Appliance Control Device for Real-Time Electricity Cost Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical equipment control systems fail to efficiently manage operation times of household appliances under real-time pricing systems, leading to user inconvenience and increased electricity costs due to frequent changes in inexpensive electricity periods.
Innovation Solution
An electrical equipment control device that receives user-defined operation start or termination times, sets a time-shift period, and computes optimal operation times based on fluctuating electricity charges to minimize billing costs while maintaining user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If operation times are fixed based on pre-set contracts, then user convenience is maintained, but electricity costs increase due to inability to adapt to real-time pricing changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic operation time adjustment by allowing the operation start/termination times to be flexibly shifted within a predetermined time range based on real-time electricity charge information. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to optimize electricity costs while maintaining user convenience through the configurable time range parameter.
2Loss of energy
If operation times are frequently adjusted to match inexpensive electricity periods, then electricity costs decrease, but user convenience deteriorates due to unpredictable operation termination times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining a permissible time shift range before operation. This predetermined range acts as a boundary constraint that ensures operation termination times remain within acceptable limits for user convenience, while still allowing optimization within that range based on electricity pricing.
3Loss of energy
If real-time pricing information is continuously monitored and operation times are dynamically adjusted, then electricity costs are minimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting operation timing parameters based on electricity charge information. The system monitors pricing parameters and modifies operation start/termination times within the predetermined range, achieving cost optimization through parameter adjustment rather than complex system restructuring.
Data Source
AI summary
An equipment control device has: a reception unit for receiving desired time information indicating a desired operation start time or a desired operation termination time, operation period information and electrical power information; a time-shift period setting unit for setting a time-shift period indicating a period which has a time range including the desired time information and during which the operation start time or the operation termination time of a household appliance is shiftable; an electrical power charge information acquisition unit for acquiring electrical power charge information; an operation time computing unit for computing the operation start time or the operation termination time, on the basis of which the electricity charge that is billed when the household appliance is operated within the time-shift period falls to or below a predetermined charge; and a transmission unit for transmitting the operation start time or the operation termination time to the household appliance.