Weather-Correlated Power Forecasting for Home Energy Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operation support systems for electrical equipment do not effectively correlate and display the operating conditions with weather information, leading to inefficient energy usage and operation.

Innovation Solution

An operation support system that integrates a control device, input device, display device, communication device, electric power meters, illumination sensors, and temperature sensors to create a weather database and propose optimal operation plans based on current and forecasted weather data, allowing users to visualize and manage power consumption efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If operation support systems display power consumption of electrical equipment, then user awareness of power saving is increased, but the system does not effectively correlate operating conditions with weather information leading to inefficient energy usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrelation between operating conditions and weather informationVSAvoidenergy usage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines weather information (temperature, humidity, weather forecasts) with electrical equipment operation data into a unified display system. The control device integrates multiple data sources including weather data from communication devices and operation data from sensors, merging them into correlated information that shows both environmental conditions and equipment status together, enabling users to see the relationship between weather and power consumption patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by displaying correlated weather and operation information to users, who then adjust equipment operation based on this feedback. The control device continuously monitors both weather conditions and equipment operation, provides visual feedback through the display device showing the correlation, and enables users to modify operation plans accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that improves energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the system integrates multiple devices including control device, communication device, and sensors to correlate weather information with equipment operation, then energy usage is optimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy usage optimizationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device serves multiple functions: it controls electrical equipment operation, receives and processes weather information from communication devices, collects sensor data from temperature and humidity sensors, correlates all this information, and displays results. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate systems into a single universal control unit, managing complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality

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

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary that bridges weather information sources and equipment operation systems. It receives weather data through communication devices, processes this information alongside sensor readings, and generates correlated operation recommendations. This intermediary role simplifies the system architecture by centralizing the correlation logic in one component rather than requiring direct integration between all elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2717072B1Electrical power forecasting system monitoring weather information and state of use of electrical equipement
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2717072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2717072B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2717072B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The total electric power that is supplied to a house, the electric power that is consumed by electrical equipment that is used in the house, and electric power that is generated by an electric power generator are automatically displayed together with weather information that indicates the weather every hour. As a result, a user is able to check the amount of electric power consumed by the electrical equipment according to the weather, or check the amount of electric power that is generated according to the weather. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently operate the electrical equipment according to the weather.