Power Demand Control for Presswork Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric power demand control methods at facilities like factories often decrease production efficiency and cause environmental deterioration by not considering the timely operation state of devices, leading to inefficient selection of targets for demand control.

Innovation Solution

An electric power demand control system that calculates the total time lengths of working and non-working states of devices and determines the ratio to select targets for demand control, instructing devices with low operation rates to shift to non-working states, thereby avoiding decreases in production efficiency and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional demand control methods forcibly stop devices to reduce power consumption, then electric power consumption is reduced, but production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric power consumptionVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the selection parameter from simple power consumption amount to the ratio of non-working state time to working state time. This allows selecting devices that are already frequently idle, so stopping them causes minimal production impact while still achieving power reduction goals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors device operation states and uses this feedback to dynamically select optimal targets for demand control, ensuring that only devices with low production impact are selected for power reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If devices are stopped for demand control without considering their operation state, then power consumption is reduced, but environmental deterioration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidenvironmental deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new selection criterion based on operation state ratios rather than just power consumption levels, enabling more intelligent selection of demand control targets that minimizes environmental harm while achieving power reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If demand control targets are selected based on power consumption amount alone, then power reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower reductionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal selection criterion (operation state ratio) that can be applied to any device regardless of its specific function or power consumption characteristics, simplifying the control system logic while achieving effective power reduction across diverse devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3116082B1Power demand control device, power demand control method, power demand control system, program, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 OMRON CORP
  • EP3116082B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3116082B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3116082B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric power demand control system (100) selects a presswork device (3) as a target of electric power demand control in a case where the ratio of the total time length of a non-working state of the presswork device (3) within a time period to the total time length of a working state of the presswork device (3) within the time period is larger than a threshold. This makes it possible to alleviate, for example, (i) a decrease in production efficiency caused by electric power demand at a facility at which devices are installed and (ii) environmental deterioration due to electric power demand.