Control system

Abstract

To enable a long time operation of an emergency generator at the power interruption.SOLUTION: A control system 1 is a system for controlling a power supply of a multiple dwelling house 9, and the multiple dwelling house 9 includes a shared portion 6 to which power is supplied from a power system 5, a plurality of dwelling units 7 to which power is supplied from the power system 5 and each of which has an electric power generator 72, and an emergency generator 8. The control system 1 in a first mode has control means 16 of operating the emergency generator 8 at the time of a power interruption state and supplying power to the shared portion 6. The control means 16 supplies power from the electric power generator 72 which at least one dwelling unit 7 of the plurality of dwelling units 7 has to the shared portion 6 when the power system 5 is in a power interruption state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control system for controlling power supply to an apartment building. [Background technology]

[0002] It has previously been proposed that an apartment building containing multiple dwelling units and common areas further includes an emergency generator that can be operated using emergency fuel, so that in the event of a power outage, the emergency generator can be operated to supply electricity to the common areas (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-089112 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional technology described above, a large amount of fuel needs to be stockpiled in order to operate the emergency generator for a long time during a power outage. If the fuel stockpile is limited, it becomes difficult to operate the emergency generator for a long time.

[0005] The problem that the present disclosure aims to solve is to enable an emergency generator to operate for a long period of time during a power outage while reducing fuel stockpiles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A control system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for controlling the power supply of an apartment building that includes a common area supplied with power from a power grid, a plurality of dwelling units that are supplied with power from the power grid and each equipped with a generator, and an emergency generator, and includes a control means that operates the emergency generator to supply power to the common area when there is a power outage, and when the power grid is in the power outage state, the control means supplies power from the generator equipped in at least one of the plurality of dwelling units to the common area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present disclosure provides the effect of enabling an emergency generator to operate for a long period of time during a power outage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the power supply during a power outage in an apartment building in which power supply is controlled by a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the power supply to the above-mentioned apartment building when there is no power outage. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the control system of the above embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the control performed by the control system when a typhoon approaches. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure, and various modifications are possible depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. Furthermore, each diagram showing the following embodiment is a schematic diagram, and the size and thickness of each component in the diagram, as well as their respective ratios, do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratios.

[0010] 1. One embodiment (apartment housing) 1 and 2 schematically show an apartment building 9 in which power supply is controlled by a control system 1 according to an embodiment. The apartment building 9 is, for example, an apartment building.

[0011] The apartment building 9 includes a common area 6, a plurality of dwelling units 7, and an emergency generator 8. The common area 6, the plurality of dwelling units 7, and the emergency generator 8 will be described below.

[0012] The common area 6 of the apartment building 9 includes a water supply pump 61 and an elevator 63. The water supply pump 61 is configured to supply water from a water pipe to a water tank installed in the apartment building 9, for example, to store water in the tank. The water stored in the tank is sent to each of the multiple dwelling units 7. The water supply pump 61 can be supplied with power from an external source via the power grid 5 (see FIG. 2).

[0013] The elevator 63 is installed in an apartment building 9 having two or more floors, and the power required to operate the elevator 63 can be supplied from outside through the power grid 5. In other words, the power from the power grid 5 can be supplied to each of the water supply pump 61 and the elevator 63 that make up the common area 6.

[0014] In one embodiment, the common area 6 of the apartment building 9 includes a water pump 61 and an elevator 63, but is not limited to this, and the common area 6 of the apartment building 9 may include only one of the water pump 61 and the elevator 63. The common area 6 of the apartment building 9 may also include other equipment.

[0015] (multiple dwelling units) Electric power is supplied from a power grid 5 to the multiple dwelling units 7 of the apartment building 9 via the corresponding distribution boards 4. In addition, each of the multiple dwelling units 7 is equipped with a cogeneration system 75 that can be connected to the Internet. The cogeneration system 75 is configured to be able to interact with the control system 1 via the Internet.

[0016] The cogeneration system 75 includes a generator 72, and is configured to generate electricity in the generator 72 and extract heat generated during the power generation. The generator 72 includes, for example, a fuel cell, but may also include other equipment such as an engine generator instead of a fuel cell.

[0017] When the generator 72 includes a fuel cell, the cogeneration system 75 extracts hydrogen from fuel gas such as city gas or LP gas, and generates electricity by reacting it with oxygen in the air, while also extracting the heat generated during power generation. In this case, the cogeneration system 75 is configured to generate electricity using the generator 72 including a fuel cell and supply the electricity to each dwelling unit 7 through the distribution board 4, while also extracting the heat generated during power generation and supplying it to each dwelling unit 7.

[0018] In one embodiment, the plurality of dwelling units 7 are supplied with power from the power grid 5, and are also supplied with power from individually installed generators 72, and are supplied with heat generated during power generation.

[0019] (emergency generator) The emergency generator 8 of the apartment building 9 is used to generate emergency power when power from the power grid 5 is not supplied to the apartment building 9 (see FIG. 1).

[0020] Hereinafter, a state in which power is no longer supplied from the power grid 5 will be referred to as a "power outage state." A power outage state can occur due to, for example, a typhoon, heavy snow, earthquake, fire, accident, etc. These causes can be divided into predictable causes and unpredictable causes. Predictable causes include, for example, typhoons and heavy snow. Unpredictable causes include, for example, earthquakes, fires, accidents, etc. In other words, unpredictable causes are sudden causes.

[0021] The emergency generator 8 is, for example, a diesel engine configured to generate electricity in emergencies using storable fuels such as light oil or heavy oil A, but other types of generators such as gas turbine engines can also be used.

[0022] (Control System) A control system 1 according to one embodiment mainly comprises a computer system having, for example, one or more processors and a memory. The processor of the computer system executes a program stored in the memory of the computer system to realize each of the functions of the control system 1, which will be described later. The program may be stored in the memory, provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or provided by being recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card. The specific configuration of the control system 1 may be any appropriate configuration as long as it can perform the functions of the present disclosure.

[0023] 3, the control system 1 of one embodiment includes a stop means 12, a prediction means 14, and a control means 16. The specific configurations of the stop means 12, the prediction means 14, and the control means 16 can be any appropriate configuration as long as they can perform the functions described below.

[0024] (stopping means) The stopping means 12 provided in the control system 1 of one embodiment is configured to periodically stop the operation of the generators 72 individually installed in each of the multiple dwelling units 7. The periodic stopping of the generators 72 is performed to prevent the gas meter from falsely detecting the presence of a gas leak.

[0025] This is because the gas meter has a leak detection function that determines that a leak exists if the flow rate per unit time does not fall below a predetermined flow rate for a predetermined period (for example, 30 days), and detects a leak. Since gas is continuously used in the cogeneration system 75 including the fuel cell, the stopping means 12 is configured to stop the operation of the generator 72 periodically (for example, every predetermined number of days within 30 days) in order to avoid false detection of a gas leak.

[0026] In this way, a periodic shutdown time is set for each of the multiple dwelling units 7. The shutdown means 12 performs processing to shut down the operation of the generator 72 at that time based on the set periodic shutdown time.

[0027] (Prediction method) The prediction means 14 included in the control system 1 of one embodiment is configured to predict a period of time when the apartment building 9 is likely to experience a power outage due to a predictable cause. The predictable cause is, for example, a predictable natural disaster, and more specifically, a predictable meteorological disaster such as a typhoon or heavy snow.

[0028] Hereinafter, the period during which there is a high possibility that the apartment building 9 will experience a power outage will be referred to as a “high probability period.” Here, “high probability” means that the probability exceeds a preset standard, and the standard can be set as appropriate.

[0029] The prediction means 14 can predict the above-mentioned high probability period based on weather information provided from an external service via the Internet, for example. Specifically, the prediction means 14 can predict a period when there is a high possibility of a power outage occurring in the apartment building 9 due to the approach or passage of a typhoon based on the provided weather information (typhoon information).

[0030] (Control means) The control means 16 included in the control system 1 of one embodiment supplies power to the common area 6 of the apartment building 9 in the following procedure when the apartment building 9 is in a power outage state.

[0031] The control means 16 starts the emergency generator 8 when the apartment building 9 experiences a power outage. The control means 16 supplies the power generated by the emergency generator 8 to the common area 6 of the apartment building 9. A water supply pump 61 included in the common area 6 is supplied with power from the emergency generator 8. Similarly, an elevator 63 included in the common area 6 is supplied with power from the emergency generator 8.

[0032] Additionally, when the apartment building 9 experiences a power outage, the control means 16 supplies power from a cogeneration system 75 (i.e., power generated by a generator 72) provided in at least one of the multiple dwelling units 7 to the common area 6 of the apartment building 9. A water supply pump 61 included in the common area 6 is supplied with power from the generator 72 provided in one or more dwelling units 7. Similarly, an elevator 63 included in the common area 6 is supplied with power from the generator 72 provided in one or more dwelling units 7.

[0033] According to the control system 1 of one embodiment, it is possible to operate the common area 6 for a longer period of time when the apartment building 9 is in a power outage. For example, while the common area 6 can be operated for 24 hours using only the emergency generator 8, the common area 6 can be operated for 36 hours when the emergency generator 8 and the generator 72 work together.

[0034] (Starting a stopped generator) Additionally, when the cogeneration system 75 of at least one of the dwelling units 7 is stopped (i.e., the generator 72 is stopped) because the resident is absent, for example, when the apartment building 9 experiences a power outage, the control means 16 included in the control system 1 of one embodiment can forcibly start the stopped generator 72. The generator 72 can be started by supplying the power generated by the emergency generator 8 to the stopped generator 72 via the distribution board 4.

[0035] The power generated by the generator 72, which has been started from a stopped state, can be supplied to the common area 6. The water supply pump 61 included in the common area 6 is supplied with power from the started generator 72. Similarly, the elevator 63 included in the common area 6 is supplied with power from the started generator 72.

[0036] As described above, according to the control system 1 of one embodiment, when the generator 72 of a specific dwelling unit 7 has been stopped because the resident is absent or for other reasons, the stopped generator 72 can be forcibly started. Therefore, when the apartment building 9 is experiencing a power outage, the power supply to the common areas 6 can be shared by the emergency generator 8, the generator 72 that was in operation, and the generator 72 that has been forcibly started from a stopped state. Therefore, according to the control system 1 of one embodiment, it is possible to operate the common areas 6 for a longer period of time when the apartment building 9 is experiencing a power outage.

[0037] (Boot priority) For example, when multiple generators 72 are stopped, the control means 16 included in the control system 1 of one embodiment does not necessarily start all of the generators 72. To avoid a breakdown of the emergency generator 8, the control means 16 determines which of the multiple stopped generators 72 to start, as long as the power supply from the multiple dwelling units 7 to the common area 6 does not exceed the electrical capacity of the common area 6 of the apartment building 9.

[0038] At this time, it is preferable that the control means 16 prioritizes starting up the generator 72 that has been started up fewer times in the past among the multiple stopped generators 72. This is because, when a stopped generator 72 is forcibly started up, a load is placed on that generator 72. The above priority order prevents the number of starts from concentrating on a specific generator 72, which in turn prevents the load from concentrating on a specific generator 72.

[0039] (Accommodation between dwelling units) The control means 16 provided in the control system 1 of one embodiment can start the generator 72 in a specified dwelling unit 7 when the apartment building 9 experiences a power outage, and can also distribute the electricity generated by the started generator 72 to other dwelling units 7.

[0040] In other words, when a sudden power outage occurs in an apartment building 9, and the cogeneration system 75 installed in at least one of the multiple dwelling units 7 is stopped (i.e., the generator 72 is stopped) because, for example, the residents are absent, it is possible to forcibly start up all or part of the generators 72 in at least one of the dwelling units 7, and distribute the electricity generated by the started generators 72 to the other dwelling units 7.

[0041] In this case as well, when there are multiple generators 72 that are stopped, it is preferable that the control means 16 start up the generator that has been started up less frequently in the past.

[0042] (Periodic changes to stop times) The control means 16 provided in the control system 1 of one embodiment can change the above-mentioned periodic shutdown timing for the purpose of avoiding false detection of the gas meter when a power outage due to a typhoon or the like is predicted.

[0043] In other words, if the periodic shutdown time of a specific dwelling unit 7 included in the multiple dwelling units 7 overlaps with a high probability period predicted by the prediction means 14 (i.e., a period during which the apartment building 9 is likely to experience a power outage), the control means 16 can change the set periodic shutdown time so that it falls outside of that high probability period.

[0044] When the periodic shutdown timing of at least one generator 72 (for example, a shutdown period set for every predetermined number of days within 30 days) overlaps with a high probability period, the control means 16 can change the periodic shutdown timing of all or part of the at least one generator 72 so that it falls outside the predicted high probability period. It is preferable to reset the periodic shutdown timing to be after the high probability period, but it is also possible to reset it to be before the high probability period.

[0045] For example, if the regular shutdown times of multiple generators 72 overlap with a high probability period, the control means 16 does not necessarily change the shutdown times of all of the generators 72. To avoid a breakdown of the emergency generator 8, the control means 16 determines which of the multiple generators 72 whose shutdown times overlap with a high probability period to change the shutdown time for, within the scope of not allowing the power supply from the multiple dwelling units 7 to the common area 6 to exceed the electrical capacity of the common area 6 of the apartment building 9.

[0046] (An example of the flow when an earthquake occurs) The following describes how power supply and other controls are performed in the apartment building 9 when a power outage occurs due to, for example, an earthquake.

[0047] When it is determined that the apartment building 9 has experienced a power outage, the control means 16 provided in the control system 1 of one embodiment determines, based on information on the number of generators 72 currently in operation, whether the power of all the generators 72 currently in operation exceeds the electrical capacity of the common area 6.

[0048] If it is determined that the electrical capacity of the common area 6 will not be exceeded (i.e., if there is spare electrical capacity), the generators 72 that are stopped due to the absence of residents, etc., in numbers equivalent to the spare electrical capacity are remotely started. At this time, it is preferable to exclude from the start-up process generators 72 that are periodically stopped in order to avoid false detection by the gas meter.

[0049] If there are multiple generators 72 that are stopped and can be started, priority is given to starting the generator with the fewest number of past starts. For example, in the situation shown in Table 1 below, four dwelling units 7 (room numbers 102, 105, 108, and 111) are in an unattended power generation state where power reverse is possible, and if start-up processing is to be performed on three of these dwelling units 7, start-up processing will be performed on the three dwelling units 7 with the fewest number of past starts (room numbers 102, 105, and 108).

[0050] [Table 1]

[0051] On the other hand, if it is determined that the electrical capacity of the common area 6 will be exceeded (i.e., there is no excess electrical capacity), remote shutdown processing is performed on the number of operating generators 72 that will create a certain amount of excess electrical capacity.

[0052] The control means 16 executes the above-described series of processes every day during the period when the power outage occurs.

[0053] When the apartment building 9 recovers from the power outage, the control means 16 remotely stops the generators 72 that were started in response to the power outage. Also, if there are any generators 72 that were stopped in response to the power outage, the control means 16 remotely starts up those generators 72.

[0054] (An example of a flow when a typhoon is approaching) The following describes control of power supply and the like in the apartment building 9 when a power outage is predicted due to, for example, a typhoon.

[0055] The control means 16 included in the control system 1 of one embodiment acquires information on the number of generators 72 currently in operation, as well as information on the timing at which the stopping means 12 will periodically stop the operation of each generator 72, and information on the high probability periods predicted by the prediction means 14. The control means 16 identifies generators 72 whose periodic stop times overlap with the high probability periods, and changes the periodic stop times of the relevant generators 72 so that they fall outside the high probability periods.

[0056] Thereafter, when the apartment building 9 experiences a power outage due to a typhoon, the control of the power supply and the like is the same as the control in the event of an earthquake as described above.

[0057] 2. Variations The above embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure, and various modifications can be made to the above embodiment depending on the design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved.

[0058] Modifications of the above embodiment will be described below. In the description of the modifications, the same components as those described in the above embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and detailed description will be omitted. The various modifications listed below can be applied in appropriate combination.

[0059] In one embodiment of the control system 1, when the apartment building 9 experiences a power outage, the generator 72 that is currently stopped may be forcibly started, but it is also possible to configure the control means 16 so that such forced starting is not performed.

[0060] In one embodiment, in the control system 1, when a power outage occurs in the apartment building 9 and multiple generators 72 are stopped, the generator 72 to be started is selected based on the number of times that the generators have been started in the past, but the criteria for selecting the generators 72 to be started are not limited to this. It is also possible to select the generators 72 to be started based on the number of times that the generators have been started in the past and a different criterion. It is also possible to select the generators 72 to be started based on a different criterion without using the number of times that the generators have been started in the past as the criterion.

[0061] In one embodiment of the control system 1, when an apartment building 9 is in a power outage, it is possible to share power between multiple dwelling units 7, but it is also possible to configure the control system 1 so that such power sharing is not performed.

[0062] In one embodiment, the control system 1 is equipped with a prediction means 14 that predicts high probability periods, and is capable of changing the regular shutdown times of the generator 72 to avoid the arrival of typhoons, etc., but it is also possible that the control system 1 does not have such a function.

[0063] 3. Summary As described based on the above embodiment and modified examples, the control system (1) of the first aspect is a system for controlling the power supply of an apartment building (9), the apartment building (9) including a common area (6) supplied with power from a power grid (5), a plurality of dwelling units (7) supplied with power from the power grid (5) and each equipped with a generator (72), and an emergency generator (8). The control system (1) of the first aspect includes a control means (16) that operates the emergency generator (8) to supply power to the common area (6) during a power outage. When the power grid (5) is in a power outage, the control means (16) supplies power from the generator (72) equipped in at least one of the plurality of dwelling units (7) to the common area (6).

[0064] According to this embodiment, during a power outage, power can be supplied to the common area 6 not only from the emergency generator 8 but also from the dwelling unit 7. Therefore, during a power outage, the emergency generator 8 can be operated for a long time while reducing fuel storage.

[0065] In the control system (1) of the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, when the power grid (5) experiences a power outage and the generator (72) of a specific dwelling unit (7) among the plurality of dwelling units (7) is stopped, the control means (16) starts the stopped generator (72) to supply power to the common area (6).

[0066] According to this embodiment, since a larger number of generators (72) can be operated during a power outage, the power supply during the power outage is stabilized.

[0067] In the control system (1) of the third embodiment, in the second embodiment, when there are a plurality of generators (72) that are stopped, the control means (16) starts up the generator (72) that has been started up less frequently in the past with priority.

[0068] According to this embodiment, the number of startups is prevented from concentrating on a specific generator (72), that is, the load is prevented from concentrating on a specific generator (72).

[0069] In the control system (1) of the fourth aspect, in the first aspect, when the power grid (5) experiences a power outage and the generator (72) of a specific dwelling unit (7) included in the plurality of dwelling units (7) is stopped, the control means (16) starts the stopped generator (72) and supplies power to the other dwelling units (7) included in the plurality of dwelling units (7).

[0070] According to this embodiment, in a power outage, power interchange between the dwelling units (7) can be stably carried out.

[0071] The control system (1) of a fifth aspect is any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising: stopping means (12) for periodically stopping the operation of the generator (72) in each of the plurality of dwelling units (7), and prediction means (14) for predicting a period when the electric power grid (5) is likely to enter a power outage state. When the periodic shutdown time of a specific dwelling unit (7) included in the plurality of dwelling units (7) overlaps with the predicted period, the control means (16) changes the shutdown time to deviate from the predicted period.

[0072] According to this embodiment, it is possible to ensure the number of generators (72) that are in operation when a power outage occurs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Control System 12 Stopping means 14 Prediction methods 16 Control Measures 5 Power system 6 Common areas 7 dwelling units 72 Generator 8 Emergency generator 9 Apartment complex

Claims

1. A system for controlling the power supply of an apartment building including a common area to which power is supplied from a power grid, a plurality of dwelling units to which power is supplied from the power grid and each of which is equipped with a generator, and an emergency generator, a control means for operating the emergency generator to supply power to the common area during a power outage; When the power grid is in the power outage state, the control means supplies power from the generator provided in at least one of the plurality of dwelling units to the common area. Control system.

2. When the power grid reaches the power outage state, if the generator of a specific dwelling unit included in the plurality of dwelling units is stopped, the control means starts the stopped generator to supply power to the common area. The control system of claim 1.

3. When there are a plurality of the generators currently stopped, the control means starts the generator with priority given to the generator that has been started less frequently in the past. The control system of claim 2.

4. When the power grid reaches the power outage state, if the generator of a specific dwelling unit included in the plurality of dwelling units is stopped, the control means starts the stopped generator and supplies power to other dwelling units included in the plurality of dwelling units. The control system of claim 1.

5. a stopping means for periodically stopping operation of the generator in each of the plurality of dwelling units; a prediction means for predicting a period during which the power grid is likely to enter the power outage state, When a periodic shutdown time for a specific dwelling unit included in the plurality of dwelling units overlaps with the predicted period, the control means changes the shutdown time to deviate from the period. A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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