Virtual storage battery management system and management method

Abstract

To provide a virtual storage battery management system which enables consumers in a wider range to use a virtual storage battery while relaxing geographical limitations.SOLUTION: The operation reception device 2 receives a charge / discharge operation for the imaginary storage battery 4 from a consumer belonging to a first power receiving point (for example, a power receiving point PR2, 3). The virtual-storage-battery management device 5 instructs the storage battery 3 belonging to a second power receiving point (for example, a power receiving point PR1) different from the first power receiving point to perform charging / discharging in accordance with the charging / discharging operation received by the operation receiving device 2, and manages a charging power amount or a discharging power amount increased by the charging / discharging of the storage battery 3 as a power amount of the consumer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a virtual battery management system and a management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, rechargeable storage batteries are used to prepare for power outages, adjust the balance between power supply and demand, save on electricity bills, etc. Such storage batteries are sometimes shared by multiple consumers.

[0003] As a prior art for sharing storage batteries, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which each of a plurality of consumers (users) who share a storage battery can use the storage battery without being affected by the use of the storage battery by other consumers. In the technology of Patent Document 1, the correspondence between each of the plurality of consumers and the usable battery capacity of the storage battery is managed by an allocation table, and each consumer can use (discharge and charge) the storage battery within the range of the battery capacity allocated to it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-018504 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for virtualizing a storage battery and charging and discharging the virtual storage battery within the capacity range allocated to a consumer. However, the technology of Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the power discharged from the storage battery is superimposed on the grid power and supplied to consumers who use the virtual storage battery (paragraph

[0016] , Figure 1), so the scope of application of the technology is somewhat limited. In other words, Patent Document 1 is configured so that a storage battery belonging to a certain power receiving point is used as a virtual storage battery by consumers who belong to the same power receiving point, so the consumers who can use such a virtual storage battery are geographically limited.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a virtual battery management system and management method that allows a wider range of consumers to use virtual batteries while easing geographical limitations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the virtual battery management system according to the present disclosure includes: A virtual battery management system that virtualizes a battery, an operation receiving means for receiving a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery from a consumer under a first power receiving point; a virtual battery management means for instructing the storage battery under a second power receiving point different from the first power receiving point to charge or discharge in response to the charge / discharge operation received by the operation receiving means, and for managing the amount of charge power or the amount of discharge power that increases due to the charge / discharge of the storage battery as the amount of power of the consumer; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, even consumers who belong to a power receiving point different from the power receiving point of the storage battery can use the virtual storage battery, thereby relaxing geographical restrictions and allowing a wider range of consumers to use the virtual storage battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a virtual battery management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] A diagram showing a specific example of the layout of a virtual battery management system [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an operation reception device. [Figure 4] A block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a virtual battery management device. [Figure 5] Flowchart for explaining an example of information registration processing [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display update process. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a charging / discharging process. [Figure 8] Sequence diagram showing the overall flow of periodic display updates [Figure 9] A sequence diagram showing the overall flow resulting from the charging and discharging operations of a virtual battery. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments also include cases where power discharged from a storage battery is reversely flowed (i.e., sold) to a commercial power grid. Note that, although reverse flow from a solar power generation facility is currently permitted, reverse flow from a storage battery is generally not permitted due to agreements with power companies. Nevertheless, reverse flow from a storage battery may be permitted in the future. Therefore, in the following embodiments, reverse flow from a storage battery will be applied in situations where it will be permitted in the future. Furthermore, the embodiments described below are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, a person skilled in the art could adopt embodiments in which each or all of the elements are replaced with equivalents, and these embodiments would also fall within the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0011] Hereinafter, a virtual battery management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0012] (Embodiment) 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a virtual battery management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The virtual battery management system 1 is a system that provides a service in which, among consumers that consume power supplied from an electric utility (electric power company), consumers that do not have a storage battery (for example, low-voltage consumers LCa and LCb described later) can use a storage battery 3 owned by another consumer (for example, high-voltage consumer HC described later) as a virtual storage battery 4 (virtual storage battery). As shown in Figure 1, the virtual battery management system 1 includes an operation reception device 2 which is an example of an operation reception means, a battery 3, a virtual battery 4, and a virtual battery management device 5 which is an example of a virtual battery management means. The virtual storage battery 4 is a virtual storage battery assigned to a user and does not have a physical form. The operation reception device 2, the storage battery 3, and the virtual storage battery management device 5 are communicably connected via a network NT, such as the Internet. The virtual storage battery management system 1 is constructed and managed, for example, by a storage battery business operator (as an example, a storage battery operation business operator OC, which will be described later).

[0013] In such a virtual battery management system 1, as shown in FIG. 2 as a specific example, an operation reception device 2 and a battery 3 are appropriately arranged at each customer within a service area SA. 2 shows a case where the high-voltage consumer HC has a storage battery 3, while the low-voltage consumers LCa and LCb do not have a storage battery 3 (and instead have a virtual storage battery 4), but this is just an example. In other words, the combination of consumers that have a storage battery 3 and consumers that do not have a storage battery 3 can be changed as appropriate depending on the actual situation within the service area SA.

[0014] Electric power is supplied to each consumer by an electric utility company. That is, the power generated at a power plant PP is transported to each substation SB via a transmission line PL. Then, after voltage conversion is performed in stages at the substation SB, the power is supplied to each consumer (high-voltage consumer HC, low-voltage consumers LCa, LCb) via a distribution line DL.

[0015] Each consumer has a different receiving point PR. First, high-voltage consumer HC is connected to the distribution line DL through receiving point PR1 and is located under receiving point PR1. Low-voltage consumer LCa is connected to the distribution line DL through receiving point PR2 and is located under receiving point PR2. Finally, low-voltage consumer LCb is connected to the distribution line DL through receiving point PR3 and is located under receiving point PR3. These power receiving points PR1 to PR3 are not in an upstream or downstream relationship, and each is an independent power receiving point PR. Therefore, as will be described later, even if power discharged from the storage battery 3 of the high-voltage consumer HC flows backward from the power receiving point PR1 to the distribution line DL, the backward-flowed power is not directly supplied to the low-voltage consumer LCa. Furthermore, since the substation SB to which the distribution line DL connected to the receiving point PR3 of the low-voltage consumer LCb is connected is different from the substation SB to which the distribution line DL connected to the receiving point PR1 of the high-voltage consumer HC is connected, even if the power discharged from the storage battery 3 of the high-voltage consumer HC is reverse-flowed from the receiving point PR1 to the distribution line DL, the reverse-flowed power will not be supplied across the substation SB.

[0016] The high-voltage consumer HC is a consumer that receives high-voltage power, and includes a power meter WM, a distribution board PB, a distribution board DB, a load LD, and a storage battery 3.

[0017] The power meter WM measures the power supplied from the electric utility to the consumer. Note that, when power discharged from the storage battery 3 is made to flow backward, the power meter WM of the high-voltage consumer HC may be capable of measuring the amount of power that flows backward to the distribution line DL.

[0018] The switchboard PB is, for example, a cubicle, and converts the received high-voltage power into low-voltage power using a transformer. Note that the switchboard PB may be configured to convert the low-voltage power discharged from the storage battery 3 into high-voltage power when the power discharged from the storage battery 3 is to be reverse-flowed.

[0019] The distribution board DB supplies the low-voltage power converted by the distribution board PB to the load LD. The distribution board DB of the high-voltage consumer HC (distribution board DB connected to the storage battery 3) supplies the low-voltage power converted by the distribution board PB to the storage battery 3 for charging, and may also cause the power discharged from the storage battery 3 to flow backward through the distribution board PB to the distribution line DL. In addition to causing the power to flow backward, the distribution board DB may also supply the power to the load LD through another distribution board DB so that it can be consumed within the high-voltage consumer HC.

[0020] The load LD is, for example, various types of electrical equipment, and consumes the power supplied from the distribution board DB.

[0021] The storage battery 3 includes, for example, a communication unit, a bidirectional inverter, etc., and stores power in response to a charge command and discharges the stored power in response to a discharge command. Charging and discharging commands can be received through the communication unit. During charging, power (AC power) supplied through the distribution board DB is converted to DC power by the bidirectional inverter. During discharging, the stored power (DC power) is converted to AC power by the bidirectional inverter. Furthermore, of the total capacity of the storage battery 3, for example, a predetermined surplus capacity is utilized as a virtual storage battery 4. In other words, the surplus capacity of the storage battery 3 is divided and treated as a plurality of virtual storage batteries 4. The total capacity of the storage battery 3 may be divided and treated as a plurality of virtual storage batteries 4.

[0022] The low-voltage consumers LCa and LCb are consumers that receive low-voltage power, and are equipped with a power meter WM, a distribution board DB, a load LD, an operation reception device 2, and a virtual storage battery 4. As described above, the virtual storage battery 4 is a virtual storage battery allocated to a user in the low-voltage consumers LCa and LCb.

[0023] The wattmeter WM, distribution board DB, and load LD in the low-voltage customers LCa and LCb are the same as those described above for the high-voltage customer HC.

[0024] The operation reception device 2 is, for example, a terminal device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a notebook computer, and is used by users of the virtual storage battery 4 (users of the low-voltage consumers LCa and LCb). When the operation reception device 2 receives an operation to charge or discharge the virtual storage battery 4 from a user, it transmits operation information (for example, an operation to charge, discharge, or stop) to the virtual storage battery management device 5 to update status information (for example, remaining power, charge / discharge status, dischargeable power, and required charging time) of the virtual storage battery 4. In addition, the operation reception device 2 appropriately displays current status information of the virtual storage battery 4. That is, a user to whom a virtual storage battery 4 is assigned can use the operation reception device 2 to charge and discharge his / her own virtual storage battery 4. In addition, the user can also use the operation reception device 2 to display and check the status information of his / her own virtual storage battery 4.

[0025] The virtual storage battery 4 is a virtual storage battery that can be used by a user without being aware of its actual state, and is associated with the physical storage battery 3 by the virtual storage battery management device 5.

[0026] The virtual battery management device 5 is, for example, a server computer, and manages the storage batteries 3 of each consumer within the service area SA and the virtual storage batteries 4. That is, as described above, the virtual battery management device 5 manages the storage batteries 3 located under the power receiving point PR1 in association with the virtual storage batteries 4 of the low-voltage consumers LCa and LCb located under power receiving points PR2 and PR3 different from the power receiving point PR1. The virtual battery management device 5 updates the status information of the virtual battery 4 according to the operation information (operation to charge, discharge, or stop the virtual battery 4) sent from the operation reception device 2, and instructs the battery 3 to charge or discharge. The virtual battery management device 5 also manages the accumulated charged / discharged power amount and electricity charges of each user.

[0027] The configuration of the operation reception device 2 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation reception device 2 includes an input unit 21, a display unit 22, a control unit 23, a communication I / F (interface) 24, a data processing unit 25, and a display information database . As described above, the operation reception device 2 is, for example, a terminal device, and includes, as an example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), an auxiliary storage device represented by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., and a communication unit represented by a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, etc. The operation reception device 2 realizes a control unit 23, a data processing unit 25, etc., by, for example, a CPU using RAM as a work memory and executing a program stored in a ROM or an auxiliary storage device to appropriately control the communication unit.

[0028] The input unit 21 accepts a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery 4 by a user, and supplies operation information (for example, a charge, discharge, or stop operation) to the control unit 23.

[0029] The display unit 22 displays information for the user. The contents of the display information include, for example, the storage capacity of the virtual storage battery 4, the remaining storage amount of the virtual storage battery 4, the charge / discharge state of the virtual storage battery 4, the current dischargeable power of the virtual storage battery 4, and the current required charging time of the virtual storage battery 4.

[0030] The control unit 23 receives the operation information received by the input unit 21 and supplies it to the communication I / F 24 and the data processing unit 25 . In addition, the control unit 23 receives basic information of the virtual storage battery 4 (for example, identification information, storage capacity, and correspondence between the virtual storage battery 4 and the storage battery 3) and status information of the virtual storage battery 4 (for example, remaining storage capacity, charge / discharge status, dischargeable power, and required charging time) received by the communication I / F 24, and supplies it to the data processing unit 25. The control unit 23 also receives display information from the data processing unit 25 and supplies it to the display unit 22 .

[0031] The communication I / F 24 transmits the operation information of the virtual storage battery 4 supplied from the control unit 23 to the virtual storage battery management device 5. Furthermore, the communication I / F 24 receives basic information and status information about the virtual battery 4 sent from the virtual battery management device 5, and supplies the information to the control unit 23.

[0032] The data processing unit 25 performs writing processing to the display information database 26 and reading processing from the display information database 26 . As an example of a writing process, when the data processing unit 25 receives operation information of the virtual storage battery 4, basic information of the virtual storage battery 4, or status information of the virtual storage battery 4 supplied from the control unit 23, it processes it into display information and stores it in the display information database 26. As an example of the read process, the data processing unit 25 reads display information from the display information database 26 in response to an instruction from the control unit 23 and supplies the display information to the control unit 23.

[0033] The display information database 26 stores the display information of the virtual storage battery 4. That is, the display information database 26 stores the display information processed by the data processing unit 25 described above.

[0034] Next, the configuration of the virtual battery management device 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in Figure 4, the virtual battery management device 5 includes an input unit 51, a display unit 52, a control unit 53, a communication I / F 54 for the battery, a communication I / F 55 for the operation reception device, a data processing unit 56, a physical battery information database 57a, a virtual battery information database 57b, a user information database 57c, and an electricity rate information database 57d. As described above, the virtual battery management device 5 is, for example, a server computer, and includes, for example, a CPU, RAM, ROM, an auxiliary storage device represented by an HDD, SSD, etc., and a communication unit represented by a wired LAN, wireless LAN, etc. The operation reception device 2 realizes a control unit 53, a data processing unit 56, etc., by, for example, a CPU using RAM as a work memory and executing a program stored in a ROM or an auxiliary storage device to appropriately control the communication unit.

[0035] The input unit 51 receives information registered by an administrator at the battery operation company OC. For example, when the input unit 51 receives physical storage battery registration information for registering the storage battery 3 (for example, the identification information, area to which the storage battery 3 belongs, and storage capacity), the input unit 51 supplies the physical storage battery registration information to the control unit 53. Furthermore, when the input unit 51 receives user registration information for registering a user (for example, the association between the user and the virtual storage battery 4 and the area to which the user belongs), the input unit 51 supplies the user registration information to the control unit 53.

[0036] The display unit 52 displays display information for the administrator. The contents of the display information include, for example, the power storage capacity of the storage battery 3, the remaining power storage amount of the storage battery 3, the charge / discharge state of the storage battery 3, the power storage capacity of each virtual storage battery 4, the remaining power storage amount of each virtual storage battery 4, and the charge / discharge state of each virtual storage battery 4. In addition, if the virtual battery management system 1 is equipped with multiple batteries 3, the display information will include the storage capacity, remaining amount of storage, and charge / discharge state of each battery 3.

[0037] The control unit 53 receives the physical storage battery registration information and user registration information received by the input unit 51 and supplies them to the data processing unit 56. The control unit 53 also receives status information of the storage battery 3 (for example, the remaining amount of stored power and the charge / discharge state) received by the storage battery communication I / F unit 54, and supplies this to the data processing unit 56. Furthermore, the control unit 53 receives operation information of the virtual storage battery 4 received by the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55 and supplies it to the data processing unit 56 . Furthermore, the control unit 53 receives basic information about the virtual storage battery 4 and status information about the virtual storage battery 4 from the data processing unit 56, and supplies the information to the communication I / F unit 55 for the operation reception device. The control unit 53 also receives display information from the data processing unit 56 and supplies it to the display unit 52 .

[0038] The storage battery communication I / F 54 receives operation information supplied from the control unit 53, and transmits control information (charge, discharge, or stop instruction) to the storage battery 3 according to the operation. The storage battery communication I / F 54 receives the status information sent from the storage battery 3 and supplies the status information to the control unit 53.

[0039] The operation reception device communication I / F 55 receives the basic information and status information about the virtual storage battery 4 supplied from the control unit 53, and transmits the information to the operation reception device 2 associated with the target virtual storage battery 4. Furthermore, the operation reception device communication I / F 55 receives operation information of the virtual storage battery 4 sent from the operation reception device 2 and supplies it to the control unit 53.

[0040] The data processing unit 56 performs writing processes to the physical storage battery information database 57a, the virtual storage battery information database 57b, the user information database 57c, and the electricity charge information database 57d, and reading processes from the physical storage battery information database 57a, the virtual storage battery information database 57b, the user information database 57c, and the electricity charge information database 57d. As an example of the write process, when the data processing unit 56 receives status information of the storage battery 3 supplied from the control unit 53, the data processing unit 56 stores the status information in the physical storage battery information database 57a. Furthermore, when the data processing unit 56 receives operation information of the virtual storage battery 4 supplied from the control unit 53, the data processing unit 56 updates the status information of the virtual storage battery 4 and stores the updated status information in the virtual storage battery information database 57b. Furthermore, when the data processing unit 56 receives physical storage battery registration information supplied from the control unit 53, it stores the information in the physical storage battery information database 57a as basic information of the storage battery 3 (for example, identification information, area to which the storage battery belongs, and storage capacity). Furthermore, when the data processing unit 56 receives user registration information from the control unit 53, it stores the user registration information in the user information database 57c. Furthermore, the data processing unit 56 creates basic information of the virtual storage battery 4 and stores it in the virtual storage battery information database 57b. At this time, it is assumed that the user and the storage battery 3 belong to the same area. Furthermore, the data processing unit 56 calculates income and expenditure information of the user in response to an instruction from the control unit 53. For example, the data processing unit 56 calculates income and expenditure information of the user from the perspective of the storage battery operation company OC, based on electricity rate information, basic information and status information about the storage battery 3, basic information and status information about the virtual storage battery 4, and user registration information. More specifically, the data processing unit 56 calculates the increased amount of electricity sold due to the discharge of the virtual storage battery 4 as the amount of income from users, and calculates the increased amount of electricity purchased due to the charging of the virtual storage battery 4 as the amount of expenditure to the electric utility company. Then, the data processing unit 56 stores the calculated amounts of income and expenditure in the electricity rate information database 57d as income and expenditure information. Furthermore, the data processing unit 56 may determine the electricity rate for the user from the amount of charged power and the amount of discharged power that increases as a result of charging and discharging the storage battery 3 in accordance with the charging and discharging operation of the virtual storage battery 4. Next, as an example of a reading process, in response to an instruction from the control unit 53, the data processing unit 25 reads basic information and status information about the storage battery 3 from the physical storage battery information database 57a, reads basic information and status information about the virtual storage battery 4 from the virtual storage battery information database 57b, reads user registration information from the user information database 57c, and further reads income and expenditure information from the electricity rate information database 57d, processes the information into display information, and supplies it to the control unit 53. Furthermore, the data processing unit 25 reads basic information and status information about the virtual storage battery 4 from the virtual storage battery information database 57b, and supplies the basic information and status information to the control unit 53 to send them to the operation reception device 2.

[0041] The physical storage battery information database 57a stores basic information of the storage battery 3 (for example, identification information, area to which the storage battery belongs, and storage capacity) and status information of the storage battery 3 (for example, remaining amount of storage and charge / discharge status).

[0042] The virtual storage battery information database 57b stores basic information of each virtual storage battery 4 (for example, identification information, storage capacity, and correspondence between the virtual storage battery 4 and the storage battery 3) and status information of each virtual storage battery 4 (for example, remaining storage capacity, charge / discharge status, dischargeable power, and required charging time).

[0043] The user information database 57c stores user registration information (for example, the association between the user and the virtual storage battery 4, and the area to which the user belongs).

[0044] The electricity rate information database 57d stores electricity rate unit price information and user income and expenditure information (for example, the amount of income from the user and the amount of expenditure to the electric utility company).

[0045] Hereinafter, the operation of the virtual battery management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. First, each process executed by the virtual battery management device 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining information registration processing executed by the virtual battery management device 5. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining display update processing executed by the virtual battery management device 5. Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining charge / discharge processing executed by the virtual battery management device 5.

[0046] First, a description will be given of the information registration process in Fig. 5. This information registration process is started in response to an input operation from the input unit 51 by an administrator at the battery operation company OC, for example.

[0047] First, the virtual battery management device 5 receives registration information (step S101). For example, the virtual battery management device 5 receives information about the registration of the storage battery 3 (physical battery registration information) or information about the registration of a user (user registration information).

[0048] The virtual battery management device 5 determines whether or not the information received in step S101 above is information regarding the registration of the storage battery 3 (step S102).

[0049] When the virtual battery management device 5 determines that the registration is of the storage battery 3 (step S102; Yes), the virtual battery management device 5 stores information about the registration of the storage battery 3 in the physical battery information database 57a (step S103). For example, when physical battery registration information (for example, identification information, area to which the battery belongs, and storage capacity of the battery 3) is received in the above step S101, the virtual battery management device 5 stores the information as basic information of the battery 3 (for example, identification information, area to which the battery belongs, and storage capacity) in the physical battery information database 57a.

[0050] On the other hand, if it is determined that the registration is not of a storage battery 3 (that the registration is of a user) (step S102; No), the virtual storage battery management device 5 stores information about the user registration in the user information database 57c (step S104). For example, when user registration information (e.g., the correspondence between the user and the virtual storage battery 4 and the area to which the user belongs) is received in the above step S101, the virtual storage battery management device 5 stores the user registration information in the user information database 57c (step S104). The virtual battery management device 5 stores basic information of the virtual battery 4 (for example, identification information, power storage capacity, and association between the virtual battery 4 and the battery 3) in the virtual battery information database 57b.

[0051] Next, a description will be given of the display update process in Fig. 6. This display update process is, for example, repeatedly executed periodically.

[0052] First, the virtual battery management device 5 acquires status information from the storage battery 3, and updates and displays the status information of the storage battery 3 (step S201). That is, the virtual battery management device 5 displays the status information of the battery 3 to the administrator.

[0053] The virtual battery management device 5 calculates and displays the balance information (step S202). For example, the virtual battery management device 5 calculates the increased amount of electricity sold due to the discharging of the virtual battery 4 (more specifically, the discharging of the corresponding battery 3) as the amount of income from users, and calculates the increased amount of electricity purchased due to the charging of the virtual battery 4 (more specifically, the charging of the corresponding battery 3) as the amount of expenditure to the electric utility. Then, the virtual battery management device 5 displays the calculated amounts of income and expenditure to the manager as income and expenditure information. Such step S202 is an example of a management step.

[0054] The virtual battery management device 5 transmits the status information of each virtual battery 4 to the corresponding operation reception device 2 for display (step S203). That is, the virtual battery management device 5 displays the status information of each virtual battery 4 to each user.

[0055] Next, a description will be given of the charge / discharge process in Fig. 7. This charge / discharge process is started in response to a charge / discharge operation from the operation reception device 2, for example.

[0056] First, the virtual battery management device 5 receives the operation information sent from the operation reception device 2 (step S301). That is, the virtual battery management device 5 receives operation information (for example, operations for charging, discharging, and stopping) for the virtual battery 4 from the operation reception device 2. Such step S301 is an example of a receiving step.

[0057] The virtual battery management device 5 updates the status information of the virtual battery 4 (step S302). For example, the virtual battery management device 5 updates the charge / discharge state and remaining amount of stored power of the virtual battery 4 to be operated. The amount of change in the remaining amount of stored power due to charging / discharging per unit time is based on the dischargeable power and the required charging time.

[0058] The virtual battery management device 5 transmits the status information of the virtual battery 4 to the operation reception device 2 (step S303). That is, the virtual battery management device 5 transmits the status information of the virtual battery 4 to the corresponding operation reception device 2, thereby displaying the updated status information of the virtual battery 4 to the user who performed the charge / discharge operation.

[0059] The virtual battery management device 5 instructs the storage battery 3 to charge or discharge in response to the operation information (step S304). That is, the virtual battery management device 5 instructs the storage battery 3 to charge or discharge in response to a charge or discharge operation on the virtual storage battery 4 . Such step S304 is an example of an instruction step.

[0060] Next, the overall processing flow of the virtual battery management system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of periodic display update, and Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow resulting from the charging / discharging operation of the virtual storage battery 4.

[0061] First, a description will be given of the sequence diagram in Fig. 8. Each sequence shown in Fig. 8 is roughly divided into three subsequences (subsequences SS10 to SS30). Furthermore, each sequence shown in Fig. 8 is periodically repeated.

[0062] First, the subsequence SS10 will be described, which corresponds to the process of step S201 in FIG.

[0063] In step S11, the control unit 53 of the virtual battery management device 5 requests the storage battery communication I / F unit 54 for status information of the storage battery 3. In step S12, the storage battery communication I / F unit 54 requests the status information from the storage battery 3. In step S13, the storage battery 3 replies with a response of the status information to the storage battery communication I / F unit 54. For example, the storage battery 3 replies with the remaining amount of power stored and the charge / discharge state as status information to the storage battery communication I / F unit 54.

[0064] In step S14, the storage battery communication I / F unit 54 supplies the status information of the storage battery 3 to the control unit 53. In step S15, the control unit 53 supplies the status information of the storage battery 3 to the data processing unit 56. In step S16, the data processing unit 56 updates the status information of the storage battery 3. That is, the data processing unit 56 stores the status information of the storage battery 3 in the physical storage battery information database 57a. In step S17, the data processing unit 56 supplies display information to the control unit 53. In step S18, the control unit 53 supplies the display information to the display unit 52. Then, the display unit 52 displays the status information of the storage battery 3 as display information.

[0065] Next, the subsequence SS20 will be described, which corresponds to the process of step S202 in FIG.

[0066] In step S21, the control unit 53 instructs the data processing unit 56 to update the balance information. In step S22, the data processing unit 56 calculates and updates the balance information and creates display information. In step S23, the data processing unit 56 supplies the display information to the control unit 53. In step S24, the control unit 53 supplies the display information to the display unit 52. Then, the display unit 52 displays the balance information as display information.

[0067] Next, the subsequence SS30 will be described, which corresponds to the process of step S203 in FIG.

[0068] In step S31, the control unit 53 instructs the data processing unit 56 to update the status of the virtual storage battery 4. In step S32, the data processing unit 56 updates the status of the virtual storage battery 4. In step S23, the data processing unit 56 supplies display information to the control unit 53. In step S34, the control unit 53 supplies the display information to the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55. Then, the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55 transmits the display information to the operation reception device 2, causing the status information of the virtual storage battery 4 to be displayed.

[0069] Next, a description will be given of the sequence diagram of Fig. 9. Each sequence shown in Fig. 9 is roughly divided into four subsequences (subsequences SS40 to SS70).

[0070] First, the subsequence SS40 will be described, which corresponds to the process of step S301 in FIG.

[0071] In step S41, the user performs a charge / discharge operation on the virtual storage battery 4 on the operation reception device 2. In step S42, the operation reception device 2 supplies operation information corresponding to this charge / discharge operation to the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55. In step S43, the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55 supplies the operation information of the virtual storage battery 4 to the control unit 53. In step S44, the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55 returns an acceptance response to the operation reception device 2.

[0072] Next, the subsequence SS50 will be described, which corresponds to the process of step S302 in FIG.

[0073] In step S51, the control unit 53 supplies operation information of the virtual storage battery 4 to the data processing unit 56. In step S52, the data processing unit 56 updates the status information of the virtual storage battery 4. That is, the data processing unit 56 stores the status information of the virtual storage battery 4 in the virtual storage battery information database 57b. In step S53, the data processing unit 56 supplies display information to the control unit 53.

[0074] Next, the subsequence SS60 will be described, which corresponds to the process of step S303 in FIG.

[0075] In step S61, the control unit 53 supplies display information to the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55. In step S62, the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55 transmits the display information to the operation reception device 2. In step S63, the operation reception device 2 returns an acceptance response to the operation reception device communication I / F unit 55. In step S64, the operation reception device 2 displays status information of the virtual storage battery 4 as display information for the user.

[0076] Next, the subsequence SS70 will be described, which corresponds to the process of step S304 in FIG.

[0077] In step S71, the control unit 11 supplies control information for the storage battery 3 to the storage battery communication I / F unit 54. In step S72, the storage battery communication I / F unit 54 transmits the control information to the storage battery 3. In step S73, the storage battery 3 returns an acceptance response to the storage battery communication I / F unit 54. The storage battery 3 performs charging or discharging in accordance with the control information. In step S74, the storage battery communication I / F unit 54 returns the acceptance response to the control unit 53.

[0078] Next, a display screen HG that the operation reception device 2 displays to the user will be described with reference to Fig. 10. The display screen HG is a screen that displays, for example, the display information in step S64 in the sequence diagram of Fig. 9 described above.

[0079] The display screen HG displays information about the virtual storage battery 4 associated with the user. For example, the display screen HG displays the storage capacity, remaining amount of storage, charge / discharge state, dischargeable power, and time required to charge to full capacity of the virtual storage battery 4. The user can determine the content and timing of the charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery 4 based on the information displayed on the display screen HG.

[0080] These processes and sequences make it possible to virtualize a storage battery 3 located at a power receiving point different from that of the user, and the user can treat, for example, a storage battery 3 located far away as a virtual storage battery 4. This allows a user who does not have a physical storage battery 3 located at the same power receiving point to use the virtual storage battery 4, thereby reducing electricity costs.

[0081] As a result, geographical limitations are relaxed and a wider range of consumers can use the virtual storage battery.

[0082] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, various modifications and applications are possible in implementing the present disclosure.

[0083] In the above-described embodiment, the case where the capacity of one storage battery 3 is divided and used as multiple virtual storage batteries 4 has been described, but the capacity of multiple storage batteries 3 may also be divided and used as multiple virtual storage batteries 4. Furthermore, the capacities of a plurality of storage batteries 3 may be integrated and utilized as one virtual storage battery 4.

[0084] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a storage battery 3 owned by a consumer (high-voltage consumer HC) is utilized as a virtual storage battery 4, but a large-scale storage battery 3 owned by a dedicated business operator may also be utilized as a virtual storage battery 4.

[0085] In the above-described embodiment, the CPU uses RAM as a work memory and executes a program stored in ROM or an auxiliary storage device to realize the control unit 23 and data processing unit 25 of the operation reception device 2 and the control unit 53 and data processing unit 56 of the virtual battery management device 5. However, each of these functions may be realized by dedicated hardware. The dedicated hardware may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0086] In addition, by applying a program that specifies the operation of the operation reception device 2 and virtual battery management device 5 according to the above-described embodiment to an existing personal computer or information terminal device, it is also possible to make the personal computer or information terminal device function as the operation reception device 2 and virtual battery management device 5 according to the embodiment.

[0087] Furthermore, the method of distribution of such a program is arbitrary; for example, it may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a memory card and distributed, or it may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0088] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0089] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0090] (Appendix 1) A virtual battery management system that virtualizes a battery, an operation receiving means for receiving a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery from a consumer under a first power receiving point; a virtual battery management means for instructing the storage battery under a second power receiving point different from the first power receiving point to charge or discharge in response to the charge / discharge operation received by the operation receiving means, and for managing the amount of charge power or the amount of discharge power that increases due to the charge / discharge of the storage battery as the amount of power of the consumer; A virtual battery management system comprising: (Appendix 2) a substation to which a distribution line connected to the first power receiving point is connected is different from a substation to which a distribution line connected to the second power receiving point is connected; 10. The virtual battery management system of claim 1. (Appendix 3) The first power receiving point and the second power receiving point belong to a defined service area. 3. The virtual battery management system according to claim 1 or 2. (Appendix 4) the virtual battery management means determines the electricity rate of the consumer based on the amount of charged power and the amount of discharged power that increase due to charging and discharging of the storage battery. 4. The virtual battery management system of claim 1. (Appendix 5) the virtual storage battery management means divides the capacity of one storage battery and manages it as a plurality of virtual storage batteries, the operation receiving means receives a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery associated with the consumer; 5. The virtual battery management system of claim 1. (Appendix 6) the virtual battery management means integrates the capacities of the plurality of batteries and manages them as one virtual battery, When the operation reception means receives a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery, it instructs each of the plurality of storage batteries to charge / discharge. 5. The virtual battery management system of claim 1. (Appendix 7) A management method in a virtual battery management system that virtualizes a pipe battery, a receiving step of receiving a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery from a consumer under a first power receiving point; an instruction step of instructing the storage battery belonging to a second power receiving point different from the first power receiving point to charge or discharge in accordance with the charge / discharge operation received in the reception step; a management step of managing, as an amount of power of the consumer, an amount of charging or discharging power that increases due to charging or discharging of the storage battery instructed in the instruction step; A management method comprising: [Industrial Applicability]

[0091] The present disclosure can provide a virtual battery management system and management method that allows a wider range of consumers to use virtual batteries while relaxing geographical limitations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 Virtual battery management system, 2 Operation reception device, 21 Input unit, 22 Display unit, 23 Control unit, 24 Communication I / F unit, 25 Data processing unit, 26 Display information database, 3 Storage battery, 4 Virtual battery, 5 Virtual battery management device, 51 Input unit, 52 Display unit, 53 Control unit, 54 Storage battery communication I / F unit, 55 Operation reception device communication I / F unit, 56 Data processing unit, 57a Physical battery information database, 57b Virtual battery information database, 57c User information database, 57d Electricity rate information database

Claims

1. A virtual battery management system that virtualizes a battery, an operation receiving means for receiving a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery from a consumer under a first power receiving point; a virtual battery management means for instructing the storage battery under a second power receiving point different from the first power receiving point to charge or discharge in response to the charge / discharge operation received by the operation receiving means, and for managing the amount of charge power or the amount of discharge power that increases due to the charge / discharge of the storage battery as the amount of power of the consumer; A virtual battery management system comprising:

2. a substation to which a distribution line connected to the first power receiving point is connected is different from a substation to which a distribution line connected to the second power receiving point is connected; The virtual battery management system according to claim 1 .

3. The first power receiving point and the second power receiving point belong to a defined service area. The virtual battery management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the virtual battery management means determines the electricity rate of the consumer based on the amount of charged power and the amount of discharged power that increase due to charging and discharging of the storage battery. The virtual battery management system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the virtual storage battery management means divides the capacity of one storage battery and manages it as a plurality of virtual storage batteries, the operation receiving means receives a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery associated with the consumer; The virtual battery management system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. the virtual storage battery management means integrates the capacities of the plurality of storage batteries and manages them as one virtual storage battery, When the operation reception means receives a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery, it instructs each of the plurality of storage batteries to charge / discharge. The virtual battery management system according to claim 1 or 2.

7. A management method in a virtual battery management system that virtualizes a pipe battery, a receiving step of receiving a charge / discharge operation for the virtual storage battery from a consumer under a first power receiving point; an instruction step of instructing the storage battery belonging to a second power receiving point different from the first power receiving point to charge or discharge in accordance with the charge / discharge operation received in the reception step; a management step of managing, as an amount of power of the consumer, an amount of charging or discharging power that increases due to charging or discharging of the storage battery instructed in the instruction step; A management method comprising:

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