Power delivery system

Abstract

Provided is a power delivery system including a control device that creates a delivery plan for delivering a power storage device in which electric power is stored to a construction site where an electric machine including an electric construction machine operates from a delivery facility of the power storage device, wherein the control device: receives the amount of stored power remaining in a battery that stores electric power for driving the electric machine at the construction site; calculates a predicted transition of the amount of stored power remaining in the battery on the basis of the received remaining amount of stored power; calculates a period in which power supply will be necessary on the basis of the predicted transition of the remaining amount of stored power; calculates the amount of electric power that can be received at the construction site in the period when the power supply will be necessary on the basis of the battery capacity of the battery and the predicted transition of the remaining amount of stored power; and creates a delivery plan for delivering the power storage device, in which electric power equal to or greater than the receivable amount is stored, to the construction site by the period when the power supply will be necessary. Thus, the required amount of electric power is delivered, at an appropriate timing, to the construction site where the electric construction machine operates.

Description

Power Distribution System

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric power distribution system that distributes an electric storage device storing electric power to a construction site where an electric construction machine is operated.

[0002] A technology is known that estimates the time to refuel a construction machine based on the operation information and remaining fuel information of the construction machine, and creates a fuel delivery plan based on the estimated refueling time and site position information (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent No. 4021638

[0004] Even at construction sites where construction machinery is in operation, ２ Demand for electric construction machinery using electric motors as prime movers is increasing to reduce power consumption. However, construction sites where electric construction machinery operates vary in size and environment. For example, some construction sites, such as road construction sites in mountainous areas, do not have access to a grid power supply. Furthermore, even at construction sites where grid power is available, the grid power supply may not be sufficient to operate the electric construction machinery satisfactorily. While installing large-capacity power supply equipment at construction sites is one way to secure power, the introduction of large-scale power supply equipment is expensive, and at small construction sites or construction sites with short construction periods, for example, the cost of such large-scale equipment may not be justified. Furthermore, at narrow construction sites, such as buried pipe installation sites in residential or urban areas, it may be difficult to install and transport power supply equipment due to constraints such as the site area and the width of access roads.

[0005] In addition, for construction sites that can use grid power, it is possible to secure the necessary electricity by entering into a contract with a power company. However, unlike fixed facilities such as factories that are expected to operate stably over the long term, construction sites are temporary and their electricity demand fluctuates depending on the progress of construction, making it difficult to flexibly respond to the site's electricity demand without excess or shortage through a contract.

[0006] One solution is to store electricity in a power storage device and deliver it to the construction site. However, electricity has a lower energy density than fossil fuels such as diesel, and compared to engine-driven construction machinery, which can operate for several days on a single refueling, electric construction machinery can only operate for a shorter period of time on a single charge. Even when electric construction machinery starts work with sufficient remaining power, it may run out of power during the day depending on the workload. Therefore, it is necessary to deliver sufficient power to the construction site in a timely manner before the electric construction machinery becomes inoperable. On the other hand, there are also limitations on the amount of power that can be received at the construction site at the time the power arrives, and if the amount of delivered power is excessively large compared to the required amount, the prepared power may be wasted.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power distribution system that can distribute the required amount of electric power at an appropriate timing to a construction site where electric construction machines are operating.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electric power distribution system including a control device that creates a delivery plan for delivering an electric storage device that stores electric power from a delivery facility for the electric storage device to a construction site where electric machines, including electric construction machines, are operated, wherein the control device receives the remaining charge of a battery that stores electric power to drive the electric machines at the construction site, calculates a predicted trend in the remaining charge of the battery based on the received remaining charge, calculates a time when power replenishment will be required based on the predicted trend in the remaining charge, calculates the amount of electric power that can be accepted by the construction site at the time when power replenishment will be required based on the battery capacity of the battery and the predicted trend in the remaining charge, and creates a delivery plan for delivering the electric storage device that has stored electric power equal to or greater than the amount that can be accepted to the construction site by the time when power replenishment is required.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to deliver the required amount of power at the appropriate time to a construction site where an electric construction machine is operating.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a construction site or the like to which an electricity storage device is to be delivered by the electricity distribution system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a construction site to which an electricity storage device is to be delivered by the electricity distribution system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main functions of a control device constituting the electricity distribution system of the present invention related to the creation of a power distribution plan. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an algorithm related to the creation of a power distribution plan by a control device constituting the electricity distribution system of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an algorithm related to the creation of a power distribution plan by a control device constituting the electricity distribution system of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electricity storage device and a delivery machine deployed in a delivery facility for an electricity storage device. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing another example of an electricity storage device and a delivery machine deployed in a delivery facility for an electricity storage device. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for creating a power distribution plan by a control device constituting the electricity distribution system of the present invention.

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] -Construction Site- Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a construction site or the like to which an electricity storage device is delivered by the electricity delivery system of the present invention.

[0013] The construction site S shown in Fig. 1 is a work site where electric machines, including electric construction machines, operate. The electric machines operating at the construction site S may include electric construction machines using electric motors as prime movers, as well as machines other than electric construction machines, such as battery equipment 202, lighting fixtures 151, power tools 152, and electric vehicles 153. At the construction site S illustrated in Fig. 1, power received from a power grid G ​​is supplied to each electric machine via a distribution board 301 and a cable container (power tap) 251.

[0014] The electric construction machine includes, for example, at least one of a battery-powered hydraulic excavator 101 equipped with an internal battery 201, and a cable-connected hydraulic excavator 102 that operates while receiving a supply of power from an external power source (a power grid G ​​or a battery facility 202) connected to the external power source via a power cable L without going through a battery. The internal battery 201 is, for example, a 200 kWh lithium-ion battery. If the internal battery 201 can be discharged while being charged, the battery-powered hydraulic excavator 101 can also operate while receiving a supply of power from the external power source via the power cable L.

[0015] Electric construction machines such as hydraulic excavators 101, 102 are equipped with a controller 110, which is a computer that controls on-board electrical equipment including an electric motor, and a GNSS sensor 111 ( FIG. 3 ) that acquires current position data from GNSS satellite Y. In the battery-powered hydraulic excavator 101, the controller 110 monitors the remaining charge (SOC) [kWh] of the built-in battery 201. Note that although a hydraulic excavator has been given as an example of construction machinery, other construction machines such as a wheel loader or bulldozer may also be used as electric construction machinery.

[0016] The construction site S illustrated in FIG. 1 is equipped with a large-capacity battery facility (power bank) 202 as an external power source for the electric machinery. The battery facility 202 can discharge (while charging) while connected to the power grid G. The battery facility 202 has a large capacity of, for example, 400 kWh and is equipped with a charging / discharging device (not shown). The charging / discharging device can supply a constant AC power of, for example, 20 kW to the electric machinery and can rapidly charge the built-in battery 201 of the electric machinery at a constant power of, for example, 150 kW. While FIG. 1 illustrates a stationary battery facility 202 installed at the construction site S, depending on its size, the battery facility 202 may be configured to be towable, for example, by being mounted on a cart, and moved as needed within the construction site S. The battery facility 202 is equipped with a controller 210, which is a computer that controls charging and discharging by the charging / discharging device, and the remaining charge (SOC) [kWh] of the battery facility 202 is monitored by the controller 210.

[0017] However, the scale and environment of the sites where electric construction machines are operated vary, and it is not always possible to use the grid power supply G at the construction site S, and depending on the size of the construction site S, it may not be possible to secure the necessary power from the grid power supply G. Furthermore, regardless of whether the grid power supply G is available, there may be cases where a narrow construction site S, such as a roadside construction site as shown in Figure 2, does not have enough space to install the battery equipment 202, making it difficult to secure a power source.

[0018] -Power Distribution System- The power distribution system of the present invention includes a control device (computer 401, etc.) that creates a distribution plan for distributing a power storage device V that stores power, in other words, the power stored in the power storage device V, from a distribution center D that serves as a distribution facility for the power storage device V to a construction site S. The construction site S that monitors power using the control device may be one or multiple. The control device is a computer that has a storage device and a calculation device, and may be configured, for example, as a single computer 401, or may be configured so that functions are shared among multiple computers 401, 402 connected via a network NW such as the Internet, or may be configured to perform calculations on the cloud. When the control device is configured with multiple computers 401, 402, these multiple computers 401, 402 may be installed in separate facilities that are separate from each other.

[0019] As an example, in this embodiment, the control device is configured with a single computer 401, and hydraulic excavators 101 and 102 are operating as electric construction machines at the construction site S. The computer 401 is, for example, a server installed in a distribution center D that manages the construction site S. The computer 401 and the controllers 110 and 210 of the hydraulic excavators 101 and 102 and the battery equipment 202 are each connected to (or equipped with) a communication device (not shown, such as the communication device 410 in FIG. 3 ) connected to a local network of the construction site S, and are capable of bidirectional communication via the communication device. It is assumed that the distribution center D is located away from the construction site S. However, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , for example, the communication devices of the controllers 110 and 210 of the hydraulic excavators 101 and 102 and the battery equipment 202 are connected to a wireless base station X via a mobile phone communication network, while the communication device of the computer 401 is connected to the network NW, thereby connecting the controllers 110 and 210 to the computer 401 via the wireless base station X and the network NW.

[0020] The distribution center D is equipped with a plurality of delivery machines M, such as small trucks (e.g., light trucks), and a plurality of power storage devices V. The control device receives information such as the battery capacity [kWh] and remaining power storage capacity [kWh] of the batteries at the construction site S, and location information, and creates a distribution plan (described later) based on this data, including the timing of delivering power to the construction site S, the amount of power to be delivered, and the delivery route. The created distribution plan may also include the amount of power that needs to be delivered, such as the external dimensions, volume, or number of power storage devices V, as well as designation (candidates) of delivery machines that will deliver these power storage devices V. The distribution plan created by the control device is displayed on, for example, a monitor 55 connected to the computer 401, and notified to an operator (e.g., a dispatcher) at the distribution center D via the monitor 55. The operator, upon confirming the notification, arranges for the power storage devices V and the delivery machines in accordance with the distribution plan. Note that the means for notifying the operator is not limited to the monitor 55, and may be a mobile terminal (e.g., a smartphone, tablet PC, etc.) carried by the operator.

[0021] -Control Device- In the following description, the control device is assumed to be a computer 401. The computer 401 sequentially receives the remaining charge [kWh] of the batteries that store the power to drive the electric machines at the construction site S, and calculates a predicted transition of the remaining charge of the batteries at the construction site S based on the sequentially received remaining charge. The "batteries that store the power to drive the electric machines" referred to here are batteries deployed at the construction site S that have been set as targets for monitoring the remaining charge. In principle, batteries such as batteries of portable devices owned by workers working at the construction site S are not included in the monitored batteries. A representative monitored battery is the built-in battery of the electric machine (e.g., the built-in battery 201 in FIG. 1). Furthermore, if a battery facility (e.g., the battery facility 202 in FIG. 1) is installed at the construction site S, the battery facility is also included in the monitored batteries. If there are multiple batteries whose remaining charge is to be monitored, these multiple batteries are the monitored batteries.

[0022] Furthermore, the computer 401 calculates the time when the battery at the construction site S will need to be replenished with power based on the predicted change in the calculated remaining amount of stored power [kWh], and calculates the amount of power that the construction site S can accept at the time when the power replenishment is required based on the battery capacity [kWh] of the battery at the construction site S and the predicted change in the remaining amount of stored power [kWh].The computer 401 then creates a delivery plan for delivering the power storage device V that has stored the calculated acceptable amount of power to the construction site S by the time the power replenishment is required.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the main functions of computer 401 in relation to the creation of a power delivery plan, and Figs. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an algorithm in relation to the creation of a power delivery plan by computer 401. As shown in Fig. 3, computer 401 includes a remaining battery charge calculation unit 411, a battery capacity calculation unit 412, a power consumption calculation unit 413, a remaining charge transition prediction unit 414, a correction unit 415, a delivery route calculation unit 416, a delivery time calculation unit 417, a delivery power calculation unit 418, and a delivery plan creation unit 419. These are functions of computer 401, which is a control device, and may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit or by software.

[0024] The remaining power storage capacity calculation unit 411 calculates the remaining power storage capacity [kWh] of the battery at the construction site S. The battery at the construction site S is the monitored battery described above. For example, when the construction site S in FIG. 1 is the target for power delivery, the computer 401 receives the current remaining power storage capacity (SOC) [kWh] of the built-in battery 201 and the battery equipment 202 transmitted from the controller 110 of the hydraulic excavator 101, 102 and the controller 210 of the battery equipment 202 via the network NW and the communication device 410. The remaining power storage capacity calculation unit 411 sums the remaining power storage capacities of the built-in battery 201 and the battery equipment 202 to calculate the power storage capacity [kWh] of the construction site S. The remaining power storage capacity of the construction site S (for example, the remaining power storage capacities e1 to e5 in FIG. 4) is calculated sequentially and stored in an appropriate storage device, for example, the storage device 54 (FIG. 1) of the computer 401.

[0025] The battery capacity calculation unit 412 calculates the battery capacity E1 ( FIG. 4 ) of the battery at the construction site S. This battery capacity E1 [kWh] is the sum of the full charge capacities of each battery at the construction site S. For example, the battery capacity calculation unit 412 can calculate the battery capacity E1 by summing the full charge capacities of each battery previously input by the operator via the input device 56 ( FIG. 1 ) or the like and stored in the storage device 54. Alternatively, the sum of the full charge capacities of each battery may be previously input into the storage device 54 as the battery capacity E1 and read by the battery capacity calculation unit 412. A battery catalog may be downloaded via the network NW, and the individual full charge capacities of each battery may be obtained from the model and summed to obtain the battery capacity E1. Alternatively, the remaining charge values ​​of each battery at the construction site S may be summed (actual values) when the batteries are fully charged, and the sum may be stored in the storage device 54 as the battery capacity E1. The method for calculating the battery capacity E1 can be changed as appropriate.

[0026] The power consumption calculation unit 413 calculates the predicted trend in the total hourly power consumption [kW] of the construction site S based on the work plan for that day at the construction site S. The work plan is, for example, a daily plan for work at the construction site S created by a manager or the like (e.g., earth loading work from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, rest from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, etc.). Such work plans for a predetermined period are obtained in advance from the manager or the like of the construction site S, and the data is stored in the storage device 54 or the like. The predicted trend in total power consumption can be calculated for each time period by estimating the electric machines operating in each time period based on the work plan for that day and adding up the hourly power consumption [kW] of those electric machines. Note that the power consumption of each electric machine can be calculated by, for example, storing the rated output of each electric machine listed in a catalog or the like (e.g., 40 kW for the hydraulic excavator 101, 3 kW for the lighting fixture 151, etc.) in the storage device 54 and using this data. However, the power consumption of each electric machine may be an actual value (measured value), and the calculation method and basic data for the predicted trend in power consumption can be changed as appropriate.

[0027] The remaining charge transition prediction unit 414 calculates a predicted transition T(T0) (FIG. 4) of the remaining charge [kWh] of the battery at the construction site S based on the remaining charge e1, e2, ... [kWh] of the battery sequentially received and calculated by the remaining charge calculation unit 411. The predicted transition T(T0) of the remaining charge can be calculated, for example, by calculating a subsequent decrease ΔT [kWh] of the remaining charge of the battery per unit time from the remaining charge e1, e2, ... of the battery sequentially received and calculated by the remaining charge calculation unit 411, and subtracting ΔT from the current remaining charge (remaining charge e5 in FIG. 4) per unit time. However, the method of calculating the predicted change T in the remaining charge can be changed as appropriate, for example, by storing new (e.g., the previous day's) actual data on the change in the remaining charge of the battery at the construction site S in the memory device 54, and predicting the change in the remaining charge from the present based on the rate of decrease in the remaining charge calculated from this actual data and the current remaining charge.

[0028] The correction unit 415 corrects the predicted transition T(T0) of the remaining power storage capacity of the battery at the construction site S calculated by the remaining capacity transition prediction unit 414, based on the power consumption [kW] per hour of the electric machine calculated by the power consumption calculation unit 413 from the work plan for the construction site S. For example, if the hydraulic excavator 102 will be operating in addition to the hydraulic excavator 101 in one hour, or if the work of the hydraulic excavator 101 will shift to one with a heavier load in one hour, and an increase or decrease in the remaining power storage capacity is expected relative to the predicted transition T(T0), the correction unit 415 corrects the predicted transition T(T0) by taking into account the power consumption of the electric machine calculated from the work plan. The predicted transitions T1 and T2 shown by thick dashed lines in Figure 4 are the corrected predicted transitions T. The predicted transition T1 represents the corrected predicted transition T when a decrease in power consumption is expected in the future, and the predicted transition T2 represents the corrected predicted transition T when an increase in power consumption is expected in the future. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a predicted transition T (predicted transition T3) corrected based on the transition of power consumption that reflects the operation stop time period (e.g., break time) defined in the work plan.

[0029] The delivery route calculation unit 416 receives position information of electric construction machinery measured by the GNSS sensors 111 of the hydraulic excavators 101, 102, etc. and transmitted from the controller 110 as position information of the construction site S, and calculates a delivery route from the delivery center D to the construction site S based on map data stored in the storage device 54 (or obtained from the network NW via the communication device 410). As the position information of the construction site S, a representative point of the construction site S (for example, position information of a site office, etc.) may be stored in advance in the storage device 54.

[0030] The delivery time calculation unit 417 calculates a power replenishment time t1 ( FIG. 4 ), which is the time (date and time) when power replenishment is required at the construction site S, based on the predicted change T of the remaining amount of stored power [kWh] at the construction site S calculated by the remaining amount change prediction unit 414. The power replenishment time t1 is, for example, the date and time when the predicted change T decreases to a preset value E0 for the remaining amount of stored power [kWh] of the battery at the construction site S. The set value E0 is a value set at the construction site S that is larger by a predetermined margin than the lower limit value of the remaining amount of stored power (for example, the value at which each electric machine stops operating), and is set for each construction site S. For example, in the example of Figure 4, if the predicted progression T is not corrected by the correction unit 415, the date and time when the predicted progression T (T0) decreases to the set value E0 is the time t1 when power replenishment is required, and if the predicted progression T is corrected by the correction unit 415, the date and time when the predicted progression T (T1), T (T2), or T (T3) in Figure 4 or Figure 5 decreases to the set value E0 is the time t1 when power replenishment is required.

[0031] Furthermore, the delivery time calculation unit 417 calculates a delivery start time t2 at which to start delivering electricity, based on the calculated power replenishment requirement time t1 and the delivery route calculated by the delivery route calculation unit 416. The delivery start time t2 is the date and time at which the delivery machine M that delivers the power storage device V departs from the delivery center D. For example, the delivery time, i.e., the time required to transport the power storage device V from the delivery center D to the construction site S, can be calculated based on the delivery route calculated by the delivery route calculation unit 416, and the delivery start time t2 can be calculated by calculating backward from the power replenishment requirement time t1. In other words, the delivery start time t2 is, for example, a date and time that precedes the power replenishment requirement time t1 by the delivery time. Note that the delivery start time t2 may be corrected based on traffic information (such as traffic congestion information) and weather information obtained from the network NW.

[0032] Furthermore, since delivering the power storage device V during work hours at the construction site S may force the electric machinery to be temporarily stopped for power replenishment, if the work plan identifies the downtime period at the construction site S for that day and the power replenishment requirement time t1 calculated based on the set value E0 falls during work hours, the delivery time calculation unit 417 may offset (advance) the power replenishment requirement time t1 calculated based on the set value E0 to the start of the downtime period, as shown in Figure 5. Note that the "downtime period" here refers to a period during which the electric machinery at the construction site S is stopped from operating for a predetermined period of time or longer, such as a break time or the time from the end of work to the start of work the next day, and is the period that precedes and is closest to the power replenishment requirement time t1 calculated based on the set value E0.

[0033] The delivery power calculation unit 418 calculates the amount of electricity [kWh] that the construction site S can accept at the power replenishment time t1 based on the battery capacity [kWh] calculated by the battery capacity calculation unit 412 and the predicted change T of the remaining amount of stored electricity [kWh] calculated by the remaining amount change prediction unit 414 (or corrected by the correction unit 415). As an example, the acceptable amount can be calculated by calculating the difference between the battery capacity E1 calculated by the battery capacity calculation unit 412 and the above-mentioned set value E0. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , when the power replenishment time t1 is offset to the start of a downtime period, the predicted remaining amount E2 of the total amount of stored electricity in the batteries of the construction site S at that time may be calculated, and the difference between the battery capacity E1 and the predicted remaining amount E2 may be calculated as the acceptable amount.

[0034] The delivery plan creation unit 419 creates a delivery plan for delivering the power storage device V, which has stored the acceptable amount of power [kWh] calculated by the delivery power calculation unit 418, to the construction site S by the power replenishment requirement time t1 calculated by the delivery time calculation unit 417, and notifies the operator of the plan. A delivery center D, which is a delivery facility for the power storage devices V, has multiple charged power storage devices V prepared, and the delivery plan creation unit 419 selects a power storage device V of a size corresponding to the acceptable amount of power from among the multiple power storage devices V prepared at the delivery center D as the power storage device to be delivered to the construction site S. The remaining amount of stored power of each power storage device V prepared at the delivery center D is individually managed, and it is preferable that those that can be delivered be kept in a predetermined charge state (e.g., fully charged). Furthermore, it is more preferable that the power stored in the power storage device V be power generated from renewable energy, for example, power generated by the wind power generator G1 shown in FIG. 1, solar power generation, wave power generation, geothermal power generation, or other power generation using renewable energy.

[0035] The size of the power storage device V refers to the amount of power it can receive. As shown in FIG. 6, power storage devices V1, V2, V3, and V4 with different external dimensions or capacities are prepared, and the combination of these power storage devices V1 to V4 ensures power of the available capacity [kWh]. The amount of power to be ensured may be equal to the available amount, but it is expected that the total battery capacity of the selected power storage devices V will often not match the available amount, and may exceed the available amount. The larger the external dimensions or capacity of the power storage devices V1, V2, V3, and V4 in FIG. 6, the larger the battery capacity (V1<V2<V3<V4).

[0036] 7, the battery capacities or external dimensions of the storage devices prepared may be standardized by standardizing the multiple storage devices V prepared at the delivery center D to the same product (storage device V1 in the example shown in the figure). In this case, the delivery plan creation unit 419 adjusts the size by the number of storage devices V1, thereby ensuring the acceptable amount of power. Standardizing the storage devices V to relatively small sizes allows for flexible adjustment of the power to be delivered.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the delivery center D is equipped with a variety of delivery machines M for delivering the power storage device V. In the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7 , delivery machines M1, M2, M3, and M4 with different maximum load weights are deployed. The delivery machines M1 and M2 are relatively large trucks or trailers, while the delivery machine M3 is a relatively small truck (e.g., a light truck). The delivery method for the power storage device V is not limited to land transport; a delivery machine M4 other than a vehicle, such as an aircraft (e.g., a drone), can also be used. The delivery plan creation unit 419 selects a delivery machine M with a maximum load weight appropriate for the size of the power storage device V as a means for delivering the power storage device V to the construction site S. Note that multiple delivery machines M may be selected. Furthermore, by using, for example, light trucks with small maneuverability as the delivery machines M (delivery machine M3), it is possible to flexibly respond to locations along the delivery route that are difficult for large vehicles to pass through.

[0038] As described above, the delivery plan creation unit 419 selects the power storage device V to be delivered and the delivery machine M that will deliver it, and automatically displays this information together with the delivery route and destination (construction site S), the power replenishment required time t1, the delivery start time t2, etc. in a predetermined format on, for example, the monitor 55, and notifies the operator (arrangement officer, etc.) of the delivery center D. Note that requests other than the power storage device V at the construction site S (for example, a request to deliver parts α or food and drink β together with the next delivery of the power storage device V) may be stored in the storage device 54, and requested items to be delivered to the construction site S together with the power storage device V may be included in the delivery plan items.

[0039] - Flowchart - Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for creating a power delivery plan by the computer 401. The computer 401 repeatedly executes the process of Figure 8, for example, at predetermined time intervals.

[0040] 8 starts, the computer 401 first acquires various data (step S801). The various data includes, for example, the remaining charge of each battery in the construction site S, the battery capacity, the power consumption of the electric machines, the location information of each electric machine, the work plan for the construction site S, etc.

[0041] Next, the computer 401 calculates the total value [kWh] of the battery capacity of the construction site S using the battery capacity calculation unit 412 as described above (step S802).

[0042] Furthermore, as described above, the computer 401 calculates the current total remaining amount of electricity [kWh] at the construction site S using the remaining amount of electricity calculation unit 411 (step S803), and calculates the predicted change T of the total remaining amount of electricity using the remaining amount change prediction unit 414 (step S804).

[0043] Furthermore, as described above, the computer 401 predicts the power consumption [kW] of the construction site S based on the work plan using the power consumption calculation unit 413 (step S805), and corrects the predicted trend T of the total remaining storage capacity [kWh] based on the predicted power consumption (step S806).

[0044] Furthermore, as described above, the computer 401 calculates the delivery route of the storage device V using the delivery route calculation unit 416 from the location information of the construction site S identified based on the location information acquired, for example, by the GNSS sensor 111 of the electric construction machine (step S807).

[0045] Next, as described above, the computer 401 calculates the time t1 when power replenishment is required and the time t2 when delivery will begin based on the predicted trend T of the remaining power storage capacity [kWh] at the construction site S and the transportation route, etc. (step S808), and also calculates the amount of power [kWh] that can be accepted by the construction site S at the time t1 when power replenishment is required (step S809).

[0046] Furthermore, as described above, the computer 401 selects the storage battery V to be delivered based on the amount of electricity [kWh] that the construction site S can accept (step S810), selects a delivery machine M according to the selected storage battery V (step S811), creates a delivery plan and notifies the operator (step S812), and ends the processing of Figure 8.

[0047] Effect (1) According to the present embodiment, power stored in the power storage device V can be delivered to a construction site S where electric machines, including electric construction machines such as hydraulic excavators 101 and 102, are operating, at an appropriate timing before the remaining power storage capacity at the construction site S runs low. If the construction site S is tight on space, power may be transferred from the delivered power storage device V to the built-in battery 201 of the hydraulic excavator 101, or if there is space at the construction site S to store the power storage device V, the power storage device V may be left at the construction site S before returning. In the latter case, a configuration can be adopted in which the used power storage device V is collected when the charged power storage device V is delivered. In either case, at a construction site S where a grid power source G is unavailable or where a large-capacity battery facility 202 cannot be installed, construction work can be prevented from being interrupted due to a power shortage. Furthermore, at a construction site S where securing power is difficult, the number of options for securing power is increased, which contributes to flexible operation of the construction site S. In addition, when delivering electricity to the construction site S, the amount of electricity that can be received at the construction site S is determined and the required amount of electricity is delivered, thereby reducing waste in the delivered electricity.

[0048] Furthermore, various advantages can be obtained at the construction site S in terms of cost, work efficiency, and convenience. For example, in terms of cost, if large-scale power supply equipment is no longer necessary, the purchase costs (initial costs) of power supply equipment and the like can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, by not having large-scale equipment at the construction site S, equipment maintenance costs (running costs) can also be significantly reduced. In terms of work efficiency, the risk of work being interrupted due to power supply equipment failure is reduced, and the work of moving electric construction machinery to power supply equipment for charging is eliminated, thereby reducing the downtime of electric construction machinery due to power replenishment. In terms of convenience, many advantages can be obtained, such as the ability to use electric construction machinery at construction sites S that do not have a grid power source G, the ability to receive the necessary amount of power replenishment when needed, the elimination of the need to remove, transport, and install power supply equipment every time the construction site S moves, and the elimination of the need for charging (this can be done by a power delivery company).

[0049] Furthermore, when electricity derived from renewable energy is stored in the power storage device V, using the delivery of this power storage device V will lead to social contributions such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, when the power storage device V is charged in the area of ​​the construction site S, electricity will be procured and consumed in the same area, which is expected to contribute to local production and consumption, local job creation, and regional revitalization.

[0050] (2) When a work plan for the construction site S can be obtained, the power consumption of the electric machinery at the construction site S can be calculated based on the work plan, and the predicted change T in the remaining battery charge at the construction site S can be corrected. This allows the change in the remaining battery charge at the construction site S to be predicted more accurately, improving the timeliness of power delivery.

[0051] (3) Furthermore, the amount of electricity that the construction site S can accept at the time of delivery of the electricity is determined, and a power storage device V of that size is selected and delivered to the construction site S. In this case, there is no need to transport a power storage device V that is larger than necessary, and the energy required to deliver the power storage device V can be reduced.

[0052] (4) Furthermore, by preparing a plurality of charged power storage devices V in advance and delivering the required number of power storage devices V according to the amount of power that can be received at the construction site S, it is possible to quickly prepare the power to be delivered, shorten the time required to prepare the power, and speed up the power delivery. In this case, by standardizing the battery capacity and external dimensions of the power storage devices V, the adjustment of the amount of power to be delivered is leveled out and the loading efficiency of the power storage devices V on the delivery machine M is improved, which is even more effective.

[0053] (5) Furthermore, for example, when delivering electricity to a small-scale construction site S with a narrow delivery route, if a large vehicle is uniformly used regardless of the size (acceptable amount) of the power storage device V to be delivered, it is expected that delivery of electricity to the construction site S will be time-consuming. In contrast, as in the present embodiment, a delivery machine M with a different maximum load weight can be selected as the delivery machine M that delivers the power storage device V to the construction site S depending on the size (acceptable amount) of the power storage device V to be delivered. Therefore, for example, when delivering a relatively small amount of electricity, electricity can be delivered more quickly by transporting a small-sized power storage device V using a small delivery machine M3 (e.g., a light truck) that is agile.

[0054] 101, 102... Hydraulic excavator (electric construction machine, electric machine), 151... Lighting equipment (electric machine), 152... Power tool (electric machine), 153... Electric vehicle (electric machine), 201... Internal battery (battery), 202... Battery equipment (battery), 401, 402... Computer (control device), D... Distribution center (distribution facility), e1 to e5... Remaining power storage amount, E1... Battery capacity, M, M1 to M4... Distribution machine, S... Construction site, t1... Power supply required time (time when power supply is required), T, T1 to T3... Predicted transition, V, V1 to V4... Power storage device

Claims

1. An electric power distribution system including a control device that creates a delivery plan for delivering an electric storage device that stores electric power from a delivery facility for the electric storage device to a construction site where electric machinery, including electric construction machinery, is operated, wherein the control device: receives the remaining charge of a battery that stores electric power to drive the electric machinery at the construction site; calculates a predicted transition of the remaining charge of the battery based on the received remaining charge; calculates a time when electric power replenishment will be required based on the predicted transition of the remaining charge; calculates the amount of electric power that can be accepted by the construction site at the time when electric power replenishment will be required based on the battery capacity of the battery and the predicted transition of the remaining charge; and creates a delivery plan for delivering the electric storage device that has stored electric power equal to or greater than the maximum amount of electric power that can be accepted to the construction site by the time when electric power replenishment will be required.

2. An electric power distribution system as described in claim 1, wherein the control device calculates the power consumption of the electric machine based on the input work plan for the construction site, and corrects the predicted trend in the remaining charge of the battery based on the calculated power consumption.

3. An electric power distribution system as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of charged storage devices are prepared at the distribution facility, and the control device selects from the storage devices prepared at the distribution facility the storage device corresponding to the acceptable amount of electricity as the storage device to be distributed to the construction site.

4. An electric power distribution system as described in claim 3, wherein the distribution facility is provided with a plurality of charged electric storage devices with different external dimensions or capacities, and the control device selects from the electric storage devices provided at the distribution facility the electric storage device with the external dimensions or capacity corresponding to the acceptable amount of electric power as the electric storage device to be distributed to the construction site.

5. An electric power distribution system as described in claim 3, wherein the distribution facility is provided with a plurality of charged electric storage devices with the same external dimensions or capacity, and the control device selects from the electric storage devices provided at the distribution facility a number of electric storage devices corresponding to the acceptable amount of electric power as electric storage devices to be distributed to the construction site.

6. An electric power distribution system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the distribution facility is provided with a plurality of delivery machines with different maximum load weights for delivering the electric storage devices, and the control device selects the delivery machine with the maximum load weight corresponding to the outer diameter dimensions or number of the electric storage devices as a means for delivering the electric storage devices to the construction site.

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