Hot water supply mechanism control device, hot water supply system, boiling schedule generation method, and program

Abstract

To provide a water heater control device, a hot water supply system, and boiling schedule generation method and program capable of suppressing hot water shortage while reducing total power consumption in a plurality of houses as a whole where water heaters are installed.SOLUTION: A use state prediction unit 115 of a water heater control device 1 calculates the frequency of the past used hot water amount being a used hot water amount threshold or more about a plurality of time zones of one day. The use state prediction unit 115 predicts a hot water use time zone in each of a plurality of houses on the basis of the calculated frequency, and predicts a used hot water amount in each of the plurality of houses on the basis of the predicted use time zone. A required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates a required power amount and a required operation time for a water heater 3 on the basis of the used hot water amount, a hot water storage amount, and a hot water storage temperature. A schedule generation unit 118 generates a boiling schedule for the water heater 3 so that a total power amount consumed in the entire housing complex is a power consumption threshold or less on the basis of the use time zone, the required power amount for the water heater 3, and the required operation time for the water heater.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hot water supply control device, a hot water supply system, a boiling schedule generation method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] There has been proposed a technique for suppressing the maximum power consumption of storage-type hot water supply devices in an apartment building by installing storage-type hot water supply devices that can operate in any of two preset operation modes with different start times, stop times, and maximum power consumptions in each household of the apartment building (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The operation mode of the storage-type hot water supply device can be set by a construction contractor or a user to either of the two operation modes at the time of installation work of the storage-type hot water supply device. By setting different operation modes for the storage-type hot water supply devices of some of the plurality of households and the storage-type hot water supply devices of the remaining households, it is possible to suppress the concentration of the boiling time zones of the storage-type hot water supply devices.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the storage-type hot water supply device described in Patent Document 1, since the operation mode is limited to two preset types, it is difficult to optimize the boiling time zone of the storage-type hot water supply device according to the history of the hot water usage status of each of the plurality of households. For this reason, there is a risk of running out of hot water during the time zone when hot water is actually used in each of the plurality of households.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a hot water supply control device, a hot water supply system, a boiling schedule generation method, and a program that can suppress the occurrence of hot water exhaustion while reducing the total power consumption of a plurality of houses in which hot water supply machines are installed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the hot water supply control device according to the present disclosure a power consumption amount acquisition unit that acquires power consumption amount information indicating the hot water supply machine power consumption amount consumed by the hot water supply machine and the equipment power consumption amount consumed by the equipment in each of a plurality of houses in which the hot water supply machine and the equipment are installed; a hot water supply machine information acquisition unit that acquires hot water supply machine information including usage hot water amount history information indicating the history of the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses, storage hot water amount information indicating the current storage hot water amount of the hot water supply machine, and the current storage hot water temperature of the hot water supply machine; at the schedule generation time for generating a boiling schedule for the hot water supply machine installed in each of the plurality of houses that arrives every preset period, based on the past power consumption amount information of each of the plurality of houses, for each of a plurality of preset time periods until the next arrival of the schedule generation time, a power consumption amount prediction unit that predicts the total equipment power consumption amount consumed only by the equipment in the plurality of houses; every time the schedule generation time arrives, for each of a plurality of preset time periods within a preset unit period, within a preset past reference period, calculates the frequency at which the usage hot water amount becomes equal to or greater than a preset usage hot water amount threshold, predicts the hot water usage time period in each of the plurality of houses based on the calculated frequency, and based on the predicted usage time period and the past usage hot water amount within the reference period, a usage situation prediction unit that predicts the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses until the next arrival of the schedule generation time; Predicted the usage hot water amount and 、 the storage hot water amount and the storage hot water temperature and 、Based on this, a required power amount calculation unit that calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater for each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation time; For each time the schedule generation time arrives, based on the usage time period, the required power amount, and the required operation time of the water heater, the total power consumption of the plurality of houses as a whole until the next schedule generation time arrives is within a preset power consumption threshold value. A schedule generation unit that generates a heating schedule for the water heaters of each of the plurality of houses;

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, every time the schedule generation time arrives, for each of a plurality of preset time periods within a preset unit period, the usage frequency of the hot water usage amount indicated by the hot water usage history information is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold value within a preset past reference period. The usage situation prediction unit calculates the frequency. Further, the usage situation prediction unit predicts the hot water usage time periods in each of the plurality of houses based on the calculated frequency. Then, every time the schedule generation time arrives, the schedule generation unit, based on the predicted usage time period, the required power amount of the water heater, and the required operation time, the total power consumption of the plurality of houses as a whole until the next schedule generation time arrives is within a preset power consumption threshold value. A heating schedule for the water heaters of each of the plurality of houses is generated. Thereby, since the heating time period of the water heater can be optimized according to the history of the hot water usage situation of each of the plurality of houses in which the water heater is installed, the occurrence of running out of hot water can be suppressed while reducing the total power consumption of the plurality of houses as a whole.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, a hot water supply system according to each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) The hot water supply control device according to the present embodiment includes a power consumption amount acquisition unit that acquires power consumption amount information indicating the hot water supply machine power consumption amount consumed by the hot water supply machine and the equipment power consumption amount consumed by the equipment in each of a plurality of houses where the hot water supply machine and the equipment are installed, and a hot water supply machine information acquisition unit that acquires hot water supply machine information including hot water usage history information indicating the history of the hot water usage amount in each of the plurality of houses, the stored hot water amount information indicating the current stored hot water amount of the hot water supply machine, and the stored hot water temperature of the hot water supply machine. Further, the hot water supply control device, at the schedule generation timing when generating the boiling schedule of the hot water supply machines installed in each of the plurality of houses that arrive at each preset period, based on the past power consumption amount information of each of the plurality of houses, predicts the total equipment power consumption amount consumed only by the equipment in the entire plurality of houses in each of a plurality of preset time periods until the next schedule generation timing that arrives, which is a power consumption amount prediction unit; every time the schedule generation timing arrives, for each of the plurality of preset time periods within a preset unit period, calculates the frequency at which the hot water usage amount becomes equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold within a preset past reference period, predicts the hot water usage time period in each of the plurality of houses based on the calculated frequency, and predicts the hot water usage amount in each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation timing that arrives based on the predicted usage time period and the past hot water usage amount within the reference period, which is a usage situation prediction unit. Furthermore, the hot water supply control device includes a required power consumption amount calculation unit that calculates the required power consumption amount and the required operation time of the hot water supply machines in each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation timing that arrives based on the hot water usage amount, the stored hot water amount, and the stored hot water temperature; and a schedule generation unit that generates the boiling schedule of the hot water supply machines in each of the plurality of houses so that the total power consumption amount consumed in the entire plurality of houses until the next schedule generation timing that arrives is equal to or less than a preset power consumption amount threshold based on the usage time period, the required power consumption amount of the hot water supply machine, and the required operation time, every time the schedule generation timing arrives.

[0011] The hot water supply system according to this embodiment is used for an apartment building B1 having a plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] (n is a positive integer), as shown in FIG. 1 for example. In each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], there are installed a hot water supply machine 3, an electric device 4, a distribution board 21 that supplies power to each of the hot water supply machine 3 and the electric device 4, and a power measurement device 22 that measures the amount of electric power supplied to the hot water supply machine 3 and the electric device 4. In addition, in the apartment building B1, there are installed a power generation facility 7 such as a solar power generation facility, for example, and a power measurement device 72 that measures the amount of power generated by the power generation facility 7. The distribution board 21 branches and supplies the power supplied from the utility power supply PS to the hot water supply machine 3 and the electric device 4. In addition, in the apartment building B1, a local network NW2 to which the hot water supply machines 3 and the power measurement devices 22 installed in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] are connected is constructed. The local network NW2 is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN. In addition, a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 6 connected to a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet is connected to this local network NW2. The hot water supply system according to this embodiment includes a terminal device 5 managed by each of the residents of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], and a hot water supply control device 1 capable of communicating with the terminal device 5 via the wide area network NW1. The hot water supply control device 1 can communicate with the hot water supply machines 3 and the power measurement devices 22 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] via the local network NW2, the BBR 6, and the wide area network NW1.

[0012] The power measurement device 22 measures the power consumption of the power supplied from the distribution board 21 to the water heater 3 and the electrical equipment 4, generates power consumption amount information indicating the measured power consumption amount, and transmits it to the water heater control device 1. Further, the power measurement device 72 measures the power generation amount at the power generation facility 7, generates power amount information indicating the measured power generation amount, and transmits it to the water heater control device 1. Here, when the power measurement devices 22 and 72 each receive power amount information request information for requesting the transmission of the power amount information from the water heater control device 1 to the water heater control device 1 from the water heater control device 1, they generate the power amount information accordingly. Then, the power measurement devices 22 and 72 transmit the generated power amount information to the water heater control device 1.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the water heater 3 is a storage - type water heater having a hot - water storage tank 31, a heat - pump unit 32, and a controller 33. The heat - pump unit 32 heats up the water stored in the hot - water storage tank 31. The heat - pump unit 32 includes an evaporator 321, a compressor 322, a heat exchanger 323, an expansion valve 324, and a control board 325 for controlling the compressor 322. Here, the water sent from the hot - water storage tank 31 to the heat exchanger 323 by the pump 313 is heated in the heat exchanger 323 and then returned to the hot - water storage tank 31. Then, hot water is supplied from the hot - water outlet pipe PI1 provided in the hot - water storage tank 31 to the bathrooms or kitchens in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], and water is supplied to the hot - water storage tank 31 from the water supply pipe PI2. Also, the water heater 3 has a hot - water consumption measurement unit 311 provided in the hot - water outlet pipe PI1 of the hot - water storage tank 31 for measuring the amount of hot water discharged from the hot - water storage tank 31 per unit time, and a hot - water storage amount measurement unit 312 for measuring the amount of hot water stored in the hot - water storage tank 31. The hot - water consumption measurement unit 311 is connected to the controller 33 via a communication line (not shown) and periodically outputs hot - water consumption information indicating the measured hot - water consumption to the controller 33. Also, the hot - water storage amount measurement unit 312 is connected to the controller 33 via a communication line (not shown) and periodically outputs hot - water storage amount information indicating the measured hot - water storage amount to the controller 33. Furthermore, the water heater 3 includes temperature sensors 313a, 313b, 313c, 313d, 313e for detecting the water temperature in each section when the inside of the hot - water storage tank 31 is divided into a plurality of sections in the height direction.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 33 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a main memory unit 302 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), an auxiliary storage unit 303 having a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a rewritable non-volatile memory, a local communication unit 307, a timing unit 308, a communication interface 310 connected to the control board 325 of the heat pump unit 32 via a communication line (not shown), and a bus 309 connecting these to each other. Here, the CPU 301 functions as a schedule receiving unit 331, a heat pump control unit 332, a hot water supply machine information notification unit 334, a hot water usage amount acquisition unit 336, a hot water storage amount acquisition unit 337, and a hot water storage temperature acquisition unit 338 as shown in FIG. 4 by reading and executing a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 into the main memory unit 302. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary storage unit 303 shown in FIG. 3 has a hot water usage amount history storage unit 342 that stores the hot water usage amount, a hot water storage amount / temperature storage unit 343 that stores hot water storage amount information indicating the hot water storage amount and hot water storage temperature information indicating the hot water storage temperature, and a schedule storage unit 344 that stores schedule information indicating the boiling-up schedule of the hot water supply machine 3. When the schedule receiving unit 331 receives the schedule information transmitted from the hot water supply machine control device 1, it stores the received schedule information in the schedule storage unit 344. The heat pump control unit 332 controls the operation of the heat pump of the heat pump unit 32 by transmitting control information to the control board 325 along the boiling-up schedule indicated by the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 344.

[0015] Each time the stored hot water temperature acquisition unit 338 acquires a detection signal indicating the stored hot water temperature detected by each of the temperature sensors 313a, 313b, 313c, 313d, and 313e, it generates stored hot water temperature information corresponding to the acquired detection signal. Then, the stored hot water temperature acquisition unit 338 stores the generated stored hot water temperature information in the stored hot water amount and temperature storage unit 343 in chronological order in association with section identification information for identifying the sections corresponding to each of the temperature sensors 313a, 313b, 313c, 313d, and 313e. Each time the hot water usage amount acquisition unit 336 acquires hot water usage amount information from the hot water usage amount measurement unit 311, it stores the acquired hot water usage amount information in the hot water usage history storage unit 342 in association with time information indicating the time when the hot water usage amount information was acquired as measured by the timekeeping unit. Each time the stored hot water amount acquisition unit 337 acquires stored hot water amount information from the stored hot water amount measurement unit 312, it stores the acquired stored hot water amount information in the stored hot water amount and temperature storage unit 343. When the hot water supply device information notification unit 334 receives hot water supply device information request information, which will be described later, from the hot water supply device control device 1, it generates hot water supply device information including the hot water usage amount information from the time point when the hot water supply device information request information was most recently received in the past, which is stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 342, to the current time point, the corresponding time information, the stored hot water amount information, and the stored hot water temperature information stored in the stored hot water amount and temperature storage unit 343. Then, the hot water supply device information notification unit 334 transmits the generated hot water supply device information to the hot water supply device control device 1.

[0016] Returning to FIG. 1, the electrical device 4 is, for example, an air conditioner, a lighting fixture, a floor heating system, a refrigerator, an IH (Induction Heating) cooker, a television, or the like. The electrical device 4 is installed in each house and receives power supply from the distribution board 21.

[0017] The weather server 8 includes a storage (not shown), a control unit (not shown) that controls the entire weather server 8, and a communication interface (not shown) connected to the wide area network NW1. The storage stores weather forecast information indicating future weather forecasts for each region and weather performance information indicating the actual weather conditions in each region in the past. The weather forecast information includes information indicating future temperatures and information indicating weather conditions. Also, the weather performance information includes information indicating current and past temperatures and information indicating weather conditions. When the weather server 8 receives weather information request information from the water heater control device 1 requesting the transmission of weather information from the weather server 8 to the water heater control device 1, the weather server 8 extracts region information indicating the target region included in the weather information request information. Next, the weather server 8 acquires the weather performance information and the weather forecast information in the region indicated by the extracted region information from the storage, and generates weather information including the acquired weather performance information and weather forecast information. Then, the weather server 8 transmits the generated weather information to the water heater control device 1.

[0018] The terminal device 5 is, for example, a smartphone, and as shown in FIG. 3, includes a CPU 501, a main storage unit 502, an auxiliary storage unit 503, a display unit 504, an input unit 505, a wide area communication unit 506, and a bus 509 that connects each unit. The main storage unit 502 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 501. The auxiliary storage unit 103 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory, and stores programs for realizing various functions of the terminal device 5. The display unit 504 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-luminescence) display, etc., and outputs various information input from the CPU 501. The input unit 505 is, for example, a transparent touch pad arranged over the display unit 504, accepts various operation information according to the operations of the resident, and outputs the accepted operation information to the CPU 501. The wide area communication unit 506 has an interface for connecting to the wide area network NW1.

[0019] The CPU 501 functions as an acquisition unit 511, a display control unit 512, a reception unit 513, a policy generation unit 514, and a policy transmission unit 515 as shown in FIG. 5 by reading out and executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503 into the main storage unit 502. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary storage unit 503 shown in FIG. 3 has an operation screen storage unit 531 that stores image information for generating an operation screen image that displays the boiling schedule of the water heater 3. The reception unit 513 receives an operation via the input unit 505 by the resident and notifies the display control unit 512 of operation information indicating the received operation content. Based on the operation information notified from the reception unit 513, the display control unit 512 acquires image information from the operation screen storage unit 531, generates an operation screen image from the acquired image information, and causes the display unit 504 to display the generated operation screen image. When the acquisition unit 511 acquires schedule information indicating the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 transmitted from the water heater control device 1, the acquisition unit 511 notifies the acquired schedule information to the display control unit 512. When the schedule information is notified from the acquisition unit 511, the display control unit 512 acquires image information for displaying the boiling schedule on the display unit 504 from the operation screen storage unit 531, and based on the schedule information and the acquired image information, generates and causes the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image indicating the boiling schedule of the water heater 3. Further, when the resident performs an operation of inputting information indicating the desired boiling time zone of the water heater 3 to the input unit 505, the reception unit 513 notifies the policy generation unit 514 of operation information including information regarding the desired boiling time zone of the water heater 3 by the resident. At this time, based on the information regarding the desired boiling time zone of the water heater 3 included in the operation information notified from the reception unit 513, the policy generation unit 514 generates policy information indicating the policy for generating the boiling schedule of the water heater 3, and notifies the generated policy information to the policy transmission unit 515. Then, the policy transmission unit 515 transmits the policy information notified from the policy generation unit 514 to the water heater control device 1.

[0020] Returning to FIG. 3, the hot water supply control device 1 is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer, and includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary storage unit 103, a wide-area communication unit 106 connected to the wide-area network NW1, a timing unit 108, and a bus 109 that interconnects these components. The main memory unit 102 is a volatile memory used as the working area of the CPU 101. The auxiliary storage unit 103 is a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic disk or a semiconductor flash memory, and stores programs for realizing various functions of the hot water supply control device 1. The wide-area communication unit 106 communicates with the power measurement device 22 via the wide-area network NW1, BBR6, and the local network NW2. The timing unit 108 functions as an RTC (Real Time Clock) that measures the current date and time.

[0021] The CPU 101 reads out and executes the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 in the main memory unit 102, and functions as a power amount acquisition unit 111, a weather information acquisition unit 112, a hot water supply device information acquisition unit 113, a power amount prediction unit 114, a usage situation prediction unit 115, a boiling-up amount calculation unit 116, a required power amount calculation unit 117, a schedule generation unit 118, a transmission unit 119, a correction coefficient calculation unit 120, a hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121, a policy acquisition unit 122, and a priority determination unit 123, as shown in FIG. 5. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 3 includes a power amount storage unit 131, a weather information storage unit 132, a used hot water amount history storage unit 133, a stored hot water amount / temperature storage unit 134, a predicted usage situation storage unit 135, a predicted power amount storage unit 136, a policy storage unit 137, a threshold value storage unit 138, and a schedule storage unit 139.

[0022] The weather information storage unit 132 stores, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, weather performance information indicating the current and past weather conditions in the area where the apartment house B1 exists and weather forecast information indicating future weather conditions, in association with a plurality of preset time zones. Here, as the plurality of time zones, for example, 24 time zones obtained by dividing one day into one-hour intervals can be adopted. In the example shown in FIG. 6, when the weather information storage unit 132 sets 23:00 to 24:00 on April 1 as the current time, it stores the actual temperature and weather conditions in each time zone before 23:00 on April 1 as weather performance information, and stores the temperature and weather forecasts in each future time zone after 0:00 on April 2 as weather forecast information.

[0023] The power consumption storage unit 131 stores, for example, as shown in FIG. 7(A), for each of the houses H[i] (i is a positive integer), H[i+1], ···, the actual values of the power consumption of electrical devices 4 other than the water heater 3 and the actual values of the power consumption of the water heater 3 in each of the plurality of preset time zones of the houses H[i], H[i+1], ···, in association with information indicating the date and time, information indicating the day of the week, and house identification information ID(H[i]), ID(H[i+1]), ··· for identifying the houses H[i], H[i+1], ···. Further, the power consumption storage unit 131 stores the actual value of the power generation amount in the power generation facility 7 in association with the information indicating the date and time.

[0024] The hot water usage history storage unit 133 stores, for example, as shown in FIG. 7(B), for each of the houses H[i], H[i+1], ···, the actual values of the hot water usage amounts used in a plurality of preset time zones in the houses H[i], H[i+1], ···, in association with information indicating the usage date and time, information indicating the day of the week, and house identification information ID(H[i]). Here, the actual value of the hot water usage amount indicates the amount of hot water converted when the temperature of the hot water is 42°C. Returning to FIG. 5, the stored hot water amount and temperature storage unit 134 stores the stored hot water amount information and the stored hot water temperature information included in the water heater information corresponding to each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] recently acquired by the water heater information acquisition unit 113, in association with the house identification information.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 8(A), the predicted power consumption amount storage unit 136 stores information indicating predicted values of the total power consumption of electrical devices 4 other than the water heater 3 in a plurality of preset time zones for the entire apartment house B1 predicted by the power consumption prediction unit 114, predicted values of the power generation amount by the power generation facility 7, and predicted values of the total power consumption of electrical devices 4 other than the water heater 3, in association with information indicating the time zone. The predicted usage status storage unit 135 stores, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(B), the hot water usage start time, usage end time, hot water usage prediction period, predicted value of the hot water usage amount, and the probability that the past hot water usage amount is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold value for each of the houses H[i], H[i+1],... in association with the date information and house identification information. Here, the hot water usage prediction period indicates the period for which the predicted value of the hot water usage amount is calculated. The predicted value of the hot water usage amount indicates the amount of hot water converted when the temperature of the hot water is 42°C.

[0026] The policy storage unit 137 stores policy information indicating the policy for generating the heating schedule of the water heater 3 in association with the house identification information. The threshold storage unit 138 stores information indicating a preset hot water usage threshold value for the hot water usage amount and a preset frequency threshold value for the frequency at which the hot water usage amount is equal to or greater than the hot water usage threshold value.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 9, the schedule storage unit 139 stores information indicating the operation start time, operation time, operation end time, and priority in association with the house identification information. The operation start time is the time when the water heater 3 starts operating, the operation time is the time when the water heater 3 operates, and the operation end time is the time when the water heater 3 ends operating. The priority is the priority for boiling up the hot water usage amount according to the tentative heating schedule for the water heater 3.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 5, the power consumption amount acquisition unit 111 acquires power consumption amount information indicating the power consumption amounts in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] where the water heater 3 and the electrical equipment 4 are installed, from the power measurement device 22. Further, the power consumption amount acquisition unit 111 acquires power consumption amount information indicating the power generation amount in the power generation facility 7 from the power measurement device 72. When the power consumption amount acquisition unit 111 determines that the preset power consumption amount information acquisition time has arrived from the date and time measured by the time measurement unit 108, it transmits power consumption amount information request information for requesting the transmission of power consumption amount information to the power measurement devices 22 and 72, and thereby acquires the power consumption amount information transmitted from the power measurement devices 22 and 72. Then, the power consumption amount acquisition unit 111 stores the acquired power consumption amount information in the power consumption amount storage unit 131.

[0029] The weather information acquisition unit 112 acquires weather information including temperature actual information indicating the current temperature and the temperature at a time point in the past in the area where the apartment house B1 exists, and predicted weather information indicating the future temperature, from the weather server 8. The weather information acquisition unit 112 transmits weather temperature information request information for requesting the transmission of temperature information to the weather server 8, and thereby acquires the temperature information transmitted from the weather server 8. Here, the temperature information includes weather actual information indicating the temperature at the current time point and the temperature at a time point in the past when the temperature information request information is transmitted to the weather server 8, and predicted weather information indicating the temperature every hour after a preset period from the current time point, for example, up to 24 hours after the current time point. Further, every time the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time for newly generating the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 has arrived from the date and time measured by the time measurement unit 108, it transmits the temperature information request information to the weather server 8. Then, the weather information acquisition unit 112 extracts the temperature actual information and the predicted temperature information from the acquired temperature information, and stores them in the weather information storage unit 132 in association with information indicating preset time zones in the past and in the future, respectively.

[0030] The hot water supply machine information acquisition unit 113 acquires hot water supply machine information including hot water usage history information indicating the history of hot water usage amounts in the hot water supply machines 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], hot water storage amount information indicating the current hot water storage amount of the hot water supply machine 3, and hot water storage temperature information indicating the current hot water storage temperature of the hot water supply machine 3, from the hot water supply machine 3. The hot water supply machine information acquisition unit 113 acquires the hot water supply machine information transmitted from the hot water supply machine 3 by transmitting hot water supply machine information request information for requesting the transmission of the above-described hot water supply machine information to the hot water supply machine 3. Then, the hot water supply machine information acquisition unit 113 stores the hot water usage history information included in the acquired hot water supply machine information in the hot water usage history storage unit 133, and stores the hot water storage amount information and the hot water storage temperature information included in the acquired hot water supply machine information in the hot water storage amount · temperature storage unit 134.

[0031] At the schedule generation time set in advance, the power consumption prediction unit 114 predicts the total sum of the equipment power consumptions consumed only by the electric devices 4 in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], that is, the total equipment power consumption in the entire apartment building B1, based on the past power consumption information, the past temperature performance information, and the predicted temperature information of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n]. Here, the schedule generation time arrives at every preset period, and is set to arrive, for example, every day. Also, the power consumption prediction unit 114 predicts the total equipment power consumption in the entire apartment building B1 for each of a plurality of preset time periods until the next schedule generation time. Here, first, the power consumption prediction unit 114 generates a total equipment power consumption calculation formula showing the correlation between the past temperature and the past total equipment power consumption based on the weather performance information stored in the weather information storage unit 132. Specifically, the power consumption prediction unit 114 classifies the power consumption information stored in the power consumption storage unit 131 for each house H[i] by the combination of the day of the week and the time. Next, the power consumption prediction unit 114 refers to the temperature performance information stored in the weather information storage unit 132, specifies the combination of the time zone of the target day to be predicted and the date and time zone where the temperature and weather match, and specifies the combination of the date and time zone where the day of the week matches from the specified combination of the date and time zone. Subsequently, the power consumption prediction unit 114 extracts the power consumption information corresponding to the specified combination of the date and time zone from the power consumption information of the electric devices 4 other than the water heaters 3 in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the power consumption storage unit 131, and extracts the temperature performance information corresponding to the specified combination of the date and time zone from the temperature performance information stored in the weather information storage unit 132. Then, the power consumption prediction unit 114 generates a total equipment power consumption calculation formula showing the correlation between the total equipment power consumption, which is the total sum of the power consumptions indicated by the extracted power consumption information of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], and the temperature indicated by the extracted temperature performance information. Also, the power consumption prediction unit 114 also generates a standard deviation calculation formula showing the correlation between the standard deviation indicating the variation of the total equipment power consumption, which is the total sum of the power consumptions indicated by the extracted power consumption information, and the temperature indicated by the extracted weather performance information.Then, the power consumption prediction unit 114 calculates, as the predicted value of the total equipment power consumption, the amount obtained by adding N times (N is an integer of 1 or more) the standard deviation calculated using the standard deviation calculation formula to the total equipment power consumption calculated using the total equipment power consumption calculation formula. Here, N is set to any one of, for example, 1, 2, and 3. Further, when the power generation amount at the power generation facility 7 is not 0 kWh, the power consumption prediction unit 114 subtracts the power generation amount at the power generation facility 7 from the total equipment power consumption calculated using the total equipment power consumption calculation formula, and then adds N times (N is an integer of 1 or more) the standard deviation calculated using the standard deviation calculation formula to the obtained amount, and calculates this as the predicted value of the total equipment power consumption. Note that the power consumption prediction unit 114 only needs to predict the total equipment power consumption in each time zone within a period having a length corresponding to the arrival cycle of the schedule generation time, and may predict the total equipment power consumption for 24 hours or 48 hours according to the arrival cycle of the schedule generation time.

[0032] At the time of generating the aforementioned schedule, the usage prediction unit 115 predicts the hot water usage amounts in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time based on the hot water usage history information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133. Specifically, for each house H[i], the usage prediction unit 115 refers to the hot water usage information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133, and for each of the plurality of days included in a preset reference period in the past during which the hot water usage amount is referred to for predicting the hot water usage amount, among the plurality of preset time zones, as shown in FIG. 10(A), it specifies the time zones in which the hot water usage amount Wu is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold value Wuth. Here, the reference period is set to, for example, the period from the time two weeks back from the schedule generation time to the schedule generation time. Next, as shown in FIG. 10(B), the usage prediction unit 115 generates a histogram of the number of days (frequency) Fr in which the hot water usage amount Wu is equal to or greater than the hot water usage threshold value Wuth for each of the aforementioned plurality of time zones within the aforementioned reference period. Subsequently, the usage prediction unit 115 specifies the high-frequency time zones in which the frequency Fr is equal to or greater than a preset frequency threshold value Frth from the generated histogram, and approximates the distribution of the frequency Fr of the specified high-frequency time zones with one or two Gaussian functions (for example, S1 and S2 in FIG. 10(B)) taking time as an argument. Here, the usage prediction unit 115 approximates using a method such as GMM (Gaussian Mixture Model). Alternatively, the usage prediction unit 115 integrates the plurality of high-frequency time zones into one to three groups using a method such as hierarchical clustering. Hereinafter, the case where the usage prediction unit 115 integrates the specified high-frequency time zones into two groups when three or more high-frequency time zones are specified will be described. First, when the time interval between two adjacent high-frequency time zones in terms of time is equal to or less than a preset integration reference time, the usage prediction unit 115 integrates these high-frequency time zones into the same group. Here, the integration reference time is set to, for example, 1 hour. For example, the usage prediction unit 115 integrates the high-frequency time zones into three groups: 5:00 to 8:00, 17:00 to 21:00, and 23:00 to 24:00.Next, when the usage prediction unit 115 integrates three or more high-frequency time zones into groups, it preferentially combines these three or more groups in order from the group with the shortest time interval between two adjacent groups in time until they become two groups. For example, when the usage prediction unit 115 integrates the high-frequency time zones into three groups: 5:00 - 8:00, 17:00 - 21:00, and 23:00 - 24:00, the time interval between the group of 17:00 - 21:00 and the group of 23:00 - 24:00 is the smallest at 2 hours. Therefore, the group of 17:00 - 21:00 and the group of 23:00 - 24:00 are combined into one group. Here, the usage prediction unit 115 may be configured to integrate until there are three or more groups. In this case, if the time interval between two adjacent groups obtained by integration is too short, it may be insufficient to boil water with the water heater 3 during the time between these two groups. Therefore, even when integrating until there are three or more groups, it is preferable that the time interval between two adjacent groups in time ensures a length sufficient to boil water with the water heater 3. However, considering that the power usage efficiency of the water heater 3 decreases when it frequently starts and stops, and that there are generally two time zones (daytime and nighttime) corresponding to the valleys of the total power consumption of the electrical equipment 4 other than the water heater 3 in the apartment building B1, it is preferable to integrate until there are two groups as described above. Also, when three or more high-frequency time zones are specified, the usage prediction unit 115 may classify them into two groups by specifying them as one group in order from the smallest time interval between the times corresponding to the peaks of the Gaussian functions for approximating their frequency distributions. Then, the usage prediction unit 115 approximates each of the two groups with a Gaussian function again. After that, as shown in FIG. 11(A), the usage prediction unit 115 calculates the standard deviations σ1 and σ2 determined for one or two Gaussian functions S1 and S2. Next, the usage prediction unit 115 uses the time 2σ1 before the time corresponding to the peak of at least one of the Gaussian functions S1 and S2 as the start time Ts1[i], Ts2[i] of use, and the time 2σ1 after the time corresponding to the peak of at least one of the Gaussian functions S1 and S2 as the end time Te1[i], Te2[i] of use.Here, the usage prediction unit 115 stores information indicating the calculated usage start times Ts1[i] and Ts2[i] and information indicating the usage end times Te1[i] and Te2[i] in the predicted usage status storage unit 135 in association with the housing identification information and the date information.

[0033] Then, as shown in FIG. 11(B), for each day included in the aforementioned reference period, the usage prediction unit 115 predicts the hot water usage amount in each of the aforementioned periods until the next schedule generation time based on the hot water usage amount during the period between the usage start times Ts1[i] and Ts2[i] and the hot water usage amount during the period from the usage start time Ts2[i] to the usage start time Ts1[i] of the next day. Here, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates, as the hot water usage amount in each of the aforementioned periods until the next schedule generation time, the maximum value or the average value of the hot water usage amount during the period between the usage start times Ts1[i] and Ts2[i] and the hot water usage amount during the period from the usage start time Ts2[i] to the usage start time Ts1[i] of the next day for each day included in the aforementioned reference period. Alternatively, the usage prediction unit 115 may calculate the average value and the standard deviation of the hot water usage amount during the period between the usage start times Ts1[i] and Ts2[i] and the hot water usage amount during the period from the usage start time Ts2[i] to the usage start time Ts1[i] of the next day for each day included in the aforementioned reference period, and calculate, as the hot water usage amount in each of the aforementioned periods until the next schedule generation time, the amount obtained by adding N times (N is an integer of 1 or more) the calculated standard deviation to the calculated average value. Then, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates, as the predicted hot water usage amount, the hot water usage amount obtained by multiplying the calculated hot water usage amount by the correction coefficient based on the temperature difference calculated by the correction coefficient calculation unit 120, and stores the information indicating the calculated predicted hot water usage amount in the predicted usage status storage unit 135 in association with the housing identification information and the date information. Further, when calculating one or two Gaussian functions S1 and S2, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates the probability that the past hot water usage amount exceeds a preset hot water usage threshold. Specifically, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates by integrating the frequency Fr in the period adopted when obtaining the Gaussian function S1 and the period adopted when obtaining the Gaussian function S2. Then, the usage prediction unit 115 stores the information indicating the calculated probability in the predicted usage status storage unit 135.

[0034] The correction coefficient calculation unit 120 calculates a correction coefficient for the hot water usage amount based on the temperature difference in the area where the apartment house B1 is located, based on the weather performance information stored in the weather information storage unit 132 and the hot water usage amount information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133. Specifically, for each house H[i], the correction coefficient calculation unit 120 refers to the temperature shown in the weather performance information stored in the weather information storage unit 132 and the hot water usage amount information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133, and generates an approximate expression that approximately represents the correlation between the temperature and the hot water usage amount. Then, the correction coefficient calculation unit 120 uses the temperature within the past reference period, the predicted temperature for the period until the next schedule generation time, and the calculated approximate expression to calculate the above-mentioned correction coefficient for the hot water usage amount, and notifies the usage situation prediction unit 115 of the information indicating the calculated correction coefficient. That is, the correction coefficient calculation unit 120 calculates the correction coefficient from the regression equation derived from the actual values of the temperature and the hot water usage amount in the area where the apartment house B1 is located and the predicted temperature.

[0035] The boiling-up amount calculation unit 116 calculates the boiling-up amount in the water heaters 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time, based on the stored hot water amount information indicating the stored hot water amount and the stored hot water temperature information indicating the stored hot water temperature of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the hot water amount and temperature storage unit 134, and the predicted hot water usage amount value indicated by the predicted hot water usage amount information stored in the hot water usage time prediction storage unit 137. The boiling-up amount calculation unit 116 refers to the past stored hot water amount information and stored hot water temperature information of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the hot water amount and temperature storage unit 134 to identify the minimum value of the past stored hot water amount and the stored hot water temperature immediately before the start of boiling the past hot water. The boiling-up amount calculation unit 116 calculates using the relational expression of the following formula (1).

[0036]

Equation

[0037] Here, X represents the boiling-up amount, ρt represents the density of water at the preset target temperature Tt, Vt represents the preset target hot water storage amount, and ct represents the specific heat of water at the target temperature Tt. Also, Tk (k = 1, 2, ···, 5) respectively represent the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors 313a, 313b, 313c, 313d, and 313e, ρk represents the density of water at the temperature Tk, and ck represents the specific heat of water at the temperature Tk. Further, Vk represents the hot water storage amount of the section corresponding to each of the temperature sensors 313a, 313b, 313c, 313d, and 313e in the hot water storage tank 31. Here, as the temperature and the hot water storage amount, the hot water storage temperature immediately before the start of boiling of the specific past hot water and the minimum value of the specific hot water storage amount are respectively adopted. Then, the boiling-up amount calculation unit 116 notifies the required power amount calculation unit 117 of the boiling-up amount information indicating the calculated boiling-up amount. When the amount of hot water used is, for example, 100 L, the boiling-up amount calculation unit 116 calculates the boiling-up amount corresponding to the amount of hot water used of 70 L when the hot water storage temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 31 is the temperature immediately before the start of use and the hot water storage amount is 30 L.

[0038] The required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of each water heater 3 in houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time based on the predicted hot water usage amount, the stored hot water amount, the stored hot water temperature, and the hot water cooling amount described later. The required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates the product of the boiling amount calculated based on the predicted hot water usage amount, the stored hot water amount, and the stored hot water temperature notified from the boiling amount calculation unit 116 and a coefficient (for example, 1 / 860) for converting the boiling amount into power amount as the required power amount. Further, the required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates the average power consumption per unit time during the operation of the water heater 3 stored in the power amount storage unit 131, and calculates the required operation time by dividing the calculated required power amount by the calculated average power consumption during the operation of the water heater 3. Further, when the hot water cooling amount is notified from the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 described later, the required power amount calculation unit 117 newly calculates the required power amount from the amount corresponding to the sum of the boiling amount notified from the boiling amount calculation unit 116 and the hot water cooling amount notified from the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121. Then, the required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates the average power consumption per unit time during the operation of the water heater 3 stored in the power amount storage unit 131, and newly calculates the required operation time by dividing the newly calculated required power amount by the calculated average power consumption during the operation of the water heater 3. The required power amount calculation unit 117 notifies the newly calculated required operation time to the schedule generation unit 118.

[0039] At the time of schedule generation, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a boiling schedule for each of the water heaters 3 in houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] such that the total power consumption in the entire apartment building B1 until the next upcoming schedule generation time is equal to or less than a preset power consumption upper limit value based on the required power consumption calculated by the required power consumption calculation unit 117, the required operation time, and the priority. First, the schedule generation unit 118 identifies the start time of use stored in the predicted usage storage unit 135. Here, when there are multiple hot water usage times in a day, the schedule generation unit 118 refers to the frequency information and identifies the first start time of use in the first usage time band with the highest frequency (probability) that the hot water usage amount is equal to or greater than the hot water usage amount threshold among the multiple usage time bands. Next, based on the identified first start time of use, the required power consumption, and the required operation time, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a tentative boiling schedule for the water heater 3 such that the hot water usage amount boils up at the identified first start time of use, that is, the start period of the boiling time band of the water heater 3 coincides with the first start time of use. For example, when the identified first start time of use is 20:00, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a tentative boiling schedule for the water heater 3 such that the hot water usage amount boils up by 20:00. Here, assume that a time band in which the total power consumption exceeds the power consumption threshold occurs when the water heaters 3 installed in houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] are operated according to the generated tentative boiling schedule. In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 regenerates the boiling schedule for the water heater 3 installed in at least one of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] having multiple usage time bands such that the hot water usage amount boils up at the second start time of use in the second usage time band with a lower frequency (probability) that the hot water usage amount is equal to or greater than the hot water usage amount threshold than the identified usage time band. For example, as shown in Fig. 12(A), assume that when the water heaters 3 installed in houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] are operated according to the tentative boiling schedule, there is a time band A11 in which the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth between 16:00 and 17:00.In FIGS. 12(A) and (B), Psp[i], Psp[i+1], Psp[i+2], and Psp[i+3] represent the transitions of the power consumption of the water heaters 3 in the houses H[i], H[i+1], H[i+2], and H[i+3] respectively, and Pt2 represents the transition of the total power consumption other than the water heaters 3 in the entire apartment house B1. In this case, for the water heater 3 installed in the house [i], the schedule generation unit 118 moves the heating-up time zone in which the start time Ts2[i] of the first usage time zone specified matches the end period to the second heating-up time zone in which the start time Ts1[i] of the second usage time zone specified has a lower frequency of the used hot water amount being equal to or greater than the used hot water amount threshold than the first usage time zone specified and the end period matches, and re-creates the heating-up schedule. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 12(B), when the water heaters 3 installed in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] are operated according to the heating-up schedule, the total equipment power consumption Pt becomes equal to or less than the power consumption threshold Ptth. Further, when the schedule generation unit 118 performs heating-up in a single heating-up time zone, the schedule generation unit 118 newly calculates the required operation time corresponding to the sum of the required operation time corresponding to the first used hot water amount required by the start time of the first usage and the required operation time corresponding to the second used hot water amount required by the start time of the second usage. Then, based on the calculated new required operation time, required power amount, and priority, the schedule generation unit 118 generates the heating-up schedule for the water heaters 3 in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time. Note that the schedule generation unit 118 does not always allocate only one heating-up time zone to each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], and there may be a case where the heating-up time zone for one of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] is divided into the time zone immediately before the start time of the first usage and the time zone immediately before the start time of the second usage.

[0040] In addition, the schedule generation unit 118 selects a plurality of usage time zones for which the boiling-up schedule needs to be recreated in a house [i] based on the policy information stored in the policy storage unit 137 and the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139. Specifically, the schedule generation unit 118 preferentially selects a house H[i] in which the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 is not specified in the policy information and the priority of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the schedule storage unit 139 is low. Further, when the schedule generation unit 118 changes the provisional boiling-up schedule for the house H[i], it notifies the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 of information indicating the end time of the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 after the change and the start time of the usage time zone with the highest frequency at which the usage hot water amount becomes equal to or greater than the usage hot water amount threshold.

[0041] In addition, when the schedule generation unit 118 changes the provisional boiling-up schedule, it sets the start time of the boiling-up time zone in the changed boiling-up schedule to an earlier time by a time corresponding to the difference between the operation required time in the provisional boiling-up schedule and the newly calculated operation required time, and regenerates the boiling-up schedule. That is, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a boiling-up schedule in which the operation time is longer by the operation time required to boil up the amount of hot water cooled than the operation time in the provisional boiling-up schedule. Further, after recreating the boiling-up schedule for all houses in which the water heater 3 can be operated according to a boiling-up schedule different from the provisional boiling-up schedule among the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], when there is an excess time zone in which the total power consumption exceeds the power consumption threshold when the water heaters 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] are operated according to the boiling-up schedule, the threshold storage unit 138 updates the power consumption threshold stored therein to the upper limit value of the total power consumption in the excess time zone.

[0042] When the above-mentioned tentative heating schedule is changed by the schedule generation unit 118, the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 calculates the hot water cooling amount during the period from the end of the changed heating time zone to the start time of the usage time zone with the highest frequency of the used hot water amount being equal to or greater than the used hot water amount threshold. First, the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 calculates the preset hot water cooling amount per unit time during the period from the end of the changed heating time zone of the water heater 3 to the start time of the usage time zone with the highest frequency of the used hot water amount being equal to or greater than the used hot water amount threshold based on the information notified from the schedule generation unit 118. Here, the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 calculates the hot water cooling amount per unit time using the relational expression between the preset hot water cooling amount per unit time and the air temperature. Then, the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 calculates the hot water cooling amount using the relational expression shown in the following formula (2).

[0043]

Equation

[0044] Here, Xext represents the hot water cooling amount, dXext[i](t) represents the hot water cooling amount per unit time at time t, tre represents the operation end time of the water heater 3, and ts represents the usage start time. Then, the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 notifies the calculated hot water cooling amount to the required power amount calculation unit 117.

[0045] When the policy acquisition unit 122 acquires the policy information transmitted from the terminal device 5, it stores the acquired policy information in the policy storage unit 137. The priority determination unit 123 determines the priority of boiling up the amount of used hot water according to the above-mentioned provisional boiling-up schedule for the water heater 3. Here, the priority determination unit 123 determines the priority based on the information indicating the additional operation time, additional power consumption, etc. of the water heater 3 included in the updated schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 139. In addition, every time the schedule generation unit 118 updates the schedule information, the priority determination unit 123 updates the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 in such a way that the priority corresponding to the house [i] that is the target of change in the provisional boiling-up schedule is increased by a preset number in the updated boiling-up schedule. On the other hand, every time the schedule generation unit 118 updates the schedule information, the priority determination unit 123 updates the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 in such a way that the priority corresponding to the house that is not the target of change in the provisional boiling-up schedule is decreased by a preset number in the updated boiling-up schedule. Note that the priority determination unit 123 may determine the priority of the water heater 3 based on the updated boiling-up schedule when one update of the boiling-up schedule is performed, and update the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139. Alternatively, the priority determination unit 123 may calculate the cumulative value or average value of the priorities corresponding to each updated boiling-up schedule when multiple updates of the boiling-up schedule are performed within a preset period, and update the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 with the information indicating the calculated cumulative value or average value.

[0046] The transmission unit 119 transmits the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 to the water heater 3. In addition, the transmission unit 119 transmits the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 139, the used hot water amount history information stored in the used hot water amount history storage unit 133, and the stored hot water amount information stored in the stored hot water amount and temperature storage unit 134 to the terminal device 5.

[0047] Next, the operation of the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 17. First, as shown in FIG. 13, when the preset power amount information acquisition timing arrives, power amount information request information for requesting transmission of power amount information to the power measuring devices 22 and 72 is transmitted from the hot water supply control device 1 to the power measuring devices 22 and 72 (step S1). On the other hand, when the power measuring devices 22 and 72 receive the power information request information, they generate power amount information accordingly (step S2). Next, the generated power amount information is transmitted from each of the power measuring devices 22 and 72 to the hot water supply control device 1 (step S3). At this time, the hot water supply control device 1 stores the received power amount information in the power amount storage unit 131. Thereafter, every time the power amount information acquisition timing arrives, a series of processes from step S1 to S3 are executed.

[0048] Also, when the preset schedule generation timing arrives, weather information request information for requesting transmission of weather information to the weather server 8 is transmitted from the hot water supply control device 1 to the weather server 8 (step S4). On the other hand, when the weather server 8 receives the weather information request information, it generates weather information including weather performance information and weather forecast information corresponding to the received weather information request information (step S5). Subsequently, the generated weather information is transmitted from the weather server 8 to the hot water supply control device 1 (step S6). Here, when the hot water supply control device 1 acquires the weather information transmitted from the weather server 8, it extracts the weather performance information and the weather forecast information included in the acquired weather information and stores them in the weather information storage unit 132.

[0049] Thereafter, hot water supply information request information for requesting the transmission of the above-described hot water supply information to the hot water supply device 3 is transmitted from the hot water supply control device 1 to the hot water supply device 3 (step S7). On the other hand, when the hot water supply device 3 receives the hot water supply information request information, it generates hot water supply information including the used hot water amount information, the time information, the stored hot water amount information, and the stored hot water temperature information (step S8). Next, the generated hot water supply information is transmitted from the hot water supply device 3 to the hot water supply control device 1 (step S9). At this time, when the hot water supply control device 1 acquires the hot water supply information transmitted from the hot water supply device 3, it associates the used hot water amount information included in the acquired hot water supply information with the time information and stores it in the used hot water amount history storage unit 133, and stores the stored hot water amount information and the stored hot water temperature information in the stored hot water amount / temperature storage unit 134.

[0050] Subsequently, the hot water supply control device 1 predicts the transition of the total equipment power consumption amount, which is the sum of the equipment power consumption amounts consumed only by the electrical equipment 4 in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], based on the past power consumption information of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the predicted power amount storage unit 136, the power generation amount information of the past power generation facility 7, the past weather record information, and the weather forecast information (step S10). Here, the hot water supply control device 1 stores the total power consumption information indicating the predicted total equipment power consumption amount in the entire apartment building B1 in the predicted power amount storage unit 136.

[0051] After that, as shown in FIG. 14, the hot water supply control device 1 calculates the start time of use and the end time of use based on the hot water usage information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133 (step S11). Here, for each house H[i], the hot water supply control device 1 refers to the hot water usage information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133, and for each of a plurality of days included in a preset reference period in the past to which the hot water usage is referred to predict the hot water usage, among a plurality of preset time zones, a time zone in which the hot water usage Wu is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold is specified. Next, the hot water supply control device 1 generates a histogram of the number of days (frequency) Fr in which the hot water usage Wu is equal to or greater than the hot water usage threshold Wuth for each of the plurality of time zones within the aforementioned reference period. Subsequently, the hot water supply control device 1 specifies a time zone in which the frequency Fr is equal to or greater than a preset frequency threshold Frth from the generated histogram, and approximates the distribution of the frequency Fr of the specified high-frequency time zone with at least one Gaussian function having time as an argument. After that, the hot water supply control device 1 calculates the standard deviation determined for at least one Gaussian function, and sets the time that is two times the standard deviation before the time corresponding to the peak of each of the at least one Gaussian function as the start time of use, and the time that is two times the standard deviation after the time corresponding to the peak of each of the at least one Gaussian function as the end time of use. Here, the hot water supply control device 1 stores the information indicating the calculated start time of use and the information indicating the end time of use in the predicted usage status storage unit 135 in association with the house identification information and the date information.

[0052] Next, the hot water supply control device 1 calculates a correction coefficient for the hot water usage based on the temperature difference in the area where the apartment house B1 is located (step S12). After that, for each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the hot water supply control device 1 calculates the hot water usage during the period until the next schedule generation time based on the hot water usage during the period between the calculated start times of use on each day in the past reference period. And For each of the hot water supply control devices 1 in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the hot water consumption obtained by multiplying the calculated hot water consumption by the calculated correction coefficient is calculated as the predicted hot water consumption (step S13). Here, the hot water supply control device 1 stores information indicating the calculated predicted hot water consumption in the predicted usage situation storage unit 135 in association with the house identification information and the date information.

[0053] Next, based on the predicted hot water consumption of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the hot water storage amount indicated by the hot water storage amount information of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the hot water storage amount / temperature storage unit 134, and the hot water storage temperature indicated by the hot water storage temperature information, the hot water supply control device 1 calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the hot water supply device 3 of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time (step S14).

[0054] Subsequently, the hot water supply control device 1 generates a tentative boiling-up schedule for the hot water supply device 3 based on the start time of use, the required power consumption, and the required operation time in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], such that the amount of hot water to be used boils up at the aforementioned start time of use, and stores the generated tentative boiling-up schedule in the schedule storage unit 139 (step S15). Then, assume that the hot water supply control device 1 determines that there is a time period during which the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth when the hot water supply devices 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] are operated according to the tentative boiling-up schedule (step S16). And assume that the hot water supply control device 1 determines that there is a house H[i] in which there are a plurality of start times of use in one day (step S17). In this case, for the house H[i] in which there are a plurality of start times of use in one day, the hot water supply control device 1 reschedules the boiling-up schedule of the hot water supply device 3 such that the start time of the use time period with a lower frequency than the use time period with the highest frequency at which the amount of hot water to be used exceeds the threshold amount of hot water to be used coincides with the end period of the boiling-up time period of the hot water supply device 3 (step S18). Here, the hot water supply control device 1 refers to the policy information stored in the policy storage unit 137 and the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139, and identifies the house H[i] with a low priority among the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the schedule storage unit 139 for which the boiling-up time period of the hot water supply device 3 is not specified in the policy information as the target to be rescheduled.

[0055] Thereafter, the hot water supply control device 1 calculates the amount of hot water cooling during the period from the start time of the use time period with a lower frequency than the use time period with the highest frequency at which the amount of hot water to be used exceeds the threshold amount of hot water to be used to the start time of the use time period with the highest frequency at which the amount of hot water to be used exceeds the threshold amount of hot water to be used, that is, the operation end time of the hot water supply device 3 indicated by the changed boiling-up schedule (step S19). Next, the hot water supply control device 1 newly calculates the required power consumption and the required operation time from the amount of boiling-up calculated from the amount of hot water to be used and the amount of hot water cooling (step S20).

[0056] Subsequently, the hot water supply control device 1 reschedules the heating schedule of the hot water supply machine 3 based on the newly calculated required power consumption and operation required time (step S21). After that, assume that the hot water supply control device 1 determines that the maximum value of the total power consumption Pt when operating the hot water supply machines 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] according to the changed heating schedule is lower than the maximum value of the total power consumption Pt when operating the hot water supply machines 3 according to the tentative heating schedule (step S22). And assume that the hot water supply control device 1 determines that the total power consumption Pt consumed in the entire apartment building B1 in each time period until the next schedule generation time is equal to or less than a preset power consumption threshold Ptth (step S23). In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, the hot water supply control device 1 updates the schedule information indicating the tentative heating schedule stored in the schedule storage unit 139 with the schedule information indicating the newly generated heating schedule, and also updates the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 (step S24). Here, the hot water supply control device 1 updates the priority information in such a way that the priority corresponding to the house [i] that is the change target of the tentative heating schedule is increased in the updated heating schedule.

[0057] Next, the updated schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 is transmitted from the hot water supply control device 1 to the hot water supply machine 3 (step S25). On the other hand, when receiving the schedule information, the hot water supply machine 3 operates based on the received schedule information (step S26). Subsequently, the updated schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 139, the hot water usage history information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133, and the stored hot water amount information stored in the stored hot water amount / temperature storage unit 134 are transmitted from the hot water supply control device 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S27). On the other hand, when receiving the schedule information, the hot water usage history information, and the stored hot water amount information, the terminal device 5 causes the received schedule information, hot water usage information, and stored hot water amount information to be displayed on the display unit 504 (step S28). At this time, the terminal device 5 causes the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA11 including a message M111 indicating the updated boiling schedule as shown in, for example, FIG. 16(A), and a message M112 indicating the average hot water usage amount calculated based on the hot water usage history information and the current stored hot water amount. Further, the operation screen image GA11 includes button images BU11 and BU12. When the resident touches a portion corresponding to the button image BU12 in the input unit 505 while the terminal device 5 is displaying the operation screen image GA11 on the display unit 504, the terminal device 5 erases the operation screen image GA11 from the display unit 504. Alternatively, the terminal device 5 causes the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA21 including a message M121 indicating the updated boiling schedule as shown in, for example, FIG. 16(B), and a message M112 indicating the average hot water usage amount calculated based on the hot water usage history information and the current stored hot water amount. Here, the message M121 indicates that the hot water supply machine 3 operates in two boiling time zones.

[0058] Also, assume that while the terminal device 5 is displaying the operation screen image GA21 on the display unit 504, the resident touches the portion corresponding to the button image BU11 on the input unit 505. In this case, the terminal device 5 causes the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA22 for performing a policy setting operation for designating the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 desired by the resident, as shown in, for example, FIG. 17(A). Here, the operation screen image GA22 includes the message M121 and the button images BU131, BU132, BU133, and the button images BU131, BU132, BU133 are for designating the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 desired by the resident. Alternatively, the terminal device 5 may cause the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA31 including a message M131 for prompting the selection of the completion time of boiling water, as shown in, for example, FIG. 17(B), and the button images BU311, BU312, BU313, B314 for designating the completion time of boiling water.

[0059] Here, assume that while the terminal device 5 is displaying the operation screen images GA22 and GA31 on the display unit 504, the resident performs a policy setting operation of touching the portion corresponding to any one of the button images BU131, BU132, BU133 or the button images BU311, BU312, BU313, B314 on the input unit 505. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, the terminal device 5 generates policy information corresponding to the touched portion (step S29). Thereafter, the generated policy information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the water heater control device 1 (step S30). On the other hand, when the water heater control device 1 acquires the policy information transmitted from the terminal device 5, the water heater control device 1 updates the policy information stored in the policy storage unit 137 with the acquired policy information (step S31). Next, after a preset time has elapsed, the processing after step S11 is executed again.

[0060] Next, the boiling schedule generation process executed by the water heater control device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20. This boiling schedule generation process starts when the power is turned on to the water heater control device 1. Further, the power amount acquisition unit 111, in parallel with this boiling schedule generation process, transmits power amount information request information for requesting the transmission of power amount information to the power measuring devices 22 and 72 to the power measuring devices 22 and 72 every time the power consumption information acquisition timing arrives, thereby acquiring the power amount information transmitted from the power measuring devices 22 and 72 and storing the acquired power amount information in the power amount storage unit 131.

[0061] First, the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines whether the schedule generation timing has arrived (step S101). If the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation timing has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S129 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation timing has arrived (step S101: Yes), it transmits weather information request information to the weather server 8 (step S102). Then, the weather information acquisition unit 112 acquires the weather information transmitted from the weather server 8 and stores the weather performance information and weather forecast information included in the acquired weather information in the weather information storage unit 132 (step S103).

[0062] Next, the hot water supply machine information acquisition unit 113 transmits the hot water supply machine information request information to the hot water supply machine 3 (step S104). As a result, the hot water supply machine information acquisition unit 113 acquires hot water supply machine information including the hot water usage history information, the stored hot water volume information, and the stored hot water temperature information transmitted from the hot water supply machine control device 1 (step S105). At this time, the hot water supply machine information acquisition unit 113 associates the hot water usage information included in the acquired hot water supply machine information with the time information and stores it in the hot water usage history storage unit 133, and stores the stored hot water volume information and the stored hot water temperature information in the stored hot water volume and temperature storage unit 134. Subsequently, the power consumption prediction unit 114, based on the past power consumption information of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the predicted power consumption storage unit 136, the power generation amount information of the past power generation facility 7, the past weather performance information, and the weather forecast information, predicts the transition of the total device power consumption, which is the sum of the device power consumptions consumed only by the electrical device 4 in the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] (step S106). Here, the hot water supply machine control device 1 stores the total power consumption information indicating the predicted total device power consumption of the entire apartment building B1 in the predicted power consumption storage unit 136.

[0063] Thereafter, the usage situation prediction unit 115 executes a usage start time and usage end time calculation process for calculating the above-mentioned usage start time and usage end time (step S107). Here, the details of the usage start time and usage end time calculation process executed by the hot water supply machine control device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 19. First, the usage situation prediction unit 115 acquires the hot water usage information within the above-mentioned past reference period from the hot water usage history storage unit 133 for each house H[i] (step S201). Next, the usage situation prediction unit 115 specifies, for each of the plurality of days included in the reference period, the time zone in which the hot water usage Wu is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold value Wuth among the plurality of preset time zones (step S202).

[0064] Subsequently, the usage prediction unit 115 generates a histogram of the frequency of the hot water usage amount Wu being equal to or greater than the hot water usage threshold Wuth for each of the plurality of time periods within the aforementioned reference period (step S203). Thereafter, the usage prediction unit 115 identifies a high-frequency time period in which the frequency Fr is equal to or greater than a preset frequency threshold Frth from the generated histogram (step S204). Thereafter, the usage prediction unit 115 approximates the distribution of the frequency Fr of the identified high-frequency time period with at least one Gaussian function having time as an argument (step S205). Next, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates the standard deviation determined for at least one Gaussian function (step S206). Subsequently, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates the start time Ts1[i], Ts2[i] of use as the time that is two times the standard deviation before the time corresponding to the peak of each of the at least one Gaussian function, and calculates the end time Te1[i], Te2[i] of use as the time that is two times the standard deviation after the time corresponding to the peak of each of the at least one Gaussian function (step S207). Here, the usage prediction unit 115 stores the information indicating the calculated start time of use and the information indicating the end time of use in the predicted usage storage unit 135 in association with the housing identification information and the date information.

[0065] Returning to FIG. 18, next, the correction coefficient calculation unit 120 calculates a correction coefficient for the hot water usage amount based on the temperature difference in the area where the apartment building B1 exists (step S108). Subsequently, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates the hot water usage amount during the period until the next schedule generation time for each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] based on the hot water usage amount during the period between the calculated start times of use on each day in the past reference period. Then, the usage prediction unit 115 calculates the hot water usage amount obtained by multiplying the calculated hot water usage amount by the calculated correction coefficient as the predicted hot water usage amount for each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] (step S109). Here, the hot water supply control device 1 stores the information indicating the calculated predicted hot water usage amount in the predicted usage storage unit 135 in association with the housing identification information and the date information.

[0066] Thereafter, the required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates the required power amount and the operation required time of each water heater 3 in houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] until the next schedule generation time, based on the predicted hot water usage amounts of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n], the hot water storage amount indicated by the hot water storage amount information of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] stored in the hot water storage amount and temperature storage unit 134 and the hot water storage temperature indicated by the hot water storage temperature information, and the hot water usage predicted value indicated by the predicted hot water usage amount information stored in the hot water usage time prediction storage unit 137 (step S110).

[0067] Subsequently, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a provisional boiling-up schedule for the water heater 3 such that the amount of hot water to be used boils up at the aforementioned start time of use, based on the start time of use, the required power consumption, and the required operation time at each of the houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n], and stores the generated provisional boiling-up schedule in the schedule storage unit 139 (step S111). Thereafter, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether there is a time period during which the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth when the water heaters 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] are operated according to the provisional boiling-up schedule (step S112). Here, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the total power consumption Pt is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold Ptth when the water heaters 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] are operated according to the provisional boiling-up schedule (step S112: No). In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether the maximum value Ptmax of the total power consumption Pt is equal to or less than the updated reference power consumption threshold Ptrth, which is lower than the power consumption threshold Ptth by a preset margin power consumption (step S113). Here, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the maximum value Ptmax is greater than the updated reference power consumption threshold Ptrth (step S113: No), the process of step S127 described later is executed as it is. On the other hand, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the maximum value Ptmax is equal to or less than the updated reference power consumption threshold Ptrth (step S113: Yes), it updates the power consumption threshold Ptth stored in the threshold storage unit 138 with the maximum value Ptmax (step S114). Then, the process of step S127 described later is executed.

[0068] Also, assume that in step S112, the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there is a time period during which the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth when the water heaters 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] are operated according to the provisional boiling schedule (step S112: Yes). In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 refers to the information indicating the usage start time stored in the predicted usage situation memory unit 135 and determines whether there is a house H[i] in which there are a plurality of usage start times in one day (step S115). Here, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there is only one usage start time in one day for all the houses H[i] (step S115: No), the process of step S124 described later is executed.

[0069] On the other hand, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there is a house H[i] in which there are a plurality of usage start times in one day (step S115: Yes). In this case, as shown in FIG. 20, the schedule generation unit 118 refers to the policy information stored in the policy memory unit 137 and the priority information stored in the schedule memory unit 139, and identifies the house H[i] whose priority for each of the houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] stored in the schedule memory unit 139 is low and for which the boiling time period of the water heater 3 is not specified in the policy information as the target for rescheduling (step S116). Next, the schedule generation unit 118 reschedules the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 so that the start time of the usage time period in which the frequency of the usage hot water amount exceeding the usage hot water amount threshold is lower than that of the usage time period with the highest frequency matches the end period of the boiling time period of the water heater 3 for the identified house H[i] (step S117).

[0070] Subsequently, the hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121 calculates the hot water cooling amount during the period from the start time of the usage time zone where the frequency of the hot water usage amount exceeding the hot water usage amount threshold is lower than that of the usage time zone with the highest frequency to the start time of the usage time zone with the highest frequency of the hot water usage amount exceeding the hot water usage amount threshold, which is the operation end time of the water heater 3 indicated by the changed boiling-up schedule (step S118). After that, the required power amount calculation unit 117 newly calculates the required power amount and the operation required time from the boiling-up amount and the hot water cooling amount calculated from the hot water usage amount (step S119).

[0071] Next, the schedule generation unit 118 re-schedules the boiling-up schedule of the water heater 3 based on the newly calculated required power amount and the operation required time (step S120). Subsequently, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether the maximum value of the total power consumption Pt when the water heaters 3 installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] are operated according to the changed boiling-up schedule has increased compared to the maximum value of the total power consumption Pt when the water heaters 3 are operated according to the provisional boiling-up schedule (step S121). Here, when the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the maximum value of the total power consumption Pt has increased compared to the maximum value of the total power consumption Pt when the water heaters 3 are operated according to the provisional boiling-up schedule (step S121: Yes), for the house H[i] where the boiling-up schedule has been changed, the changed boiling-up schedule is restored to the provisional boiling-up schedule (step S122). After that, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether a re-scheduling of the boiling-up schedule of the water heater 3 has been attempted for the house H[i] where there are a plurality of usage start times in a day (step S123). Here, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there is a house H[i] among the houses H[i] where there are a plurality of usage start times in a day for which the re-scheduling of the boiling-up schedule of the water heater 3 has not been attempted (step S123: No). In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 specifies the house H[i] for which the re-scheduling of the boiling-up schedule of this water heater 3 has not been attempted as the object to be re-scheduled (step S116), and the processing from step S117 onwards is executed.

[0072] On the other hand, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that it has tried to reschedule the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 for the house H[i] where there are a plurality of start times of use in one day (step S123: Yes). In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 then determines whether there is a time zone in which the total power consumption Pt consumed by the entire apartment building B1 in each time zone until the next schedule generation time exceeds a preset power consumption threshold value Ptth (step S124). Here, on the other hand, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the total power consumption Pt will be equal to or less than the power consumption threshold value Ptth until the next schedule generation time (step S124: No). The process of step S126 described later is executed as it is. On the other hand, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there is a time zone in which the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold value Ptth until the next schedule generation time (step S124: Yes), the information indicating the power consumption threshold value Ptth stored in the threshold value storage unit 138 is updated with the information indicating the maximum value of the total power consumption Pt (step S125). Next, the schedule generation unit 118 updates the schedule information indicating the tentative boiling schedule stored in the schedule storage unit 139 with the schedule information indicating the newly generated boiling schedule as appropriate, and updates the priority information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 (step S126). Here, the water heater control device 1 updates the priority information in such a way that the priority corresponding to the house [i] that is the change target of the tentative boiling schedule is increased in the updated boiling schedule.

[0073] Subsequently, the transmission unit 119 transmits the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 139 to the water heater 3 (step S127). At this time, when the water heater 3 acquires the schedule information, it operates based on the acquired schedule information. After that, the transmission unit 119 transmits the updated schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 139, the hot water usage history information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133, and the stored hot water amount information stored in the stored hot water amount / temperature storage unit 134 to the terminal device 5 (step S128).

[0074] Next, the policy acquisition unit 122 determines whether it has acquired the policy information transmitted from the terminal device 5 (step S129). If the policy acquisition unit 122 determines that it has not acquired the policy information (step S129: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the policy acquisition unit 122 determines that it has acquired the policy information (step S129: Yes), it updates the policy information stored in the policy storage unit 137 with the acquired policy information (step S130). Subsequently, after a preset time has elapsed, the process of step S107 is executed again.

[0075] As described above, according to the hot water supply control device 1 according to the present embodiment, each time the schedule generation time arrives, the usage situation prediction unit 115 calculates, for each of a plurality of preset time zones in a day within the past reference period, the frequency at which the hot water usage amount indicated by the hot water usage history information is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold. Further, the usage situation prediction unit 115 predicts the hot water usage time zones in each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] based on the calculated frequency. Then, each time the schedule generation time arrives, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a boiling-up schedule for each of the hot water supply devices 3 in the plurality of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] such that the total power consumption consumed in the entire apartment building B1 until the next schedule generation time arrives is equal to or less than a preset power consumption threshold, based on the predicted usage time zones, the required power amount of the hot water supply device 3, and the required operation time. Thereby, since the boiling-up time zones of the hot water supply devices 3 can be optimized according to the history of the hot water usage situations in each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] in which the hot water supply devices 3 are installed, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of running out of hot water while reducing the total power consumption in the entire apartment building B1.

[0076] Incidentally, in winter when the amount of hot water used is the largest during the year, the time zones when the power consumption of the electrical equipment 4 other than the water heater 3 in the apartment building B1 is small are generally late at night and during the day, two times. On the other hand, if the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 is set in small segments so that the water heater 3 repeats starting and stopping multiple times a day, the loss of the power consumption by the water heater 3 increases and the life of the water heater 3 also becomes shorter. Therefore, it is preferable that the continuous operating time zone of the water heater 3 per day is one or two times. In contrast, the water heater control device 1 according to the present embodiment classifies the hot water usage time zones of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] in a day into one or two usage time zones, and makes the number of repetitions of starting and stopping of the water heater 3 of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] one or two times. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the loss of the power consumption by the water heater 3 and to extend the life of the water heater 3.

[0077] Further, the usage situation prediction unit 115 according to the present embodiment specifies a high-frequency time zone in which the frequency of the amount of hot water used being equal to or more than the hot water usage threshold is equal to or more than the frequency threshold, approximates the distribution of the frequency of the specified high-frequency time zone with two Gaussian functions taking time as an argument, and predicts the hot water usage time zones of each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] based on the standard deviation determined for each of the two Gaussian functions. Then, the usage situation prediction unit 115 predicts the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time based on the past amount of hot water used between the start times of the two predicted usage time zones. Thereby, the usage situation prediction unit 115 can accurately predict the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], particularly when there are a plurality of high-frequency time zones spaced apart in time, so that the occurrence of running out of hot water can be suppressed.

[0078] Furthermore, the usage situation prediction unit 115 according to the present embodiment calculates the cumulative frequency of the above-mentioned frequency in the usage time zone corresponding to each of the two Gaussian functions approximating the frequency distribution in the above-mentioned high-frequency time zone. Then, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a boiling schedule for the water heater 3 such that the end period of the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 coincides with the first usage start time of the first usage time zone with the highest calculated cumulative frequency, which is the first boiling time zone. As a result, the amount of hot water cooling required for each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] can be reduced, and accordingly, the amount of boiling can be reduced, and as a result, the power consumption of the water heater 3 can be reduced.

[0079] Also, when the schedule generation unit 118 according to the present embodiment operates the water heater 3 according to the provisional boiling schedule and the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth, the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 in at least one house H[i] is the second boiling time zone whose end period coincides with the second usage start time Ts1[i] of the above-mentioned second usage time zone with a lower cumulative frequency than the first usage time zone, and the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 is generated such that the total power consumption Pt is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold Ptth. As a result, the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 is generated in a form that more accurately reflects the usage situation of hot water in the house H[i] where there are two usage time zones with a large amount of hot water used, so that the occurrence of running out of hot water can be suppressed.

[0080] Furthermore, the priority determination unit 123 according to the present embodiment determines the priority when setting the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 in each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] to the above-mentioned first boiling time zone based on the history of changes in the provisional boiling schedule. As a result, in the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the frequency of the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 deviating from the above-mentioned first boiling time zone can be smoothed, so that the satisfaction of the residents of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] regarding the use of the water heater 3 can be improved.

[0081] In addition, the priority determination unit 123 according to the present embodiment determines the priority when setting the boiling time zone of each water heater 3 in a plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] to the above-described first boiling time zone based on policy information indicating a policy regarding the possibility of setting the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 when generating the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 to the above-described first boiling time zone. As a result, since the wishes of the residents can be easily reflected in the boiling time zones of the water heaters 3 in the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the satisfaction of the residents of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] regarding the use of the water heater 3 can be improved.

[0082] Furthermore, the correction coefficient calculation unit 120 according to the present embodiment calculates a correction coefficient for correcting the predicted hot water usage amount predicted by the usage situation prediction unit 115 based on the hot water usage amount and the temperature in each of a plurality of time zones within the reference period. Then, the usage situation prediction unit 115 multiplies the predicted hot water usage amount in each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] predicted based on the predicted usage time zone and the hot water usage amount within the reference period by the correction coefficient to calculate the hot water usage amount until the next schedule generation time. As a result, the influence of temperature fluctuations on the prediction of the hot water usage amount can be reduced, so the prediction accuracy of the hot water usage amount is improved, and thus the occurrence of running out of hot water is suppressed.

[0083] (Embodiment 2) In the water heater control device according to the present embodiment, when the schedule generation unit operates each water heater in a plurality of houses according to the provisional boiling schedule, if the total power consumption of the apartment building B1 exceeds the power consumption threshold, the boiling time zone of the water heater in at least one of the plurality of houses is the third boiling time zone in which the start period and the end period of the first boiling time zone coincide, and the boiling schedule of each water heater in the plurality of houses is generated so that the total power consumption is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold, which is different from the water heater control device 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[0084] The hardware configuration and functional configuration of the hot water supply system according to this embodiment are the same as those described in Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the same hardware configuration and functional configuration as those in Embodiment 1 will be described using the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1.

[0085] The schedule generation unit 118 identifies the usage start time calculated by the usage prediction unit 115 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Here, similar to the first embodiment, when there are multiple hot water usage times in a day, the schedule generation unit 118 refers to the frequency information and identifies the usage start time of the usage time band with the highest frequency of the hot water usage amount being equal to or greater than the hot water usage amount threshold among the multiple usage time bands. Next, based on the identified usage start time, required power consumption, and operating required time, the schedule generation unit 118 sequentially assigns the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 to each of the multiple houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n]. Here, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a heating-up schedule so that the end period of the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 coincides with the usage start time as much as possible. Here, assume that when the schedule generation unit 118 sequentially assigns the heating-up time band of the water heater 3, the total power consumption exceeds the power consumption threshold. In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 re-assigns the heating-up time band of the house H[i] to which the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 was last assigned so that its end period coincides with the start period of the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 of the house H[i + 1] to which the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 was assigned earlier and the total power consumption is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold. For example, as shown in FIG. 21(A), assume that when the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 is sequentially assigned to the multiple houses H[i + 3], H[i + 2], H[i + 1], H[i] in this order, as shown by the broken line, the total power consumption Pt between 16:00 and 17:00 exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth. In FIGS. 21(A) and (B), Psp[i], Psp[i + 1], Psp[i + 2], Psp[i + 3] indicate the transition of the power consumption amount of the water heater 3 in each of the houses H[i], H[i + 1], H[i + 2], H[i + 3], and Pt2 indicates the transition of the total power consumption amount other than the water heater 3 in the entire apartment building B1. In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 re-assigns the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 installed in the house [i] so that its end period coincides with the start period of the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 of the houses H[i + 1], H[i + 2], H[i + 3] to which the heating-up time band of the water heater 3 was assigned earlier and the total power consumption Pt is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold Ptth.Here, assume that as a result of reassigning the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 in the house [i], the start time of the boiling time zone is included in another usage time zone, that is, the period from the usage start time Ts1[i] to the usage end time Te1[i]. In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 reassigns the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 in the house [i] so that the end time thereof coincides with the usage start time Ts1[i] of a usage time zone where the frequency of the usage hot water amount being equal to or greater than the usage hot water amount threshold is lower than that of the previously specified usage time zone. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 21(B), the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 in the house H[i] is assigned so that the end time of the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 in the house H[i] coincides with the usage start time Ts1[i] of the usage start time Ts1[i] of another usage time zone.

[0086] Here, the boiling schedule generation process executed by the water heater control device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 22. In FIG. 22, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 18 or 20 are assigned to the processes similar to those in the first embodiment.

[0087] First, the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines whether the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101). If the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S129 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101: Yes), a series of processes from step S102 to S109 described in the first embodiment are executed.

[0088] Next, the required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of each water heater 3 in houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time, based on the predicted hot water usage amounts of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the stored hot water amount and the stored hot water temperature indicated by the stored hot water amount information of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the stored hot water amount and temperature memory unit 134, and the predicted hot water usage value indicated by the predicted hot water usage amount information stored in the hot water usage time prediction memory unit 137 (step S2101).

[0089] Subsequently, the schedule generation unit 118 specifies only one target for allocating the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 from among the houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] (step S2102). Then, based on the specified start time of use, required power consumption, and required operation time for the specified house H[i], the schedule generation unit 118 allocates the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 for the specified house H[i] (step S2103). Next, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth (step S2104). Here, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the total power consumption Pt is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold Ptth (step S2104: No), it executes the process of step S2109 described later. On the other hand, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the total power consumption Pt exceeds the power consumption threshold Ptth (step S2104: Yes), it refers to the information indicating the start time of use stored in the predicted usage status storage unit 135 and determines whether there is a house H[i] having a plurality of start times of use in a day (step S2105). Here, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there is no house H[i] having a plurality of start times of use in a day (step S2105: No), it executes the process of step S2109 described later. On the other hand, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there is a house H[i] having a plurality of start times of use in a day (step S2105: Yes), it re-allocates the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 for that house H[i] as a third boiling-up time zone whose end period coincides with the start period of the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 of the house to which the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 was previously allocated and such that the total power consumption Pt is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold Ptth (step S2106).

[0090] Thereafter, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether or not the start period of the third heating time zone of the water heater 3 re-assigned for the house H[i] is included within another second usage time zone different from the first usage time zone in that house H[i] (step S2107). Here, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the start period of the third heating time zone of the water heater 3 re-assigned for the house H[i] is not included within another second usage time zone (step S2107: No), it executes the process of step S2109 described later. On the other hand, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the start period of the third heating time zone of the water heater 3 re-assigned for the house H[i] is included within another second usage time zone (step S2107: Yes). In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 re-assigns the heating time zone of the water heater 3 for the house [i] to be the second heating time zone that coincides with the start time Ts1[i] of the second usage time zone where the frequency of the usage hot water amount being equal to or greater than the usage hot water amount threshold is lower than that of the first usage time zone whose end period was specified earlier (step S2108). Next, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether or not the assignment of the heating time zone of the water heater 3 has been completed for all of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] (step S2109). Here, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that there are houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] for which the assignment of the heating time zone of the water heater 3 has not yet been completed (step S2109: No), it identifies the house H[i] for which the assignment of the heating time zone of the water heater 3 has not yet been completed (step S2102) and executes the processes from step S2103 onward. On the other hand, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the assignment of the heating time zone of the water heater 3 has been completed for all of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] (step S2109: Yes). In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether or not the maximum value Ptmax of the total power consumption amount Pt is equal to or lower than the updated reference power consumption amount threshold Ptrth which is lower than the power consumption amount threshold Ptth by a preset margin power consumption amount (step S113). Here, if the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the maximum value Ptmax is greater than the updated reference power consumption amount threshold Ptrth (step S113: No), the series of processes from step S124 onward described in Embodiment 1 is executed as it is.On the one hand, when the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the maximum value Ptmax is less than or equal to the updated reference power consumption threshold value Ptrth (step S113: Yes), it updates the power consumption threshold value Ptth stored in the threshold storage unit 138 with the maximum value Ptmax (step S114). Subsequently, a series of processes after step S124 described in Embodiment 1 are executed. Then, in step S129, when the policy acquisition unit 122 determines that it has acquired policy information (step S129: Yes), it updates the policy information stored in the policy storage unit 137 with the acquired policy information (step S130). After that, after a preset time has elapsed, the process of step S2102 is executed again.

[0091] As described above, when the schedule generation unit 118 according to the present embodiment operates the water heaters 3 of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] according to the provisional heating-up schedule, if the total power consumption of the apartment building B1 exceeds the power consumption threshold value, the heating-up time zone of the water heater 3 of at least one house H[i] is the third heating-up time zone in which the start period and the end period of the aforementioned first heating-up time zone coincide, and the heating-up schedule of the water heater 3 is generated so that the total power consumption is less than or equal to the power consumption threshold value. Thereby, the amount of cold water in the house H[i] can be reduced, and accordingly, the required heating-up amount in the house H[i] can be reduced, and as a result, the power consumption of the water heater 3 in the house H[i] can be reduced.

[0092] In addition, when the schedule generation unit 118 according to the present embodiment sets the heating-up time zone of the water heater 3 of the house H[i] to the aforementioned third heating-up time zone, when the start period of the third heating-up time zone is included in another second usage time zone different from the aforementioned first usage time zone, the heating-up time zone of the water heater 3 of the house H[i] is the aforementioned second heating-up time zone, and the heating-up schedules of the water heaters 3 of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] are generated so that the total power consumption is less than or equal to the power consumption threshold value. Thereby, the occurrence of running out of hot water during use in the aforementioned second usage time zone can be suppressed.

[0093] (Embodiment 3) In the water heater control device according to the present embodiment, for the water heater of at least one house among a plurality of houses, when the time between the end of the boiling-up time zone included in the first unit period and the start of the boiling-up time zone included in the next unit period within a period corresponding to two unit periods is equal to or longer than a preset reference time, the amount of hot water used in the second unit period is based on the past amount of hot water used corresponding to the period from the end of the boiling-up time zone in the first unit period to the start of the time zone with the highest cumulative frequency of use in the second unit period, and the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation time is predicted again. Further, the required power amount calculation unit calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater in each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation time based on the re-predicted amount of hot water used, the stored hot water amount, and the stored hot water temperature. Then, the schedule generation unit generates a boiling-up schedule again based on the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater.

[0094] The hardware configuration and functional configuration of the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment are the same as those of the hardware configuration and functional configuration described in Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration and functional configuration similar to those in Embodiment 1 will be described using the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1.

[0095] When the usage prediction unit 115 determines that, for at least one water heater 3 in at least one of a plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the time between the end of the boiling time zone on the first day and the start of the boiling time zone on the second day within a period corresponding to two days is equal to or longer than a preset reference time, the usage prediction unit 115 predicts again the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time, based on the amount of hot water used in the past corresponding to the period from the end of the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 on the first day to the start of the time zone with the highest cumulative frequency of use on the second day for the amount of hot water used on the second day. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, assume that the time dTos[i] between the end Ts1[i] of the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 on the first day and the end Ts2[i] of the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 on the second day of the house H[i] is equal to or longer than the reference time dTosth. In FIG. 23, Psp[i], Psp[i + 1], Psp[i + 2], and Psp[i + 3] indicate the transitions of the power consumption of the water heaters 3 in the houses H[i], H[i + 1], H[i + 2], and H[i + 3], respectively, and Pt2 indicates the transition of the total power consumption other than the water heaters 3 in the entire apartment house B1. In this case, the usage prediction unit 115 predicts again the amount of hot water used in the house H[i] until the next schedule generation time, based on the amount of hot water used in the past corresponding to the period from the end Ts1[i] of the boiling time zone on the first day to the start Ts2[i] of the time zone with the highest cumulative frequency of use within the unit time on the second day for the amount of hot water used on the second day. Then, the usage prediction unit 115 updates the hot water usage information of the house H[i] stored in the predicted usage status storage unit 135 with the hot water usage information indicating the amount of hot water used in the house H[i] predicted again.

[0096] When the amount of hot water used is predicted again, the required power calculation unit 117 calculates the required power and the required operation time of each of the water heaters 3 in the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time, based on the predicted amount of hot water used indicated by the hot water usage information stored in the predicted usage status storage unit 135, the amount of stored hot water, and the stored hot water temperature. Then, the required power calculation unit 117 notifies the schedule generation unit 118 of the information indicating the calculated required power and the required operation time of the water heater 3.

[0097] When the predicted hot water consumption is predicted again, the schedule generation unit 118 generates a reheating schedule based on the required power of the water heater 3 and the required operation time calculated based on the predicted hot water consumption notified from the required power calculation unit 117 again.

[0098] Here, the reheating schedule generation process executed by the water heater control device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 24. In FIG. 24, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 18, 20, or 22 are given to the processes similar to those in the first and second embodiments.

[0099] First, the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines whether the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101). If the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S129 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101: Yes), a series of processes from step S102 to S109 described in the first embodiment are executed.

[0100] Next, the required power calculation unit 117 calculates the required power and the required operation time of each water heater 3 for houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time based on the predicted hot water consumption of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the stored hot water amount and the stored hot water temperature indicated by the stored hot water amount information of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] stored in the stored hot water amount and temperature storage unit 134, and the predicted hot water consumption value indicated by the predicted hot water consumption information stored in the predicted hot water consumption time prediction storage unit 137 (step S2101). Subsequently, a series of processes from step S2102 to S2109 are executed. And assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines in step S2019 that the allocation of the reheating time zone of the water heater 3 has been completed for all of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] (step S2109: Yes).

[0101] In this case, the schedule generation unit 118 determines whether or not the time dTop[i] between the end of the heating time zone on the first day and the start of the heating time zone on the second day within a period corresponding to two days is equal to or greater than a preset reference time dTopth for the water heater 3 of at least one of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] (step S3101). Here, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the times dTop[1], dTop[2],..., dTop[n] between the end of the heating time zone on the first day and the start of the heating time zone on the second day within a period corresponding to two days are less than the reference time dTopth for the water heaters 3 of all of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] (step S3101: No). In this case, the series of processes after step S113 is executed as it is.

[0102] On the other hand, assume that the schedule generation unit 118 determines that the time dTop[i] between the end of the heating time zone on the first day and the start of the heating time zone on the second day within a period corresponding to two days is equal to or greater than the reference time dTopth for the water heater 3 of at least one house H[i] (step S3101: Yes). In this case, the usage prediction unit 115 re-predicts the amount of hot water used in house H[i] until the next schedule generation time based on the past amount of hot water used corresponding to the period from the end Ts1[i] of the heating time zone on the first day to the start Ts2[i] of the usage time zone with the highest cumulative frequency on the second day. After that, the series of processes after step S2101 is executed again.

[0103] As described above, for the water heater 3 in the house H[i], when the time between the end of the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 on the first day within two days and the start of the boiling-up time zone on the second day is equal to or longer than a preset reference time, the predicted hot water usage amount for the house H[i] until the next schedule generation time is predicted again based on the past hot water usage amount corresponding to the period from the end Ts1[i] of the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 on the first day to the start Ts2[i] of the first usage time zone with the highest cumulative frequency on the second day. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of hot water exhaustion in the time zone from the end Ts1[i] of the boiling-up time zone of the water heater 3 on the first day to the start Ts2[i] of the first usage time zone with the highest cumulative frequency on the second day.

[0104] (Embodiment 4) The water heater control device according to the present embodiment is different from the water heater control device 1 according to Embodiment 1 in that it further includes a differential hot water amount calculation unit that calculates the differential hot water amount between the predicted hot water usage amount and the actual hot water usage amount corresponding to the usage time zone used for predicting the hot water usage amount. Further, the usage situation prediction unit according to the present embodiment is different from the usage situation prediction unit 115 according to Embodiment 1 in that when the differential hot water amount calculated by the differential hot water amount calculation unit exceeds a preset differential hot water amount threshold, after changing the reference period, the usage time zone and the hot water usage amount are predicted again.

[0105] The hardware configuration of the hot water supply system according to this embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration described in Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, for the hardware configuration similar to that of Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1 will be used for description. As shown in FIG. 25, the CPU 101 of the hot water supply control device 4001 according to this embodiment reads out the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 to the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a power amount acquisition unit 111, a weather information acquisition unit 112, a hot water supply device information acquisition unit 113, a power amount prediction unit 114, a usage situation prediction unit 4115, a boiling-up amount calculation unit 116, a required power amount calculation unit 117, a schedule generation unit 118, a transmission unit 119, a correction coefficient calculation unit 120, a hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121, a policy acquisition unit 122, a priority determination unit 123, and a differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124. Further, the auxiliary storage unit 103 includes a power amount storage unit 131, a weather information storage unit 132, a used hot water amount history storage unit 133, a stored hot water amount / temperature storage unit 134, a predicted usage situation storage unit 4135, a predicted power amount storage unit 136, a policy storage unit 137, a threshold value storage unit 138, and a schedule storage unit 139. In FIG. 25, the same components as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5.

[0106] The predicted usage situation storage unit 4135 stores, for example, as shown in FIG. 26, the hot water usage start time, the predicted value of the used hot water amount, and the frequency at which the used hot water amount has been equal to or greater than the used hot water amount threshold for each of the houses H[i], H[i + 1],... in association with the date information and the house identification information and the reference period information indicating the reference period used for predicting the used hot water amount.

[0107] Returning to FIG. 25, the usage prediction unit 4115, similar to the usage prediction unit 115 described in the first embodiment, predicts the hot water usage time periods and hot water usage amounts in each of the houses H[1], H[2],..., H[n] until the next upcoming schedule generation time based on the hot water usage amount information for each day within the past reference period stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133 at the aforementioned schedule generation time. Then, the usage prediction unit 4115 stores the information indicating the usage start time and usage end time of the calculated usage time period in the predicted usage status storage unit 135 in association with the reference period information indicating the reference period for referring to the hot water usage amount information together with the house identification information and the date information.

[0108] The differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 calculates the differential hot water amount between the hot water usage amount predicted by the usage prediction unit 4115 indicated by the hot water usage amount information stored in the predicted usage status storage unit 4135 and the actual value of the hot water usage amount corresponding to the usage time period used for prediction indicated by the hot water usage amount information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133. Then, the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 notifies the usage prediction unit 4115 of the differential hot water amount information indicating the calculated differential hot water amount. And when the differential hot water amount indicated by the differential hot water amount information notified from the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 exceeds a preset differential hot water amount threshold value, the usage prediction unit 4115 changes the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount and then predicts the hot water usage time period and hot water usage amount again. For example, assume that the differential hot water amount between the hot water usage amount predicted based on the usage time period predicted with the reference period being between the day several weeks (e.g., 3 weeks) before the schedule generation time when the usage prediction unit 4115 is trying to predict the hot water usage amount and the day 2 weeks further back from that day and the actual hot water usage amount in the same usage time period exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold value. In this case, the usage prediction unit 4115 predicts the hot water usage time period and hot water usage amount again with the most recent 2 weeks stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133 as the reference period.

[0109] Here, the hot water boiling schedule generation process executed by the hot water supply control device 4001 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 27. In FIG. 27, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 18 or 20 are assigned to the processes similar to those in the first embodiment.

[0110] First, the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines whether the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101). If the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S129 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101: Yes), a series of processes from step S102 to S109 described in Embodiment 1 are executed.

[0111] Next, the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 calculates the differential hot water amount dWut[i] between the predicted hot water amount predicted by the hot water usage prediction unit 4115 indicated by the hot water usage information stored in the predicted usage situation storage unit 4135 and the actual value of the hot water amount corresponding to the usage time period used for prediction indicated by the hot water usage information stored in the hot water usage history storage unit 133 (step S4101). Subsequently, the usage situation prediction unit 4115 determines whether the differential hot water amount dWut[i] calculated by the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 exceeds a preset differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S4102). Here, if the usage situation prediction unit 4115 determines that the differential hot water amount dWut[i] is less than or equal to the differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S4102: No), the series of processes from step S110 and later are executed as they are. On the other hand, if the usage situation prediction unit 4115 determines that the differential hot water amount dWut[i] exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S4102: Yes), it changes the reference period used for predicting the hot water amount (step S4103). After that, the processes from step S107 and later are executed again.

[0112] As described above, according to the water heater control device 4001 according to the present embodiment, the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 calculates the differential hot water amount between the predicted hot water usage amount predicted by the usage situation prediction unit 4115 and the actual hot water usage amount corresponding to the usage time zone used for predicting the hot water usage amount. Then, when the differential hot water amount calculated by the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold value, the usage situation prediction unit 4115 changes the reference period and then predicts the usage time zone and the hot water usage amount again. Thereby, for example, even if the tendency of the hot water usage time zone of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] changes, the prediction accuracy of the usage time zone by the usage situation prediction unit 4115 can be maintained.

[0113] (Embodiment 5) In the water heater control device according to the present embodiment, it is different from the water heater control device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a differential hot water amount calculation unit in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment. Then, when it is determined that the differential hot water amount calculated by the differential hot water amount calculation unit by the usage situation prediction unit exceeds a preset differential hot water amount threshold value, the transmission unit is different from the first embodiment in that it transmits notification information notifying the user that the living pattern of the residents of the house has changed to the terminal device.

[0114] The hardware configuration of the hot water supply system according to this embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration described in Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, for the hardware configuration similar to that in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1 will be used for description. As shown in FIG. 28, the CPU 501 of the terminal device 5005 according to this embodiment functions as an acquisition unit 5511, a display control unit 5512, a reception unit 513, a policy generation unit 514, a policy transmission unit 515, and a command unit 5516 by reading out and executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503 into the main storage unit 502. The auxiliary storage unit 503 has an operation screen storage unit 531. When the acquisition unit 5511 acquires schedule information transmitted from the hot water supply control device 1 or notification information notifying that the living pattern of the residents of the house has changed, the acquisition unit 5511 notifies the acquired schedule information or notification information to the display control unit 5512. When the display control unit 5512 is notified of the notification information from the acquisition unit 5511, the display control unit 5512 acquires image information for displaying the content indicated by the notification information on the display unit 504 from the operation screen storage unit 531, and based on the notification information and the acquired image information, generates an operation screen image indicating the notification content and displays it on the display unit 504. When the reception unit 513 receives an operation for controlling the operation of the hot water supply machine 3, the command unit 5516 generates command information based on the information indicating the operation content of the hot water supply machine 3 included in the operation information notified from the reception unit 513, and transmits the generated command information to the hot water supply control device 5001. When the reception unit 513 receives an operation for notifying the absence period of the user or an operation for notifying that the user's own living pattern has changed, the command unit 5516 generates absence information or pattern change notification information based on the operation information notified from the reception unit 513, and transmits the generated absence information or pattern change notification information to the hot water supply control device 5001.

[0115] The CPU 101 of the water heater control device 5001 according to the present embodiment functions as a power amount acquisition unit 111, a weather information acquisition unit 112, a water heater information acquisition unit 113, a power amount prediction unit 114, a usage situation prediction unit 5115, a boiling-up amount calculation unit 116, a required power amount calculation unit 117, a schedule generation unit 118, a transmission unit 5119, a correction coefficient calculation unit 120, a hot water cooling amount calculation unit 121, a policy acquisition unit 122, a priority determination unit 123, a differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124, a setting acquisition unit 5125, and an operation mode setting unit 5126 by reading and executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102. Further, the auxiliary storage unit 103 includes a power amount storage unit 131, a weather information storage unit 132, a used hot water amount history storage unit 133, a stored hot water amount / temperature storage unit 134, a predicted usage situation storage unit 4135, a predicted power amount storage unit 136, a policy storage unit 137, a threshold value storage unit 138, and a schedule storage unit 139. In FIG. 28, the same components as those in Embodiment 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 25.

[0116] The usage situation prediction unit 5115 stores, in the predicted usage situation storage unit 135, information indicating the usage start time and the usage end time of the calculated usage time zone, in association with reference period information indicating a reference period obtained by referring to the used hot water amount information together with the housing identification information and the date information, in the same manner as the usage situation prediction unit 4115 described in Embodiment 4. Further, when the differential hot water amount indicated by the differential hot water amount information notified from the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 exceeds a preset differential hot water amount threshold value, the usage situation prediction unit 5115 generates notification information notifying that the living pattern of the residents of the house has changed, and notifies the transmission unit 5119. When the notification information is notified from the usage situation prediction unit 5115, the transmission unit 5119 transmits the notification information to the terminal device 5005. Then, when the absence information is notified from the setting acquisition unit 5125, the usage situation prediction unit 5115 changes the reference period used for predicting the used hot water amount, and then predicts the hot water usage time zone and the used hot water amount again.

[0117] When the setting acquisition unit 5125 acquires the command information transmitted from the terminal device 5005, it notifies the acquired command information to the operation mode setting unit 5126. Also, when the setting acquisition unit 5125 acquires the absence information transmitted from the terminal device 5005, it notifies the acquired absence information to the schedule generation unit 118 and the usage prediction unit 5115. Further, when the setting acquisition unit 5125 acquires the pattern change notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5005, it notifies the acquired pattern change notification information to the usage prediction unit 5115.

[0118] When the operation mode setting unit 5126 is notified of the command information from the setting acquisition unit 5125, it generates operation mode information based on the notified command information. Here, when the command information is, for example, a command to stop the water heater 3, the operation mode setting unit 5126 generates operation mode information indicating a stop mode in which the water heater 3 is in a stopped state. Then, the operation mode setting unit 5126 notifies the generated operation mode information to the transmission unit 5119. Here, when the transmission unit 5119 is notified of the operation mode information from the operation mode setting unit 5126, it transmits the notified operation mode information to the water heater 3. On the other hand, when the water heater 3 acquires the operation mode information from the water heater control device 5001, it operates in the operation mode indicated by the acquired operation mode information.

[0119] Next, the operation of the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 to 31. In FIGS. 29 and 31, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 13 to 15. First, as shown in FIG. 29, when the processes up to step S14 are executed, the hot water supply control device 5001 calculates the differential hot water amount dWut[i] between the predicted hot water usage amount indicated by the hot water usage amount information stored in the predicted usage situation storage unit 4135 and the actual value of the hot water usage amount corresponding to the usage time zone used for the prediction indicated by the hot water usage amount information stored in the hot water usage amount history storage unit 133 (step S5001). Next, it is assumed that the hot water supply control device 5001 determines that the calculated differential hot water amount dWut[i] exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S5002). In this case, the hot water supply control device 5001 generates notification information for notifying that the living pattern of the residents of the house has changed (step S5003). Subsequently, the generated notification information is transmitted from the hot water supply control device 5001 to the terminal device 5005 (step S5004).

[0120] On the one hand, when the terminal device 5005 acquires notification information, it causes the acquired notification information to be displayed on the display unit 504 (step S5005). At this time, the terminal device 5005 causes the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA511 including a message M511 notifying that the living pattern of the resident of the house has changed, as shown in, for example, FIG. 30(A). The operation screen image GA511 also includes a button image BU511 representing an operation button for switching to a screen for inputting the time period when the user is away. Here, when the user touches the portion corresponding to the button image BU511 in the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5005, the terminal device 5005 causes the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA512 for inputting the time period when the user is away, as shown in, for example, FIG. 30(B). The operation screen image GA512 includes a message M512 prompting the user to input the time period when the user is away, input field images B511, B512, B513 for inputting the end time of the time period when the user is away, and a button image BU512. Then, after the user touches and designates the portions corresponding to the input field images B511, B512, B513 in the input unit 505 and performs an operation of inputting the time while the operation screen image GA512 is being displayed on the display unit 504 of the terminal device 5005, when the user touches the portion corresponding to the button image BU512 in the input unit 505, the operation of inputting the away time period is accepted. Note that when the notification information includes information specifying not to display the button image BU511, the terminal device 5005 causes the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA52 including only the message M52 notifying that the living pattern of the resident of the house has changed, as shown in, for example, FIG. 30(C).

[0121] Returning to FIG. 29, when the user performs an operation to input the out-of-office time period, the terminal device 5005 generates out-of-office information indicating the out-of-office time period (step S5006). After that, the generated out-of-office information is transmitted from the terminal device 5005 to the hot water supply control device 5001 (step S5007). On the other hand, when the hot water supply control device 5001 acquires the out-of-office information, it changes the reference period used for predicting the hot water consumption (step S5008). Here, the hot water supply control device 5001 sets the reference period to the out-of-office time period. Next, the hot water supply control device 5001 calculates the end time of the usage time period based on the out-of-office time period indicated by the acquired out-of-office information (step S5009). Subsequently, the hot water supply control device 5001 calculates a correction coefficient for the hot water consumption based on the temperature difference in the area where the apartment house B1 is located (step S5010). After that, for the house H[i] corresponding to the out-of-office information, the hot water supply control device 5001 calculates the hot water consumption during the period until the next schedule generation time based on the hot water consumption during the period from the start time to the end time of the out-of-office time period on each day of the past reference period. Then, the hot water supply control device 1 calculates the hot water consumption obtained by multiplying the calculated hot water consumption by the calculated correction coefficient as the predicted hot water consumption of the house H[i] corresponding to the command information (step S5011).

[0122] Next, the hot water supply control device 1 calculates the required power consumption and the required operation time of the hot water supply device 3 of the house H[i] corresponding to the absence information until the next schedule generation time, based on the predicted hot water usage amount of the house H[i] corresponding to the absence information and the stored hot water amount and the stored hot water temperature indicated by the stored hot water temperature information of the house H[i] corresponding to the command information stored in the stored hot water amount and temperature memory unit 134 (step S5012). Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 31, the hot water supply control device 1 assigns a boiling-up time zone for the hot water supply device 3 of the house H[i] corresponding to the absence information (step S5013). At this time, for the day when the user of the house H[i] corresponding to the absence information is absent, the hot water supply control device 1 assigns a boiling-up time zone so that the hot water supply device 3 of the house H[i] does not perform a boiling-up operation. On the other hand, when the end time of the absence time zone, i.e., the time of return home, is not included in the hot water usage time zone of the user on the day when the user returns home, the hot water supply control device 1 assigns a boiling-up time zone so as to boil up the predicted hot water usage amount by the end of the absence time zone. Thereby, the user can use hot water immediately after returning home. Further, when the end time of the absence time zone is included in the hot water usage time zone of the user on the day when the user returns home, the hot water supply control device 1 assigns a boiling-up time zone so as to boil up the predicted hot water usage amount by the start time of the usage time zone. Thereafter, a series of processes after step S16 described in the first embodiment are executed. Here, the hot water supply control device 5001 generates a boiling-up schedule with the boiling-up time zone of the hot water supply device 3 of the house H[i] corresponding to the absence information fixed.

[0123] Also, assume that when the terminal device 5005 causes the acquired notification information to be displayed on the display unit 504, the user performs an operation to set the water heater 3 to the stop mode by executing the processing up to the aforementioned step S5006. In this case, the terminal device 5005 generates command information for instructing the water heater 3 to enter the stop mode (step S5014). Next, the generated command information is transmitted from the terminal device 5005 to the water heater control device 5001 (step S5015). On the other hand, when the water heater control device 5001 acquires the command information, it generates operation mode information indicating the stop mode based on the acquired command information (step S5016). Subsequently, the generated operation mode information is transmitted from the water heater control device 5001 to the water heater 3 (step S5017). On the other hand, when the water heater 3 acquires the operation mode information, it stops operating based on the acquired operation mode information (step S5018).

[0124] Also, assume that after the terminal device 5005 causes the acquired notification information to be displayed on the display unit 504, the user performs a life pattern change notification operation for notifying a change in the life pattern. In this case, the terminal device 5005 generates the aforementioned pattern change notification information (step S5019). Thereafter, the generated pattern change notification information is transmitted from the terminal device 5005 to the water heater control device 5001 (step S5020). On the other hand, when the water heater control device 5001 acquires the pattern change information, it changes the reference period used for predicting the amount of hot water used (step S5021). Here, the water heater control device 5001 changes the reference period to be a period after the time when it is determined that the calculated differential hot water amount dWut[i] exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold dWutth.

[0125] Next, the boiling schedule generation process executed by the water heater control device 5001 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 32 and 33. In FIGS. 32 and 33, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 18 or 20.

[0126] First, the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines whether the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101). If the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S129 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101: Yes), a series of processes from step S102 to S109 described in Embodiment 1 are executed.

[0127] Next, the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 calculates the differential hot water amount dWut[i] between the predicted hot water usage amount predicted by the usage situation prediction unit 5115 and the actual value of the hot water usage amount corresponding to the usage time zone used for the prediction (step S4101). Subsequently, the usage situation prediction unit 5115 determines whether the differential hot water amount dWut[i] calculated by the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 exceeds a preset differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S4102). Here, if the usage situation prediction unit 5115 determines that the differential hot water amount dWut[i] is less than or equal to the differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S4102: No), a series of processes from step S110 onward are executed as they are. On the other hand, if the usage situation prediction unit 5115 determines that the differential hot water amount dWut[i] exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S4102: Yes), the usage situation prediction unit 5115 generates notification information notifying that the living pattern of the residents of the house has changed, and the transmission unit 5119 transmits the generated notification information to the terminal device 5005 (step S5101). Next, the process of step S5102 described later is executed.

[0128] After a series of processes from step S110 to S128 are executed, the policy acquisition unit 122 determines whether it has acquired the policy information transmitted from the terminal device 5 (step S129). If the policy acquisition unit 122 determines that it has not acquired the policy information (step S129: No), the process of step S5102 is executed again as described later. On the other hand, if the policy acquisition unit 122 determines that it has acquired the policy information (step S129: Yes), it updates the policy information stored in the policy storage unit 137 with the acquired policy information (step S130). Subsequently, the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines whether it has acquired the absence information (step S5102). Here, if the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines that it has not acquired the absence information (step S5102: No), it determines whether it has acquired the command information (step S5103). Here, if the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines that it has not acquired the command information (step S5103: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines that it has acquired the command information (step S5103: Yes), it generates operation mode information indicating the stop mode based on the acquired command information. Then, the transmission unit 5119 transmits the generated operation mode information to the water heater 3 (step S5104). After that, when the usage prediction unit 5115 determines that the setting acquisition unit 5125 has acquired the absence information in the past, it determines whether the arrival time of the user has arrived based on the absence information (step S5105). Here, if the usage prediction unit 5115 determines that the arrival time of the user has not yet arrived (step S5105: No), the process of step S5107 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the usage prediction unit 5115 determines that the arrival time of the user has arrived (step S5105: Yes), it changes the reference period so that the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount is a period excluding the user's absence time zone (step S5106). Next, the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines whether it has acquired the above-mentioned pattern change notification information (step S5107). Here, if the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines that it has not acquired the pattern change notification information (step S5107: No), the process of step S101 is executed again.On the other hand, when the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines that it has acquired the pattern change notification information (step S5107: Yes), the usage prediction unit 5115 changes the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount so that it becomes a period after the time when the differential hot water amount dWut[i] calculated by the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold dWutth (step S5108). Next, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0129] Also, assume that the setting acquisition unit 5125 determines in step S5102 that it has acquired the absence information (step S5102: Yes). In this case, the usage prediction unit 5115 changes the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount (step S5109). Then, the usage prediction unit 5115 calculates the end time of the usage time zone based on the absence time zone indicated by the absence information acquired by the setting acquisition unit 5125 (step S5110). Next, the correction coefficient calculation unit 120 calculates a correction coefficient for the hot water usage amount based on the temperature difference in the area where the apartment house B1 exists (step S5111). Subsequently, for the house H[i] corresponding to the absence information, the usage prediction unit 5115 calculates the hot water usage amount until the next schedule generation time based on the hot water usage amount during the period from the start time to the end time of the absence time zone on each day of the past reference period. Then, the usage prediction unit 5115 calculates, as the predicted hot water usage amount of the house H[i] corresponding to the command information, the hot water usage amount obtained by multiplying the calculated hot water usage amount by the calculated correction coefficient (step S5112).

[0130] Subsequently, the required power amount calculation unit 117 calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater 3 in House H[i] corresponding to the absence information until the next schedule generation time, based on the predicted hot water usage amount of House H[i] corresponding to the absence information, the stored hot water amount indicated by the stored hot water amount information of House H[i] corresponding to the command information stored in the stored hot water amount and temperature memory unit 134, and the stored hot water temperature indicated by the stored hot water temperature information (step S5113). Next, the schedule generation unit 118 assigns a heating-up time zone for the water heater 3 in House H[i] corresponding to the absence information, based on the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater 3 in House H[i] corresponding to the absence information calculated by the required power amount calculation unit 117 (step S5114). Subsequently, the processing from step S111 and onwards is executed again.

[0131] As described above, according to the water heater control device 5001 according to the present embodiment, when the usage situation prediction unit 5115 determines that the differential hot water amount calculated by the differential hot water amount calculation unit 4124 exceeds the differential hot water amount threshold, the usage situation prediction unit 5115 generates notification information notifying that the living pattern of the residents of the house has changed, and the transmission unit 5119 transmits the generated notification information to the terminal device 5005. Thereby, for example, when an abnormality occurs to the residents of Houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], it is possible to promptly notify the family or the administrator of the occurrence. Further, when the resident is absent from House H[i] and heating up of the water heater 3 is unnecessary, the resident can operate the terminal device 5005 to set the operation mode of the water heater 3 to the stop mode, thereby suppressing unnecessary heating-up operations of the water heater 3 and reducing the power consumption of the water heater 3.

[0132] As described above, each embodiment of the present disclosure has been explained, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in Embodiment 1, when the usage situation prediction unit 115 approximates the frequency distribution of the above-described high-frequency time zones with only one Gaussian function, the hot water usage time zone may be predicted based on the standard deviation determined for each of the one Gaussian functions. Alternatively, when the usage situation prediction unit 115 approximates the frequency distribution of the above-described high-frequency time zones with three or more Gaussian functions, three or more hot water usage time zones corresponding to each of the three or more Gaussian functions may be predicted based on the standard deviation determined for each of the three or more Gaussian functions. Then, the usage situation prediction unit 115 may predict the hot water usage amounts of each of the plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] until the next schedule generation time based on the past hot water usage amounts during the period between the start times of two usage time zones that are temporally adjacent to each other among the three or more hot water usage time zones.

[0133] In Embodiment 1, the usage situation prediction unit 115 may be configured to predict the calculated hot water usage amount every time a weekday or a holiday arrives, once a month, or every time a preset day of the week arrives. Alternatively, the usage situation prediction unit 115 may calculate, for example, a value obtained by adding the maximum value, the average value, or a value corresponding to twice the standard deviation of the hot water usage amount calculated for each day in the most recent two weeks of the day for which the hot water usage amount is predicted.

[0134] In Embodiment 1, the boiling water amount calculation unit 116 may always calculate the boiling water amount when boiling up all the predicted hot water usage amounts on the assumption that the stored hot water amount is zero. Even in this case, since in practice there are almost no cases where the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 31 of the water supply machine 3 is used up, the hot water amount corresponding to the predicted hot water usage amount will boil up in a time shorter than the boiling time indicated by the schedule generated by the schedule generation unit 118. By the way, when the apartment building B1 is a so-called high-voltage collective power reception apartment, the annual electricity charge is determined by the maximum amount of electricity consumed in the entire apartment building B1. For this reason, if the water supply machine 3 is made to perform the boiling operation for a longer time than the schedule generated by the schedule generation unit 118, the timings of the boiling operations of the water supply machine 3 may overlap in a plurality of houses H[i], and there is a risk that the amount of electricity consumed in the entire apartment building B1 may become excessive. On the other hand, when the actual boiling time of the water supply machine 3 is shorter than the boiling time indicated by the schedule generated by the schedule generation unit 118, the boiling time zones of hot water do not overlap in a plurality of houses H[i], so it is possible to suppress the excessive amount of electricity consumed in the entire apartment building B1 as described above.

[0135] Alternatively, the usage situation prediction unit 115 may predict the amount of hot water used by the user from the schedule generation time to the time when boiling actually starts. In this case, the boiling water amount calculation unit 116 may calculate the boiling water amount in consideration of the amount of hot water used by the user from the predicted schedule generation time to the time when boiling actually starts.

[0136] In Embodiment 3, for the water heater 3 of at least one house H[i] among a plurality of houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], when the time between the end of the boiling time zone on the first day and the start of the boiling time zone on the second day within a period corresponding to two days is equal to or longer than a preset reference time, the additional water consumption may be calculated based on the total of the past average water consumption in the time zone exceeding the reference time. Then, the usage situation prediction unit 115 may calculate the predicted water consumption by adding the margin water consumption to the water consumption corresponding to the sum of the water consumption during the usage end time of the usage time zone on the first day of the house H[i] and the calculated additional water consumption and the end of the boiling time zone of the water heater 3 on the second day.

[0137] According to this configuration, the usage situation prediction unit 115 does not need to perform the process of calculating the predicted water consumption again after calculating the predicted water consumption once, so the computational load of the water heater control device 1 can be reduced accordingly.

[0138] In Embodiment 4, the differential water consumption calculation unit 4124 calculates the differential water consumption between the water consumption predicted by the usage situation prediction unit 4115 and the actual value of the water consumption corresponding to the usage time zone used for the prediction. An example was described in which when the differential water consumption exceeds a preset differential water consumption threshold, the usage situation prediction unit 4115 changes the reference period used for predicting the water consumption and then predicts the water usage time zone and water consumption again. However, it is not limited to this. For example, like the water heater control device 6001 shown in FIG. 34, for each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], a ratio calculation unit 6124 that calculates the ratio inside and outside the usage time zone used for predicting the large usage time zone where the water consumption is equal to or more than a preset water consumption threshold on each day within a preset period closest to the schedule generation time may be provided. In FIG. 34, the same components as those in Embodiment 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 25.

[0139] The ratio calculation unit 6124 first identifies, for each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the periods of high water consumption that are equal to or greater than a preset water consumption threshold value for each day within the most recent preset period (for example, the most recent one week) stored in the hot water consumption history storage unit 133. Next, the ratio calculation unit 6124 calculates, respectively, the ratio of the periods of high water consumption in the time periods used for prediction on each day and the ratio of the periods of high water consumption in the time periods other than the time periods used for prediction on the same day, and calculates the representative value in the most recent period of each calculated ratio. Here, the representative value is the average value, the maximum value, or the median value in the most recent period of each calculated ratio. Then, the ratio calculation unit 6124 notifies the usage situation prediction unit 6115 of the ratio information indicating the representative value in the most recent period of each calculated ratio. On the other hand, when the ratio information is notified, the usage situation prediction unit 6115 determines whether the representative value of the ratio of the periods of high water consumption in the time periods used for prediction indicated by the notified ratio information is equal to or less than a preset first ratio threshold value, or whether the representative value of the ratio of the periods of high water consumption in the time periods other than the time periods used for prediction exceeds a preset second ratio threshold value. And when the usage situation prediction unit 6115 determines that the representative value of the ratio of the periods of high water consumption in the time periods used for prediction is equal to or less than the preset first ratio threshold value, or the representative value of the ratio of the periods of high water consumption in the time periods other than the time periods used for prediction exceeds the preset second ratio threshold value, after changing the reference period used for predicting the hot water consumption, the hot water usage time period and the hot water consumption are predicted again.

[0140] Here, the boiling schedule generation process executed by the water supply control device 6001 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 35. In FIG. 35, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 27 are given to the processes similar to those in the fourth embodiment.

[0141] First, the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines whether the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101). If the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S129 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101: Yes), a series of processes from step S102 to S109 described in Embodiment 1 are executed.

[0142] Next, the ratio calculation unit 6124 calculates, for each day, the ratio of the high-usage time band in the usage time band used for prediction and the ratio of the high-usage time band in the time band other than the usage time band used for prediction on the same day, and calculates the representative value in the most recent period of each calculated ratio (step S6101). Subsequently, the usage situation prediction unit 4115 determines whether the representative value Rii[i] of the ratio of the high-usage time band in the usage time band used for prediction calculated by the ratio calculation unit 6124 is less than or equal to a preset first ratio threshold Riith, or whether the representative value Rio[i] of the ratio of the high-usage time band in the time band other than the usage time band used for prediction exceeds a preset second ratio threshold Rioth (step S6102). Here, assume that the usage situation prediction unit 6115 determines that the representative value Rii[i] of the ratio of the high-usage time band in the usage time band used for prediction exceeds the first ratio threshold Riith and the representative value Rio[i] of the ratio of the high-usage time band in the time band other than the usage time band used for prediction is less than or equal to the second ratio threshold Rioth (step S6102: No). In this case, the series of processes from step S110 and later are executed as they are. On the other hand, assume that the usage situation prediction unit 6115 determines that the representative value Rii[i] of the ratio of the high-usage time band in the usage time band used for prediction is less than or equal to the first ratio threshold Riith, or the representative value Rio[i] of the ratio of the high-usage time band in the time band other than the usage time band used for prediction exceeds the second ratio threshold Rioth (step S6102: Yes). In this case, the usage situation prediction unit 6115 changes the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount (step S4103). After that, the processes from step S107 and later are executed again.

[0143] According to this configuration, the ratio calculation unit 6124 calculates the ratio of the high-usage time zone in the usage time zone used for prediction on each day and the ratio of the high-usage time zone in the time zone other than the usage time zone used for prediction on the same day, respectively, and calculates the representative value in the most recent period of each calculated ratio. Then, when the usage situation prediction unit 6115 determines that the representative value of the ratio of the high-usage time zone in the usage time zone used for prediction is equal to or less than a preset first ratio threshold, or the representative value of the ratio of the high-usage time zone in the time zone other than the usage time zone used for prediction exceeds a preset second ratio threshold, after changing the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount, the hot water usage time zone and the hot water usage amount are predicted again. Thereby, for example, even if the tendency of the hot water usage time zone of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] changes, the prediction accuracy of the usage time zone by the usage situation prediction unit 4115 can be maintained.

[0144] In Embodiment 5, when the terminal device 5005 acquires notification information, for example, together with a message M531 notifying that the living pattern of the resident of the house has changed as shown in FIG. 36, it may cause the display unit 504 to display an operation screen image GA53 including a message M532 notifying the resident that an abnormality has occurred and the contact information. The operation screen image GA511 also includes a button image BU511 representing an operation button for switching to a screen for inputting the time zone when the user is absent. Further, the operation screen image GA53 includes a button image BU531 selected when transmitting information notifying that there is no abnormality to the hot water supply control device 5001, and a button image BU532 selected when transmitting information notifying that an abnormality has occurred to the resident to the hot water supply control device 5001. Then, in a state where the terminal device 5005 causes the display unit 504 to display the operation screen image GA53, when the resident touches a portion corresponding to the button image BU531 in the input unit 505, the terminal device 5005 transmits information notifying that there is no abnormality to the hot water supply control device 5001. On the other hand, when the resident touches a portion corresponding to the button image BU532 in the input unit 505, the terminal device 5005 transmits information notifying that an abnormality has occurred to the resident to the hot water supply control device 5001. On the other hand, when the hot water supply control device 5001 acquires information notifying that an abnormality has occurred to the resident, it transmits the acquired information to another terminal device other than the terminal device 5005 registered in advance by the user. Here, examples of the other terminal device include terminal devices possessed by the user's family members, security companies that manage the user, etc. And the other terminal device may be registered in the hot water supply control device 1 in a form identified by a telephone number, an email address, etc. Also, at this time, the hot water supply control device 1 may transmit information for causing another terminal device to display an operation screen image GA52 as shown in FIG. 30(C), for example.

[0145] According to this configuration, it is possible to grasp the presence or absence of abnormalities of the residents of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] early and accurately.

[0146] In Embodiment 5, when the usage prediction unit 4115 determines that the difference in hot water usage between the predicted hot water usage amount and the actual value of the hot water usage amount corresponding to the predicted usage time period exceeds a preset difference hot water usage threshold, the transmission unit 4119 transmits notification information notifying the user that the living pattern of the residents in the house has changed to the terminal device. However, it is not limited to this. For example, like the hot water supply control device 7001 shown in FIG. 37, for each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], a change amount calculation unit 7127 that calculates the change amount of the power consumption amount corresponding to the sum of the power consumption amounts of the hot water supply machine 3 and the electrical equipment 4 other than the hot water supply machine 3 within a preset unit time (for example, the most recent 2 hours) at the time of schedule generation may be provided. In FIG. 37, the same components as those in Embodiment 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 28.

[0147] For each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the change amount calculation unit 7127 calculates the change amount of the power consumption amount before and after the preset unit time based on the actual values of the power consumption amounts of the hot water supply machine 3 and the electrical equipment 4 other than the hot water supply machine 3 within the most recent preset unit time (for example, the most recent 2 hours) stored in the power consumption amount storage unit 131. Then, the change amount calculation unit 7127 notifies the usage prediction unit 7115 of the change amount information indicating the calculated change amount of the power consumption amount.

[0148] When the change amount information is notified, the usage prediction unit 7115 determines whether the change amount of the power consumption amount indicated by the notified change amount information exceeds a preset change amount threshold. Then, when the usage prediction unit 7115 determines that the change amount of the power consumption amount exceeds the change amount threshold, after changing the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount, it predicts the hot water usage time period and the hot water usage amount again, and generates notification information notifying that the living pattern of the residents in the house has changed and notifies the transmission unit 5119. Then, when the notification information is notified from the usage prediction unit 7115, the transmission unit 5119 transmits the notification information to the terminal device 5005.

[0149] Here, the boiling schedule generation process executed by the water heater control device 7001 according to this modification example will be described with reference to FIG. 38. In FIG. 38, the same processes as those in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 32 and 33. First, the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines whether or not the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101). If the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S129 shown in FIG. 33 is executed. On the other hand, if the weather information acquisition unit 112 determines that the schedule generation time has arrived (step S101: Yes), a series of processes from step S102 to S106 described in the first embodiment are executed.

[0150] Next, the change amount calculation unit 7127 calculates an electric power amount change amount dPi[i] of the electric power consumption amount before and after a preset unit time based on the actual values of the electric power consumption amounts of the water heater 3 and the electrical device 4 other than the water heater 3 within the latest preset unit time stored in the electric power amount storage unit 131 (step S7101). Subsequently, the usage situation prediction unit 7115 determines whether or not the absolute value |dPi[i]| of the electric power amount change amount dPi[i] calculated by the change amount calculation unit 7127 exceeds a preset change amount threshold value dPith (step S7102). Here, if the usage situation prediction unit 7115 determines that the absolute value |dPi[i]| of the electric power amount change amount dPi[i] is less than or equal to the change amount threshold value dPith (step S7102: No), a series of processes from step S107 and subsequent steps are executed as they are. On the other hand, if the usage situation prediction unit 7115 determines that the absolute value |dPi[i]| of the electric power amount change amount dPi[i] exceeds the change amount threshold value dPith (step S7102: Yes), it changes the reference period used for predicting the hot water usage amount (step S7103). Thereafter, the usage situation prediction unit 7115 generates notification information notifying that the living pattern of the residents of the house has changed, and the transmission unit 5119 transmits the generated notification information to the terminal device 5005 (step S7104). Next, a series of processes from step S5102 and subsequent steps shown in FIG. 33 are executed.

[0151] According to this configuration, since the usage prediction unit 7115 changes the reference period used for predicting the amount of hot water used based on the amount of change in the power consumption of the water heater 3 and the electrical equipment 4 other than the water heater 3 within a recently set unit time, for example, even if the tendency of the hot water usage time zone of each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] changes, the prediction accuracy of the usage time zone by the usage prediction unit 4115 can be maintained.

[0152] In Embodiment 1, when the terminal device 5005 acquires the notification information, for example, as shown in FIG. 39, the operation screen image GA81 including the message M111 indicating the above-mentioned boiling schedule, the message M112 indicating the average hot water usage amount and the current hot water storage amount, and the message M81 indicating the incentive when the boiling time zone is specified twice a day may be displayed on the display unit 504. The operation screen image GA81 also includes button images BU81 and BU82 representing operation buttons for specifying whether to set the boiling schedule of the water heater 3 to one time zone or two time zones per day. Then, when the resident touches the portion corresponding to the button image BU81 on the input unit 505 while the terminal device 5005 is displaying the operation screen image GA81 on the display unit 504, the terminal device 5005 generates policy information indicating that the boiling time zone is to be twice a day and transmits it to the water heater control device 5001.

[0153] According to this configuration, since it is possible to present an incentive to the resident to have the boiling time zone twice, the boiling time zones of the water heaters 3 in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n] are likely to be dispersed, and the leveling of the total power consumption can be achieved.

[0154] In each embodiment, an example has been described in which the schedule generation timing arrives every day, and the hot water supply control devices 1, 4001, and 5001 generate schedule information assuming that the preset unit period is one day and the plurality of time zones are each time zone when one day is divided into one-hour units. However, the length of the unit period is not limited to one day, and may be a period longer than one day or a period shorter than one day. Also, the length of each of the plurality of time zones is not limited to one hour, and may be a time longer than one hour or a time shorter than one hour.

[0155] In each embodiment, an example has been described in which the usage prediction units 115, 4115, and 5115 approximate the distribution of the frequency Fr of the identified high-frequency time zone with one or two Gaussian functions having time as an argument. However, the number of Gaussian functions used to approximate the distribution of the frequency Fr of the high-frequency time zone is not limited to one or two, and may be three or more.

[0156] In each embodiment, an example has been described in which the hot water supply control devices 1, 4001, and 5001 directly acquire power consumption information and hot water supply device information from the hot water supply device 3, the power measurement device 22, and 72, respectively. However, this is not the only case. For example, when a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller having a function of acquiring power consumption information and hot water supply device information transmitted from the hot water supply device 3, the power measurement device 22, and 72 is installed in each of the houses H[1], H[2], ···, H[n], the hot water supply control device 1 may acquire the power consumption information and the hot water supply device information from the HEMS controller.

[0157] In addition, the various functions of the water heater control devices 1, 4001, 5001, 6001, and 7001 according to the present disclosure may be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware is described as a program, and the program is stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and MO (Magneto-Optical Disc). By loading and installing the program into a computer, a computer capable of realizing the above-described functions may be configured. When each function is realized by sharing between an OS (Operating System) and an application or by cooperation between the OS and the application, only the part other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0158] Furthermore, it is also possible to superimpose each program on a carrier wave and distribute it via a network. For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board (BBS, Bulletin Board System) on the network and distributed via the network. Then, by starting these programs and executing them in the same manner as other application programs under the control of the OS, the above-described processing may be configured to be executable.

Industrial Applicability

[0159] The present disclosure is suitable as a hot water supply system for determining the boiling schedule of a hot water heater installed in each house in an apartment building that has concluded a bulk power reception contract with an electric power company.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0160] 1,4001,5001,6001,7001 hot water supply control device, 3 hot water supply machines, 4 electrical equipment, 5 terminal device, 6 BBR, 7 power generation equipment, 8 weather server, 21 distribution board, 22,72 power measurement device, 31 hot water storage tank, 32 heat pump unit, 33 controller, 101,301,501 CPU, 102,302,502 main memory unit, 103,303,503 auxiliary memory unit, 106,506 wide area communication unit, 307 local communication unit, 108,308 timing unit, 109,509 bus, 111 power amount acquisition unit, 112 weather information acquisition unit, 113 hot water supply machine information acquisition unit, 114 power amount prediction unit, 115,4115,5115,6115,7115 usage situation prediction unit, 116 boiling-up amount calculation unit, 117 required power amount calculation unit, 118 schedule generation unit, 119,5119 transmission unit, 120 correction coefficient calculation unit, 121 hot water cooling amount calculation unit, 122 policy acquisition unit, 123 priority determination unit, 131 power amount memory unit, 132 weather information memory unit, 133 used hot water amount history memory unit, 134 hot water storage amount / temperature memory unit, 135,4135 predicted usage situation memory unit, 136 predicted power amount memory unit, 137 policy memory unit, 138 threshold value memory unit 138 schedule memory unit, 310 communication interface, 311 used hot water amount measurement unit, 312 hot water storage amount measurement unit, 313a,313b,313c,313d,313e temperature sensor, 321 evaporator, 322 compressor, 323 heat exchanger, 324 expansion valve, 325 control board, 331 schedule reception unit, 332 heat pump control unit, 334 hot water supply machine information notification unit, 336 used hot water amount acquisition unit, 337 hot water storage amount acquisition unit, 338 hot water storage temperature acquisition unit, 342 used hot water amount memory unit, 343 hot water storage amount / temperature memory unit, 344 schedule memory unit, 504 display unit, 505 input unit, 511,5511 reception unit, 512,5512 display control unit, 513 reception unit, 514 policy generation unit, 515 policy transmission unit, 531 operation screen memory unit, 4124 differential hot water amount calculation unit, 5125 setting acquisition unit, 5126 operation mode setting unit, 5516 command unit, 6124 ratio calculation unit, 7127 change amount calculation unit, B1 apartment building, B511,B512,B513 input field image, BU11,BU12,BU32,BU51,BU131,BU132,BU133,BU311,BU312,BU313,BU314,BU512,BU531 and BU532 button images, GA11, GA21, GA22, GA32, GA52, GA53, GA511, GA512 operation screen images, H[1], H[2], H[i], H[i + 1], H[i + 2], H[i + 3], H[n] houses, M52, M111, M112, M121, M131, M511, M512, M531, M532 messages, NW1 wide area network, NW2 local network, PS system power supply,

Claims

1. A power consumption amount acquisition unit that acquires power consumption amount information indicating the amount of hot water supply machine power consumed by the hot water supply machine and the amount of equipment power consumed by the equipment in each of a plurality of houses in which the hot water supply machine and the equipment are installed; A hot water supply machine information acquisition unit that acquires hot water supply machine information including hot water usage history information indicating the history of hot water usage amounts in each of the plurality of houses, hot water storage amount information indicating the current hot water storage amount of the hot water supply machine, and the current hot water storage temperature of the hot water supply machine; At a schedule generation timing for generating a boiling schedule for the hot water supply machines installed in each of the plurality of houses that arrives every preset period, based on the past power consumption amount information of each of the plurality of houses, for each of a plurality of preset time periods until the next arrival of the schedule generation timing, a power consumption prediction unit that predicts the total equipment power consumption consumed only by the equipment in the entire plurality of houses; Every time the schedule generation timing arrives, for each of a plurality of preset time periods within a preset unit period, within a preset past reference period, calculates the frequency at which the hot water usage amount becomes equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage amount threshold, predicts the hot water usage time periods in each of the plurality of houses based on the calculated frequency, and based on the predicted usage time periods and the past hot water usage amounts within the reference period, predicts the hot water usage amounts in each of the plurality of houses until the next arrival of the schedule generation timing; a usage situation prediction unit; Based on the predicted hot water usage amount, the hot water storage amount, and the hot water storage temperature, a required power amount calculation unit that calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the hot water supply machines in each of the plurality of houses until the next arrival of the schedule generation timing; Every time the schedule generation timing arrives, based on the usage time periods, the required power amount of the hot water supply machines, and the required operation time, a schedule generation unit that generates a boiling schedule for the hot water supply machines in each of the plurality of houses so that the total power consumption consumed in the entire plurality of houses until the next arrival of the schedule generation timing is equal to or less than a preset power consumption threshold value; A hot water supply machine control device.

2. The usage prediction unit identifies high-frequency time bands in which the calculated frequency is equal to or higher than a preset frequency threshold, approximates the distribution of the frequencies in the identified high-frequency time bands with at least one Gaussian function having time as an argument, and predicts the hot water usage time bands in each of the plurality of houses based on the standard deviation determined for the at least one Gaussian function. The hot water supply control device according to claim 1.

3. When the usage prediction unit approximates the distribution of the frequencies in the high-frequency time bands with a plurality of Gaussian functions, the usage prediction unit predicts a plurality of hot water usage time bands corresponding to the plurality of Gaussian functions respectively based on the standard deviation determined for each of the plurality of Gaussian functions, and predicts the hot water usage amounts in each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation time based on the past hot water usage amounts during the periods between the start times of the respective hot water usage time bands. The hot water supply control device according to claim 2.

4. For the water heater of at least one of the plurality of houses indicated by the boiling schedule, when the time between the end of the boiling time band of the water heater included in the first unit period and the start of the boiling time band included in the next unit period within a period corresponding to two of the unit periods is equal to or longer than a preset reference time, the usage prediction unit predicts again the hot water usage amounts in each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation time based on the past hot water usage amount corresponding to the period from the end of the boiling time band in the first unit period to the start of the usage time band with the highest cumulative frequency of the frequencies in the usage time band in the second unit period. Based on the hot water usage amount predicted again, the stored hot water amount, and the stored hot water temperature, the required power amount calculation unit calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater in each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation time. Based on the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater, the schedule generation unit generates the boiling schedule again. The hot water supply control device according to claim 3.

5. The schedule generation unit generates the boiling schedule for each of the plurality of houses such that the boiling time band of the water heater in each of the plurality of houses coincides with the start time of the usage time band. The water heater control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. When the schedule generation unit approximates the frequency distribution in the high-frequency time band with the plurality of Gaussian functions, it calculates the cumulative frequency of the frequency in the usage time band corresponding to each of the plurality of Gaussian functions, and the end of the boiling-up time band of the water heater in each of the plurality of houses coincides with the first usage start time of the first usage time band with the highest cumulative frequency. Generate the boiling-up schedule of the water heater for each of the plurality of houses so that it becomes the first boiling-up time band. The water heater control device according to claim 5.

7. When the schedule generation unit operates the water heaters of the plurality of houses according to the tentative boiling-up schedule generated so that the boiling-up time bands of the water heaters of the plurality of houses become the first boiling-up time band, if the total power consumption exceeds the power consumption threshold value, the boiling-up time band of the water heater of at least one of the plurality of houses is the second usage time band with a lower cumulative frequency than the first usage time band. Generate the boiling-up schedule of the water heater for each of the plurality of houses so that the start time and the end time coincide with the second boiling-up time band and the total power consumption is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold value. The water heater control device according to claim 6.

8. When the schedule generation unit operates the water heaters of the plurality of houses according to the tentative boiling-up schedule generated so that the boiling-up time bands of the water heaters of the plurality of houses become the first boiling-up time band, if the total power consumption exceeds the power consumption threshold value, the boiling-up time band of the water heater of at least one of the plurality of houses is the third boiling-up time band in which the start time and the end time of the first boiling-up time band coincide. Generate the boiling-up schedule of the water heater for each of the plurality of houses so that the total power consumption is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold value. The water heater control device according to claim 6.

9. When the schedule generation unit sets the boiling-up time zone of the water heater of at least one of the plurality of houses to the third boiling-up time zone, when the start period of the third boiling-up time zone is included in a second usage time zone where the cumulative frequency is lower than that of the first usage time zone, the boiling-up time zone of the water heater of at least one house whose boiling-up time zone of the water heater is set to the third boiling-up time zone is a second boiling-up time zone in which the start time and the end period of the second usage time zone coincide, and generates a boiling-up schedule for each of the plurality of houses such that the total power consumption amount is equal to or less than the power consumption threshold value. The water heater control device according to claim 8.

10. Further comprising a priority determination unit that determines a priority when setting the boiling-up time zone of the water heater of each of the plurality of houses to the first boiling-up time zone based on the history of the change in the provisional boiling-up schedule. The schedule generation unit generates the boiling-up schedule based on the priority. The water heater control device according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

11. A policy acquisition unit that acquires policy information indicating a policy regarding whether or not it is possible to set the boiling-up time zone of the water heater of each of the plurality of houses to the first boiling-up time zone when generating the boiling-up schedule of the water heater. Further comprising a priority determination unit that determines a priority when setting the boiling-up time zone of the water heater of each of the plurality of houses to the first boiling-up time zone based on the policy information. The schedule generation unit generates the boiling-up schedule based on the priority. The water heater control device according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

12. A weather information acquisition unit that acquires temperature information indicating the temperature in the area where the plurality of houses are located. Further comprising a correction coefficient calculation unit that calculates a correction coefficient for correcting the predicted hot water usage amount predicted by the usage situation prediction unit based on the hot water usage amount indicated by the hot water usage history information in each of the plurality of time zones within the reference period and the temperature indicated by the temperature information. The usage prediction unit multiplies the predicted hot water usage amounts for each of the plurality of houses predicted based on the predicted usage time period and the hot water usage amount within the reference period by the correction coefficient, thereby calculating the hot water usage amounts for each of the plurality of houses until the next schedule generation time. The hot water supply control device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The apparatus further includes a differential hot water amount calculation unit that calculates a differential hot water amount between the hot water usage amount predicted by the usage prediction unit and the actual hot water usage amount corresponding to the usage time period used for predicting the hot water usage amount. When the differential hot water amount exceeds a preset differential hot water amount threshold, the usage prediction unit changes the reference period and then predicts the usage time period and the hot water usage amount again. The hot water supply control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The apparatus further includes a ratio calculation unit that calculates a ratio of the outside and inside of the usage time period used for predicting a large usage time period in which the hot water usage amount is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage amount threshold on each day within a preset period immediately before the schedule generation time. When the ratio exceeds a preset ratio threshold, the usage prediction unit changes the reference period and then predicts the usage time period and the hot water usage amount again. The hot water supply control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. The apparatus further includes a change amount calculation unit that calculates a change amount of at least one of the hot water supply machine power consumption amount and the device power consumption amount within the unit period immediately before the schedule generation time. When the change amount of the power consumption amount exceeds a preset change amount threshold, the usage prediction unit changes the reference period and then predicts the usage time period and the hot water usage amount again. The hot water supply control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

16. A hot water supply machine installed in each of a plurality of houses where the device is installed; A power consumption amount acquisition unit that acquires power consumption amount information indicating the hot water supply machine power consumption amount consumed by the hot water supply machine and the device power consumption amount consumed by the device; A hot water supply machine information acquisition unit that acquires hot water supply machine information including hot water usage amount history information indicating the history of hot water usage amounts in each of the plurality of houses, storage hot water amount information indicating the current storage hot water amount of the hot water supply machine, and the current storage hot water temperature of the hot water supply machine. At the schedule generation time for generating the boiling schedule of the water heaters installed in each of the plurality of houses that arrive at each preset period, based on the past power consumption information of each of the plurality of houses, the total equipment power consumption consumed only by the equipment for the plurality of houses as a whole in each of the preset plurality of time periods until the next upcoming schedule generation time is predicted by a power consumption prediction unit, Every time the schedule generation time arrives, for each of the preset plurality of time periods within a preset unit period, within a preset past reference period, the frequency at which the amount of hot water used becomes equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold is calculated. Based on the calculated frequency, the hot water usage time period for each of the plurality of houses is predicted. Based on the predicted usage time period and the past amount of hot water used within the reference period, the amount of hot water used for each of the plurality of houses until the next upcoming schedule generation time is predicted by a usage situation prediction unit, Based on the predicted amount of hot water used, the stored hot water amount, and the stored hot water temperature, a required power amount calculation unit calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater for each of the plurality of houses until the next upcoming schedule generation time, Every time the schedule generation time arrives, based on the usage time period, the required power amount, and the required operation time of the water heater, a schedule generation unit generates a boiling schedule for the water heaters of each of the plurality of houses such that the total power consumption consumed by the plurality of houses as a whole until the next upcoming schedule generation time is equal to or less than a preset power consumption threshold, A hot water supply system.

17. A step of acquiring power consumption information indicating the power consumption of the water heater consumed by the water heater and the power consumption of the equipment consumed by the equipment in each of the plurality of houses where the water heater and the equipment are installed, A step of acquiring hot water supply machine information including hot water usage history information indicating the history of the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses, stored hot water amount information indicating the current stored hot water amount of the water heater, and the current stored hot water temperature of the water heater, At the schedule generation time for generating the boiling schedule of the water heaters installed in each of the plurality of houses that arrive at every preset period, based on the past power consumption information of each of the plurality of houses, predict the total equipment power consumption consumed only by the equipment among the plurality of houses in each of the preset plurality of time periods until the next arriving schedule generation time. Every time the schedule generation time arrives, for each of the preset plurality of time periods within the preset unit period, calculate the frequency at which the amount of hot water used becomes equal to or greater than the preset hot water usage threshold within the preset past reference period. Based on the calculated frequency, predict the hot water usage time periods in each of the plurality of houses. Based on the predicted usage time periods and the past hot water usage amounts within the reference period, predict the hot water usage amounts of each of the plurality of houses until the next arriving schedule generation time. Based on the predicted hot water usage amount, the stored hot water amount, and the stored hot water temperature, calculate the required power and the required operating time of the water heater in each of the plurality of houses until the next arriving schedule generation time. Every time the schedule generation time arrives, based on the usage time period, the required power of the water heater, and the required operating time, generate the boiling schedule of the water heaters in each of the plurality of houses so that the total power consumption consumed by the plurality of houses until the next arriving schedule generation time is equal to or less than the preset power consumption threshold. A method for generating a boiling schedule.

18. A computer, A power consumption acquisition unit that acquires power consumption information indicating the power consumption of the water heater consumed by the water heater and the power consumption of the equipment consumed by the equipment in each of the plurality of houses where the water heater and the equipment are installed. A water heater information acquisition unit that acquires water heater information including hot water usage history information indicating the history of the amount of hot water used in each of the plurality of houses, stored hot water amount information indicating the current stored hot water amount of the water heater, and the current stored hot water temperature of the water heater. At the schedule generation time for generating the boiling schedule of the water heaters installed in each of the plurality of houses that arrive every preset period, based on the past power consumption information of each of the plurality of houses, the total equipment power consumption consumed only by the equipment for the entire plurality of houses in each of the preset plurality of time periods until the next upcoming schedule generation time is predicted by a power consumption prediction unit. Every time the schedule generation time arrives, for each of the preset plurality of time periods within a preset unit period, the frequency at which the amount of hot water used is equal to or greater than a preset hot water usage threshold within a preset past reference period is calculated. Based on the calculated frequency, the hot water usage time periods for each of the plurality of houses are predicted. Based on the predicted usage time periods and the past amount of hot water used within the reference period, the amount of hot water used for each of the plurality of houses until the next upcoming schedule generation time is predicted by a usage situation prediction unit. Based on the predicted amount of hot water used, the stored hot water amount, and the stored hot water temperature, a required power amount calculation unit calculates the required power amount and the required operation time of the water heater for each of the plurality of houses until the next upcoming schedule generation time. Every time the schedule generation time arrives, based on the usage time periods, the required power amount, and the required operation time of the water heater, a schedule generation unit generates a boiling schedule for the water heaters of each of the plurality of houses so that the total power consumption for the entire plurality of houses until the next upcoming schedule generation time is equal to or less than a preset power consumption threshold. A program for causing it to function.

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