JP2002247757A - Demand monitor control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a demand monitor control system which can eliminate the problem of a prior art such that, when power consumption increases rapidly, the amount of power probably exceeds an upper limit during a period which is required to attain a reduction rate for conrolling available power and that when the available power once exceeds the reduced rate, even if the available power is reduced later, the system operates in a control pattern at this reduced rate. SOLUTION: This demand monitor control system comprises an available- power target-amount storing section which stores a plurality of available-power target amount, a control-pattern storing section for storing a available power control method for a power load in relation to the available-power target amount, an available-power estimating section for estimating an available power within a demand period and a control section for determining the available- power control method of the power load to execute the available power control, by comparing an available-power estimated amount with the available-power target amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a demand monitoring control for controlling the operating state of a plurality of power loads connected to a common power supply line so that the amount of power used within a predetermined time is kept within a certain upper limit. It is about the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, some demand monitoring control systems for controlling the amount of power consumption have been provided because it is necessary to save electricity bills by reducing the amount of power consumption. In these demand monitoring and control systems, the upper limit of the demand time period, which is a unit of monitoring time of power consumption, is 30 minutes, and the demand control time is synchronized with the demand start time of the used power monitoring device within the demand time period installed by the power company. It is generally set to start.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conventional demand monitoring and control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-309037. In FIG. 16, first, the user operates a keyboard or a touch panel to set a use upper limit electric energy (step (hereinafter, referred to as “S”)) 60.
1). Further, the user operates the keyboard or the touch panel to set the reduction rate at the time of starting operation of each air conditioner (S6).
02). Here, it is set to 10%.

When the system is operated, the operation control pattern corresponding to the input reduction rate of 10% is read, and the operation of each air conditioner is started according to the operation control pattern (S603). Next, it is determined whether 30 minutes have elapsed, that is, whether the current time is during the demand time period or the demand time period ends (S604). S605). Next, the predicted use power amount 30 minutes after the calculated current use power amount is predicted (S606), and the predicted use power amount and the use upper limit power amount are compared (S60).
7) If the predicted usage power does not exceed the usage upper limit power, the operation control pattern at the same reduction rate is continued (S608). If the usage prediction power exceeds the usage upper limit power, Increases the reduction rate by 10% (S609).

Next, it is determined whether the reduction rate is 50% or less (S610). If the reduction rate after the increase is 50% or less,
The operation pattern corresponding to the reduction rate increased in S609 is read in S603, and the operation from S604 is performed.
When the reduction rate after the increase exceeds 50%, the operation of all the power loads is stopped (S611).

[0006] This operation is repeated at a fixed interval until the demand time period is reached in S604, and when it is determined in S604 that the demand time period is reached, it is confirmed whether or not to continue demand monitoring control (S612). When the control is to be continued, the demand monitoring control is restarted at the reduction rate of 30 minutes before (S613).

[0007]

However, the conventional demand monitoring and control system has a configuration in which the reduction rate is increased step by step by 10% as described above. However, there is a problem that it takes a certain amount of time to achieve a reduction rate that is sufficient to suppress the power consumption, and during that time, the power usage may exceed the upper limit.

Further, once the reduction rate is set, there is a problem that even if the power consumption is reduced thereafter, the operation is performed according to the control pattern at the reduction rate. That is, if the reduction rate increases due to a temporary increase in the power consumption, the operation stabilizes thereafter, the power consumption decreases, and the predicted power consumption becomes significantly smaller than the upper limit power consumption. However, since the operation is performed according to the control pattern corresponding to the increased reduction rate, in the case of a device pursuing comfort such as an air conditioner, the comfort is unnecessarily impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a demand monitoring control system capable of immediately responding to a sudden increase in power consumption. . Further, the second object is to monitor the margin of the used electric energy with respect to the upper limit electric energy and the control continuation time, and to reduce the reduction rate by following the decrease in the used electric energy when the used electric energy decreases. By providing a demand monitoring control system that can perform optimal demand control and minimize the reduction in comfort even when equipment that seeks comfort such as an air conditioner becomes a power load. is there.

[0010]

A demand monitoring control system according to the present invention comprises: a target power consumption storage unit storing a plurality of target power consumptions; and a power consumption of a power load associated with the target power consumption. A control pattern storage unit that stores a control method, a power consumption prediction unit that predicts power consumption within a demand time period, and power consumption control of a power load by comparing the predicted power consumption with a target power consumption. A determination / control unit for determining a method and performing power consumption control is provided.

Further, the demand monitoring control system according to the present invention comprises a target power consumption storage unit storing a plurality of target power consumptions, and a power load power consumption at a control level associated with the target power consumption. The control pattern storage unit that stores the control method, the power consumption prediction unit that predicts the power consumption within the demand time period, and determines the control level by comparing the predicted power consumption and the target power consumption, Further, the control level comparing the determined control level with the current control level corresponding to the currently used power control method, and changing the determined control level to the current control level only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. It is provided with a determination unit and a power load control unit that controls the power consumption of the power load based on the current control level.

[0012] Further, the control level determining section determines whether the determined control level is different from the current control level corresponding to the currently used power control method, and only when a predetermined time has elapsed. The determined control level is changed to the current control level.

[0013] Further, the control level judging section corresponds to the case where the power reduction method corresponding to the determined control level has a larger power reduction rate than the currently used power control method, and to the determined control level. The power control method in which the power reduction rate is smaller than that of the currently used power control method, but changes the determined control level to the current control level only when a predetermined period of time has elapsed. And

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a demand monitoring control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a demand monitoring control system includes a set value input unit 1 for a user to input various set values, a target power consumption storage unit 2 for storing a target power consumption input from the set value input unit 1, , Set value input unit 1
A control pattern storage unit 3 for storing a control pattern, which is a power consumption control method for each control level, which is input from a power supply, a power consumption measurement unit 4 for measuring the power consumption of a power load, and a power consumption measurement unit 4. A power consumption storage unit 5 for storing the measured power consumption at regular intervals, and a power consumption for predicting a power consumption within a demand time period from the power consumption at regular intervals stored in the power consumption storage unit 5 A power level prediction unit 6, a control level determining unit 7 for determining a control level to be performed from the predicted power consumption input from the power consumption prediction unit 6 and the target power consumption stored in the target power consumption storage 2. A power load control unit 8 that controls the power load based on the control level of the power load input from the control level determination unit 7 and the control pattern stored in the control pattern storage unit 3, and a power load 9 such as an air conditioner. In is mainly composed. The control level determination unit 7 and the power load control unit 8 constitute a determination / control unit.

Next, the relationship among the target power consumption, the control level, and the control pattern will be described with reference to the relationship diagram of FIG. FIG. 2A is a relationship diagram showing the relationship between the target power consumption and the control level. Here, the target power consumption is
Two target power consumptions of 1 and 2 are defined, and
The control level is "0" when the predicted power consumption is equal to or less than the target power consumption 1, and the control level is "1" when the predicted power consumption exceeds the target power consumption 1 and is equal to or lower than the target power consumption 2. The control level when the power amount exceeds 2 is set to “2”. FIG. 2B is a relationship diagram showing a relationship between each control level and a control pattern. The control pattern corresponds to the control level, and the operation of the power load is set such that the effect of suppressing the power consumption increases as the control level increases. In FIG. 2B, when the control level is “0”, the power loads 9A to 9C are set to stop once every 30 minutes for 5 minutes while shifting the time, and when the control level is “1”. In this case, the power loads 9A to 9C are set to stop twice every 30 minutes for 5 minutes while shifting the time, and when the control level is "2", the settings are set to stop all. .

The control pattern to be set is not limited to this, and can be arbitrarily set by the user from the set value input unit 1. For example, when the power load is an air conditioner, control items such as setting temperature adjustment to increase the set temperature during the cooling operation and decreasing the set temperature during the heating operation and operation mode switching to switch the operation mode to the ventilation mode. May be set.

Next, the operation of the demand monitoring control system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the power consumption prediction unit 6 predicts the power consumption within the demand time period from the power consumption stored in the power consumption storage unit 5 (S101). This specific method will be described with reference to the relationship graph of FIG. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the current power consumption (for x) is A [kW
h], assuming that the power consumption one minute before the current time ((x−1) minutes) is B [kWh], the power consumption within the demand time period is predicted one minute before the end of the demand time period. From the current power consumption to the present (slope: θ in the figure)
The power consumption of the power load changes as it is (dotted line in the figure)
It is calculated assuming that That is, when the increase in power consumption (AB [kWh]) from one minute before the present to the present is used during the remaining time ((30-x) minutes) until the end of the demand time, the demand time The power consumption until the end is (A−B) × (30−x) [kWh], and the power consumption within the demand time period is A + (A−B) × (30−x).
[KWh].

After calculating the estimated power consumption in S101,
Next, in the control level determination unit 7, the target power consumption storage unit 2
The control power level is determined by comparing the target power consumption and the predicted power consumption stored in the storage device (S102). This specific method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the predicted power consumption is the target power consumption 1
Is determined (S201). In S201,
When it is determined that the predicted power consumption does not exceed the target power consumption 1, the control level is determined to be “0” (S202).
In S201, the predicted power consumption is the target power consumption 1.
When it is determined that the power consumption exceeds the target power consumption, it is determined whether or not the predicted power consumption exceeds the target power consumption 2 (S203). S
If it is determined in 203 that the predicted power consumption does not exceed the target power consumption 2, the control level “1” is set (S2).
04). When it is determined that the predicted power consumption exceeds the target power consumption, the control level “2” is set (S2).
205).

After the control level is determined in S102, the control level is sent to the power load controller 8. The power load control unit 8 reads a control pattern corresponding to the control level stored in the control pattern storage unit 3 and controls the power load 9 according to the control pattern (S
103). Next, it is determined whether or not the demand time period has ended (S
104) If not completed, execute S101 and subsequent steps again. When the demand time period ends, the control level is reset (S105), and the demand monitoring control after S101 is performed.

FIG. 6 is a relationship graph showing an example of the degree of suppression of the power consumption based on the passage of time in this demand monitoring control system. First, after the start, the power consumption gradually increases. However, since the predicted power consumption after the lapse of the A minutes is equal to or less than the target power consumption 1, the control level is determined to be “0” and the control level is determined to be “0”. Operate with a control pattern of “0”.
After that, the power consumption rapidly increases, and the predicted power consumption after the lapse of B minutes exceeds the target power consumption 2. In this case, the control level is determined to be “2”, and the operation is performed with the control pattern of the control level “2”, that is, a setting with a higher reduction rate. Thereafter, the effect of the power consumption suppression control appears, and the predicted power consumption after the lapse of C exceeds the target power consumption 1 but falls below the target power consumption 2. Therefore,
The control level is determined to be “1”, and the operation is performed with a control pattern of the control level “1”, that is, a setting in which the reduction rate is lower than that between B and C.

As described above, in this embodiment, as shown in the time-dependent change graph of the control level in FIG. 7, the control level is shifted step by step rather than stepwise according to the degree of the predicted power consumption. In addition, the level can be shifted to a control level for alleviating the suppression of the power load.

In this embodiment, the target power consumption is set to two. However, it is not necessary to limit the power consumption to two, and a finer target power consumption can be set. The control level can be determined.

Embodiment 2 FIG. In the first embodiment, when the predicted power consumption is near the target power consumption, control for repeatedly changing the control level in a short cycle is performed.
In the second embodiment, in order to minimize the repetitive change of the control level in a short cycle, the current control level is continued for a predetermined time in the control level determination method. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the demand monitoring control system according to the second embodiment. In the demand monitoring control system shown in FIG. 1, a function of monitoring the control level duration is added. In FIG. 8,
The components corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 10 denotes a control level duration storage unit that stores the control level duration input from the set value input unit 1. In addition, the user can arbitrarily set the control level duration.

Next, the operation of the demand monitoring control system of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the demand monitoring control system. First, after the system starts operating, S101 to S102 are executed, and the control level corresponding to the power consumption is determined. Next, S106
Then, it is determined whether or not to change to the control level. This specific method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the control level determination unit 7 determines whether the current control level is equal to the determination control level (S301). Note that the current control level is a control level currently being operated, and the determination control level is a control level determined in S102.

In S301, when it is determined that the current control level is different from the determination control level, the elapsed time from the start of the operation at the current control level to the present is stored in the control level duration storage unit 10. It is determined whether or not the control level continuation time is exceeded (S302). If it is determined in S302 that the time exceeds the control level duration, the determination control level is changed to the current control level (S303), and the control level duration is restarted (S304). When it is determined in S301 that the current control level and the determination control level are the same, when it is determined that the control level elapsed time has not elapsed in S302, and when S304 is executed, this processing ends, and in S103 Moving. S1
In step 03, the control pattern corresponding to the current control level is read, and the power load 9 is controlled according to the read control pattern.

Next, an example of the operation in this control will be described.
A description will be given based on the relationship graph of FIG. Note that FIG.
11A is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the estimated power consumption, and FIG. 11B is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the control level. First, it is assumed that a situation occurs in which the control level “1” is determined when A minutes have elapsed since the start of the demand time period, and the control level “0” is determined when B minutes have elapsed since the start of the demand time period. In this case, in the demand monitoring and control system of FIG. 1, the control level is set to “0” at the time point of B and the power consumption increases. The power amount exceeds 1, and the operation of setting the control level to “1” is performed. This will be repeated thereafter.

On the other hand, in the demand monitoring and control system according to the second embodiment, since the operation at the current control level has not been continued for a certain period of time at the time point B, the demand level is continuously controlled at the control level "1". The control is continued, the control level is determined at the time point of C minutes, and the operation at the current control level has been performed for a certain period of time. Start driving. In general, even if the control pattern is changed, the result is not immediately reflected in the power consumption, and it cannot be determined whether or not the change has been reflected only after a certain period, that is, after a change time. In the second embodiment,
Since the change time of the used power amount due to the control of the power load can be reflected in the control of the used power amount, it is possible to suppress the repetitive change of the control level in a short cycle and perform more appropriate demand control.

Embodiment 3 In the second embodiment, the elapsed time of the control level is measured as the time after the change to the current control level. However, the control level may be determined by interpreting the elapsed time from the time when the change of the control level is detected. Good. The system configuration of the demand monitoring control system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of FIG.

The operation of the control level change determination in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First,
When the control level is determined by the control level determination unit 7, it is determined whether the current control level currently being implemented is equal to the determined control level (S401). When it is determined in S401 that the control level determined to be the current control level is different, it is determined whether or not the current control level is during the continuation period (S402). In S402, if it is determined that the current control level has been set to the continuation period, the control level continuation time is not restarted (S40).
3). If it is determined that the control level is being continued, it is determined whether or not the duration of the current control level exceeds the set control level duration (S4).
04). Here, when it is determined that the duration of the current control level exceeds the set control level duration,
The current control level is changed to the determined control level (S4
05).

Next, an example of the operation under this control will be described.
Description will be made based on the relationship graph of FIG. Note that FIG.
13A is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the estimated power consumption, and FIG. 13B is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the control level. First, it is assumed that a situation occurs in which the control level “1” is determined when A minutes have elapsed since the start of the demand time period, and the control level “0” is determined when B minutes have elapsed since the start of the demand time period. In this case, in the demand monitoring and control system of FIG. 1, the control level is set to 0 at the time point B, and the power consumption increases. Therefore, an operation of setting the control level to “1” is performed. Thereafter, this is repeated.

On the other hand, in the demand monitoring control system according to the third embodiment, since the current control level is not in the control level continuation period at the time point B, the control level "1" is continued from here. The measurement of the time is started, the control level is determined at the time point of C minutes, and the elapsed time has exceeded the control level continuation time. Start driving.

As described above, also in the third embodiment, the change time of the power consumption due to the control of the power load can be reflected in the control of the power consumption. Repetitive changes can be suppressed, and more appropriate demand control can be performed.

Embodiment 4 In the second and third embodiments, when the determined control level is different from the current control level, the change time of the power consumption by controlling the power load can be reflected in the control of the power consumption, and the control level determination is performed. In the method, the current control level is maintained for a certain period of time. However, if the state of the power load 9 changes suddenly and the amount of power consumption increases rapidly, urgent measures are required. May be difficult to keep within a certain upper limit. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, when the determined control level exceeds the current control level, the control level elapsed time is not considered,
It is possible to operate at the control level determined immediately. The system configuration of the demand monitoring control system according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing control level change determination in the demand monitoring control system according to the fourth embodiment. First, when the control level is determined by the control level determination unit 7, it is determined whether the current control level currently being implemented is equal to the determined control level (S501).

If it is determined in S501 that the current control level is different from the determination control level, it is next determined whether the current control level is greater than the determination control level (S501).
502). If it is determined that the current control level is greater than the determination control level, it is determined whether the duration of the current control level exceeds the set control level duration (S503).

If it is determined in step S502 that the current control level is not greater than the determination control level, or if it is determined in step S503 that the current control level has exceeded the control level continuation time, the current control level is determined. The control level is changed (S504), and the control level continuation time is restarted (S505).

Next, an example of the operation in this control will be described.
A description will be given based on the relationship graph of FIG. Note that FIG.
15A is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the estimated power consumption, and FIG. 15B is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the control level. As shown in FIG. 15, it is assumed that the control level “1” is determined when A minutes have elapsed since the start of the demand time period, and the control level “2” is determined when B minutes have elapsed since the start of the demand time period. In this case, at the time point B, the current control level “1” has not yet reached the set control level duration, but the control level is changed to the control level “2”.

Next, assuming that the control level "1" is determined when C minutes have elapsed from the start of the demand time period, the current control level "1" continues to the set control level duration. Since it has not reached, the control level is not changed, and the control of the power load corresponding to the control level “0” newly determined when D minutes have elapsed since the start of the demand time period is executed.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when the determined control level is higher than the current control level, that is, when stricter power control is required, the control pattern is changed regardless of the elapsed time. Thus, appropriate control can be performed even when the amount of power consumption increases rapidly.

[0041]

As described above, in the demand monitoring and control system according to the present invention, the control level can be shifted step by step rather than stepwise according to the degree of the predicted power consumption, and the power consumption can be rapidly increased. Can be suppressed within a predetermined upper limit value even when the power consumption increases. In addition, since it is possible to shift to a control level that eases the suppression of power load, even when equipment such as an air conditioner becomes a power load, the reduction in comfort is minimized, and effective power consumption is minimized. Load control can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a demand monitoring control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a relationship diagram showing a relationship between a target power consumption, a control level, and a control pattern.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power consumption in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of calculating a predicted power consumption.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of control level determination.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating how power demand is suppressed based on the passage of time in the demand monitoring control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a temporal change of a control level.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a demand monitoring control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power consumption according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of control level change determination.

FIG. 11 is a relationship diagram showing an example of elapsed time and control.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of control level change determination.

FIG. 13 is a relationship diagram showing an example of elapsed time and control.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating details of control level change determination.

FIG. 15 is a relationship diagram illustrating an example of elapsed time and control.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional demand monitoring control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Set value input unit, 2 Target power consumption storage unit, 3 Control pattern storage unit, 4 Power consumption measurement unit, 5 Power consumption storage unit, 6 Power consumption prediction unit, 7 Control level judgment unit, 8 Power load Control unit, 9A to 9C power load, 10 control level duration storage unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A target power consumption storage unit storing a plurality of target power consumption amounts, a control pattern storage unit storing a power load usage control method in association with the target power consumption amount, and a demand time period. A used power amount prediction unit for predicting the used power amount, and comparing the predicted used power amount and the target used power amount to determine a used power control method of the power load, and performing the used power control. A demand monitoring control system comprising a determination / control unit. 2. A target power consumption storage unit in which a plurality of target power consumptions are stored, and a control pattern storage unit storing a power load power control method at a control level associated with the target power consumption. And a power consumption prediction unit for predicting power consumption within a demand time period, and determining the control level by comparing the predicted power consumption and the target power consumption, and further comprising the determined control. A control level determining unit that compares the level and the current control level corresponding to the currently used power control method, and changes the determined control level to the current control level only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. And a power load control unit for controlling power consumption of the power load based on the current control level. 3. The control level determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the determined control level is different from a current control level corresponding to a currently used power control method, and only when a predetermined time has elapsed. The demand monitoring control system according to claim 2, wherein the determined control level is changed to the current control level. 4. The control level determining unit, wherein the power control method corresponding to the determined control level has a larger power reduction rate than the currently used power control method, and
The used power control method corresponding to the determined control level has a smaller power reduction rate than the currently used power control method, but only when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the control is not performed. The demand monitoring control system according to claim 3, wherein a level is changed to the current control level.