JP4273891B2 - Indoor power line current control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a current control device for an indoor lamp line that supplies power to a home or in-house wiring.

  Electricity consumption, including electricity demand for air conditioning and heating, is on the rise year by year. Under such circumstances, the deregulation of power supply has been promoted, and the power supply business has become active due to the liberalization of power, and the competition for business power supply and residential power supply has been intensifying. Also, in general households, it is common to have many electrical products such as multiple air conditioners, and not only to supply electricity to the home, but also to increase the rated current of the main breaker determined by contract with the power company There is a growing interest in electricity prices.

  The distribution board that distributes the power of the indoor power line is divided into a main breaker and a branch breaker. Conventionally, the distribution board shuts off immediately even if a small amount is exceeded for a short time, and the branch breaker is activated for each branch overcurrent, and this branch is electrically disconnected from the main breaker. When the total current capacity of all the loads exceeds the set capacity of the main breaker, the main breaker is activated, and all branches are electrically disconnected from the power source.

  However, shutting off all branches to which the load is connected is a full load shutoff (power failure) state, and for the user, resetting work after shutting down or time adjustment for a watch that is a power line drive type device, etc. Effort is required to restore the state before shutting down.

  For example, if an instantaneous power supply interruption occurs during spreadsheet or document creation using a personal computer, unsaved electronic information disappears instantaneously, causing adverse effects such as re-input. Some loads of audio, video, answering machine, air conditioner, etc. can be controlled by telephone control using a timer or mobile phone. However, if these loads are not powered, desired operation control may not be possible. is there.

  As a means for solving this inconvenience, a technique for setting a branch breaker cutoff priority, operating a branch breaker having a low load priority before operating a main breaker, and limiting a load cutoff range is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Is shown in

  In addition, when the breaker current is measured and power consumption information is received from the load device at the start of operation of the load device, and the operation of the load device is expected to exceed the allowable power of the breaker, the load device Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for notifying that an operation cannot be performed and preventing a sudden power supply stop due to excess power consumption.

  Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a communication system in which home electrical devices originally used alone are networked with a power line or the like to manage and control these electrical devices.

JP-A-3-243128 JP 2003-9315 A Japanese Patent No. 3402953

  In a situation where an electric device that requires a large amount of power of more than a dozen amps is used at the same time in a home, the upper limit supply power capacity (about 40 amps) of a general home will be exceeded and the branch or main breaker will fall Even when the above-described load cutoff range is limited, there is no change in that the load device connected to the branch breaker needs to be restored to the original state. Generally, there is a margin in the electric capacity of the power line, and even though the power consumption is measured with a meter, the rated current is strictly observed. Has been done in general.

  Further, in the technology that does not operate the load device when the power consumption is expected to exceed the allowable power of the breaker due to the start of the operation of the load device shown in Patent Document 2, the load device that is already operating is manually operated. If the operation is not stopped by this, there is a problem that the subsequent load device cannot start operation.

  In particular, an air conditioner or the like whose load changes depending on the difference between the outside air temperature and the set temperature may continuously exceed power consumption at high loads even though it can operate according to the determination at the operation start time. In such a case, even if there is a communication system that manages and controls these electric devices by networking the electric devices in the home as described in Patent Document 3, in the case of a temporary load such as a dryer, Immediate shut-off (power failure) occurs in a short time due to strict adherence to the rated capacity of the power panel.

  FIG. 5 shows a change in load factor according to control and time for a device connected to a power line. An example of current control in an indoor lamp line according to a conventional example will be described using the graphs from the first stage to the third stage in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the vertical axis represents the load factor relative to the upper limit supply power, and the horizontal axis represents time. Hereinafter, each graph of FIG. 5 will be described. The first graph in FIG. 5 is a graph showing the load factor of the air conditioner. Similarly, the second graph is a graph showing the load factor of the dryer, and the third graph is the first and second graphs in the conventional example. The combined load 1 of the air conditioner and dryer shown in FIG.

  In one conventional example, the load capacity exceeded the upper limit supply power of ordinary households (about 40 amperes) by only a few percent, and it was cut off even if it exceeded a small amount in a short time due to strict adherence to the rated capacity of the distribution board. . For this reason, there is a problem that the electric device cannot be used due to power failure due to the control of the maximum electric current used by the electric device, and a power failure.

  In addition, there are no recording means such as automatic shutdown of electrical equipment and shutoff of main breaker or branch breaker, and the time, number and frequency of shutoff of the branch breaker or main breaker blocked to take measures to prevent the breakage, There was a problem that the time could not be accurately known.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the current flowing through the main breaker is higher than the rated current contracted with the electric power company as in the combined load 2 in the fourth stage in FIG. Even if the breaker breaker and main breaker are shut off, the load equipment is automatically stopped in the preset order, so that the user can be prevented from being confused and the secondary work can be prevented. An object of the present invention is to provide a current control device for an indoor electric wire.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can review the rated current value of the main breaker by providing means for recording the automatic stop and automatic operation of the electric equipment, and the interruption of the branch breaker and the main breaker.

The current control device for an indoor lamp line according to the present invention includes a main breaker, at least one branch breaker connected to the output side of the main breaker, current value acquisition means for acquiring a current flowing through the main breaker, and a branch breaker. A communication unit that transmits an operation command to at least one connected electrical device; and a control unit that controls the communication unit. When the current value from the current value acquisition unit exceeds the first rated current value Even in the first time, without shutting off both the branch breaker and the main breaker, manual stop means for stopping the operator by operating the terminal of the control means and controlling the electrical equipment by the communication means, When the stop operation by the operator cannot be detected, the predetermined electrical device is stopped by the communication means, and after the second time elapses, the previously stopped electrical device is restarted. The first time is a predetermined waiting time until the control means stops the electrical equipment and the current value acquisition means can confirm the decrease in current, and the second time is the other time. This is characterized in that it is a time during which a temporary load is continued by a device that consumes a larger amount of current than the electrical device .

The indoor power line current control device according to the present invention is characterized by further comprising recording means for recording the operation status of the control means, and display means for displaying information recorded by the recording means.

The indoor power line current control device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a transmission means for transmitting the information recorded by the recording means to another device.

In the current control method for an indoor power line according to the present invention, a current value acquisition step of acquiring a current flowing in the main breaker and at least one branch breaker connected to the output side of the main breaker, and the branch breaker A communication process for transmitting an operation command to at least one electrical device, and a control process for controlling them. The control process is when the current value from the current value acquisition process exceeds the first rated current value. However, in the first time, the operator does not shut off both the branch breaker and the main breaker, and the operator stops the operation by operating the terminal of the control means and controlling the electric device by the communication process, and the operator If a stop operation cannot be detected, the predetermined electrical device is stopped by the communication process, and after the second time has elapsed, the previously stopped electrical device is restarted. The first time is a predetermined waiting time until the control means stops the electrical equipment and the current value acquisition means can confirm the decrease in current, and the second time is the other time. This is characterized in that it is a time during which a temporary load is continued by a device that consumes a larger amount of current than the electrical device.

  That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently manage power in an indoor power line to which a plurality of electric devices are connected, and to prevent excessive power consumption from occurring at one time.

  By applying the technology of the present invention, when an electric device that requires a large amount of power is used at the same time in a home, a situation such as exceeding the upper limit supply power capacity of the home and causing the main breaker to fall Although it is possible to prevent this, and the individual device is temporarily stopped, it is not necessary to manually restore the interrupted load device, and power can be supplied safely and efficiently to each electric device.

  Embodiments of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment, a case will be described in which devices (electric devices) that require a large current are simultaneously used in the home.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the whole using a power line conveyance system controlled by automatic logic in the first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment introduces a control method using an automatic mode, and communicates with devices using a power line conveyance method. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall processing flow by the automatic mode logic 2 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the overall configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The power line 18 connected from the outside is connected to the power meter 5 and is connected to the main breaker 1 through the blocking filter 6 in order to block unnecessary signals to the outside in the power line conveyance used in this embodiment. ing. Between the blocking filter 6 and the main breaker 1, there is a detector for detecting the current flowing through the main breaker 1. The detector is connected to the automatic mode logic 2, and the current flowing through the main breaker 1 is detected by the automatic mode logic. 2 can be detected.

  The breaker unit 7 has two branch breakers 1 (3) and branch breakers 2 (4) connected to the output side of the main breaker 1, and each breaker has a terminal for inputting a cutoff signal.

  The distribution board 10 has a breaker unit 7 and an automatic mode logic 2. The automatic mode logic 2 performs processing by a signal from a detector that detects a current flowing through the main breaker 1, and the main breaker 1 by a cut-off signal. The branch breakers 1 (3) and 2 (4) can be shut off.

  The automatic mode logic 2 is connected to a breaker terminal 20 including a display panel 21 of a color liquid crystal display and a touch panel for input, and can set in advance an electric device to be stopped or restarted in an automatic mode. In the present embodiment, a dryer connected to the branch breaker 1 (3) and two air conditioners connected to the branch breaker 2 (4) are prepared, and 'Dryer', 'Air Conditioner 1', and 'Air Conditioner 2', respectively. It is possible to set the order of stopping and restarting in the automatic mode and the difference in restarting time using the display panel 21, the setting button 22, and the display button 23.

  When the breaker terminal 20 including the display panel 21 receives the breaker cutoff alarm signal from the automatic mode logic 2, the breaker cutoff alarm signal and a message are displayed to alert the operator and the load factor is 100%. It is possible to automatically stop any electric device by the automatic mode logic 2 at the time of overload exceeding.

  In addition, the distribution board is generally installed in a place where it cannot be seen. Therefore, in this embodiment, the breaker terminal 20 connected by wiring from the distribution board is installed in the living room, and a breaker cutoff alarm sound generated when the rated current of the main breaker is exceeded and a predetermined device. The operator can know the situation on the display panel 21 informing the situation where the state has shifted to the stop state.

  In the present embodiment, the automatic mode logic 2 and communication means using a power line carrier signal are used to operate each device, and a power line network communication module is added to an infrared remote control or the like to add the device 1 (12 ) Was used for soft switch box 1 (11) which sends a command at a communication speed of 9600 bps. Even if the soft switch box 1 (11) is instructed to stop the device 1 (12), the soft switch box 1 (11) is merely put into a standby state (OFF by a normal remote control switch), and thus the information stored in the timer and the memory is not erased.

  The plurality of soft switch boxes incorporating the power line carrier signal communication unit can be controlled without any modification to the air conditioner on the device 1 (12) side.

  Of course, the processing can also be suitably performed by the operator himself / herself operating an exclusive infrared remote controller such as an air conditioner to increase the OFF signal or the set temperature to reduce the power consumption. However, even if it takes time to search for the dedicated remote controller and the operation is delayed, the automatic mode logic 2 of this embodiment can be controlled and the air conditioner can be stopped by the soft switch box 1 (11). It is processed.

  In this embodiment, three types of soft switch boxes 1 to 3 were implemented. The first is a soft switch box 1 system that controls a device by combining a power line network module and an infrared remote control. The second is a soft switch box 2 in which a power line network module is incorporated in the device and connected to the device by RS-232C. The third type is a total of three types of interfaces of the soft switch box 3 type in which the power line network module is incorporated in the control unit of the device.

  This is standardized by ECHONET (Energy Conservation and Homecare Network). The Econet project is being promoted by domestic electric power companies and home appliance manufacturers, and the specifications for the home network are established by the Econet Consortium. In addition to this, a communication method using the Internet used in Internet home appliances may be used.

  Further, the automatic mode logic 2 has a backup power source by a battery in addition to the power supply from the power line, and can hold necessary information even if the main breaker is shut off.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the entire process controlled by the automatic logic in the embodiment of the present invention. This will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In the normal mode (step S1) in which the current flowing through the main breaker is not overloaded, the initial setting of the automatic mode logic 2 and the confirmation of the breaker cutoff alarm sound being stopped are performed. Next, the current value flowing through the main breaker is detected to determine whether it is overloaded (step S2). If the detected current value is not overloaded, the process returns to the beginning.

At this time, if the load factor exceeds 100% by operating the dryer of the device 3, an alarm sound generation process is executed (step S3). When an overload state is detected, it is further determined whether the allowable load factor is 150% or more (step S4). The process in step 4 is a process by timer interruption, and can be constantly monitored when the load is 150% or more. If the load factor is 150% or more, which is the allowable load factor, the main breaker is shut off (step S15). After that, it returns to the normal mode and stops the alarm sound. In the present embodiment, the allowable load factor exceeding the contract current is set to 150% or more, but the allowable load factor can take any value from 100% to 200%. Here, the allowable load factor can be expressed by the following equation. If the contract current of a household is 40 amperes and the temporarily allowable excess current is 10 amperes (assuming a dryer or the like), the allowable load factor is 125%.
(Equation 1) Allowable load factor = (contract current + load of dryer etc.) / Contract current * 100%

  If the load factor exceeds 100% and is lower than 150%, a stop command is transmitted to the air conditioner of the device 1 determined in advance using the soft switch box (step S5). Thereafter, Wait (step S6) is executed for one minute, and it is determined again whether the load factor exceeds 100% (step S7). Note that a 1-minute wait can set a waiting time of 10 seconds to 1 minute. If the load factor continues to exceed 100%, the air conditioner of the device 2 (14) set in the breaker terminal 20 is stopped and the overload is determined again. Further, when the overload continues, the branch breaker 2 is shut off (step S14). If the overload is eliminated, the alarm sound is stopped (step S8). In this embodiment, a stop command is sequentially transmitted to each device, but it is obvious that it is also preferable to issue a stop command to a plurality of devices at the same time.

  Thereafter, Wait for 10 minutes (Step S9) is executed in anticipation of the time to end the use of the dryer, and the air conditioner of the device 1 (12) stopped earlier is restarted (Step S10). In this embodiment, the time when the overload factor is predicted to have disappeared is 10 minutes, but this waiting time can be set from 10 minutes to 20 minutes, and can be suitably processed by setting it arbitrarily according to the equipment used. Is done. Further, if there are two or more devices that have been stopped first, they are restarted with a time difference in order to avoid turning on at the same time (step S11).

  After restarting, it is determined again whether the load factor exceeds 100% (step S12). If not overloaded, the process returns to the beginning through the end determination (step S13).

  In step S12, if the load factor continues to exceed 100%, it is determined as an unintended overload, and the branch breaker 2 (4) set in advance at the breaker terminal 20 is shut off (step S12). S14). In the present embodiment, in the above-described state in the breaker terminal 20, the setting is made to shut off the branch breaker 2 (4) to which the air conditioner device 2 (14) is connected in the same manner as the air conditioner device 1 (12). However, you may make it the setting which interrupts | blocks the branch breaker 1 (3) to which the dryer which is the apparatus 3 (16) is connected. Further, a warning sound or a message for calling attention to the breaker terminal 20 is displayed. In the first embodiment, a general household with a contract current of about 40 amperes has been described. However, in a household with a contract current of 60 amperes, it is necessary to reduce the upper limit value of the load factor to suppress the current value during overload. Needless to say.

  The commands from the automatic mode logic 2 to the plurality of soft switch boxes and the shut-off commands to the main breaker and branch breaker are recorded in the automatic mode logic 2 together with the time when the commands are output, and are displayed on the breaker terminal 20. Of course, the recorded contents can be confirmed using the display panel 21 and the display button 23. Furthermore, the recorded information can be transferred to a personal computer (not shown) via an RS-232C line (not shown) built in the automatic mode logic.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the whole using a power line conveying method capable of manual operation in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing that can be manually operated in the second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an embodiment capable of manual operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  The distribution board 10 has a breaker unit 7 and an automatic mode logic 2. The automatic mode logic 2 performs processing by a signal from a detector that detects a current flowing through the main breaker 1, and the main breaker 1 by a cut-off signal. In addition, the branch breaker 1 or 2 (3, 4) can be shut off, and can be controlled manually.

  The automatic mode logic 2 is connected to a breaker terminal 20 including a color liquid crystal display and a touch panel type display panel 21 for input, and an electric device to be stopped or restarted can be set in advance in the automatic mode and the manual mode. In the present embodiment, the dryer connected to the branch breaker 1 and the two air conditioners connected to the branch breaker 2 are named “dryer”, “air conditioner 1”, and “air conditioner 2”, respectively. The order of restart and the difference in restart time can be set using the display panel 21, the setting button 22, and the display button 23.

  When receiving the breaker cutoff alarm signal from the automatic mode logic 2, the breaker terminal 20 provided with the display panel 21 generates a breaker cutoff alarm sound and alerts the operator. It is possible to manually stop the electrical equipment.

  In the second embodiment, by operating the display panel 21 of the breaker terminal 20 when an overload occurs, the automatic mode logic 2 determines the manual mode (step S21) and cancels the automatic mode (step S16). Move to manual mode. If the operator (human) inputs an OFF command to an arbitrary device (step S17) and then presses the input button 24, it is determined that the input has been completed (step S18). Thereafter, a command to turn off the arbitrary device input earlier is transmitted to the corresponding device (step S19). After transmission, the process returns to the automatic mode logic 2 (step S20) and returns to the beginning.

  In addition, although communication by the power line carrier system was performed as an embodiment of the present invention, a special small radio module (not shown) is connected to the automatic mode logic 2 and the soft switch boxes 1 to 3 (11, 13, 15), An operation command from the automatic mode logic 2 to the soft switch box (11, 13, 15) may be implemented via an antenna (not shown) at a radio wave format F1D, a frequency of 429 MHz, and a modulation speed of 2400 bps. Further, it goes without saying that processing can be suitably performed even by using a technique used for Internet home appliances using the Internet.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of the whole using the power line conveyance system controlled by the automatic logic in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the whole process controlled by the automatic logic in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of the whole using the power wire conveyance system in which the manual operation in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is possible. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in which the manual operation in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is possible. It is the graph which showed the change of the time and load factor by the conventional control with respect to the apparatus connected to the power line, and the graph which showed control of embodiment by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Master breaker 2 Automatic mode logic 3 Branch breaker 1 4 Branch breaker 2 5 Power meter 6 Blocking filter 7 Breaker unit 10 Distribution board 11 Soft switch box 1 12 Equipment 1 13 Soft switch Box 2, 14 Device 2, 15 Soft switch box 3, 16 Device 3, 20 Breaker terminal, 21 Display panel, 22 Setting button, 23 Display button, 24 Input completed button.

Claims (4)

In the current control device of the indoor power line,
With the main breaker,
At least one branch breaker connected to the output side of the main breaker;
Current value acquisition means for acquiring the current flowing through the main breaker;
A communication means for transmitting an operation command to at least one electric device connected to the branch breaker;
Control means for controlling these,
With
The control means
Even when the current value from the current value acquisition means exceeds the first rated current value, the operator operates at the terminal of the control means for communication without shutting off both the branch breaker and the main breaker during the first time. Manual stop means for stopping by controlling the electrical equipment by means,
When the stop operation by the operator cannot be detected, the predetermined electrical device is stopped by the communication unit, and after the second time has elapsed, the restarting unit that restarts the previously stopped electrical device;
Have
The first time is a predetermined waiting time until the control means stops the electric device and the current value acquisition means can confirm the decrease in current,
The second time is a time during which a temporary load is continued by a device that consumes more current than other electric devices. In the electric current control apparatus of the indoor electric wire of Claim 1 ,
Recording means for recording the operating status of the control means;
Display means for displaying information recorded by the recording means;
A current control device for an indoor lamp wire , further comprising: In the indoor electric wire current control device according to claim 2 ,
A current control device for an indoor lamp line, comprising a transmission means for transmitting information recorded by the recording means to another device. In the current control method of the indoor power line,
A current value acquisition step of acquiring a current flowing in the main breaker and at least one branch breaker connected to the output side of the main breaker;
A communication step of transmitting an operation command to at least one electric device connected to the branch breaker;
A control process for controlling these,
Including
The control process is
Even when the current value from the current value acquisition process exceeds the first rated current value, the operator operates at the terminal of the control means and does not shut off both the branch breaker and the main breaker during the first time. A manual stop step for stopping by controlling electrical equipment in the process;
When the stop operation by the operator cannot be detected, the predetermined electrical device is stopped by the communication process, and after the second time has elapsed, the restarting step of restarting the previously stopped electrical device;
  Have
The first time is a predetermined waiting time until the control means stops the electric device and the current value acquisition means can confirm the decrease in current,
The second time is a time during which a temporary load is continued by a device that consumes more current than other electrical devices.

Images