Add-on power outage protection kit

The add-on and retrofit power outage countermeasure kits provide low-cost, easy-to-install emergency power solutions using portable batteries and solar panels, addressing the high cost and installation timing issues of existing systems, ensuring power supply during outages and preventing grid reverse power flow.

JP2026058248AActive Publication Date: 2026-04-03AI-COMMUNICATIONS INC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-09-24
Publication Date
2026-04-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing emergency power supply systems for homes are costly, require long construction periods, and are typically installed during new home construction, making them impractical for widespread adoption in response to power outages from disasters.

Method used

An add-on power outage countermeasure kit and retrofit power outage countermeasure set that includes a portable battery, solar power generation panels, and a switch box, which can be installed on an existing distribution board to provide emergency power supply during outages, with features like reverse power flow prevention and portability.

Benefits of technology

Enables low-cost, easy-to-implement emergency power supply measures that can be installed after a house is built, extending power availability during outages and preventing reverse power flow into the grid, suitable for both residential and non-residential buildings.

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Abstract

To provide low-cost, user-friendly emergency power supply equipment, and to allow for easy implementation of emergency power supply measures later on. [Solution] The retrofit power outage countermeasure set, which is retrofitted to an existing distribution board 8, consists of a first main wiring 41 connecting the target branch switch 81 and the switch box 1, a second main wiring 42 connecting the switch box 1 and a specific load 9, a portable battery 2 attached to the switch box 1, and a portable solar power generation panel 3. The portable battery 2 is charged by power supplied from the target branch switch 81 when there is no power outage and supplies power to the specific load 9 when there is a power outage. The portable battery 2 can also be charged by the portable solar power generation panel 3. The portable battery 2 is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention circuit, or a reverse power flow detection unit 5 and a cutoff unit 6 are provided.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention of the present application relates to a retrofit power outage countermeasure set for taking countermeasures against power outages that may be caused by large-scale disasters retrospectively.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, cases where the lifelines in a region are severely damaged by natural disasters such as large earthquakes and floods have occurred frequently, and it has become an urgent issue to make perfect countermeasures. In particular, cases where large-scale power outages occur due to damage to power plants and damage to power transmission and distribution networks have been increasing, and the importance of countermeasures against them has been called for. 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

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, installation must be carried out when a new house is built, and there is also a problem 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 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 very costly, require long construction periods, and are typically installed during new home construction, so they have not become widespread. The present invention was made with the above-mentioned challenges of emergency power supply measures during disasters in ordinary houses in mind, and aims to provide low-cost, easy-to-use emergency power supply equipment, as well as to enable easy implementation of emergency power supply measures even after the house has been built (even in a house that is currently occupied). [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, this specification discloses an invention for an add-on power outage countermeasure kit. The add-on power outage countermeasure kit according to the disclosed invention is an add-on power outage countermeasure kit that is installed on an existing distribution board connected to a power grid, and is installed between a target branch switch, which is one branch switch in the distribution board, and a specific load in the facility where the distribution board is installed, in a state in which power is supplied from the target branch switch to the specific load when there is no power outage. This set includes The first main wiring connected to the target branch switch, A second main wiring connected to a specific load, A portable battery whose input terminal is connected to the first main wiring and which is charged by power supplied from the target branch switch via the first main wiring when there is no power outage, and which is removable from the first main wiring, Solar power generation panels and It is equipped with. The portable battery is designed so that in the event of a power outage, its output terminals are connected to a second main wiring harness, allowing it to supply power to a specific load via that harness. The solar power generation panel is connected in parallel with the target branch switch on the input side of the portable battery. Portable battery storage systems can store energy using power from both the parallel-connected branch switch and the solar power generation panel, or they can store energy using either the power from the branch switch or the power from the solar power generation panel. This add-on power outage protection kit ensures power supply from the designated branch switch to specific loads when the portable battery is powered by solar panels during normal operation. Furthermore, in this add-on power outage countermeasure kit, the portable battery is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention circuit to prevent stored power from being output from the input terminal. Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, this specification discloses a retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to another invention. This retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to another invention is a retrofit power outage countermeasure set that is retrofitted to an existing distribution board connected to a power transmission and distribution network, and is installed between a target branch switch, which is one branch switch in the distribution board, and a specific load in the facility where the distribution board is installed, in a state in which power is supplied from the target branch switch to the specific load when there is no power outage. This set includes The first main wiring connected to the target branch switch, A second main wiring connected to a specific load, A portable battery whose input terminal is connected to the first main wiring and which is charged by power supplied from the target branch switch via the first main wiring when there is no power outage, and which is removable from the first main wiring, Solar power generation panels and It is equipped with. The portable battery is designed so that in the event of a power outage, its output terminals are connected to a second main wiring harness, allowing it to supply power to a specific load via that harness. The solar power generation panel is connected in parallel with the target branch switch on the input side of the portable battery. Portable battery storage systems can store energy using power from both the parallel-connected branch switch and the solar power generation panel, or they can store energy using either the power from the branch switch or the power from the solar power generation panel. This add-on power outage protection kit ensures power supply from the designated branch switch to specific loads when the portable battery is powered by solar panels during normal operation. And this add-on power outage countermeasure kit is, A reverse power flow detection unit that detects when stored power is output from the input terminal of a portable battery, When the reverse power flow detection unit detects reverse power flow, a shutoff unit is used to interrupt the flow of reverse power to prevent it from entering the power grid. It is equipped with. Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to each of the disclosed inventions is The portable battery has a pass-through function. The portable battery is connected in series with a specific load to the first main wiring and is connected upstream of the specific load. The configuration may include a switch that connects the target branch switch to a specific load when the portable battery is disconnected from the primary wiring. Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to each of the disclosed inventions is The portable battery is connected in parallel with a specific load to the first main wiring. A switch is provided to disconnect a specific load from the first main wiring during a power outage and connect it to a portable battery via the second main wiring to supply power to that load. It can have this kind of structure. Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the solar power generation panel in the retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to each of the disclosed inventions may be portable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As explained below, with the retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to each disclosed invention, power is supplied to a specific load during a power outage by a portable battery that has been charged during normal times (when there is no power outage), so electricity can be used for the specific load until the charge of the portable battery runs out. Therefore, it becomes possible to use the minimum amount of electricity necessary during disasters, etc. Furthermore, installation can be completed inexpensively and quickly, and the hardware costs can be significantly reduced. As a result, power outage countermeasures during disasters can be implemented at a low cost. Furthermore, the portable battery can be detached and used for outdoor leisure activities, offering a double benefit. The portability of the battery also has another advantage: it can be taken to another location indoors during a power outage and used as needed. Furthermore, since it is equipped with solar power generation panels and can store energy in a portable battery, it can extend the time it takes for the portable battery to run out of power during a power outage, making it particularly suitable for prolonged power outages.

[0007] Furthermore, according to the retrofit power outage countermeasure set of the disclosed invention, the portable battery has a built-in reverse power flow prevention circuit to prevent stored power from being output from the input terminal, thus preventing stored power from being mistakenly supplied to the grid. For this reason, it is possible to use solar power generation panels as a completely self-consumption type power generation system while also providing emergency power countermeasures during power outages, and it is a suitable product that can be easily introduced as no power application is required. Also, according to the retrofittable power outage countermeasure set related to another disclosed invention, it includes a reverse current detection unit that detects when the stored power flows reversely and is output from the input terminal of the portable battery, and a cutoff unit that cuts off the reverse current power so that it does not flow into the grid when the reverse current detection unit detects a reverse current. Therefore, even if the portable battery does not have a reverse current prevention circuit, the reverse current power will not flow to the grid side. For this reason, it is possible to use the solar power generation panel as a completely self-consumption type power generation facility and take countermeasures for emergency power during power outages without worrying about the type of portable battery, and it is a suitable one that can be easily introduced because no power application is required.

[0008] Also, if the portable battery has a pass-through function, the portable battery is connected in series with a specific load to the first main wiring and is connected upstream of the specific load, and a switch is provided that short-circuits the target branch switch and the specific load when the portable battery is removed from the first main wiring. According to this configuration, power supply to the specific load is maintained even when the portable battery is removed, and the effect that no problem occurs in power use at the specific load can be obtained.

[0009] Also, in a configuration where the portable battery is connected in parallel with a specific load to the first main wiring, and a switch is provided to disconnect the specific load from the first main wiring during a power outage and connect the portable battery to the specific load via the second main wiring for power supply, power supply to the specific load is maintained even when the portable battery is removed, and while obtaining the effect that no problem occurs in power use at the specific load, power supply to the specific load can be performed by the portable battery during a power outage. Also, when the solar power generation panel is of a portable type, the effect is obtained that construction during retrofitting is extremely easy, and it can also be used in combination as a solar power generation panel for uses such as leisure when going out.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] [Figure 1]It is a schematic diagram of the retrofit power outage countermeasure set of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram showing the connection state when the portable battery is removed. [Figure 3] It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the automatic switch. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram of the retrofit power outage countermeasure set of the second embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a schematic diagram of the retrofit power outage countermeasure set of the third embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Next, a mode (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) for carrying out the invention of the present application will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the retrofit power outage countermeasure set of the first embodiment. The retrofit power outage countermeasure set shown in FIG. 1 is a set that adds a function of securing power using a storage battery when a power outage occurs by retrofit. "Retrofit" means that it can be added by construction later after the building is completed, not at the time of new construction. As shown in FIG. 1, this retrofit power outage countermeasure set (hereinafter abbreviated as a retrofit set) is composed of a switch box 1, a portable battery 2, a solar power generation panel 3, main wirings 41, 42, etc. The switch box 1 is provided with a main line terminal 100 and a load terminal 101. The retrofit set of the embodiment described below is assumed to be for residential use such as single-family houses and condominiums, but it may also be used in non-residential buildings such as offices and government offices.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, this retrofit set is installed on one branch switch 81 in an existing distribution board 8 installed in a facility such as a house. As is well known, the distribution board 8 is connected to the grid transmission and distribution network provided by the power company to receive power. The retrofit set 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 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.

[0013] In the following explanation, the branch switch 81 to which the retrofit set 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. In facilities such as houses, power is distributed 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 retrofit set is installed.

[0014] The retrofit set of the first embodiment basically has a configuration in which the portable battery 2 is interposed in series between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9. That is, 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, and the portable battery 2 is on the upstream side.

[0015] The portable battery 2 is equipped with an AC 100V input terminal (hereinafter referred to as AC input terminal) 21 and an AC 100V output terminal (hereinafter referred to as AC output terminal) 22. An input AC cable 24 is connected to the AC input terminal 21, and an output AC cable 25 is connected to the AC output terminal 22. Furthermore, the portable battery 2 is equipped with a DC input terminal 23 for connecting the solar power generation panel 3. The portable battery 2 is also equipped with a power storage mode selection switch 20 that switches between power storage from the AC input terminal 21 (AC mode), power from the DC input terminal 23 (DC mode), or a hybrid (HB) mode that stores power from both. In hybrid mode, which stores power from both, priority is given to storage from the DC input terminal 23 in order to obtain energy saving effects. In hybrid mode, when power from the solar power generation panel 3 is depleted, such as at night, power is stored using AC power (grid power). As shown in Figure 1, the switch box 1 is provided with an input-side cable terminal 103 to which the input-side AC cable 24 extending from the portable battery 2 is connected, and an output-side cable terminal 104 to which the output-side AC cable 25 extending from the portable battery 2 is connected.

[0016] A switch 10 is installed inside the switch box 1. The switch 10 is provided with two input terminals 11 and 12 and one output terminal 13. One of the input terminals is the system-side switch terminal 11, which is connected to the target branch switch 81 via the main line terminal 100 and the first main wiring 41. The other is the energy storage output side switch terminal 12, which is connected to the output side cable terminal 104. As shown in Figure 1, the system-side switch terminal 11 is connected to the main line terminal 100, and the battery input line 43, which is connected to the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2, is also connected to it. The output terminal 13 of the switch 10 (hereinafter referred to as the load-side switch terminal) is connected to the specific load 9 via the load terminal 101 and the second main line 42. Switch 10 remains in the state shown in Figure 1 unless the portable battery 2 is removed. Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the normal state. In the normal state, switch 10 has short-circuited the battery output terminal 12 and the load-side switch terminal 13.

[0017] The portable battery 2 has a so-called pass-through function. That is, the internal circuitry is configured so that the AC input terminal 21 and AC output terminal 22 are always short-circuited, regardless of the charging / discharging state and regardless of which input mode is selected. Therefore, when the switch 10 is in the normal state as shown in Figure 1, the power from the target branch switch 81 reaches the charging output side switch terminal 12 via the first main wiring 41, the system side switch terminal 11, the AC input terminal 21, the portable battery 2, and the AC output terminal 22, and is supplied to the specific load 9 via the load side switch terminal 13, the load terminal 101, and the second main wiring 42.

[0018] The portable battery 2, although not shown in the diagram, includes a power outage detection circuit and an automatic power supply circuit. The power outage detection circuit detects when the power supply voltage becomes zero while the input AC cable 24 is connected to the AC input terminal 21 (detects a power outage), and also detects when the power supply voltage recovers after the power outage detection (detects the resolution of the power outage). The automatic power supply circuit automatically starts supplying power (outputs AC 100V to the AC output terminal 22) when the power outage detection circuit detects a power outage. These functions are the same as those of a so-called uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

[0019] Furthermore, the portable battery 2 in this embodiment is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention circuit and has a reverse power flow prevention function. Reverse power flow prevention is a function that prevents the stored power from flowing in the reverse direction. In other words, it is a function that prevents power from flowing out of the AC input terminal 21. As a portable battery 2 having such configurations, for example, the DELTA2 sold by EcoFlow Technology Japan Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0020] In the first embodiment, when the portable battery 2 is removed, the switch 10 is operated. This will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the wiring state when the portable battery is removed. To remove the portable battery 2, first operate switch 10 to the state shown in Figure 2. That is, the grid-side switch terminal 11 is short-circuited to the load-side switch terminal 13. Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the release state. By setting it to the release state, the portable battery 2 is disconnected from the specific load 9. Also, grid power from the target branch switch 81 flows directly from the grid-side switch terminal 11 to the load-side switch terminal 13 via switch 10 and is supplied directly to the specific load 9. After setting it to this state, disconnect the AC cables 24 and 25 that were connected to switch box 1 and remove the portable battery 2 from switch box 1. Note that if the solar power generation panel 3 is connected to DC input terminal 23, it is acceptable to leave it as is, but if you are taking the portable battery 2 outdoors, disconnect the DC cable 31 from DC input terminal 23.

[0021] The operation of this add-on set according to the first embodiment will be described below. The retrofit system is installed retrofitted to a residential or other facility as described above. Specifically, the power supply line to the specific load 9 is disconnected from the target 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 terminal 100 on the switch box 1. The second main wiring 42 has one end connected to the load terminal 101 on the switch box 1 and the other end connected to the specific load 9. The switch 10 is then set to the normal state. Furthermore, the portable battery 2 is attached to the switch box 1 by connecting the respective AC cables 24 and 25. The solar power generation panel 3 is also connected to the DC input terminal 23 of the portable battery 2 using the DC cable 31. The power storage mode selection switch 20 on the portable battery 2 is often set to AC mode or hybrid mode.

[0022] Once the installation is complete as described above, grid power from the target branch switch 81 flows through the grid-side switch terminal 11 of switch 10 into the portable battery 2, and is supplied to the specific load 9 via the power output terminal 12 of switch 10. At this time, the portable battery 2 is also charged. Furthermore, if the power storage mode selection switch 20 is set to hybrid mode or DC mode, the portable battery 2 is charged by the solar power generation panel 3 during sunny daytime hours.

[0023] 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 power outage detection circuit in the portable battery 2 detects this, and the automatic power supply circuit operates, generating an output voltage at the AC output terminal 22 and starting power supply. That is, power from the portable battery 2 is supplied to the specific load 9, and power supply to the specific load 9 (for example, the living room) continues. When the power outage is resolved, the power outage detection circuit of the portable battery 2 detects the restoration of power, and the automatic power supply circuit stops the output of stored power. Then, the pass-through function of the portable battery 2 resumes the supply of grid power to the specific load 9. Furthermore, if it is sunny during the daytime when the power outage occurs, charging of the portable battery 2 will occur in parallel. Therefore, the time until the portable battery 2's remaining charge reaches zero is extended.

[0024] When removing the portable battery 2 for use outdoors, the switch 10 is changed from the steady state shown in Figure 1 to the released state shown in Figure 2. Then, the AC cables 24 and 25 are unplugged, as well as the DC cable 31 connected to the solar power generation panel 3. This removes the portable battery 2 from the switch box 1 and the solar power generation panel 3, making it possible to take it outdoors. In this embodiment, since the solar power generation panel 3 is also portable, it is possible to take it outdoors together with the portable battery 2 and use it for solar power generation.

[0025] With this retrofitted set, the portable battery 2, which is normally charged (non-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 in 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 interposing the switch box 1, to which the portable battery 2 and solar power generation panel 3 are connected, between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9, and connecting the main wiring 41 and 42, the installation is extremely inexpensive and can be completed in a short period of time. Moreover, because it is a set that combines the 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.

[0026] Furthermore, the portable battery 2 can be detached and used for outdoor leisure activities, offering a double benefit. The portability of the battery also has another advantage: it can be taken to another location indoors during a power outage and used as needed. 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 AC output terminal 22 of the portable battery 2, and the toilet can be flushed. In other words, it offers a triple benefit.

[0027] Furthermore, the retrofit set of this embodiment includes a solar power generation panel 3, which allows for charging of the portable battery 2. This extends 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. Moreover, since the solar power generation panel 3 is also portable, it can be taken outdoors and used together with the portable battery 2, extending the usage time (time until the portable battery 2 runs out of power) outdoors. If the solar power generation panel 3 is not portable, it may be mounted on the roof or wall of a building such as a house.

[0028] Furthermore, since the portable battery 2 is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention function, it prevents the stored power from accidentally flowing into the grid. In Figure 1, if the stored power flows out from the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2, it reaches the distribution board 8 via the grid-side switch terminal 11 of the switch 10, resulting in reverse power flow into the grid. In this case, if the owner who installed the retrofit set has applied to the power company for power, the reverse power flow will be permitted as surplus power sold, but if no power application has been made, it is necessary to prevent the reverse power flow. In other words, the retrofit set of this embodiment is suitable because it allows solar power generation panels to be used as a completely self-consumption type power generation system while also providing emergency power measures during power outages, and it can be easily introduced as no power application is required.

[0029] In the configuration of the first embodiment described above, it is also conceivable to adopt an automatic switch configuration for the switch 10 that automatically deactivates when the portable battery 2 is removed. This point will be explained in more detail using Figure 3. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an automatic switch configuration.

[0030] In the example shown in Figure 3, a socket 71 to which the input AC cable 24 is attached is provided as the input cable terminal 103, and a swing rod 72 is provided as a component that is linked to the socket 71. A spring member 73 is fixed to the back of one end of the swing rod 72 (opposite the socket 71), and a switch 1 is connected to the other end. The swing rod 72 is able to swing around a rotation axis approximately in the center. The socket 71 is movable in the direction toward the spring member 73 within a retainer (not shown). Furthermore, a stopper 74 is attached to the retainer to prevent the socket 71 from coming out when it is installed.

[0031] When the input AC cable 24 is connected, the socket 71 is pushed out as shown in Figure 3(1) and its position is held by the stopper 74. In this state, the spring member 73 is compressed via the oscillating rod 72, and the oscillating rod 72 acts as a lever to pull the shorting plate of the switch 1, causing the shorting plate to short-circuit the system-side switch terminal 11 and the load-side switch terminal 13. When removing the input AC cable 24, manually release the stopper 74 before pulling out the input AC cable 24. This causes the swing rod 72 to swing in the opposite direction due to the action (restoring force) of the spring member 73, and the shorting plate of switch 1 short-circuits the power storage output side switch terminal 12 and the load side switch terminal 13.

[0032] In the example above, the socket 71 for the input AC cable 24 is equipped with an automatic switch, but the socket for the output AC cable 25 may also be equipped with an automatic switch, or both may be equipped with manual switches. If both are equipped with automatic switches, the input AC cable 24 and the output AC cable 25 may be made into a single unit such as a harness, and the socket to which it is attached may be equipped with the structure described above. In addition to the above, various other configurations of automatic switches are conceivable, and the switch may not be mechanical but may be operated electronically using sensors or the like. In any case, if it is not an automatic switch, if the portable battery 2 is removed without operating switch 10, the power supply to the specific load 9 will be cut off, resulting in a state similar to a tripped circuit breaker. However, if an automatic switch configuration is used, there is no need to worry about forgetting to operate switch 10, which is preferable.

[0033] Next, we will describe the add-on power outage countermeasure set according to the second embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the add-on power outage countermeasure set according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, the power outage countermeasure set of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a reverse power flow detection unit 5 and a cutoff unit 6. Otherwise, it is almost the same as the first embodiment. The reverse power flow detection unit 5 is a detection unit that detects when stored power is output as reverse power flow from the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2. In this example, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 is provided on the first main wiring 41.

[0034] The circuit breaker 6 uses a switch 61 that mechanically opens (breaks) the circuit by automatic external control, similar to a circuit breaker. In this embodiment, the switch 61 is installed on the line between the grid-side switch terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2. A control circuit 62 is provided that outputs an open signal to the switch 61. The control circuit 62 is a circuit that outputs an open signal to the switch 61 when a signal indicating the detection of reverse power flow is sent from the reverse power flow detection unit 5. The switch 61 automatically opens (breaks) upon receiving the open signal, but it is manually closed. For example, a reverse power relay with CT detection that detects reverse power can be used to constitute such a reverse current detection unit 5 and circuit breaker 6. The reverse power flow detection location may also be on the line between the grid-side switch terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21, and a configuration in which a reverse power relay with CT detection is installed at this location can also be adopted.

[0035] This retrofit set of the second embodiment is basically installed retrofitting to the target branch switch 81, similar to the first embodiment. It is equipped with a switch box 1 and a portable battery 2, and a reverse power flow detection unit 5 is installed on the first main wiring 41. The switch 61 in the interruption unit 6 inside the switch box 1 is set to the closed state when operation begins.

[0036] Furthermore, if a battery without a reverse power flow prevention function is used as the portable battery 2 and power flows in reverse from the AC input terminal 21, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 detects this and the shut-off unit 6 operates. That is, the control circuit 62 sends an open signal to the switch 61, and the line is shut off. This prevents the reverse power flowing through the target branch switch 81 into the grid. At this time, the power supply circuit via the portable battery 2 to the specific load 9 is shut off, and power is no longer supplied. In this case, the user operates the switch 10 to release it. When this is done, the grid-side switch terminal 11 is directly short-circuited (without going through the portable battery 2) to the load-side switch terminal 13, and power supply to the specific load 9 is resumed. The switch box 1 may be equipped with lamps or displays to prompt the user to operate the switch 10.

[0037] In the second embodiment, since a reverse power flow detection unit 5 and a cutoff unit 6 are provided, even if the portable battery 2 does not have a reverse power flow prevention circuit, reverse power flow will not flow to the grid. For this reason, with the retrofit set of the second embodiment, it is possible to use the solar power generation panel 3 as a fully self-consumption type power generation system without having to worry about what type of portable battery 2 is, and emergency power measures during power outages can be taken, and since no power application is required, it can be easily introduced. For example, even if the portable battery 2 was equipped with a reverse power flow prevention circuit when it was initially installed, but the user later replaced it and connected one that does not have a reverse power flow prevention circuit, power outage measures can still be taken without releasing reverse power flow into the grid.

[0038] Although the purpose of preventing reverse power flow can be achieved even if the interruption unit 6 is configured to interrupt the circuit on the first main wiring 41, the above configuration in which the interruption is performed on the line between the grid-side switch terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 is superior. Even if the switch 61 is installed on the first main wiring 41, reverse power flow to the grid side is prevented, but if the switch 61 is manually closed in order to restore power supply to a specific load 9, the interruption unit 6 will immediately operate and open the switch 61 if the reverse power flow from the portable battery 2 has not been resolved. In this case, the portable battery 2 must be removed from the switch box 1 before closing the switch 61, which is cumbersome. The configuration in which the interruption is performed between the grid-side switch terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 (on the battery input line 43) is superior in that it does not involve such cumbersome procedures.

[0039] Next, we will describe the retrofit set of the third embodiment. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the retrofit set of the third embodiment. The retrofit set of the third embodiment is also a set that is retrofitted to the target branch switch 81 in the distribution board 8 of a house, etc., and comprises a switch box 1, a portable storage battery 2, and a solar power generation panel 3. The difference between the retrofit set of the third embodiment and the first and second embodiments is that when storing energy, the portable storage battery 2 is in a parallel relationship with a specific load 9.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, in the third embodiment, the box-internal main line 411 and the battery input line 43 are provided by branching off from the line connected to the first main wiring 41. The box-internal main line 411 extends from the branching point and is connected to the load terminal 101 via a switch 14. The output side cable terminal 104 is also connected to the load terminal 101 via a switch 14. The switch 14 is normally in a state where the box-internal main line 411 and the load terminal 101 are short-circuited (hereinafter referred to as the battery off state) when there is no power outage, and in the event of a power outage, the box-internal main line 411 is released from the load terminal 101 and the output side cable terminal 104 is short-circuited to the load terminal 101 (hereinafter referred to as the battery on state).

[0041] As can be seen from Figure 5, when switch 14 is in the battery ON state, the portable battery 2 and the specific load 9 are in series. That is, the portable battery 2 is in parallel with the specific load 9 when charging, but is in series with the specific load 9 when discharging. The portable battery 2 is connected to the target branch switch 81 on the input side, but in the event of a power outage, the power supply becomes zero to detect the power outage, and power is output from the AC output terminal 22 and supplied to the specific load 9. Note that 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. The power outage detection sensor can be installed inside the distribution board 8 or on the first main wiring 41.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, in the third embodiment as well, considering the possibility that the portable battery 2 may not have a reverse power flow prevention function, a reverse power flow detection unit 5 and a circuit breaker unit 6 are provided. In the example in Figure 5, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 is on the first main wiring 41, but it may also be on the battery input line 43. The switch 61 included in the circuit breaker unit 6 is provided on the battery input line 43. If reverse power flow occurs when the portable battery 2 does not have a reverse power flow prevention function, the circuit breaker unit 6 opens the switch 61 to interrupt the power flow in this embodiment as well. Therefore, reverse power flow will not flow to the grid. If the portable battery 2 has a reverse power flow prevention function, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 and the circuit breaker unit 6 are unnecessary, as in the first embodiment.

[0043] In each of the embodiments described above, the portable battery 2 is equipped with a DC input terminal 23 and is directly connected to the solar power generation panel 3. However, the present invention can also be implemented with a portable battery that does not have a DC input terminal 23. When using a portable battery that does not have a DC input terminal 23, an inverter is installed in between to convert the DC voltage output from the solar power generation panel 2 to AC 100V AC, and the inverter is connected to a switch box 1. Inside the switch box 1, there is a power storage changeover switch that switches between storing power in the portable battery 2 or in the solar power generation panel 3 using grid power.

[0044] In the above case, if the portable battery 2 is connected in series with a specific load 9 as in the first and second embodiments, operating the power transfer switch to connect the portable battery 2 to the solar power generation panel 2 will interrupt the power supply to the specific load 9. Therefore, a bypass line is provided connecting the first main wiring to the second main wiring, and a switch on this bypass line is set to turn on in conjunction with the power transfer switch. However, when AC charging the portable battery 2 using grid power and the solar power generation panel 3 simultaneously, the power transfer switch is not provided, and the bypass line and the switch on the bypass line are unnecessary.

[0045] The retrofit sets of each embodiment 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. The retrofit sets of each embodiment can be used for this purpose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 Switch box 101 Load terminal 102 Panel terminals 103 Input AC cable terminal 104 Output AC cable terminal 10 switches 11 System-side switch terminals 12. Switch terminal on the power storage output side 13 Load-side switch terminal 14 switches 2 Portable battery 3. Solar power panels 41. First main wiring 411 Main line inside box 42 Second main wiring 43 Battery input line 44 Battery output line 8 Distribution board 81 Target branch switch 9. Specific load

Claims

1. This is an add-on power outage countermeasure kit that can be retrofitted to an existing distribution board connected to a power transmission and distribution network. The kit is installed between a target branch switch, which is one of the branch switches in the distribution board, and a specific load within the facility where the distribution board is installed, in a state where power is supplied from the target branch switch to the specific load during normal operation. The first main wiring connected to the target branch switch, A second main wiring connected to a specific load, A portable battery whose input terminal is connected to the first main wiring and which is charged by power supplied from the target branch switch via the first main wiring when there is no power outage, and which is removable from the first main wiring, Solar power generation panels and It is equipped with, The portable battery is designed so that in the event of a power outage, its output terminals are connected to a second main wiring harness, allowing it to supply power to a specific load via that harness. The solar power generation panel is connected in parallel with the target branch switch on the input side of the portable battery. Portable battery storage systems can store energy using power from both the parallel-connected branch switch and the solar power panel, or they can store energy using either the power from the branch switch or the power from the solar power panel. This is a power outage countermeasure set that ensures power supply from the target branch switch to a specific load when power is supplied to a portable storage battery by electricity from solar power generation panels during non-power outage situations. This portable battery storage system is an add-on power outage countermeasure kit characterized by its reverse power flow prevention circuit, which prevents stored power from being output from the input terminal.

2. The aforementioned portable battery has a pass-through function, The portable battery is connected in series with the specific load to the first main wiring and is connected upstream of the specific load. The retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to claim 1, characterized in that a switch is provided for connecting the target branch switch and the specific load when the portable battery is disconnected from the first main wiring.

3. The portable battery is connected in parallel with the specific load to the first main wiring, The retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to claim 1, characterized in that a switch is provided to disconnect the specific load from the first main wiring during a power outage and to connect the portable battery to the specific load via the second main wiring to supply power.

4. The retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the solar power generation panel is of a portable type.

5. This is an add-on power outage countermeasure kit that can be retrofitted to an existing distribution board connected to a power transmission and distribution network. The kit is installed between a target branch switch, which is one of the branch switches in the distribution board, and a specific load within the facility where the distribution board is installed, in a state where power is supplied from the target branch switch to the specific load during normal operation. The first main wiring connected to the target branch switch, A second main wiring connected to a specific load, A portable battery whose input terminal is connected to the first main wiring and which is charged by power supplied from the target branch switch via the first main wiring when there is no power outage, and which is removable from the first main wiring, Solar power generation panels and It is equipped with, The portable battery is designed so that in the event of a power outage, its output terminals are connected to a second main wiring harness, allowing it to supply power to a specific load via that harness. The solar power generation panel is connected in parallel with the target branch switch on the input side of the portable battery. Portable battery storage systems can store energy using power from both the parallel-connected branch switch and the solar power panel, or they can store energy using either the power from the branch switch or the power from the solar power panel. This is a power outage countermeasure set that ensures power supply from the target branch switch to a specific load when power is supplied to a portable storage battery by electricity from solar power generation panels during non-power outage situations. A reverse power flow detection unit that detects when stored power is output from the input terminal of a portable battery, When the reverse power flow detection unit detects reverse power flow, a shutoff unit is used to interrupt the flow of reverse power to prevent it from entering the power grid. A retrofit power outage countermeasure kit characterized by having the following features.

6. The aforementioned portable battery has a pass-through function, The portable battery is connected in series with the specific load to the first main wiring and is connected upstream of the specific load. The retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to claim 5, characterized in that a switch is provided for connecting the target branch switch and the specific load when the portable battery is disconnected from the first main wiring.

7. The portable battery is connected in parallel with the specific load to the first main wiring, The retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to claim 5, characterized in that a switch is provided to disconnect the specific load from the first main wiring during a power outage and to connect the portable battery to the specific load via the second main wiring to supply power.

8. The retrofit power outage countermeasure set according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the solar power generation panel is of a portable type.

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