be consumed by the power loads 15. The CEMS server 10 also collects the power generation history from each power generation facility 16 as power generation amount 35, and derives the amount of power that can be generated using an arbitrary algorithm by taking into account forecast information such as season and weather obtained from other servers. When the amount of power generation that is sufficient to cover the amount of power consumed by the power loads 15 is not obtained, the CEMS server 10 may add the amount of power that should be purchased from the grid 12 to make up for the shortfall, i.e., the planned power purchase amount 37, to the power supply to the power loads 15. Based on the supply and demand plan 31 generated in this way, the CEMS server 10 derives operation variables 32 that cause each power load 15 to operate with the planned amount of power, i.e., the planned operation variables, and instructs each power load 15. Note that the power loads 15 may include the power generation facilities 16 themselves.

[0023] The CEMS server 10 executes a feedback process at an arbitrary period shorter than the feedforward process, for example, every one to several minutes. In the feedback process, the CEMS server 10 executes feedback compensation control (step 302) using the actual power consumption 33 by the power loads 15 (i.e., the actual usage of the adjustment capacity facility) and the power generation amount 35. The CEMS server 10 acquires the actual consumption 33 in the most recent feedback process from the power loads 15 that operated according to the operation received from the planned operation amount. The CEMS server 10 also acquires the power generation amount 35 in the most recent feedback process. Then, the CEMS server 10 corrects the amount of power that can be consumed by the power loads 15 in the supply and demand plan 31 of the most recent feedforward process using the actual consumption 33, and corrects the amount of power to be generated using the power generation amount 35. Based on the supply and demand plan 31 corrected in this way, the CEMS server 10 derives operation amounts 32, i.e., correction operation amounts, that cause each power load 15 to operate with the corrected power amount, and issues the correction operation amounts to each power load 15.

[0024] The BM server 13 executes an adjustment process at an arbitrary period shorter than the feedback process, for example, every one to several seconds. In the adjustment process, the BM server 13 generates a discharge instruction 29 for discharging the power to be additionally supplied to the power load 15 from the storage battery 14 based on the planned power purchase amount 37, the actual power purchase result 38, and the operation amount 32, and sends the discharge instruction 29 to the storage battery 14. The planned power purchase amount 37 is the amount of power to be further purchased from the grid to supply to the power load 15, which is derived in the most recent feedforward process. The actual power purchase result 38 is the difference between the consumption amount 34 and the power generation amount 35. The BM server 13 corrects the planned power purchase amount 37 based on the actual power purchase result 38 (step 304). When additional power is purchased, the amount of the actual power purchase result 38 is added to the planned power purchase amount 37. The BM server 13 generates a discharge instruction based on the corrected planned power purchase amount and the manipulated variable 32 generated in the feedforward process, i.e., the planned manipulated variable, or the corrected manipulated variable 32 if corrected in the feedback process, i.e., the corrected manipulated variable. If the planned power purchase amount 37 has increased based on the actual power purchase record 38, the BM server 13 instructs the discharge of an amount of power corresponding to the increase. However, the amount of power to be discharged can be set to be equal to or less than the upper limit of the discharge amount of each storage battery 14. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the storage batteries 14 while contributing to keeping up with the additional supply of power. Note that the adjustment process may be stopped if the actual power purchase record 38 does not satisfy a certain standard.

[0025] When the large-scale storage battery operation amount 39 is sent as a discharge instruction, the actual consumption 33 of the power additionally supplied by the discharge of the power generation equipment 16 is updated and reflected in the information in the next cycle of each of the adjustment process and the feedback process.

[0026] The above-described feedforward process, feedback process, and adjustment process are repeatedly executed.

[0027] 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of power supply in this embodiment. Graph G40 shows the accumulated amount of power (vertical axis) at the point of interconnection with the grid 12, i.e., the accumulated amount of power for the entire community 1, over time (horizontal axis). Graph G41 shows the transition of the output of the storage battery 14, i.e., the discharge amount (vertical axis), over time (horizontal axis). Graphs G40 and G41 show the accumulated amount of power 40 and the discharge amount 40' when a feedforward process is performed, the accumulated amount of power 41 and the discharge amount 41' when a feedback process is added, and the accumulated amount of power 42 and the discharge amount 42' when an adjustment process is added, respectively.

[0028] When the feedforward process is executed, the accumulated energy 40 shown in graph G40 increases in response to a sudden excess demand, such as a sudden increase in power demand or a sudden decrease in power generation, during a time period 45 (at which time, the output 40' of the storage battery 14 is maintained at zero, as shown in graph G41). Therefore, the accumulated energy 40 steadily rises and greatly exceeds the initial planned amount of power purchase 43.

[0029] Furthermore, when a feedback process is added, the accumulated energy 41 shown in graph G40 increases in response to excess demand during time period 45, and then declines to the right in response to actual power consumption due to feedback with a shorter cycle than the feedforward process (at this time, the output 41' of the storage battery 14, as shown in graph G41, indicates the discharge amount when the CEMS server 10 instructs the storage battery 14 to operate according to the operation amount 32 during the feedback process). However, the accumulated energy 41 still exceeds the initial planned amount of power purchase 43.

[0030] When an adjustment process is added, the accumulated energy 41 shown in graph G40 increases in response to excess demand during time period 45, and then, due to an adjustment process with a shorter cycle than the feedback process, follows the actual power consumption and converges to the planned power purchase amount 37. At this time, as shown in graph G41, the discharge amount 42' increases in the short term during time period 45. The accumulated energy 41 then remains relatively stable and converges almost to the initial planned power purchase amount 43.

[0031] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the accuracy of following up the additional power supply in response to fluctuations in the power supply and demand in the community 1.

[0032] In this modification, the BM server 13 corrects the gain so that the discharge amount 42' in the adjustment process decreases over time. For example, as shown in graph G41, the BM server 13 discharges up to the upper limit value 44 in the adjustment process in the first feedback process, and decreases the gain in the adjustment process in the second feedback process. This makes it possible to suppress the rate of depletion and deterioration of the storage battery 14.

[0033] In a further modification, the BM server 13 may execute the adjustment process when the difference between the demand forecast 30 and the actual consumption 33 exceeds an arbitrary standard, for example, when the difference is greater than a standard value of 10 to 20% of the demand forecast 30, and may stop the execution of the adjustment process in other cases, that is, when the difference between the demand forecast 30 and the actual consumption 33 is relatively small. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the rate of depletion and deterioration of the storage battery 14 while ensuring a certain degree of tracking accuracy overall.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the processing / control program that defines the operation of the control unit 23 of the BM server 13 is stored in the memory unit 22 of the BM server 13 or in the memory unit of another server device, and may be downloaded to each device via the network 11, or may be stored in a non-transitory recording / storage medium that is readable by each device, and read from the medium by each device.

[0035] Although the embodiments have been described above based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each means, step, etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple means, steps, etc. can be combined or divided into one. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1. Community 10 CEMS Server 11, 17 Network 12 strains 13 BM Server 14 Storage battery 15 Power load 16 Power generation facilities 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Control Unit

Claims

1. A server device, The Communications Department and a control unit communicating with another server device via the communication unit, the control unit instructing the power load to consume a first manipulated variable based on a forecast of power demand by the power load in a jurisdiction and a power generation record of the amount of power generated to supply the power load, and changing the first manipulated variable to a second manipulated variable based on the power consumption record of the power consumed by the power load; the control unit sends a discharge instruction to cause the storage battery to discharge the power to be further supplied to the power load, based on the amount of power to be further purchased from the grid to be supplied to the power load, the first operation amount, the actual consumption, and the actual power generation, which are determined by the other server device. Server device.

2. In claim 1, the control unit transmits the discharge instruction at a second cycle that is shorter than a first cycle in which the first manipulated variable is changed to the second manipulated variable in the other server device; Server device.

3. In claim 2, In the other server device, the first manipulated variable is instructed to the power load at a second cycle that is longer than the first cycle. Server device.

4. In claim 1, When the control unit sends the discharge instruction, the control unit corrects the discharge amount to be discharged from the storage battery so as to decrease the discharge amount. Server device.

5. In claim 4, the control unit corrects the discharge amount at a second time point after the first time point so that the discharge amount at the first time point is smaller than the discharge amount at the first time point. Server device.

6. A power control system having a plurality of server devices communicably connected, the first server device instructs the power load to use a first manipulated variable to consume available power based on a forecast of power demand by the power load within the jurisdiction and a record of power generation amount generated to be supplied to the power load, and changes the first manipulated variable to a second manipulated variable based on a record of power consumption by the power load; the second server device transmits a discharge instruction to cause the storage battery to discharge the power to be further supplied to the power load, based on the amount of power to be further purchased from the grid to be supplied to the power load, the first operation amount, the actual consumption, and the actual power generation, which are determined by the first server device; Power control system.

7. In claim 6, the second server device transmits the discharge instruction at a second cycle that is shorter than a first cycle in which the first operation amount is changed to the second operation amount by the first server device; Power control system.

8. In claim 7, the first server device instructs the power load of the first manipulated variable at a second period longer than the first period; Power control system.

9. In claim 6, the second server device corrects the amount of discharge to be caused to be discharged from the storage battery to be reduced when transmitting the discharge instruction; Power control system.

10. In claim 9, the first server device corrects the discharge amount at a second time point after the first time point so that the discharge amount at the first time point is smaller than the discharge amount at the first time point; Power control system.

11. A power control method for a plurality of server devices connected to each other in a communicable manner, comprising: the first server device instructs the power load to use a first manipulated variable to consume available power based on a forecast of power demand by the power load within the jurisdiction and a record of power generation amount generated to be supplied to the power load, and changes the first manipulated variable to a second manipulated variable based on a record of power consumption by the power load; the second server device transmits a discharge instruction to cause the storage battery to discharge the power to be further supplied to the power load, based on the amount of power to be further purchased from the grid to be supplied to the power load, the first operation amount, the actual consumption, and the actual power generation, which are determined by the first server device; Power control method.

12. In claim 11, the second server device transmits the discharge instruction at a second cycle that is shorter than a first cycle in which the first operation amount is changed to the second operation amount by the first server device; Power control method.

13. In claim 12, the first server device instructs the power load of the first manipulated variable at a second period longer than the first period; Power control method.

14. In claim 11, the second server device corrects the amount of discharge to be caused to be discharged from the storage battery to be reduced when transmitting the discharge instruction; Power control method.

15. In claim 14, the first server device corrects the discharge amount at a second time point after the first time point so that the discharge amount at the first time point is smaller than the discharge amount at the first time point; Power control method.

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