KR20120000022A - Network system and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A network system and a control method thereof are provided to switch the operation state of an electric product into a standby mode or a standby power cutting state in case of high energy cost time. CONSTITUTION: It is determined whether high energy cost time is reached(S12). The operating state of the energy consuming unit is changed to reduce the energy consuming amount of an energy consuming unit. If it is recognized that the high energy cost time is reached, information about the operation state of the energy consuming unit is stored(S13). The operating state of the energy consuming unit is changed into a standby mode or a standby power cutting state.

Description

Network system and method for controlling the same

The present invention relates to a network system and a control method thereof.

The supplier simply supplied energy sources such as electricity, water and gas, and the consumer simply used the supplied energy sources. Therefore, effective management in terms of energy production, distribution, or energy use has been difficult to carry out.

In other words, energy is a radial structure that is distributed from energy suppliers toward multiple demand sources, that is, spreads from the center to the periphery, and is characterized by unidirectional supplier center, not consumer center.

The price information for electricity was not only available in real time, but only limitedly through the power exchange, and since the price system is also a de facto fixed price system, incentives such as incentives to consumers through price changes cannot be used. There was a problem.

In order to solve this problem, there have been a lot of efforts in recent years to implement a horizontal, cooperative, and distributed network that effectively manages energy and enables interaction between consumers and suppliers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a network system and a control method thereof that can effectively manage an energy source and reduce electric charges and / or energy consumption.

According to an aspect, a network system includes a utility network including an energy generator configured to generate energy; And an energy consumption unit consuming energy generated by the energy generation unit, the home network being communicatively connected to the utility network. The communication information between the utility network and the home network includes additional information other than energy information or energy information, and the operating state of the energy consumption unit is changed based on the energy information.

According to an aspect, a control method of a network system includes: recognizing that an energy fee high time period has been reached; And changing an operating state of the energy consumer so that the energy consumption of the energy consumer can be reduced.

According to the proposed invention, since the operating state of the electrical appliance is switched to a standby mode or a state in which standby power is cut off when the energy fee high cost time period is reached, the user can have more economical electricity consumption.

Departing from the energy bill high cost time, there is an advantage that the ease of use can be improved because the electrical appliance automatically returns to the state before the switching of the operating state.

1 shows schematically a network system according to the invention;
2 is a block diagram schematically showing a network system according to the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing an information transfer process on a network system of the present invention.
4 is a graph for explaining the type of energy source charge in the network system of the present invention.
5 is a block diagram schematically showing a first communication mode of a network system according to the present invention;
6 is a block diagram schematically showing a second communication mode of the network system according to the present invention;
7 is a block diagram schematically showing a third communication mode of the network system according to the present invention;
8 is a schematic diagram of a home network of a network system according to the present invention;
9 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of a control method corresponding to a high electricity cost time zone in a network system according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of a control method corresponding to an electric charge high cost time zone in a network system according to the present invention; FIG.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view schematically showing a network system according to the present invention.

This network system is a system for managing energy sources such as electricity, water, and gas. The energy source means that the amount of generation, the amount of use, etc. can be measured.

Thus, energy sources not mentioned above may also be included in the management of this system. Hereinafter, as an energy source, electricity will be described as an example, and the contents of the present specification may be equally applied to other energy sources.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary network system includes a power plant that generates electricity. The power plant may include a power plant that generates electricity through thermal power generation or nuclear power generation, and a power plant using hydro, solar, wind, and the like, which are environmentally friendly energy.

In addition, the electricity generated in the power plant is transmitted to the power station through the transmission line, and in the power station (substation) to transmit electricity to the substation so that the electricity is distributed to the demand destination, such as home or office.

In addition, the electricity produced by the environmentally friendly energy is also transmitted to the substation to be distributed to each customer. Then, the electricity transmitted from the substation is distributed to the office or home via the electrical storage device or directly.

Even in homes that use a home area network (HAN), they can produce, store, or distribute their own electricity through solar light or fuel cells mounted on a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), The surplus electricity can also be sold back to the outside world (for example, the utility).

In addition, the network system includes a smart meter for real-time measuring the electricity usage of the demand destination (home or office, etc.), and a meter (AMI: Advanced Metering infrastructure) for real-time measurement of the electricity usage of a plurality of demand destinations. May be included. That is, the measuring device may receive the information measured by the plurality of smart meters to measure the electricity usage.

In this specification, the measurement includes not only the smart meter and the measuring device itself measuring, but also that the smart meter and the measuring device can recognize the generation amount or the usage amount from other components.

The network system may further include an energy management system (EMS) for managing energy. The energy management device may generate information about the operation of one or more components in relation to energy (generation, distribution, use, storage, etc.) of energy. The energy management device can generate instructions relating to the operation of at least the component.

In the present specification, the function or solution performed by the energy management device may be referred to as an energy management function or an energy management solution.

In the network system of the present invention, one or more energy management devices may be present in separate configurations, or may be included in one or more components as an energy management function or solution.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing a network system according to the present invention.

1 and 2, the network system of the present invention is constituted by a plurality of components. For example, power plants, substations, power stations, energy management devices, appliances, smart meters, capacitors, web servers, instrumentation devices, and home servers are the components of network systems.

In addition, in the present invention, each component may be constituted by a plurality of detailed components. For example, when one component is a home appliance, a detailed component may be a microcomputer, a heater, a display, a motor, etc. constituting the home appliance.

That is, in the present invention, everything that performs a specific function can be a component, and these components constitute the network system of the present invention. In addition, the two components may communicate by a communication means.

In addition, one network may be one component or may be composed of multiple components.

In the present specification, a network system in which communication information is associated with an energy source may be referred to as an energy grid.

The network system according to an exemplary embodiment may be configured of a utility network (UAN) 10 and a home network (HAN) 20. The utility network 10 and the home network 20 may communicate by wire or wirelessly by communication means.

In this specification, a home means a group of specific components such as a building, a company, as well as a home in a dictionary meaning. And, utility means a group of specific components outside the home.

The utility network 10 includes an energy generation component 11 for generating energy, an energy distribution component 12 for distributing or transferring energy, and an energy storage unit for storing energy. An energy storage component 13), an energy management component 14 for managing energy, and an energy metering component 15 for measuring energy related information.

When one or more components constituting the utility network 10 consume energy, the component that consumes energy may be an energy consumer. That is, the energy consumption unit may be a separate configuration or may be included in other components.

The energy generator 11 may be, for example, a power plant. The energy distribution unit 12 distributes or delivers the energy generated by the energy generator 11 and / or the energy stored in the energy storage unit 13 to the energy consumption unit. The energy distribution unit 12 may be a power transmitter, a substation, or a power station.

The energy storage unit 13 may be a storage battery, and the energy management unit 14 is related to energy, the energy generating unit 11, energy distribution unit 12, energy storage unit 13, energy consumption unit ( 26) generates information for one or more of driving. For example, the energy management unit 14 may generate a command regarding the operation of at least a specific component.

The energy management unit 14 may be an energy management device. The energy measuring unit 15 may measure information related to energy generation, distribution, consumption, storage, and the like, and may be, for example, a measuring device (AMI). The energy management unit 14 may be a separate configuration or may be included as an energy management function in other components.

The utility network 10 may communicate with the home network 20 by a terminal component (not shown). The terminal component may be, for example, a gateway. Such terminal components may be provided in one or more of the utility network 10 and the home network 20.

Meanwhile, the home network 20 includes an energy generation component 21 for generating energy, an energy distribution component 22 for distributing energy, and an energy storage unit for storing energy. storage component 23, an energy management component 24 for managing energy, an energy metering component 25 for measuring information related to energy, and an energy consuming unit for consuming energy consumption component 26, a central management component 27 for controlling a plurality of components, an energy grid assistance component 28, an accessory component 29, and a consumer processing component component: 30).

The energy generation component 21 may be a household generator, the energy storage component 23 may be a storage battery, and the energy management component 24 may be an energy management device. have.

The energy metering component 25 may measure information related to generation, distribution, consumption, storage, and the like of energy. For example, the energy metering component 25 may be a smart meter.

The energy consumption unit 26 may be, for example, a home appliance (a refrigerator, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a cooking appliance, a cleaner, a dryer, a dishwasher, a dehumidifier, a display device, a lighting device, etc.) or a heater, a motor, a display, etc. constituting the home appliance. Can be. Note that there is no restriction on the type of energy consumption unit 26 in this embodiment.

The energy management unit 24 may be an individual component or may be included as an energy management function in another component. The energy management unit 21 may communicate with one or more components to transmit and receive information.

The energy generator 21, the energy distributor 22, and the energy storage unit 23 may be individual components or may constitute a single component.

The central management unit 27 may be, for example, a home server controlling a plurality of home appliances.

The energy network assistant 28 is a component having an original function while performing an additional function for the energy grid. For example, the energy network assistant 28 may be a web service provider (eg, a computer), a mobile device, a television, or the like.

The accessory component 29 is an energy network only component that performs additional functions for the energy network. For example, the accessory component 29 may be a weather network antenna dedicated to the energy network.

The consumer handling component 30 is a component that stores, supplies, and delivers the consumer, and may identify or recognize information about the consumer. The consumer may be, for example, an article or material that is used or processed when the energy consumption unit 26 is operated. In addition, the consumer processor 30 may be managed by the energy manager 24 as an example in an energy network.

For example, the consumer may be a laundry cloth in a washing machine, a food in a cooking appliance, a detergent or a fabric softener for washing a laundry cloth in a washing machine, a seasoning for cooking food, and the like.

Energy generation unit 11, 21, energy distribution unit 12, 22, energy storage unit 13, 23, energy management unit 14, 24, energy measuring unit 15, 25, energy consumption unit mentioned above (26), the central management unit 27 may exist independently of each other, or two or more may constitute a single component.

For example, the energy management unit 14 and 24, the energy measuring unit 15 and 25, and the central management unit 27 each exist as a single component, and perform smart functions, energy management devices, and home servers that perform their respective functions. Or, the energy management unit 14, 24, the energy measuring unit 15, 25, the central management unit 27 may form a single component mechanically.

In addition, in performing one function, the function may be sequentially performed in a plurality of components and / or communication means. For example, energy management functions may be sequentially performed in a separate energy management unit, an energy measuring unit, and an energy consumption unit.

In addition, a plurality of components of a specific function constituting the utility network and the home network may be provided. For example, there may be a plurality of energy generating units or energy consuming units.

On the other hand, the utility network 10 and the home network 20 can communicate by a communication means (first interface). At this time, the plurality of utility networks 10 may communicate with a single home network 20, and the single utility network 10 may communicate with a plurality of home networks 20.

For example, the communication means may be a simple communication line or a power line communication means. Of course, the power line communication means may include a communicator (eg, a modem) connected to each of the two components. As another example, the communication means may be zigbee, wi-fi, Bluetooth, or the like.

In the present specification, there is no limitation on the method for wired communication or the method for wireless communication.

Two components constituting the utility network 10 may communicate by means of communication means.

In addition, the two components constituting the home network 20 may communicate by a communication means (second interface). For example, the energy consumption unit 26 may communicate with one or more of the energy management unit 24, the energy measurement unit 25, the central management unit 27, the energy network assistance unit 28, and the like (second interface). Can communicate by

In addition, the microcomputer of each component (for example, the energy consumption unit) may communicate with the communication means (second interface) (third interface). For example, when the energy consumption is a household appliance, the energy consumption unit may receive information from the energy management unit by a communication means (second interface), and the received information is a microcomputer of the household appliance by a third interface. Can be delivered.

In addition, the energy consumption unit 26 may communicate with the accessory component 29 by a communication means (fourth interface). In addition, the energy consumption unit 26 may communicate with the consumer processor 30 by a communication means (a fifth interface).

3 is a block diagram showing a process of transferring information on a network system of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a form of an electric charge. FIG. 4A is a graph showing time of use (TOU) information and critical peak pattern (CPP) information, and FIG. 4B is a RTP ( This graph shows real time pattern information.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the network system of the present invention, a specific component C may receive information related to energy (hereinafter, “energy information”) by communication means. In addition, the specific component (C) may be additional information (environmental information, program update information, time information, operation or status information of each component (breakdown, etc.), in addition to the energy information by the communication means, consumer habit information using the energy consumption unit, etc. ) Can be received further.

The environmental information may include carbon dioxide emissions, carbon dioxide concentration in the air, temperature, humidity, rainfall, rainfall or the like, solar radiation, air volume, and the like.

In another aspect, the information is internal information, such as information related to each component (operation or status information of each component (such as failure), energy usage information of the energy consumer, consumer habit information using the energy consumer, etc.), and other information. Phosphorus can be classified into external information (energy information, environment information, program update information, time information).

At this time, the information may be received from other components. In other words, the received information includes at least energy information.

The specific component may be one component constituting the utility network 10 or one component constituting the home network 20.

As described above, the energy information I may be one of information such as electricity, water, and gas.

For example, information related to electricity includes time-based pricing, energy curtailment, grid emergency, grid reliability, energy generation amount, and operational priority. (operation priority), energy consumption amount (Amount). In this embodiment, the fee associated with the energy source may be referred to as an energy fee.

In other words, energy-related information may be classified into charge information (energy charge) and non-charge information (energy reduction, emergency situation, network safety, generation amount, operation priority, energy consumption amount, etc.).

Such information may be classified into schedule information previously generated based on previous information and real time information that changes in real time. The schedule information and the real time information may be distinguished by predicting information after the current time (future).

The energy information I may be classified into time of use (TOU) information, critical peak pattern (CPP) information, or real time pattern (RTP) information according to a change pattern of data over time. The energy information I may change with time.

Referring to FIG. 4A, according to the TOU information, data is gradually changed in time. According to the CPP information, the data changes step by step or in real time with time, and emphasis is displayed at a specific time point. That is, in the case of the CPP pattern, the general fee is lower than that of the TOU pattern, but the charge at a specific time point is significantly higher than that in the TOU pattern.

Referring to FIG. 4B, according to the RTP information, data changes in real time with time.

Meanwhile, the energy information I may be transmitted and received with a true or false signal, such as a Boolean on a network system, or actual price information may be transmitted or received, or may be leveled and transmitted. Hereinafter, information related to electricity will be described by way of example.

When the specific component C receives a true or false signal such as a Boolean, one of the signals is recognized as an on-peak signal (information related to energy consumption or reduction of energy bill). The other signal may be recognized as an off-peak signal.

In contrast, a particular component may recognize information about at least one driving including an electric charge, and the specific component compares the recognized information value with the reference information value to compare the on-peak and off-peak ( off-peak).

For example, when a specific component recognizes leveled information or actual price information, the specific component compares the recognized information value with the reference information value to turn on-peak and off-peak. Recognize.

In this case, the information value related to the driving may be at least one of an electric charge, a power amount, a change rate of the electric charge, a change rate of the power amount, an average value of the electric charge, and an average value of the electric power. The reference information value may be at least one of an average value, an average value of minimum and maximum values of power information during a predetermined section, and a reference rate of change of power information (eg, slope of power consumption per unit time) during the predetermined section.

The reference information value may be set in real time or may be set in advance. The reference information value may be set in a utility network or in a home network (input from a consumer direct input, an energy manager, a central manager, etc.).

When the specific component (for example, the energy consumption unit) recognizes an on-peak (for example, a recognition time point), the output may be zero (stopped or stopped) and the output may be reduced. The specific component may determine the driving method in advance before starting the operation, or may change the driving method when the on-peak is recognized after starting the operation.

And, if a particular component recognizes an off peak, the output can be restored or increased as needed. That is, when a specific component that recognizes an on peak recognizes an off peak, the output may be restored to a previous state or increased more than the previous output.

At this time, even when the specific component recovers the output or increases the output after recognizing the off-peak, the total power consumption and / or the total electricity bill for the entire operating time of the specific component is reduced.

Alternatively, when the specific component recognizes an on-peak (for example, a recognition time point), the output may be maintained when the specific component is operable. At this time, the operable condition means that the information value for driving is below a certain standard. The information value related to the driving may be information about an electric charge, power consumption, or operation time. The predetermined criterion may be a relative value or an absolute value.

The schedule standard may be set in real time or may be set in advance. The schedule criterion may be set in the utility network or in a home network (input from a consumer direct input, an energy manager, a central manager, etc.).

Alternatively, when the specific component recognizes an on-peak (eg, a recognition time), the output may be increased. However, even when the output is increased when the on-peak is recognized, the total output amount during the entire driving period of the specific component may be reduced or maintained than the total output amount when the specific component operates at the normal output.

Or, even if the output is increased when the on-peak is recognized, the total power consumption or total electric charge for the entire operating period of a particular component is the total power consumption or total power when the specific component operates at normal output. It can be lower than the electricity bill.

When the specific component recognizes an off-peak (for example, a recognition time), the output may be increased. For example, when an operation reservation is set, a specific component may start driving before a set time, or a component having a larger output among a plurality of components may be driven first.

In addition, in the case of a refrigerator, the output may be supercooled by increasing the output, or in the case of a washing machine or a washing machine, the hot water may be stored in the hot water tank by driving the heater in advance of the scheduled operation time of the heater. This is to reduce the electricity bill by operating in the off-peak in advance to operate in the on-peak to come later.

Alternatively, when a specific component recognizes an off-peak (eg, a recognition time), power storage may be performed.

In the present invention, the specific component (for example, the energy consumption unit) may maintain, reduce or increase the output. Thus, a particular component can include a power changing component. Since the power can be defined by current and voltage, the power variable component can include a current regulator and / or a voltage regulator. For example, the power variable component may be operated according to a command generated from an energy management unit.

Meanwhile, the energy curtailment information is information related to a mode in which a component is stopped or a low energy bill is used. In other words, the energy reduction information is information related to the reduction of energy consumption or energy bill.

The energy saving information may be transmitted and received with a true or false signal, for example, as a Boolean on a network system. That is, a turn off signal or a lower power signal may be transmitted and received.

When the specific component recognizes the energy saving information, as described above, the output can be zeroed (if the stop or stop state is recognized) or the output can be reduced (if the lower power signal is recognized). have.

The grid emergency information is information related to a power failure and the like, and may be transmitted / received as a true or false signal such as Boolean. Information related to the power outage is related to the reliability of the component using energy.

When the specific component recognizes the emergency information, it may be immediately shut down.

When the specific component receives the emergency information as the schedule information, the specific component may increase the output before the arrival of the emergency time point to perform the same operation as the off-peak operation of the specific component described above. . In addition, the specific component may be shut down at an emergency time.

The grid reliability information is information about the high and low supply electricity or information on the quality of electricity, and is transmitted / received by a true or false signal, such as a Boolean, or supplied to a component (for example, a home appliance). The component may determine the frequency of the AC power.

That is, when an under frequency is detected (recognized) below the reference frequency of the AC power supplied to the component, the amount of supply electricity is determined to be low, and when the frequency higher than the reference frequency of the AC power is detected (recognized), the supply electricity is This can be judged by many. That is, the frequency lower than the reference frequency (underfrequency) corresponds to information related to the reduction of energy consumption or energy bill.

When the specific component recognizes that the amount of electricity in the network safety information is low or the information that the electrical quality is not good, as mentioned above, the specific component to output 0 (stop or stop) in some cases, You can reduce the output, maintain the output, or increase the output.

The excessive amount of generated electricity information is information on a state in which excess electricity is generated since the amount of electricity consumed by the component consuming less energy than the amount of generated electricity may be transmitted / received as a true or false signal, for example, a Boolean.

When the specific component recognizes excessive power generation information (for example, when grid overfrequency is recognized or when over energy signal is recognized), the output may be increased. For example, when an operation reservation is set, a specific component may start driving before a set time, or a component having a larger output among a plurality of components may be driven first. In addition, in the case of the refrigerator to increase the output than the existing output supercooled, or in the case of a washing machine or a washing machine, the hot water can be stored by driving the heater in advance than the scheduled time of operation of the heater.

On the other hand, each kind of information related to the energy, specifically, the unprocessed first information (I1), the second information (second information (I2)) that is processed information from the first information, and the specific The information may be divided into third information I3 which is information for performing a function of a component. That is, the first information is raw data, the second information is refined data, and the third information is a command for performing a function of a specific component.

In addition, information related to energy is included in the signal and transmitted. In this case, one or more of the first to third information may be transmitted only a plurality of times without converting only the signal.

For example, as shown in the figure, any component that receives a signal including the first information I1 may only convert a signal and transmit a new signal including the first information I1 to another component.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the signal conversion and the information conversion are described as different concepts. At this time, it will be easily understood that the signal is also converted when the first information is converted into the second information.

However, the third information may be delivered a plurality of times in the state where the contents are converted or in a state where only the signal is converted while maintaining the same contents.

In detail, when the first information is raw electricity price information, the second information may be processed electricity price information. The processed electric charge information is information or analysis information in which electric charges are divided into multiple levels. The third information is a command generated based on the first information or the second information.

The particular component may generate, transmit or receive one or more of the first to third information. The first to third information are not necessarily sequentially transmitted and received.

For example, only a plurality of third information may be transmitted or received sequentially or in parallel without the first and second information. Alternatively, the first and third information may be transmitted or received together, the second and third information may be transmitted or received together, or the first and second information may be transmitted or received together.

For example, when a specific component receives the first information, the specific component may transmit the second information, the second information and the third information, or may transmit only the third information.

When the specific component receives only the third information, the specific component may generate and transmit new third information.

Meanwhile, in the relationship between the two informations, one information is a message and the other information is a response to the message. Accordingly, each component constituting the present network system may transmit or receive a message, and when the message is received, may correspond to the received message. Thus, the transmission of messages and their corresponding responses is a relative concept for individual components.

The message may include data (first information or second information) and / or command (third information).

The command (third information) includes a data storage command, a data generating command, a data processing command (including generating additional data), a generating command of an additional command, a sending command of an additional generated command, and a received command. Commands and the like.

In the present specification, corresponding to a received message means storing data, processing data (including generating additional data), generating a new command, sending a newly generated command, and simply passing the received command to another component. Command can be generated together), operation, transmission of stored information, transmission of acknowledgment character or negative acknowledgment character.

For example, when the message is the first information, the component that has received the first information corresponds to this to generate the second information by processing the first information, generate the second information, and generate new third information, Only third information can be generated.

In detail, when the energy management unit 24 receives the first information (internal information and / or external information), the energy management unit 24 generates second information and / or third information to establish the home network. It may transmit to one or more components (for example, energy consumption unit) constituting. The energy consumption unit 26 may operate according to the third information received from the energy management unit 24.

5 is a block diagram schematically showing a first communication mode of the network system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first component 31 of the home network 20 may communicate directly with the utility network 10. The first component 31 can communicate with a plurality of components 32, 33, 34: second to fourth components of the home network. At this time, it is noted that there is no limit to the number of components of the home network to communicate with the first component 31.

That is, in the present embodiment, the first component 31 serves as a gateway. For example, the first component 31 may be one of an energy management unit, an energy measuring unit, a central management unit, an energy network assistance unit, and an energy consumption unit.

In the present invention, the component acting as a gateway not only enables communication between components that communicate using different communication protocols, but also enables communication between components that communicate using the same communication protocol.

The second to fourth components 32, 33, and 34 may each be one of an energy generator, an energy distributor, an energy manager, an energy storage unit, an energy measurer, a central manager, an energy network assistant, and an energy consumer. have.

The first component 31 may receive information from the utility network 10 or one or more components constituting the utility network 10, and transmit or process the received information to process the second to fourth components. Can be sent to (32, 34). For example, when the first component 31 is an energy measuring unit, the first component may receive electric charge information and transmit the electric charge information to an energy management unit, an energy consumption unit, or the like.

Each of the second to fourth components may communicate with another component. For example, the first component 31 is an energy measuring unit, the second component is an energy management unit, and the energy management unit may communicate with one or more energy consumption units.

6 is a block diagram schematically showing a second communication mode of the network system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a plurality of components constituting the home network 20 of the present invention may directly communicate with the utility network 10.

That is, in the present invention, a plurality of components (first and second components 41 and 42) serving as gateways are included. The first and second components may be homogeneous components or other kinds of components.

And, the first component 41 can communicate with one or more components (eg, third and fourth components 43, 44), and the second component 42 can be one or more components (eg, a fifth And sixth component 45, 46.

For example, each of the first and second components may be one of an energy management unit, an energy measuring unit, a central management unit, an energy network assistance unit, and an energy consumption unit.

Each of the third to sixth components may be one of an energy generator, an energy distributor, an energy manager, an energy measurer, a central manager, an energy network assistant, and an energy consumer.

7 is a block diagram schematically showing a third communication mode of the network system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, each of the components 51, 52, and 53 constituting the home network of the present embodiment may directly communicate with the utility network 20. That is, as in the first and second embodiments, there is no component serving as a gateway, and each of the components 51, 52, and 53 may communicate with the utility network.

8 is a schematic diagram of a home network of a network system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the home network 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, an energy measuring unit 25 capable of measuring in real time power and / or electricity rates supplied from the utility network 10 to each home is provided. For example, a smart meter, the energy measuring unit 25 and the energy management unit 24 is connected to the electrical appliances and control their operation. In this case, the smart meter may measure the total energy consumption, that is, the total electricity consumption consumed by the home network 20.

The energy management unit 24 is an electrical appliance as the energy consumption unit 26, that is, a washing machine 100, a refrigerator 101, an air conditioner 103, a cooking appliance 104 or a TV 105 through a network in the home. It can be connected to electrical appliances such as two-way communication.

The communication in the home can be made through a wireless method such as Zigbee, wifi or a wire such as power line communication (PLC), and one home appliance can be connected to communicate with other home appliances.

On the other hand, each household's electricity bill is charged as a unit consumption rate, and electricity consumption per unit consumption is expensive in the time period when the power consumption is rapidly increased, and electricity consumption per unit consumption is the same when the power consumption is relatively low at night time. Fees can be cheaper.

The electric charge per unit consumption for each time slot may be received together with information on energy received by the energy management unit 24. The time zone during which the electric charge per unit consumption is high may be referred to as an energy rate high cost time zone. In other words, the energy fee high cost time zone may mean an on-peak time.

In the network system according to the present invention, the operating state of the energy consumption unit 26 is changed in a direction in which the energy consumption amount of the energy consumption unit 26 decreases when the energy rate high time period is reached.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the operating state of the energy consumption unit 26 is changed when the energy fee high cost time period is reached will be described in detail.

9 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of a control method corresponding to an electric charge high cost time zone in a network system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, when the energy rate high time period is reached, the energy consuming unit 26 switches to a standby mode after storing the operation information. 26 is reactivated according to the stored operation information.

For example, based on the information on the energy bill during the operation of the washing machine 100, it is checked whether the electricity bill high time period has been reached (S11). Here, the time period when the electricity rate exceeds the standard rate in the electricity rate for each time zone received together with the information about the energy rate may be regarded as the electricity rate high cost time zone. The reference fee may be set in advance by the user in the energy management unit 24 or the like, or may be included in the information on the energy fee.

In addition, when the time period of the high electric charge is reached (S12), information related to the current operating state of the washing machine 100 is stored and the washing machine 100 is switched to the standby mode (S13).

In this case, the information regarding the operating state may be stored in a memory (not shown) provided in the washing machine 100 itself, or may be stored in a memory (not shown) provided in other components including the energy management unit 24 and the like. It may be. However, the memory is a storage device in which stored information can be preserved even if power supply is cut off, such as an EEPROM.

In addition, the standby mode may mean that the washing machine 100 waits in a state in which main operations such as washing and rinsing are stopped. That is, the standby mode means an operating state of the energy consumption unit 26 in which the energy consumption amount of the energy consumption unit 26 may be reduced.

In addition, if it is determined that the time period of the high electricity bill is high (S14), and when it is separated from the high time of electricity tariff (S15), the washing machine 100 is re-operated according to the operation information of the stored washing machine 100. (S16).

That is, when the washing machine 100 reaches the high electricity cost time zone while the operation of the washing machine 100 is stopped while the washing machine 100 performs the washing process, when the washing machine 100 is out of the high electricity time period, the washing machine 100 continues the washing process. Can be done. In addition, when the washing machine 100 is stopped during operation of the washing machine 100 because the washing machine 100 reaches a high cost time zone during the rinsing process, the washing machine 100 continues the rinsing process when the washing machine 100 is out of the high charge time zone. Can be done.

Since the washing machine 100 is in a state in which the main operation is stopped, that is, in the standby mode, during the high electric charge period, the electricity consumption may be further reduced as compared with the case in which the washing machine 100 performs the main operation. That is, from the user's point of view, since electricity can be consumed by avoiding a relatively expensive time period, there is an advantage that a more economical electricity consumption can be maintained.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment relating to the change of the operating state of the energy consumption unit 26 when the energy fee high cost time period is reached will be described in detail.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of a control method corresponding to an electric charge high cost time zone in a network system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, in the present embodiment, standby energy is cut off after the energy consumption unit 26 stores the operation information when the energy fee high time period is reached, and when the energy fee high time period is removed, the energy consumption unit is separated. 26 is reactivated according to the stored operation information.

For example, on the basis of the information on the energy bill during the operation of the washing machine 100, it is checked whether the electricity bill high cost time zone is reached (S21), and when the electricity bill high cost time period is reached (S22). The information related to the current operating state of the washing machine 100 is stored and standby power of the washing machine 100 is cut off (S23).

In this case, the information about the operation state may be stored in a memory provided in the washing machine 100 itself, or may be stored in a memory provided in other components including the energy management unit 24 and the like. However, the memory is a storage device in which stored information can be preserved even if power supply is cut off, such as an EEPROM.

In addition, the standby power means a minimum power for maintaining the standby state when the washing machine 100 is in a state in which main operations such as washing and rinsing are stopped. Therefore, blocking the standby power means that the amount of electricity consumed by the washing machine 100 may be '0'. In addition, regardless of whether the washing machine 100 is in operation or in standby, standby power may be cut off when the electricity tariff high time period is reached.

In addition, if it is determined that the time period of the electricity fee is high cost (S24), if the departure from the time period of the electricity fee high cost (S25), the washing machine 100 is restarted according to the operation information of the stored washing machine 100. (S26).

For example, when the washing machine 100 reaches the high electricity cost time zone while the standby power of the washing machine 100 is cut off while the washing machine 100 performs the washing process, when the washing machine 100 is out of the high electricity time high time period, the washing machine 100 performs the washing. The procedure can then be carried out.

In addition, when the standby power of the washing machine 100 is cut off when the washing machine 100 is stopped and the standby power of the washing machine 100 is cut off, the washing machine 100 stops operating when the washing machine 100 is out of the electricity bill high time period. In this state, it can wait with only standby power.

Since the standby power of the washing machine 100 is cut off, that is, the electricity consumption by the washing machine 100 is maintained at '0' during the electricity cost high time period, the washing machine 100 is not performing the main operation. It is possible to further reduce the electricity consumption compared to the case where the air conditioner or the air conditioner is used. Therefore, from the user's point of view, it is possible to consume electricity by avoiding a relatively expensive time period, and thus, there is an advantage of enabling a more economical electricity consumption life.

10: utility network 20: home network
24: Energy Management Department 25: Smart Meter

Claims (15)

A utility network including an energy generator for generating energy; And
A home network including an energy consumption unit for consuming energy generated by the energy generation unit and communicatively connected to the utility network;
The communication information between the utility network and the home network includes energy information or additional information other than energy information.
The network system of the operating state of the energy consumption unit is changed based on the energy information. The method of claim 1,
The energy information includes energy rate information and energy fee information. The method of claim 2,
The information other than the energy fee is one of energy saving, emergency, network safety, power generation, operation priority, and energy consumption. The method of claim 1,
The additional information is one of environmental information, program update information, time information, operation or status information of each component, and consumer habit information using an energy consumption unit. The method of claim 1,
On the basis of the rate information contained in the energy information, the network system is changed in the operating state of the energy consumption unit when the energy rate high cost time zone is reached. The method of claim 5, wherein
The rate information includes time-based electricity rates,
And the electricity consumption amount of the energy consumption unit decreases when the electricity rate by time reaches a time period exceeding a standard rate. The method of claim 1,
The energy consumption amount of the energy consumption unit is reduced based on the energy information. The method of claim 7, wherein
On the basis of the rate information contained in the energy information, when the energy rate high cost time zone is reached, the standby power of the energy consumption unit is cut off the network system. The method of claim 7, wherein
And the energy consumption unit switches to the standby mode when the energy fee high time period is reached based on the fee information included in the energy information. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
When the energy fee high cost time zone is reached, the operation information of the energy consumption unit is stored network system. The method of claim 10,
And the energy consumption unit is reactivated according to the stored operation information when the energy fee is exceeded. Recognizing that the energy fee high time period has been reached; And
Changing the operating state of the energy consumption unit, so that the energy consumption amount of the energy consumption unit can be reduced. The method of claim 12,
When it is recognized that the energy bill has reached the high cost time zone, the control method of the network system is stored information about the operating state of the energy consumer. The method of claim 12,
The control method of the network system in which the operating state of the energy consumption unit is changed to a standby mode or a state in which standby power is cut off. The method of claim 12,
And after the operating state is changed, if it is recognized that the energy consumption is out of the high cost time period, the control method of the network system which reactivates the operating state before the energy consumption unit is changed.

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