Power outage preparedness kit

Abstract

We provide low-cost emergency power supply equipment. [Solution] The switch 14 in the switch box 1 used when attaching a portable battery 2 to a target branch switch 81 for supplying power to a specific load 9 has a first selection terminal 141 connected to the main line terminal 100 connected to the target branch switch 81 by the main line 411 inside the box, a second selection terminal 142 connected to the battery output terminal 104, and a common terminal 143 connected to the load terminal 101, and a power storage branch wiring 44 branched from the main line 41 inside the box is connected to the battery input terminal 103. The switch 14 switches between a first state in which the first selection terminal 141 is short-circuited to the common terminal 143 and the second selection terminal 142 is opened from the common terminal 143, and a second state in which the first selection terminal 141 is opened from the common terminal 143 and the second selection terminal 142 is short-circuited to the common terminal 143.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention of the present application relates to a technique for retroactively taking measures against power outages that may be caused by large-scale disasters.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, cases where the lifelines of regions have suffered great damage due to natural disasters such as large earthquakes and floods have occurred frequently, and taking comprehensive measures has become an urgent issue. In particular, the number of cases where large-scale power outages occur due to damage to power plants and damage to power transmission and distribution networks has been increasing, and the importance of countermeasures against them has been emphasized. When a power outage due to a disaster occurs, although there are few cases that require a long time to restore, it often takes several days. During that time, an inconvenient life without electricity is inevitable. In many cases, people take refuge in shelters equipped with emergency power supply equipment, but they often hesitate from the perspective of privacy and end up staying at home where there is no electricity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In consideration of the above problems, measures are being taken to provide emergency power supply equipment in general houses considering power outages during disasters. However, there are problems that installation must be carried out when newly building a house and that it costs several million yen. For general residential use, emergency power supply systems typically consist of solar panels and storage batteries. During normal times (when there is no power outage), the batteries are charged using grid power (electricity supplied by the power company) and solar power, and during disasters (when there is a power outage), the power from the storage batteries is used. In addition, some homes install so-called V2H (Vehicle to Home) systems, which allow electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles to be used as storage batteries. In any case, these conventional emergency power supply measures are costly, require long construction periods, and are installed during new home construction, so they have not become widespread. Similar challenges also exist in non-residential buildings such as offices and government buildings. The present invention was made with the challenges of emergency power supply measures during disasters in mind, and aims to provide low-cost emergency power supply equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, this specification discloses an invention for a power outage countermeasure set. The power outage countermeasure set according to the disclosed invention is a power outage countermeasure set that is attached to a distribution board that distributes power to each load, and is attached between the distribution board and a specific load in a state in which power is supplied from the distribution board to the specific load when there is no power outage. This set includes Portable battery and Switch box for portable battery storage and It is equipped with. A switch box for a portable battery storage system includes a main input terminal connected to a distribution board, a load terminal connected to a specific load, a battery output terminal connected to the output terminal of the portable battery storage system, a switch, a main line within the box connecting the main input terminal to the load terminal via the switch, and a battery output line connecting the battery output terminal to the load terminal via the switch. The switch shorts the main input terminal to the load terminal and disconnects the battery output terminal from the load terminal when there is no power outage, and disconnects the main input terminal from the load terminal and shorts the battery output terminal to the load terminal when there is a power outage. Furthermore, this set includes, The first main wiring connects the distribution board and the main input terminal, A second main wiring that connects the load terminal and a specific load, It is equipped with a cable that connects the distribution board and the input terminal of the portable battery to supply power to the portable battery. The portable battery switch box is equipped with panel terminals for connecting solar power generation panels, allowing the panel terminals to be connected to the load terminals during a power outage, thereby supplying power generated by the solar power generation panels to the load. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As explained below, the power outage countermeasure set according to the disclosed invention allows for the storage of a portable battery during normal times (when there is no power outage), and in the event of a power outage, the portable battery can be used to supply power to a specific load. Therefore, electricity can be used for the specific load until the storage amount of the portable battery reaches zero. This makes it possible to use the minimum necessary amount of electricity during disasters, etc. Furthermore, installation can be completed inexpensively and in a short period of time, and the hardware cost can be made significantly cheaper. Therefore, power outage countermeasures during disasters can be implemented at a low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a sample power outage preparedness kit. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the wiring configuration when the portable battery is removed. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the power outage countermeasure set according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in which power is stored in a portable battery using both grid power from the target branch switch and solar power panels. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set of reference example. The power outage countermeasure kit shown in Figure 1 is a kit that adds a function to secure power using a storage battery in the event of a power outage. "Add-on" means that it can be installed and added after the building is completed, rather than during the construction of the building. As shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure kit consists of a switch box 1, a portable storage battery 2, a solar power generation panel 3, main wiring 41, 42, etc. The switch box 1 is equipped with a main wiring terminal 100 and a load terminal 101.

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure kit is installed on one branch switch 81 in an existing distribution board 8 installed in the building. The power outage countermeasure kit is installed by interposing it between the branch switch 81 and a specific load 9 that is powered by the branch switch 81. Therefore, during installation, the power supply line to the specific load 9 is disconnected from the branch switch 81, one end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the branch switch 81, and the other end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the main wiring terminal 100 on the switch box 1. In addition, one end of the second main wiring 42 is connected to the load terminal 101 on the switch box 1, and the other end is connected to the specific load 9.

[0010] In the following explanation, the branch switch 81 to which the power outage countermeasure kit is installed will be referred to as the target branch switch. The specific load 9 supplied by the target branch switch 81 is a load that is powered by the portable battery 2 during a power outage. The building is powered to each room by the distribution board 8, but the specific load 9 is selected from rooms with a high priority for power supply during a power outage (for example, the living room). In other words, the connection to the target branch switch 81 that supplies power to the room with a high priority for power supply during a power outage is disconnected, and the power outage countermeasure kit is installed.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure set basically consists of a portable battery 2 connected in series between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9. Specifically, the input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 is connected to the target branch switch 81 by the first main wiring 41, and the output terminal 22 of the portable battery 2 is connected to the specific load 9 by the second main wiring 42. Therefore, the portable battery 2 and the specific load 9 are in series, with the portable battery 2 being the upstream side. Portable battery 2 is a device equipped with AC100V input and output terminals and a pass-through function. It has a configuration similar to a so-called uninterruptible power supply (UPS). For example, the DELTA2 sold by EcoFlow Technology Japan Co., Ltd. can be used as portable battery 2.

[0012] Two switches 11 and 12 are installed inside switch box 1. One is a switch 11 for ensuring power supply to a specific load 9 when the portable battery 2 is removed (hereinafter referred to as the disconnection switch). The other is a switch 12 for selecting whether or not to use power from the solar power generation panel 3 to charge the portable battery 2 (hereinafter referred to as the panel switch).

[0013] The disconnection switch 11 will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the wiring configuration when the portable battery 2 is disconnected. As shown in FIG. 1, the switch box 1 is provided with a battery input terminal 103 to which an input line of the portable battery 2 (hereinafter referred to as the battery input line) 23 is connected, and a battery output terminal 104 to which an output line of the portable battery 2 (hereinafter referred to as the battery output line) 24 is connected. The battery input line 23 and the battery output line 24 are cables bundled with a dedicated socket 25 at the end.

[0014] Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the line from the first main wiring 41 branches in the switch box 1 into an in-box main line 411 short-circuited to the battery input terminal 103 and a first bypass line 412. The in-box main line 411 is connected to the battery input terminal 103 via the panel switch 102. Also, as described above, the switch box 1 is provided with a load terminal 101 to which the second main wiring 42 is connected, and the first bypass line 412 is connected to the load terminal 101 via the disconnection switch 11.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the disconnection switch 11 opens the first bypass line 412 from the load terminal 101 when the portable battery 2 is attached to the switch box 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the portable battery 2 is removed, the disconnection switch 11 short-circuits the first bypass line 412 to the load terminal 101. Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, regarding the disconnection switch 11, the state where the first bypass line 412 is short-circuited to the load terminal 101 is referred to as on, and the open state is referred to as off.

[0016] The detachment switch 11 may be a manual switch such as a push-button switch, but it is preferable to have a switch that operates automatically when the portable battery 2 is removed (an automatic switch). For example, in this configuration, a spring member is provided for the detachment switch 11, and when the portable battery 2 is removed, the shorting plate shifts due to the action of the spring, short-circuiting (turning on) the first bypass wire 412 to the load terminal 101. When installing the portable battery 2, the detachment switch 11 is pressed against the elasticity of the spring member, disconnecting (turning off) the first bypass wire 412 from the load terminal 101.

[0017] Next, we will describe the panel switch 12. As shown in Figure 1, the switch box 1 is provided with a panel terminal 102. In this example, the solar power generation panel 3 is equipped with an inverter 31, which is located on the power supply line from the solar power generation panel 3. The output of the inverter 31 is connected to the panel terminal 102, and it converts the DC voltage from the solar power generation panel 3 to AC 100V and supplies power to the panel terminal 102.

[0018] The panel switch 12 switches between short-circuiting the battery input terminal 103 to the main circuit 411 inside the box and short-circuiting it to the panel terminal 102. For the sake of explanation, the panel switch 12 will be considered "on" when the battery input terminal 103 is disconnected from the main circuit 411 inside the box and short-circuited to the panel terminal 102, and "off" when the battery input terminal 103 is disconnected from the panel terminal 102 and short-circuited to the main circuit 411 inside the box. A manual rotary switch is used for the panel switch 12. However, a socket-shaped terminal into which the cable extending from the inverter 31 is plugged in may be used as the panel terminal, and an automatic switch that turns on automatically when the cable is connected may be used as the panel switch 12.

[0019] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, a second bypass line 43 is provided within the switch box 1 as a line branched from the line connected to the first main wiring 41. The second bypass line 43 bypasses the portable battery 2 and the disconnection switch 11 and is connected to the second main wiring 42, and an interlocking switch 13 is provided on the second bypass line 43. The interlocking switch 13 is a switch that works in conjunction with the panel switch 12, and is normally off (open), but turns on (short-circuited) in conjunction with the panel switch 12 when it is turned on.

[0020] The operation of this type of power outage preparedness kit is explained below. The power outage countermeasure kit is installed retrofitting to the building after its construction, as described above. The portable battery 2 is attached to the switch box 1, and the disconnection switch is turned off. The portable battery 2 is connected to the specific load 9 via the second main wiring 42. The panel switch 12 is also turned off, and the solar power generation panel 3 is not connected to the portable battery 2. In this wiring configuration, power is supplied to the specific load 9 while the portable battery 2 is being charged. Since the portable battery 2 has a pass-through function, when it is fully charged, the power from the target branch switch 81 passes through the portable battery 2 and is supplied to the specific load 9.

[0021] In this situation, if a power outage occurs due to a large-scale disaster, the power supply from the grid to the distribution board 8 is interrupted, and the power supply from the target branch switch 81 is lost. The portable battery 2 detects this and starts supplying power through its internal circuitry. That is, power from the portable battery 2 is supplied to the specific load 9, and power supply to the specific load 9 continues. When the power outage is resolved, the internal circuitry of the portable battery 2 detects the restoration of power and returns to a state where it short-circuits the stored energy to the specific load 9.

[0022] When the portable battery 2 is removed for use outdoors, the disconnection switch 11 is activated, short-circuiting the first main wiring 41 and the second main wiring 42. This ensures that power is continuously supplied to the specific load 9. Furthermore, when using the solar power generation panel 3 to charge the portable battery 2 during the daytime on a sunny day, the power supply line extending from the inverter 31 is connected to the panel terminal 102 of the switch box 1, and the panel switch 12 is turned on. This turns off the power supply from the target branch switch 81, and instead turns on the power supply from the solar power generation panel 3. At this time, the interlocking switch 13 operates and turns on, and the second bypass line 43 ensures that power is supplied to the specific load 9 from the target branch switch 81. Furthermore, if it is sunny during the daytime when there is a power outage, the panel switch 12 is turned on to simultaneously charge the portable battery 2. This delays the time it takes for the portable battery 2 to run out of power.

[0023] With this type of power outage preparedness kit, the portable battery 2, which is normally charged (when there is no power outage), supplies power to the specific load 9 during a power outage. Therefore, electricity can be used for the specific load 9 until the charge of the portable battery 2 runs out. This makes it possible to use the minimum necessary amount of electricity during a disaster. Furthermore, since the installation is completed simply by attaching the switch box 1, to which the portable battery 2 and solar power generation panel 3 are connected, to the target branch switch 81 via the first main wiring 41, the installation is extremely inexpensive and can be completed in a short period of time. Moreover, because it is a set that combines the relatively simple structure of the switch box 1 with the inexpensive portable battery 2 and solar power generation panel 3, the hardware cost can be made significantly cheaper. As a result, power outage countermeasures during disasters can be implemented at a low cost.

[0024] Furthermore, the portable battery 2 can be detached and used outdoors for leisure activities, offering a double benefit. The portability of the battery also has another advantage: it can be taken to another location within a building and used as needed during a power outage. For example, if the toilet can only be flushed electrically and the power cable is plugged into an outlet, the portable battery 2 can be taken to the toilet, the power cable connected to the portable battery 2, and the toilet can be flushed. In other words, it offers a triple benefit.

[0025] Furthermore, this power outage countermeasure kit is equipped with a solar power generation panel 3, which allows for the storage of power in the portable battery 2. This delays the time it takes for the portable battery 2 to run out of power during a power outage, making it particularly suitable for prolonged power outages. Furthermore, if the detachment switch 11 is configured to operate in conjunction with the panel switch 12, the second bypass wire 43 and the interlocking switch 13 are unnecessary. However, if the detachment switch 11 is configured to operate in conjunction with the removal of the portable charger 2, two interlocking operations will be required, which has the disadvantage of making the structure more complex.

[0026] Next, the power outage countermeasure set of the embodiment will be described. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the power outage countermeasure set of the embodiment. This power outage countermeasure set is also a set that is retrofitted to the target branch switch 81 in the distribution board 8 installed in the building, and comprises the switch box 1 of the embodiment, a portable battery 2, and a solar power generation panel 3. The power outage countermeasure set in Figure 3 differs from that in Figure 1 in that the portable battery 2 is connected in parallel to the specific load 9.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, in the switch box 1 of this embodiment, the main wiring inside the box 411 and the energy storage branch wiring 44 are provided by branching off from the first main wiring 41. Similarly, the switch box 1 is also provided with a panel terminal 102 and a panel switch 12. The panel switch 12 switches between short-circuiting the battery input terminal 103 to the energy storage branch wiring 44 or to the panel terminal 102. Similarly, when using the solar power generation panel 3, the panel switch 12 is turned on, and the panel terminal 102 is short-circuited to the battery input terminal 103.

[0028] The main wire 411 inside the box extends from the branch point and is connected to the load terminal 101 via switch 14. The battery output terminal 104 is also connected to the load terminal 101 via switch 14. As shown in Figure 3, switch 14 has a first selection terminal 141, a second selection terminal 142, and a common terminal 143. The main wire 411 inside the box connects the main wire terminal 100 to the first selection terminal 141. The second selection terminal 142 is connected to the battery output terminal 104. The common terminal 143 is connected to the load terminal 101.

[0029] Switch 14 is configured to be in an off state (short circuit) between the main wire 411 inside the box and the load terminal 101 under normal conditions (when there is no power outage), and in the event of a power outage, it disconnects the main wire 411 inside the box from the load terminal 101 and short-circuits the battery output terminal 104 to the load terminal 101 (on state). Switch 14 is a manual switch such as a rotary switch, but it may also be a switch that automatically turns on and off based on a signal from a sensor that detects power outages.

[0030] In this power outage countermeasure kit, the portable battery 2 supplies power to a specific load 9 during a power outage, and by using the solar power generation panel 3 in conjunction, the time until the battery runs out can be extended, making it suitable as a power outage countermeasure during disasters, etc. Moreover, the portable battery 2 can be used for leisure activities, etc., or taken to the necessary location for use during a power outage.

[0031] In this power outage countermeasure set, under normal circumstances (when there is no power outage), the portable battery 2 is energized and stored via the energy storage branch wiring 44. When a power outage occurs, the voltage through the energy storage branch wiring 44 becomes zero, so the internal circuitry of the portable battery 2 generates an output voltage at its output terminal. When the switch 14 is turned on in this state, the battery output terminal 104, which is connected to the output terminal of the portable battery 2, is connected to the load terminal 101, and the portable battery 2 supplies power to the specific load 9.

[0032] According to the switch box 1 of this embodiment, the portable battery 2 is connected in parallel to the specific load 9, so even when it is disconnected, power supply to the specific load 9 continues without any problems during normal operation. Therefore, a disconnection switch 11 is not provided. Instead, a switch 14 is provided, which needs to be operated during a power outage. In the example configuration, the portable battery 2 is connected in series to the specific load 9, so during a power outage, power is automatically supplied by the portable battery 2, and no switch operation is particularly necessary. However, as described above, if the switch 14 is set to an automatic switch in this embodiment, power supply to the specific load 9 by the portable battery 2 can be automatically started when a power outage occurs.

[0033] In each of the above configurations, the solar power generation panel 3 is preferably portable. This has several advantages, including the ease of retrofitting and the ease of installation on a balcony. There is also the advantage of readily available low-cost options. Furthermore, the solar power generation panel 3 can be used for outdoor applications depending on its output voltage. For example, if the inverter 31 is used as is, it can be used with AC 100V, and if the inverter 31 is removed and it can be used with DC voltage, it can be used for various purposes depending on the output voltage, such as charging smartphones. Also, if the portable battery 2 has a DC input terminal that matches the DC output voltage of the solar power generation panel 3, when the portable battery 2 is taken out for leisure activities, the solar power generation panel 3 can be taken out and used together, allowing the portable battery 2 to be used outdoors while being charged. As such a portable solar power generation panel 3, for example, the EcoFlow 110W solar panel sold by EcoFlow Technology Japan Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0034] Furthermore, in each of the above configurations, the storage of power in the portable battery 3 is selected by the panel switch 12 whether it is powered by grid power from the target branch switch 81 or by the solar power generation panel 3, but it is also possible to store power using both simultaneously. An example of this configuration is shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration in which power is stored in the portable battery using both grid power from the target branch switch and the solar power generation panel. In the example shown in Figure 4, a configuration for using both types of inputs is adopted, as in the configuration shown in Figure 1. In this example, the portable battery 2 is equipped with a DC input terminal 26. The solar power generation panel 3 does not have an inverter, and the output of the solar power generation panel 3 is a DC output compatible with the DC input terminal 26.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, in this configuration example, no panel switch is provided. Therefore, there is no interlocking switch that is linked to the panel switch, nor is there a second bypass line that is opened and closed by the interlocking switch. The switch box 1 is provided with a panel DC input terminal 105 to which the DC cable 32 of the solar power generation panel 3 is connected, and a panel DC output terminal 106 that is connected to the DC input terminal 26 of the portable battery 2. In Figure 4, when the solar power generation panel 3 is connected to the panel DC input terminal 105 with the DC cable 32, the solar power generation panel 3 is connected to the DC input terminal 62 of the portable battery 2, and during sunny days, the portable battery 3 is charged by both the power from the target branch switch 81 and the power from the solar power generation panel 3.

[0036] In this example, when a power outage occurs, as mentioned above, the internal circuit of the portable battery 2 generates an output voltage, which is then supplied to the specific load 9 via the second main wiring 42. In this case, if the DC cable 32 is left connected, the portable battery 2 will automatically be charged by the power from the solar power generation panel 3 during sunny periods in the daytime, automatically delaying the depletion of the portable battery 2's power. Note that in the example in Figure 4, simply connecting the DC cable 32 will not allow the solar power generation panel 3 to charge the portable battery 2; a separate panel switch may be provided for operation. Such a panel switch is provided in the switch box 1, but the portable battery 2 may also have such a switch built in. Furthermore, in the above reference example and embodiment, the portable battery 2 may be equipped with a switch equivalent to the panel switch 12, and the switch box 1 may not have a panel switch 12. However, in this case, the reference example requires that the interlocking switch 13 be configured to interlock with the switch on the portable battery 2, which has the disadvantage of making the configuration somewhat more complex.

[0037] Furthermore, the configuration in which the portable battery 3 is charged using both the power from the target branch switch 81 and the power from the solar power generation panel 3 can also be adopted in the embodiment. In this case as well, the panel switch 12 can be omitted. Furthermore, the configuration in which the portable battery 2 is charged using both the power from the target branch switch 81 and the power from the solar power generation panel 3 can also be implemented in a configuration in which the output of the solar power generation panel 3 is converted to AC by the inverter 31. For example, a configuration can be adopted in which a circuit that superimposes two AC powers is provided inside the switch box 1.

[0038] Furthermore, the power outage countermeasure kits described above can be suitably used not only in ordinary homes but also in offices and government offices. For example, government offices that play a central role in responding to disasters need to ensure that a minimum amount of power (such as power for communication with relevant parties) is available even during a power outage. Each power outage countermeasure kit can be used for this purpose. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 1 Switch box 100 Main line terminal 101 Load terminal 102 Panel terminals 103 Battery input terminal 104 Battery output terminal 11. Switch for when the device is disconnected. 12 Panel switches 13 Interlocking switch 14 switches 141 First selection terminal 142 Second selection terminal 143 Common terminal 2 Portable battery 3. Solar power panels 31 Inverter 41. First main wiring 411 Main line inside box 412 First Bypass Line 42 Second main wiring 43 Second Bypass Line 44 Branch wiring for energy storage 8 Distribution boards 81 Target branch switch 9 Specific load

Claims

[Claim 1] A power outage protection kit that is installed on a distribution board that distributes power to each load, and is installed between the distribution board and a specific load in a state where power is supplied from the distribution board to the specific load when there is no power outage. Portable battery and Switch box for portable battery storage and It is equipped with, A switch box for a portable battery storage system is provided with a main input terminal connected to a distribution board, a load terminal connected to a specific load, a battery output terminal connected to the output terminal of the portable battery storage system, a switch, a main line within the box connecting the main input terminal to the load terminal via the switch, and a battery output line connecting the battery output terminal to the load terminal via the switch. The switch shorts the main input terminal to the load terminal and disconnects the battery output terminal from the load terminal when there is no power outage, and disconnects the main input terminal from the load terminal and shorts the battery output terminal to the load terminal when there is a power outage. moreover, The first main wiring connects the distribution board and the main input terminal, A second main wiring that connects the load terminal and a specific load, It is equipped with a cable that connects the distribution board and the input terminal of the portable battery to supply power to the portable battery. This power outage countermeasure set features a switch box for portable battery storage equipped with panel terminals for connecting solar power generation panels, allowing the panel terminals to be connected to load terminals during a power outage, thereby supplying power generated by the solar power generation panels to the load.

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