Power outage countermeasures

Abstract

This invention provides a power outage countermeasure using emergency power supply equipment that is low-cost, easy to install, and also saves on electricity costs. [Solution] The switch box 1, which is interposed between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9, either connects the portable battery 2 in series to the upstream side of the target load 9 to store power in the portable battery 2 and supplies power from the portable battery 2 to the target load 9 in the event of a power outage, or connects the portable battery 2 in parallel with the target load 9 to store power and, in the event of a power outage, switches the switch 14 to connect the portable battery 2 in series with the target load 9 to supply power. The controller 53 in the energy storage control unit 5, which is provided across the battery input line 43 and the battery output line 44, stores power in the portable battery 2 during off-peak hours when electricity rates are low and supplies power from the portable battery 2 to the specific load 9 during off-peak hours when electricity rates are high, according to the time data input at the input unit 51.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention of the present application relates to a technology for taking countermeasures against power outages that may be caused by large-scale disasters.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, cases where the regional lifeline has suffered serious damage due to natural disasters such as large earthquakes and floods have occurred frequently, and it has become an urgent issue to make thorough countermeasures. In particular, the number of cases where large-scale power outages occur due to damage to power plants and damage to power transmission and distribution networks has been increasing, and the importance of countermeasures against them has been called for. When a power outage due to a disaster occurs, although there are few cases that require a long time to restore, it often takes several days. During that time, an inconvenient life without electricity is inevitable. In many cases, people take refuge in evacuation shelters equipped with emergency power supply equipment, but they often hesitate from the perspective of privacy and end up staying at home without electricity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Considering the problems mentioned above, measures are being taken to install emergency power supply equipment in ordinary homes to cope with power outages during disasters. However, conventional emergency power supply equipment is very expensive, requires the installation of a power supply system to switch from grid power, and is a large-scale construction project. For example, if a generator is used as an emergency power supply, it is connected to the upstream side (grid side) of the distribution board and switched on during a power outage. However, a large generator is required to supply the entire load downstream of the distribution board, resulting in an expensive and large-scale construction project. While some systems replace generators with solar panels and batteries, similarly, large and expensive batteries are needed to power the entire load during a power outage, and the installation is extensive. Often, specially configured (non-standard) distribution boards are required, resulting in high costs and complex installation. In addition, some systems install so-called V2H (Vehicle to Home) systems, allowing electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles to be used as batteries, but these are inevitably expensive and large-scale due to their multi-functionality. For these reasons, despite the recognized need, emergency power supply systems have not become widespread. The present invention was made with the above-mentioned challenges in emergency power supply measures during disasters in mind, and aims to provide a method for dealing with power outages using emergency power supply equipment that can be easily implemented at low cost and also save on electricity costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, this specification discloses an invention for a power outage countermeasure method. The power outage countermeasure method according to the disclosed invention is a power outage countermeasure method that allows a user to take measures against a power outage using a power outage countermeasure set. In this method, the power outage countermeasure kit is Portable battery and Energy storage control unit and It is equipped with. This delicious, This is a power outage countermeasure method in which a portable battery is connected to the distribution board to store power in the portable battery when there is no power outage, and in the event of a power outage, the output terminal of the stored powered portable battery is connected to a specific load to supply power. This method uses a power storage control unit to store power in the portable battery using grid power from the distribution panel during periods of no power outage and grid power storage, while also preventing power storage in the portable battery using grid power from the distribution panel outside of grid power storage hours, even during periods of no power outage. Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the power outage countermeasure method according to the disclosed invention is The energy storage control unit ensures that, even during periods without power outages, the power stored in the portable battery is supplied to specific loads in place of grid power during battery power supply hours. It can have this kind of structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As explained below, the power outage countermeasure method according to the disclosed invention allows for the storage of power in a portable battery during normal times (when there is no power outage), and in the event of a power outage, power can be supplied to a specific load by the portable battery. Therefore, electricity can be used at the specific load until the portable battery's charge reaches zero. This makes it possible to use the minimum necessary amount of electricity during disasters. Even when the portable battery is removed, if there is no power outage, power can be maintained to the specific load by operating a switch as needed, so there are no problems with power use at the specific load. Furthermore, installation can be completed inexpensively and in a short period of time, and the hardware cost can be significantly reduced. Therefore, power outage countermeasures during disasters can be implemented at a low cost. In addition, by designating off-peak hours when electricity rates are low as grid storage hours, power can be stored in the portable battery at a low cost. Furthermore, if the energy storage control unit is configured to supply power stored in the portable battery to a specific load instead of grid power during battery power supply hours, then electricity costs can be further reduced by supplying inexpensively stored power to a specific load during peak hours when grid electricity rates are high. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the power outage countermeasure set used in the power outage countermeasure method of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the wiring configuration when the portable battery is removed. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the energy storage control unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of an automatic switch configuration. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set used in the power outage countermeasure method of the second embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the energy storage control unit in the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set used in the power outage countermeasure method of the first embodiment. The power outage countermeasure kit shown in Figure 1 is a kit installed to add a function to a building that secures power using a storage battery in the event of a power outage. As shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure kit consists of a switch box 1, a portable storage battery 2, a solar power generation panel 3, main wiring 41, 42, etc. The switch box 1 has a box case 15, which is equipped with a main input terminal 100 and a load terminal 101. The power outage countermeasure kit described below is intended for residential use such as detached houses and apartments, but it may also be installed in non-residential buildings such as offices and government offices.

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure kit is installed on the downstream side (load side) of the distribution board 8. More specifically, it is installed on one branch switch 81 in the distribution board 8. As is well known, the distribution board 8 is connected to the power transmission and distribution network provided by the power company and receives power supply. The power outage countermeasure kit is installed by interposing it between the said branch switch 81 and the specific load 9 that is powered by said branch switch 81.

[0010] During building construction, electrical wiring work typically involves temporary wiring after the structural work is completed, followed by final wiring after the interior work is finished. A distribution board is installed at the location where the grid power is supplied, and power lines to each load (each room) are connected to the output terminals of each branch switch on the distribution board. Then, power receiving terminals such as outlets are installed at each load. The installation of this power outage protection kit is carried out during normal power distribution work. That is, instead of directly connecting the power supply line to the specific load 9 at a single branch switch 81, the installation is completed simply by connecting it with the power outage protection kit in between. Specifically, one end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to a single branch switch 81, and the other end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the main input terminal 100 on the switch box 1. In addition, one end of the second main wiring 42 is connected to the load terminal 101 on the switch box 1, and the other end is connected to the specific load 9.

[0011] In the following explanation, the branch switch 81 to which the power outage countermeasure kit is installed will be referred to as the target branch switch. The specific load 9 supplied by the target branch switch 81 is a load that is powered by the portable battery 2 during a power outage. In buildings such as houses, power is distributed to each room by the distribution board 8, but the specific load 9 is selected from rooms with a high priority for power supply during a power outage (for example, the living room). In other words, power distribution work is carried out by installing the power outage countermeasure kit in the target branch switch 81 that supplies power to the room with a high priority for power supply during a power outage.

[0012] This power outage countermeasure set basically has a configuration in which a portable battery 2 is serially interposed between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9. That is, the input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 is connected to the target branch switch 81 by the first main wiring 41, and the output terminal 22 of the portable battery 2 is connected to the specific load 9 by the second main wiring 42. Therefore, the portable battery 2 and the specific load 9 are in series, and the portable battery 2 is on the upstream side.

[0013] The portable battery 2 includes an input terminal (hereinafter referred to as the AC input terminal) 21 at AC 100V and an output terminal (hereinafter referred to as the AC output terminal) 22 at AC 100V. An input-side AC cable 24 is connected to the AC input terminal 21, and an output-side AC cable 25 is connected to the AC output terminal 22. Further, the portable battery 2 includes a DC input terminal 23 for connecting the solar power generation panel 3. And the portable battery 2 has a power storage mode selection switch 20 for switching whether to use the power from the AC input terminal 21 (AC mode), the power from the DC input terminal 23 (DC mode), or a hybrid (HB) mode of storing power with both powers. When in the hybrid mode of storing power with both powers, the power storage from the DC input terminal 23 is prioritized to obtain an energy-saving effect. In the hybrid mode, when the power from the solar power generation panel 3 runs out at night or the like, power storage is performed with AC power (system power).

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the switch box 1 is provided with a battery input terminal 103 to which an input-side AC cable 24 extending from the portable battery 2 is connected, and a battery output terminal 104 to which an output-side AC cable 25 extending from the portable battery 2 is connected. Inside the box case 15, a main switch 10 is disposed. The main switch 10 is provided with two selection terminals 11, 12 and one common terminal 13. One of the selection terminals is the first selection terminal 11 connected to the target branch switch 81 via the main input terminal 100 and the first main wiring 41. The other is the second selection terminal 12 connected to the battery output terminal 104. The main switch 10 has a lever (not shown in FIG. 1), and the lever is exposed on the outer surface (for example, the front surface) of the box case 15. The state where the first selection terminal 11 is short-circuited to the common terminal 13 and the second selection terminal 12 is released from the common terminal 13, and the state where the first selection terminal 11 is released from the common terminal 13 and the second selection terminal 12 is short-circuited to the common terminal 13 can be switched by operating the lever.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the first selection terminal 11 is connected to the main input terminal 100, and a battery input line 43 connected to the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 is connected. The common terminal 13 of the main switch 10 is connected to the specific load 9 via the load terminal 101 and the second main wiring 42. The main switch 10 is in the state shown in FIG. 1 unless the portable battery 2 is removed. Hereinafter, this state is referred to as the normal state. In the normal state, the main switch 10 short-circuits the second selection terminal 12 and the common terminal 13.

[0016] The portable battery 2 has a so-called pass-through function. That is, the AC input terminal 21 and the AC output terminal 22 are internally configured to be always short-circuited regardless of the charge / discharge state and regardless of which input mode is selected. Therefore, when the main switch 10 is in the normal state as shown in FIG. 1, the power from the target branch switch 81 reaches the second selection terminal 12 via the first main wiring 41, the first selection terminal 11, the AC input terminal 21, inside the portable battery 2, and the AC output terminal 22, and is supplied to the specific load 9 via the common terminal 13, the load terminal 101, and the second main wiring 42.

[0017] The portable battery 2, although not shown in the diagram, includes a power outage detection circuit and an automatic power supply circuit. The power outage detection circuit detects when the power supply voltage becomes zero while the input AC cable 24 is connected to the AC input terminal 21 (detects a power outage), and also detects when the power supply voltage recovers after the power outage detection (detects the resolution of the power outage). The automatic power supply circuit automatically starts supplying power (outputs AC 100V to the AC output terminal 22) when the power outage detection circuit detects a power outage. These functions are the same as those of a so-called uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

[0018] Furthermore, the portable battery 2 is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention circuit and has a reverse power flow prevention function. Reverse power flow prevention is a function that prevents the stored power from flowing in the reverse direction. In other words, it is a function that prevents power from flowing out of the AC input terminal 21. As a portable battery 2 having such configurations, for example, the DELTA2 sold by EcoFlow Technology Japan Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0019] In the configuration shown in Figure 1, when the portable battery 2 is removed, the main switch 10 is operated. This point will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the wiring state when the portable battery 2 is removed. To remove the portable battery 2, first operate the main switch 10 to the state shown in Figure 2. That is, the first selection terminal 11 is short-circuited to the common terminal 13. Hereafter, this state will be referred to as the release state. By setting it to the release state, the portable battery 2 is disconnected from the specific load 9 and also from the target branch switch 81. System power from the target branch switch 81 flows directly from the first selection terminal 11 to the common terminal 13 via the main switch 10 and is supplied directly to the specific load 9. After setting it to this state, disconnect the AC cables 24 and 25 that were connected to the switch box 1 and remove the portable battery 2 from the switch box 1. If the solar power generation panel 3 is connected to the DC input terminal 23, it is acceptable to leave it as is, but if you are taking the portable battery 2 outdoors, disconnect the DC cable 31 from the DC input terminal 23.

[0020] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure set includes a power storage control unit 5. In this embodiment, the power storage control unit 5 is installed in the switch box 1. The power storage control unit 5 is a unit that controls power storage in the portable battery 2 and the output of the stored power. The power storage control unit 5 is installed so as to straddle the battery input line 43 and the battery input line 44. In addition, a power outage detection sensor 6 is installed on the line from the main input terminal 100, and the output of the power outage detection sensor 6 is constantly input to the power storage control unit 5.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage control unit 5 includes an input unit 51, a storage unit 52, and a controller 53. The input unit 51 is configured to allow external input of data for energy storage control and may be configured as, for example, a touch panel display. The input unit 51 is mounted on a box case 15 so that it can be operated from the outside. The power outage detection sensor 6 is a device that detects power outages by measuring the voltage in the line from the main input terminal 100.

[0022] The memory unit 52 includes a ROM that stores control programs such as sequence control programs, and a RAM that stores control data. The controller 53 consists of a sequencer with a clock function. The memory unit 52 and the controller 53 may also be composed of a so-called PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power storage control unit. As shown in Figure 3, the power storage control unit 5 includes several switches, and the controller 53 executes a sequence control program that controls each switch. As shown in Figure 3, the energy storage control unit 5 includes a bypass line 54 that runs parallel to the portable battery 2. The bypass line 54 is a line that bypasses the portable battery 2 by directly short-circuiting the battery input line 43 and the battery output line 44.

[0024] A power selection switch 55 is provided at the point where the bypass line 54 branches off from the battery input line 43. The power selection switch 55 is a switch that selects whether to short-circuit the line from the battery input line 43 to the bypass line 54 or to the battery input terminal 103. For the sake of explanation, the state in which the line from the battery input line 43 is short-circuited to the bypass line 54 is called the bypass state, and the state in which it is short-circuited to the battery input terminal 103 is called the non-bypass state.

[0025] A grid selection switch 56 is provided downstream of the energy storage selection switch 55 (on the side of the battery input terminal 103). The grid selection switch 56 is a switch that selects whether or not to store energy using grid power from the target branch switch 81, and energy is stored using grid power only when this switch is ON.

[0026] Furthermore, a power supply selection switch 57 is provided at the point where the bypass line 54 merges with the battery output line. The power supply selection switch 57 is a switch that selects whether to disconnect the bypass line 54 from the battery output line 44 and short-circuit the battery output terminal 104 to the battery output line 44, or to disconnect the battery output terminal 104 from the battery output line 44 and short-circuit the bypass line 54 to the battery output line 44. For the sake of explanation, the state in which the bypass line 54 is disconnected from the battery output line 44 and short-circuit the battery output terminal 104 to the battery output line 44 is called the non-bypass state, and the state in which the battery output terminal 104 is disconnected from the battery output line 44 and short-circuit the bypass line 54 to the battery output line 44 is called the bypass state.

[0027] The memory unit 52 is equipped with a time zone input program that allows input of two time zones: a grid power storage time zone, which is the time of day when the portable battery 2 is charged using power from the grid, and a battery power supply time zone, which is the time of day when the power stored in the portable battery 2 is supplied to a specific load 9. The time zone input program includes a module that displays input fields for each time zone on the touch panel display, and a module that stores each entered time zone in the memory unit 52.

[0028] Furthermore, the grid power storage time and the battery power supply time do not overlap. In other words, the battery power supply time is a period during which power is supplied to a specific load 9 without using grid power, and during this time, power is not used to store energy in the battery. The time period input program is coded to generate an error if the two time periods overlap.

[0029] The controller 53 controls power storage and power supply by executing a sequence control program using the data for each time period stored in the memory unit 52 as arguments. Specifically, during the grid power storage time period, the controller 53 turns on the grid selection switch 56, sets the power storage selection switch 55 to the non-bypass state, and also sets the power supply selection switch 57 to the non-bypass state. As a result, the portable battery 2 is charged by grid power, and grid power is supplied to the specific load 9 through the pass-through function of the portable battery 2.

[0030] During periods outside of grid-based power storage and battery power supply hours, the controller 53 turns off the grid selection switch 56 and bypasses the power storage selection switch 55 and the power supply selection switch 57. As a result, the power supplied to the portable battery 2 becomes zero, and grid power is supplied to the specific load 9 via the bypass line 54. The portable battery 2 outputs power as if a power outage had occurred because its input power is zero, but since it is not connected to the specific load 9 via the power supply selection switch 57, power is not supplied to the specific load 9.

[0031] Then, when it is time for battery power supply, the controller 53 turns off the grid selection switch 56 and sets the power supply selection switch 57 to the non-bypass state. As a result, the power stored in the portable battery 2 is supplied to the specific load 9, and grid power is not used at this time. In addition, as control during this time period, the battery selection switch 55 may also be set to the bypass state as long as the power supply selection switch 57 is in the non-bypass state.

[0032] Furthermore, the controller 53 is constantly receiving signals from the power outage detection sensor 6. When the power outage detection sensor 6 detects a power outage (detects zero voltage), the sequence control program controls the system as if it were a battery power supply period, even if it is not. Specifically, it turns off the grid selection switch 56 and sets the power supply selection switch 57 to a non-bypass state. The sequence control program is coded so that each of the above controls is performed by the controller 53.

[0033] The operation of this power outage countermeasure set will be explained below. The following explanation also describes the power outage countermeasure method of the first embodiment. The power outage countermeasure set is installed during the construction of the building as described above. Specifically, one end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the target branch switch 81, and the other end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the main input terminal 100 on the switch box 1. The second main wiring 42 has one end connected to the load terminal 101 on the switch box 1 and the other end connected to the specific load 9. The main switch 10 is then set to the normal state. Furthermore, the portable battery 2 is attached to the switch box 1 by connecting the respective AC cables 24 and 25. In addition, the solar power generation panel 3 is connected to the DC input terminal 23 of the portable battery 2 using the DC cable 31. The power storage mode selection switch 20 on the portable battery 2 is often set to AC mode or hybrid mode.

[0034] Furthermore, time zone data is entered after the above construction is completed (or before construction). Specifically, the user or construction company enters data for each time zone in the input unit 51. Specifically, the time zones with low electricity rates are entered as grid energy storage time zones. The daytime time zones with high electricity rates are entered as battery power supply time zones. The battery power supply time zones are entered according to the capacity of the portable battery 2, that is, the amount of energy stored when fully charged. Therefore, a portion of the daytime time zones with high electricity rates may be entered as battery power supply time zones.

[0035] After the installation and time zone data are completed as described above, the power outage countermeasure set is used to charge the portable battery 2 and supply power to the specific load 9. The grid power from the target branch switch 81 flows through the first selection terminal 11 of the main switch 10 into the portable battery 2 and is supplied to the specific load 9 via the second selection terminal 12 of the main switch 10. At this time, if it is within the grid power storage time zone, the portable battery 29 is also charged. In addition, if the power storage mode selection switch 20 is set to hybrid mode or DC mode, the solar power generation panel 3 charges the portable battery 29 during sunny daytime hours.

[0036] Furthermore, if it is neither a grid power storage time nor a battery power supply time, the grid selection switch 56 is turned off, and grid power is supplied directly to the specific load 9 via the bypass line 54 without being stored in the portable battery 2. When it is time for battery power supply, the grid selection switch 56 is turned off and the power supply selection switch 57 is set to the non-bypass state. As a result, the power stored in the portable battery 2 is supplied to and used by the specific load 9.

[0037] On the other hand, when the power outage countermeasure set is in operation, if a power outage occurs due to a large-scale disaster or the like, the power outage detection sensor 6 detects it, and the controller 53 controls the system during the battery power supply period, whether it is during the battery power supply period or not. Specifically, it turns off the grid selection switch 56 and sets the power supply selection switch 57 to the non-bypass state. The portable battery 2's internal power outage detection circuit activates, the automatic power supply circuit activates, generates an output voltage at the AC output terminal 22, and supplies it to the specific load 9 via the power supply selection switch 57. As a result, power supply to the specific load 9 continues.

[0038] When the power outage is resolved, the power outage detection sensor 6 detects the restoration of power, and the controller 53 sets to a state appropriate to the time of day. Specifically, if it is the grid power storage time, the grid selection switch 56 is turned on, and the power storage selection switch 55 and the power supply selection switch 57 are set to the non-bypass state. If it is neither the grid power storage time nor the battery power supply time, the grid selection switch 56 is turned off, and the charging selection switch 55 and the power supply selection switch 57 are set to the bypass state. In either case, the supply of grid power to the specific load 9 is resumed by the pass-through function of the portable battery 2 or the bypass line 54. Furthermore, if it is sunny during the daytime when the power outage occurs, the solar power generation panel 3 will simultaneously store power in the portable battery 2. Therefore, the time until the portable battery 2's remaining charge reaches zero is extended.

[0039] When removing the portable battery 2 for outdoor use, the main switch 10 is switched from the steady state shown in Figure 1 to the released state shown in Figure 2. Then, the AC cables 24 and 25 are unplugged, as well as the DC cable 31 connected to the solar power generation panel 3. This detaches the portable battery 2 from the switch box 1 and the solar power generation panel 3, making it possible to take it outdoors. In this example, since the solar power generation panel 3 is also portable, it is possible to take it outdoors together with the portable battery 2 and use it for solar power generation.

[0040] With this power outage countermeasure method using a power outage countermeasure kit, the portable battery 2, which is normally charged (when there is no power outage), supplies power to the specific load 9 during a power outage. Therefore, electricity can be used for the specific load 9 until the charge of the portable battery 2 runs out. This makes it possible to use the minimum necessary amount of electricity during a disaster. In this case, the idea is to supply power to selected specific loads 9 during a power outage, rather than to the entire load in the building. Therefore, there is no need to use large, expensive, high-capacity batteries, and thus inexpensive portable batteries 2 are used.

[0041] Furthermore, since the installation is completed simply by attaching the switch box 1, to which the portable battery 2 and solar power generation panel 3 are connected, to the target branch switch 81 via the first main wiring 41, the installation is extremely inexpensive and can be completed in a short period of time. Moreover, because it is a set that combines the simple structure of the switch box 1 with the inexpensive portable battery 2 and solar power generation panel 3, the hardware cost can be made significantly cheaper. As a result, power outage countermeasures during disasters can be implemented at a low cost. Furthermore, there is no need to install a specially configured distribution board 8; a standard, off-the-shelf unit suffices. This also contributes to achieving low-cost power outage countermeasures.

[0042] Furthermore, the portable battery 2 can be detached and used for outdoor leisure activities, offering a double benefit. The portability of the battery also has another advantage: it can be taken to another location indoors during a power outage and used as needed. For example, if the toilet can only be flushed electrically and the power cable is plugged into an outlet, the portable battery 2 can be taken to the toilet, the power cable connected to the AC output terminal 22 of the portable battery 2, and the toilet can be flushed. In other words, it offers a triple benefit.

[0043] Furthermore, this power outage countermeasure kit is equipped with a solar power generation panel 3, which can store power in the portable battery 2. This allows for delaying the time it takes for the portable battery 2 to run out of charge during a power outage, making it particularly suitable for prolonged power outages. Moreover, since the solar power generation panel 3 is also portable, it can be taken outdoors and used together with the portable battery 2, extending the usage time (time until the portable battery 2 runs out of charge) outdoors. If the solar power generation panel 3 is not portable, it may be mounted on the roof or wall of a building such as a house.

[0044] Furthermore, since the portable battery 2 is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention function, it prevents the stored power from accidentally flowing into the grid. In Figure 1, if the stored power flows out from the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2, it will reach the distribution board 8 via the first selection terminal 11 of the main switch 10 and flow back into the grid. In this case, if the owner who installed the power outage countermeasure set has applied to the power company for power, the reverse power flow will be permitted as surplus power sold, but if no power application has been made, it is necessary to prevent the reverse power flow. In other words, this power outage countermeasure set is suitable because it allows for emergency power measures during power outages while using solar power generation panels as a completely self-consumption type power generation equipment, and it can be easily introduced as no power application is required. If the portable battery 2 is not equipped with a reverse power flow prevention function, a reverse power flow detection circuit will be provided between the battery input terminal 103 and the target branch switch, and if reverse power flow is detected here, a separate breaker will be provided to shut off the battery input line 43.

[0045] Furthermore, since the power outage countermeasure set equipped with the energy storage control unit 5 is used, it is possible to charge the portable battery 2 with grid power during off-peak hours when electricity rates are low, and then switch to supplying power from the portable battery 2 instead of grid power during off-peak hours when electricity rates are high. This contributes to saving on electricity costs.

[0046] In the configuration of the first embodiment described above, it is also conceivable to adopt an automatic switch configuration for the main switch 10 that automatically deactivates when the portable battery 2 is removed. This point will be explained in more detail using Figure 4. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an automatic switch configuration.

[0047] In the example shown in Figure 4, a socket 71 to which the input AC cable 24 is attached is provided as a battery input terminal 103, and a swing rod 72 is provided as a component that is linked to the socket 71. A spring member 73 is fixed to the back of one end of the swing rod 72 (opposite the socket 71), and a main switch 10 is connected to the other end. The swing rod 72 is able to swing around a rotation axis approximately in the center. The socket 71 is movable in the direction toward the spring member 73 within a retainer (not shown). Furthermore, a stopper 74 is attached to the retainer to prevent the socket 71 from coming out when it is installed.

[0048] When the input AC cable 24 is connected, the socket 71 is pushed out as shown in Figure 4(1) and its position is held by the stopper 74. In this state, the spring member 73 is compressed via the oscillating rod 72, and the oscillating rod 72 acts as a lever to pull the shorting plate of the main switch 10, causing the shorting plate to short-circuit the first selection terminal 11 and the common terminal 13. When removing the input AC cable 24, manually release the stopper 74 before pulling out the input AC cable 24. This causes the swing rod 72 to swing in the opposite direction due to the action (restoring force) of the spring member 73, and the shorting plate of the main switch 10 short-circuits the second selection terminal 12 and the common terminal 13.

[0049] In the example above, the socket 71 for the input AC cable 24 is equipped with an automatic switch, but the socket for the output AC cable 25 may also be equipped with an automatic switch, or both may be equipped with manual switches. If both are equipped with automatic switches, the input AC cable 24 and the output AC cable 25 may be made into a single unit such as a harness, and the socket to which it is attached may be equipped with the structure described above. In addition to the above, various other configurations of automatic switches are conceivable, and the switch may not be mechanical but may be operated electronically using sensors or the like. In any case, if there is no automatic switch, if the portable battery 2 is removed without operating the main switch 10, the power supply to the specific load 9 will be cut off, resulting in a state similar to a tripped circuit breaker. However, if an automatic switch configuration is used, there is no need to worry about forgetting to operate the main switch 10, which is preferable.

[0050] Next, we will describe the power outage countermeasure set used in the power outage countermeasure method of the second embodiment. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the power outage countermeasure set used in the power outage countermeasure method of the second embodiment. This power outage countermeasure set is also installed by being interposed between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9 in the distribution board 8 of a house, and comprises a switch box 1, a portable battery 2, and a solar power generation panel 3. What distinguishes this power outage countermeasure set from the one shown in Figure 1 is that when the battery is charged, the portable battery 2 is in a parallel relationship with the specific load 9.

[0051] As shown in Figure 5, in the second embodiment, the box-internal main line 411 and the battery input line 43 are provided by branching off from the line connected to the first main wiring 41. The box-internal main line 411 extends from the branching point and is connected to the load terminal 101 via the main switch 14. The battery output terminal 104 is also connected to the load terminal 101 via the main switch 14. The main switch 14 is normally in a state where the box-internal main line 411 and the load terminal 101 are short-circuited (hereinafter referred to as the battery off state) when there is no power outage, and in the event of a power outage, the box-internal main line 411 is released from the load terminal 101 and the battery output terminal 104 is short-circuited to the load terminal 101 (hereinafter referred to as the battery on state).

[0052] As can be seen from Figure 5, when the main switch 14 is in the battery ON state, the portable battery 2 and the specific load 9 are connected in series. That is, the portable battery 2 is in parallel with the specific load 9 when charging, but is in series with the specific load 9 when discharging. The portable battery 2 is connected to the target branch switch 81 on the input side, but in the event of a power outage, the power supply becomes zero, detecting the power outage, and outputs power from the AC output terminal 22 to supply power to the specific load 9. The main switch 14 is a manual switch equipped with a lever, but as will be described later, it is a switch that switches automatically in the event of a power outage, and is a switch that can be used both manually and automatically.

[0053] In the second embodiment, the switch box 1 is also provided with a power storage control unit 5. The power storage control unit 5 is installed so as to straddle the battery input line 43 and the battery input line 44. Similarly, a power outage detection sensor 6 is installed on the line from the main input terminal 100, and the output from the power outage detection sensor 6 is constantly input to the power storage control unit 5.

[0054] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the energy storage control unit 5 in the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 6, in the second embodiment as well, the energy storage control unit 5 has an input unit 51, a storage unit 52, and a controller 53. The input unit 51 is capable of receiving input of grid energy storage time periods and battery power supply time periods and storing them in the storage unit 52. As shown in Figure 6, in the second embodiment as well, the energy storage control unit 5 has a system selection switch 56. However, in the second embodiment, there is no bypass line 54, and neither the energy storage selection switch 55 nor the power supply selection switch 57 are provided. Instead, the main switch 14 is configured to accept external control in addition to manual switching, and the controller 53 is able to control the main switch 14.

[0055] The implemented sequence control program turns on the grid selection switch 56 and sets the main switch 14 to the battery off state during grid power storage time. During battery power supply time, it turns off the grid selection switch 56 and sets the main switch 14 to the battery on state. Since the grid selection switch 56 is off, the portable battery detects a power outage and generates output power, which is supplied to the specific load 9 via the main switch 14. When it is neither grid power storage time nor battery power supply time, the sequence control program turns off the grid selection switch 56 and sets the main switch 14 to the battery off state. Since the grid selection switch 56 is off, output is generated from the portable battery 2, but since the main switch 14 is in the battery off state, power is not supplied from the portable battery 2 to the grid.

[0056] When a power outage occurs, the power outage detection sensor 6 detects it and inputs a signal indicating the power outage to the power storage control unit 5. When the sequence control program running on the controller 53 receives the power outage detection signal, if it is not during the battery power supply period, it turns off the grid selection switch 56 and controls the main switch 14 to the battery ON state. If it is during the battery power supply period, it continues to turn off the grid selection switch 56 and keep the main switch 14 in the battery ON state. When the power outage detection sensor 6 detects the restoration of power, unless it is during the battery power supply period, it turns off the main switch 14 to the battery OFF state. In this case, if it is during the grid power storage period, it turns on the grid selection switch 56 and resumes charging the portable battery 2 using grid power. The sequence control program is coded to perform each of these operations. In this embodiment as well, since the energy storage control unit 5 is provided, the portable battery 2 can be charged with grid power during off-peak hours when electricity rates are low, and power can be supplied from the portable battery 2 instead of grid power during off-peak hours when electricity rates are high. This contributes to saving on electricity costs.

[0057] In the configurations of each of the above embodiments, the energy storage control unit 5 may be built into the portable battery 2. That is, when a battery in which the schedule for energy storage and discharge (power supply to the target load 9) is programmable is used as the portable battery 2, the energy storage control unit 5 may be built into the portable battery 2. In the configuration of the first embodiment, the bypass line 54 may be wiring within the portable battery 2 that realizes the pass-through function, and the grid selection switch 55, energy storage selection switch 56, and energy storage selection switch 57 may each be elements of the control circuit within the portable battery 2. In the case of the second embodiment, a portable battery 2 that can output a control signal when outputting stored power is used, and the main switch 14 is configured to be controlled by this control signal.

[0058] Furthermore, if the energy storage control unit 5 requires power, it may be configured to supply power via the line from the main input terminal 100 (supplied from the target branch switch 81). However, this configuration would cease to function during a power outage, so a configuration with a separate power source such as dry cell batteries may be adopted. In some cases, a configuration utilizing power stored in the portable battery 2 may also be adopted. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the energy storage control unit 5 may be provided separately from the switch box 1 (in a state separated from the switch box 1). Furthermore, the input unit 51 may be configured to accept input from terminals such as smartphones and PCs, in addition to a touch panel display. In this case, the input unit 51 may accept input via near-field communication (NFC) or via a network such as Ethernet. Furthermore, the input unit 51 may also be part of a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) equipped with a smart meter. In this case, the input unit 51 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the HEMS using the Wi-Sun wireless communication standard and receive time zone data from the HEMS.

[0059] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, it is optional for the user to input data for each time period. If the user does not input data for each time period, charging of the portable battery 2 and supplying power from the portable battery 2 to the specific load 9 will proceed as usual. That is, charging of the portable battery 2 will proceed without selecting a time period and will stop when it is fully charged. Then, in the event of a power outage, the automatic power supply circuit will automatically generate an output and supply power to the specific load 9. It is not essential that the controller 53 performs automatic control; inventions with manual control by the user are also possible. That is, a configuration in which the user manually charges the portable battery 2 during off-peak hours when electricity rates are low, and manually switches the power supply to the portable battery 2 to power a specific load 9 during off-peak hours when electricity rates are high, can also be adopted. Therefore, the system selection switch 56 in each embodiment and the power storage selection switch 55 and power supply selection switch 57 in the first embodiment can be manual switches. Furthermore, the power storage control unit 5 may not have an input unit or memory unit and may be a unit that is controlled by such manual switches.

[0060] Furthermore, in the configurations of the above embodiments, the portable battery 2 is equipped with a DC input terminal 23 and is directly connected to the solar power generation panel 3. However, portable battery 2 without a DC input terminal 23 can also be used. When using a portable battery 2 without a DC input terminal 23, an inverter is installed in between to convert the DC voltage output from the solar power generation panel 2 to AC 100V AC, and the inverter is connected to the switch box 1. The switch box 1 is equipped with a switch that switches between storing power in the portable battery 2 or in the solar power generation panel 3 using grid power.

[0061] In the above-described power outage countermeasures sets, it was explained that there is one specific load 9, but there may be multiple specific loads 9. In this case, in addition to a configuration where one power outage countermeasure set is interposed for one specific load 9, there may also be a configuration where one power outage countermeasure set is provided for multiple specific loads 9. That is, the second main wiring 41 from the switch box 1 may branch into multiple branches, each connected to a specific load 9. When using multiple power outage countermeasures sets, the solar power generation panels may be shared among the power outage countermeasures sets. For example, the power supply line from one solar power generation panel may be branched into two to supply power to each portable battery 2, or a switch may be provided for one solar power generation panel to select and supply power to one of the portable batteries 2.

[0062] The power outage countermeasure kits described above can be suitably used not only in ordinary homes but also in offices and government offices. For example, government offices that play a central role in responding to disasters need to ensure that a minimum amount of power (such as power for communication with relevant parties) is available even during a power outage. The power outage countermeasure kits can be implemented for this purpose. Furthermore, while it was explained that the power outage countermeasures sets described above are installed during the building's construction, it is also possible to install them retrofitting after construction. For example, they can be retrofitted to existing distribution boards in detached houses or apartment buildings after their construction.

[0063] Furthermore, solar panels are not necessarily required in a power outage preparedness kit; a kit without solar panels is also acceptable. In this case, the power outage preparedness kit consists of a switch box 1 and a portable battery 2. Furthermore, the method of attaching any of the power outage countermeasure sets to the distribution board 8 is a type of power outage countermeasure, and the installation and use of the power outage countermeasure set can be understood as an invention of a method for enabling the user to take power outage countermeasures. In addition, the configuration in which the user performs energy storage control using an energy storage control unit can be understood as an invention of a method for enabling the user to take energy-saving measures through such control. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 Switch box 101 Load terminal 102 Panel terminals 103 Battery input terminal 104 Battery output terminal 10 Main switch 11 First selection terminal 12 Second selection terminal 13 Common terminals 14 Main switch 2 Portable battery 3. Solar power panels 41. First main wiring 411 Main line inside box 42 Second main wiring 43 Battery input line 44 Battery output line 5. Energy Storage Control Unit 51 Input section 52 Storage section 53 Controllers 6. Power outage detection sensor 8 Distribution board 81 Target branch switch 9 Specific load

Claims

1. A method of dealing with power outages that involves having users take measures against power outages using a power outage countermeasure kit, The power outage preparedness kit is, Portable battery and Energy storage control unit and It is equipped with, This is a power outage countermeasure method in which a portable battery is connected to the distribution board to store power in the portable battery when there is no power outage, and in the event of a power outage, the output terminal of the stored powered portable battery is connected to a specific load to supply power. This method involves a power storage control unit that controls the portable battery to store power from the distribution panel using grid power during periods of no power outage and grid power storage, while also preventing the portable battery from storing power from the distribution panel using grid power outside of grid power storage periods, even during periods of no power outage. A power outage countermeasure method characterized by a portable battery equipped with an output terminal, which can be disconnected from the distribution board, taken to another location indoors during a power outage, and power supplied to a load at that location by connecting the output terminal with a cable.

2. A method for preventing power outages, which involves a user taking measures against a power outage using a power outage prevention kit, The power outage preparedness kit is, Portable battery and Energy storage control unit and It is equipped with, This is a power outage countermeasure method in which a portable battery is connected to the distribution board to store power in the portable battery when there is no power outage, and in the event of a power outage, the output terminal of the stored powered portable battery is connected to a specific load to supply power. This method involves a power storage control unit that controls the portable battery to store power from the distribution panel using grid power during periods of no power outage and grid power storage, while also preventing the portable battery from storing power from the distribution panel using grid power outside of grid power storage periods, even during periods of no power outage. A power outage countermeasure method characterized by a portable battery equipped with an output terminal, which can be disconnected from the distribution board, taken outdoors, and power supplied to an outdoor load by connecting the output terminal to the load with a cable.

3. The power outage countermeasure method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the power storage control unit supplies power stored in the portable battery to the specific load in place of grid power during the battery power supply period, even when there is no power outage.

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