AU2017239491B2

AU2017239491B2 - Power generation plan developing apparatus, power generation plan developing method, and recording medium

Info

Publication number: AU2017239491B2
Application number: AU2017239491A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jin Murata; Keiko Ootani; Ayumi Sudo; Tsuneo Watanabe; Takufumi Yoshida
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 2016-10-19
Filing date: 2017-10-03
Publication date: 2019-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-03
Also published as: TW201816642A; JP2018067155A; AU2017239491A1; JP6703777B2; TWI665570B

Abstract

In one embodiment, a power generation plan developing apparatus includes a power generation information processor to process information on performances or a group of power 5 generating facilities, the processor predicting the performances based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group. The apparatus further includes a power generation plan creator to create a power 10 generation plan about the facilities based on the performances or definition. The creator creates first and second plans based on the performances predicted from first and second data on the natural environment to create a third plan, or selects at least any of load dispatching about first and second groups to 15 which the facilities having first and second performances belong, to create the power generation plan based on the selected load dispatching. (Fig. 1) Ln7 2!. Do u <J U- 0 OL) <0 wU ~ < LULU~jL -T N~ ~ rI§r br nuc NC rn oU LU C)= a - -a CL-Z LL 7U2 C)

Description

POWER. GENERATION PLAN DEVELOPING APPARATUS, POWER

GENERATION PLAN DEVELOPING METHOD, AND RECORDING

MEDIUM

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to a power generation plan developing apparatus, a power generation plan developing method, and a recording medium.

BACKGROUND

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

Power generating units include units whose performances change according to natural environments, such as weather, and units whose performances do not change.

For example, power generating units of steam-power generation and nuclear power generation can stably generate 20 power with not many adverse effects of natural environments.

The maximum outputs hardly vary according to the natural environments.

On the contrary, power generating units of combined cycle power generation that combine gas turbines and steam 25 turbines have the maximum outputs that vary according to temperatures. More specifically, increase in temperature reduces the density of atmosphere, which reduces the amount of oxygen intake into a combustor for the gas turbine. Consequently, the amount of fuel injection into the combustor 30 decreases accordingly, and the maximum output of the generator for the gas turbine decreases. In general, increase in temperature from 5°C to 40°C reduces the maximum output of the generator for gas turbine by about 20 to 30%. The steam turbine includes a condenser for converting steam into 35 water. The performance of the condenser changes according to the temperature of seawater for cooling steam. Consequently,

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 the efficiency of the steam turbine varies according to the temperature of seawater.

In power generating units of photovoltaic generation, the density of cloud in the sky and insolation intensity changes the 5 incident energy of sunlight, which in turn changes the amount of power generation. Furthermore, in power generating units of wind-power generation, the amounts of power generation vary according to wind strengths. The amount of power generation of wind-power generation increases with the strength 10 of the wind power. However, when the wind power exceeds a prescribed value, the power generation is stopped for safety reasons. In power generating units of hydropower generation, the amounts of power generation vary according to river volumes.

As described above, in some types of power generation, the performances (power generation capacities) vary according to natural environments, such as weather.

The power generating units include variously scaled units that range from what has a large amount of the power 20 generation capacity through a single unit to what has a small amount of power generation capacity through each single unit. As for the power generating units each having a small amount of power generation capacity, control may be performed such that the power generating units are aggregated into a single 25 group of power generating units in some cases. The control of multiple power generating units aggregated into a group as described above is called GLC (Group Load Control). With certain scales of power generating units, the amount of power generation, power generation instruction, and power generation 30 plan are determined in units of groups in some cases.

For example, as for the power generating unit that uses seawater for cooling the condenser, in consideration of adverse effects of warm seawater discharged to the sea on fisheries, a contract of setting an upper limit of the total amount of warm seawater discharge is made between the power generation plant and fishery operators in some cases. In this case, the amount

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 of warm seawater discharge is proportional to the power generation output. Consequently, not only the instantaneous total output of the power generating units in the power generation plant but also the integral total output a day and the 5 integral total output a month are limited. Accordingly, the power generating units in the power generation plant are handled as a warm water discharge limitation unit group.

In combined cycle power generation in an early stage, multiple power generating units are grouped, and a control 10 device (GLC) that dispatches a single load instruction to multiple power generating units is provided. This is because the power generation capacity of each single power generating unit is small in the combined cycle power generation in the early stage, and the processes at a central power supply station increase if 15 load instructions are directly issued from the central power supply station to the respective power generating units. On the other hand, currently, a case occurs where increase (uprating) in the capacities of the power generating units controlled by the control device (GLC) allows the load instruction to be directly 20 issued from the central power supply station to each power generating unit. Accordingly, situations occur where the number of members of the group increases or decreases at a certain time point.

As described above, there is a problem in that the 25 performances of the power generating units vary according to the natural environment and a problem related to the group. Here, the amount of power generation of each power generating unit is required to be the amount of power generation in conformity with the demand. When the amount of power 30 generation is higher than the demand, the frequency may increase and the voltage may increase. On the contrary, when the amount of power generation is lower than the demand, the frequency may decrease and the voltage may decrease. Accordingly, accurate presumption of the amount of power 35 generation of each power generating unit is required to achieve an amount of power generation in conformity with the demand.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

The consistency between the predicted demand and the actual amount of power generation is called actual simultaneous balancing.

In recent years, power generation operators and retail operators have been divided from each other. Consequently, the power generation operators are required to generate the amount of power they have committed themselves to generate. The retail operators are required to consume the amount of power they have committed themselves to sell it to utility 10 customers. The requirement is called planned value simultaneous balancing. When the amount of power generation is smaller or larger than the committed amount of power generation, the power generation operator has to pay a penalty that is called an imbalance.

Consequently, the power generation operator is required to grasp how the amounts of power generation of its own power generating units change according to the change in the natural environment and reflect the grasped change in the power generation plan in order to achieve the actual simultaneous 20 balancing and planned value simultaneous balancing.

In the power generation plan, power generation in a certain time period (e.g., one day, one week, or one month) is planned at certain time mesh (e.g., an interval, such as one hour, 30 minutes, or 5 minutes). For example, to satisfy the 25 demand or the committed amount of power generation, the activation timing and the power generation output are planned for each of the power generating units of one or multiple power generation types. In this case, it is also required to develop a plan in consideration of an economic combination having low 30 power generation cost.

SUMMARY

One embodiment provides a power generation plan developing apparatus comprising:

a power generation information processor configured to process information on performances or a group of power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generating facilities, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and a power generation plan creator configured to create a power generation plan about the power generating facilities, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted 5 from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, or selects at least any of load dispatching about a first group to which the power generating facilities having a first performance belong and load dispatching about a 10 second group to which the power generating facilities having a second performance belong and creates the power generation plan based on the selected load dispatching.

One embodiment provides a power generation plan developing method comprising:

processing information on performances or a group of power generating facilities by a power generation information processor, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and creating a power generation plan about the power generating facilities by a power generation plan creator, based

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted 5 from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, or selects at least any of load dispatching about a first group to which the power generating facilities having a first performance belong and load dispatching about a 10 second group to which the power generating facilities having a second performance belong and creates the power generation plan based on the selected load dispatching.

One embodiment provides a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a power generation plan developing program which causes a computer to perform a power generation plan developing method, the method comprising:

processing information on performances or a group of power generating facilities by a power generation information processor, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and creating a power generation plan about the power generating facilities by a power generation plan creator, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a 5 third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, or selects at least any of load dispatching about a first group to which the power generating facilities having a first performance belong and load dispatching about a second group to which the power generating facilities having a 10 second performance belong and creates the power generation plan based on the selected load dispatching.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a power generation plan developing apparatus comprising:

a power generation information processor configured to process information on performances or a group of power generating facilities, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and a power generation plan creator configured to create a power generation plan about the power generating facilities, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, the apparatus further comprising:

an error rate calculator configured to calculate an error

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan; and a reserve rate calculator configured to calculate a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan; and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating facility that is a waiting target in the first power generation plan.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a power generation plan developing method comprising:

processing information on performances or a group of power generating facilities by a power generation information processor, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and creating a power generation plan about the power generating facilities by a power generation plan creator, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans,

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 the method further comprising:

calculating, by an error rate calculator, an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan; and calculating, by a reserve rate calculator, a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan, and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating facility that is a waiting target in the first power generation plan.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a power generation plan developing program which causes a computer to perform a power generation plan developing method, the method comprising:

processing information on performances or a group of power generating facilities by a power generation information processor, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and creating a power generation plan about the power generating facilities by a power generation plan creator, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, the method further comprising:

calculating, by an error rate calculator, an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan; and calculating, by a reserve rate calculator, a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan, and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating facility that is a waiting target in the first power generation plan.

a power generation information processor configured to process information on performances of a group of power generating facilities, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and a power generation plan creator configured to create a power generation plan about the power generating facilities, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, the apparatus further comprising:

an error rate calculator configured to calculate an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan; and a reserve rate calculator configured to calculate a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan; and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating facility that is a waiting target in the first power generation plan;

wherein the third power generation plan is received by a control device; and the control device is configured to control the power output of each of the power generating facilities based on the third power generation plan.

processing information on performances of a group of power generating facilities by a power generation information processor, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and creating a power generation plan about the power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generating facilities by a power generation plan creator, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, the method further comprising:

calculating, by an error rate calculator, an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan; and calculating, by a reserve rate calculator, a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan, and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating facility that is a waiting target in the first power generation plan;

wherein the third power generation plan is received by a control device; and the control device controls the power output of each of the power generating facilities based on the third power generation plan.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a power generation plan developing program which causes a computer to

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 perform a power generation plan developing method, the method comprising:

processing information on performances of a group of power generating facilities by a power generation information processor, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and creating a power generation plan about the power generating facilities by a power generation plan creator, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, the method further comprising:

calculating, by an error rate calculator, an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan; and calculating, by a reserve rate calculator, a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan, and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 facility that is a waiting target in the first power generation plan;

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of including, but not limited to.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a performance 15 matrix map of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a second 20 embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generation plan developing apparatus of the third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a group definition data of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a group configuration of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the group configuration of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing an example of load dispatching of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a fifth 15 embodiment; and

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a sixth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 15, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping explanations thereof are omitted.

Various methods of developing power generation plans have been known. For example, methods of causing multiple generators to operate integrally and dispatching the generator output to the generators have been known. Furthermore, a method has been known that classifies multiple generators into groups, increases the output of one group while decreasing the output of another group in a certain demand stage, thereby achieving flexible dynamic load dispatching. However, any method of reflecting the performance of each power generating unit in the dispatching has not been considered.

As described above, the conventional method cannot achieve load dispatching in which the performance of each

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 power generating unit, for example, the performance varying according to the natural environment, is reflected. Furthermore, in the case where the power generating units are grouped and the load is dispatched, load dispatching in which 5 the performance of each power generating unit and the grouping are reflected cannot be achieved.

Conventionally, a power transmission and distribution operator, a power generation operator, and a retail operator were in one corporation. Accordingly, in a case of determining 10 load dispatching of power generating units in conformity with the demand, presumption of a larger reserve power even with possible occurrence of a difference to some extent prevents a large problem from occurring. However, in a case where the power transmission and distribution operator is separated as 15 another corporation from the other operators, the penalty due to the imbalance occurs.

For the sake of minimizing the imbalance, it is required to reflect the performance of each power generating unit accurately in the power generation plan. In a case where 20 multiple power generating units are controlled in groups, it is required to develop the power generation plan that can support change in the member configuration of the group and the performances of the group members at a certain time point.

In one embodiment, a power generation plan developing 25 apparatus includes a power generation information processor configured to process information on performances or a group of power generating facilities, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering 30 data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities. The apparatus further includes a power generation plan creator configured to create a power generation plan about the power generating facilities, 35 based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor. The power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a 5 second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, or selects at least any of load dispatching about a first group to which the power generating 10 facilities having a first performance belong and load dispatching about a second group to which the power generating facilities having a second performance belong and creates the power generation plan based on the selected load dispatching.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a first embodiment. The power generation plan developing apparatus of FIG. 1 develops a power generation plan that defines when a power generating unit is activated and how much power 20 generation output the unit operates to achieve, in conformity with the demand and the committed amount of power generation. The power generating units are, for example, generators of various power generation types. The power generating unit is an example of a power generating facility.

The power generation plan developing apparatus of FIG.

includes a predicted demand data inputting unit 1, a power generating facility data inputting unit 2, a predicted weather data inputting unit 3, a power generating facility performance predictor 4, a power generation plan creator 5, a predicted 30 demand data storage 11, a power generating facility data storage 12, a predicted weather data storage 13, a power generating facility performance data storage 14, a power generation plan data storage 15, a predicted error inputting unit 21, a predicted error calculator 22, and a waiting facility 35 selector 23. The power generating facility performance predictor 4 of this embodiment is an example of a power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generation information processor. The predicted error calculator 22 of this embodiment is an example of an error rate calculator and a reserve rate calculator.

The predicted demand data inputting unit 1 inputs predicted demand data that is time-series data regarding a prediction of power demand, into the power generation plan developing apparatus. The demanded power predicted from this data is also a supply power that the power generating unit serving as a power generation plan development target is 10 required to satisfy. The predicted demand data storage 11 stores the predicted demand data input from the predicted demand data inputting unit 1, in a table, in a time-series order.

The power generating facility data inputting unit 2 inputs, into the power generation plan developing apparatus, power 15 generating facility data that is data on the characteristics and operations of the power generating units (power generating facilities). Examples of the power generating facility data include the code name of the power generating unit, basic conditions such as rated MW and minimum MW of the power 20 generating unit, and information regarding limitations imposed on the power generating unit (the type of limitation condition and limitation time period). The power generating facility data storage 12 stores, in a table, the power generating facility data input from the power generating facility data inputting unit 2. 25 The power generating facility data storage 12 further stores a calculation range required when the power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan.

The predicted weather data inputting unit 3 inputs, into the power generation plan developing apparatus, predicted 30 weather data that is time-series data regarding a prediction of weather around the power generating unit at the time and date of scheduled power generation. The predicted weather data is an example of data on the natural environment. The predicted weather data in this embodiment is predicted data on the air 35 temperature (temperature of atmosphere) and the seawater temperature (temperature of seawater) around the power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generating unit. The predicted weather data storage 13 stores, in a table, the predicted weather data input from the predicted weather data inputting unit 3. The predicted weather data is stored in the table on a time-mesh basis.

The power generating facility performance predictor 4 predicts the performance of the power generating unit on the basis of the predicted weather data obtained from the predicted weather data storage 13 and the power generating facility data obtained from the power generating facility data storage 12.

More specifically, the power generating facility performance predictor 4 calculates predicted data on the performance of the power generating unit that varies according to the weather on a time-mesh basis. An example of such a performance includes the maximum output of the power generating unit that varies according to the air temperature or seawater temperature. The predicted result of the performance of the power generating facility performance predictor 4 is stored, as power generating facility performance data, into a performance matrix map of the power generating facility performance data storage 14.

For example, the power generating facility performance predictor 4 takes the reference thermal efficiency η [%], modification coefficient due to seawater temperature a [%], modification coefficient due to air temperature β [%], air temperature correction coefficients of the thermal power maximum output of combined cycle power generation ki [MW/°C³], k2 [MW/°C²], k₃ [MW/°C] and k₄ [MW], the unit price of amount of heat generation Fv [yen/MJ], power generation output P [MW], fuel cost Ύ [yen/h] and the like, as the power generating facility data, from the power generating facility data storage 12. The power generating facility performance predictor 4 takes the air temperature Ta [°C] and the seawater temperature Tw [°C], as the predicted weather data, from the power generating facility data storage

12. The power generating facility performance predictor 4 then substitutes the power generating facility data and the predicted weather data in Equations (1) to (8).

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

(5) y(z) = ^P(z)x^ xFvxlOO (7)

77'(z)

Υ(ί) = a x P(i)² + 5 x P(i) + c (8)

Equation (1) represents the maximum output Px [MW] 10 of the combined cycle power generation after air temperature correction. Equation (2) represents the thermal efficiency η’ [%] of the combined cycle power generation after air temperature correction. Equation (3) represents the thermal efficiency η’ [%] of the steam-power generation after air 15 temperature correction.

Equation (4) represents the relationship between the seawater temperature Tw [°C] and degree of vacuum V [hPa] (ai to aU are the correction coefficients for seawater temperature). Equation (5) represents the relationship 20 between the degree of vacuum V [hPa] and the modification coefficient a [%] (bi to bU represent the correction coefficients for the degree of vacuum). Equation (6) represents the relationship between the air temperature Ta [°C] and the modification coefficient β [%] (ci to cU are the correction 25 coefficients for the air temperature).

Equation (7) represents the relationship between the power generation output P [MW] and the fuel cost Ύ [yen/h] (Kf [J/Wh] in the equation is the conversion factor for the amount of heat generation). Equation (8) represents an 30 approximate expression according to a least squares method for the relationship between the power generation output P [MW] and the fuel cost Ύ [yen/h].

The symbol i is used to discriminate the power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generating units from each other. For example, P(l) = 500 MW, P(2) = 375 MW, P(3) = 250 MW, and P(4) = 125 MW. The symbols a, b and c of Equation (8) are called a quadratic coefficient, a linear coefficient and a constant term of a fuel cost 5 function, respectively. The smaller the values of a, b and c are, the lower the fuel cost with which the power generating unit can operate is. The economic performance can be regarded to be high.

In a case of handling the power generating units of 10 combined cycle power generation, the power generating facility performance predictor 4 calculates the maximum output Px from Equation (1), and substitutes the calculation results of Equations (2) and (4) to (7) in Equation (8) to calculate the quadratic coefficient a, linear coefficient b and constant term 15 c of the fuel cost function (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a performance matrix map of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 represents air temperatures Ta and seawater temperatures Tw provided on the time-mesh basis. The 20 power generating facility performance predictor 4 calculates the maximum output Px, quadratic coefficient a, linear coefficient b and constant term c of each power generating unit on the basis of the air temperature Ta and seawater temperature Tw, and stores the calculated results in the 25 performance matrix map on the time-mesh basis. FIG. 2 shows the example of time-series data on Px, a, b and c of the power generating units 1, 2,..., n.

FIG. 2 represents variation in air temperature Ta and seawater temperature Tw from 00:00 to 14:00 on a certain 30 fine day. As can be understood from FIG. 2, the air temperature Ta increases from the midnight to the daytime on the fine day. On the other hand, the maximum output Px in the power generating unit of combined cycle power generation decreases with increase in air temperature Ta (see the maximum outputs Px of power generating units 1 to n in

FIG. 2). Accordingly, the power generating units of combined

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 cycle power generation cannot increase the outputs to rated values when the air temperature Ta increases from the midnight to the daytime in some cases.

When the power generation plan is created in this embodiment, for example, this power generation plan is created in consideration of the maximum output Px of the performance matrix map. Accordingly, power generation with a small deviation between the amount of power generation in the power generation plan and the actual amount of power generation can 10 be achieved.

In the combined cycle power generation and steam-power generation, the power generation efficiencies of the power generating units vary owing to the adverse effects of the air temperature Ta and the seawater temperature Tw.

Consequently, when the outputs of multiple power generating units are intended to be dispatched so as to achieve a further inexpensive fuel cost, the relationship between the total output of these power generating units and the air temperature Ta and seawater temperature Tw is calculated, and the output 20 dispatching is determined on the basis of the calculated result, thereby allowing the fuel cost to be reduced.

The power generating facility performance predictor 4 of this embodiment calculates the quadratic coefficient a, linear coefficient b and constant term c of the approximate 25 expression of the relationship between the power generation output P and fuel cost Y (fuel cost function), and stores these calculated results in the performance matrix map. Accordingly, the power generation plan creator 5 can grasp the relationship between the power generation output P and the 30 fuel cost Y of each power generating unit, and can dispatch outputs so as to achieve an inexpensive total fuel cost of the power generating units to thereby create the power generation plan.

Hereinafter, referring again to FIG. 1, the configuration and operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of this embodiment are described.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

The power generation plan creator 5 obtains data (power generating facility performance data) regarding the performance of the power generating units from the performance matrix map in the power generating facility performance data storage 14, 5 and obtains the predicted demand data from the predicted demand data storage 11. The power generation plan creator 5 then creates (generates) the power generation plan for the power generating units on the basis of the obtained power generating facility performance data and predicted demand data.

Accordingly, the power generation plan in consideration of the power demand prediction and preferable output dispatching can be created. The power generation plan created by the power generation plan creator 5 is stored, as power generation plan data, in the power generation plan data storage 15 on the 15 time-mesh basis.

For example, the power generation plan creator 5 obtains the maximum outputs Px of multiple power generating units from the performance matrix map, dispatches the outputs of these power generating units so as to achieve a small deviation 20 between the amount of power generation in the power generation plan and the actual amount of power generation, and creates the power generation plan. Accordingly, a power generation plan that satisfies the demand and the committed amount of power generation can be created.

The power generation plan creator 5 obtains the quadratic coefficients a, linear coefficients b and constant terms c of the fuel cost functions of the multiple power generating units from the performance matrix map, dispatches the outputs so as to achieve a low total fuel cost of these power generating units, and creates the power generation plan.

Accordingly, an economic power generation plan having a low power generation cost can be created.

Next, the functions of the predicted error inputting unit

21, the predicted error calculator 22, and the waiting facility selector 23 are described.

In a case where there are many days from the time of

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 creation of the power generation plan to the time of submission, a large difference sometimes emerges between the atmospheric temperature in the power generation plan (predicted temperature) and the actual atmospheric temperature (actual 5 temperature). The difference varies according to the season.

For example, in a case where the atmospheric temperature in the power generation plan corresponds to the temperature on a fine day in summer and the actual atmospheric temperature corresponds to the temperature on a rainy day in summer, a 10 difference about 10°C sometimes emerges between the former predicted temperature and the latter actual temperature. This is also applicable to the seawater temperature.

In actuality, creation of the power generation calculation in consideration of the actual temperature on the current day 15 instead of the predicted temperature cannot sometimes satisfy the power demand. In this case, there is a problem in that it is difficult to determine instantaneously the degree of unsatisfied demand and the power generating unit that can be activated. The predicted error inputting unit 21, the predicted error 20 calculator 22 and the waiting facility selector 23 then operate as follows to address this problem.

The predicted error inputting unit 21 switches whether to turn on or off the predicted error calculation according to a switching operation by a user of the power generation plan 25 developing apparatus. The predicted weather data inputting unit 3 inputs the current predicted weather data into the power generation plan developing apparatus, while the predicted error inputting unit 21 inputs the predicted weather data predicted in the past into the power generation plan developing apparatus. 30 The former predicted weather data is an example of first data.

The latter predicted weather data is an example of second data.

The predicted weather data in this embodiment is predicted data on the air temperature (temperature of atmosphere) and the seawater temperature (temperature of seawater) around the power generating unit.

As described above, the power generating facility

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 performance predictor 4 obtains the current predicted weather data from the predicted weather data inputting unit 3 (predicted weather data storage 13), predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the data, and stores the 5 predicted result, as the power generating facility performance data, in the power generating facility performance data storage

14. The power generation plan creator 5 then creates the power generation plan on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. Hereinafter, this power generation 10 plan is called first power generation plan.

Likewise, the power generating facility performance predictor 4 obtains the predicted weather data in the past from the predicted error inputting unit 21, predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the data, and 15 stores the predicted result, as the power generating facility performance data, in the power generating facility performance data storage 14. The power generation plan creator 5 then creates the power generation plan on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. Hereinafter, this power 20 generation plan is called second power generation plan.

The predicted error calculator 22 calculates an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan. The error rate of this embodiment is the rate 25 between the demanded power and supply power at the same time, and is provided by dividing the supply power by the demanded power. The error rate of the first power generation plan is calculated using the first power generation plan and the predicted demand data. The error rate of the second power 30 generation plan is calculated using the second power generation plan and the predicted demand data.

In a case where the error rate in the second power generation plan is higher or lower than the error rate in the first power generation plan, the predicted error calculator 22 recalculates a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating unit. More specifically, the reserve rate is

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 recalculated so that the error rates can coincide with each other. The reserve rate of this embodiment is an indicator during the operation of the power generating unit at an output less than the maximum output. For example, in a case where the 5 reserve rate is 20%, at least some of the power generating units that are power generation plan development targets are operated at 80% of the maximum output and are caused to wait at outputs less than the maximum outputs. The reserve rate having a value different from that of the reserve rate calculated 10 by the power generation plan creator 5 is recalculated by the predicted error calculator 22.

Here, the waiting facility selector 23 determines whether or not the recalculated reserve rate is a value that requires additional activation or additional stop of the power generating 15 unit. When the additional activation or additional stop of the power generating units is required, the waiting facility selector 23 selects the power the generating unit that can be immediately activated or immediately stopped in consideration of the efficiency of each power generating unit, and notifies the 20 power generation plan creator 5 of the result of power generating unit selection. The power generating unit selected as the activation target is operated at the output less than the maximum output.

The power generation plan creator 5 modifies the first 25 power generation plan on the basis of a notification from the waiting facility selector 23. For example, in a case without additional activation and additional stop of the power generating unit, the recalculation result of the reserve rate is supported by changing the loads on the activated power generating units 30 without changing the lineup of activated power generating units, and the first power generation plan is modified. On the other hand, a case with additional activation of the power generating unit causes a problem in that conditions, such as the timing when the power generating unit can be activated and a required 35 time for reaching a predetermined output after activation of the power generating unit, vary according to the power generating

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 units. Accordingly, the power generation plan creator 5 in this case supports the recalculation result of the reserve rate in consideration of the conditions, and modifies the first power generation plan.

As described above, the power generation plan creator 5 creates a third power generation plan that satisfies the reserve rate by modifying the first power generation plan, and stores the third power generation plan, as the power generation plan data, in the power generation plan data storage 15.

The power generating facility performance predictor 4 may obtain the predicted weather data in the past from the predicted weather data storage 13 instead of obtaining the predicted weather data in the past from the predicted error inputting unit 21. In this case, for example, the power 15 generating facility performance predictor 4 may obtain a piece of the predicted weather data having an air temperature and a seawater temperature that are close to those in the current predicted weather data, as the predicted weather data in the past, among the pieces of predicted weather data about one 20 year before the current predicted weather data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of the first embodiment.

When the predicted error calculation is turned on (step

Sil), the predicted error calculator 22 calculates the error rate 25 on the basis of the first power generation plan (current predicted weather data) (step S12) and calculates the error rate on the basis of the second power generation plan (predicted weather data in the past) (step S13). The predicted weather data in step S12 is not necessarily the current predicted 30 weather data only if the data is data before the predicted weather data in step S13.

Next, the predicted error calculator 22 recalculates the reserve rate regarding the waiting of the power generating units so that the error rates can coincide with each other (step S14).

Next, the waiting facility selector 23 determines whether or not the recalculated reserve rate is a value that requires additional

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 activation or additional stop of the power generating unit (step

S15).

When the additional activation or additional stop of the power generating unit is required, the power generating unit 5 that can be immediately activated or immediately stopped is selected, and the power generating unit selected as the activation target is activated with an output less than the maximum output (step S16). Subsequently, the third power generation plan that satisfies the reserve rate is created by 10 modifying the first power generation plan (step S17). On the contrary, when the additional activation or additional stop of the power generating unit is not required, step S17 is executed without intervention of step S16.

As described above, the power generation plan 15 developing apparatus of this embodiment predicts the performance of the power generating unit on the basis of the data on the natural environment, such as the air temperature and seawater temperature, and creates the power generation plan on the basis of the predicted performance. Consequently, 20 this embodiment can develop the preferable power generation plan in consideration of variation in the performance of the power generating unit due to the natural environment, and develop the power generation plan excellent in the prediction of the amount of power generation and in the economic 25 performance of power generation.

This embodiment can develop the power generation plan that can easily support the variation in weather. For example, in a case or the like where the weather is changed from a cloudy weather to a fine weather during use of the power 30 generation plan, the variation in weather is supported by immediately activating or stopping the power generating unit. Consequently, this embodiment can develop the power generation plan having a high achievability.

(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a second

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 embodiment.

The power generation plan developing apparatus in FIG. 4 includes a load dispatching calculator 24 instead of the waiting facility selector 23 in FIG. 1.

As described above, creation of the power calculation in consideration of the actual temperature on the current day instead of the predicted temperature cannot sometimes satisfy the power demand. In this case, there is a problem in that it is difficult to determine instantaneously the degree of unsatisfied 10 demand and the power generating unit that can be activated.

Even if activation of the power generating unit is tried when the air temperature on the current day is identified, the activation cannot be performed in time in some cases. In such cases, the demand is not satisfied. In this embodiment, the load 15 dispatching calculator 24 is adopted instead of the waiting facility selector 23, and the additional activation and additional stop of the power generating unit as in the first embodiment are avoided while the error rate to a certain extent is accepted.

Hereinafter, the operations of the predicted error 20 inputting unit 21, the predicted error calculator 22 and the load dispatching calculator 24 according to this embodiment are described.

As with the first embodiment, the predicted error inputting unit 21 switches between turning on and off the 25 predicted error calculation. The predicted weather data inputting unit 3 inputs the current predicted weather data into the power generation plan developing apparatus, while the predicted error inputting unit 21 inputs the predicted weather data predicted in the past into the power generation plan 30 developing apparatus.

The power generating facility performance predictor 4 predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the current predicted weather data. The power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan (first power generation plan) on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. Likewise, the power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generating facility performance predictor 4 predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the predicted weather data in the past. The power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan (second power 5 generation plan) on the basis of the power generating facility performance data.

The predicted error calculator 22 calculates an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power 10 generation plan. In a case where the error rate in the second power generation plan is higher or lower than the error rate in the first power generation plan, the predicted error calculator 22 recalculates a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating unit.

At this time, the load dispatching calculator 24 determines whether or not the first power generation plan can satisfy the reserve rate only by change in the loads of power generating units over the entire time period. When the activation or stop is required, the load dispatching calculator 24 20 activates or stops the power generating units to achieve a desired reserve rate. On the contrary, when the activation or stop is not required, the reserve rate is achieved only by changing the load dispatching on the power generating units. In the latter case, the load dispatching calculator 24 creates a 25 unit lineup that can immediately support possible change in load dispatching according to the variation in reserve rate if the change is required. Information on activation or stop of and load dispatching on the power generating units is notified from the load dispatching calculator 24 to the power generation plan 30 creator 5.

The power generation plan creator 5 modifies the first power generation plan on the basis of a notification from the load dispatching calculator 24. More specifically, the power generation plan creator 5 creates a third power generation plan that satisfies the reserve rate by modifying the first power generation plan, and stores the third power generation plan, as

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 the power generation plan data, in the power generation plan data storage 15. The reserve rate of this embodiment is not necessarily set so that the error rates in the first and second power generation plans can coincide with each other. These 5 error rates may be set so as to have the difference between the rates within a certain range.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows temporal variation in load (MW) on a certain power generating unit. The load on each power generating unit has limitations on the load variation rate and load duration. The load variation rate is an amount of variation in load per minute. For example, the upper limit and the lower limit of the amount of variation in load change according to the magnitude of the load. The load duration is a duration during which the same load value continues. For example, when the load becomes equal to or higher than X, the load duration is limited to Ύ or less (X and Ύ are predetermined real numbers).

Accordingly, the load dispatching calculator 24 creates the unit lineup that satisfies these limitations and other limitations from the power generating facility data storage 12 at the same time and can immediately support variation in load dispatching according to change in reserve rate.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of the second embodiment.

When the predicted error calculation is turned on (step S21), the predicted error calculator 22 calculates the error rate 30 on the basis of the first power generation plan (current predicted weather data) (step S22) and calculates the error rate on the basis of the second power generation plan (predicted weather data in the past) (step S23).

Next, the predicted error calculator 22 recalculates the reserve rate regarding the waiting of the power generating unit so that the difference between error rates can be

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 accommodated within a certain range (step S24). Next, the load dispatching calculator 24 determines whether or not the first power generation plan can satisfy the reserve rate only by change in the loads of power generating units over the entire 5 time period (step S25).

When support cannot be achieved only by the change in loads, the output of the activated power generating unit is appropriately reduced, or the stopped power generating unit is appropriately activated if the demand is not satisfied at this 10 time (step S26). Subsequently, the third power generation plan that satisfies the reserve rate is created by modifying the first power generation plan (step S27). On the contrary, when support can be achieved only by changing the load, step S27 is executed without intervention of step S26.

This embodiment can develop the power generation plan that can easily support the variation in weather. For example, in a case or the like where the weather is changed from a cloudy weather to a fine weather during use of the power generation plan, the variation in weather can be supported by 20 changing the load dispatching without activating or stopping the power generating unit. Consequently, according to this embodiment, the power generation plan having a high flexibility that can also support variation in abrupt change in weather only by change in load dispatching can be developed.

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a third embodiment.

The power generation plan developing apparatus in FIG.

7 includes a supply capacity margin appender 25 and a supply capacity notifier 26 instead of the predicted error calculator 22 and the waiting facility selector 23 in FIG. 1. The supply capacity margin appender 25 in this embodiment is an example of a margin calculator.

As described above, creation of the power calculation in consideration of the actual temperature on the current day

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 instead of the predicted temperature cannot sometimes satisfy the power demand. In this case, if the power generation plan is committed and transmitted to the retail operator and subsequently power to an estimated extent cannot be supplied 5 owing to abrupt change in weather, the penalty that is called the imbalance is required to be paid in case the amount of power generation in the power generation plan is not satisfied. Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the supply capacity (supply potential) is notified to the retail operator at the first, a 10 higher air temperature (or seawater temperature; this is hereinafter applicable in the same manner) is predicted, the maximum output is calculated, and the power generation plan is developed.

Hereinafter, the operations of the predicted error 15 inputting unit 21, the supply capacity margin appender 25 and the supply capacity notifier 26 according to this embodiment are described.

The predicted error inputting unit 21 switches whether to turn on or off the supply capacity calculation according to a 20 switching operation by the user of the power generation plan developing apparatus. The predicted error inputting unit 21 inputs, into the power generation plan developing apparatus, a difference temperature (temperature margin) for accepting variation in air temperature according to the input operation by 25 the user. When the difference temperature is T°C, the variation in actual air temperature with respect to the predicted air temperature within ±T°C is accepted. Furthermore, the predicted weather data inputting unit 3 inputs the current predicted weather data into the power generation plan 30 developing apparatus, while the predicted error inputting unit 21 inputs the predicted weather data predicted in the past into the power generation plan developing apparatus.

The power generating facility performance predictor 4 predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the current predicted weather data. The power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 (first power generation plan) on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. On the other hand, the power generating facility performance predictor 4 predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the 5 predicted weather data in the past and the difference temperature. The power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan (second power generation plan) on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. As a result, a second power generation result is a result in which the 10 difference temperature is reflected.

The supply capacity margin appender 25 calculates a margin (redundant demand) regarding the power supply of the power generating units on the basis of the first and second power generation plans. This margin is created on the 15 time-mesh basis over all the time meshes, and is supplied to the power generation plan creator 5. The power generation plan creator 5 modifies the first power generation plan by adding the margin to the predicted demand and re-creating the first power generation plan. As described above, the power 20 generation plan creator 5 creates a third power generation plan that satisfies the margin by modifying the first power generation plan, and stores the third power generation plan, as the power generation plan data, in the power generation plan data storage

15.

The supply capacity notifier 26 refers to the power generation plan data in the power generation plan data storage 15, and notifies the retail operator of the third power generation plan instead of the first power generation plan. Accordingly, even if the supply capacity of the power generating units that 30 are the development targets in the power generation plan is reduced by the margin according to variation in weather, the power generation plan that can satisfy the power demand can be transmitted to the retail operator. For example, the value of the margin of this embodiment is calculated using the second 35 power generation plan created by varying the predicted air temperature within the range of ±T°C (variation width). The

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 supply capacity notifier 26 may notify the retail operator of information on the supply capacity of the power generating units together with information on the third power generation plan.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of the third embodiment.

When the supply capacity calculation is turned on (step

531) , the supply capacity margin appender 25 calculates the supply capacity of the power generating units on the basis of the first power generation plan (current predicted weather data) (step S32) and calculates the supply capacity of the power generating units on the basis of the second power generation plan (predicted weather data in the past) (step S33).

Here, the first power generation plan in this embodiment 15 is created using the predicted weather data having a higher air temperature as the current predicted weather data (see step

532) . Meanwhile, the second power generation plan in this embodiment is created by varying the air temperature in the predicted weather data in the past within a variation width (see step S33).

In step S33, the second power generation plan may be created by obtaining the predicted weather data in the past from the predicted weather data storage 13 instead of obtaining the predicted weather data in the past from the predicted error 25 inputting unit 21. In this case, it is desirable that the power generating facility performance predictor 4 obtain a piece of the predicted weather data having a higher air temperature, as the predicted weather data in the past, among the pieces of predicted weather data about one year before the current 30 predicted weather data, for example.

Next, the supply capacity margin appender 25 calculates the margin regarding the power supply of the power generating units on the basis of the first and second power generation plans, and appends the margin to the supply capacity of the power generating units (step S34). More specifically, the margin is appended by adding the margin to the predicted

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 demand. For example, the value of the margin in this embodiment is set so as to satisfy the power demand even if the air temperature varies in the variation width in step S33.

Next, the supply capacity margin appender 25 determines whether the additional activation or additional stop of the power generating unit is required or not to achieve the margin-appended supply capacity (step S35). When the additional activation or additional stop of the power generating unit is required, the output of the activated power generating 10 unit is appropriately reduced, or the stopped power generating unit is appropriately activated if the demand is not satisfied at this time (step S36). Subsequently, the third power generation plan that satisfies the margin is created by modifying the first power generation plan (step S37). On the contrary, when the 15 additional activation or additional stop of the power generating unit is not required, step S37 is executed without intervention of step S36.

This embodiment can develop the power generation plan that can easily support the variation in weather. For example, 20 in a case or the like where the weather is changed from a cloudy weather to a fine weather during use of the power generation plan, the power generation plan that can avoid payment of the penalty called the imbalance can be developed.

(Fourth Embodiment)

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a fourth embodiment.

The power generation plan developing apparatus in FIG.

includes a group definition data inputting unit 6, a group 30 limitation changer 7, a group definition changer 8, a virtual GLC group load dispatcher 9, a GLC group load dispatcher 10, a group definition data storage 16 and a group limitation data storage 17, instead of the predicted weather data inputting unit 3, the power generating facility performance predictor 4, the 35 predicted weather data storage 13, the power generating facility performance data storage 14, the predicted error inputting unit

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

21, the predicted error calculator 22 and the waiting facility selector 23 in FIG. 1. The group definition data inputting unit 6, the group limitation changer 7 and the group definition changer 8 according to this embodiment are examples of a power 5 generation information processor. The group definition data inputting unit 6 and the group definition data storage 16 according to this embodiment are examples of an inputting unit and a storage, respectively.

The group definition data inputting unit 6 inputs group 10 definition data that is data regarding the definition of a group of power generating units, into the power generation plan developing apparatus, and registers the data. The group definition data contains data on the power generating units belonging to the group, and data on a limitation on the group. 15 The former data represents which power generating unit belongs to which group. The latter data represents which limitation is imposed on which group. The group definition data storage 16 stores (registers), in a table, the group definition data input from the group definition data inputting unit 6.

A part of the group definition data in the group definition data storage 16 is created using the power generating facility data in the power generating facility data storage 12. Such examples of the group definition data include the code names of the power generating units belonging to the group, basic 25 condition, and limitation information. The limitation on the group may be allowed to be input from the power generating facility data inputting unit 2 instead of the group definition data inputting unit 6, or input from both the group definition data inputting unit 6 and the power generating facility data inputting 30 unit 2. In this case, the power generating facility data inputting unit 2 is an example of the power generation information processor or the inputting unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a group definition data of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows groups A to C that are identical central control groups, groups D and E that are stop-excluded

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 utilization rate groups, groups F and G that are output-limited groups, and groups H to J that are GLC groups. For example, the power generating units 1 and 2 belong to the group A, and the power generating units 3 and 4 belong to the group B.

The identical central control group is a group of power generating units that belong to the same central control in a power generation plant. The stop-excluded utilization rate group is a group for limiting the stop-excluded utilization rates of the power generating units that belong to the group. The 10 output-limited group is a group for limiting the outputs of the power generating units that belong to the group. The GLC group is a group for dispatching a single load instruction to the power generating units that belong to the group. Other examples include a simultaneous activation limitation group that 15 limits simultaneous activation of the power generating units belonging to the group, and a power generation plant group that includes power generating units belonging to the same power generation plant.

For example, a limitation (limit) that limits the total 20 output of the group F to 1000 MW or less is imposed on the group F that is the output-limited group, so as to conform to a fisheries agreement A. In this case, in a time period during which the group F is effective, the total output of the power generating units 1 to 4 belonging to the group F is limited to 25 1000 MW or less.

A limitation (limit) that limits the total output of the group G, which is the output-limited group, to 600 MW or less is imposed on the group G, so as to conform to an environmental emission standard B. The limitation of 600 MW is a limitation 30 that is to be imposed on a single power generating unit, in many cases. Consequently, in a time period during which the group G is effective, only one power generating unit belonging to the group G operates in many cases. However, in a case where the output of each power generating unit is low, two or 35 more power generating units belonging to the group G can operate at the same time.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

A limitation (limit) that limits the number of power generating units allowed to be activated at the same time to one, for example, is imposed on the simultaneous activation limitation group. In this case, in a time period during which 5 the group is effective, two or more power generating units belonging to the group cannot be in an active state at the same time.

As described above, the limitations on the group include limitations regarding conditions, such as 1000 MW, 600 MW and 10 simultaneous activation limitation, and limitations regarding time periods, such as the effective time period and invalid time period of the group. The group definition data storage 16 stores, as group definition data, data on such limitations regarding the conditions and time periods.

The limitations on the groups in this embodiment are classified into two types. One is a case where a limitation on the group is preliminarily determined and subsequently power generating units serving as members of the group are determined. In this case, determination of certain power 20 generating units as members of a certain group automatically determines the limitation that is to be imposed on the power generating units. The other is a case where the members of the group are preliminarily determined and subsequently the limit on the group is determined. In this case, the limitation 25 imposed on the power generating units belonging to a certain group is determined after the power generating units are adopted as the members of the group.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a group configuration of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows that the power generating units 1 to 3 belong a certain output-limited group, the power generating units 2 to 4 belong to a certain identical central control group, the power generating units 3 to 6 belong to a certain simultaneous activation limitation group, and the power generating units 5 and 6 belong to a certain fisheries agreement

A target group.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

Here, the power generating unit 2 belongs to the output-limited group and the identical central control group, and the power generating unit 5 belongs to the simultaneous activation limitation group and the fisheries agreement A 5 target group. As described above, the groups in this embodiment are defined so as to allow one power generating unit to belong redundantly to multiple groups.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the group configuration of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12 10 corresponds to a diagram abstracted from FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 shows that power generating units Ui to LM belong to a group Gi, power generating units LM and Us belong to a group G2, power generating units Us to Ug belong to a group G3, and power generating units Us and Ug belong to a 15 group G4. The groups Gi to G4 are defined so as to allow one power generating unit to belong redundantly to multiple groups.

In this case, each power generating unit may belong to multiple groups. Consequently, limitations to be imposed on the power generating units can be variously changed to allow 20 the load to be freely dispatched. On the other hand, if the number of types of limitations imposed on the power generating units is large, a possibility arises that the limitations conflict with each other and flexible operation of the power generating units becomes difficult.

Accordingly, in the power generation plan developing apparatus in this embodiment, the power generation plan creator 5 is provided with data regarding various groups, and the power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan so that the limitations on the groups can be 30 compatible with each other as much as possible. That is, the power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan in a manner of obtaining a solution of an information process on which multiple limitations are imposed. Consequently, a preferable power generation plan can be 35 developed while various groups are handled.

Hereinafter, referring again to FIG. 9, the configuration

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 and operation of the power generation plan developing apparatus of this embodiment are described.

The group limitation changer 7 and the group definition changer 8 are blocks for changing (updating) the group 5 definition data in the group definition data storage 16. In this embodiment, the group definition data inputting unit 6 can continuously change the group definition data, and the group definition changer 8 can temporarily change the group definition data. The user of the power generation plan developing 10 apparatus can change the group definition data by performing an operation of changing continuously or temporarily the group definition data on an UI (User Interface) of the power generation plan developing apparatus.

The group limitation changer 7 inputs, into the power 15 generation plan developing apparatus, the group limitation data for temporarily changing the limitation on the group included in the group definition data. The group limitation data input from the group limitation changer 7 is stored in the group limitation data storage 17. The group limitation data is an example of 20 change data.

The group definition changer 8 temporarily changes the group definition data in the group definition data storage 16 on the basis of the group limitation data in the group limitation data storage 17. For example, when the group limitation data 25 on a certain group is read from the group limitation data storage 17, the group definition data in the group definition data storage 16 is rewritten so as to change the definition of (limit on) the group.

For example, the group limitation data contains data 30 regarding a change time period for the limitation imposed on the group and the details of change. The group definition changer 8 changes the group definition data in the group definition data storage 16 in this change time period according to the details of change. After lapse of the change time period, 35 the group definition data in the group definition data storage 16 returns to the original.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

The power generation plan creator 5 obtains data (group definition data) regarding the definition of the group of the power generating units from the group definition data storage 16, and obtains the predicted demand data from the predicted 5 demand data storage 11. The power generation plan creator 5 then creates the power generation plan for the power generating unit on the basis of the obtained group definition data and predicted demand data. Accordingly, the power generation plan in consideration of the prediction of the power 10 demand and the limitations on the individual groups can be created, and power generation that satisfies the limitations on the individual groups and conforms to the power demand can be performed. The power generation plan created by the power generation plan creator 5 is stored, as power generation plan 15 data, in the power generation plan data storage 15 on the time-mesh basis.

When the group definition data in the group definition data storage 16 is temporarily changed by the group definition changer 8, the power generation plan creator 5 creates the 20 power generation plan on the basis of the changed group definition data. On the contrary, when the group definition data in the group definition data storage 16 is not changed by the group definition changer 8, the power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan on the basis of the 25 group definition data input from the group definition data inputting unit 6 (or the power generating facility data inputting unit 2).

The power generation plan creator 5 may obtain a processing result obtained through processing of the group 30 definition data by the virtual GLC group load dispatcher 9 or the GLC group load dispatcher 10 instead of obtaining the group definition data itself. Hereinafter, the operations of the virtual GLC group load dispatcher 9 and the GLC group load dispatcher 10, and a virtual GLC group and GLC group are described. The 35 virtual GLC group is an example of a first group. The GLC group is an example of a second group.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

In the power generating units serving as the targets of the GLC control, GLC control devices provided for the power generating units receive an instruction from the central power supply station, and the GLC control devices provide instruction 5 values equally divided among the power generating units that have been activated and are in a state capable of accepting the power supply instruction.

In this case, as for the power generating units belonging to the GLC group, the characteristics including the maximum 10 output, activation curve, and stop curve can be processed by each power generating unit without any problem, but a problem occurs in load dispatching to the power generating units. This is because load dispatching through use of the equal lambda method can perform simultaneous load dispatching to the power 15 generating units having the same incremental unit price but cannot perform simultaneous load dispatching to the power generating units having different incremental unit prices. The load dispatching of the power generating unit having different incremental unit prices should be sequentially performed.

However, the incremental unit prices of the power generating units are not often the same, but are typically different. Typically, there is no example of power generating units having a coinciding incremental unit price, other than coaxial power generating units of combined cycle power generation.

Here, according to certain characteristics of power generating units, even in a case where the unit A has a lower cost in comparison on unit price (yen) per MW with respect to the minimum outputs, the unit B sometimes has a lower cost in 30 comparison with respect to the maximum output. The cost for increasing the outputs of the units A and B by 100 MW is more inexpensive in the unit A. However, the cost after increase is sometimes more inexpensive in the unit B. Consequently, there is a problem in that a typical GLC load dispatching process 35 is only applicable to power generating units having incremental unit prices coinciding with each other.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

On the contrary, in this embodiment, the power generating units having the same incremental unit price are grouped into the GLC group, and the power generating units having incremental unit prices close to each other are grouped 5 into the virtual GLC group. The power generating units having the same incremental unit price may belong to the virtual GLC group. The power generating units having different incremental unit prices may belong to this group. The virtual GLC group in this embodiment contains the power generating 10 units having the same approximate value of incremental unit price. In other words, the power generating units that have incremental unit prices coinciding with each other within an error range belong to the same virtual GLC group.

Consequently, according to this embodiment, in a case 15 with multiple power generating units having incremental unit prices coinciding within the error range, these units are grouped into the virtual GLC group. The load dispatching of the power generating units is performed assuming that the incremental unit prices of the power generating units have the same value. 20 Consequently, the load dispatching of the power generating units having different incremental unit prices can be simultaneously performed. The incremental unit prices of the power generating units approximately coincide with each other. Consequently, the inconvenience and calculation error due to 25 simultaneous dispatching can be suppressed to be small. In a case where the inconvenience and calculation error due to simultaneous dispatching are not considered problematic, the accuracy of approximation where the incremental unit prices approximately coincide with each other can be set to be low, 30 and many power generating units can be grouped.

The power generation plan developing apparatus in this embodiment adopts both the virtual GLC groups and the GLC groups. Accordingly, this apparatus includes both the virtual

GLC group load dispatcher 9 and the GLC group load dispatcher

10. As described later, the power generation plan creator 5 may create the power generation plan using only one of load

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 dispatching of the virtual GLC groups and load dispatching of the GLC groups, or create the power generation plan using both the load dispatching of the virtual GLC groups and the load dispatching of the GLC groups.

The GLC groups and the virtual GLC groups may be configured on the basis of a performance other than the incremental unit price. In this case, the power generating units having the same performance are grouped into the GLC group, and the power generating units having performances close to 10 each other are grouped into the virtual GLC group.

Next, the details of the virtual GLC group load dispatcher 9 and the GLC group load dispatcher 10 are described.

The GLC group load dispatcher 10 is a block that determines load dispatching regarding the GLC group. The GLC 15 group is a group for dispatching a single load instruction to the power generating units that belong to the group. The GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the load dispatching of the power generating units belonging to the GLC group on the basis of the group definition data obtained from the group definition 20 data storage 16.

On the other hand, the virtual GLC group load dispatcher 9 is a block that determines the load dispatching regarding the virtual GLC group. As with the GLC group, the virtual GLC group is a group for dispatching a single load instruction to the 25 power generating units that belong to the group. The virtual GLC group load dispatcher 9 determines the load dispatching of the power generating units belonging to the virtual GLC group on the basis of the group definition data obtained from the group definition data storage 16.

The power generation plan creator 5 obtains the determination result of the load dispatching of the power generating units belonging to the virtual GLC group (first load dispatching data) from the virtual GLC group load dispatcher 9, obtains the determination result of the load dispatching of the power generating units belonging to the GLC group (second load dispatching data) from the GLC group load dispatcher 10, and

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 obtains the predicted demand data from the predicted demand data storage 11. The power generation plan creator 5 then creates the power generation plan for the power generating units on the basis of the obtained first load dispatching data, 5 second load dispatching data, and predicted demand data.

Accordingly, the power generation plan in consideration of the prediction of the power demand, the load dispatching of the GLC group and the load dispatching of the virtual GLC group can be created, and power generation that achieves the load instruction 10 and conforms to the power demand can be performed. The power generation plan created by the power generation plan creator 5 is stored, as power generation plan data, in the power generation plan data storage 15 on the time-mesh basis.

The power generation plan creator 5 may create the 15 power generation plan using only one of the load dispatching of the virtual GLC groups and the load dispatching of the GLC groups, or create the power generation plan using both the load dispatching of the virtual GLC groups and the load dispatching of the GLC groups. For example, in a case where any power 20 generating unit belonging to both the virtual GLC group and GLC group resides or a case where a power generation plan in consideration of only one of the virtual GLC group and GLC group is intended to be created, it can be considered to use only one piece of load dispatching. In this case, the power 25 generation plan creator 5 selects the load dispatching of the virtual GLC group or the load dispatching of the GLC group, and creates the power generation plan on the basis of the selected load dispatching.

Next, the details of load dispatching of this embodiment 30 are described. The following description is made to the GLC group. However, this is applicable also to the virtual GLC group.

In a case where the GLC group includes multiple power generating units having different fuel efficiency performances, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the load dispatching so that the power generating unit having a good

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 fuel efficiency performance operates as much as possible, for example. More specifically, when the power demand is low, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the load dispatching so as to parallel off the power generating unit having a bad fuel 5 performance in the GLC group. On the contrary, when the power demand is high, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the load dispatching so as to parallel in the power generating unit having a bad fuel performance in the GLC group.

When the amount of variation in power demand is within 10 a range to an extent without need of paralleling off or in the power generating units, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the load dispatching so as to allow the outputs of the power generating units in the GLC group to have the same value to support increase and decrease in subsequent power 15 demand. In this case, when any of the power generating units reaches the maximum output, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the load dispatching so that the output of the power generating unit can be maintained to be the maximum output and the outputs of the remaining power generating units can be 20 the same. When the next power generating unit reaches the maximum output, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the load dispatching so that the outputs of these two power generating units can be maintained to be the maximum outputs and the outputs of the remaining power generating units can be 25 the same. The GLC group load dispatcher 10 repeats such a process until all the power generating units in the GLC group reach the maximum outputs.

On the contrary, when the power demand decreases with all the power generating units in the GLC group having the 30 maximum outputs, the output of the power generating unit having the highest maximum output is gradually reduced. Next, when the output of the power generating unit decreases to the output of the power generating unit having the second-largest maximum output, the outputs of these two power generating 35 units are gradually reduced so as to have the same value, or one of the power generating units is stopped and the output of

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 the other power generating unit is gradually reduced. At this time, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 determines the economic performance on whether the load dispatching of the two power generating units is defined in the former manner or 5 the latter manner, and determines to adopt the load dispatching having a higher economic performance. The GLC group load dispatcher 10 repeats such a process for all the power generating units of the GLC group.

In this embodiment, multiple GLC groups can be 10 registered in the group definition data storage 16. With respect to these GLC groups, when the maximum output is increased by uprating the power generating unit or the performance of the power generating unit is improved by improving the combustor, the members and the effective time period of the GLC group are 15 changed according to each of the opportunities. As described above, in this embodiment, the multiple GLC groups can be flexibly operated.

For example, a case is assumed where a certain GLC group includes five power generating units, and the output 20 variation rate of each power generating unit is 5 MW/min. In this case, the output of each power generating unit only changes by 5 MW per minute. However, when the outputs of the five power generating units are simultaneously changed, the output variation rate at 25 MW/min. at the maximum can be 25 achieved. This may serve as, for example, an effective load dispatching method for supporting the amount of power generation when the amount of power generation of large-scale photovoltaic generation (mega solar) largely varies owing to abrupt change in weather.

The power generation plan creator 5 obtains the load dispatching data that defines the relationship between the power demand and load dispatching from the GLC group load dispatcher 10, and obtains the predicted demand data from the predicted demand data storage 11. The power generation plan creator 5 then creates the time-series data on the load dispatching by applying the predicted demand data to the

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 relationship between the power demand and the load dispatching, and creates the power generation plan on the basis of the time-series data.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing an example of load 5 dispatching of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows the temporal variations in the outputs of a one-axis power generating unit, two-axis power generating unit and three-axis power generating unit of combined cycle power generation that belong to a certain GLC group, and temporal 10 variation in power demand. FIG. 13 further shows the maximum outputs of the one-axis power generating unit, two-axis power generating unit and three-axis power generating unit at a certain air temperature. The maximum outputs of the power generating unit of combined cycle power generation is 15 provided by Equation (1) described above.

Symbol Ki denotes a case where only the three-axis power generating unit having a poor performance is configured to have a low output. Symbol K5 denotes a case where only the three-axis power generating unit having the poor 20 performance is stopped. On the other hand, symbols K2 and K₄denote cases where the outputs of the three power generating units are configured to have the same value. Furthermore, symbol K3 denotes a case where the outputs of the three power generating units reach the maximum outputs. As described 25 above, the GLC group load dispatcher 10 in this embodiment can change the load dispatching in various manners according to variation in power demand.

As described above, the power generation plan developing apparatus in this embodiment registers data 30 regarding the definition of the group, such as the members of and limitations on the groups, in the group definition data storage 16, and creates the power generation plan on the basis of the registered definition. Consequently, this embodiment can develop the preferable power generation plan in 35 consideration of the members of and limitation on the individual groups, and develop the power generation plan excellent in the

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 economic performance of power generation and the flexibility of operation.

According to this embodiment, the power generating units having differences in performances to a certain extent are 5 grouped into the virtual GLC group, thereby enabling the outputs to be simultaneously changed. Consequently, the load dispatching having a large apparent load variation rate can be achieved, and the power generation plan that is more flexible and highly operable can be created. This may serve as, for 10 example, an effective load dispatching method for supporting the amount of power generation when the amount of power generation of large-scale photovoltaic generation (mega solar) largely varies owing to abrupt change in weather. For example, this embodiment is effective in a case of integrally creating the 15 power generation plan of the power generating units according to multiple schemes, such as hydraulic, photovoltaic, and thermal power generation.

The group limitation changer 7 receives the change data (group limitation data) for temporarily changing the limitation 20 on the group. Alternatively, this changer may be replaced with a changer that receives change data for temporarily changing the definition of the group. That is, the change target by the change data is not necessarily restricted to the limitation on the group. The target may further encompass the members of the 25 group. In this case, the group definition changer 8 can temporarily change not only the limitation on the group included in the group definition data but also the members of the group contained in the group definition data. For example, the number of power generating units belonging to a certain group 30 is temporarily increased or reduced according to the change in group definition data.

(Fifth Embodiment)

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a fifth embodiment.

The power generation plan developing apparatus in FIG.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 includes a real-time data inputting unit 27, an error estimator 28 and a processing result notifier 29, instead of the predicted error inputting unit 21, the predicted error calculator 22 and the waiting facility selector 23 in FIG. 1. The 5 processing result notifier 29 in this embodiment is an example of a display.

In this embodiment, the predicted weather data inputting unit 3 inputs the current predicted weather data into the power generation plan developing apparatus, while the real-time data 10 inputting unit 27 obtains the current measured weather data from each power generation plant 30 in real time and inputs the data into the power generation plan developing apparatus. The measured weather data in this embodiment is measured data on the air temperature (atmospheric temperature) and seawater 15 temperature (temperature of seawater) around the power generating unit, and, for example, is measured by a measuring instrument installed around the power generating unit at each power generation plant 30. The predicted weather data is an example of first data. The measured weather data is an 20 example of second data. The real-time data inputting unit 27 further obtains the current output value of the power generating unit, and inputs the value into the power generation plan developing apparatus.

The power generating facility performance predictor 4 25 predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the predicted weather data. The power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan (first power generation plan) on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. Likewise, the power generating facility 30 performance predictor 4 predicts the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the measured weather data. The power generation plan creator 5 creates the power generation plan (second power generation plan) on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. The first and 35 second power generation plans are stored, as the power generation plan data, in the power generation plan data storage

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

15.

The processing result notifier 29 refers to the power generation plan data in the power generation plan data storage 15, and displays the first and second power generation plans 5 described above on the same screen. For example, a graph showing variation in the output value of the first power generation plan, and a graph showing variation in the output value of the second power generation plan are displayed on the identical coordinates, thereby allowing the user to compare 10 these values. The current output value input from the real-time data inputting unit 27 may also be displayed on the coordinates. A graph showing the variation in the air temperature of the first power generation plan (i.e., variation in predicted air temperature), and a graph showing the variation in 15 the air temperature of the second power generation plan (i.e., variation in measured air temperature) may be displayed on the identical coordinates.

The error estimator 28 calculates the difference between the predicted air temperature and the measured air temperature 20 and displays the difference as the air temperature error on the screen through the processing result notifier 29. Accordingly, the information on the error between the predicted air temperature and the measured air temperature can be provided for the user.

The error estimator 28 may have the same functions as those of the predicted error calculator 22 and the waiting facility selector 23 in the first embodiment. In this case, the error estimator 28 can calculate the error rate and the reserve rate, and the power generation plan creator 5 can creates the first to 30 third power generation plans on the basis of the reserve rate.

On the other hand, the error estimator 28 may have the same functions as those of the predicted error calculator 22 and the load dispatching calculator 24 in the second embodiment. Also in this case, the error estimator 28 can calculate the error rate and the reserve rate, and the power generation plan creator 5 can create the first to third power generation plans on the basis

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 of the reserve rate.

The error estimator 28 may calculate the error rate between the predicted air temperature and the measured air temperature, and provide the error rate for the power 5 generation plan creator 5. In this case, the power generation plan creator 5 may create the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan so that the error rate can be within a predetermined range.

The power generation plan developing apparatus in this 10 embodiment may modify the first power generation plan on the basis of an input operation by the user watching the screen. For example, the user may be allowed to modify the air temperature of the predicted weather data. In this case, the power generating facility performance predictor 4 re-predicts 15 the performances of the power generating units on the basis of the predicted weather data. The power generation plan creator 5 re-creates the first power generation plan on the basis of the power generating facility performance data. Accordingly, the first to third power generation plans can be created in 20 consideration of the intention of the user.

This embodiment enables the user to recognize visually the difference between the predicted value in the power generation plan and the real-time measured value. If there is an inconvenient difference at this time, the user can quickly 25 address this difference, thereby allowing the operation of the highly stable power generation plan to be achieved.

(Sixth Embodiment)

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation plan developing apparatus of a sixth 30 embodiment.

The power generation plan developing apparatus 31 in

FIG. 15 includes: a processor 32, such as a CPU (Central

Processing Unit); a main storage device 33, such as a RAM (Random Access Memory); an auxiliary storage device 34, such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive); a network interface 35, such as a

LAN (Local Area Network) board; a device interface 36, such as

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 a memory slot or a memory port; and a bus 37 that connects these devices to each other. The power generation plan developing apparatus 31 may be, for example, a computer, such as a PC (Personal Computer), and includes: input devices, such 5 as a keyboard and a mouse; and a display device, such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor.

According to this embodiment, a power generation plan developing program for causing the computer to execute information processing in the power generation plan developing 10 apparatus of any of the first to fifth embodiments is installed in the auxiliary storage device 34. The power generation plan developing apparatus 31 deploys the program in the main storage device 33, thereby allowing the processor 32 to execute the program. Accordingly, the functions of the blocks shown in 15 FIG. 1, 4, 7, 9 or 14 can be achieved in the power generation plan developing apparatus 31, thereby enabling the power generation plans described in the first to fifth embodiments to be created. Data created by this information processing is saved by being temporarily held in the main storage device 33 20 or being stored in the auxiliary storage device 34.

The power generation plan developing program can be installed by mounting an external device 38 that records the program onto the device interface 36 and by storing the program from the external device 38 into the auxiliary storage 25 device 34. Examples of the external device 38 include a computer-readable recording medium, and a recording device that internally includes such a recording medium. Examples of the recording medium include a CD-ROM and DVD-ROM. An example of the recording device is an HDD. The power 30 generation plan developing program may be installed by downloading the program through the network interface 35, for example.

According to this embodiment, the functions of the power generation plan developing apparatus in any of the first to fifth embodiments can be achieved with software.

While certain embodiments have been described, these

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel apparatuses, methods and media described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various 5 omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatuses, methods and media described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit 10 of the inventions.

Claims

1. A power generation plan developing apparatus comprising:

a power generation information processor configured to process information on performances of a group of power generating facilities, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and a power generation plan creator configured to create a power generation plan about the power generating facilities, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, the apparatus further comprising:

an error rate calculator configured to calculate an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power generation plan; and a reserve rate calculator configured to calculate a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan; and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating

2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the first data is current predicted weather data and the second data is past predicted weather data.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by changing the load dispatching of the power generating facilities in the first power generation plan.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising a margin calculator configured to calculate a margin regarding power supply of the power generating facilities, based on the first and second power generation plans, wherein the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan so as to satisfy the margin.

5. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the power generation information processor comprises:

a power generating facility performance predictor configured to predict the performances of the power generating facilities, based on the data on the power generating facilities and the data on the natural environment, wherein the power generation plan creator creates the power generation plan, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generating facility performance predictor.

2017239491 25 Jul 2019

6. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1, wherein the power generation plan creator selects at least any of load dispatching about a first group to which the power generating facilities having a first performance belong and load dispatching about a second group to which the power generating facilities having a second performance belong and creates the power generation plan based on the selected load dispatching, and the first group is a group to which the power generating facilities having incremental unit prices identical to or different from each other belong, and the second group is a group to which the power generating facilities having an identical incremental unit price belong.

7. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the power generation plan creator selects at least any of load dispatching about a first group to which the power generating facilities having a first performance belong and load dispatching about a second group to which the power generating facilities having a second performance belong and creates the power generation plan based on the selected load dispatching, the power generation information processor comprises:

an inputting unit configured to receive the definition of the group, and store the definition in a storage;

a group limitation changer configured to receive change data that is to change the limitation on the group included in the definition of the group registered in the storage; and a group definition changer configured to change the definition of the group registered in the storage, based on the change data, and the power generation plan creator creates the power generation plan, based on the definition of the group registered in the storage.

8.

A power generation plan developing method comprising:

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 processing information on performances of a group of power generating facilities by a power generation information processor, the power generation information processor predicting the performances of the power generating facilities based on data on a natural environment, or registering data on the power generating facilities belonging to the group and data on a limitation on the group, as a definition of the group of the power generating facilities; and creating a power generation plan about the power generating facilities by a power generation plan creator, based on the performances of the power generating facilities predicted by the power generation information processor, or the definition of the group registered by the power generation information processor, wherein the power generation plan creator creates a first power generation plan based on the performances predicted from first data on the natural environment, creates a second power generation plan based on the performances predicted from second data on the natural environment, and creates a third power generation plan based on the first and second power generation plans, the method further comprising:

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 wherein the third power generation plan is received by a control device; and the control device controls the power output of each of the power generating facilities based on the third power generation plan.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a power generation plan developing program which causes a computer to perform a power generation plan developing method, the method comprising:

calculating, by an error rate calculator, an error rate regarding power supply in the first power generation plan, and an error rate regarding power supply in the second power

2017239491 25 Jul 2019 generation plan; and calculating, by a reserve rate calculator, a reserve rate regarding waiting of the power generating facilities, based on the error rate in the first power generation plan and the error rate in the second power generation plan, and the power generation plan creator creates the third power generation plan by modifying the first power generation plan based on the reserve rate to change the power generating facility that is a waiting target in the first power generation plan;