Power saving management device and power saving management program

Abstract

To ensure a sufficient power saving amount even when some consumers fail to meet a power saving target.SOLUTION: A power saving management device 10 includes: an allocation unit 11A configured to divide a power saving command value issued by an electric utility 20 into a plurality of power saving target values and allocate them to a plurality of consumers A to C registered in advance; and a power saving request unit 11B configured to request power saving to a consumer E registered in advance when any of the power saving amounts due to the power saving with a target power saving value on each of the plurality of consumers A to C does not reach the target power saving value. The consumer E is not registered as an allocation destination by the allocation unit 11A but is registered exclusively for requesting power saving by the power saving request unit 11B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power-saving management device used for demand response and the like, and a power-saving management program.

Background Art

[0002] When the power consumption temporarily increases due to reasons such as the concentration of the operation of power-consuming facilities, and the power supply becomes tight, the power supply from electric utilities such as power companies becomes insufficient. To avoid such a situation, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a technique has been proposed in which an electric utility makes a demand control request, that is, a power-saving request, for adjusting the power consumption. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a management device that has received this power-saving request requests power saving from a plurality of consumers and reduces the power consumption.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As a method for realizing power saving as described above, it is also conceivable to divide the power-saving command value issued by an electric utility into a plurality of power-saving target values, allocate them to a plurality of consumers registered in advance, and cause the plurality of consumers to perform power saving with the allocated power-saving target values as targets. However, in such power saving, there may be consumers who cannot achieve the power-saving target due to equipment failures or suddenly occurring events.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to ensure a sufficient amount of power saving even when there are consumers who cannot achieve the power-saving target.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above-described first problem, the equipment control device according to the present invention is configured to divide the power-saving command value issued by the electric utility into a plurality of power-saving target values and allocate them to a plurality of first customers registered in advance. When any of the power-saving amounts by power-saving with the power-saving target value as the target at each of the plurality of first customers does not reach the power-saving target value, it is configured to request power-saving from a second customer registered in advance. The second customer is not registered as an allocation destination by the allocation unit and is registered exclusively for the power-saving request by the power-saving request unit.

[0007] The power-saving request unit may be configured to derive the power-saving amount by power-saving with the power-saving target value as the target based on the actual power-saving amount after the start of the power-saving.

[0008] The allocation unit may be configured to allocate the power-saving target value to different numbers of the plurality of first customers according to the power-saving command value.

[0009] The power-saving request unit may be configured to monitor the power-saving amount of each of the plurality of first customers and decrease the power-saving amount of the power-saving requested from the second customer when the power-saving amount of any of the plurality of first customers increases.

[0010] The power-saving request unit may be configured to monitor the power-saving amount of each of the plurality of first customers and increase the power-saving amount of the power-saving requested from the second customer when the power-saving amount of any of the plurality of first customers decreases.

[0011] According to the present invention Power saving management The program causes a computer to By being executed, the computer functions as the power saving monitoring device .

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, even when a consumer (first consumer) who cannot achieve the power saving target occurs, a sufficient amount of power saving can be ensured.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, a power saving management device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] The power saving management device 10 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a DR server that is managed and operated by an aggregator in DR (Demand Response) and performs requests for power saving and the like. The power saving management device 10 is configured to be communicable with an electric utility 20 and a plurality of consumers A to E via a network N such as the Internet.

[0016] The electric utility 20 actually consists of a monitoring server computer that monitors the power generation status, power supply status, etc. operated by the electric utility. The electric utility 20 supplies a power saving command value (kW) to the power saving management device 10.

[0017] Customers A to E are customers registered in the power saving management device 10 as the recipients of power saving requests. Each of Customers A to E actually consists of power-consuming equipment introduced into buildings such as buildings. The power-consuming equipment includes control targets such as an air conditioning system and a lighting system, and a management device that directly or indirectly controls the control target via a predetermined controller to manage its power consumption. Examples of the management device include an EMS (Energy Management System) and a BAS (Building Automation System). The power saving described below at Customers A to E is controlled by the management device.

[0018] Although details will be described later, the power saving management device 10 as a DR server receives a power saving command value from the electric utility 20. The power saving management device 10 is configured to request power saving from Customers A to E based on the power saving command value. Here, the power saving command value is the reduction amount of power consumption during a predetermined power saving period (for example, 1 hour). The power saving management device 10 requests power saving during that power saving period.

[0019] The power saving management device 10 is a server computer. The power saving management device 10 includes a processor 11 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 that functions as the main memory of the processor 11, and a storage device 13 that stores a power saving management program executed by the processor 11 and tables referred to by the processor 11. The storage device 13 consists of a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk and an SSD (Solid State Drive). The power saving management device 10 further includes a network card (not shown) connected to the network N.

[0020] The memory device 13 stores a customer table in which customers A to E, who are the recipients of power saving requests, are registered. As shown in FIG. 2, in the customer table, the identification information of the customer, the power saving amount that can be achieved by the customer, and whether the customer is a first customer / second customer are registered in association with each other. The power saving amount indicates, for example, the upper limit of the power consumption (kW) that can be reduced by power saving. The first customer in the distinction between the first customer and the second customer is the normal recipient of the power saving request based on the power saving command value specified by the electric utility 20 as described later. The second customer is the dedicated recipient of the power saving request when the power saving corresponding to the power saving command value specified by the electric utility 20 as described later cannot be handled only by the first customer. The distinction between the first customer and the second customer is determined by the contract between the aggregator and the customer. Here, customers A to D are registered as the first customers, and customer E is registered as the second customer. In this embodiment, customers A to E are always registered as either the first customer or the second customer.

[0021] The processor 11 of the power saving management device 10 shown in FIG. 1 operates as the allocation unit 11A and the power saving request unit 11B shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 by executing the power saving management program stored in the memory device 13.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the allocation unit 11A receives the power saving command value issued by the electric utility 20. Here, the power saving command value is set to 1000 kW.

[0023] The allocation unit 11A of the power saving management device 10 divides the received power saving command value into a plurality of power saving target values and allocates them to a plurality of pre-registered first customers, here customers A to C as shown in FIG. 3. The method for determining the allocation destination and its power saving target value is arbitrary. For example, a table defining the combination of the customer corresponding to the power saving command value and its power saving target value may be defined in the memory device 13, and the customer to whom power saving is requested and its power saving target value may be determined by referring to the table. The allocation unit 11A allocates the determined power saving target value to each customer by transmitting the power saving target value to the customer.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, here, it is assumed that the allocation unit 11A has allocated a power saving target value of 500 kw to the customer A, a power saving target value of 200 kw to the customer B, and a power saving target value of 300 kw to the customer C, and the following description will be given. The total of the power saving target values coincides with the power saving command value.

[0025] Each of the customers A to C to which the power saving target value has been allocated starts power saving with the power saving target value as the goal. For example, each of the customers A to C executes feedback control using the current power consumption as a feedback value so that the power saving amount during the power saving period reaches the power saving target value. The customers A to C start power saving, for example, by turning off a part of the control target (for example, the air conditioner in a part of the rooms), or by changing the operating state of a part or all of the control target (for example, changing the set temperature).

[0026] Each of the customers A to C obtains the power consumption at a predetermined timing (for example, the timing 3 minutes after the start) after the start of power saving. Each of the customers A to C predicts the power saving amount during the above power saving period based on the obtained power consumption amount. The prediction method is arbitrary. For example, the power saving amount during the above power saving period is predicted by the difference between the obtained power consumption amount and the baseline. Note that the predicted power saving amount is also referred to as the predicted power saving amount below.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, each of the customers A to C transmits a difference value P, which is the value of the difference obtained by subtracting the power saving target value from the predicted power saving amount, to the power saving management device 10. In FIG. 4, -100 kw is transmitted as the difference value P from the customer A. -50 kw is transmitted as the difference value P from the customer B. 0 kw is transmitted as the difference value P from the customer C. -100 kw (or 50 kw) indicates that the power saving amount during the above power saving period at the customer A (or B) is 100 kw (or 50 kw) short of the power saving target value supplied to this customer. 0 kw indicates that the power saving amount during the above power saving period at the customer C has reached the power saving target value.

[0028] The power-saving request section 11B of the power-saving management device 10 acquires the difference value P from each of the consumers A to C. The power-saving request section 11B sums up the difference values P, and requests the consumer E registered as the second consumer to save power by an amount equal to the absolute value of this sum (negative value) as the power-saving target value. In FIG. 4, since -100 + (-50) + 0 = -150 kw, a power-saving request to request the consumer E to save 150 kw by the end timing of the power-saving period is made. The consumer E saves 150 kw based on this request. As a result, the total power-saving amount commanded by the power-saving command value is ensured for all of the consumers A to E.

[0029] During power saving, the consumers A to C periodically predict the predicted power-saving amount and calculate the difference value P. The power-saving request section 11B monitors the power-saving amounts of the consumers A to C by acquiring the difference value P calculated by each of the consumers A to C.

[0030] When the difference value P of the monitored consumers A to C changes, that is, when the power-saving amount of any of the consumers A to C changes, the power-saving request section 11B changes the target value of the power-saving amount for the consumer E.

[0031] When the absolute value of the difference value P decreases, since the predicted power-saving amount of that consumer has increased, the power-saving request section 11B requests the consumer E to save power with a new target value obtained by subtracting the decrease in the absolute value of the difference value P (that is, the increase in the predicted power-saving amount) from the previous target value of the power-saving amount for the consumer E. In the example of FIG. 5, the predicted power-saving amount of the consumer A has increased by 100 kw, and the difference value P has changed from -100 kw to 0 kw. The power-saving request section 11B requests the consumer E to save power with a new target value of 50 kw obtained by subtracting 100 kw, which is the decrease in the absolute value of the difference value P, from the previous power-saving target value of 150 kw for the consumer E.

[0032] When the absolute value of the difference value P increases, the predicted power savings of the customer decreases. Therefore, the power saving request unit 11B requests the customer E to save power with a new power saving target value obtained by adding the increase in the absolute value of the difference value P (i.e., the increase in the predicted power savings) to the previous power saving target value for the customer E. In the example of FIG. 6, the predicted power savings of customer A decreases by 50 kw, and the above difference value P changes from -100 kw to 150 kw. The power saving request unit 11B requests the customer E to save power with a new target value of 200 kw obtained by adding 50 kw, which is the increase in the absolute value of the difference value P, to the previous power saving target value of 150 kw for the customer E.

[0033] When the power saving command value from the electric utility 20 is changed, the power saving management device 10 starts over with the allocation of the power saving target value by the allocation unit 11A described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0034] As described above, in the present embodiment, the allocation unit 11A divides the power saving command value into a plurality of power saving target values and allocates them to a plurality of first customers (customers A to C among customers A to D above). When any of the power saving amounts (here, the predicted power savings) obtained by saving power with the power saving target value as the target at each of the first customers to which the power saving target value is allocated does not reach the power saving target value, the power saving request unit 11B requests the second customer (here, customer E) to save power. The second customer is not registered as an allocation destination by the allocation unit 11A and is registered exclusively for the power saving request by the power saving request unit 11B. Therefore, even if any of the first customers to which the power saving target value is allocated fails to achieve the power saving target due to equipment failure or an event that occurs suddenly, that is, even if a first customer who cannot achieve the power saving target occurs, the power saving by the second customer compensates for the insufficient power saving amount, and a sufficient power saving amount can be ensured.

[0035] In particular, when allocating the power saving target value to a different number of first customers according to the power saving command value, even if all the first customers (customers A to D) are selected, the fact that a different second customer (customer E) is prepared allows the power saving by the second customer to compensate for the insufficient power saving amount, and a sufficient power saving amount can be ensured.

[0036] Note that in the above embodiment, the power saving requested from the second consumer is based on the shortage of the power saving amount with respect to the power saving target value, but the shortage does not necessarily have to be equal to the power saving target value. If there is power saving by the consumer E, at least a part of the shortage that has not reached the target power saving value can be compensated, and a sufficient power saving amount can be ensured.

[0037] Also, since the power saving request unit 11B derives the power saving amount by power saving targeting the power saving target values of the consumers A to D as the first consumers based on the actual power saving amount after the start of power saving, a power saving request in line with the actual situation of power saving by the first consumers can be requested from the consumer E. In particular, by changing the power saving amount requested from the consumer E according to the amount of actual power saving, a power saving request in line with the actual situation of power saving by the first consumers can be requested from the consumer E.

[0038] Furthermore, when the power saving request unit 11B monitors the power saving amounts of each of the plurality of first consumers and the power saving amount of any one of them increases, by reducing the power saving amount of the power saving requested from the second consumer, an appropriate power saving amount can be requested from the second consumer according to the change in the power saving state.

[0039] Furthermore, when the power saving request unit 11B monitors the power saving amounts of each of the plurality of first consumers and the power saving amount of any one of them decreases, by increasing the power saving amount of the power saving requested from the second consumer, an appropriate power saving amount can be requested from the second consumer according to the change in the power saving state.

[0040] Since the increase or decrease of the power saving amount requested from the second consumer depends on the increase or decrease of the power saving amount of the first consumer, the power saving amount requested from the second consumer may frequently increase or decrease. However, when the control target of the consumer includes the heat source of the air conditioning system or the like, frequent changes in the power saving amount are not preferable. In this embodiment, by registering the second consumer separately from the first consumer, a consumer for which the power saving amount may frequently increase or decrease can be made the second consumer.

[0041] (Modification example) Regarding the above-described embodiments, various modifications can be made. Hereinafter, modification examples will be listed, and at least some of the following modification examples can be appropriately combined with each other.

[0042] The power saving command value, the power saving target value, and the power saving achievable amount may be the instantaneous value of power or the value per a predetermined period of power (for example, 1 minute). In this case, for the consumers A to D for which the power saving target value is set, the power consumption and the like are used as feedback values so that the current power saving amount matches the power saving target value, and each power facility is feedback-controlled. Each of the consumers A to D specifies the actual power saving amount at a predetermined timing after power saving (for example, the timing after 3 minutes) by comparing it with a baseline or the like. Each of the consumers A to C may use the value obtained by subtracting the power saving target value from the specified power saving amount as the above difference value P.

[0043] The consumers A to D supply their own power consumption or power saving amount to the power saving request unit 11B, and the power saving request unit 11B side may calculate the above difference value P and the like based on the power consumption or predicted power saving amount supplied from the consumers A to D. A plurality of second consumers may be prepared.

[0044] The hardware configuration of the power saving management device is arbitrary. At least a part of each of the units 11A to 11B may be configured by one or more logic circuits. Examples of the logic circuit include an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Data such as various tables stored in the storage device 13 may be stored in another storage device installed outside the power saving management device 10 and read and used by the power saving management device 10. The power saving management program may be stored in another non-transitory storage medium other than the storage device 13.

[0045] (Scope of the present invention) The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments and modification examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modification examples. For example, the present invention includes various modifications to the above-described embodiments and modification examples that can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Each configuration described in the above embodiments and modification examples can be appropriately combined within a non-contradictory range.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 10... Power saving management device, 11... Processor, 11A... Allocation unit, 11B... Power saving request unit, 20... Electric utility company.

Claims

1. A distribution unit configured to divide a power saving command value issued by an electric utility company into a plurality of power saving target values and allocate them to a plurality of first consumers registered in advance; A power saving request unit configured to request power saving from a second consumer registered in advance when any of the power saving amounts by power saving targeting the power saving target value in each of the plurality of first consumers does not reach the power saving target value; and The second consumer is not registered as an allocation destination by the allocation unit and is registered exclusively for the power saving request by the power saving request unit, The power saving request unit monitors the power saving amount of each of the plurality of first consumers during a period in which the power saving targeting the power saving target value is being performed and the power saving target value has not been changed, and when the power saving amount of any of the plurality of first consumers increases, the power saving amount of the power saving already requested from the second consumer is reduced. It is configured as follows. Power saving management device.

2. A distribution unit configured to divide a power saving command value issued by an electric utility company into a plurality of power saving target values and allocate them to a plurality of first consumers registered in advance; A power saving request unit configured to request power saving from a second consumer registered in advance when any of the power saving amounts by power saving targeting the power saving target value in each of the plurality of first consumers does not reach the power saving target value; and The second consumer is not registered as an allocation destination by the allocation unit and is registered exclusively for the power saving request by the power saving request unit, The power saving request unit monitors the power saving amount of each of the plurality of first consumers during a period in which the power saving targeting the power saving target value is being performed and the power saving target value has not been changed, and when the power saving amount of any of the plurality of first consumers decreases, the power saving amount of the power saving already requested from the second consumer is increased. It is configured as follows Power saving management device.

3. The power saving request unit is configured to derive the power saving amount by power saving targeting the power saving target value based on the actual power saving amount after the start of the power saving. The power saving management device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The number of the plurality of first consumers allocated by the allocation unit varies according to the power saving command value. The power saving management device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A power-saving management program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to function as the power-saving monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2.

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