JP2023180020A - energy management system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an energy management system capable of reducing the number of power line communication devices.SOLUTION: An energy management system 100 includes a power converter 1 provided between an AC cable run W10 and a DC cable run W20, and a bridge circuit 10 that connects the AC cable run W10 and the DC cable run W20 in parallel with the power converter 1. A first power line communication device 2 and a second power line communication device 7 perform power line communication via the bridge circuit 10. In this way, by enabling power line communication between the first power line communication device 2 on the AC cable run W10 side and the second power line communication device 7 on the DC cable run W20 side, it is possible to provide a power line communication device (master unit 4) that comprehensively manages the AC cable run W10 side and the DC cable run W20 side. Therefore, there is no need to provide a power line communication device for management on each of the AC power cable run W10 side and the DC power cable run W20 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an energy management system.

Conventionally, energy management includes a measuring device that measures the power generation amount of a solar panel, a lower power line communication device that monitors the measuring device, and an upper power line communication device that receives monitoring results from the lower power line communication device through power line communication. A system has been known (for example, see Patent Document 1). These measuring instruments, lower power line communication device, and upper power line communication device are provided in a DC power path through which DC power flows.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-205078

Here, the energy management system also includes a DC line through which DC power flows. The DC line is also provided with a lower power line communication device that monitors or controls the DC equipment. Since the upper power line communication device on the AC power line side cannot perform power line communication with the lower power line communication device on the DC power line side, it was necessary to provide a higher power line communication device on both the AC power line and the DC power line. Therefore, there was a problem in that the number of power line communication devices increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide an energy management system that can reduce the number of power line communication devices.

The energy management system according to the present invention includes an AC line through which AC power flows, a DC line through which DC power flows, a power converter provided between the AC line and the DC line, and a first power converter provided in the AC line. A first power line communication device comprising a power line communication device, a second power line communication device provided in a DC power line, and a bridge circuit connecting the AC power line and the DC power path in parallel with the power converter. and a second power line communication device perform power line communication via a bridge circuit.

The energy management system according to the present invention includes a power converter provided between an AC line and a DC line, and a bridge circuit that connects the AC line and the DC line in parallel with the power converter. Further, the first power line communication device and the second power line communication device perform power line communication via a bridge circuit. In this way, by enabling power line communication between the first power line communication device on the AC power line side and the second power line communication device on the DC power line side, it is possible to comprehensively manage the AC power line side and the DC power line side. A power line communication device can be provided. Therefore, there is no need to provide a power line communication device for management on each of the AC line side and the DC line side. As described above, the number of power line communication devices can be reduced.

As a first power line communication device, it has a base unit and a first slave unit that monitors and controls at least one of AC equipment installed in an AC power line, and as a second power line communication device, it has a base unit installed in a DC power line. The base unit may include a second slave unit that monitors and/or controls the DC equipment connected to the base unit, and the base unit may perform power line communication with the first slave unit and the second slave unit. In this case, the master unit can comprehensively manage the first slave unit on the AC line side and the second slave unit on the DC line side.

The DC line is provided with a plurality of solar panels and a plurality of measuring instruments that measure the amount of power generated by each solar panel, and has a master device as a first power line communication device, and a second power line communication device. The master device may have a child device that acquires the measurement results of a plurality of measuring devices as a device, and the parent device may aggregate the measurement results of each measuring device from the child device through power line communication. In this case, the parent device on the AC line side can manage the amount of power generated by the large number of solar panels on the DC line side.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an energy management system that can reduce the number of power line communication devices.

1 is a block configuration diagram showing an energy management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(a) is a block diagram of the slave unit, and FIG. 2(b) is a block diagram of the base unit. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a bridge circuit. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an example of an energy management system. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an example of an energy management system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an energy management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the energy management system 100 is a system that manages energy within a managed area that includes predetermined equipment. Energy management system 100 includes an AC line W10, a DC line W20, and a power converter 1. The AC line W10 is an electric line through which AC power flows. The DC circuit W20 is a circuit through which DC power flows. Further, the power converter 1 is a device that is provided between the AC line W10 and the DC line W20 and performs power conversion. The power converter 1 converts DC power into AC power, and converts AC power into DC power.

The energy management system 100 includes a first power line communication device 2 provided in an AC power line W10 and an AC device 3. The AC device 3 is a device that operates using AC power. The AC equipment 3 is, for example, a lighting device or an air conditioner. Power converter 1 and AC device 3 are connected via electric line W11. The energy management system 100 includes a base unit 4 as a first power line communication device 2 and a slave unit 6 (first slave unit). The master device 4 is a device that manages slave devices within the energy management system 100. The main unit 4 is connected to an electric line W12 branched from an electric line W11. The handset 6 is a device that monitors and/or controls the AC device 3 . The slave unit 6 is connected to an electric line W13 branched from the electric line W11.

The energy management system 100 includes a second power line communication device 7 provided in the DC circuit W20 and a DC device 8. The DC device 8 is a device that supplies DC power or a device that operates using DC power. Power converter 1 and DC device 8 are connected via electric line W21. The energy management system 100 includes a slave unit 9 (second slave unit) as the second power line communication device 7. The slave device 9 is a device that monitors and/or controls the DC device 8 . The slave unit 9 is connected to an electric line W22 branched from the electric line W21.

Here, within the energy management system 100, information is transmitted between devices by power line communication (PLC communication). Power line communication is, for example, a method of communicating using power lines by superimposing a communication signal of a frequency different from the commercial frequency on a power waveform of a commercial frequency and transmitting the same, and separating and receiving a communication signal of a different frequency from this power waveform. It is a communication method that sends and receives signals. Note that power line communication may be subject to the Radio Law depending on its frequency band. However, the energy management system 100 according to the present embodiment can be used both indoors and outdoors, and may use power line communication in a frequency band of 100 KHz to 450 KHz, for example, in order to achieve a certain amount of data transfer. However, power line communication in a frequency band higher or lower than that can also be used. For example, the frequency band may be 10 KHz or less, or may be 2 MHz or more. Further, when power line communication in a frequency band of 100 KHz to 450 KHz is used, the modulation method is not particularly limited, and an OFDM method or a DCSK method may be adopted. The main purpose of the power line in the AC power line W10 is wiring for supplying AC power at a commercial frequency, and serves as a transmission path for power line communication. Specifically, power line communication is performed between the slave unit 6 and the base unit 4. In power line communication, a communication signal can be superimposed on an AC power line W10 such as AC100V or AC200V. A communication signal from the handset 6 is sent to the base unit 4 via the electric line W13, the electric line W11, and the electric line W12. The communication signal from the master unit 4 is sent to the slave unit 6 via the electric line W12, the electric line W11, and the electric line W13.

Furthermore, in power line communication, communication signals can be superimposed on the DC line W20 as well as in the case of AC. Specifically, by using the bridge circuit 10, power line communication is performed between the slave unit 9 and the base unit 4. Energy management system 100 includes a bridge circuit 10 that connects AC line W10 and DC line W20 in parallel with power converter 1. Bridge circuit 10 is connected to electric line W31 that branches from electric line W11 near power converter 1. Further, the bridge circuit 10 is connected to an electric line W32 that branches from the electric line W21 near the power converter 1. Thereby, the bridge circuit 10 connects the AC circuit W10 and the DC circuit W20 via the circuits W31 and W32 while straddling the power converter 1. The first power line communication device 2 and the second power line communication device 7 perform power line communication via the bridge circuit 10. Specifically, the communication signal from the slave unit 9 is sent to the base unit 4 via the electric line W22, the electric line W21, the electric line W32, the bridge circuit 10, the electric line W31, the electric line W11, and the electric line W12. The communication signal from the main unit 4 is sent to the slave unit 9 via the electric line W12, the electric line W11, the electric line W31, the bridge circuit 10, the electric line W32, the electric line W21, and the electric line W22.

Referring to FIG. 2(a), detailed block configurations of the handsets 6 and 9 will be described. The handsets 6 and 9 include a communication section 11, a processing section 12, and a storage section 13. The communication unit 11 is a unit that communicates with the base unit 4 and electrical equipment (AC equipment 3 or DC equipment 8). The communication unit 11 includes a circuit that receives signals from electrical equipment. Further, the communication unit 11 includes a circuit for converting a signal from an electric device into a signal for power line communication to the base unit 4. The processing unit 12 is a unit that performs at least one of monitoring and controlling electrical equipment. The processing unit 12 includes a microprocessor, its peripheral circuits, and the like.

The storage unit 13 is a unit that stores programs necessary for processing at least one of monitoring and controlling electrical equipment, information necessary for operation, and the like. The storage unit 13 includes, for example, a non-volatile memory element such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a rewritable non-volatile memory element such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and a working memory such as a RAM ( Random It is configured with a volatile storage element such as Access Memory. For example, the storage unit 13 stores an address indicating the location of an electrical device within the energy management system 100.

The detailed block configuration of the base unit 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 2(b). Base device 4 includes a communication section 21, a processing section 22, and a storage section 23. The communication section 21 is a unit that communicates with the handsets 6 and 9. The communication unit 21 includes a circuit that performs power line communication with the handsets 6 and 9. Further, the communication unit 21 includes a circuit that performs remote communication with an external communication device using the cloud. That is, the communication unit 21 of the base unit 4 includes a PLC communication unit that is in charge of power line communication with the slave units 6 and 9, and a wireless communication unit such as LTE that is in charge of network communication with the cloud side. The processing section 22 is a unit that controls the overall operation of the base device 4 . The processing unit 22 includes a microprocessor, its peripheral circuits, and the like. The processing unit 22 calculates control information for controlling ON/OFF switching of each lighting and air conditioner, adjustment of output strength, and the like.

The storage unit 23 is a unit that stores programs necessary for the operation of the base unit 4, information necessary for the operation, and the like. The storage unit 23 may include a storage element similar to that exemplified in the storage unit 13. For example, the storage unit 23 stores addresses indicating the positions of the base unit 4 and each of the slave units 6 and 9 in the energy management system 100 in a state where they are linked to each other.

A detailed block configuration of the bridge circuit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The bridge circuit 10 includes a high-pass filter 31A and a high-pass filter 31B. The high-pass filter 31A extracts only the power line communication signal from the AC power on which the power line communication signal flowing from the AC line W10 via the line W31 is superimposed, and sends it to the DC line W20 via the line W32. The high-pass filter 31A is composed of a device 32A composed of a transformer and a circuit. The high-pass filter 31B extracts only the power line communication signal from the DC power superimposed with the power line communication signal flowing from the DC line W20 via the line W32, and sends it to the AC line W10 via the line W31. The high-pass filter 31B is composed of a device 32B composed of a transformer and a circuit. The device 32A is connected to the electric line W31. Device 32B is connected to electric line W32. The device 32A and the device 32B are connected via an electric line W33. Note that there is no structural difference between the high-pass filter 31A and the high-pass filter 31B, and the bridge circuit 10 functions even if the AC side and the DC side are reversed. The cutoff frequency of the bridge circuit 10 is set to a commercial frequency of 50 Hz, 60 Hz or higher, and lower than the PLC usage frequency (for example, 10 KHz or lower in the case of a low-speed PLC).

A specific usage example of the energy management system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The DC circuit W20 of the energy management system 100 is provided with a plurality of solar panels 40 as the DC equipment 8 and a plurality of measuring instruments 41 that measure the amount of power generated by each solar panel 40. Each solar panel 40 is connected to an electric line W23 branched from an electric line W21. Each measuring device 41 is provided in an electric line W23 corresponding to each solar panel 40. The measuring device 41 can measure the amount of power generated by the solar panel 40 on a string-by-string basis.

The slave unit 9 acquires measurement results from the plurality of measuring instruments 41 . The slave unit 9 is connected to all the measuring instruments 41 via electric wires W30. The slave unit 9 and the plurality of measuring instruments 41 are housed together in a junction box 42 . The slave unit 9 transmits the acquired measurement results to the base unit 4 through power line communication. Thereby, the base unit 4 aggregates the measurement results of each measuring device 41 from the slave unit 9 through power line communication. Furthermore, the master device 4 transmits the total results to the cloud CD. This allows the user to check the amount of power generated by the solar panel 40 on the web screen.

As shown in FIG. 5, the energy management system 100 may include a plurality of power converters 1. For example, when a plurality of connection boxes 42 are provided in parallel on the DC circuit W20 side, the power converter 1 is provided for each connection box 42. In this case, one base unit 4 provided on the AC line W10 side may be provided for multiple sets of slave units 9 and power converters 1. In this case, the measurement results from all slave units 9 can be aggregated by one base unit 4. In this case, one bridge circuit 10 is provided for one power converter 1.

Next, the functions and effects of the energy management system 100 according to this embodiment will be explained.

The energy management system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a power converter 1 provided between an AC line W10 and a DC line W20, and a connection between the AC line W10 and the DC line W20 in parallel with the power converter 1. A bridge circuit 10 is provided. Further, the first power line communication device 2 and the second power line communication device 7 perform power line communication via the bridge circuit 10. In this way, by enabling power line communication between the first power line communication device 2 on the AC power line W10 side and the second power line communication device 7 on the DC power line W20 side, the AC power line W10 side and the DC power line communication A power line communication device (base unit 4) can be provided that comprehensively manages the W20 side. Therefore, there is no need to provide a power line communication device for management on each of the AC power line W10 side and the DC power line W20 side. As described above, the number of power line communication devices can be reduced.

As a comparative example, an energy management system will be described in which a plurality of power converters 1 are provided as shown in FIG. 5, but the bridge circuit 10 is not provided. In this case, in addition to the base unit 4 on the AC line W10 side, one base unit is separately required for one power converter 1 on the DC line W20 side. Alternatively, electrical circuit construction will be required to bridge the DC electrical circuit of another system. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the measurement results from the plurality of child devices 9 on the side of the DC line W20 can also be aggregated by one base unit 4 on the side of the AC line W10. In this way, electrical circuit work is not required, and one base unit 4 can be used for a plurality of power converters 1.

The first power line communication device 2 includes a base unit 4 and a slave unit 6 (first slave unit) that monitors and/or controls at least one of the AC equipment 3 provided on the AC power line W10. As the power line communication device 7, it has a slave unit 9 (second slave unit) that monitors and/or controls the DC equipment 8 provided in the DC circuit W20, and the base unit 4 is connected to the slave unit 6 and the slave unit. You may perform power line communication with 9. In this case, the base unit 4 can comprehensively manage the slave unit 6 on the AC line W10 side and the slave unit 9 on the DC line W20 side.

The DC line W20 is provided with a plurality of solar panels 40 and a plurality of measuring instruments 41 that measure the amount of power generated by each of the solar panels 40, and has a base unit 4 as the first power line communication device 2. , as the second power line communication device 7, has a slave device 9 that acquires the measurement results of a plurality of measuring devices 41, and the base device 4 aggregates the measurement results of each measuring device 41 from the slave device 9 through power line communication. You may do so. In this case, the base device 4 on the side of the AC line W10 can manage the amount of power generated by the large number of solar panels 40 on the side of the DC line W20.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the energy management system 100 has one base unit, but may have multiple base units as necessary. Further, the number of child devices in both the AC circuit W10 and the DC circuit W20 is not particularly limited.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Power converter, 2... First power line communication device, 3... AC device, 4... Base device, 6... Child device, 7... Second power line communication device, 8... DC device, 9... Child device, 10 ...Bridge circuit, 40...Solar panel, 41...Measuring instrument, 100...Energy management system.

Claims (3)

An AC line through which AC power flows,
A DC circuit through which DC power flows,
a power converter provided between the AC line and the DC line;
a first power line communication device provided in the AC power line;
a second power line communication device provided in the DC circuit;
a bridge circuit that connects the AC line and the DC line in parallel with the power converter,
An energy management system in which the first power line communication device and the second power line communication device perform power line communication via the bridge circuit. The first power line communication device includes a parent device and a first slave device that monitors and controls at least one of AC equipment provided on the AC power line,
The second power line communication device includes a second slave device that performs at least one of monitoring and controlling a DC device installed in the DC circuit,
The energy management system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit performs power line communication with the first slave unit and the second slave unit. The DC circuit is provided with a plurality of solar panels and a plurality of measuring instruments that measure the amount of power generated by each of the solar panels,
The first power line communication device includes a base unit,
The second power line communication device includes a slave device that acquires measurement results of the plurality of measuring devices;
3. The energy management system according to claim 1, wherein the parent device aggregates the measurement results of each measuring device from the slave device through power line communication.

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