Power management system

Abstract

This system provides a power management system that can prevent interruptions to power management even in situations where communication conditions are unstable. [Solution] The power management system comprises a controlled device connected to the power grid, a server that formulates a control plan for the controlled device and generates control commands based on the control plan, and a controller that controls the controlled device. The controller has a storage unit that stores the control plan and a processing unit. The processing unit detects a state in which it cannot receive control commands from the server as a communication abnormality state. If no communication abnormality state is detected (step S210: NO), the processing unit relays the control commands received from the server to the controlled device and controls the controlled device. If a communication abnormality state is detected (step S210: YES), the processing unit generates a control command based on the control plan stored in the storage unit and uses the generated control command to control the controlled device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power management system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a power management system that controls an electric power system connected to a renewable energy power generation site and a plurality of power storage facilities. An aggregator uses the power management system to directly receive the output control that a power generation operator has been receiving from an electric power company, and causes each power storage facility in the electric power system to bear a capacity V2 that is part of the capacity V1 required for the output control. Then, the aggregator uses the power management system to distribute the remaining capacity V3 (V3=V1-V2) to the power generation operator. This power management system can reduce the output control burden on the power generation site.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The system is configured on the premise that power management commands are sent from the aggregator to the power generation operator. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs in the communication between the aggregator and the power generation operator, the power management commands cannot be transmitted from the aggregator to the power generation operator. For this reason, power management cannot be performed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Hereinafter, the means for solving the above problems and the operational effects thereof will be described. A power management system for solving the above problems comprises a controlled device connected to a power grid, a server that formulates a control plan for the controlled device and generates control commands based on the control plan, and a controller that receives the control commands from the server and controls the controlled device. The power management system achieves power management by controlling the controlled device based on the control plan. In the power management system, the controller has a storage unit that stores the control plan from the server and a processing unit. The processing unit detects a state in which it cannot receive the control commands from the server as a communication abnormality state. If the communication abnormality state is not detected, the processing unit relays the control commands received from the server to the controlled device and controls the controlled device. On the other hand, if the communication abnormality state is detected, the processing unit generates a control command based on the control plan stored in the storage unit and uses the generated control command to control the controlled device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The power management system described above can prevent interruptions to power management even in situations where communication conditions are unstable. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing the various components of the power management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship between the controller and multiple controlled devices that make up the power management system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing performed on the server. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing performed in the controller. [Figure 5]Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing performed in the controller depending on whether or not a user has performed any action. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the power management system when communication between the server and the controller is normal. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the power management system when the communication status between the server and the controller is abnormal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Below, one embodiment of the power management system will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. <Power Management System 100> First, the overall configuration of the power management system 100 will be explained with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the power management system 100 comprises a server 10, a controller 20, and multiple controlled devices 30. These devices are configured to communicate with each other via a network 50.

[0009] Figure 1 shows an example in which the controlled equipment 30 is installed at the charging station 110, the energy storage facility 120, and the business premises 130. The controlled equipment 30 is equipment connected to the power grid.

[0010] Server 10 devises a control plan to implement power management. Based on this control plan, Server 10 generates control commands to control multiple controlled devices 30. Server 10 transmits the devised control plan to Controller 20. Server 10 also transmits the control commands to Controller 20. Controller 20 receives and stores the control plan from Server 10. Controller 20 controls the multiple controlled devices 30 by transmitting the received control commands to the target controlled devices 30. The controlled devices 30 operate according to the control commands received from Controller 20. By controlling the controlled devices 30 based on this control plan, the power management system 100 realizes power management that optimizes the operational efficiency of power in the power grid, such as in microgrids and facilities where controlled devices 30 are installed.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an electric vehicle 31, a storage battery 32, and a charger / discharger 34 as examples of controlled devices 30. <Relationship between controller 20 and multiple controlled devices 30> As shown in Figure 2, the controller 20 has a storage unit 21 and a processing unit 22. Each function of the controller 20 is realized by the CPU reading a program stored in ROM and executing the program using RAM as a working area. When the controller 20 receives a control plan from the server 10, it stores the control plan in the storage unit 21.

[0012] The processing unit 22 can relay control commands generated by the server 10 to the controlled device 30. Furthermore, the processing unit 22 can generate control commands for controlling the controlled device 30 based on the control plan stored in the storage unit 21. In this way, the processing unit 22 can control the controlled device 30 using control commands generated by the server 10, or control commands generated based on the control plan stored in the storage unit 21. The processing unit 22 monitors the communication status between the controller 20 and the server 10. For example, the processing unit 22 detects a communication error state if a control command generated by the server 10 does not reach the controller 20 at the time of transmission. Figure 2 shows an example where the controller 20 is installed separately from the controlled device 30, but it may also be configured to be installed together with the controlled device 30.

[0013] The controlled device 30 operates based on control commands received from the controller 20. Figure 2 shows examples of controlled devices 30, including an electric vehicle 31, a battery 32, an air conditioner 33, a charger / discharger 34, and a power generation system 35. In the example shown in Figure 2, the electric vehicle 31 and the charger / discharger 34 are located within the charging station 110. In the example shown in Figure 2, the battery 32 and the power generation system 35 are located within the energy storage facility 120. In the example shown in Figure 2, the air conditioner 33 and the charger / discharger 34 are located within the business premises 130.

[0014] The electric vehicle 31 functions as a bidirectional power supply device that enables power supply to the power grid and homes by utilizing V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) technologies. The charging station 110 is connected to the power grid. The charger / discharger 34 is equipped with a cable that connects to the electric vehicle 31. The charger / discharger 34 performs charging of the electric vehicle 31 connected by the cable and discharging from the electric vehicle 31 connected by the cable to the power grid. The electric vehicle 31 receives control commands from the controller 20 and controls charging and discharging according to the control commands. The charger / discharger 34 can also receive control commands from the controller 20 and control charging and discharging according to the control commands.

[0015] The storage battery 32 stores electricity and supplies power to other electrical devices as needed. The power storage facility 120 is provided with a power generation system 35 in addition to the storage battery 32. The power storage facility 120 is connected to a power system. The power generation system 35 is, for example, a solar power generation system or a wind power generation system. The storage battery 32 receives a control command from the controller 20, and controls power charging and discharging in accordance with the control command.

[0016] The air conditioner 33 is a power consumption device shown as an example, and it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to other power consumption devices such as lighting devices. The business site 130 is provided with a charger-discharger 34 in addition to the air conditioner 33. Power consumption devices such as the air conditioner 33 receive a control command from the controller 20, and control their operating states in accordance with the control command.

[0017] Each controlled device 30 can also accept operations from a user. The user can operate the controlled device 30 via a smartphone, a tablet, or the like that is communicably connected to the controlled device 30. Further, for a controlled device 30 provided with an interface that accepts user operations, the user can also operate the controlled device 30 by operating the interface.

[0018] <Flow of processing executed in server 10> The flow of processing executed in the server 10 will be described with reference to Figure 3. The server 10 executes this series of processing periodically.

[0019] When server 10 starts this series of processes, it first formulates a control plan in step S100. Server 10 formulates a control plan based on information such as the current operating status of each controlled device 30, future operating forecasts, and forecast results of power supply and demand in the power grid. For example, server 10 formulates a control plan for each controlled device 30 for the next 48 hours, every 30 minutes. In other words, in this case, the control plan is updated every 30 minutes. Then, server 10 proceeds to step S110, and in the process of step S110, it sends the control plan formulated in step S100 to controller 20. Next, server 10 proceeds to step S120, and in the process of step S120, it generates control commands based on the control plan formulated in step S100. Furthermore, server 10 proceeds to step S130, and in the process of step S130, it sends the control commands generated in step S120 to controller 20. This concludes this series of processes.

[0020] <Processing flow executed in controller 20> When the controller 20 receives a control plan from the server 10, it stores the control plan in the storage unit 21. When the controller 20 receives a control command from the server 10, it transmits the control command to the target device 30.

[0021] The processing unit 22 of the controller 20 periodically executes a series of processes shown in Figure 4. When the processing unit 22 starts the series of processes shown in Figure 4, it first monitors the communication status between the controller 20 and the server 10 in step S200. Then, the processing unit 22 proceeds to step S210, where it determines whether or not a communication abnormality has been detected between the controller 20 and the server 10. As explained above, as an example, the processing unit 22 detects a communication abnormality when a control command generated by the server 10 does not reach the controller 20 at the timing of the transmission of the control command.

[0022] If a communication abnormality is detected in step S210 and a control plan is stored in the memory unit 21 (step S210: YES), the processing unit 22 proceeds to step S220. Next, in the processing of step S220, the processing unit 22 generates a control command based on the control plan stored in the memory unit 21. Furthermore, the processing unit 22 proceeds to step S240, and in the processing of step S240, transmits the control command generated in step S220 to the controlled device 30. In this way, the controller 20 can control the controlled device 30 using a control command based on the control plan stored in the memory unit 21. The processing unit 22 performs the processing of steps S220 and S240 only if a control plan for the controlled device 30 is stored in the memory unit 21. If a control plan for the controlled device 30 is not stored in the memory unit 21, it should be understood that there is no need to control the controlled device 30.

[0023] On the other hand, if no communication abnormality is detected in step S210 (step S210: NO), the processing unit 22 proceeds to step S230. Next, in the processing of step S230, the processing unit 22 relays the control command received from the server 10 to the controlled device 30. In this way, the controller 20 completes this series of processes.

[0024] When the controller 20's processing unit 22 detects a communication anomaly and generates a control command, it periodically executes the series of processes shown in Figure 5. In other words, the series of processes shown in Figure 5 are executed when the processing unit 22 is controlling multiple controlled devices 30 using the control command generated based on the control plan stored in the memory unit 21.

[0025] When the processing unit 22 starts the series of processes shown in Figure 5, it first determines in step S300 whether there is any user operation on the controlled device 30. User operation refers to a user operating the controlled device 30. If a user operates the controlled device 30, it is considered that there is a user operation. On the other hand, if a user does not operate the controlled device 30, it is considered that there is no user operation.

[0026] If the processing unit 22 determines that there is no user operation (step S300: YES), it proceeds to step S310, and in the processing of step S310, it sends a control command to the controlled device 30.

[0027] On the other hand, if the processing unit 22 determines in step S300 that there has been user operation on the controlled device 30 (step S300: NO), it proceeds to step S320 and interrupts the transmission of the control command. When the controller 20 interrupts the transmission of the control command, control of the multiple controlled devices 30 according to the control plan is discontinued. Since the controlled device 30 has been operated by the user, if it operates according to the user's operation, the power supply and demand situation in the power system will differ from the control plan stored in the storage unit 21. Therefore, in this case, control of the multiple controlled devices 30 according to the stored control plan is interrupted.

[0028] When the processing unit 22 has executed the process in step S310 or step S320, it terminates the series of processes shown in Figure 5. <Operation of the Embodiment> Next, the operation of the embodiment will be explained using Figures 6 and 7.

[0029] Figure 6 shows the operation of the power management system 100 when the communication between the server 10 and the controller 20 is normal. As shown in Figure 6, the server 10 formulates a control plan for the controlled device 30. The server 10 then transmits the formulated control plan to the controller 20. The controller 20 stores the control plan received from the server 10. Subsequently, the server 10 generates control commands based on the formulated control plan. Next, the server 10 transmits the generated control commands to the controller 20. The controller 20 controls the controlled device 30 by relaying the control commands received from the server 10 to the controlled device 30.

[0030] Figure 7 illustrates the operation of the power management system 100 when the communication status between the server 10 and the controller 20 is abnormal. As shown in Figure 7, the server 10 formulates a control plan for the controlled device 30. The server 10 then transmits the formulated control plan to the controller 20. The controller 20 stores the control plan received from the server 10. Subsequently, the server 10 generates control commands based on the formulated control plan. Next, the server 10 transmits the generated control commands to the controller 20. However, in the example shown in Figure 7, the control commands generated by the server 10 do not reach the controller 20 at the time of transmission. The controller 20, detecting that a communication abnormality has occurred, generates control commands based on the control plan stored in the storage unit 21. The controller 20 then uses the generated control commands to control the controlled device 30.

[0031] If the user operates the controlled device 30, the controller 20 will not send the generated control command and will interrupt control over the controlled device 30. <Operation of this embodiment> In the power management system 100, the controller 20 monitors the communication status between the controlled device 30 and the server 10 by relaying communication between the server 10 and the controlled device 30. When the power management system 100 detects a communication abnormality where it cannot receive control commands from the server 10, the controller 20 generates control commands based on the control plan stored in the memory unit 21. Furthermore, the controller 20 uses the generated control commands to control the controlled device 30.

[0032] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) In the power management system 100, even if control commands from the server 10 are interrupted, the controller 20 can continue to control the controlled equipment 30 according to the control plan stored in it. Therefore, the power management system 100 can prevent interruptions to power management even in situations where the communication status is unstable.

[0033] (2) In the power management system 100, when a communication abnormality is detected, the processing unit 22 determines whether or not there is a user operation on the controlled device 30. If there is a user operation, the processing unit 22 suspends control of the controlled device 30. On the other hand, the processing unit 22 controls the controlled device 30 only when there is no user operation.

[0034] In the power management system 100, if there is a user operation, it is possible to operate the controlled equipment 30 in accordance with the user's operation 40. (3) In the power management system 100, the processing unit 22 detects as a communication abnormality state that the timing for transmitting a control command based on the control plan stored in the storage unit 21 has arrived, but the control command has not been received from the server 10.

[0035] In the power management system 100, the processing unit 22 of the controller 20 monitors the communication status based on the transmission timing of control commands in the control plan stored in the memory unit 21. Therefore, the controller 20 can detect the occurrence of a communication anomaly without delay.

[0036] The power management system 100 can quickly transition to control in a communication abnormal state if communication between the controller 20 and the server 10 is interrupted, thus reducing delays in the control of the power management system 100.

[0037] <Example of changes> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the processing unit 22 detects a state in which no control command based on the control plan stored in the storage unit 21 is received as a communication abnormality state. Alternatively, the processing unit 22 may also detect a state in which the delay between the transmission timing of the control command based on the control plan and the reception timing of receiving the control command from the server 10 is greater than or equal to a predetermined time. The predetermined time can be appropriately set to, for example, 10 minutes or 15 minutes.

[0039] In this case, the power management system 100 can detect a communication abnormality when the communication quality between the server 10 and the controller 20 is poor and communication delays are large. In this way, the power management system 100 can reduce unnecessary processing in the controller 20 by detecting a communication abnormality only when a delay exceeding a predetermined time occurs.

[0040] It is not mandatory to perform the series of processes described with reference to Figure 5. The series of processes described with reference to Figure 5 can be omitted. In that case, regardless of whether or not there is user operation, the processing unit 22 will continue to control the multiple controlled devices 30 according to the control plan stored in the storage unit 21. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 10… Server 20… Controller 21...Storage section 22… Processing Unit 30…Controlled devices 31… Electric vehicles 32… Storage battery 33…Air conditioner 34…Charger / discharger 35... Power generation system 50…Network 100…Power Management System 110... Charging station 120… Energy storage facilities 130…Business establishment

Claims

1. A power management system comprising: a controlled device connected to a power grid; a server that formulates a control plan for the controlled device and generates control commands based on the control plan; and a controller that receives the control commands from the server and controls the controlled device, wherein power management is realized by controlling the controlled device based on the control plan, The controller has a storage unit for storing the control plan from the server, and a processing unit. The processing unit detects a state in which it cannot receive the control command from the server as a communication abnormality state. The processing unit, when no communication abnormality is detected, relays the control command received from the server to the controlled device and controls the controlled device; however, when a communication abnormality is detected, generates a control command based on the control plan stored in the storage unit and uses the generated control command to control the controlled device.

2. The aforementioned processing unit, If the aforementioned communication abnormality is detected, The system determines whether or not a user has performed any operations on the controlled device. When the aforementioned user operation occurs, control of the controlled device is interrupted, while control of the controlled device is maintained only when there is no such user operation. The power management system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned processing unit, The system detects a communication error state when the timing for transmitting a control command based on the control plan stored in the memory unit arrives, but the server does not receive the control command. The power management system according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned processing unit, When the delay between the transmission timing of a control command based on the control plan stored in the memory unit and the reception timing of receiving the control command from the server exceeds a predetermined time, this state is detected as a communication abnormality state. The power management system according to claim 1.

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