Adjustment device

Abstract

To provide an adjusting device for easily reducing amount of energy to be consumed.SOLUTION: An adjusting device includes: a device communication part 11 to execute input and output of information between a building 30 and a supply installation 70; an operation part 12 to obtain a reduction parameter on the basis of the information on an ability of equipment; an information generation part 16 to output information on the reduction parameter and effect information to the building, the effect information including effects on the basis of alteration of a parameter of energy to be supplied to a reduction parameter; an instruction part 17 to instruct the supply installation to supply a reduced energy; and an extraction part 15 to extract a target equipment 31T where its ability is reduced if the energy based on the reduction parameter is supplied. The information generation part 16 generates provision information and output the provision information to the target building 30T, the provision information including at least one of the following contents: an explanation of the ability reduction against the target building 30T provided with the target equipment 31T; and a promotion to improve the target equipment 31T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a regulation device. [Background technology]

[0002] Buildings and other structures that use central heat source air conditioning systems are known. In these buildings, energy conservation measures are sometimes implemented to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the air conditioning system during intermediate periods. Intermediate periods are seasons other than summer and winter, such as spring and autumn.

[0003] The intermediate season is a period when the air conditioning load is smaller than other periods, and in the case of air conditioning, it is a period when there is little chance of a shortage of cooling capacity even if the temperature of the chilled water sent from the heat source unit is increased. Energy-saving measures are implemented by determining the period during the intermediate season when the chilled water temperature will be increased based on the experience of the building's facilities manager.

[0004] Energy conservation measures in central heat source air conditioning systems are implemented by setting the chilled water temperature higher than the rated value for cooling and the hot water temperature lower than the rated value for heating. Changing the rated values ​​of the chilled water temperature and hot water temperature in this way is also referred to as water supply temperature relaxation (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0005] When the water supply temperature is moderated, air conditioners that use cold or hot water to perform air conditioning will increase the pump flow rate and air volume to maintain their air conditioning capacity. In other words, the air conditioner will increase the flow rate of cold or hot water used for heat exchange, and the air that is drawn into the air conditioner and blown out after heat exchange will be increased.

[0006] Therefore, there is a high possibility that the amount of energy consumed by the air conditioner will increase, resulting in increased energy consumption, while the amount of energy consumed by the heat source device that supplies cold water and hot water will decrease, resulting in energy savings.

[0007] When comparing the amount of energy increase in air conditioners with the amount of energy savings in heat source equipment, the amount of energy savings in heat source equipment is likely to be greater. In other words, when considering the air conditioning system as a whole, there is a high possibility that energy savings will be achieved by reducing energy consumption. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Building Energy Conservation Guidebook 2019: Energy Conservation Promotion Methods and Energy Conservation Technologies," Energy Conservation Center, Japan, Diagnostic Guidance Department / Diagnostic Technology Department, p.14 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] On the other hand, in the case of an air conditioning system that supplies heat energy to multiple buildings from a district heating and cooling facility (hereinafter referred to as DHC), the DHC and the buildings may be operated by different entities. When these entities are different, it is difficult to moderate the water supply temperature based on the decision of either one entity.

[0010] Relaxation of water supply temperature is carried out when there is a low possibility of a malfunction, such as a lack of air conditioning capacity, occurring on the demand side, such as in buildings. DHC operators often do not have the information to determine whether or not a malfunction is likely to occur on the demand side. As a result, DHC operators are often unable to determine whether or not to relax water supply temperature.

[0011] In buildings that receive heat from a DHC that does not moderate the water supply temperature, it is common to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the following way. We will explain the case where the DHC receives cold or hot water at the rated temperature (for example, cold water at 7°C) all year round, and the air conditioning load in the building is low.

[0012] For example, the temperature difference between the water supply and return flow rate within a building can be increased to minimize the amount of water used for air conditioning. This reduces the amount of energy consumed when driving the pump, thereby saving energy.

[0013] In addition, the temperature difference between the intake and outlet of the air conditioner may be increased to minimize the volume of air sent out, thereby reducing the amount of energy consumed when driving the fan used to send air, thereby saving energy.

[0014] As mentioned above, if the water supply temperature is not moderated, no energy-saving effect can be obtained in DHC. On the other hand, energy-saving effects can be obtained in buildings.

[0015] Relaxing the water supply temperature will result in energy savings for the DHC. However, in buildings, the amount of energy consumed when running pumps and fans will increase. When considering the entire air conditioning system, including the DHC and the building, there is a high possibility that energy savings will be achieved by reducing energy consumption.

[0016] As mentioned above, if the water supply temperature is not properly moderated, the amount of energy consumed by the DHC and the building will be optimized individually, but the amount of energy saved will be smaller than if the energy consumption of the entire DHC and building (also referred to as the DHC block) were optimized.

[0017] Because buildings do not know the benefits of optimizing energy consumption reduction in DHC blocks, it is easy to optimize the reduction of energy consumption in the DHC and buildings individually, making it difficult to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the DHC blocks.

[0018] Furthermore, while the above explanation has focused on heat supply businesses like DHC, which supply thermal energy, there are also cases where companies engage in electricity supply businesses, which supply electrical energy. Even in the case of electricity supply businesses, similar problems exist.

[0019] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an adjustment device that makes it easier to reduce the amount of energy consumed in a regional energy system that supplies energy to multiple buildings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0020] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means. The adjustment device of the present invention is an adjustment device that adjusts the amount of energy consumed in a plurality of buildings that are equipped with equipment that receives energy supply and performs at least air conditioning, and in a supply facility that supplies the energy to the equipment in the plurality of buildings, and is provided with an apparatus communication unit that inputs and outputs information between the buildings and the supply facility, an calculation unit that acquires information regarding the capacity of the equipment and, based on the acquired information, calculates a reduction parameter, which is an energy-related parameter that reduces the total amount of energy consumed in the supply facility and the equipment, an information generation unit that generates information on the reduction parameter and effect information including the effect based on changing the parameter of the supplied energy to the reduction parameter and outputs this to the buildings, an instruction unit that instructs the supply facility to supply the reduced amount of energy, and an extraction unit that extracts target equipment, which is the equipment whose capacity will decrease when energy based on the reduction parameter is supplied, and the information generation unit generates provision information including at least one of content explaining the capacity deficiency to the target building in which the target equipment is installed and content encouraging improvement of the target equipment, and outputs this to the target building.

[0021] The adjustment device of the present invention outputs effect information to a building, including the effect of changing the energy parameters to reduction parameters. The building can know the effect information and the effect of reducing the amount of energy consumed by the entire building, including the supply facility.

[0022] By outputting the information provided to the target equipment, it becomes easier to obtain consent to change the energy supply parameters to reduced parameters from buildings where equipment with reduced capacity is installed, compared to when the information provided is not output. This makes it easier to reduce the amount of energy consumed.

[0023] In the above invention, an approval confirmation unit is further provided which confirms whether or not there is approval information indicating that the building will accept the supply of energy based on the reduction parameters, and it is preferable that the instruction unit instructs the supply facility to supply energy based on the reduction parameters when it is confirmed that there is approval information from all of the buildings.

[0024] By checking the approval information and changing the energy supply parameters to reduction parameters in this way, it becomes less likely that the building will experience an unexpected decline in the capacity of its facilities. This reduces the resistance on the building side to reducing the amount of energy supplied, making it easier to reduce the amount of energy consumed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the adjustment device of the present invention, effect information including the effect based on changing the amount of energy reduction for a building is output, thereby making it easier to reduce the amount of energy consumed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a local energy system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the adjustment device of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the building of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the building and supply facilities in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the building in FIG. 1 and explaining where the building OS is implemented. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the building in FIG. 1 and explaining another implementation location of the building OS. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the supply facility of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating control for reducing the amount of energy consumed by the adjusting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] A coordinating device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The coordinating device 10 has a function of optimizing the entire city block from the viewpoint of energy.

[0028] A city block is a section of a city that includes a target building 30 to be optimized by the adjustment device 10. A city block may be a section bounded by streets, or may be a section bounded by any arbitrary boundary line other than streets.

[0029] Evaluation indicators for optimization include energy consumption (e.g., primary energy equivalent (primary energy is energy found in nature such as oil, natural gas, and coal)), the cost of energy procured by the block, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the block, and the power demand for the entire block.

[0030] The adjusting device 10 of this embodiment is a system that aims to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the buildings 30 and supply facilities 70 included in the block, and is a system that aims to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the entire central heat source air conditioning system that conditions the building 30. In particular, this system aims to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the entire air conditioning system during the intermediate seasons.

[0031] The adjustment device 10 is included in a district energy system 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the district energy system 1 is provided with the adjustment device 10, a building 30, and a supply facility 70. The supply facility 70 is also referred to as an energy center or a DHC.

[0032] The adjustment device 10 is configured to control the equipment 31 of each building 30 so that it does not become insufficient in capacity when reducing the amount of energy consumed by each building 30 from the supply facility 70 in a block where a heat medium (corresponding to energy in the claims) is supplied to each building 30 from the supply facility 70.

[0033] The adjustment device 10 is an information processing device such as a server or a personal computer that has a configuration for adjusting the amount of energy consumed in the building 30 and the supply facility 70. The adjustment device 10 is also a device that has a configuration capable of communicating electronic information with the building 30 and the supply facility 70.

[0034] The adjustment device 10 may be installed as an information processing device independent of information processing devices or systems provided for other purposes. Furthermore, the adjustment device 10 may be installed as the same information processing device as an information processing device that functions as a city OS. In other words, the functions implemented in the adjustment device 10 may be implemented as one function of an information processing infrastructure called a city OS, or may be implemented as a function that runs on the information processing infrastructure.

[0035] City OS is the information processing platform that supports the infrastructure of a city, in other words, the operating system (software). City OS is the information processing platform that runs the software used to manage administration, logistics, transportation, and other aspects of the city.

[0036] The adjustment device 10 may be installed inside a building located within the block that is the target of the regional energy system 1, or inside a building located outside the block. When the adjustment device 10 is installed outside the block, it may be connected to the building 30 and the supply facility 70 so that information communication is possible via a communication network 5. The communication network 5 may be a network constructed using either wired communication or wireless communication, or may be a network constructed using both.

[0037] The adjustment device 10 may be an information processing device owned by the business operator that operates the local energy system 1, or may be an information processing device owned by another business operator different from the business operator that operates the local energy system 1. When the adjustment device 10 is owned by another business operator, the functions realized by the adjustment device 10 may be provided as a service to the business operator that operates the local energy system 1. In other words, it may be realized as cloud computing.

[0038] The adjustment device 10 is an information processing device configured to adjust the amount of energy consumed in the building 30 and the supply facility 70, and is an information processing device such as a personal computer or server that has a CPU (central processing unit), ROM, RAM, input / output interface, etc.

[0039] The program stored in the storage device such as the ROM described above causes the CPU, ROM, RAM, and input / output interface to work together to function as a device communication unit 11, a calculation unit 12, an approval confirmation unit 13, a possibility confirmation unit 14, an extraction unit 15, an information generation unit 16, and an instruction unit 17, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0040] The device communication unit 11 is configured to input and output information between the building 30 and the supply facility 70.

[0041] The calculation unit 12 is configured to acquire information related to the capacity of the facility 31. The calculation unit 12 is also configured to determine a reduction parameter based on the information related to the capacity. The reduction parameter is a parameter related to the cold water or hot water (hereinafter also referred to as heat medium) supplied by the supply facility 70, and is a parameter that reduces the load, which is the energy consumed by the supply facility 70 when supplying the heat medium. The reduction parameter may be a parameter indicating the temperature of the cold water or hot water.

[0042] The calculation unit 12 of this embodiment may have a configuration in which a policy judgment expert program is implemented, or may be a prediction engine that makes predictions using a trained model that has undergone machine learning.

[0043] The information about the capacity is a margin parameter M relating to the margin of the air conditioning capacity in the facility 31. The margin parameter M may be calculated based on, for example, the following formula (1).

[0044] The margin parameter M is a value that indicates whether the equipment 31 has room to further increase its air conditioning capacity at the temperature of the heat medium being supplied (for example, cold water during cooling and hot water during heating). If the equipment 31 has no room to increase its air conditioning capacity, the value of the margin parameter M is 0. If the equipment 31 is not exerting its air conditioning capacity, the value of the margin parameter M is 1.

[0045] When the value of the margin parameter M is 0, it is considered that the air conditioning capacity of the equipment 31 exactly meets the demand, or that the air conditioning capacity does not meet the demand (also referred to as insufficient). Therefore, when the value of the margin parameter M is 0, it is determined that there is a possibility that the air conditioning capacity will be insufficient.

[0046]

number

[0047] Here, Rp is the value obtained by dividing the inverter frequency of the facility-side pump unit 34 (described later) by the inverter maximum frequency, and Rv is the value obtained by dividing the opening of the facility-side valve unit 35 by the maximum opening.

[0048] Furthermore, Rp is a value obtained by dividing the inverter frequency of the heat source side pump unit 73 (described later) by the inverter maximum frequency. Rv may be a value obtained by dividing the opening degree of the heat source side valve unit 74 by the maximum opening degree.

[0049] The margin parameter M may be calculated based on the following equation (2) instead of the above equation (1).

[0050]

number

[0051] Here, Qp is the air conditioning capacity of the equipment 31, and Qmax is the maximum air conditioning capacity of the equipment 31 for the heat medium being supplied. Qp may be calculated using the following formula (3) based on the inlet / outlet temperature difference of the heat medium circulating in the equipment 31 and the flow rate of the heat medium circulating in the equipment 31.

[0052]

number

[0053] Here, Cw is the specific heat of the heat medium circulating within the equipment 31, Vw is the flow rate of the heat medium circulating within the equipment 31, Two is the outlet temperature of the heat medium circulating within the equipment 31, and Twi is the inlet temperature of the heat medium circulating within the equipment 31.

[0054] Alternatively, Qp may be calculated using the following formula (4) based on the airflow rate and the enthalpy difference between the inlet and outlet of the air. The airflow rate may be estimated from the fan inverter frequency based on characteristic data of the AHU 33, which will be described later.

[0055]

number

[0056] Here, Va is the volumetric air flow rate, h is the specific volume of air, Hao is the blown air enthalpy, and Hai is the suction air enthalpy.

[0057] Furthermore, when the AHU 33 of the facility 31 is a dry coil, or when it is assumed to be a pseudo-dry coil, Qp may be calculated based on the following formula (5).

[0058]

number

[0059] Here, Ca is the specific heat of air, Tao is the outlet air temperature, and Tai is the intake air temperature.

[0060] The reduction parameter calculated by the calculation unit 12 may be calculated based on the margin parameter M described above. For example, the margin parameter M (hereinafter also referred to as Mb) with the smallest value among the margin parameters M calculated for all the equipment 31 may be used, and the reduction parameter may be calculated so that Mb does not fall below a lower limit value Mmin. The lower limit value Mmin has a predetermined value. By calculating the reduction parameter in this manner, it becomes less likely that the air conditioning capacity of the equipment 31 will be insufficient.

[0061] The calculation unit 12 may determine the reduction parameter based on the margin parameter M, or may determine the reduction parameter based on flow rate information indicating an excess or deficiency in the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the equipment 31. The flow rate information is information regarding the capacity of the equipment 31, and is information indicating whether the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the equipment 31 is insufficient, appropriate, or excessive with respect to the air conditioning load of the equipment 31.

[0062] For example, the calculation unit 12 may create a reduction parameter for the flow rate information obtained for each of all the facilities 31 so that no flow rate information indicating an insufficient flow rate of the heat medium occurs.

[0063] The flow rate information may be obtained by a local controller, which is a controller provided in the facility 31 and controls the devices that make up the facility 31 and the devices linked to the facility 31. The obtained flow rate information is output from the local controller to the adjustment device 10. The devices that make up the facility 31 include sensors, electric dampers, inverters, and the like that are provided in the facility 31. The devices linked to the facility 31 include electric valves, sensors, electric dampers (also referred to as VAV), and the like.

[0064] The local controller calculates the air conditioning load of the facility 31 based on information output from sensors included in the devices that make up the facility 31 and sensors linked to the facility 31. The local controller also calculates the flow rate of the heat medium based on information about the opening of a valve that controls the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the facility 31. The flow rate information may be calculated based on the calculated air conditioning load, the flow rate of the heat medium, and pre-stored information indicating the relationship between the air conditioning load and an appropriate heat medium flow rate for the air conditioning load.

[0065] The approval confirmation unit 13 is configured to confirm the presence or absence of approval information. The approval information is information output from the building 30, and is information indicating that the building 30 accepts the supply of a heat medium based on the reduction parameters.

[0066] The feasibility confirmation unit 14 has a configuration for confirming whether or not there is feasibility information. The feasibility information is information output from the supply facility 70, and is information indicating that the supply facility 70 is capable of supplying the heat medium based on the reduction parameters.

[0067] The extraction unit 15 is configured to extract a target facility 31T. The target facility 31T is a facility 31 whose capacity will decrease when a heat medium based on the reduction parameters is supplied, or a facility 31 whose capacity is predicted to decrease.

[0068] The extraction unit 15 may, for example, accumulate past measurement data linking the level of the reduction parameter with the capacity of the equipment 31, and perform processing to extract the target equipment 31T based on the accumulated measurement data. The extraction unit 15 may also perform processing to extract the target equipment 31T using a learning model that has undergone machine learning of the level of the reduction parameter and the capacity of the equipment 31. The extraction unit 15 may also perform processing to extract the target equipment 31T based on catalog data linking the heat medium supplied to the equipment 31 with the capacity of the equipment 31.

[0069] The capacity of the facility 31 is, for example, an air conditioning capacity. The capacity of the facility 31 may be determined based on information measured by the sensor unit 41 of the building 30, or may be determined based on information measured by a measuring device other than the sensor unit 41.

[0070] The information generation unit 16 is configured to generate effect information and output it to the building 30. The effect information may be output to the building 30, or may be output to the building 30 and the supply facility 70.

[0071] The effect information includes information on the reduction parameters and the effect based on changing the parameters of the heat medium to be supplied to the reduction parameters. The effect information includes, for example, information that visualizes the amount of reduction in energy consumption, energy charges, and carbon dioxide emissions in the building 30 as a result of changing the parameters of the heat medium to be supplied to the reduction parameters.

[0072] The adjustment device 10 may have a function to distribute the profits obtained by changing the parameters of the heat medium to be supplied to reduction parameters. For example, the adjustment device 10 may have a function to convert the amount into energy costs and bill each building 30 for heat charges, or a function to convert the amount into carbon dioxide emissions and calculate and notify the amount of carbon dioxide emissions of the building 30 and the tenants occupying it.

[0073] The effect information may include information to be provided. The information to be provided includes at least one of information explaining the capacity deficiency of the target building 30T in which the target equipment 31T is installed and information encouraging improvement of the target equipment 31T.

[0074] The provided information may be included in the effect information if it is expected that allowing a shortage of air conditioning capacity in the target equipment 31T will result in a greater reduction in the amount of energy consumed throughout the block compared to not allowing it.

[0075] The content explaining the capacity shortage includes, for example, content explaining the situation where a building 30 or equipment 31 is identified as an obstacle (in other words, a bottleneck) to changing the heat transfer medium parameters to reduced parameters.

[0076] The content of the request for improvement of the target equipment 31T includes, for example, a request for tolerance of a shortage of air conditioning capacity in the equipment 31T due to changing the heat medium parameters to reduction parameters.

[0077] The instruction unit 17 is configured to instruct the supply facility 70 to supply the heat medium based on the reduction parameters when there is approval information and possibility information. In other words, it is configured to instruct the implementation of mitigation of the water supply temperature.

[0078] The instruction unit 17 may determine the difference between the amount of change (e.g., decrease) in the amount of energy consumed in the supply facility 70 when a heat medium based on reduction parameters determined based on specification information including a performance curve of the heat source machine 72 described below is supplied, and the amount of change (e.g., increase) in the amount of energy consumed in the equipment-side pump unit 34 and the equipment 31 of the building 30, and may instruct the supply of a heat medium based on the reduction parameters only if the amount of energy consumed overall decreases. If the amount of energy consumed overall does not decrease, it is not necessary to instruct the supply of a heat medium based on the reduction parameters.

[0079] In other words, an instruction to moderate the water supply temperature may be issued only when the decrease in the amount of energy consumed by the supply facility 70 is greater than the increase in the amount of energy consumed by the facility-side pump unit 34 and facility 31 of the building 30. If the decrease in the amount of energy consumed by the supply facility 70 is equal to or less than the increase in the amount of energy consumed by the facility-side pump unit 34 and facility 31 of the building 30, an instruction to moderate the water supply temperature may not be issued.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the building 30 is provided with one or more pieces of equipment 31, one or more sensor units 41, and a building information processing unit 51.

[0081] The equipment 31 is configured to receive a supply of heat medium from a supply facility 70 and to perform air conditioning of the building 30. The equipment 31 of this embodiment is provided with a heat exchange section 32, an air handling unit 33 (hereinafter also referred to as an AHU 33), an equipment-side pump section 34, and an equipment-side valve section 35.

[0082] The heat exchange unit 32 has a configuration for exchanging heat between a heat medium, which is cold water or hot water, supplied from the supply facility 70 and a heat medium circulating within the equipment 31. The heat exchange unit 32 includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the heat medium supplied from the supply facility 70 and the heat medium circulating within the equipment 31.

[0083] The AHU 33 has a configuration that performs heat exchange between the circulating heat medium and the indoor air of the building 30. The AHU 33 includes a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the heat medium and the indoor air. The AHU 33 also includes a fan that draws air from the room and blows the air out into the room after heat exchange.

[0084] In addition, the equipment 31 may be provided with an AHU 33, or instead of the AHU 33, other equipment such as a fan coil unit (hereinafter also referred to as FCU) that performs heat exchange between the circulating heat medium and the indoor air of the building 30 may be provided.

[0085] The facility-side pump unit 34 is configured to circulate the heat medium between the heat exchange unit 32 and the AHU 33 and is configured to be able to change the amount of heat medium delivered per unit time. The facility-side pump unit 34 of this embodiment is configured to change the amount of heat medium delivered by changing the rotational frequency of the electric motor that drives the facility-side pump unit 34. The rotational frequency of the electric motor may be changed by, for example, inverter control.

[0086] The facility-side valve unit 35 is configured to control the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the AHU 33. The facility-side valve unit 35 of this embodiment is configured to control the flow rate of the heat medium by changing the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path through which the heat medium flows.

[0087] The sensor unit 41 is configured to measure and output information relating to the capacity of the equipment 31 .

[0088] The sensor unit 41 may include an electronic component that measures the inverter frequency, which is the rotation frequency of the electric motor in the facility-side pump unit 34, and an electronic component that measures the opening degree in the facility-side valve unit 35.

[0089] The sensor unit 41 may also include an electronic component that measures the inverter frequency in the heat source side pump unit 73 and an electronic component that measures the opening degree in the heat source side valve unit 74 .

[0090] The sensor unit 41 may include an electronic component that measures an inlet temperature, which is the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the AHU 33, and an electronic component that measures an outlet temperature, which is the temperature of the heat medium flowing out of the AHU 33.

[0091] The sensor unit 41 may include an electronic component that measures the temperature of the indoor air drawn into the AHU 33 and an electronic component that measures the temperature of the air blown out from the AHU 33.

[0092] The sensor unit 41 may include an electronic component that measures the temperature in the room, an electronic component that measures the humidity in the room, and an electronic component that measures the number of people in the room.

[0093] The building information processing unit 51 is an information processing device configured to process information related to the building 30, such as a personal computer or server having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM, RAM, input / output interface, etc. The building information processing unit 51 also has a configuration to control the AHU 33, the equipment-side pump unit 34, and the equipment-side valve unit 35 of the equipment 31 based on the output from the sensor unit 41.

[0094] The building information processing unit 51 may be incorporated into a building energy management system (hereinafter also referred to as BEMS) or into a building automation system (hereinafter also referred to as BAS).

[0095] A building operating system (hereinafter also referred to as building OS) may be provided between the BAS and the adjustment device 10. The building OS is a system that can efficiently and securely handle a large amount of information obtained from various devices and equipment 31 installed in the building 30 and the sensor unit 41, and is a system that continuously provides high-value-added building services.

[0096] Furthermore, the building OS may be implemented in an information processing device installed on the communication network 5 side of the adjustment device 10 within the target building 30, as shown in Figure 5, or may be implemented in an information processing device installed outside the target building 30 and connected to enable information communication, as shown in Figure 6.

[0097] The building OS may also be implemented on a cloud that is capable of communicating with the adjustment device 10 and the building 30. When information output from the sensor unit 41 is uploaded to the cloud using wireless communication such as LTE, information can be more easily aggregated if the building OS is implemented on the cloud.

[0098] The information output from the sensor unit 41 may be input to the BAS and collected, or may be collected by a building information processing unit 51 (e.g., a personal computer) related to the building 30 via an information network different from the BAS (e.g., an Ethernet LAN).

[0099] In this case, the BAS and the building information processing unit 51 may send information separately to the adjustment device 10, or the information output from the BAS and the building information processing unit 51 may be aggregated in the building OS and sent to the adjustment device 10.

[0100] The program stored in the storage device such as the ROM mentioned above causes the CPU, ROM, RAM, and input / output interface to work together to function as a building communication unit 52 and a building output unit 53, as shown in Figure 3.

[0101] The building communication unit 52 is configured to be connected to a communication network so as to be able to communicate information with the adjustment device 10, and is configured to input and output information between the adjustment device 10 and the building communication unit 52.

[0102] The building output unit 53 is configured to output approval information to the adjustment device 10. The approval information is information indicating that the supply of heat medium based on the reduction parameters will be accepted. The building output unit 53 may be configured to output the approval information based on input from the manager of the building 30 who decides whether to accept. Alternatively, the building output unit 53 may be configured to make a decision based on predetermined conditions for determining whether to accept, and output the decision result.

[0103] The supply facility 70 is configured to supply a heat medium used for air conditioning to the equipment 31 of the buildings 30 included in the block. As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the supply facility 70 is provided with a heat source system 71 and a facility information processing unit 81.

[0104] The heat source system 71 includes a heat source unit 72, a heat source side pump unit 73, and a heat source side valve unit 74.

[0105] The heat source machine 72 is a device that generates a heat medium such as chilled water or hot water used for air conditioning the facility 31. The heat source machine 72 has at least one of a function of changing the temperature of the chilled water that is generated and a function of changing the temperature of the hot water that is generated. The heat source machine 72 may be a heat pump or a refrigerator, and any known type of heat source machine can be used.

[0106] The heat source-side pump unit 73 is configured to circulate the heat medium between the heat source unit 72 and the heat exchange unit 32, and is configured to be able to change the amount of heat medium delivered per unit time. The heat source-side pump unit 73 of this embodiment is configured to change the amount of heat medium delivered by changing the rotational frequency of the electric motor that drives the heat source-side pump unit 73. The rotational frequency of the electric motor may be changed by, for example, inverter control.

[0107] The heat source side valve section 74 is configured to control the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the heat exchange section 32. The heat source side valve section 74 of this embodiment is configured to control the flow rate of the heat medium by changing the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path through which the heat medium flows.

[0108] The facility information processing unit 81 is an information processing device configured to process information related to the supply facility 70, and is an information processing device such as a personal computer or server that has a CPU (central processing unit), ROM, RAM, input / output interface, etc.

[0109] The facility information processing unit 81 also has a configuration for controlling the heat source unit 72, the heat source side pump unit 73, and the heat source side valve unit 74 of the supply facility .

[0110] The facility information processing unit 81 may be incorporated into a building automation system (hereinafter also referred to as BAS).

[0111] The program stored in the storage device such as the ROM described above causes the CPU, ROM, RAM, and input / output interface to work together to function as a facility communication unit 82 and a facility output unit 83, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0112] The facility communication unit 82 is configured to be connected to a communication network so as to be able to communicate information with the adjustment device 10, and is configured to input and output information to and from the adjustment device 10.

[0113] The facility output unit 83 is configured to output the feasibility information to the adjustment device 10. The feasibility information is information indicating that the heat medium can be supplied based on the reduction parameters. The facility output unit 83 may be configured to output the feasibility information based on an input from a manager of the supply facility 70 who decides whether to accept the supply. The facility output unit 83 may also be configured to make a decision based on predetermined conditions for deciding whether to accept the supply, and output the decision result.

[0114] Next, control for reducing the amount of energy consumed in the building 30 and the supply facility 70 in the local energy system 1 including the adjusting device 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

[0115] The adjustment device 10 repeatedly performs the calculation process described below at predetermined timings. The predetermined timings are at regular intervals, for example, every 30 minutes.

[0116] At a predetermined timing, the adjustment device 10 performs a process of acquiring information from the building information processing unit 51 (S10). Specifically, the adjustment device 10 performs a process of outputting a control signal to the building information processing unit 51 to output information. The buildings 30 from which information is acquired are all the buildings 30 that receive a supply of heat medium from the supply facility 70.

[0117] The information is information relating to the capacity of the equipment 31, and is information used when determining the reduction parameters. The information may be raw measured data or may be information that has undergone some kind of aggregation processing. The type of information is preferably one that has been agreed upon with the adjustment device 10. It is also preferable that an agreement has been reached with the adjustment device 10 as to the type of calculation processing, such as aggregation processing, to be performed on the information, and whether or not calculation processing is to be performed.

[0118] The building information processing unit 51 performs processing to output information based on the input control signal (S20).

[0119] The adjustment device 10, which has acquired the information, performs a calculation process in the calculation unit 12 to predict the degree of reduction parameters (S30). Specifically, the calculation unit 12 performs a calculation process to organize and analyze the acquired information. Next, the calculation process predicts the degree of reduction parameters based on a comparison of advantages and disadvantages.

[0120] The calculation process for prediction may be based on the current value of the information acquired from the building information processing unit 51. Alternatively, the calculation process may be based on the current value of the information and historical data, which is information based on past information acquired before the calculation process is performed. The historical data may be information obtained by performing calculations on past information, such as an average value calculated from past information.

[0121] The prediction calculation process may be based solely on information acquired from the building information processing unit 51, or may include information acquired from sources other than the building information processing unit 51. For example, the prediction process may include weather information and weather forecast information for the block containing the building 30, acquired from an external database 20 (hereinafter also referred to as external DB 20) that stores weather information. The prediction process may also include event information acquired from the external DB 20 that stores event information for the block. The prediction process may also include information acquired by measurement by the adjustment device 10.

[0122] The calculation process for prediction may be a process in which information acquired from the building information processing unit 51 is input into a learning model that has undergone machine learning to predict the degree of reduction parameters. The calculation process for prediction using a learning model is preferably used when the types of information used for prediction are diverse or the amount of information is large.

[0123] The degree of reduction parameter is the degree to which the supply temperature of cold water or hot water can be relaxed. Relaxation of the supply temperature means, for example, the degree to which the temperature of cold water can be increased or the degree to which the temperature of hot water can be increased or decreased.

[0124] The benefit is the reduction in energy consumption when supplying heat transfer medium according to the reduction parameters (also referred to as the energy saving effect), and the disadvantage is the degree of deterioration in the indoor environment of building 30 (also referred to as the impact on the indoor environment).

[0125] The extraction unit 15 also performs a process of extracting the target equipment 31T. The extraction process may be a process based on accumulated measurement data, a process using a learning model, or a process based on catalog data.

[0126] Furthermore, the information generation unit 16 performs a process of generating effect information. The effect information may be information to be output to the building 30 including the target facility 31T, or may be information to be output to the building 30 including the target facility 31T and the supply facility 70. The effect information is information including information on the reduction parameters and the effect based on changing the parameters of the heat medium to be supplied to the reduction parameters. The effect information may include the provision information.

[0127] When the degree of the reduction parameter is predicted, the adjustment device 10 performs a process of outputting the predicted reduction parameter to all building information processing units 51 and a process of outputting effect information to the target building 30T including the target equipment 31T (S40). In other words, the adjustment device 10 notifies all buildings 30 of the predicted relaxed supply temperature. In addition, the adjustment device 10 outputs information including the effect and significance of supplying the heat medium according to the reduction parameter to the target building 30T.

[0128] In the building information processing unit 51 to which the reduction parameters have been input, processing related to accepting the supply of heat medium according to the reduction parameters is performed (S50). The processing may be processing in which the building output unit 53 accepts an input from the manager of the building 30 who decides whether to accept, or processing in which the building output unit 53 determines whether to accept based on predetermined conditions.

[0129] The building output unit 53 performs processing to output a response indicating whether or not to accept to the adjustment device 10 (S60). For example, if the supply of heat medium according to the reduced parameters is accepted, a response of approval information is output, and if the supply of heat medium according to the reduced parameters is not accepted, a response of rejection information is output.

[0130] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a response of approval information is set as a default, and a response of rejection information is output when there is a reason.

[0131] Specifically, the rejection information response is output when a failure occurs in a facility 31 and the number of facilities 31 in operation is small, or when maintenance work is being performed on the facilities 31 and the number of facilities 31 in operation is small. In these cases, the margin for the facility 31's indoor temperature adjustment function is small, and it is difficult to control the indoor temperature to the desired temperature by supplying the heat medium according to the reduction parameters.

[0132] When a reply containing refusal information is output, the reply may include the reason for the refusal, or the reply may include the reduction parameters desired by the building 30 side.

[0133] The adjustment device 10 to which the replies have been input performs a process of aggregating the replies in the approval confirmation unit 13, and performs a process of outputting the aggregated information to the supply facility 70 (S70).

[0134] When approval information responses are input from all buildings 30, the approval confirmation unit 13 outputs the aggregated information and reduction parameters to the supply facility 70. When rejection information responses are input from some buildings 30, including reduction parameters desired by the buildings 30, the approval confirmation unit 13 outputs the reduction parameters desired by the buildings 30 to the supply facility 70.

[0135] The supply facility 70, to which the aggregated information and the reduction parameters etc. have been input, performs processing related to the supply of the heat medium according to the reduction parameters etc. in the facility output unit 83 (S80). The processing may be processing in which the facility output unit 83 receives input from an administrator of the supply facility 70 who determines whether or not the supply of the heat medium according to the reduction parameters etc. is possible, or processing in which the facility output unit 83 determines whether or not the supply is possible based on predetermined conditions.

[0136] If the supply of the heat medium according to the reduced parameters is possible, the facility output unit 83 performs a decision-making process to supply the heat medium according to the reduced parameters (S90). Note that if the supply of the heat medium according to the reduced parameters is impossible, the decision-making process is not performed.

[0137] When the decision-making process is performed, the facility output unit 83 performs a process of outputting the decision to the adjustment device 10 (S100). In other words, the intention to supply the heat medium according to the reduction parameters is output to the adjustment device 10.

[0138] When the intention to supply the heat medium according to the reduced parameters is input, the adjustment device 10 performs a process of outputting instruction information for supplying the heat medium according to the reduced parameters from the instruction unit 17 to the facility information processing unit 81 (S110). The facility information processing unit 81 to which the instruction information has been input performs a process of supplying the heat medium according to the reduced parameters. Specifically, it controls the heat source machine 72 to supply cold water or hot water at a relaxed supply temperature.

[0139] According to the adjustment device 10 configured as described above, effect information including the effect based on changing the heat medium parameters to reduction parameters is output to the building 30. The building 30 can know the effect information and can know the effect of reducing the amount of energy consumed overall, including the building 30 and the supply facility 70.

[0140] By outputting the provided information to the target equipment 31T, it becomes easier to obtain consent to change the parameters of the heat medium supplied from the building 30 in which the equipment with reduced capacity is installed to reduced parameters, compared to when the provided information is not output. This makes it easier to reduce the amount of energy consumed.

[0141] By checking the approval information and changing the parameters of the heat medium to be supplied to reduction parameters, it becomes less likely that an unexpected decrease in the capacity of the equipment will occur on the building 30 side. Therefore, there is less resistance on the building 30 side to reducing the amount of energy supplied, and it becomes easier to reduce the amount of energy consumed.

[0142] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the function performed by the adjusting device 10 may be the function of moderating the water supply temperature described in this embodiment, or the function of providing information for demand response (hereinafter, referred to as DR) control, demand leveling control, etc. Also, the function may be the function of providing demand forecast information used for the heat storage plan of the supply facility 70, or the function of providing information on the predicted effect amount of various energy saving controls.

[0143] Furthermore, the lower limit value Mmin of the margin parameter M may be set based on a predicted value of a future load in the equipment 31. For example, if the predicted value will increase compared to the current load, the lower limit value Mmin may be set to a value greater than the value based on the current load. Alternatively, if the predicted value will decrease compared to the current load, the lower limit value Mmin may be set to a value smaller than the value based on the current load, or to zero. The predicted value may be obtained by analyzing various information collected by the adjustment device 10 and used to obtain the margin parameter M.

[0144] By doing so, even if the load on the equipment 31 increases due to changes in weather conditions or the usage status of the building 30, the capacity of the equipment 31 is less likely to become insufficient.

[0145] Furthermore, the adjustment device 10 may set the margin parameter M based on information on past operating results of the equipment 31. For example, the adjustment device 10 may analyze the correlation between the rate of increase / decrease of the load of the equipment 31 and the result of the margin parameter M for each control step in which the adjustment device 10 performs control to reduce the amount of energy consumed, and set the margin parameter M based on the rate of increase / decrease of the load predicted using the correlation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0146] 10...adjustment device, 11...device communication unit, 12...calculation unit, 13...approval confirmation unit, 15...extraction unit, 16...information generation unit, 17...instruction unit, 31T...target equipment, 30T...target building

Claims

1. An adjusting device for adjusting the amount of energy consumed in a plurality of buildings in which equipment that receives energy and performs at least air conditioning is installed, and in a supply facility that supplies the energy to the equipment in the plurality of buildings, a device communication unit for inputting and outputting information between the building and the supply facility; a calculation unit that acquires a margin parameter related to the margin of the air conditioning capacity as information related to the capacity of the equipment, and calculates the degree of a reduction parameter, which is an energy-related parameter that reduces the total amount of energy consumed in the supply facility and the equipment, based on the acquired margin parameter; an information generating unit that generates effect information including information on the degree of the reduction parameter and an effect based on changing the parameter of the supplied energy to energy based on the degree of the reduction parameter, and outputs the information to the building; an instruction unit that instructs the supply facility to supply energy based on the degree of the reduction parameter; an extraction unit that extracts target equipment, which is the equipment whose capacity decreases when energy based on the degree of the reduction parameter is supplied; The information generation unit generates provision information including at least one of content explaining the capacity deficiency of the target building in which the target equipment is installed and content encouraging improvement of the target equipment, and outputs the provision information to the target building; An adjusting device that allocates the benefits included in the effect information between the building and the supply facility.

2. An approval confirmation unit is further provided to confirm whether or not approval information indicating that the building accepts the supply of energy based on the degree of the reduction parameter is present; The adjusting device according to claim 1 , wherein the instruction unit instructs the supply facility to supply energy based on the degree of the reduction parameter when it is confirmed that the approval information has been received from all of the buildings.

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