Hot water supply control system, server, hot water supply control method and program
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hot-water storage-type water heaters often cause peak power consumption during high usage periods, leading to increased electricity billing rates and equipment costs, especially in multi-unit housing complexes, due to simultaneous water-heating operations.
Innovation Solution
A hot-water supply control system that sets a water-heating threshold based on real-time power consumption data, reducing the likelihood of water-heating operations during peak hours by adjusting the threshold according to measured power consumption levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water heaters perform water-heating operations during high power consumption periods to ensure hot water supply, then hot water availability is improved, but peak power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water-heating threshold is made dynamic by adjusting it based on real-time power consumption levels. When power consumption is high, the threshold is raised to prevent water-heating operations; when power consumption is low, the threshold is lowered to allow operations. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to changing power conditions while ensuring hot water supply when feasible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors power consumption and uses this feedback to adjust the water-heating threshold. The control unit receives power consumption information and dynamically modifies the threshold accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that balances hot water supply needs with peak power reduction goals.
2Reliability
If water heaters use a fixed water-heating threshold to ensure adequate hot water storage, then hot water availability is improved, but electricity billing costs increase due to peak power charges
Solution Approach 1:
The water-heating threshold transitions from a fixed value to a dynamic value that changes based on power consumption conditions. This allows the system to avoid water-heating operations during high-power periods when electricity rates are higher, thereby reducing billing costs while maintaining adequate hot water supply during low-power periods when rates are lower.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the threshold parameter dynamically based on power consumption levels. By adjusting this key parameter according to real-time conditions, the system optimizes the balance between hot water availability and electricity cost management, avoiding operations during expensive peak periods.
3Reliability
If multiple water heaters operate simultaneously during the same time period to meet hot water demand, then hot water supply reliability is improved, but peak power consumption increases due to aggregated load
Solution Approach 1:
Each water heater's operating threshold is dynamically adjusted based on overall power consumption levels, causing heaters to operate at different times rather than simultaneously. This staggered operation pattern maintains hot water supply reliability across the community while preventing aggregated peak power consumption that would result from synchronized operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic assessment of power consumption levels and adjusts water-heating operations accordingly. By using time-based thresholds that change with power conditions, the system distributes water-heating operations across different time periods, avoiding simultaneous operation of multiple heaters and reducing aggregated peak load.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A hot-water supply control system (1) includes a hot-water storage tank (60), a water heater (50), power consumption acquisition means, and water-heating threshold setting means. When a hot-water amount of the hot-water storage tank (60) falls below a water-heating threshold, the water heater (50) performs water heating. The power consumption acquisition means acquires a power consumption consumed by electrical appliances including the water heater (50). When the power consumption acquired by the power consumption acquisition means indicates a first power consumption that is greater than a power consumption threshold, the water-heating threshold setting means sets the water-heating threshold to a first value and when the power consumption acquired by the power consumption acquisition means indicates a second power consumption that is less than the power consumption threshold, the water-heating threshold setting means sets the water-heating threshold to a second value that is greater than the first value.