JP2002095162A - Power controlling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform optimum operation control while protecting an air conditioner mechanically. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a forecasting part 2 that forecasts the power consumption of an air conditioner and the like during a given period of time; a controlling and instructing part 4 that outputs the control and instruction of cutting power when the forecast value exceeds the upper limit amount of usable power; a state detecting part 7 that detects the operating or stop state of an outdoor unit; and a compressor stopping mechanism 8 that stops a compressor during a specified stop period. An operation controlling part 6 controls the stop and operation periods of the outdoor unit based on the control and instruction from the controlling and instructing part 4. When the outside unit is in a stop state, the stopping mechanism 8 is actuated based on the control and instruction of the controlling and instructing part 4 irrespective of the stop period of the outside unit. While it is operated, priority is given to the operating state until a certain period of time elapses after the outdoor unit is put into the operating state. Then, in the lapse of a certain period of time of more after the outside unit is put into the operating state, the stopping mechanism 8 is actuated based on the control and instruction of the controlling and instructing part 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the number of operating air conditioners and the rate of operation and stop so that the total power consumed by various electric devices including the air conditioners within a certain time does not exceed a set value. The present invention relates to a power control system that performs mechanical protection of an air conditioner when performing control and enables optimal control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a single building or factory, the operating air conditioner is stopped or the operating time is shortened in order to reduce the power consumption to a certain value or less, thereby reducing the overall power consumption. I'm trying.

As a method of stopping and restarting such an air conditioner, many methods of stopping or starting according to a preset program have been proposed. For example, a power control device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3038939 is disclosed. The power control method is one of them. In such control, it is necessary to perform control in consideration of the mechanical characteristics of the air conditioner.

[0004] The general mechanical characteristics of air conditioners are
Once the compressor is stopped, it is necessary to stop the compressor for a certain period of time until the next start because it is necessary to separate the liquid layer and the gas layer of the refrigerant. Also, in the case of a large-sized machine, a large starting current flows through the motor at the time of starting, and the temperature rises significantly.Therefore, in order to avoid repeated starting within a short time, it is necessary to elapse a certain time before starting the next There is a certain model.
Further, once the compressor is started, there is a model that needs to be operated for a certain period of time in order to secure a time for the refrigerating machine oil discharged from the compressor to return.

[0005]

However, in the power control device and the power control method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3038939, the time required after the compressor is in operation is sufficiently considered. There was a problem that there was no.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. That is, when the total power consumption exceeds the set value, it is necessary to stop the compressor provided in the outdoor unit promptly and control so as not to exceed the set value. On the other hand, once the compressor is started, it may be necessary to secure time for the refrigerating machine oil sent from the compressor to return, so it is necessary not to stop the compressor for a fixed time after the start. In addition, the compressor is stopped to prevent the total power consumption from exceeding the set value, but if the stop time is longer than planned, it will lead to a sudden change in the environment, so keep the planned value. There is a need.
An object of the present invention is to provide a power control system that can satisfy such various conditions.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a power control system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of outdoor units each including a compressor and a control device thereof, and an indoor unit including a blower and a control device thereof. In an electric load facility equipped with two air conditioners and other electric devices, the electric power control system controls the operation of the air conditioners so that the power consumption of all electric loads within a predetermined time does not exceed a predetermined value. Prediction means for predicting the power consumption within a predetermined time from the current power consumption of the air conditioner and other electric devices, and a case where the prediction value by the prediction means exceeds a preset upper limit power consumption. Control instruction means for outputting a control instruction for power reduction according to the magnitude of the excess amount, and dividing the outdoor unit stop time and operation time according to the control instruction from the control instruction means. Setting means for setting an operation state or a stop state of the outdoor unit, an outdoor unit stop means for stopping the outdoor unit for a stop time set by the setting means, When the unit is stopped, regardless of when the outdoor unit is stopped
Activating the outdoor unit stopping means based on a control instruction from the control instruction means, and when the outdoor unit is in an operating state, the operating state is maintained until a predetermined time or more elapses after the outdoor unit is in an operating state. Priority, and after an elapse of a predetermined time or more after the outdoor unit is in the operating state, the outdoor unit operation control unit that operates the outdoor unit stop unit based on the control instruction from the control instruction unit. Features.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power control system according to the present invention.

In this power control system, an electric energy measuring unit 1 for measuring the current electric energy consumption of all electric loads including a plurality of air conditioners including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and the electric energy measuring unit 1 measures the electric energy. Prediction unit 2 for predicting the power consumption within a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes, etc.) from the current power consumption.
And when the predicted value by the prediction unit 2 exceeds the upper limit power usage stored in the upper limit power usage storage unit 3, control to output a power reduction control instruction in accordance with the magnitude of the excess power. An instruction unit 4, an operation pattern storage unit 5 for storing a ratio (in the present embodiment, an operation pattern) between a stop time and an operation time of the outdoor unit in accordance with a control instruction from the control instruction unit 4, and a control instruction unit 4 An operation control unit 6 that sets one operation pattern stored in an operation pattern storage unit 5 in accordance with a control instruction from and controls the operation of the entire system, and an operation of each outdoor unit (specifically, each compressor). A compressor state detecting unit 7 for detecting a state or a stopped state, and a compressor for stopping each outdoor unit (specifically, each compressor) during a stop time based on an operation control pattern set by the operation control unit 6. Stop mechanism When the measurement unit 9 that measures various time
It consists of

When the outdoor unit is stopped, the operation control unit 6 controls the compressor stop mechanism unit 8 based on the control instruction from the control instruction unit 4 regardless of the stop time of the outdoor unit (compressor). After the operation, the outdoor unit (compressor) is put into the operating state, and the operation state is prioritized until a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) or more elapses, and after the outdoor unit (compressor) becomes the operating state. After a lapse of a predetermined time (eg, three minutes) or more, the compressor stop mechanism 8 is operated based on a control instruction from the control instruction unit 4.

In the above configuration, according to the present invention, the prediction unit 2
If the predicted value exceeds the upper-limit power amount stored in the upper-limit power amount storage unit 3, the control instruction unit 4 outputs a control instruction for power reduction according to the magnitude of the excess amount. According to the control instruction, the operation control unit 6 reads one operation pattern from the operation pattern storage unit 5,
The operation of each air conditioner (specifically, each compressor) is controlled in accordance with this operation pattern. Regarding such operation control in consideration of power reduction, Japanese Patent No. 2934417 has already acquired the present applicant. Can be used.

Here, a method of controlling the power consumption by the power consumption control system will be briefly described.

In the prediction unit 2, the electric energy measurement unit 1 is provided for an arbitrary time (for example, a short time such as one minute) immediately after the start of operation.
Is used to calculate the gradient of the power consumption curve, and predict the power consumption after 30 minutes from the calculation result (gradient).

The control instructing unit 4 compares the predicted power consumption with the allowable upper limit power stored in the upper limit power storage unit 3 and determines the power consumption (predicted value) to be the upper limit power consumption. Is exceeded, a power reduction control instruction is output according to the magnitude of the excess amount. In this embodiment, the contents of the control instruction at this time are contents for instructing a certain reduction rate. For example, if the reduction rate is set to 10%, the current operation control is 10% if the reduction rate is 0%.
%, If the current operation control has a reduction rate of 10%, it indicates 20%. If the current operation control has a reduction rate of 20%, it indicates 30%. When the reduction rate is 30%, the instruction is 40%, and when the current operation control is the reduction rate of 40%, the instruction is 50%. However, in addition to the method of gradually changing the reduction rate in this way, a reduction rate that does not exceed the upper limit of power usage is calculated from the gradient of the power usage curve, and the calculated reduction rate is output as a control instruction. You may do so.

The operation control section 6 reads the operation pattern of the corresponding reduction rate stored in the operation pattern storage section 5 according to the reduction rate instructed by the control instruction section 4.

As the operation patterns stored in the operation pattern storage unit 5, for example, five types of the above-described reduction rates of 10% to 50% are stored. Here, the reduction rate of 10% means that when there are, for example, 10 air conditioners, the first air conditioner is turned off for the first 3 minutes, and then 27
Minutes, the second air conditioner is on for the first 3 minutes, off for the next 3 minutes, then on for 24 minutes, the third air conditioner is on for the first 6 minutes, off for the next 3 minutes, and then 2
Turn on for 1 minute, and the 10th air conditioner is the first 2
Turn on for 7 minutes and turn off for the next 3 minutes. Thus, the operation pattern with the reduction rate of 10% is an operation pattern in which the timing of turning off each air conditioner is shifted by three minutes. Hereinafter, although the description is omitted, the reduction rate is 20% to 50%.
Each operation pattern up to% is set in the same manner.

The operation control unit 6 controls the operation of the air conditioner in accordance with the given operation pattern. At this time, based on the operation state or the stop state of the compressor detected by the compressor state detection unit 7, the compressor is controlled. The operation of the stop mechanism 8 is controlled, and this operation control is a feature of the present invention.

Next, the power control by the power control system of the present invention having this feature will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the operation is started, the electric energy measuring unit 1
The current power consumption of all electric loads per unit time is measured (step S1).

The predicting unit 2 obtains the amount of power consumption per unit time measured by the power amount measuring unit 1, calculates the gradient of the power usage curve, and calculates the gradient (the gradient) for a predetermined time (30 minutes). ), The power consumption A is predicted (step S2).

On the other hand, the user sets the allowable upper limit electric energy B of all electric loads within a predetermined time (30 minutes) and stores it in the upper limit electric energy storage 3 (step S3). That is, in the present embodiment, the allowable use upper limit electric energy (use upper limit electric energy) B differs depending on, for example, a building, a factory, and the like.

In the control instruction unit 4, the predicted power consumption A
Is compared with the upper limit power amount B stored in the upper limit power amount storage unit 3 to determine whether the power amount (predicted value) A exceeds the upper limit power amount B (step S).
4). As a result, when the power consumption A exceeds the power usage upper limit B (when determined to be Yes in step S4), a control instruction for power reduction is output according to the magnitude of the excess power. Thus, the operation control unit 6 determines the operation pattern (reduction rate) of the compressor, and instructs the compressor to be turned on and off (in accordance with the operation pattern described above according to the operation pattern). That is, the compressor stop release command and the stop command are sequentially switched and output (step S5).

As described above, when the control is started in accordance with the operation pattern, the operation control section 6 determines whether or not a stop instruction has been output to the compressor (step S6). As a result, when a stop command is output to the compressor (step S
6 is determined to be Yes), the compressor state detection unit 7
The operation state of the compressor is detected, and a state detection signal is output to the operation control unit 6 (step S7).

The operation control unit 6 determines whether the compressor is operating or stopped based on the state detection signal (step S8), and selects subsequent processing based on the determination result. .

That is, when it is determined that the compressor is in the stopped state (when determined No in step S8), the operation proceeds to step S10, and regardless of the stop time of the compressor, the operation proceeds to step S10. A compressor stop command is output to the stop mechanism 8.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the compressor is in the operating state (when it is determined Yes in step S8), the operation proceeds to step S9, and the operation is continued for a predetermined time after the compressor is in the operating state. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time (such as 3 minutes) has elapsed. If a predetermined time (such as 3 minutes) has elapsed (if Yes is determined in step S9), the compression is stopped by the compressor stop mechanism 8. A machine stop command is output (step S10).

When the compressor stop mechanism section 8 receives a compressor stop command from the operation control section 6 at each of the above-mentioned timings, it starts operating (step S11). That is, if it is time to turn off the compressor, the compressor is immediately stopped. If it is not time to turn off the compressor, the compressor is stopped after the time to turn off.

[0029]

According to the power control system of the present invention, when the outdoor unit is in the stop state, the outdoor unit stop unit is operated based on the control instruction from the control instruction unit regardless of the stop time of the outdoor unit. When the outdoor unit is in the operation state, the operation state is prioritized until a certain time or more has elapsed since the outdoor unit was in the operation state, and after a certain time or more has elapsed since the outdoor unit became the operation state. The outdoor unit stopping means is operated based on a control instruction from the control instruction means. That is, by considering the mechanical characteristics of the air conditioner, optimal operation control can be performed while protecting the air conditioner mechanically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power control system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining power control by the power control system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric power measurement part 2 Prediction part (prediction means) 3 Upper limit use electric energy storage part (setting means) 4 Control instruction part (control instruction means) 5 Operation pattern storage part 6 Operation control part (outdoor unit operation control means) 7 Compression Unit state detection unit (state detection unit) 8 Compressor stop mechanism unit (outdoor unit stop unit) 9 Measurement unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electric load facility comprising an outdoor unit having a compressor and a control device for the air conditioner, a plurality of air conditioners including an indoor unit having a blower and a control device for the air conditioner, and other electric devices. A power control system that controls the operation of the air conditioner so that power consumption within a predetermined time period of all electric loads does not exceed a predetermined value, wherein the power control system is configured to perform a predetermined time period based on a current power consumption of the air conditioner and other electric devices. Prediction means for predicting the power consumption of the power supply, and control for outputting a control instruction for power reduction according to the magnitude of the excess when the prediction value by the prediction means exceeds a preset upper limit power usage. Instruction means; setting means for setting a ratio between a stop time and an operation time of the outdoor unit according to a control instruction from the control instruction means; and detecting an operation state or a stop state of the outdoor unit. State detection means, during the stop time set by the setting means, an outdoor unit stop means for stopping the outdoor unit, and when the outdoor unit is in the stop state, regardless of the stop time of the outdoor unit, Activating the outdoor unit stopping means based on a control instruction from the control instruction means, and when the outdoor unit is in an operating state, the operating state is maintained until a predetermined time or more elapses after the outdoor unit is in an operating state. Priority, and after an elapse of a predetermined time or more after the outdoor unit is in the operating state, the outdoor unit operation control unit that operates the outdoor unit stop unit based on the control instruction from the control instruction unit. Characteristic power control system.