Demand control system

Abstract

To prevent power stored in a storage battery from being excessively consumed, when a power load is newly added thereto.SOLUTION: An energy management system 100 included in a demand control system 10 controls power fed to a power load of load equipment 200 from a commercial power system 20. The demand control system performs control of suppressing power consumption of a power load, and control of adjusting a power-feeding amount from a storage battery 250 by which power is fed to the power load in such a manner that a demand value as a mean value of the power consumption of the power load at a predetermined demand time limit does not exceed a target demand value. The energy management system 100 performs processing of requesting for changing the target demand value to a value larger than a current value, when an instantaneous value of the power fed to the power load from the commercial power system 20 is a predetermined threshold or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a demand control system. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a demand control system that controls the power supplied from a commercial power grid to a power load. This demand control system implements control to suppress the power consumption of the power load so that the demand value does not exceed a target demand value. The demand value is the average value of the power consumption of the power load over a predetermined demand time period (e.g., 30 minutes). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-22847 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, it is conceivable to supply power from a storage battery to a power load so that the demand value does not exceed a target demand value. When a new power load is added, for example by installing an air conditioner, power consumption increases. Therefore, if the target demand value is not set appropriately, the power supplied from the commercial power grid will be insufficient to meet the power required to operate the power load. In this case, the power shortage can be compensated for by increasing the power supplied from the storage battery to the power load. However, if this condition continues for a long time, there is a risk that the power stored in the storage battery will be consumed excessively.

[0005] Incidentally, because the amount of electricity stored in a storage battery is limited, excessive consumption of the electricity stored in the storage battery may result in the storage battery being depleted. When the storage battery's amount of electricity is depleted, it is necessary to increase the power supplied from the commercial power grid to ensure the power required to operate the power load. In this case, there is a risk that the demand value will exceed the target demand value. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A demand control system that solves the above problem controls the power supplied to a power load from a commercial power grid. This demand control system performs control to suppress the power usage of the power load and control to adjust the amount of power supplied from a storage battery that supplies power to the power load so that a demand value, which is the average power usage of the power load over a predetermined demand time period, does not exceed a target demand value. When the instantaneous value of power supplied to the power load from the commercial power grid exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system performs processing to request a change to the target demand value to a value greater than the current value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention can prevent excessive consumption of power stored in a storage battery when a new power load is added. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a demand control system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process executed by the demand control server of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a demand control system will be described with reference to the drawings. <Configuration of the demand control system> 1, a demand control system 10 includes a load facility 200 and an energy management server (hereinafter referred to as EMS) 100. The demand control system 10 is a system that controls the power supplied from a commercial power grid 20 to various power loads included in the load facility 200.

[0010] The commercial power system 20 is managed by a power company and supplies power to the power loads of the load facilities 200 . The load equipment 200 is, for example, an electrical equipment installed in a store or the like.

[0011] The load facility 200 includes an air conditioner 240 as an electric power load. The load facility 200 includes a storage battery 250 that supplies power to an air conditioner 240. The storage battery 250 is charged using main power or the like. Therefore, the storage battery 250 becomes a power load during charging.

[0012] The load facility 200 includes a charging / discharging stand 230. The charging / discharging stand 230 charges a battery 410 for vehicle travel provided in the electric vehicle 400, supplies power from the battery 410 to the air conditioner 240, and supplies power from the battery 410 to the storage battery 250. Charging of the battery 410 via the charging / discharging stand 230 is performed using main power or the like. Therefore, when the battery 410 is being charged, the charging / discharging stand 230 serves as a power load.

[0013] The load equipment 200 includes a power acquisition unit 220 that acquires main power, which is power supplied to the power load from the commercial power system 20. The power acquisition unit 220 acquires main power from a smart meter, which is a power meter provided in the commercial power system 20.

[0014] The load equipment 200 is equipped with a control device 210. The control device 210 is equipped with a CPU and a memory configured from a ROM, a RAM, etc., and performs various controls by the CPU executing programs stored in the memory. The control device 210 is connected to the power acquisition unit 220 and the various power loads described above via signal lines. The control device 210 is connected to an external network 500. The external network 500 is connected to the EMS 100, a mobile information terminal 300 owned by a user who manages the load equipment 200, etc.

[0015] The control device 210 receives a control command transmitted from the EMS 100 via the external network 500. Then, the control device 210 controls the power usage of the various power loads described above based on the received control command.

[0016] The EMS 100 is equipped with a CPU, a memory configured with a ROM, a RAM, etc., and a storage, and performs various controls by the CPU executing programs stored in the memory. The EMS 100 calculates a predicted value of power consumption in the load equipment 200. Then, while monitoring the predicted value and the actual power value, it transmits the above-mentioned control command to the control device 210.

[0017] The EMS 100 includes a power peak determining unit 110. The power peak determining unit 110 is realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the memory of the EMS 100.

[0018] The power peak determination unit 110 performs the following demand control so that the demand value D30 of the load equipment 200 does not exceed the target demand value D30T. That is, the power peak determination unit 110 performs control to issue the control command to suppress the power usage of the power load of the load equipment 200, and control to issue the control command to adjust the amount of power supplied from the storage battery 250 or the battery 410 to the power load.

[0019] The demand value D30 is the average value of the power used in the load equipment 200 equipped with the various power loads described above. More specifically, it is the average value of the main power for a predetermined demand time period (e.g., 30 minutes). The target demand value D30T is a target value of the demand value D30 and is set in advance.

[0020] Incidentally, when a new power load is added to the load equipment 200 due to the installation of an air conditioner or the like, the power consumption of the load equipment 200 increases. Therefore, if the target demand value D30T is not set appropriately, the power supplied from the commercial power grid 20 to the power required to operate the power load will be insufficient. In this case, the power shortage can be compensated for by increasing the power supplied to the power load from the storage battery 250, the battery 410, or the like. However, if this state continues for a long time, there is a risk that the power stored in the storage battery 250, the battery 410, or the like will be consumed excessively.

[0021] Since the storage capacity of the storage battery 250 and the battery 410 is limited, excessive consumption of the power stored in the storage battery 250 and the battery 410 may result in depletion of the power stored in the storage battery 250 and the battery 410. When the storage capacity of the storage battery 250 and the battery 410 is depleted, it becomes necessary to increase the power supplied from the commercial power grid 20 to ensure the power necessary to operate the power load, and in this case, there is a risk that the demand value D30 may exceed the target demand value D30T.

[0022] To prevent such inconveniences from occurring, the EMS 100 executes the process shown in Fig. 2 at predetermined execution intervals. In this embodiment, the process shown in Fig. 2 is executed by the power peak determination unit 110, but the process shown in Fig. 2 may also be executed by another processing unit. In the following, the step number of each process will be represented by a number preceded by "S."

[0023] <About the flowchart> As shown in FIG. 2, when this process starts, the EMS 100 determines whether the instantaneous value IP of main power, which is power supplied from the commercial power system 20 to the power load, is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S100).

[0024] The EMS 100 acquires the instantaneous value IP from the control device 210 via the external network 500 at predetermined intervals. The threshold value is set in advance so that it can appropriately determine that a new power load has been added to the load equipment 200 based on the instantaneous value IP being equal to or greater than this threshold value. For example, a value obtained by adding a predetermined power value to the maximum value of the instantaneous value IP within a predetermined period from the present to the past is set as threshold value A. A value obtained by adding a predetermined rate to the maximum value of the instantaneous value IP is set as threshold value B. If the acquired instantaneous value IP is equal to or greater than threshold value A, or if the acquired instantaneous value IP is equal to or greater than threshold value B, a positive determination is made in the processing of S100.

[0025] Next, the EMS 100 executes a process of notifying the user of the change in the target demand value D30T (S110). More specifically, the user is notified of a request to change the target demand value D30T to a value greater than the current value. In the process of S110, the EMS 100 notifies the user of the change in the target demand value D30T by executing a process of displaying the request to change the target demand value D30T on the mobile information terminal 300. Note that the change in the target demand value D30T can be performed, for example, by the user operating various terminals such as the mobile information terminal 300. The process of S110 is a process of requesting a change in the target demand value to a value greater than the current value.

[0026] Next, the EMS 100 determines whether the target demand value D30T has been changed by the user (S120). If it is determined that the target demand value D30T has been changed by the user (S120: YES), the EMS 100 performs the above-described demand control using the updated new target demand value D30T (S130).

[0027] On the other hand, if it is determined in the processing of S120 that the target demand value D30T has not been changed by the user (S120: NO), the EMS100 performs the above-mentioned demand control using the current target demand value D30T that has not been updated (S140).

[0028] After executing the process of S130 or S140, the EMS 100 next determines whether the latest demand value D30 exceeds the contract value (S150). The contract value is a default value, which is the demand value D30 according to the current basic rate for electricity.

[0029] If it is determined in the process of S150 that the demand value D30 exceeds the contract value (S150: YES), the EMS 100 automatically updates the target demand value D30T (S160). In the process of S160, the EMS 100 calculates a value obtained by subtracting the resource-reduced power PR from the maximum demand value D30Tmax and assigns the calculated value to the target demand value D30T, thereby automatically updating the target demand value D30T. The maximum demand value D30Tmax is the demand value D30 at the demand time period that includes the timing at which it is determined in the process of S100 that the instantaneous value IP is equal to or greater than the threshold. The resource-reduced power PR is the following value. That is, in this embodiment, since it is possible to supply power to the power load of the load equipment 200 from the storage battery 250 or the battery 410, it is possible to reduce the power supplied from the main power source by the amount of the supplied power. The demand value D30 corresponding to this reduction effect is the resource-reduced power PR, which is a value determined in advance by a business operator that provides demand control.

[0030] When the process of S160 is completed, when a negative determination is made in the process of S150, or when a negative determination is made in the process of S100, the EMS 100 ends the execution of this process in the current execution cycle.

[0031] <Actions and Effects of This Embodiment> (1) When a new power load such as an air conditioner is added to the load equipment 200, the instantaneous value IP of the main power, which is the power supplied from the commercial power grid 20 to the power load, increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the instantaneous value IP becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (S100: YES in FIG. 2), the process of S110 in FIG. 2 is executed. That is, the process of notifying the user of the change in the target demand value D30T is executed, and a request is made to change the target demand value D30T to a value greater than the current value. Therefore, when the target demand value D30T is changed based on such a request, the amount of power supplied from the commercial power grid 20 out of the power required to operate the power load increases. This makes it possible to suppress excessive consumption of the power stored in the storage battery 250 and the battery 410.

[0032] (2) Excessive consumption of the power stored in the storage battery 250 and the battery 410 is suppressed, thereby suppressing depletion of the power stored in the storage battery 250 and the battery 410. Therefore, an increase in the power supplied from the commercial power grid 20 in order to ensure the power necessary to operate the power load is suppressed. Therefore, the demand value D30 is suppressed from exceeding the target demand value D30T. Furthermore, changing the target demand value D30T itself to a value greater than the current value also suppresses the demand value D30 from exceeding the target demand value D30T.

[0033] (3) If the demand value D30 exceeds the contract value (S150: YES in FIG. 2), the EMS 100 executes the process of S160 shown in FIG. 2, thereby automatically updating the target demand value D30T. Therefore, the target demand value D30T can be appropriately managed.

[0034] <Example of change> The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0035] If the user is notified of a change in the target demand value D30T by executing the process of S110 shown in FIG. 2, the user may change the target demand value D30T to an inappropriate value. For example, a possible example of such a case is when the user mistakenly changes the target demand value D30T to an inappropriate value such as "0." Therefore, if it is determined in the process of S120 that the target demand value D30T has been changed, it is determined whether the changed target demand value D30T is within a predetermined appropriate range. If the changed target demand value D30T is outside the appropriate range, a warning may be issued to the user that the target demand value D30T has become an inappropriate value. Such a warning may be displayed on various terminals, such as the mobile information terminal 300.

[0036] The processes of S150 and S160 shown in Fig. 2 may be omitted. Even in this case, functions and effects other than (3) above can be obtained. In the process of S110 shown in Fig. 2, a request to change the target demand value D30T is displayed on the mobile information terminal 300. Alternatively, such a request to change may be displayed on a device other than the mobile information terminal 300, such as an operation panel provided in the load equipment 200.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the process of requesting a change of the target demand value D30T to a value greater than the current value is a process of notifying the user of the change of the target demand value D30T. Alternatively, as a process of requesting a change of the target demand value D30T to a value greater than the current value, the EMS 100 may generate a request command value to change the target demand value D30T to a value greater than the current value. Then, the EMS 100 may execute a process of automatically updating the target demand value D30T based on the request command value.

[0038] The number and types of power loads provided in the load facility 200 are merely examples, and the number and types can be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10...Demand control system, 20...Commercial power system, 100...Energy management server (EMS), 110...Power peak determination unit, 200...Load equipment, 210...Control device, 220...Power acquisition unit, 230...Charging / discharging stand, 240...Air conditioner, 250...Storage battery, 300...Mobile information terminal, 400...Electric vehicle, 410...Storage battery, 410...Battery, 500...External network.

Claims

[Claim 1] A demand control system that controls power supplied from a commercial power system to a power load, A control is performed to suppress the power usage of the power load and to adjust the amount of power supply from a storage battery that supplies power to the power load so that a demand value, which is an average value of the power usage of the power load during a predetermined demand time period, does not exceed a target demand value; and When the instantaneous value of the power supplied from the commercial power system to the power load becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, a process is performed to request a change of the target demand value to a value greater than the current value. Demand control system.

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