Priority load-based power supply maintenance system, power supply maintenance method, and program

Abstract

During disasters, widespread power outages occur, and after power is restored, power shortages arise, making it impossible to maintain power supply to evacuation centers, medical facilities, and communication equipment. [Solution] The present invention provides a power supply maintenance system that enables the maintenance of power supply both before and during supply by identifying the required amount of power corresponding to the supply period or the remaining period of the supply period based on the load to be supplied, identifying the amount of power that can be supplied by multiple power sources, excluding or limiting power sources that do not meet the required amount of power from candidates, determining the configuration of a power source or group of power sources that will satisfy the required amount of power over the supply period, and changing the configuration if there is a possibility that the supply maintenance conditions will not be met during supply. Furthermore, this invention is applicable to various uses, including power supply to evacuation centers, medical facilities, and communication equipment during disasters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to power supply control, and particularly to a system, method, and program that calculate the required amount of power based on the priority load at the demand location, and select and maintain supply only from power sources that satisfy the required amount of power.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the event of a power outage or the like, there is a known technique for performing power supply based on the remaining capacity, location, arrival order, etc. of power sources.

[0003] However, with these techniques, the supply to important loads at the demand location may be interrupted during the process, and the continuity of the supply has not been sufficiently ensured.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to ensure the feasibility and continuity of power supply both at the start of supply and during supply for priority loads at the demand location.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention acquires priority load information, calculates the required amount of power based on the priority load information, excludes power sources with less power than the required amount of power from candidates, selects a power source that can maintain supply over the supply period only for the remaining power sources after exclusion, and reconstructs the supply configuration when the required amount of power based on the remaining period is not satisfied during supply.

[0006] Specifically, it includes an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, a power source information acquisition unit, an exclusion unit, a determination unit, and a reconstruction unit, and these are executed as a series of processes.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the feasibility of supply can be ensured by calculating the required amount of power based on priority loads and excluding power sources with less than the required amount of power in advance.

[0008] Furthermore, by selecting only power sources that can be maintained throughout the supply period, the continuity of the supply can be ensured.

[0009] Furthermore, by reconfiguring the supply based on the remaining period during the supply period, the risk of supply disruption can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows the overall configuration of a power supply maintenance system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows an example of a process for calculating the required power based on priority load information. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of a process for excluding power sources from candidates based on the amount of power that can be supplied. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of the process for selecting a single power supply or a combination of multiple power supplies. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of a process for reconfiguring the supply configuration based on the remaining period during supply. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The processes shown in Figures 2 to 5 are executed by the control device in a predetermined order as a series of processes.

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from its essence.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the power supply maintenance system 100 according to this embodiment is composed of a control device 1, a plurality of power sources 2, a demand point 3, and communication means.

[0014] The control device 1 includes an acquisition unit 11, a calculation unit 12, a power supply information acquisition unit 13, an exclusion unit 14, a determination unit 15, and a reconstruction unit 16.

[0015] The acquisition unit 11 acquires priority load information indicating a load to be preferentially supplied among a plurality of loads connected to the demand point 3.

[0016] The priority load information includes, for example, information regarding the load type, priority, power consumption, and operation time of loads such as medical devices, communication equipment, refrigeration equipment, and lighting.

[0017] The calculation unit 12 calculates the required power amount during a predetermined supply period based on the priority load information.

[0018] The required power amount Ereq is calculated, for example, by the following formula based on the power consumption Pi of each load and the supply period T. Ereq = ΣPi × T

[0019] The power supply information acquisition unit 13 acquires the remaining power amount Ei for each power supply 2 and calculates the available power amount Eavail in consideration of the power consumption during movement and conversion loss.

[0020] The available power amount Eavail is represented, for example, by the following formula. Eavail = Ei - Emove - Eloss

[0021] The exclusion unit 14 excludes a power supply for which the available power amount Eavail is less than the required power amount Ereq from the candidates.

[0022] The excluded power supply is not targeted in subsequent selection processing.

[0023] The determination unit 15 selects a power supply that can maintain supply over a predetermined supply period, targeting only the power supplies remaining after the exclusion process.

[0024] If a single power source can meet the required power requirements, that power source is selected. Otherwise, multiple power source combinations are generated, and a configuration that meets the required power requirements is selected from among them.

[0025] The reconfiguration unit 16 recalculates the required amount of power corresponding to the remaining period while the power supply is in operation.

[0026] The required energy amount Erem for the remaining period is calculated using the following formula. Erem = ΣPi × Trem (Trem is remaining supply time)

[0027] The reconfiguration unit 16 reconfigures the supply configuration when it is predicted that the amount of power that can be supplied will not meet Erem.

[0028] The reconfiguration may include one or more of the following: Adding an alternative power source Power switch Distribution across multiple power sources Blocking of non-priority loads

[0029] For example, at demand point 3, if medical equipment (2kW), communication equipment (1kW), and lighting (2kW) are prioritized loads and the supply period is 6 hours, the required amount of electricity will be 30kWh.

[0030] Power sources with a supply capacity of less than 30kWh are excluded.

[0031] If it is predicted during supply that the amount of power required for the remaining time will fall below the required amount, the supply configuration will be reconfigured by adding another power source.

[0032] The present invention can be modified as follows. Changed the definition of priority load. Make the supply period variable Introducing AI-based predictions Expand the types of power supplies. [Examples]

[0033] The following describes embodiments of the present invention, using power supply during a disaster as an example.

[0034] In areas where widespread power outages occur due to disasters such as earthquakes, the power demand points are assumed to include evacuation centers, medical facilities, and communication base stations.

[0035] At these points of demand, a disruption in power supply would have a serious impact on life support or information transmission, making the maintenance of the supply a top priority.

[0036] The power consumption of lighting and communication equipment in evacuation shelters will be set at 2kW, the power consumption of medical equipment in medical facilities at 5kW, and the power consumption of communication base stations at 3kW.

[0037] If the supply period is 6 hours, the required amount of electricity is as follows: Shelter: 2kW x 6 hours = 12kWh Medical facilities: 5kW × 6 hours = 30kWh Communication base station: 3kW x 6 hours = 18kWh

[0038] Assume that there are multiple distributed power sources, including electric vehicles and portable battery storage systems, with the following power supply capacities for each. Power supply A: 20kWh Power supply B: 15kWh Power supply C: 10kWh Power supply D: 25kWh

[0039] The control system excludes power sources from the candidates that do not meet the required power output at each demand point.

[0040] For example, for a medical institution (30kWh), a single power source is not sufficient to meet the required power requirements, so single power sources are excluded from consideration.

[0041] Next, we determine a configuration that satisfies the supply maintenance conditions by combining multiple power sources.

[0042] For medical institutions, a configuration is selected that combines power source D (25kWh) and power source C (10kWh) to achieve a total of 35kWh, thus meeting the supply maintenance requirements.

[0043] The selected power sources are deployed or directed to each demand point, and power supply is initiated.

[0044] Assume that after the start of supply, the supply capacity of power source D decreases, and the amount of electricity that can be supplied drops to 15 kWh.

[0045] In this case, the power supply will no longer meet the required amount for the remaining period, and the control device will determine that the supply maintenance conditions are not met.

[0046] The control unit reconfigures its power supply configuration by adding other power sources.

[0047] This ensures that power supply to evacuation centers, medical facilities, and communication base stations is maintained throughout the entire supply period, even during disasters. [Industrial applicability]

[0048] This invention relates to a power supply technology that uses multiple power sources to supply power to demand points, and can be widely used in the power, energy, disaster prevention, communications, transportation, and information processing industries.

[0049] In particular, the present invention can be used as infrastructure to supply power to power demand points such as evacuation centers, medical institutions, communication facilities, and public facilities in response to power outages during disasters.

[0050] Because this invention has a configuration that determines the feasibility of maintaining power supply before the start of supply and maintains supply even during supply, it can improve the stability and reliability of power supply compared to conventional power source selection technology.

[0051] Furthermore, the present invention is applicable to both mobile power sources such as electric vehicles, storage batteries, and generators, as well as fixed power sources, and can be used as a power supply system that utilizes existing power facilities and vehicle assets.

[0052] Furthermore, because the present invention can supply power by combining multiple power sources, it can respond to large-scale power demands and can be used as a power supply network on a regional or wide-area basis.

[0053] Because this invention allows for the dynamic change of the power source configuration in response to electricity demand, it functions effectively even in environments with large fluctuations in electricity supply and demand, and can be used in conjunction with renewable energy sources and in distributed energy systems.

[0054] Furthermore, because the present invention can integrate the management of power source placement, control, and supply maintenance, it can be used in new business fields such as power supply and demand adjustment services, disaster relief services, and distributed power source utilization services.

[0055] Therefore, the present invention is practically applicable in various industrial fields related to power supply and has applicability as social infrastructure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1. Control device 2 Power supply 3 Demand point 31A priority load 31B Non-priority load

Claims

1. A power supply maintenance system that supplies electricity to demand points, An acquisition unit that acquires priority load information indicating which loads among multiple loads connected to the demand point will be supplied first, A calculation unit that calculates the required amount of power during a predetermined supply period based on the priority load information, A power supply information acquisition unit that calculates the amount of power that can be supplied for each of multiple power sources, An exclusion unit that excludes power sources whose available power supply is less than the required power supply from the candidates and does not include such excluded power sources in the selection target, A determination unit that selects power supplies that can be maintained for the predetermined supply period, focusing only on power supplies that were not excluded by the exclusion unit, A reconfiguration unit recalculates the required amount of power corresponding to the remaining period during supply and reconfigures the supply configuration if it is predicted that the required amount of power will not be met. A power supply maintenance system comprising the acquisition unit, calculation unit, exclusion unit, determination unit, and reconstruction unit, characterized in that these are executed as a series of processes.

2. The calculation unit and the exclusion unit and the determination unit are as follows: The power supply maintenance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the calculation of required power, exclusion of power sources, and selection of power sources are performed in this order.

3. The power supply maintenance system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the required amount of power is calculated based on the power consumption of the load to be supplied and a predetermined supply period, and is used as a supply maintenance condition for the entire supply period.

4. The power supply maintenance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the reconstruction unit periodically recalculates the required amount of power corresponding to the remaining period during the supply.

5. The power supply maintenance system according to claim 1, characterized in that a combination of multiple power sources is selected only when a single power source cannot meet the required amount of power.

6. The power supply maintenance system according to claim 1, characterized in that a combination of multiple power sources is selected only when a single power source cannot meet the required amount of power.

7. A method for maintaining power supply performed by a computer, Obtain priority load information, Based on the aforementioned priority load information, calculate the required amount of power. Excluding power sources whose available power supply is less than the required power supply, Select the power supply, targeting only the power supplies that have been excluded. During the supply period, the required amount of electricity corresponding to the remaining period will be recalculated, and if it is predicted that the required amount of electricity will not be met, the supply configuration will be reconfigured. A method for maintaining power supply, characterized by including the following:

8. A program for causing a computer to execute the power supply maintenance method described in claim 7.

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