Supply control device

Abstract

To provide a supply control device capable of reducing a breaking frequency of a main breaker.SOLUTION: A supply control device controls power supply to a vehicle when a part of power supplied to facilities is supplied to the vehicle. The supply control device controls an element for opening / closing an electric circuit for supplying power to the vehicle via a main breaker provided so that power consumed by a load in the facilities does not exceed an upper limit. The supply control device suppresses opening operation of the element when it is determined that the number of times of opening of the element is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a supply control device that controls power supply to a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that a portion of the electricity supplied to a facility such as a home can be used to supply power to a vehicle and charge the vehicle's onboard battery. Patent Document 1 below discloses a distribution board device that includes a main breaker to which commercial power is supplied and multiple branch breakers that are electrically branched off from the main breaker. The distribution board device is configured to charge the PHV / EV's storage battery via one of the branch breakers. During this charging, the PHV / EV charging current can be controlled according to the current value obtained by subtracting the current consumption value flowing through the main breaker from the allowable current value of the main breaker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-125091 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Even if the charging current for PHVs / EVs is controlled as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the fluctuation range of power consumption within the facility becomes large in a short period of time, the reduction control of the charging current for PHVs / EVs may not be able to keep up, causing the main breaker to trip. Frequent main breaker tripping accelerates the deterioration of the equipment, so it is desirable to reduce the frequency of main breaker tripping.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a supply control device that can reduce the frequency of main breaker tripping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure provides a supply control device that controls the supply of power to a vehicle when supplying a portion of the power supplied to a facility to the vehicle, and includes an element that opens and closes an electrical circuit that supplies power to the vehicle via a main breaker that is installed so that the power consumed by the loads within the facility does not exceed an upper limit, and a control unit that controls the opening and closing of the element in accordance with the power consumed by the loads within the facility, and when the control unit determines that the number of times the element has been opened has reached a predetermined number or more, it maintains the opening operation of the element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a supply control device that can reduce the frequency of main breaker tripping. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration using a supply control device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a controlled outlet, which is an example of a supply control device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the control flow of the controlled outlet shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration using the supply control device according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a control box, which is an example of a supply control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the control flow of the control box shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the control flow shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0010] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration using a controlled outlet 10 as an example of a supply control device of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the controlled outlet 10 is an outlet that is used by being inserted into an outlet 16 connected to a distribution board 18. A charging plug 123 of a charging cable 12 is inserted into the controlled outlet 10.

[0011] The charging cable 12 includes a charging connector 121, a control box 122, and a charging plug 123. The charging connector 121 is inserted into a power supply port (not shown) of the vehicle 14. The control box 122 is a part that controls the charging state via the charging cable 12. When the charging plug 123 is inserted into the controlled outlet 10 and then inserted into the vehicle's power supply port, charging of the vehicle 14 begins.

[0012] The distribution board 18 is a distribution board for supplying power to the loads 20 in the facility and the outlets 16, and is supplied with power from the grid. The distribution board 18 includes a main breaker that is installed to ensure that the power supplied to the facility does not exceed an upper limit. A smart meter 22 is installed on the power supply path from the grid to the distribution board 18. The smart meter 22 is configured to be able to send and receive information to and from the control outlet 10.

[0013] Router 24 is configured to be able to send and receive information to and from energy management server 26. Router 24 is also configured to be able to send and receive information to and from controlled outlet 10. Energy management server 26 is configured to be able to send and receive information to and from mobile terminal 28.

[0014] The energy management server 26 stores information necessary for energy management, such as contract power information and historical power information. Control information is transmitted from the energy management server 26 to the mobile terminal 28. The control information includes information related to charging control via the outlet 16. An ON / OFF command for charging via the outlet 16 is transmitted from the energy management server 26 to the router 24. Information related to charging via the outlet 16 and information related to the in-facility load 20 is transmitted from the router 24 to the energy management server 26.

[0015] Mobile terminal 28 displays the control information transmitted from energy management server 26. A user of mobile terminal 28 inputs various setting information in accordance with the displayed control information. The input various setting information is transmitted from mobile terminal 28 to energy management server 26.

[0016] Next, the controlled outlet 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2(A), the controlled outlet 10 includes a plug unit 101 and a microcomputer unit 102. When the controlled outlet 10 is inserted into an outlet 16, the plug unit 101 is electrically connected to the outlet 16. When a charging plug 123 is inserted into the controlled outlet 10, the plug unit 101 is electrically connected to a charging connector 121 via the charging plug 123. The plug unit 101 includes a relay mechanism.

[0017] (a) AC input supplies power from plug unit 101 to microcomputer unit 102 to drive microcomputer unit 102. (b) Relay drive signal is output from microcomputer unit 102 to plug unit 101 to open and close the relay mechanism.

[0018] 2B, the microcomputer unit 102 includes a control circuit 102a, a communication circuit 102b, and a power supply circuit 102c. The control circuit 102a performs calculations based on information output from the communication circuit 102b, and outputs a relay drive signal (b). The control flow of the control circuit 102a will be described later.

[0019] The communication circuit 102b is a part that transmits and receives information to and from the smart meter 22 and the router 24. The communication circuit 102b outputs information received from the smart meter 22 and the router 24 to the control circuit 102a. The power supply circuit 102c is a part that supplies power to the control circuit 102a and the communication circuit 102b. The power supply circuit 102c converts the AC input (a) supplied from the plug unit 101 and supplies it as a DC output to the control circuit 102a and the communication circuit 102b.

[0020] Next, the control flow of the controlled outlet 10 will be described with reference to Figure 3. In step S101, the contracted power P0 is input to the controlled outlet 10. In step S102 following step S101, a control upper limit set value Pb is input to the controlled outlet 10. The control upper limit set value Pb is a value set to prevent relay tripping from occurring too early in the event of a sudden load increase, and can be changed according to the power consumption state. In step S103 following step S102, a charging power upper limit value Pc is input to the controlled outlet 10.

[0021] For example, if the contracted power P0 is 5 kW (50 A contract), the control upper limit setting value Pb can be 1 kW and the charging power upper limit value Pc can be 3 kW. These values ​​can be set using dip switches provided on the control outlet 10 or using the mobile terminal 28. When setting using dip switches, six dip switches are provided corresponding to the contracted power P0, with each dip switch set to 1 kW. Five of these switches can be turned ON to set 5 kW. Four dip switches are provided corresponding to the control upper limit setting value Pb, with each dip switch set to 0.5 kW. 1 kW can be set by turning two of these switches ON. The control upper limit setting value Pb can also be set as a percentage of the contracted power P0. Four dip switches are provided, with each dip switch set to 5%. 1 kW can be set by turning two of these switches ON. Two dip switches are provided corresponding to the charging power upper limit value Pc, with each dip switch set to 1.5 kW. 3 kW can be set by turning two of these switches ON.

[0022] In step S104 following step S103, communication circuit 102b determines whether the radio wave strength exceeds a threshold. For example, the threshold is set when controlled outlet 10 is manufactured. If the radio wave strength exceeds the threshold (step S104: YES), the process proceeds to step S105. If the radio wave strength does not exceed the threshold (step S104: NO), the process proceeds to step S106.

[0023] In step S105, the control circuit 102a turns on a communication-secure lamp (not shown, for example, a red lamp) but does not turn on a communication-disconnected lamp (not shown, for example, a green lamp), and the process proceeds to step S108.

[0024] In step S106, the control circuit 102a turns on a communication failure lamp (not shown, for example, a red lamp). In step S107 following step S106, the position of the antenna is adjusted. The adjustment of the antenna position includes adjusting the extension of the antenna. When adjusting the antenna position, a communication assured lamp (not shown, for example, a green lamp) may be turned on when a predetermined radio wave intensity is ensured. When the processing of step S107 is completed, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0025] In step S108, the control circuit 102a reads the total power consumption P1, which is the instantaneous value of the power consumption of the facility loads 20. In step S109 following step S108, the control circuit 102a determines whether the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0'. The control upper limit power P0' is defined as the contracted power P0 minus the control upper limit set value Pb. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0' (step S109: YES), the process proceeds to step S110. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t does not exceed the control upper limit power P0' (step S109: NO), the process proceeds to step S108.

[0026] In step S110, the control circuit 102a counts up the number of times N to open (turn OFF) the relay mechanism of the plug unit 101. In step S111 following step S110, the control circuit 102a outputs a relay drive signal to open (turn OFF) the relay mechanism of the plug unit 101.

[0027] In step S112 following step S111, the control circuit 102a determines whether the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0'. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0' (step S112: YES), the process proceeds to step S111. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t does not exceed the control upper limit power P0' (step S112: NO), the process proceeds to step S113.

[0028] In step S113, the control circuit 102a determines whether the number N of times the relay mechanism of the plug unit 101 is opened (turned OFF) does not exceed the upper limit number Nmax per day. If the number N of times the relay mechanism of the plug unit 101 is opened (turned OFF) does not exceed the upper limit number Nmax per day (step S113: YES), the control circuit 102a outputs a relay drive signal to close (turn ON) the relay mechanism of the plug unit 101, and the process proceeds to step S111. If the number N of times the relay mechanism of the plug unit 101 is opened (turned OFF) exceeds the upper limit number Nmax per day (step S113: NO), the process proceeds to step S114.

[0029] In step S114, information including the fact that charging has been stopped, the amount of charging energy up to that point, and the increase in the distance that can be driven is sent by push notification from the controlled outlet 10 to, for example, the mobile terminal 28. This push notification also includes information prompting the user to determine whether or not charging can be resumed, and is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 28.

[0030] In step S115 following step S114, in response to the display of information requesting a decision on whether to resume charging in step S114, the control circuit 102a determines whether a charging resume command has been input from the mobile terminal 28. If a charging resume command has been input from the mobile terminal 28 (step S115: YES), the process proceeds to step S116. If a charging resume command has not been input from the mobile terminal 28 (step S115: NO), the process proceeds to step S111.

[0031] In step S116, the control circuit 102a decrements the number of times N that the relay mechanism of the plug unit 101 is opened (turned OFF), by one, and the process proceeds to step S112.

[0032] Next, a case where a control box 122 is used as an example of a power supply control device will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The difference from the example described with reference to Fig. 1 is that the controlled outlet 10 is omitted, and the role of the power supply control device that was previously played by the controlled outlet 10 is now played by the control box 122. Therefore, the following mainly describes the parts that are different from the content described with reference to Fig. 1.

[0033] The charging plug 123 is inserted into the outlet 16. The control box 122 is configured to be able to send and receive information to and from the smart meter 22 and the router 24.

[0034] Next, the control box 122 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5(A), the control box 122 includes a control circuit 122A, a CPLT circuit 122B, and a microcomputer unit 122C. When the charging plug 123 is inserted into the outlet 16, the control box 122 is electrically connected to the outlet 16. When the charging connector 121 is inserted into a power port (not shown) of the vehicle 14, the control box 122 is electrically connected to the vehicle 14. The control box 122 includes a relay mechanism.

[0035] The microcomputer unit 122C is supplied with power by (a) AC input to drive the microcomputer unit 122C. The microcomputer unit 122C outputs (b) a duty command to the CPLT circuit 122B to instruct the operation of the CPLT circuit 122B.

[0036] The CPLT circuit 122B is a circuit that fulfills the function of a control pilot, and is a circuit that confirms a reliable connection between the outlet 16 side, which is the charging equipment, and the power supply port side of the vehicle 14, and starts energization after confirmation on the vehicle 14 side. The control circuit 122A is a control circuit that opens and closes a relay mechanism provided in the control box 122. The control circuit 122A outputs a relay drive signal to the relay mechanism in response to a control signal from the CPLT circuit 122B.

[0037] 5B, the microcomputer unit 122C includes a control circuit 122Ca, a communication circuit 122Cb, and a power supply circuit 122Cc. The control circuit 122Ca executes calculations based on information output from the communication circuit 122Cb, and outputs a duty command (b). The control flow of the control circuit 122Ca will be described later.

[0038] The communication circuit 122Cb is a part that transmits and receives information to and from the smart meter 22 and the router 24. The communication circuit 122Cb outputs information received from the smart meter 22 and the router 24 to the control circuit 122Ca. The power supply circuit 122Cc is a part that supplies power to the control circuit 122Ca and the communication circuit 122Cb. The power supply circuit 122Cc (a) converts AC input and supplies it as DC output to the control circuit 122Ca and the communication circuit 122Cb.

[0039] Next, the control flow of the control box 122 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In step S201, the contracted power P0 is input to the control box 122. In step S202 following step S201, the control upper limit set value Pb is input to the control box 122. For example, if the contracted power P0 is 5 kW (50 A contract), the control upper limit set value Pb can be set to 1 kW. These values ​​may be set by a dip switch provided in the control box 122, or may be set using the mobile terminal 28.

[0040] In step S203, the communication circuit 122Cb determines whether the radio wave strength exceeds a threshold. For example, the threshold is set when the control box 122 is manufactured. If the radio wave strength exceeds the threshold (step S203: YES), the process proceeds to step S204. If the radio wave strength does not exceed the threshold (step S203: NO), the process proceeds to step S205.

[0041] In step S204, the control circuit 122Ca turns on a communication established lamp (not shown, for example, a green lamp) without turning on a communication failure lamp (not shown, for example, a red lamp), and the process proceeds to step S207.

[0042] In step S205, the control circuit 122Ca turns on a communication failure lamp (not shown, for example, a red lamp). In step S206 following step S205, the position of the antenna is adjusted. The adjustment of the antenna position includes adjusting the extension of the antenna. When adjusting the antenna position, a communication assured lamp (not shown, for example, a green lamp) may be turned on when a predetermined radio wave intensity is ensured. When the processing of step S206 ends, the process proceeds to step S203.

[0043] In step S207, the control circuit 122Ca sets the charging power upper limit Pc as Pi. When the control box 122 is used as the power supply control device, the charging power upper limit Pc is a variable value.

[0044] In step S208 following step S207, the control circuit 122Ca reads the total power consumption P1, which is the instantaneous value of the power consumption of the facility load 20. In step S209 following step S208, the control circuit 122Ca determines whether the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0'. The control upper limit power P0' is defined as the contract power P0 - the control upper limit set value Pb. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0' (step S209: YES), the process proceeds to step S210. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t does not exceed the control upper limit power P0' (step S209: NO), the process proceeds to step S211.

[0045] In step S210, the control circuit 122Ca issues a duty command that sets the charge power upper limit value Pc to the minimum charge power Pi. In step S212 following step S210, the control circuit 122Ca determines whether the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0'. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0' (step S212: YES), the process proceeds to step S213. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t does not exceed the control upper limit power P0' (step S212: NO), the process proceeds to step S211.

[0046] In step S211, the control circuit 122Ca sets the charging power upper limit value Pc to the maximum value Px obtained by subtracting the total power consumption P1(t) from the control upper limit power P0', and issues a new duty command. When the processing of step S211 ends, the process proceeds to step S208.

[0047] In step S213, the control circuit 122Ca counts up the number of times N to open (turn OFF) the relay mechanism of the control box 122. In step S114 following step S213, the control circuit 122Ca issues a duty command to set the charging power upper limit value Pc to 0. In response to this duty command, the control circuit 122A outputs a relay drive signal to open (turn OFF) the relay mechanism of the control box 122.

[0048] In step S215 following step S214, the control circuit 122Ca determines whether the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0'. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0' (step S215: YES), the process proceeds to step S214. If the total power consumption P1(t) at time t does not exceed the control upper limit power P0' (step S215: NO), the process proceeds to step S216.

[0049] In step S216, the control circuit 122Ca determines whether the number N of times the relay mechanism of the control box 122 is opened (turned OFF) does not exceed the upper limit number Nmax per day. If the number N of times the relay mechanism of the control box 122 is opened (turned OFF) does not exceed the upper limit number Nmax per day (step S216: YES), the control circuit 122A outputs a relay drive signal to close (turn ON) the relay mechanism of the control box 122, and the process proceeds to step S208. If the number N of times the relay mechanism of the control box 122 is opened (turned OFF) exceeds the upper limit number Nmax per day (step S216: NO), the process proceeds to step S217.

[0050] In step S217, the control box 122 sends a push notification to, for example, the portable terminal 28, informing it that charging has been stopped, the amount of charging energy thus far, and the increment in travelable distance. This push notification also includes information prompting the user to determine whether or not charging can be resumed, and this information is displayed on the screen of the portable terminal 28. In response to the display of the information prompting the user to determine whether or not charging can be resumed, the control circuit 122Ca determines whether a charging resume command has been input from the portable terminal 28. If a charging resume command has been input from the portable terminal 28 (step S217: YES), the process proceeds to step S218. If a charging resume command has not been input from the portable terminal 28 (step S217: NO), the process proceeds to step S214.

[0051] In step S218, the control circuit 122Ca decrements the number of times N that the relay mechanism of the control box 122 is opened (turned OFF), and the process proceeds to step S215.

[0052] According to the control described with reference to Fig. 6, the charging power upper limit value Pc is set as Pi, so that the charging power upper limit value Pc can be varied. Fig. 7 shows an example of the fluctuation in charging power when the charging power upper limit value Pc is varied.

[0053] In the first section, the total power consumption P1(t) at time t does not exceed the control upper limit power P0', so the determination in step S209 in Fig. 6 is No, and the process proceeds to step S211 in Fig. 6. By the processing in step S211, the charging power upper limit value Pc is set to Pv, which is the maximum in this example.

[0054] When charging continues beyond the first interval and enters the second interval, the in-home power consumption P2(t) increases, and as a result, the total power consumption P1(t) exceeds the control upper limit power P0'. Because the total power consumption P1(t) at time t exceeds the control upper limit power P0', the determination in step S209 in Figure 6 is Y, and the process proceeds to step S210. By the processing in step S210 in Figure 6, the charging power upper limit value Pc is set to Pi, which is the minimum in this example, and the charging power is limited.

[0055] After the charging power upper limit value Pc is set to the minimum value Pi in this example, the process of step S212 in Fig. 6 is executed. The total power consumption P1(t) at time t does not exceed the control upper limit power P0', so the determination in step S212 in Fig. 6 is No, and the process proceeds to step S211.

[0056] By the process of step S211 in Fig. 6, the charging power upper limit value Pc is set to the maximum value Px obtained by subtracting the total power consumption P1(t) from the control upper limit power P0'. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the charging power upper limit value Pc is set to Pii.

[0057] As charging continues beyond the second interval and enters the third interval, the in-home power consumption P2(t) decreases, causing the total power consumption P1(t) to fall below the control upper limit power P0'. Because the total power consumption P1(t) at time t is below the control upper limit power P0', the determination in step S209 in Figure 6 is No, and the process proceeds to step S211.

[0058] By the process of step S211 in Fig. 6, the charging power upper limit value Pc is set to the maximum value Px obtained by subtracting the total power consumption P1(t) from the control upper limit power P0'. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the charging power upper limit value Pc is set to Piii.

[0059] The present embodiment has been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific examples. Design modifications to these specific examples made by a person skilled in the art as appropriate are also included within the scope of the present disclosure as long as they comprise the features of the present disclosure. The elements of the above-described specific examples, as well as their arrangement, conditions, shape, etc., are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. The elements of the above-described specific examples can be combined in various ways as appropriate, as long as no technical contradictions arise.

[0060] [Note] A supply control device that controls the supply of power to a vehicle (14) when supplying a portion of the power supplied to a facility to the vehicle (14), an element that opens and closes an electric circuit that supplies electric power to the vehicle 14 via a main breaker that is installed so that the electric power consumed by the load in the facility does not exceed an upper limit; a control unit that controls the opening and closing of the element in accordance with the power consumed by the load in the facility, The control unit maintains the opening operation of the element when it determines that the number of times the element has been opened has reached a predetermined number.

[0061] In this disclosure, the control outlet 10 and the control box 122 are exemplified as the supply control device. The supply control device is not limited to these, and any device capable of controlling the power supply to the vehicle 14 when supplying a portion of the power supplied to the facility to the vehicle 14 may be used. In this disclosure, the main breaker is exemplified as one included in the distribution board 18. In this disclosure, the elements are exemplified as relay mechanisms provided in the control outlet 10 and the control box 122. The elements may also be semiconductor switching elements such as MOSFETs. In this disclosure, the control unit is exemplified as the microcomputer unit 102 and the microcomputer unit 122C.

[0062] According to the supply control device described in the appendix, the control unit controls the opening and closing of an element that opens and closes an electrical circuit that supplies power to vehicle 14 via a master breaker, which is installed to prevent the power consumed by loads within the facility from exceeding an upper limit, in accordance with the power consumed by the loads within the facility. This makes it possible to limit the power supply to vehicle 14 so as to prevent the master breaker from tripping. When it is determined that the number of times an element has been opened exceeds a predetermined number, the element remains open. This prevents the element from repeatedly opening and closing in situations where the master breaker is likely to trip, thereby suppressing element deterioration and reducing the possibility of the master breaker tripping. Furthermore, since the device is connected to energy management server 26, it is possible to accumulate and learn charging behavior and changes in in-home consumption, estimate the user's required charging amount, and automatically perform the required charging during times of low in-home consumption.

[0063] This disclosure allows for the avoidance of main breaker tripping during vehicle charging without the need for construction and at low cost, reducing anxiety when charging vehicles. Vehicle charging is restricted only while the facility's load power consumption exceeds a set threshold, eliminating the need to set timer charging on the vehicle side and ensuring longer charging times. Furthermore, the user can determine whether or not to continue charging based on the amount of charge before charging is cut off, preventing unnecessary increases in the number of breakers and reducing the shortening of the device's lifespan. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10: Control outlet (supply control device) 12: Charging cable 121: Charging connector 122: Control box (supply control device) 123: Charging plug 14: Vehicle 16: Outlet 18: Distribution board 20: Facility load 22: Smart meter 24: Router 26: Energy management server 28: Mobile devices

Claims

[Claim 1] A supply control device that controls power supply to a vehicle when supplying a portion of power supplied to a facility to the vehicle, an element that opens and closes an electric circuit that supplies power to the vehicle via a main breaker that is installed so that the power consumed by the load in the facility does not exceed an upper limit; a control unit that controls opening and closing of the element in accordance with the power consumed by a load in the facility, The control unit maintains the opening operation of the element when it determines that the number of times the element has been opened has reached a predetermined number.

Images