JP2021136851A - Load control system, load control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate improvement of the adjustment power of a specific load.SOLUTION: A load control system 10 includes an acquisition unit 11 and a processing unit 12. The acquisition unit 11 acquires related information relevant to the control of specific load 31 from the specific load 31 that operates in accordance with its own control algorithm. The processing unit 12 executes a series of processing relevant to the control of the specific load 31 based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure generally relates to load control systems, load control methods, and programs. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to load control systems, load control methods, and programs that control specific loads that operate according to proprietary control algorithms.

Patent Document 1 discloses a photovoltaic power generation system that supplies electric power to an electric product by using the DC output of the photovoltaic power generation device. In this photovoltaic power generation system, a solar cell array and a battery are connected in parallel to an inverter. The inverter converts DC power from the solar cell array or battery into AC and outputs it to the power system via an interconnection switch.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-91049

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a load control system, a load control method, and a program in which the adjusting force of a specific load that operates according to a unique control algorithm can be easily improved.

The load control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit and a processing unit. The acquisition unit acquires related information regarding the control of the specific load from the specific load that operates according to the original control algorithm. The processing unit executes processing related to the control of the specific load based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit.

The load control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition step and a processing step. The acquisition step is a step of acquiring related information regarding the control of the specific load from a specific load that operates according to a unique control algorithm. The processing step is a step of executing a process related to the control of the specific load based on the related information acquired in the acquisition step.

The program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes one or more processors to execute the above load control method.

The present disclosure has an advantage that the adjusting force of a specific load that operates according to a unique control algorithm can be easily improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a load control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the first control of the load control system of the above. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation of the load control system of the comparative example. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the second control of the load control system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of control of the load control system of the above. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the load control system as described above.

(1) Overview As shown in FIG. 1, the load control system 10 according to the present embodiment is a system for controlling a specific load 31 installed in the facility 200. In other words, the load control system 10 is a system for controlling a specific load 31 provided at the responsibility demarcation point P1 (on the customer's facility side). In the present embodiment, the facility 200 is assumed to be a detached house, but it may be an apartment house or a non-residential facility such as a commercial facility, an office building, a factory, a school, or a hospital. ..

The "specific load" referred to in the present disclosure is a load that consumes electric power by operating and operates according to a unique control algorithm. That is, when controlling the specific load 31, the control command for the specific load 31 is executed in the category of the original control algorithm unless there is a means for countering the original control algorithm as described later. Therefore, when a control command exceeding the category of the original control algorithm is received, the specific load 31 does not execute the control according to the control command for the portion exceeding the category.

As shown in FIG. 1, the load control system 10 includes an acquisition unit 11 and a processing unit 12.

The acquisition unit 11 acquires related information regarding the control of the specific load 31 from the specific load 31 that operates according to the original control algorithm. The "related information" referred to in the present disclosure is, for example, the surplus capacity when the specific load 31 operates according to a unique control algorithm, that is, the allowable control amount of the specific load 31 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "allowable control amount"). May include. Further, the "related information" includes the control schedule of the specific load 31, the parameters representing the state of the specific load 31, and the operation history of the specific load 31 (for example, the history of the operation timing of the specific load 31 and the history of the stop timing). Etc. may be included.

The processing unit 12 executes processing related to the control of the specific load 31 based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit 11. The "process related to the control of the specific load" referred to in the present disclosure may include a control process for controlling the specific load 31, a process for generating a control command for the specific load 31, and the like. The control command may be a command on the premise that it does not have a means to counter the original control algorithm of the specific load 31, or a command on the premise that it has means to oppose it. You may.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the process related to the control of the specific load 31 is executed based on the related information acquired from the specific load 31. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, in accordance with the request from the electric power company for adjusting the supply and demand balance of the electric power system 8 (see FIG. 1), the electric power is consumed by the specific load 31 or the specific load 31. It becomes easy to stop the operation. As a result, the present embodiment has an advantage that the adjusting force of the specific load 31 that operates according to the original control algorithm can be easily improved.

(2) Details Hereinafter, the load control system 10 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the load control system 10 is realized by a controller 4 installed in each of a plurality of facilities 200. Each controller 4 is configured to be able to communicate with the power management system 100 via a network N1 such as the Internet.

Here, the power management system 100 is a system for managing the outputs of the plurality of distributed power sources 2 installed in the plurality of facilities 200, that is, the generated power of the plurality of distributed power sources 2. In the present embodiment, the distributed power source 2 is, for example, a photovoltaic power generation system. In addition to the photovoltaic power generation system, the distributed power source 2 may be a power generation system such as a fuel cell, or uses renewable energy other than solar power such as wind power, hydraulic power, geothermal power, and biomass. It may be a power generation system.

In this embodiment, the power management system 100 is a server device managed by an aggregator. The term "aggregator" as used in the present disclosure refers to a business operator that integrates and controls energy resources on the consumer side or distributed energy resources and provides energy services from VPP (Virtual Power Plant) or DR (Demand Response).

The "VPP" referred to in the present disclosure is a plurality of facilities 200 by integrally controlling a plurality of distributed power sources 2 installed in each of the plurality of facilities 200 by using IoT (Internet of Things) or the like. Is a mechanism that makes the function as if it were a virtual power plant.

The aggregator may include a resource aggregator and an aggregation coordinator. A resource aggregator is a business operator that directly concludes a service contract related to VPP with a customer to control resources. The aggregation coordinator is a business operator that bundles the amount of electric power controlled by the resource aggregator and directly conducts electric power transactions with electric power companies such as general power transmission and distribution business operators, retail electric power companies, and renewable energy power generation companies.

In the present embodiment, the resource aggregator manages the power management system 100, and the aggregation coordinator manages the host system 300 that sends a command to the power management system 100. The power management system 100 may be managed by an aggregation coordinator. For example, when the aggregation coordinator and the resource aggregator are the same, the aggregation coordinator may manage the power management system 100. Further, the host system 300 may be managed by an electric power company such as a general power transmission and distribution business operator, a retail electric power company, or a renewable energy power generation company.

The command sent by the host system 300 is a command to the VPP for the purpose of achieving, for example, achieving the same amount of planned values of the retail electric power company at the same time, or adjusting the supply-demand balance of the general power transmission and distribution business operator. As an example, the command sent by the host system 300 may include a lower DR that reduces (suppresses) the demand for electricity and an upward DR that increases (creates) the demand for electricity. The lower DR may include, for example, a command to reduce the output of the demand device 33 as the load 3 at the timing of the peak demand for electricity. In the raised DR, for example, the excess output of the electric power (renewable energy) output by the distributed power source 2 is consumed by operating the demand device 33 as the load 3, or the power storage equipment 32 as the load 3 is charged. May include commands to be absorbed by.

The "demand device" referred to in the present disclosure is a device that consumes electric power, for example, an electric device for home use. The demand equipment 33 may include, for example, a lighting fixture, an air conditioner, a television receiver, and the like. In the present embodiment, the demand device 33 as the load 3 is a device that can be directly or indirectly controlled by the power management system 100. Further, in the present embodiment, the power storage equipment 32 as the load 3 may include a battery mounted on an electric vehicle in addition to the power storage device permanently installed in the facility 200.

A distributed power source 2, a controller 4 (load control system 10), a power conversion system 5, a distribution board 6, and a smart meter 7 are installed in the facility 200. Further, in the facility 200, one or more loads 3 are installed. In the present embodiment, one or more specific loads 31, one or more power storage facilities 32, and one or more demand devices 33 (lighting fixtures in the example shown in FIG. 1) are installed as loads 3 in the facility 200. It is assumed that it has been done. The configuration of the load 3 may be different for each facility 200.

In the present embodiment, the specific load 31 is connected to the power system 8 via a distribution board 6 or the like, and basically operates by receiving the supply of commercial power from the power system 8. The specific load 31 is a hot water storage type electric water heater having a hot water storage tank for storing hot water and a heating device for heating the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and supplying hot water by the hot water in the hot water storage tank. The heating device is a heat pump type and is installed outdoors. Further, in the present embodiment, the power storage equipment 32 is a power storage device that is permanently installed in the facility 200.

The controller 4 is, for example, a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller. The controller 4 manages information such as the usage status and power consumption of the load 3 and the power conversion system 5 in the facility 200, and controls their operations. In the present embodiment, the controller 4 controls the load 3 and the power conversion system 5 according to a command based on the power generation plan received from the power management system 100. The "power generation plan" referred to in the present disclosure is a plan for each power generation of a plurality of distributed power sources 2 submitted to, for example, a higher-level system 300 of an electric power company or the like, and is a power system from the plurality of distributed power sources 2. Includes reverse power flow to 8. Further, the controller 4 has a communication interface for communicating with the power management system 100 installed outside the facility 200 via the network N1, and the power management system 100 and the power conversion system 5 are connected to each other. Relay communication.

The power conversion system 5 has, for example, a power conditioner, and controls a distributed power source 2 and a power storage facility 32. Specifically, the power conversion system 5 converts the DC power generated by the distributed power source 2 into AC power, and supplies the converted AC power to the demand equipment 33 via the distribution board 6 or the power system. It has a function of reverse power flow to 8. Further, the power conversion system 5 has a function of converting the DC power generated by the distributed power source 2 into a DC power having a predetermined size and charging the power storage facility 32 with the converted DC power. Further, the power conversion system 5 has a function of converting the DC power discharged by the power storage equipment 32 into AC power and supplying the converted AC power to the demand equipment 33 via the distribution board 6.

The load control system 10 includes an acquisition unit 11 and a processing unit 12. In the present embodiment, the load control system 10 (controller 4) targets a specific load 31 installed in the same facility 200. That is, the acquisition unit 11 and the processing unit 12 target the specific load 31 provided at the responsibility demarcation point P1 (on the consumer side) of one of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points P1.

In the present embodiment, the processing unit 12 mainly comprises a computer system having one or more processors and memories. Therefore, one or more processors function as the processing unit 12 by executing the program recorded in the memory. The program may be pre-recorded in a memory, provided through a telecommunication line such as the Internet, or may be recorded and provided on a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card.

The acquisition unit 11 has a communication interface for indirectly communicating with, for example, via a measurement adapter provided on the distribution board 6, or for directly communicating with the specific load 31. The acquisition unit 11 acquires related information regarding the control of the specific load 31 from the specific load 31. The acquisition unit 11 is the execution subject of the acquisition step ST1 (see FIG. 6), which will be described later. Specifically, the acquisition unit 11 identifies related information including parameters and the like measured by the specific load 31 by directly or indirectly communicating with the specific load 31 installed in the same facility 200. Obtained from load 31.

In the present embodiment, the specific load 31 is a hot water storage type electric water heater as described above. Therefore, the above parameters may include, for example, the amount of hot water used, the amount of hot water remaining in the hot water storage tank, the water temperature of the hot water, the outside air temperature of the facility 200, the boiling level, and the like. The "boiling level" referred to in the present disclosure is an index indicating how much hot water is boiled.

The processing unit 12 executes processing related to the control of the specific load 31 based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit 11. The processing unit 12 is the execution subject of the processing step ST2 (see FIG. 6) described later. Specifically, the processing unit 12 generates a control command for the specific load 31 based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit 11.

Here, when the allowable control amount can be acquired from the specific load 31, the processing unit 12 generates a control command for the specific load 31 based on the acquired allowable control amount. On the other hand, when the processing unit 12 cannot acquire the permissible control amount from the specific load 31, the processing unit 12 estimates the permissible control amount using the learned model machine-learned based on the operation history of the specific load 31, and the estimated permissible control. A control command for the specific load 31 may be generated based on the quantity. That is, the processing unit 12 has the specific load 31 based on the permissible control amount of the specific load 31 acquired by the acquisition unit 11 or based on the permissible control amount of the specific load 31 estimated by machine learning. Generate a control command to control.

The trained model may include, for example, a model such as SVM (Support Vector Machine), a model using a neural network, or a model generated by deep learning using a multi-layer neural network. The trained neural network may include, for example, CNN (Convolutional Neural Network), BNN (Bayesian Neural Network), RNN (Recurrent Neural Network), and the like.

Then, the processing unit 12 executes the control process for controlling the specific load 31 by giving the above-generated control command to the specific load 31. Here, in the present embodiment, the processing unit 12 can make the specific load 31 execute the control based on the control command in preference to the original control algorithm of the specific load 31. That is, the control process includes a process that opposes the unique control algorithm of the specific load 31. The processing unit 12 may be able to counter at least a part of the original control algorithm of the specific load 31, but may be able to counter all of them. That is, the processing unit 12 may have the authority to control the specific load 31.

The control of the load control system 10 will be listed below. In each of the controls shown below, in explaining the operation of the load control system 10, problems in the load control system of the comparative example will be described first. The load control system of the comparative example does not include the acquisition unit 11 and the processing unit 12, and simply gives a control command according to a request from the host system 300 to the specific load 31. Is different from.

<First control>
The specific load 31 is controlled to boil hot water using relatively inexpensive midnight electricity. On the other hand, for example, when a control command that consumes power during the day is received from the load control system of the comparative example, a part of the total amount of hot water that was planned to be boiled using midnight power is partly during the day. It may boil.

However, since the specific load 31 operates according to the original control algorithm as described above, the amount of hot water boiled during the day (in other words, the amount of electric power consumed during the day) can be calculated by the specific load 31 itself. It is determined. Therefore, for example, even when a control command for boiling hot water for 3 hours during the day is received from the load control system of the comparative example, if the amount of boiling hot water during the day determined in advance by the specific load 31 is 1 hour. , The problem that the above control command cannot be satisfied may occur.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 acquires related information from the specific load 31. Then, the processing unit 12 executes the processing related to the control of the specific load 31 based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit 11. Here, the processing unit 12 includes various parameters acquired from the specific load 31, the usage status of the electric power in the facility 200 owned by the controller 4, the predicted power generation amount of the distributed power source 2 (here, the photovoltaic power generation system), and the predicted power generation amount. Alternatively, the optimum control command to be executed by the specific load 31 is generated in consideration of the charging status of the power storage equipment 32 and the like.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to give a control command that can be executed by the specific load 31 to the specific load 31. For example, in the present embodiment, since the status of the specific load 31 can be grasped by acquiring various parameters from the specific load 31, the power consumption of the load 3 other than the specific load 31 can be accommodated during the daytime. It is possible to give a viable command to the specific load 31 to boil water for 1 hour. In this case, since the processing unit 12 gives a control command according to the original control algorithm of the specific load 31, it is not necessary to execute the control process against the original control algorithm.

Here, the specific load 31 has a determination standard for determining the target hot water amount and the minimum remaining hot water amount according to a unique control algorithm using the limited data possessed by the specific load 31. Then, in order to ensure safety and ensure quality, the specific load 31 itself may have the right to determine the final operation of the specific load 31. In such a case, even if the processing unit 12 gives a control command to the specific load 31, that is, even if the control command is proposed, the specific load 31 may not accept the given control command.

Therefore, the processing unit 12 may propose a plurality of control commands that the specific load 31 can execute for the specific load 31. In other words, the control process may include a process of proposing a plurality of control commands that can be executed by the specific load 31 with respect to the specific load 31. Specifically, the processing unit 12 acquires information on the operation mode and / or the determination standard from the specific load 31 via the acquisition unit 11. Then, the processing unit 12 generates a control command when the operation mode and / or the determination standard is changed based on the acquired information, and gives the generated control command to the specific load 31. Here, the processing unit 12 proposes a plurality of control commands as a result by repeating a series of steps of giving a control command to the specific load 31 and receiving a response to the given control command from the specific load 31 a plurality of times. May be good. Further, the processing unit 12 may collectively give a plurality of control commands to the specific load 31. In any case, the specific load 31 may determine which of the plurality of control commands is to be adopted.

Further, the processing unit 12 may instruct the specific load 31 to change the target value set by the specific load 31 to a predetermined value exceeding the target value. As an example, it is assumed that the target amount of hot water of the specific load 31 is 500 liters at 40 degrees Celsius, and a total of 5 hours of operation is required to achieve the target amount of hot water. In this case, assuming that hot water is used in the morning, the specific load 31 may shift 3 hours of the total operating time to the night time zone and the remaining 2 hours to the daytime time zone. It is possible, and may respond to the load control system 10. In this case, the processing unit 12 proposes to the specific load 31 to change the target amount of hot water to a predetermined value (for example, 700 liters) exceeding the target amount of hot water, so that the operation time in the daytime zone is set to 2 hours. It is also possible to increase from to 4 hours. As described above, in this aspect, it is possible to improve the power consumption efficiency at the specific load 31 and to contribute to the stabilization of the power system (8).

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the processing unit 12 can also control the specific load 31 against the original control algorithm of the specific load 31. Therefore, the processing unit 12 can give the specific load 31 a control command to boil hot water for 3 hours during the day, and forcibly execute the control command given to the specific load 31.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the first control of the load control system 10 of the present embodiment. Further, FIG. 3 shows an example of the operation of the load control system of the comparative example. Both FIGS. 2 and 3 show the operation of the specific load 31 during a predetermined period (here, from 0:00 to 18:00). In FIGS. 2 and 3, the alternate long and short dash line P10 is the actual power generation amount of the distributed power source 2 when the specific load 31 is not controlled and the demand amount (that is, the amount of power consumed by one or more loads 3). It represents the difference, that is, the amount of surplus power. Further, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dot region A1 represents a period during which the specific load 31 is boiling hot water. Further, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dot region A11 represents the period during which the specific load 31 is boiling hot water according to the original control algorithm, and the dot region A12 is the dot region A12 in which the specific load 31 is boiling hot water according to the control command. Represents the period of time.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the load control system of the comparative example, the ratio of the dot region A12 to the dot region A1 is small, and the amount of surplus power cannot be sufficiently consumed by the specific load 31. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the load control system 10 of the present embodiment, the ratio of the dot region A12 to the dot region A1 is large, and the specific load 31 sufficiently consumes the surplus electric power. Is done.

As described above, the present embodiment has the advantage that the surplus power amount of the power generation amount of the distributed power source 2 can be easily consumed by the specific load 31, and as a result, the adjustment power of the specific load 31 can be expected to be improved. There is.

<Second control>
As already described, the specific load 31 can boil a part of the total amount of hot water that was planned to be boiled by using midnight electricity in the daytime. As a result, the specific load 31 can correspond to the raised DR from the host system 300. However, in the control system of the comparative example, the specific load 31 can correspond to the raised DR received before the present time such as the previous day, but can correspond to the raised DR received in real time. However, there was a problem that it lacked responsiveness. Further, in the control system of the comparative example, there is a problem that the specific load 31 can cope with the raised DR but cannot cope with the lowered DR.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the specific load 31 is controlled by interrupting the original control algorithm of the specific load 31. That is, the control process includes a process of interrupting and countering the original control algorithm of the specific load 31. For example, the processing unit 12 can make the specific load 31 execute the control of boiling hot water even during the period when the specific load 31 is stopped according to the original control algorithm. Further, for example, the processing unit 12 can execute the control to stop the operation of the specific load 31 even during the period in which the specific load 31 is boiling hot water according to the original control algorithm.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the second control of the load control system 10 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the operation of the specific load 31 during a predetermined period (here, from 0:00 to 18:00). In FIG. 4, the alternate long and short dash line P10 is the difference between the actual power generation amount of the distributed power source 2 and the demand amount (that is, the amount of power consumed by one or more loads 3) when the specific load 31 is not controlled, that is, It represents the amount of surplus power. Further, in FIG. 4, the dot region represents a period during which the specific load 31 is boiling hot water.

As shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the specific load 31 executes the control of boiling hot water during the period from time t0 to t1. In this case, for example, if the amount of power generated by the distributed power source 2 temporarily decreases during the period t2 to t3, the host system 300 may request a reduced DR. Even in such a case, in the present embodiment, the processing unit 12 interrupts the original control algorithm of the specific load 31, and temporarily stops the specific load 31, so that the request for lower DR can be satisfied. ..

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the specific load 31 can be controlled in real time, there is an advantage that improvement in responsiveness can be expected. Further, in the present embodiment, since the specific load 31 can be temporarily stopped by interrupting the original control algorithm of the specific load 31, it is possible to satisfy the request for lower DR from the host system 300. There are advantages.

(3) Operation Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the load control system 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. After the power generation plan by the power management system 100 is started (S1), when the request (up DR or down DR) from the host system 300 is acquired (S2: Yes), the load control system 10 allows the specific load 31 to perform allowable control. It is determined whether or not the quantity can be obtained (S3).

When the allowable control amount can be acquired from the specific load 31 (S3: Yes), the processing unit 12 generates a control command based on the acquired allowable control amount, and gives the generated control command to the specific load 31. , Control the specific load 31 (S5).

On the other hand, when the permissible control amount cannot be obtained from the specific load 31 (S3: No), the processing unit 12 estimates the permissible control amount using the trained model (S4). Then, the processing unit 12 controls the specific load 31 by generating a control command based on the estimated allowable control amount and giving the generated control command to the specific load 31 (S5). Processes S3 and S4 correspond to acquisition step ST1, and process S5 corresponds to process step ST2. The processes S2 to S5 are appropriately executed until the power generation plan is completed (S6: Yes).

(4) Modified Example The above-described embodiment is only one of the various embodiments of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiment can be changed in various ways depending on the design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. Further, the same function as the load control system 10 may be realized by a (computer) program, a non-temporary recording medium on which the program is recorded, or the like, in addition to the load control method.

The load control method according to one aspect includes acquisition step ST1 and processing step ST2. The acquisition step ST1 is a step of acquiring related information regarding the control of the specific load 31 from the specific load 31 that operates according to the original control algorithm. The processing step ST2 is a step of executing the processing related to the control of the specific load 31 based on the related information acquired in the acquisition step ST1. The (computer) program according to one aspect causes one or more processors to execute the above load control method.

Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment will be listed. The modifications described below can be applied in combination as appropriate.

The load control system 10 in the present disclosure includes a computer system. The main configuration of a computer system is a processor and memory as hardware. When the processor executes the program recorded in the memory of the computer system, the function as the load control system 10 in the present disclosure is realized. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, may be provided through a telecommunications line, and may be recorded on a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card, optical disk, hard disk drive, etc. that can be read by the computer system. May be provided. A processor in a computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large scale integrated circuit (LSI). The integrated circuit such as IC or LSI referred to here has a different name depending on the degree of integration, and includes an integrated circuit called a system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Further, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or a logical device capable of reconfiguring the junction relationship inside the LSI or reconfiguring the circuit partition inside the LSI should also be adopted as a processor. Can be done. A plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated on one chip, or may be distributed on a plurality of chips. The plurality of chips may be integrated in one device, or may be distributed in a plurality of devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microprocessor having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microprocessor is also composed of one or a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

Further, it is not an essential configuration for the load control system 10 that a plurality of functions in the load control system 10 are integrated in one housing, and the components of the load control system 10 are dispersed in a plurality of housings. It may be provided. Further, at least a part of the functions of the load control system 10 may be realized by a cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the processing unit 12 may not have a function of generating a control command for the specific load 31. In this case, the processing unit 12 transmits, for example, the related information of the specific load 31 acquired by the acquisition unit 11 to the power management system 100, and receives the control command generated by the power management system 100 to receive the control command. May be given to the specific load 31.

In the above-described embodiment, the processing unit 12 may further refer to information other than the related information of the specific load 31 to execute the process related to the control of the specific load 31. The "information other than related information" referred to in the present disclosure is, for example, information on devices other than the specific load 31, information from the scheduler, weather forecast, power generation / demand forecast data, or family behavior forecast. May contain information. For example, the processing unit 12 may generate a control command by referring to the information necessary for generating the control command among the information held by the scheduler managed by each facility 200.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the load control system 10 (controller 4) not only acquires related information from the specific load 31 in the same facility 200, but also acquires the related information from the specific load 31 in the other facility 200 via the network N1. Related information may also be obtained from. That is, the specific load 31 is provided for each of the plurality of responsible demarcation points P1. Then, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire related information for each of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points P1.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the load control system 10 may be realized by the power management system 100 instead of the controller 4. That is, the specific load 31 is provided for each of the plurality of responsible demarcation points P1. Then, the acquisition unit 11 and the processing unit 12 may target the specific load 31 of each of the plurality of responsible demarcation points P1. In this case, the load control system 10 (power management system 100) can perform group control of a plurality of specific loads 31 as one group.

In the above aspect, the following control is also possible. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, under the jurisdiction of the load control system 10, in addition to the plurality of facilities 200, a public facility 201 having a power storage facility 32 and a vending machine 202 having a power storage facility 32 are included. Suppose that In this case, if the specific load 31 of any one facility 200 does not satisfy the request for the increase DR from the host system 300, the load control system 10 operates the specific load 31 of the other facility 200 to increase the DR. Can meet the demands of. Further, the load control system 10 can satisfy the request for raising DR by charging the power storage equipment 32 provided in the public facility 201 or the vending machine 202.

In the above-described embodiment, at two or more responsible demarcation points P1 among the plurality of responsible demarcation points P1, the specific load 31 may start operations at different timings from each other. For example, if the specific load 31 starts operating at the same time at each of the demarcation points P1, the power consumption may increase momentarily, which may affect the balance between supply and demand. On the other hand, in the above aspect, since the possibility that the specific load 31 starts operating at the same time is low, the power consumption amount is unlikely to increase momentarily, and the load applied to the power system 8 can be easily reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the specific load 31 is not limited to the hot water storage type electric water heater, but may be the power storage equipment 32. For example, in the power storage equipment 32, it is assumed that the upper limit value of SoC (State Of Charge) is set to 90% and the lower limit value is set to 10%, and charging / discharging is performed according to a unique control algorithm so as to satisfy this parameter. In this case, the processing unit 12 can change the upper limit value to 95% and the lower limit value to 5% by giving a control command to the power storage equipment 32. Further, the specific load 31 may be, for example, a power conversion system 5. In this case, the processing unit 12 can respond to, for example, a request for lower DR by giving the power conversion system 5 a control command for changing the target value of output suppression.

Further, the specific load 31 may be, for example, an air conditioning system. If it is a whole building air conditioning system, the air conditioning system operates according to a unique control algorithm that controls dampers provided in each room so that the detection temperature of the temperature sensor installed in each room becomes the set temperature. In such a case, the processing unit 12 can easily change the power consumption of the entire building air conditioning system by causing the entire building air conditioning system to operate rapidly or at a low speed in opposition to the above-mentioned original control algorithm. The effect (that is, it becomes easier to improve the adjustment power) can be expected.

Further, the specific load 31 may be, for example, a fuel cell. In this case, the processing unit 12 can respond to, for example, a request for lower DR by giving the fuel cell a control command for changing the operating time zone.

That is, the specific load 31 may be a device that operates according to a unique control algorithm, and may be a battery or the like mounted on an electric vehicle in addition to a power storage device that is constantly installed in the facility 200. For example, the specific load 31 may include any one of a heat pump type water heater, an electric water heater, a fuel cell, an air conditioning system, a power storage device, or a charger for an electric vehicle.

(summary)
As described above, the load control system (10) according to the first aspect includes an acquisition unit (11) and a processing unit (12). The acquisition unit (11) acquires related information regarding the control of the specific load (31) from the specific load (31) that operates according to the original control algorithm. The processing unit (12) executes processing related to the control of the specific load (31) based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit (11).

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that the adjusting force of the specific load (31) operating according to the original control algorithm can be easily improved.

In the load control system (10) according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the processing unit (12) further refers to information other than the related information and executes the process related to the control of the specific load (31). ..

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that an improvement in the adjusting power of the specific load (31) can be expected as compared with the case where information other than the related information is not referred to.

In the load control system (10) according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the processing unit (12) executes the control process for controlling the specific load (31). The control process includes a process that opposes the unique control algorithm of the specific load (31).

According to this aspect, since the specific load (31) can be forcibly controlled, there is an advantage that it is easy to secure the adjusting force of the specific load (31).

In the load control system (10) according to the fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the processing unit (12) has the authority to control the specific load (31).

According to this aspect, since the specific load (31) can be forcibly controlled, there is an advantage that it is easy to secure the adjusting force of the specific load (31).

In the load control system (10) according to the fifth aspect, in the third or fourth aspect, the control process includes a process of interrupting and countering the original control algorithm of the specific load (31).

According to this aspect, since the specific load (31) can be forcibly controlled, there is an advantage that it is easy to secure the adjusting force of the specific load (31).

In the load control system (10) according to the sixth aspect, in the third aspect, the control process is a process of proposing a plurality of control commands that can be executed by the specific load (31) with respect to the specific load (31). including.

According to this aspect, since the specific load (31) selects and controls from a plurality of control commands that can be executed, the specific load (31) is compared with the case where the original control algorithm of the specific load (31) is forcibly changed. It has the advantage that control errors are less likely to occur.

In the load control system (10) according to the seventh aspect, in any of the third to sixth aspects, the processing unit (12) sets the target value set by the specific load (31) as the target value. Instruct the specific load (31) to change to a predetermined value that exceeds the value.

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that an improvement in the adjusting power of the specific load (31) can be expected as compared with the case where the specific load (31) is controlled according to the target value.

In the load control system (10) according to the eighth aspect, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the specific load (31) is a heat pump type water heater, an electric water heater, a fuel cell, an air conditioning system, a storage battery, and the like. Alternatively, it includes any one of the chargers for electric vehicles.

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that it is easy to secure the adjusting force of the specific load (31).

In the load control system (10) according to the ninth aspect, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the specific load (31) is provided for each of a plurality of responsibility demarcation points (P1). The acquisition unit (11) acquires related information for each of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points (P1).

According to this aspect, not only the related information at the responsible demarcation point (P1) to which the load control system (10) belongs but also the related information at the other responsible demarcation point (P1) can be referred to, so that the specific load can be referred to. There is an advantage that the adjusting power of (31) can be further improved.

In the load control system (10) according to the tenth aspect, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the acquisition unit (11) and the processing unit (12) are among the plurality of responsibility demarcation points (P1). The specific load (31) provided at one responsibility demarcation point (P1) is targeted.

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that the specific load (31) provided at one responsibility demarcation point (P1) can be individually controlled.

In the load control system (10) according to the eleventh aspect, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the specific load (31) is provided for each of a plurality of responsibility demarcation points (P1). The acquisition unit (11) and the processing unit (12) target each specific load (31) of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points (P1).

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that the specific load (31) provided at each of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points (P1) can be bundled and controlled.

In the load control system (10) according to the twelfth aspect, in the eleventh aspect, the specific load (31) is different from each other at two or more responsibility demarcation points (P1) among the plurality of responsibility demarcation points (P1). The operation starts at the timing.

According to this aspect, it is easy to suppress fluctuations in power consumption caused by a plurality of specific loads (31) starting operations at the same time, in other words, it is easy to reduce the load applied to the power system (8). There are advantages.

In the load control system (10) according to the thirteenth aspect, in any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the processing unit (12) allows the specific load (31) acquired by the acquisition unit (11). A control command for controlling the specific load (31) is generated based on the control amount to be controlled or based on the allowable control amount of the specific load (31) estimated by machine learning.

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that the specific load (31) can be easily controlled without interfering with the original control algorithm of the specific load (31).

The load control method according to the fourteenth aspect includes an acquisition step (ST1) and a processing step (ST2). The acquisition step (ST1) is a step of acquiring related information regarding the control of the specific load (31) from the specific load (31) that operates according to the original control algorithm. The processing step (ST2) is a step of executing a process related to the control of the specific load (31) based on the related information acquired in the acquisition step (ST1).

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that the adjusting force of the specific load (31) operating according to the original control algorithm can be easily improved.

The program according to the fifteenth aspect causes one or more processors to execute the load control method according to the fourteenth aspect.

According to this aspect, there is an advantage that the adjusting force of the specific load (31) operating according to the original control algorithm can be easily improved.

The configurations according to the second to thirteenth aspects are not essential configurations for the load control system (10) and can be omitted as appropriate.

10 Load control system 11 Acquisition unit 12 Processing unit 31 Specific load P1 Responsibility demarcation point ST1 Acquisition step ST2 Processing step

Claims (15)

An acquisition unit that acquires related information related to the control of the specific load from a specific load that operates according to a unique control algorithm.
A processing unit that executes processing related to control of the specific load based on the related information acquired by the acquisition unit is provided.
Load control system. The processing unit further refers to information other than the related information and executes processing related to the control of the specific load.
The load control system according to claim 1. The processing unit executes a control process for controlling the specific load,
The control process includes a process that opposes the unique control algorithm of the specific load.
The load control system according to claim 1 or 2. The processing unit has the authority to control the specific load.
The load control system according to claim 3. The control process includes a process of interrupting and countering the unique control algorithm of the specific load.
The load control system according to claim 3 or 4. The control process includes a process of proposing a plurality of control commands that can be executed by the specific load with respect to the specific load.
The load control system according to claim 3. The processing unit instructs the specific load to change the target value set in the specific load to a predetermined value exceeding the target value.
The load control system according to any one of claims 3 to 6. The specific load includes any one of a heat pump water heater, an electric water heater, a fuel cell, an air conditioning system, a storage battery, or a charger for an electric vehicle.
The load control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The specific load is provided for each of a plurality of responsibility demarcation points.
The acquisition unit acquires the related information for each of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points.
The load control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The acquisition unit and the processing unit target the specific load provided at one of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points.
The load control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The specific load is provided for each of a plurality of responsibility demarcation points.
The acquisition unit and the processing unit target the specific load of each of the plurality of responsibility demarcation points.
The load control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. At two or more responsibility demarcation points among the plurality of responsibility demarcation points, the specific load starts operation at different timings from each other.
The load control system according to claim 11. The processing unit controls the specific load based on the permissible control amount of the specific load acquired by the acquisition unit or based on the permissible control amount of the specific load estimated by machine learning. Generate control commands to
The load control system according to any one of claims 1 to 12. An acquisition step of acquiring related information regarding the control of the specific load from a specific load that operates according to a unique control algorithm, and
It has a processing step of executing a process related to control of the specific load based on the related information acquired in the acquisition step.
Load control method. For one or more processors
The load control method according to claim 14 is executed.
program.

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