JP2006115699A - Demand control unit and demand control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make difficult as hard as possible to generate worsening of the amenity and deteriorating of quality, even while preventing the payment of an electricity rate from increasing higher than is necessary, due to the defects of easily enhancing a demand target value. <P>SOLUTION: For instance, on the condition that the deciding discomfort felt by satisfying a prescribed reference, such as exceeding a room temperature of 28°C or the like lasts by a length of constant reference time, a demand target value of this month is changed. By changing the demand target value, with the time limited when an extent of feeling discomfort exceeds a constant level, a discomfort environment can be alleviated while suppressing to a certain extent changing of the demand target value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to demand control and related technology.

  In general, the electricity fee that a user pays to an electric power company is the sum of a basic fee and a metered fee. Of these, the basic charge is calculated by the following equation (1).

Basic charge = Contract power [kW] x Basic charge unit price [Yen / kW]
× Power factor correction coefficient (1)
That is, the magnitude of contract power affects the basic charge. This contracted power is often determined by an actual value contract according to the electricity supply agreement approved by the Minister of International Trade and Industry (currently the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry). In this actual value contract, the contract power for each month is set to the largest value among the maximum demand power for each month in the past year including the current month. The maximum demand power is calculated by calculating the power used by the user every predetermined time period (= 30 minutes), and the largest power value in a month is applied.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the concept of the actual value contract. The contract power for July 2001, which is the current month, applies the largest value among the monthly maximum demand for the past year including this month (July 2001). A fee is calculated. FIG. 6 illustrates the case where the maximum demand power is Q1 in August 2000 and the maximum demand power from the following month to July 2001, which is the current month, is less than Q1.

  In the example of FIG. 6, Q1 determines the basic charge for July 2001.

  Therefore, in order to save electricity bills, the maximum demand power for each month is suppressed and leveled within the maximum value of the maximum demand power for the past year, and the variation in the maximum demand power for each month is reduced. It is advantageous.

  Under such circumstances, for example, in an electrical apparatus such as an air conditioner, demand control in which a target value (demand target value) of each month's maximum demand power is determined and the maximum demand power is suppressed within the demand target value. May be performed.

  As a method for setting the demand target value, a method for manually setting the demand target value each time (first conventional technology), the maximum value in the monthly maximum demand power for the past year at the time of monthly change is automatically set. A method for determining the demand target value as a demand target value, which is a method of setting the demand target value as a target (Patent Document 1: Second prior art) and a value obtained by multiplying the second prior art by a predetermined ratio. There is a method of giving a width (Patent Document 2: Third prior art).

Japanese Patent Publication No.8-12205 Japanese Patent No. 2641310

  By the way, in the method of the first prior art, there is annoying to manually change the demand target value each time, and if it is forgotten to change the setting for each month, the demand target value is unnecessarily large for the current month. Since the situation where the value is set may be left unattended, there is a problem that an excessively high electricity charge may be paid.

  In this regard, for example, in the method of the second prior art, since the demand target value is automatically set at the time of monthly change, the troublesomeness can be eliminated and the setting change can be forgotten compared to the first prior art. Can be prevented.

  For example, in the second prior art, when demand control is performed reliably and the actual target value does not exceed the demand target value of the site (demand target value over), the maximum demand value for each month is Every month, the demand data for one month is searched and detected. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 6, when the demand target value for one month in August 2001 is changed monthly at 24:00:00 on the end of July 2001, the demand for the past year including July 2001 is shown. It is set to Q1, which is the maximum value of the maximum demand power. After one year has passed since the month showing the maximum value of maximum demand power, the maximum value of maximum demand power for the past year at that time may be smaller than the previous Q1. The value can be set, and it is possible to prevent the situation where the electricity bill is paid more than necessary.

  However, in demand control of an air conditioner, for example, if the previous year was cold summer, the demand target value is set too small in the second conventional technology. The demand values for the past 12 months are obtained at the timing of monthly changes, and do not change for one month. Therefore, for example, even in the case of the second prior art, even if the demand power is controlled to be less than the demand target value, the user manually forcibly increases the demand power, or other engine of the air conditioner (for example, As shown in FIG. 7, the actual demand R1 and R2 of the maximum demand power in the current month may exceed the initial demand target value Q due to the enhanced operation of the blower fan and the like.

  In this case, there can be a method of forcibly suppressing the maximum demand power so that it does not exceed the demand target value at all.However, if the maximum demand power of the load is completely suppressed below the demand target value in demand control, When it is a cool summer, the air conditioning control is forcibly performed based on the cool summer of the previous year, and the comfort of the air conditioner is impaired. Therefore, for example, in the second prior art, as shown in FIG. 7, it may be considered that the actual values R1 and R2 exceed the demand target value Q (the demand target value over).

  However, when the actual power demand results R1, R2 within the current month are allowed to exceed the initial demand target value Q, after the actual results R1, R2 exceed the initial demand target value Q, Although the contract power is determined based on the maximum demand power R1 and R2 exceeding the demand target value Q, the demand target value Q is not changed at least for the current month. In this case, although it does not make sense to suppress the maximum demand power below the original demand target value Q, it is unnecessary and continues to suppress the maximum demand power below the original demand target values R1, R2. As a result, optimal comfort cannot be achieved.

  In order to avoid this, for example, it is conceivable to set a large predetermined ratio in the third prior art. However, if this predetermined ratio is set too large, if the previous year is not cold summer, the demand target value is too high. Therefore, there is a problem that the effect of demand control cannot be obtained.

  Furthermore, in order to calculate the maximum demand power for each month, it is necessary to store data on the power demand for each month (every 30 minutes) for each month as described above. Since the maximum of 31 days is 48 times 30 days, memory for 31 × 48 data is required. Further, since a memory for storing 12 data of the maximum monthly value is required, there is a problem that a memory capacity for storing the data becomes large.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the demand target value according to the actual situation such as an unpleasant environment, while preventing the demand target value from being increased more than necessary due to the disadvantage that the demand target value is likely to be high. It is to make the deterioration of comfort and quality degradation as difficult as possible.

  The demand control device and the demand control method according to the present invention control the demand power of a predetermined electrical device with respect to a demand target value stored in advance, and indicate that the degree of discomfort exceeds a certain level. When the above condition is satisfied, the demand target value is changed.

  According to the demand control device and the demand control method according to the present invention, it is possible to alleviate an unpleasant environment while suppressing power to some extent by the demand target value. As a result, the demand target value becomes high and prevents the electricity charges from being unnecessarily high, while making the deterioration of comfort and quality degradation as difficult as possible.

{principle}
<Basic configuration of demand control device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a demand control apparatus. This demand control device performs power control of an electric device such as an air conditioner. As shown in FIG. 1, a demand control unit (demand demand) that performs demand control based on a demand target value for the purpose of limiting the maximum demand power. Control means) 1 and a demand target power automatic calculation unit (demand target value setting means) 2 for automatically calculating the demand target value. Here, the operation cycle, which is the basis for calculating the payment of electricity charges to electric power companies, is in units of one month, and the electricity charge for one month from the beginning of each month to the end of the month is calculated for a predetermined period after the first day of the following month. To pay. The basic electricity rate is calculated by the above formula (1), and the monthly contract power in this formula (1) is the largest of the monthly maximum demand for the past year including the current month. It shall be determined by a large value. The maximum demand power is a power value that is the largest in a month among the power used by the user calculated every predetermined time period (= 30 minutes).

  The demand control unit 1 is an existing unit that performs control so that the power consumption of the load group 16 such as an air conditioner does not exceed the demand target value calculated by the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 every 30 minutes, for example. is there.

  Specifically, the demand control unit 1 counts a demand pulse proportional to the amount of power used in the load group 16 and outputs a signal indicating the amount of power used, and a predetermined time period (= 30 minutes). ) Predicted power in which the power at the end of a predetermined time period is predicted based on the remaining time calculating unit 12 that calculates and outputs the remaining time for each time, and the output of the pulse counter 11 and the output of the remaining time calculating unit 12 The demand power calculation unit 13 that calculates the demand power (demand value) that the demand control device is going to drive the load group 16 in response to the calculation result in the prediction power calculation unit 13 and the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 Demand value calculation unit 14 to be transmitted to, target power storage unit 15 that stores the demand target value given from the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2, and target power storage 15, a control necessity determination unit 17 that determines whether it is necessary to perform demand control on the load group 16 based on the demand target value in 15 and the demand power obtained by the predicted power calculation unit 13, and a control necessity determination A load control unit 18 that performs demand control of the load group 16 such as an air conditioner when it is determined that demand control is necessary in the determination result of the unit 17.

  In the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2, the demand power (demand value) given from the demand value calculation unit 14 of the demand control unit 1 is the maximum demand power of the current month (that is, the maximum value of demand power within the operation cycle). A maximum demand determination unit 21 that determines whether or not, a current month maximum demand storage unit 22 that stores the result determined by the maximum demand determination unit 21, and a monthly maximum that stores the maximum demand power for each month in the past year A demand storage unit 23 and a maximum demand output unit 24 that determines and outputs a demand target value for the current month based on data in the current month maximum demand storage unit 22 and the monthly maximum demand storage unit 23.

  The monthly maximum demand storage unit 23 is connected to a monthly maximum demand display unit 25 for displaying data stored in the monthly maximum demand storage unit 23.

  Here, the predicted power calculation unit 13, the demand value calculation unit 14, and the control necessity determination unit 17 of the demand control unit 1, and the maximum demand determination unit 21 and the maximum demand output unit 24 of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 are: For example, a microcomputer including a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU is used, and is realized as a functional element that operates according to a software program stored in advance in the ROM or the like. Detailed operations in these units of the demand control unit 1 and the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 will be described later.

<Operation of demand control device>
The operation of the demand control apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In addition, at the start time (0:00) of the first day of the current month when the month has changed, the current month maximum demand storage unit 22 of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 stores the maximum demand power for the past year including that point. Is stored as the maximum demand power of the current month (that is, the maximum value of demand power within the operation cycle).

  First, the operation of the demand control device calculates the predicted power at the end of a predetermined time period based on the information on the amount of power used given from the pulse counter 11 of the demand control unit 1. Then, the demand value calculation unit 14 receives the calculation result in the predicted power calculation unit 13, calculates the demand power (demand value) that the demand control device is to achieve, and transmits it to the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2. . In step S01 in FIG. 2, the maximum demand determination unit 21 of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 acquires the demand power (demand value) given from the demand value calculation unit 14 of the demand control unit 1.

  Then, in the next step S02, the maximum demand determination unit 21 reads the maximum demand power of the current month stored in the maximum demand storage unit 22 of the current month, and the demand control unit 1 with respect to the read maximum demand power of the current month. The demand power (demand value) given from the demand value calculation unit 14 is compared, and the given demand power (demand value) is greater than or equal to the maximum demand power for the current month read from the maximum demand storage unit 22 for the current month. That is, it is determined whether or not the given demand value is the maximum demand power for the new month.

  And when it judges that the demand value given from the demand control part 1 is larger than the maximum demand electric power of the month memorize | stored in the maximum demand storage part 22 of this month, it progresses to the following step S03, and the demand control part 1 The given demand value is replaced and stored in the current month maximum demand storage unit 22 as the new maximum demand power for the current month. For example, in FIG. 3, when the demand value Qb given from the demand control unit 1 is larger than the maximum demand power Qa of the current month stored in the maximum demand storage unit 22 of the current month, the operation is changed to Qa. Is replaced and stored in the current month maximum demand storage unit 22 as the new maximum power demand for the current month. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S04.

  However, if it is determined in step S02 that the demand power (demand value) given from the demand control unit 1 is less than the maximum demand power of the current month stored in the maximum demand storage unit 22, the current month maximum Since there is no need to change the data in the demand storage unit 22, the process skips step S03 and proceeds to the next step S04.

  In step S04, it is determined whether the current time is a monthly change, that is, whether it is the start time (0: 0) of the first day of the current month. If it is determined that the current time is a monthly change, the process proceeds to step S05, and the data in the monthly maximum demand storage unit 23 is processed with the maximum demand power for the current month as data for the current month. (Maximum monthly demand power) is stored in an updated manner. In addition, since only data for one year including the current month (that is, after 12 months before) is required, the information for 13 months before the current month is deleted from the monthly data in the maximum monthly demand storage unit 23. To do.

  However, if it is determined in step S04 that the current time is not monthly, step S05 is omitted and the process proceeds to the next step S06.

  In step S06, the maximum value of the current maximum demand power for the current month and the maximum power demand for the past 12 months are displayed on the monthly maximum demand display unit 25 as the demand target value for the current month. The data is output from the output unit 24 to the demand control unit 1.

  In this way, when the demand target value is given from the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2, the demand control unit 1 first stores the demand target value in the target power storage unit 15. Then, in the control necessity determination unit 17, the demand power (demand value) calculated by the predicted power calculation unit 13 is compared with the demand target value stored in the target power storage unit 13, and the demand power (demand value). Is larger than the demand target value, the demand control of the load group 16 such as an air conditioner is executed through the load control unit 18 (step S07). At the same time, the process returns to step S01, and based on the measurement of the time limit (= 30 minutes) in the remaining time calculation unit 12, the processing of step S01 to step S07 is executed for each time period. Then, in FIG. 3, the maximum demand power of the current month stored in the maximum demand storage unit 22 of the current month changes from Qa → Qb → Qc.

  As described above, the demand target value for the current month changes dynamically according to the actual power demand for the current month.For example, if the previous year was a cool summer, the actual demand exceeded the target demand value, resulting in When the meaning of suppressing below the demand target value disappears, it is unnecessary and unlike the second conventional technology, it is possible to prevent the maximum demand power from continuing to be suppressed below the original demand target value. It is possible to realize the optimum comfort commensurate with the electricity bill paid. Therefore, compared to the second prior art, the comfort deterioration and the quality deterioration are less likely to occur. Of course, compared to the case where the target value is changed manually as in the first prior art, it is not left to the user's judgment, and it is possible to prevent individual differences in setting management, and the user (person in charge) has changed. Demand target value can be changed reliably without any problems.

  In addition, when the previous year is not cool summer, optimal demand control can be performed according to the demand target value, so that the demand target value is too high, for example, as in the third prior art, and the effect of demand control is obtained. Can prevent the situation.

  Furthermore, in order to calculate the maximum demand power for each month, if the maximum demand power for 12 months is stored in the monthly maximum demand storage unit 23, only the data for the maximum demand power for the current month is stored. Since it is only necessary to store in the demand storage unit 22, the number of data to be stored is reduced and the memory capacity is reduced as compared with the second prior art in which all the daily power consumption for one month is stored every 30 minutes. There are benefits that can be saved.

{First embodiment}
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the demand power and the demand target value when the demand target value is exceeded within the current month in the demand control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The basic configuration of the demand control apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. However, in the demand determination unit 21 (FIG. 1) of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2, when the demand target value is corrected in accordance with the actual demand power as described above, this demand target value tends to increase. When the demand target value exceeds once and the demand target value increases from the sign Qa in FIG. 4 to Qb, the demand target value Qb is not increased any further after the second time.

  In this case, the demand determination unit 21 of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 sets a flag indicating the number of times the demand target values Qa and Qb have been changed in the current month in a rewritable ROM (not shown) such as a flash ROM. Try to remember. This flag is initialized to zero at the monthly change timing. When the demand target values Qa and Qb are to be changed according to the demand power of the current month, the flag indicating the number of times the demand target values Qa and Qb are changed in the current month is read in advance, and the flag value is zero. If it is a value (that is, the demand target value has been changed 0 times in the current month), the demand target value Qa is changed to Qb in accordance with the demand power for the current month, and the flag value is incremented, that is, the value “+1” is added to the value. Is added. On the other hand, when the value of the flag is 1 (that is, when the demand target value has already been changed once in the current month), the demand target value Qb is not changed. At this time, the value of the flag is not corrected.

  As described above, by limiting the change of the demand target value only once in the current month, it is possible to eliminate the disadvantage that the demand target value is likely to increase.

{Second Embodiment}
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the demand power and the demand target value when the demand target value is exceeded within the current month in the demand control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The basic configuration of the demand control apparatus of this embodiment is also the same as that shown in FIG. However, in the demand determination unit 21 (FIG. 1) of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2, when the demand target value is corrected in accordance with the actual demand power as described above, this demand target value tends to increase. As a criterion for determining whether or not to change the demand target value for the second and subsequent times, the demand target value is increased only when the demand target value is over a predetermined number of times (N times) or more.

  Specifically, in FIG. 5, the first demand target value over occurs at the first timing t1, and the demand target value Qa is corrected to Qb at the demand target value t1 in accordance with this, and then the demand target value over timing is reached. It occurs at t2 and t3. In this case, when N = 2 times, the peak value of the demand power at that time is set to a new demand target value Qc, and the demand target value is increased and changed.

  In this case, the demand determination unit 21 of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 stores data on the number of times in the current month (over frequency data) in a rewritable ROM (not shown) such as a flash ROM. Each time there is a demand target value over in the current month, the over frequency data is incremented. Then, the over frequency data and the value N of the number of times stored in the ROM (not shown) in advance are compared, and if they are equal, the demand target value is changed to the value of the demand power at that time. At this time, the over frequency data is initialized to a zero value. This is because the demand target value is further changed when the demand target value exceeds N times again. In this way, each time the demand target value is exceeded N times, the demand target value is repeatedly changed to the value of the demand power at that time.

  Thus, since the demand target value is changed after waiting for the demand target value over to occur N a predetermined number of times in the current month, the demand target value change can be suppressed to some extent. It is possible to alleviate the drawback that the target value tends to be high.

{Third embodiment}
The basic configuration of the demand control apparatus of this embodiment is also the same as that shown in FIG. However, in the demand determination unit 21 (FIG. 1) of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2 when the demand target value is corrected due to the demand target value over in the actual demand power as described above. The second and subsequent demand target value corrections are limited to when the degree of discomfort exceeds a certain level.

  Here, as a measure of the degree of discomfort, for example, on the condition that the time determined to be uncomfortable by satisfying a predetermined criterion such as exceeding room temperature 28 ° C., continues for a certain reference time, When there are a plurality of predetermined demand control levels, the time or frequency at which the tighter demand control level appears falls within a predetermined range set in advance, or a combination thereof. These condition determinations are executed by the demand determination unit 21 of the demand target power automatic calculation unit 2.

  In this way, since the demand target value change for the current month is executed only when the degree of unpleasantness exceeds a certain level, it is possible to alleviate the unpleasant environment while suppressing the demand target value change to some extent. The disadvantage that the demand target value tends to be high can be mitigated according to the actual situation such as an uncomfortable environment.

{Fourth embodiment}
In the first embodiment described above, the demand target value is changed only once in the current month, and in the second embodiment, the demand target value is changed in the current month when the demand target value over is a predetermined number of times N. In the third embodiment, the change in the demand target value in the current month is executed only when the degree of discomfort exceeds a certain level. May be selectable by an arbitrary operation by the user such as a predetermined button operation.

  In this way, since the user can arbitrarily select the conditions, the balance between the requirement to maintain the demand target value, comfort and quality can be optimized.

  In the above description, the air conditioner is taken as an example of the electric device, but the electric device is not limited to the air conditioner.

  In the above description, when changing the demand target value according to the demand power exceeding the demand target value within the operation cycle, the demand target value is set equal to the maximum value of the demand power within the operation cycle. However, the demand power value with a relatively high order of magnitude of demand power within the operation cycle is used as the demand target value, or the demand target value is calculated by multiplying the demand power within the operation cycle by a predetermined ratio. May be set.

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the demand control apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement of the demand control apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that the demand target value was changed based on the change of demand power. It is a figure which shows a mode that the demand target value was changed by the demand control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention based on the change of demand power. It is a figure which shows a mode that the demand target value was changed by the demand control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention based on the change of demand power. It is a figure which shows the concept of a real value contract. It is a figure which shows the state in which the track record of the maximum demand electric power in this month exceeded the initial demand target value.

Explanation of symbols

1 Demand control part 2 Demand target power automatic calculation part

Claims (2)

A demand control device that controls demand power of a predetermined electrical device with respect to a demand target value stored in advance,
A demand control device characterized by changing the demand target value when a predetermined condition that means that the degree of unpleasantness exceeds a certain level is satisfied. A demand control method for controlling demand power of a predetermined electrical device with respect to a demand target value stored in advance,
A demand control method characterized by changing the demand target value when a predetermined condition that means that the degree of unpleasantness exceeds a certain level is satisfied.

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