JP2014233116A - Control device and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information equipment that enables performance of an operation of the information equipment taking various needs into consideration, a control device, a control system, and a control method.SOLUTION: A HEMS (Home Energy Management System) 200 controls information equipment 300, which is provided for a user 10 supplied with system power, via a narrow area network 70. The HEMS 200 comprises a control unit 230 that determines whether or not control of the information equipment 300 is performed according to operation instructions, depending on contents of the operation instructions and the used amount of the system power for the user 10, when receiving the operation instructions, provided for an operation of the information equipment 300, from another device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device and a control method provided in a consumer.

  In recent years, a control system (EMS: Energy Management System) that controls a plurality of information devices has attracted attention (for example, Patent Document 1). In such a control system, a control device that controls a plurality of information devices is provided.

  As control devices, HEMS (Home Energy Management System) installed in a residence, BEMS (Building Energy Management System) installed in a building, FEMS (Factor Energy Management System installed in a factory), a factory management system installed in a factory. System) and CEMS (Cluster / Community Energy Management System) provided in community units. The control device transmits an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the information device to the information device via a network connecting the control device and the information device.

  Examples of the plurality of information devices include a distributed power source, a power storage device, a heat storage device, and a load. A distributed power source is a device that generates electric power using natural energy such as sunlight, wind power, and geothermal heat, such as a solar battery. Or a distributed power supply is an apparatus which produces | generates electric power using fuel gas like fuel cells, such as SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell). The power storage device is a device that stores electric power, such as a secondary battery. A heat storage device is a device that stores electric power by converting electric power into heat, such as a water heater. The load is a refrigerator, lighting, air conditioner, television, and the like.

JP 2010-128810 A

  By the way, with the widespread use of operation devices such as smartphones, there is a need for remote operation of information devices using operation devices from the outside of consumers (houses, buildings, factories, stores, etc.) where information devices are installed. To do.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a control device and a control method that enable operation of information equipment taking various needs into consideration.

  The control apparatus which concerns on a 1st characteristic controls the information equipment provided in the consumer who receives supply of system electric power via the network provided in the said consumer. When receiving an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the information device from another apparatus, the control device responds to the operation instruction according to the content of the operation instruction and the usage amount of the grid power in the consumer. A control unit that determines whether or not to control the corresponding information device.

  In the first feature, when the operation instruction is received from the remote operation device, the control unit calculates a predicted value of the usage amount when the information device is controlled according to the operation instruction, When the predicted value exceeds the threshold value, the control unit determines not to control the information device according to the operation instruction.

  1st characteristic WHEREIN: When the said predicted value exceeds the said threshold value, the notification part which notifies the excess amount with respect to the said threshold value of the said predicted value to the said remote control apparatus is further provided.

  In the first feature, an upper limit value is set for the supply amount of the grid power to the consumer, and the threshold value is set based on the upper limit value.

  1st characteristic WHEREIN: When the said estimated value is less than the said threshold value, the communication part which transmits the setting command which sets operation corresponding to the said operation instruction to the said information equipment is further provided.

  In the first feature, the control unit generates the setting command in a format compliant with ECHONET Lite.

  In the first feature, the control unit receives the operation instruction from a remote operation device connected to a public communication line.

  The control method according to the second feature is a control method for controlling information equipment provided in a consumer who receives supply of grid power via a network provided in the consumer. The control method, when receiving an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the information device from another device, according to the content of the operation instruction and the usage amount of the grid power in the consumer, A step of determining whether or not to control the corresponding information device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the control apparatus and control method which enable operation of the information equipment which considered various needs can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating details of a consumer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an application scene of the control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the distribution board according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the HEMS according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a control method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a control method according to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

  However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like are different from actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

[Outline of Embodiment]
The control apparatus which concerns on embodiment controls the information equipment provided in the consumer who receives supply of system electric power via the network provided in the said consumer. When receiving an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the information device from another apparatus, the control device responds to the operation instruction according to the content of the operation instruction and the usage amount of the grid power in the consumer. A control unit that determines whether or not to control the corresponding information device.

  In the embodiment, when the control device receives the operation instruction from the remote operation device, the control device controls the information equipment according to the operation instruction according to the content of the operation instruction and the usage amount of the grid power in the consumer. Determine whether or not. Therefore, it is possible to provide a control system, an information device, and a control method that enable operation of the information device in consideration of various needs.

[First Embodiment]
(Customer)
Below, the consumer which concerns on 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a customer 10 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the customer 10 includes a distribution board 110, a load 120, a PV unit 130, a storage battery unit 140, a fuel cell unit 150, a hot water storage unit 160, a smart meter 170, and a HEMS 200. Have

  The customer 10 is a unit that receives supply of system power via the distribution line 31. An upper limit value (hereinafter referred to as the maximum power supply amount) is set for the supply amount from the grid power to the customer 10 (hereinafter referred to as the power supply amount, that is, the power purchase amount) according to the contract with the power company. The maximum power supply amount is indicated by, for example, a current value (contract amperage value).

  Distribution board 110 is connected to distribution line 31 (system). Distribution board 110 is connected to load 120, PV unit 130, storage battery unit 140, and fuel cell unit 150 via a power line. The detailed configuration of the distribution board 110 will be described later.

  The load 120 is a device that consumes power supplied via the power line. For example, the load 120 includes devices such as a refrigerator, lighting, an air conditioner, and a television. The load 120 may be a single device or may include a plurality of devices.

  The PV unit 130 includes a PV 131 and a PCS 132. The PV 131 is an example of a distributed power source, and is a device that generates power in response to reception of sunlight. The PV 131 outputs the generated DC power. The amount of power generated by the PV 131 changes according to the amount of solar radiation applied to the PV 131. The PCS 132 is a device (Power Conditioning System) that converts DC power output from the PV 131 into AC power. The PCS 132 outputs AC power to the distribution board 110 via the power line.

  In the first embodiment, the PV unit 130 may have a pyranometer that measures the amount of solar radiation irradiated on the PV 131.

  The PV unit 130 is controlled by an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) method. Specifically, the PV unit 130 optimizes the operating point (a point determined by the operating point voltage value and the power value, or a point determined by the operating point voltage value and the current value) of the PV 131.

  The storage battery unit 140 includes a storage battery 141 and a PCS 142. The storage battery 141 is a device that stores electric power. The PCS 142 is a device (Power Conditioning System) that converts DC power output from the storage battery 141 into AC power.

  The fuel cell unit 150 includes a fuel cell 151 and a PCS 152. The fuel cell 151 is an example of a distributed power source, and is a device that generates electric power using fuel gas. The fuel cell 151 is, for example, a SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) or a PEFC (Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell). The PCS 152 is a device (Power Conditioning System) that converts DC power output from the fuel cell 151 into AC power.

  The fuel cell unit 150 operates by load following control. Specifically, the fuel cell unit 150 controls the fuel cell 151 so that the power output from the fuel cell 151 follows the power consumption of the load 120.

  The hot water storage unit 160 is an example of a heat storage device that converts electric power into heat and accumulates heat. Specifically, the hot water storage unit 160 has a hot water storage tank, and warms water supplied from the hot water storage tank by exhaust heat generated by the operation (power generation) of the fuel cell 151. Specifically, the hot water storage unit 160 warms the water supplied from the hot water storage tank and returns the warmed hot water to the hot water storage tank.

  The HEMS 200 is a control device that manages information equipment (load, distributed power supply, power storage device or heat storage device) provided in the customer 10.

  The smart meter 170 is a watt-hour meter that measures the amount of power supplied, and communicates with a server of a power company.

  In the first embodiment, the HEMS 200 is connected to the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160 via signal lines, and the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage. The unit 160 is controlled. The HEMS 200 may acquire information indicating power supply amount (hereinafter, power supply amount information) from the smart meter 170 via the signal line. The HEMS 200 may control the power consumption of the load 120 by controlling the operation mode of the load 120. The signal line connecting the HEMS 200 and these devices may be wireless or wired.

  The HEMS 200 is connected to various servers via the wide area network 60. As shown in FIG. 2 described later, the wide area network 60 is an example of a public communication line, such as the Internet, a wide area line network, a narrow area line network, a mobile phone network, and the like. Various servers store, for example, information (hereinafter, energy fee information) such as a unit price of power supplied from the grid, a unit price of power sold from the grid, and a unit price of fuel gas.

  Or various servers store the information for estimating the power consumption of the load 120, for example. The energy consumption prediction information may be generated based on, for example, the past power consumption actual value of the load 120. Alternatively, the energy consumption prediction information may be a model of power consumption of the load 120.

  Or various servers store the information (henceforth PV power generation amount prediction information) for predicting the power generation amount of PV131, for example. The PV power generation prediction information may be a predicted value of the amount of solar radiation irradiated on the PV 131. Alternatively, the PV power generation prediction information may be weather forecast, season, sunshine time, and the like.

(Applicable scene)
Hereinafter, application scenes of the control system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an application scene of the control system 100 according to the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control system 100 according to the first embodiment includes a HEMS 200, an information device 300, a router 400, an operation device 500, and a server 600.

  The HEMS 200 is an example of a control device that manages the information equipment 300 provided in the customer 10. The HEMS 200 is connected to the router 400 by wire or wireless, and communicates with the information device 300, the operation device 500, and the server 600 via the router 400.

  The information device 300 is controlled by the HEMS 200 such as the load 120, the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, the hot water storage unit 160, and the like.

  The router 400 constitutes a narrow area network 70 provided in the customer 10. The router 400 may constitute a wireless LAN or a wired LAN as the narrow area network 70. FIG. 2 illustrates a case where the HEMS 200 and the router 400 are connected by wire, and the information device 300 and the operation device 500 and the router 400 are connected wirelessly. However, the HEMS 200 and the router 400 may be connected wirelessly, and the information device 300 and the operation device 500 and the router 400 may be connected by wire.

  The operation device 500 is an operation device that transmits an operation instruction (hereinafter, “operation instruction”) for instructing an operation of the information device 300. The operation device 500 is an operation device (for example, a remote controller or an operation button provided on the information device 300) that directly inputs an operation to the information device 300 without going through the router 400 or the HEMS 200. Also good. Alternatively, the operating device 500 may be an operating device connected to the narrow area network 70 (for example, a portable terminal connected wirelessly to the router 400 or a personal computer connected to the router 400 by wire). The operating device connected to the narrow area network 70 inputs an operation indirectly to the information device 300 via the router 400 and the HEMS 200. Alternatively, the operation device 500 may be an operation device connected to the wide area network 60 (for example, a portable terminal accessible to the server 600 or a personal computer and a computer accessible to the server 600). The operation device connected to the wide area network 60 is not limited to an apparatus owned by the user, but may be a server (for example, a server managed by an electric power company) provided on the wide area network 60. As an operation instruction transmitted from such a server, a demand response or the like can be considered.

  In FIG. 2, as the operation device 500, there are an operation device 500A that inputs an operation directly to the information device 300, an operation device 500B that is connected to the narrow area network 70, and an operation device 500C that is connected to the wide area network 60. Illustrated. It should be noted that the operation device 500C may be identified with the server 600 when the operation instruction is a demand response or the like.

  The server 600 is provided on the wide area network 60 and is connected to the HEMS 200 via the wide area network 60. The server 600 generates an operation instruction for the information device 300 managed under the HEMS 200 and transmits the operation instruction to the HEMS 200. Alternatively, the server 600 relays the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C connected to the wide area network 60 to the HEMS 200.

  Here, it should be noted that the controller device 500C is not always connected to the server 600. From the viewpoint of security, it is not preferable that the session between the HEMS 200 and the server 600 connected to the narrow area network 70 provided in the customer 10 is always maintained. Generally, a firewall is provided between the wide area network 60 and the narrow area network 70 in order to protect devices connected to the narrow area network 70. Therefore, the server 600 cannot arbitrarily access the HEMS 200. From such a viewpoint, it is preferable that the server 600 transmits the operation instruction received from the operation device 500C to the HEMS 200 in response to an inquiry periodically executed from the HEMS 200 to the server 600.

  However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, an operation instruction received from the operation device 500C may be transmitted from the server 600 to the HEMS 200 at an arbitrary timing by performing port release or the like on the firewall.

  In the first embodiment, when relaying the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C to the HEMS 200, the server 600 sends information indicating that the operation instruction is transmitted from the operation device 500C to the HEMS 200 together with the operation instruction. Send.

(Distribution panel)
Hereinafter, the distribution board according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the distribution board 110 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution board 110 includes a service breaker 111, a leakage breaker 112, and a plurality of branch breakers 113.

  The service breaker 111 is provided on the power line between the smart meter 170 and the earth leakage breaker 112. When the service breaker 111 detects that the power supply amount exceeds the maximum power supply amount, the service breaker 111 switches from an on state to an off state (trips).

  The earth leakage breaker 112 is provided on the power line between the service breaker 111 and the plurality of branch breakers 113. When the leakage breaker 112 detects a leakage, the leakage breaker 112 switches from the on state to the off state.

  The plurality of branch breakers 113 are provided on a power line branched between the leakage breaker 112 and the plurality of loads 120 (information device 300). In FIG. 3, the branch breaker 113-1 detects that the power usage of the load group including the load 120-1, the load 120-2, and the load 120-3 exceeds a set value (for example, 20A). Switch from on to off. Similarly, the branch breaker 113-2 and the branch breaker 113-3 also switch from the on state to the off state when detecting that the power usage of the connected load 120 or load group exceeds the set value. Although three branch breakers 113 are shown in FIG. 3, the number of branch breakers 113 is not limited to this.

  In the first embodiment, the distribution board 110 further includes a sensor 180. The sensor 180 is an ammeter, for example, and is provided on a power line between the service breaker 111 and the plurality of branch breakers 113.

  The sensor 180 measures the amount of grid power used by the customer 10 (hereinafter referred to as power consumption) based on the detected power value or current value. Here, the sensor 180 may measure either the power value (power amount value) or the current value as the power consumption, or may measure both the power value and the current value. Since the sensor 180 is provided on the system side of the power line connected to the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, and the fuel cell unit 150, the power usage measured by the sensor 180 is detected by the service breaker 111. It is equal to the power supply amount (current value).

  The sensor 180 is connected to the HEMS 200 via a signal line, and periodically transmits information indicating power usage (hereinafter, power usage information) to the HEMS 200.

(Control device)
Hereinafter, the control device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the HEMS 200 according to the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the HEMS 200 includes an in-home communication unit 210, an out-of-home communication unit 220, a control unit 230, and a storage unit 240.

  The in-home communication unit 210 corresponds to short-range wireless communication such as WiFi, for example, and transmits and receives various signals to and from a device connected via the narrow area network 70. For example, the in-home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the power generation amount of the PV 131 from the PV unit 130. The in-home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the storage amount of the storage battery 141 from the storage battery unit 140. The in-home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the power generation amount of the fuel cell 151 from the fuel cell unit 150. Home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the amount of hot water stored in hot water storage unit 160 from hot water storage unit 160. Moreover, the outside communication part 220 transmits the signal for controlling the load 120, PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160 to each apparatus.

  In the first embodiment, the in-home communication unit 210 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500 </ b> B via the narrow area network 70.

  In the first embodiment, the in-home communication unit 210 transmits and receives commands to and from the information device 300 according to a predetermined protocol such as ECHONET Lite via the narrow area network 70. The in-home communication unit 210 transmits a command for setting an operation corresponding to the operation instruction to the information device 300 under the control of the control unit 230.

  In 1st Embodiment, the in-home communication part 210 receives periodically the information (henceforth, power usage-amount information) which shows the usage-amount of the system power in the consumer 10 from the sensor 180, for example. The power usage information may be information on either a power value (power value) or a current value, or may be information on both a power value and a current value.

  The out-of-home communication unit 220 corresponds to a public communication system such as Ethernet (registered trademark), for example, and receives energy charge information, energy consumption prediction information, and PV power generation amount prediction information from various servers via the wide area network 60.

  The outside communication unit 220 communicates with the server 600 via the wide area network 60, for example. In the first embodiment, the out-of-home communication unit 220 receives an operation instruction from the server 600 via the wide area network 60. The operation instruction received from the server 600 is an operation instruction generated by the server 600 or an operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C to the server 600 and relayed by the server 600.

  The out-of-home communication unit 220 transmits an operation instruction inquiry held by the server 600 to the server 600 from the operation device 500C. In addition, the out-of-home communication unit 220 transmits a response corresponding to the operation instruction received from the server 600 to the server 600. Further, as will be described later, the out-of-home communication unit 220 transmits an instruction rejection notification to the server 600 when the control according to the operation instruction received from the server 600 is not executed.

  The control unit 230 controls the operation of the HEMS 200. The control unit 230 controls the load 120, the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 230 controls the operation of the information device 300. When the communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed by the ECHONET Lite method, the control unit 230 uses a command (SET command) that sets an operation corresponding to the operation instruction in a format compliant with the ECHONET Lite method. The information is generated and transmitted to the information device 300 via the home communication unit 210. Alternatively, the control unit 230 may include transmission path specifying information indicating the transmission path of the operation instruction in the command.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 230 identifies the transmission path of the operation instruction transmitted from another device as follows. The other device is the operation device 500B, the server 600, or the operation device 500C.

  The operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500B is transmitted to the HEMS 200 via the router 400. On the other hand, the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C is transmitted to the HEMS 200 via the server 600 and the router 400. Therefore, the control unit 230 confirms the transmission source IP address of the operation instruction, and when the operation instruction does not pass through the server 600, specifies that the transmission source of the operation instruction is the operation device 500B.

  On the other hand, when the operation instruction passes through the server 600, the control unit 230 confirms information indicating the transmission source of the operation instruction received together with the operation instruction, and the transmission source of the operation instruction is the server 600 or the operation The device 500C is identified.

  The storage unit 240 stores information necessary for the control unit 230 to control the load 120, the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 230 periodically acquires power usage information from the sensor 180.

  In the first embodiment, when the control unit 230 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500C, the control unit 230 determines the information device according to the operation instruction according to the content of the operation instruction and the usage amount of the grid power in the customer 10. It is determined whether or not the control 300 is performed.

  Specifically, when receiving an operation instruction from another device, the control unit 230 specifies a transmission path of the operation instruction. When the operation instruction is transmitted from a device other than the operation device 500C (that is, the operation device 500B or the server 600), the control unit 230 sends a command for setting an operation corresponding to the operation instruction to the information device 300. Send. On the other hand, when an operation instruction is transmitted from the operation device 500C, the control unit 230 calculates a predicted value of power usage (hereinafter, predicted usage) when the information device 300 is controlled in accordance with the operation instruction. . At this time, the control unit 230 calculates the predicted usage based on the power consumption information indicating the power consumption of the information device 300 and the power supply amount information stored in the storage unit 240 described later.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 230 determines not to control the information device 300 according to the operation instruction when the predicted usage exceeds the threshold. When the predicted usage is below the threshold, the control unit 230 transmits a command for setting an operation corresponding to the operation instruction to the information device 300. The threshold is set based on, for example, the maximum power supply amount.

  When the predicted usage exceeds the threshold, the control unit 230 notifies the operation device 500C that the execution of the operation instruction has been rejected. Specifically, the control unit 230 transmits an instruction rejection notification indicating that the execution of the operation instruction has been rejected to the server 600 via the out-of-home communication unit 220. The control unit 230 may transmit information indicating an excess amount with respect to the threshold of the predicted usage amount to the server 600 together with the instruction rejection notification. The server 600 transmits an instruction rejection notification and information indicating the excess amount to the controller device 500C via the wide area network 60.

  The storage unit 240 stores information necessary for control and management of the information device 300.

  In the first embodiment, the storage unit 240 stores power consumption information indicating the power consumption of the information device 300. The power consumption of the information device 300 may be, for example, the rated power consumption set at the time of shipment, or may be the power consumption measured during the operation of the information device 300.

(Control method)
Hereinafter, a control method according to the first embodiment will be described. 5 to 6 are sequence diagrams illustrating a control method according to the first embodiment. 5 to 6 illustrate a case where the HEMS 200 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500C. 5 to 6 exemplify a case where communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed in a system compliant with ECHONET Lite.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in step S <b> 110, the HEMS 200 stores the power consumption information of the information device 300. For example, the HEMS 200 may acquire power consumption information together with information such as the device ID of the information device 300 when the information device 300 is connected to the narrow area network 70. Alternatively, the HEMS 200 may store the power consumption measured during the operation of the information device 300 as the power consumption information.

  In step S <b> 120, the HEMS 200 acquires power usage information from the sensor 180. The HEMS 200 updates the stored power usage information based on the acquired power usage information (step S130). Steps S120 and S130 are periodically executed.

  In step S140, the controller device 500C transmits an operation instruction to the server 600. The server 600 transmits the received operation instruction to the HEMS 200 (step S141).

  In step S150, the HEMS 200 that has received the operation instruction specifies the transmission path of the operation instruction. Specifically, the HEMS 200 identifies the transmission path of the operation instruction based on the transmission path identification information included in the operation instruction. That is, in the case illustrated in FIG. 5, the HEMS 200 specifies that the operation instruction transmission path includes the operation device 500C.

  In step S160, the HEMS 200 calculates a predicted usage amount when the information device 300 is operated in accordance with the received operation instruction. For example, when the HEMS 200 receives an operation instruction for instructing to turn on the air conditioner, based on the power consumption information of the air conditioner and the power usage information, the predicted usage amount when the air conditioner is turned on is calculated. calculate. The HEMS 200 compares the predicted usage amount with a threshold set based on, for example, the maximum power supply amount (step S170).

  FIG. 5 illustrates a case where the predicted usage is less than or equal to the threshold. The HEMS 200 generates a command (SET command) for setting an operation corresponding to the operation instruction, and transmits the command to the information device 300 (step S180). The information device 300 that has received the SET command executes an operation instruction corresponding to the SET command (step S190). In addition, the information device 300 transmits a SET response command to the SET command to the HEMS 200 (step S200). The HEMS 200 transmits an execution notification for notifying that the information device 300 has executed the operation instruction to the server 600 (step S201), and the server 600 that has received the execution notification transmits an execution notification to the operation device 500C (step S202). ).

  Next, a case where the predicted usage amount exceeds the threshold will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the processes in steps S110 to S170 are the same as those in FIG.

  In step S175, the HEMS 200 calculates an excess amount with respect to the threshold of the predicted usage amount. The HEMS 200 transmits an instruction rejection notification indicating that the execution of the operation instruction has been rejected and the amount exceeding the predicted usage threshold to the server 600 (step S211), and the server 600 that has received the instruction rejection notification An instruction rejection notification is transmitted to 500C (step S212).

  As described above, when receiving an operation instruction from the operation device 500C, the HEMS 200 determines whether to execute control of the information device 300 according to the operation instruction according to the content of the operation instruction and the power usage amount. To decide. Specifically, the HEMS 200 calculates the predicted usage when an operation instruction is transmitted from the operation device 500C. If the predicted usage exceeds the threshold, the HEMS 200 determines not to perform control according to the operation instruction.

  When the operation instruction is transmitted from the operation device 500C, it is assumed that the operator is outside the customer 10. If the power usage (power supply amount, that is, the power purchase amount) exceeds the maximum power supply amount according to the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C, the service breaker 111 trips and the supply of grid power to the customer 10 is stopped. To do. In such a case, the operator who is outside the customer 10 cannot return the service breaker 111 to the on state, and cannot resume the supply of grid power to the customer 10. Therefore, when the HEMS 200 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500C, the service breaker 111 is tripped by controlling the information device 300 after confirming that the predicted usage does not exceed the maximum power supply amount. Thus, it is possible to prevent the supply of grid power from stopping.

[Other Embodiments]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, it should not be understood that the descriptions and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  In the embodiment, an example in which the HEMS 200 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500C via the wide area network 60 has been described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and when the HEMS 200 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500B via the narrow area network 70 used in a consumer constructed by a wireless LAN or the like, Whether or not to control the information device 300 according to the operation instruction may be determined according to the content of the operation instruction and the amount of grid power used by the customer 10.

  In the embodiment, the HEMS 200 performs the comparison based on the power value when comparing the predicted usage amount and the threshold value. However, the comparison may be performed based on the current value.

  In the embodiment, ECHONET Lite is exemplified as the predetermined communication protocol. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and a communication protocol other than ECHONET Lite (for example, ZigBee (registered trademark) or KNX) may be used as the predetermined communication protocol. Alternatively, ECHONET Lite and another communication protocol may be used in combination as a predetermined communication protocol.

  In the embodiment, a case where the control device is the HEMS 200 is illustrated. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. The control device may be provided in a CEMS (Cluster / Community Energy Management System) or may be provided in the server 600. Alternatively, the control device may be provided in a BEMS (Building Energy Management System), may be provided in a FEMS (Factor Energy Management System), or may be provided in a SEMS (Store Energy Management). .

  In the embodiment, the customer 10 includes a load 120, a PV unit 130, a storage battery unit 140, a fuel cell unit 150, and a hot water storage unit 160. However, the consumer 10 only needs to have at least the load 120 as the information device 300.

  In the embodiment, the HEMS 200 acquires power usage information from the sensor 180. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the HEMS 200 may acquire power supply amount information from the smart meter 170 and use it to calculate the predicted usage amount.

  In the embodiment, the sensor 180 is provided on a power line between the service breaker 111 and the plurality of branch breakers 113. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the sensor 180 may be provided on a power line branched for each branch breaker 113. In such a case, the HEMS 200 may determine whether to control the information device 300 according to the operation instruction received from the operation device 500C so as not to trip the branch breaker 113.

  In the embodiment, when the operation instruction is transmitted from the operation device 500C, the HEMS 200 calculates the predicted usage amount. However, when it is clear that the power usage does not increase even when the control according to the operation instruction is performed (for example, the power-off instruction or the state reference request instruction of the information device 300), the HEMS 200 It may be determined that the information device 300 is controlled in accordance with the operation instruction without performing the calculation.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Consumer, 31 ... Distribution line, 60 ... Wide area network, 70 ... Narrow area network, 100 ... Control system, 110 ... Distribution board, 111 ... Service breaker, 112 ... Earth leakage breaker, 113 ... Branch breaker, 120 ... Load , 130 ... PV unit, 131 ... PV, 132 ... PCS, 140 ... storage battery unit, 141 ... storage battery, 142 ... PCS, 150 ... fuel cell unit, 151 ... fuel cell, 152 ... PCS, 160 ... hot water storage unit, 170 ... smart Meter, 180 ... sensor, 200 ... HEMS, 210 ... home communication unit, 220 ... external communication unit, 230 ... control unit, 240 ... storage unit, 300 ... information device, 400 ... router, 500 ... operation device, 600 ... server

Claims (8)

A control device for controlling information equipment provided in a consumer who receives supply of grid power via a network provided in the consumer,
When an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the information device is received from another device, the information corresponding to the operation instruction according to the content of the operation instruction and the usage amount of the grid power in the consumer A control apparatus comprising a control unit that determines whether or not to control a device. When the operation instruction is received, the control unit calculates a predicted value of the usage amount when the information device is controlled according to the operation instruction,
The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines not to control the information device according to the operation instruction when the predicted value exceeds a threshold value.   The control device according to claim 2, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the remote control device of an excess amount of the predicted value with respect to the threshold value when the predicted value exceeds the threshold value. An upper limit is set for the supply amount of the grid power to the consumer,
The control device according to claim 2, wherein the threshold value is set based on the upper limit value.   The control device according to claim 2, further comprising: a communication unit that transmits a setting command for setting an operation corresponding to the operation instruction to the information device when the predicted value is lower than the threshold value.   The control device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit generates the setting command in a format compliant with ECHONET Lite.   The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit receives the operation instruction from a remote operation device connected to a public communication line. A control method for controlling information equipment provided in a consumer who receives supply of grid power via a network provided in the consumer,
When receiving an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the information device, the control of the information device according to the operation instruction is performed according to the content of the operation instruction and the usage amount of the grid power in the consumer. A control method comprising a step of determining whether or not to perform.

Images