JP2016046934A - Energy management system, community energy management system, and user energy management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an energy management system capable of appropriately handling increase in the number of users.SOLUTION: A CEMS 100 acquires computer resource information from a HEMS 40 and an on-vehicle terminal 50 (hereinafter, referred to as user EMSs) and calculates a calculation processing margin of each user EMS. The CEMS 100 assigns a part of calculation processing necessary for energy management for a management target region to a user EMS on the basis of the user EMS's calculation processing margin. In this case, processing with a heavier calculation load is assigned to a user EMS having a larger calculation processing margin. When a system failure occurs in the CEMS 100, an amount of the calculation processing to be assigned to a user EMS is increased.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a power management system that manages local power.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, power management systems that manage consumer power are known. In general, a system for managing household electric power is called HEMS (Home Energy Management System). Also, as proposed in Patent Document 1, a CEMS (Community Energy Management System), which is a power management system for managing local power, is also known. Here, a device that manages household power is called HEMS, and a device that manages local power is called CEMS.

  The CEMS connects a plurality of HEMSs via an information communication network. In order to manage local power, CEMS, for example, collects actual power consumption information from each HEMS, and based on the collected information, the power demand characteristics for each consumer, prediction of future power demand, etc. Perform the operation. CEMS adjusts the electric power supply and demand in the region based on such calculation results. For example, the amount of power supplied from the power plant is adjusted, or a request for power consumption (for example, a power saving request) is made to each consumer.

WO2013-047115A1

  When the number of customers managed by CEMS increases to hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands, the calculation amount of CEMS becomes enormous. For this reason, there is a possibility that the load of the microcomputer, which is the arithmetic function unit of the CEMS, becomes excessive and the responsiveness is deteriorated. As a result, it becomes difficult to adjust power supply and demand following the situation that changes from moment to moment. For example, in a region where solar panels are widespread, a change in the amount of light received by the solar panel appears as a change in the amount of generated power in the region, so that quick response to supply and demand adjustment is required. In response to this requirement by increasing the computing capability of the CEMS microcomputer, the cost is increased.

  Therefore, the conventional power management system has a problem that it cannot appropriately cope with an increase in the number of consumers.

  The present invention has been made to address the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a power management system that can appropriately cope with an increase in the number of consumers.

In order to achieve the above object, the features of the present invention are:
Consumer power provided for each consumer, comprising a first computer resource, and performing arithmetic processing required for power management of the consumer using the first computer resource to manage the power of the consumer A management device (40);
Existence of consumers that are provided so as to be able to transmit / receive to / from a plurality of consumer power management devices, have a second computer resource, and whose power is respectively managed by the plurality of consumer power management devices using the second computer resource In a power management system including a regional power management device (100) that performs arithmetic processing necessary for power management in a region to manage power in the region,
A calculation margin acquisition means (S12) for acquiring calculation margin information serving as an index of calculation processing margin in the first computer resource for each of the plurality of consumer power management devices;
Computation processing allocating means (S50) for allocating a part of computation processing necessary for power management in the area to at least one consumer power management device based on the computation processing margin.

  The power management system of the present invention includes a consumer power management device and a regional power management device. The consumer power management apparatus is provided for each consumer, includes a first computer resource, and uses the first computer resource to execute calculation processing necessary for consumer power management to manage consumer power. To do. The management of electric power includes at least management of electric power consumption consumed in the consumer. For example, the consumer power management apparatus displays the power consumption in the consumer in real time, or adjusts the power consumption by controlling the electrical load in the consumer according to the power consumption. Further, the consumer power management device may have a function of controlling a power generator provided in the consumer and managing the amount of power supplied to the outside through the distribution network.

  The regional power management apparatus is provided so as to be able to transmit and receive with a plurality of consumer power management apparatuses, includes a second computer resource, and a demand whose power is managed by each of the plurality of consumer power management apparatuses using the second computer resource. Calculation processing necessary for power management in the area where the house exists is executed to manage the power in the area. This region can be regarded as a set of consumers whose power is managed by a plurality of consumer power management devices, that is, as a consumer group.

  Therefore, in the power management system, the power of the entire consumer can be managed while managing the power of each consumer. For example, it is possible to adjust power supply and demand in a region that is a power management target.

  As described above, when the power management system is configured by connecting the individual consumer power management devices and the regional power management devices so as to be able to transmit and receive, when the number of consumers increases, it is necessary for the local power management accordingly. The calculation processing amount increases. As a result, the computing power of the local power management apparatus is insufficient, and the responsiveness of the local power management may be reduced.

  In order to deal with such a problem, the power management system of the present invention includes a calculation margin acquisition unit and a calculation processing allocation unit. The calculation margin acquisition means acquires calculation margin information that serves as an index of the calculation processing margin in the first computer resource for each of the plurality of consumer power management devices.

  The arithmetic processing allocating means allocates a part of the arithmetic processing necessary for local power management to at least one consumer power management apparatus based on the arithmetic processing margin. Therefore, it is possible to execute a part of the arithmetic processing necessary for local power management by using a consumer power management apparatus having a sufficient processing capacity. That is, it is possible to distribute the arithmetic processing necessary for local power management to the consumer power management apparatus having sufficient processing capacity. Thereby, it is possible to improve the computing power required for local power management while maintaining the computing power required for power management of each consumer. As a result, even if the number of consumers increases, it is possible to properly carry out local power management. Moreover, since it is not necessary to increase the computing capacity of the second computer resource of the regional power management apparatus, it can be implemented at a low cost.

  A feature of one aspect of the present invention is that the calculation margin information is information including a performance of the first computer resource and a calculation load state.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to acquire information that represents an accurate calculation processing margin. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately assign the arithmetic processing necessary for local power management.

  A feature of one aspect of the present invention is that the arithmetic processing allocation unit is configured to allocate arithmetic processing with a large arithmetic load to the consumer power management apparatus having a higher arithmetic processing margin in the first computer resource. It is in.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, a consumer power management device with a higher calculation processing margin in the first computer resource is assigned an operation process with a larger operation load, and therefore the operation processing capability of the first computer resource is effectively used. be able to.

  A feature of one aspect of the present invention is that the arithmetic processing allocation unit is configured to increase the arithmetic processing amount allocated to the consumer power management apparatus when the arithmetic processing capability of the second computer resource is reduced. There is.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, when the processing capacity of the second computer resource decreases, the amount of calculation processing allocated to the consumer power management apparatus increases. Therefore, the calculation load of the second computer resource is reduced. As a result, it is possible to appropriately continue arithmetic processing necessary for local power management.

  A feature of one aspect of the present invention is that the arithmetic processing allocating unit performs arithmetic processing with less arithmetic data that needs to be acquired from the regional power management device in order for the consumer power management device to perform arithmetic processing. It is configured to be assigned to the consumer power management apparatus in preference to a calculation process that requires a lot of calculation data that needs to be acquired from the regional power management apparatus.

  When the consumer power management apparatus executes a part of calculation processing necessary for local power management, it may be necessary to acquire calculation data from the regional power management apparatus in order to execute the calculation processing. The more calculation data, the more time it takes to exchange data and the inefficiency. Therefore, in one aspect of the present invention, a calculation process that requires less calculation data from the regional power management apparatus has priority over a calculation process that requires more calculation data to be acquired from the regional power management apparatus. Assigned to the consumer power management device. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute arithmetic processing necessary for local power management in the entire power management system.

  For example, regarding the calculation process for obtaining the power demand characteristic of the consumer based on the past power consumption information of the consumer or the calculation process for predicting the future power demand of the consumer, the power of the consumer is managed. It can be executed in the consumer power management device. Therefore, such a calculation process is a calculation process that is preferentially assigned to the consumer power management apparatus because it is not necessary to acquire calculation data from the regional power management apparatus or the amount of calculation data is small.

  On the other hand, regarding the arithmetic processing executed using information relating to the entire region, it is necessary to obtain calculation data from the regional power management apparatus, and therefore, the arithmetic processing is not assigned with priority over the above arithmetic processing. . For example, arithmetic processing that predicts future power demand in the entire region, arithmetic processing that predicts the amount of power generation in the entire region, arithmetic processing that determines the adjustment amount for adjusting the power supply and demand in the entire region, etc. are assigned with priority. No arithmetic processing, that is, arithmetic processing executed preferentially by the regional power management apparatus. Note that the small amount of calculation data is relative to each calculation process and not absolute when the calculation processes necessary for local power management are divided into a plurality of types.

  The present invention is applicable not only to a power management system but also to a regional power management apparatus and a consumer power management apparatus provided in the power management system.

  In the above description, in order to help the understanding of the invention, the reference numerals used in the embodiment are attached in parentheses to the configuration of the invention corresponding to the embodiment. It is not limited to the embodiment defined by the reference numerals.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a power system and a power management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing a computer resource information acquisition routine. It is a flowchart showing an agent program delivery routine. It is a flowchart showing an arithmetic processing distribution setting routine. It is an arithmetic processing distribution table.

  Hereinafter, a power management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a power system and a power management system. The electric power system includes a power generation facility 11 provided in the power plant 10 and a power transmission / distribution facility 12 that supplies power generated by the power generation facility 11 to consumers. The power plant 10 includes a wind power generation facility, a solar power generation facility, and the like as the power generation facility 11. The power transmission / distribution facility 21 converts the generated power into a commercial power supply voltage and supplies it to the customer 30 in the power supply area.

  The consumer 30 is arbitrarily provided with a solar power generation device 31. Each consumer 30 is provided with a consumer power management device 40 that manages the power in the consumer 30. The consumer power management apparatus 40 includes a microcomputer, a display device, a storage device, an operation device, and the like (not shown) that are computer resources. The consumer power management device 40, for example, measures the amount of power consumed in the customer 30, measures the amount of generated power, displays and stores various measured amounts of power, and controls electrical equipment for adjusting the amount of power consumed. It is a device that performs processing related to power management in a consumer, such as control of a power generation device and provision of various information to a user.

  The consumer power management apparatus 40 includes a communication circuit for performing wireless communication or wired communication with a CEMS 100 described later, an information terminal device (not shown), and an in-vehicle terminal 50 described later. The information terminal device is a device that notifies the user of various types of information related to power management. For example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a personal computer, a home appliance controller, a home appliance remote controller, a photo frame, or the like can be used (not shown).

The consumer power management apparatus 40 is divided into a plurality of types as follows depending on the type of consumer to be managed (use of the customer's building).
HEMS (Home Energy Management System): Manages the power of detached houses.
BEMS (Building Energy Management System): Manages the power of buildings (commercial buildings and public buildings).
FEMS (Factory Energy Management System): Manages factory power.
MEMS (Mansion Energy Management System): Manages the power of apartment buildings.
Thus, the type of consumer (use of the customer's building) to be managed is referred to as a consumer type.

  Hereinafter, in this specification, the consumer power management apparatus 40 is referred to as a HEMS 40. However, there are many types of consumer 30 in the power supply area, and consumer power management provided in each consumer 30. The device 40 is not limited to HEMS, and may be the above-described BEMS, FEMS, BEMS, or the like.

  A local power management apparatus 100 is provided in the power management system. The regional power management apparatus 100 manages the power supply from the power plant 10 and the power demand in the area where the customer 30 exists. The regional power management apparatus 100 includes a microcomputer, a display device, a storage device, an operation device, and the like that are computer resources (not shown). Since a power management system that manages local power is generally called a CEMS (Community Energy Management System), the regional power management apparatus 100 is hereinafter referred to as a CEMS 100.

  The CEMS 100 is connected to the HEMS 40 in the power supply area via an information communication network so as to be able to transmit and receive. The CEMS 100 is connected to an in-vehicle terminal 50 that is an information terminal device provided in a vehicle 60 (for example, an electric vehicle EV or a plug-in hybrid vehicle PHV) owned by the customer 30 through an information communication network. ing. As the vehicle-mounted terminal 50, for example, a car navigation device or a communication terminal that receives and provides various services by transmitting and receiving with the vehicle information center is suitable. The in-vehicle terminal 50 includes a microcomputer, a display device, a storage device, an operation device, and a wireless communication device (not shown) that are computer resources. The in-vehicle terminal 50 has a function capable of transmitting and receiving not only with the CEMS 100 but also with the HEMS 40. Although only two HEMSs 40 are shown in FIG. 1, a large number of HEMSs 40 are actually connected to the CEMS 100 so as to be able to transmit and receive. The same applies to the in-vehicle terminal 50.

  The power management system according to the present embodiment includes the CEMS 100, a plurality of HEMSs 40 connected to the CEMS 100 so as to be able to transmit and receive, and the in-vehicle terminal 50. However, the in-vehicle terminal 50 may be omitted.

The HEMS 40 mainly executes the following processing in order to manage the power in the customer 30.
1. A process of measuring the amount of power consumed, such as the amount of power consumed and the amount of power generated in the customer 30, and displaying the measured supply and demand status on a display in the customer in real time.
2. A process of transmitting information representing the supply and demand state to the CEMS 100.
3. The process which controls household appliances according to a supply-and-demand state (for example, on-off switching).
4). Processing corresponding to the signal transmitted from the CEMS 100 (for example, display of incentive information regarding power consumption behavior, transmission of requested information, control of home appliances, etc.).
Such processing is executed by arithmetic processing of a microcomputer provided in the HEMS 40. Note that the process executed by the HEMS 40 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  On the other hand, the CEMS 100 balances the power supply amount and the power demand amount in an area where each customer 30 exists (a group of consumers 30 to be managed is expressed as an area, hereinafter referred to as a management target area). Processing, that is, power supply and demand adjustment. In order to adjust power supply and demand, the CEMS 100 collects past power demand results and the like from each HEMS 40, and predicts future power demand in the management target area based on these result data. Moreover, the amount of photovoltaic power generation is predicted based on weather forecast data. Moreover, CEMS100 transmits incentive information with respect to each HEMS40 based on the electric power supply-and-demand prediction of a management object area, or transmits the control command of household appliances. In addition, the CEMS 100 monitors the power supply status of the power plant 10 and requests the power plant 10 for a necessary power generation amount.

  The incentive information is information for controlling the power consumption behavior of people (hereinafter referred to as users) in the customer 30. As incentive information, for example, power price information, service point information, message information, and the like can be used. By informing the user of the unit price of the power charge set higher than usual, the user can be guided to suppress power consumption, and conversely, the user is notified of the power unit price set lower than normal. Thus, it is possible to guide the user so as not to suppress power consumption (to actively consume power by charging the power storage device or the like). Further, it may be information that instructs to suppress power consumption directly by e-mail or the like, or conversely, instructs to recommend power consumption. Therefore, the power consumption behavior includes not only the behavior of the user suppressing power consumption (power saving behavior) but also the direction of weakening the behavior, that is, the behavior of promoting power consumption.

  When such a power management system is constructed, if the number of consumers 30, that is, the number of HEMSs 40, increases, the calculation amount of the CEMS 100 becomes enormous, which may cause a deterioration in responsiveness. Therefore, in the power management system of the present embodiment, the CEMS 100 allocates a part of arithmetic processing necessary for power management (power supply / demand adjustment) in the management target area to the HEMS 40. When assigning the calculation process, calculation margin information, which is information including the performance of the HEMS 40 and the calculation load state, is acquired, and a calculation process with a higher calculation load is allocated to the HEMS 40 having a higher calculation process margin. In the present embodiment, arithmetic processing necessary for power supply / demand adjustment is assigned to the in-vehicle terminal 50 in addition to the HEMS 40. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the HEMS 40 and the in-vehicle terminal 50, both are referred to as a customer EMS.

  In the present embodiment, among the arithmetic processes necessary for power supply and demand adjustment in the management target area, the processes that can be allocated to the customer EMS are set to the following five arithmetic processes. Note that it is not necessary for all of these five arithmetic processes to be assigned to the customer EMS, and the arithmetic process assigned to the customer EMS is determined according to the state of the CEMS 100. Further, the assigned arithmetic processing is an example and can be arbitrarily set.

1. A calculation process (referred to as a power demand characteristic calculation process) for obtaining a power demand characteristic of the consumer based on the past power consumption information of the consumer.
2. A calculation process (referred to as a power demand prediction calculation process) for predicting the future power demand of the consumer based on the power demand characteristics of the consumer.
3. A calculation process for predicting the amount of power generated by the photovoltaic power generation apparatus provided in the management target area (referred to as a photovoltaic power generation prediction calculation process).
4). A process for calculating the unit price of the power charge (referred to as a power charge calculation process).
5). Processing for calculating service points (referred to as point calculation processing).
The power charge calculation process and the point calculation process are calculation processes for generating incentive information that changes the user's power consumption behavior.

  Therefore, in the power management system, a distributed processing system is formed by the CEMS 100 and the plurality of customers EMS (HEMS 40 and the in-vehicle terminal 50). A host program HP is installed in the CEMS 100, and an agent program AP is installed in the customer EMS. The agent program AP is distributed from the CEMS 100 to the customer EMS via the information communication network. The host program HP has a function of managing the distributed processing system so that the arithmetic processing is in an appropriate state as the entire power management system. On the other hand, the agent program AP has a function of storing the above five arithmetic processes, executing arithmetic processes instructed by the host program HP, and transmitting the arithmetic results to the host program HP.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a computer resource information acquisition routine. This computer resource information acquisition routine is executed at a predetermined cycle. In step S10, the CEMS 100 transmits a request for computer resource information to each customer EMS. The computer resource information is information representing the performance of the customer EMS and the calculation load state. For example, information indicating the performance of the customer EMS includes OS (Operating System) type, OS version, CPU type, CPU clock number, CPU core number, CPU cache memory capacity, main memory capacity, hard disk capacity, etc. Information. Further, the information indicating the calculation load state of the customer EMS is information such as a CPU usage rate and a main memory usage rate.

  When the customer EMS receives the request for computer resource information in step S20, the customer EMS transmits its computer resource information to the CEMS 100 in step S21. When the CEMS 100 receives the computer resource information of each consumer EMS in step S11, the CEMS 100 calculates the processing margin of the consumer EMS based on the computer resource information in step S12. In this case, as the performance of the consumer EMS is higher and the calculation load state is lower (as the CPU usage rate and the main memory usage rate are lower), a higher calculation processing margin is set. For example, the CEMS 100 determines a performance index A1 that is set to a larger value as the performance of the consumer EMS is higher, and a load index A2 that is set to a larger value as the calculation load state of the customer EMS is lower, and the performance index. A multiplication value of A1 and load index A2 is set as a calculation processing margin.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an agent program distribution routine. In step S30, the CEMS 100 selects an agent program AP suitable for the environment (especially OS) of each customer EMS based on the computer resource information acquired from each customer EMS, and selects the selected agent program AP for each demand. Send to house EMS. When each customer EMS receives the agent program AP in step S40, the customer EMS installs the agent program AP in the storage device in step S41. Note that the CEMS 100 distributes the update agent program AP to each customer EMS to each customer EMS even when version upgrade of the agent program AP and defect correction are necessary. Each customer EMS updates the installed agent program AP to the distributed update agent program AP.

  As described above, after the agent program AP is installed in each consumer EMS, each consumer EMS executes the agent program AP, thereby enabling arithmetic processing necessary for power management in the management target area. In addition, various types of information necessary for executing the calculation process can be received from the CEMS 100, and information representing the calculation result can be transmitted to the CEMS 100.

  Next, a description will be given of the distribution of arithmetic processing required for power supply and demand adjustment in the management target area to the consumer EMS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an arithmetic processing distribution setting routine. In step S50, the CEMS 100 sets a calculation process to be distributed to each customer EMS based on the calculation process margin of each customer EMS. In this case, the CEMS 100 sets the distribution of the arithmetic processing in the arithmetic processing distribution table as shown in FIG. In this example, five calculation processes among the calculation processes necessary for power supply and demand adjustment in the management target area are distributed to each consumer EMS according to the calculation process margin. FIG. 5A shows an example of distribution at the normal time when no system failure has occurred in the CEMS 100, and FIG. 5B shows an example of distribution when a system failure has occurred in the CEMS 100. FIG. In the figure, ◯ represents an arithmetic process distributed to the consumer EMS (arithmetic process executed by the customer EMS), and x represents an arithmetic process not allocated to the consumer EMS (an arithmetic process not executed by the customer EMS). And an arithmetic process executed by the CEMS 100). In this example, the distribution for three consumers EMS is shown, but the distribution for all the consumers EMS in the management target area is set in the calculation processing distribution table.

  In the present embodiment, power demand characteristic calculation processing, power demand prediction calculation processing, solar power generation prediction calculation processing, power rate calculation processing, and point calculation processing are determined as calculation processing distributed to the consumer EMS. Yes. The power demand characteristic calculation process and the power demand prediction calculation process are distributed to the consumer EMS in preference to the other three calculation processes. In addition, a process with a large calculation load (in this example, multiple types of calculation processes) is allocated to a customer EMS having a higher calculation process margin.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 5A, a customer EMS (referred to as customer EMS_1) with a customer ID of EMS_1 has a calculation processing margin of 5, and a customer EMS (customer with a customer ID of EMS_2). (Referred to as EMS_2) has an arithmetic processing margin of 1, and a consumer EMS (referred to as customer EMS_3) whose consumer ID is EMS_3 has an arithmetic processing margin of 4. Further, the arithmetic processing margin is expressed by an arbitrary number of stages (for example, 6 stages of 0 to 5). In this example, a power demand characteristic calculation process, a power demand prediction calculation process, and a photovoltaic power generation prediction calculation process are allocated to the customer EMS_1 having the highest calculation processing margin. Further, only the power demand characteristic calculation process is allocated to the consumer EMS_2 having a low calculation process margin. In addition, a power demand characteristic calculation process and a power demand prediction calculation process are allocated to the consumer EMS_3 whose calculation process margin is set to 4. Note that it is not always necessary to assign the same calculation process to the consumer EMS having the same calculation process margin. Moreover, you may set so that the burden of a calculation process may differ by the case where a distribution destination is the customer EMS and the case where it is the vehicle-mounted terminal 50.

  For example, power demand characteristic calculation processing is allocated to a consumer EMS having a calculation processing margin of 1 or more (no calculation processing is allocated to a consumer EMS having a calculation processing margin of 0). Furthermore, the power demand prediction calculation process is additionally allocated to the consumer EMS whose calculation process margin is 3 or more. Furthermore, at least one of the photovoltaic power generation prediction calculation process, the power charge calculation process, and the point calculation process is additionally allocated to the consumer EMS having a calculation process margin of 5.

  Further, when a system failure occurs in the CEMS 100 (for example, a decrease in system performance due to a software failure, a decrease in system performance due to concentration of access to a server, a communication delay due to a network device trouble, etc.), the arithmetic processing of the CEMS 100 Ability is reduced. Therefore, the CEMS 100 determines whether or not its own processing capacity is reduced compared to the normal time due to a system failure or the like, and if it is determined that the processing capacity is reduced, the calculation assigned to the customer EMS. Increase throughput. For example, as in the calculation process distribution table shown in FIG. 5B, the five calculation processes are assigned to the customer EMS_1 and the customer EMS_3. Moreover, since there is little calculation processing margin with respect to consumer EMS_2, the calculation processing amount to allocate is not increased.

  When the CEMS 100 sets the arithmetic processing distribution table to which the arithmetic processing is distributed in this way, in step S51, the CEMS 100 transmits the arithmetic processing distribution table to each customer EMS. In step S60, each customer EMS receives the calculation process distribution table. In step S61, each customer EMS refers to the calculation process distribution table and calculates the calculation process assigned to itself (the customer EMS specified by the customer ID). Execute arithmetic processing). The agent program AP includes the five arithmetic processing programs necessary for power supply and demand adjustment in the management target area. The customer EMS executes an arithmetic processing program assigned from the agent program AP.

  After transmitting the calculation processing distribution table in step S51, the CEMS 100 executes calculation processing necessary for power supply and demand adjustment in the management target area, except for the calculation processing assigned to the customer EMS, in step S52.

  After executing the calculation process, the CEMS 100 and the customer EMS share the calculation process results by transmitting and receiving each other in Step S53 and Step S62. Accordingly, the CEMS 100 can execute its own arithmetic processing using the arithmetic processing result of the customer EMS. Similarly, the customer EMS can execute its own arithmetic processing using the arithmetic processing result of the CEMS 100.

  The in-vehicle terminal 50 is assigned only when the ignition switch is off without executing the assigned arithmetic processing in a situation where the ignition switch of the vehicle 60 on which the vehicle is mounted is on. It is configured to execute the arithmetic processing. Therefore, while the vehicle 60 is traveling, the calculation load on the in-vehicle terminal 50 does not increase, so that it is possible to prevent the vehicle traveling from being affected. For example, when the computation processing is assigned from the CEMS 100 and the ignition switch is turned on, the in-vehicle terminal 50 transmits a computation impossibility signal indicating that the computation processing cannot be performed to the CEMS 100. To do. When the CEMS 100 receives the calculation impossibility signal, the CEMS 100 allocates the calculation process to another customer EMS.

  Next, five arithmetic processes assigned to the customer EMS will be described. These five arithmetic processes are arithmetic processes necessary for power supply and demand adjustment in the management target area, and the priority to be assigned is determined. In the present embodiment, when the consumer EMS executes the calculation process, the calculation process that requires less calculation data from the CEMS 100 is a calculation process that requires a lot of calculation data to be acquired from the CEMS 100. In comparison, it is preferentially assigned to the customer EMS.

  For example, the power demand characteristic calculation process and the power demand prediction calculation process can be performed based on the past power consumption information detected by the consumer EMS and the like. There is no need to obtain calculation data, or less calculation data needs to be obtained from the CEMS 100. Therefore, with respect to the above two calculation processes, it is more data to be executed at each customer EMS than to transmit the past power consumption information detected by the customer EMS to the CEMS 100 and execute the calculation process at the CEMS 100. Can be reduced, and calculation can be performed efficiently. For this reason, the power demand characteristic calculation process and the power demand prediction calculation process are preferentially assigned to the consumer EMS.

  The power demand characteristic calculation process is a calculation process for obtaining a power demand characteristic in the customer 30 provided with the customer EMS that executes the calculation process. When the consumer EMS is the in-vehicle terminal 50, it is a calculation process for obtaining a power demand characteristic in the consumer 30 that owns the vehicle 60 equipped with the in-vehicle terminal 50. The power demand characteristic is data necessary for predicting the future power demand in the customer 30 and is, for example, data representing a transition of an average power consumption for each time zone (referred to as a transition characteristic). , And data (referred to as response characteristics) representing the degree of response (adjusted power amount) for adjusting the power consumption amount by notifying the user of incentive information for each time zone.

  Since the transition characteristic varies depending on the day of the week and the season, the data is preferably represented by day of the week and month. The consumer EMS calculates transition characteristics based on the past power consumption history and the like of the consumer 30.

  The response characteristic is, for example, data representing a power consumption change amount (for example, power saving power amount) when the user is guided to change the power consumption behavior by the incentive information, and is set for each time zone. Is. This response characteristic is obtained by calculating a difference in power consumption for each degree of guidance between when the power consumption behavior is induced to the user and when the power consumption behavior is not induced. The response characteristics may be calculated based on the past response results as described above. For example, by analyzing the temporal transition of the power consumption, the power consumption that can be reduced by the customer according to the time zone is analyzed. It may be estimated. Alternatively, when the consumer EMS knows the household electrical appliances installed in the consumer, the power consumption that can be reduced by the consumer is estimated for each time zone based on the type of the household electrical appliance. There may be. The consumer EMS calculates the power demand characteristics described above, and updates the power demand characteristics each time.

  Next, power demand prediction calculation processing will be described. The power demand prediction calculation process is a calculation process for predicting the power demand in the customer 30 provided with the customer EMS that executes the calculation process. When the consumer EMS is the in-vehicle terminal 50, it is a calculation process for predicting the power demand in the consumer 30 that owns the vehicle 60 equipped with the in-vehicle terminal 50. The prediction of power demand is a prediction of power consumption for each time zone in a prediction target period (for example, one day from the present time). The consumer EMS refers to the power demand characteristic, and executes the power demand prediction calculation process based on specifications such as date and time, day of the week, and incentive information in the prediction target period. Moreover, when the reservation of the household appliances provided in the consumer 30 and the charge plan (charge reservation) of a vehicle-mounted battery are set, the power consumption by the operation is also considered. The consumer EMS transmits information representing the calculated power demand prediction to the CEMS 100.

  When the allocated process includes a power demand characteristic calculation process and a power demand prediction calculation process, the consumer EMS stores the power demand characteristic calculated in the power demand characteristic calculation process in the storage device. A power demand prediction calculation is executed using the stored power demand characteristics. Further, when the assigned process is only the power demand characteristic calculation process (for example, the consumer EMS_2 in FIG. 5A), the customer EMS 100 stores the power demand characteristic calculated in the power demand characteristic calculation process in the CEMS 100. Send.

  On the other hand, the solar power generation prediction calculation process, the power rate calculation process, and the point calculation process need to be calculated by using the CEMS 100 because it is necessary to calculate information obtained from each consumer EMS. Therefore, the priority assigned to the consumer EMS is set to be lower for these three calculation processes than the two calculation processes (power demand characteristic calculation process and power demand prediction calculation process). However, also in these three arithmetic processes, when the arithmetic processing amount in the CEMS 100 increases, the arithmetic processing time becomes long, and therefore, it is assigned to the customer EMS as necessary.

  The solar power generation prediction calculation process is a calculation process for predicting the power generation amount of the solar power generation apparatus provided in the management target area. In executing this calculation process, the consumer EMS acquires power generation device data representing the power generation capacity from all the solar power generation devices provided in the management target area from the CEMS 100, and for each time zone in the prediction target period. Weather data from weather information sites. The CEMS 100 has in advance the power generation capacity of the solar power generation apparatus provided to the consumer from each consumer EMS, and the power generation capacity of the solar power generation apparatus managed by the CEMS 100 separately from the consumer solar power generation apparatus. The generated power generation device data is acquired and stored, and this power generation device data is provided to the customer EMS. This power generation device data may be past performance data of photovoltaic power generation for a plurality of types of weather. Based on the power generation device data and the weather data of the management target area in the prediction target period, the consumer EMS predicts and calculates the power generation amount of the solar power generation apparatus provided in the management target area for each time zone. The result is transmitted to CEMS100.

  Next, the power charge calculation process will be described. The power charge calculation process is a process of calculating a unit price of power consumption charge (hereinafter referred to as a power unit price) of the consumer 30 in the management target area. The electric power unit price functions not only for notifying the user of the current electric power unit price but also as incentive information for controlling the power consumption behavior of the user. By informing the user of the power unit price from each consumer EMS, the user's power consumption behavior can be changed. For example, if the power unit price is set higher than the reference unit price (average unit price), the user tries to save power. On the other hand, if the power unit price is set lower than the reference unit price, the user loosens power and promotes power consumption. For example, the vehicle-mounted battery is charged, or the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed from a power saving temperature to a comfortable temperature. Therefore, the power supply / demand adjustment can be performed for each time zone by changing the power unit price for each time zone.

  In executing the power rate calculation process, the customer EMS requests the CEMS 100 for the predicted power demand amount and the predicted photovoltaic power generation amount of all the consumers in the management target area in the prediction target period, and transmits the CEMS 100 from the CEMS 100. Based on the information indicating the predicted power demand amount and the predicted solar power generation amount, the power supply and demand state in the management target area is predicted. This predicted power demand amount is the power demand amount of each consumer calculated by the power demand prediction calculation process. The predicted amount of photovoltaic power generation is the amount of photovoltaic power generation calculated by the photovoltaic power generation prediction calculation process. The consumer EMS predicts the total power demand in the management target area by summing the predicted power demand of all the consumers 30 (the customers to be managed with the customer EMS), and this total power demand The predicted amount of drawn power, which is a value obtained by subtracting the predicted amount of solar power generation from the amount, is calculated. The predicted power consumption amount represents a power amount drawn into the management target area from the power plant 10 if the value is positive, but represents a predicted surplus power amount generated in the management target area if the value is negative. The predicted amount of drawn power is calculated for each time period set to a predetermined time width in the prediction target period.

In the power management system, the power unit price is set for each time period so that the amount of power drawn in and the amount of surplus power in the management target area are leveled. Therefore, the power unit price is set to be higher as the predicted power consumption is larger, and conversely, the power unit price is set to be lower as the predicted power consumption is smaller (in the negative case, the absolute value is larger). For example, as shown in the following equation, the power unit price C is a preset reference unit price (average power) with a value (P × α) obtained by multiplying the predicted power consumption P by a unit price conversion coefficient α as a unit price adjustment amount. A value obtained by adding the unit price adjustment amount to the unit price Cbase) may be used.
C = Cbase + (P × α)

  When the customer EMS calculates the power unit price, the customer EMS transmits information representing the power unit price to the CEMS 100. CEMS100 transmits the information showing a power unit price to all the consumers EMS of a management object area. Each consumer EMS displays a power unit price on a display and notifies a power unit price to an information terminal used by the user.

  Next, the point calculation process will be described. The point calculation process is a process for calculating a service point that is set according to the power supply and demand state of the management target area. The service point functions as incentive information for controlling the user's power consumption behavior, similarly to the power unit price. The service point is given to the user when the power saving degree is large, for example. This power saving degree is set to a larger value as the ratio of the consumed power amount to the contracted capacity is smaller, for example, from the relationship between the contracted capacity (value converted into the power amount) and the actually consumed power amount. The service point is set to be higher as the power saving degree is larger, corresponding to the power saving degree when the power saving degree is a certain value or more.

  When the predicted amount of power drawn in the management target area is large, it is necessary to suppress the power consumption at the customer 30 as much as possible. In such a case, the higher the predicted power consumption, the higher the service point for the power saving degree, the more the user can be prompted to save power.

  The customer EMS in charge of the point calculation process calculates a predicted power consumption amount in the management target area, and calculates a service point set according to the predicted power consumption amount. The predicted amount of power to be drawn in is calculated for each time zone set to a predetermined time width in the prediction target period, and the calculation result calculated in the above-described power rate calculation process can be used. Service points are also calculated for each of the above time zones.

  For example, the customer EMS sets a normal service point if the predicted power consumption P does not exceed a certain value, and if the predicted power consumption P exceeds a certain value, the predicted power consumption P As the amount P increases, a service point that increases with respect to the power saving degree is calculated. That is, even if the power saving degree is the same, a service point that increases as the predicted power consumption P increases is calculated. The customer EMS transmits the calculated service point to the CEMS 100. CEMS100 transmits the information showing a service point to all the consumers EMS of a management object area. Each consumer EMS displays the set service point on the display unit, and notifies the service point to the information terminal used by the user.

  Such power unit price and service point correspond to the supply and demand adjustment amount for adjusting the power supply and demand in the management target area.

  The power demand characteristics, power demand forecast, solar power generation forecast, power unit price, and service point are calculated for each time zone, but this time zone is divided into predetermined time widths such as one hour increments, for example. It represents a time zone, and its time width can be arbitrarily set (for example, 30 minutes).

  Further, the solar power generation prediction calculation process, the power charge calculation process, and the point calculation process are calculation processes related to the entire management target area, but each need not be executed by one consumer EMS. For example, the management target area may be divided into a plurality of areas, and the calculation processing may be divided for each of the divided areas.

  According to the power management system of the present embodiment described above, a part of the computation processing necessary for power management in the management target area is allocated to the consumer EMS, so that it is possible to reduce the concentration of computation load on the CEMS 100. In addition, since a calculation process with a large calculation load is assigned to a customer EMS having a higher calculation processing margin, the calculation processing capability of the customer EMS can be effectively used. Thus, the calculation processing required for power management in the management target area while not hindering the original calculation processing (calculation processing required for power management in the customer if it is HEMS40) in each consumer EMS. Ability can be improved. It should be noted that “the customer EMS having a higher calculation processing margin is assigned a calculation process with a larger calculation load” as long as the entire power management system has the above-mentioned tendency. There is no need to define the relationship between the margin and the computational load in detail.

  As a result, the arithmetic processing capability of the entire power management system is improved, and the responsiveness related to the power supply and demand adjustment can be improved. In particular, in regions where solar power generation devices are widespread, the amount of power generated in the region varies greatly depending on the weather, so quick response to demand and supply adjustment is required. According to this embodiment, such a requirement is met. be able to. Therefore, even when the number of consumers increases, it is possible to appropriately adjust power supply and demand. In addition, since it is not necessary to increase the computing capacity of the CEMS 100, it can be implemented at low cost.

  In addition, when the calculation processing capacity of the CEMS 100 decreases, such as when a system failure occurs in the CEMS 100, the calculation processing amount allocated to the customer EMS increases, so the calculation load on the CEMS 100 is reduced. As a result, it is possible to appropriately continue the arithmetic processing necessary for power management in the management target area.

  In addition, regarding the arithmetic processing allocated from the CEMS 100 to the customer EMS, the arithmetic processing that requires less arithmetic data to be obtained from the CEMS 100 is smaller than the arithmetic processing that requires more arithmetic data that needs to be obtained from the CEMS 100. The customer EMS is preferentially assigned. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently execute the arithmetic processing necessary for power management in the management target area in the entire power management system.

  The power management system according to the present embodiment has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the CEMS 100 acquires computer resource information from each customer EMS, but instead, a specific customer EMS acquires computer resource information from another customer EMS and provides it to the CEMS 100. It may be configured to. In addition, the configuration may be such that a specific customer EMS executes a calculation processing distribution setting routine and notifies the CEMS 100 and other customers EMS of the calculation processing distribution result. Further, the calculation processing necessary for power management in the management target area does not necessarily need to be distributed to a plurality of consumers EMS, and may be configured to be distributed to one specific customer EMS.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Consumer, 31 ... Solar power generation device, 40 ... Consumer power management device (HEMS), 50 ... In-vehicle terminal, 60 ... Vehicle, 100 ... Regional power management device (CEMS), AP ... Agent program, HP ... Host program.

Claims (7)

Consumer power provided for each consumer, comprising a first computer resource, and performing arithmetic processing required for power management of the consumer using the first computer resource to manage the power of the consumer A management device;
Existence of consumers that are provided so as to be able to transmit / receive to / from a plurality of consumer power management devices, have a second computer resource, and whose power is respectively managed by the plurality of consumer power management devices using the second computer resource In a power management system comprising a regional power management device that executes arithmetic processing required for regional power management and manages the power in the region,
A calculation margin acquisition means for acquiring calculation margin information that serves as an index of the calculation processing margin in the first computer resource for each of the plurality of consumer power management devices;
A power management system comprising: arithmetic processing allocating means for allocating a part of arithmetic processing necessary for power management in the region to at least one consumer power management device based on the arithmetic processing margin. The power management system according to claim 1,
The calculation margin information is information including the performance of the first computer resource and the calculation load state. The power management system according to claim 1 or 2,
The power management system is configured such that the arithmetic processing allocation unit allocates arithmetic processing with a large arithmetic load to the consumer power management apparatus having a higher arithmetic processing margin in the first computer resource. In the power management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The power processing system configured to increase the amount of processing to be allocated to the consumer power management device when the processing power of the second computer resource is reduced. In the power management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The arithmetic processing allocation means needs to acquire, from the regional power management device, arithmetic processing that requires less data for calculation from the regional power management device in order for the consumer power management device to perform arithmetic processing. A power management system configured to be assigned to the consumer power management device in preference to a computation process with a large amount of computation data. Consumer power provided for each consumer, comprising a first computer resource, and performing arithmetic processing required for power management of the consumer using the first computer resource to manage the power of the consumer A management device;
Existence of consumers that are provided so as to be able to transmit / receive to / from a plurality of consumer power management devices, have a second computer resource, and whose power is respectively managed by the plurality of consumer power management devices using the second computer resource In a regional power management apparatus provided in a power management system that includes a regional power management apparatus that performs arithmetic processing required for local power management and manages the power in the area,
A calculation margin acquisition means for acquiring calculation margin information that serves as an index of calculation processing margin in the first computer resource for each of the plurality of consumer power management devices;
A regional power management apparatus comprising: arithmetic processing allocation means for allocating a part of arithmetic processing necessary for power management in the region to at least one consumer power management device based on the arithmetic processing margin. Consumer power provided for each consumer, comprising a first computer resource, and performing arithmetic processing required for power management of the consumer using the first computer resource to manage the power of the consumer A management device;
Existence of consumers that are provided so as to be able to transmit / receive to / from a plurality of consumer power management devices, have a second computer resource, and whose power is respectively managed by the plurality of consumer power management devices using the second computer resource In a consumer power management device provided in a power management system that includes a regional power management device that performs arithmetic processing necessary for power management in a region and manages power in the region,
A calculation margin transmission means for transmitting calculation margin information serving as an index of calculation processing margin in the first computer resource to the regional power management device;
A consumer power management apparatus comprising: regional power management calculation processing means for executing a part of calculation processing necessary for power management in the area assigned by the regional power management apparatus.

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