JP6544685B2 - Control device, control method and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to demand response (DR) for adjusting power demand in a facility of a customer, and more particularly to a control device, control method and control program for controlling an air conditioner in response to a DR command.

  HEMS (Home Energy Management System) is known as a technology of management of energy (electric power etc.) in a house. In the HEMS, the HEMS controller controls an HEMS device (for example, an air conditioner, a power storage device, etc.) in a house via, for example, a HAN (Home Area Network) in order to suppress power consumption. In addition, against the background of the development of power management technology in housing and other customers, in the time when the power supply and demand is tight, in response to reductions in power rates and other benefits (rewards), in exchange for power consumption (consumption) in customers Various related systems have been developed. For example, there is known a power supply and demand operation management system that defines a table of annual control content based on costs etc. and performs setting control of the set temperature of the air conditioner (air conditioner) for each time zone based on the table Patent Document 1). According to this power supply and demand operation management system, the air conditioner is set or turned off at a temperature prescribed in advance for each time zone.

JP, 2010-166636, A

  In the power supply and demand operation management system of Patent Document 1, the set temperature of the air conditioner is set to a predetermined temperature based on the table of annual control content, but in view of the situation of the customer (user of the air conditioner) It is not always possible to set the set temperature of the air conditioner properly.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a control device capable of performing appropriate control according to the user's situation when performing setting control of the set temperature of the air conditioner in order to suppress the use of power when power supply and demand is tight. To aim. Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method and control program used in this control device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a control device according to an aspect of the present invention is a control device that controls an air conditioner having a function of performing temperature control with a target temperature set as a target, and DR (demand) Response) a receiving unit for receiving DR information indicating a period, and a control period from the start to the end of the DR period indicated by the DR information received by the receiving unit; The determination unit determines whether the result of comparison with the value satisfies a predetermined condition, and the set temperature of the air conditioner is determined to a predetermined value when the determination unit determines that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition. And a control unit that does not change the set temperature of the air conditioner when it is determined that the result of the comparison does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

  Further, in order to achieve the above object, a control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a control method used in a control device that controls an air conditioner having a function of adjusting a temperature to a set temperature as a target. Receiving the DR information indicating a DR (demand response) period for requesting reduction, and the control period from the start to the end of the DR period indicated by the DR information received in the receiving step; A determination step of determining whether a result of comparison between a preset temperature of the device and a predetermined reference value satisfies a predetermined condition, and the air conditioning when it is determined in the determination step that a result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition. The set temperature of the air conditioner is not changed when the set temperature of the device is changed to a predetermined value and it is determined that the result of the comparison does not satisfy the predetermined condition. And a control step.

  In addition, in order to achieve the above object, a control program according to an aspect of the present invention executes a predetermined control process in a control device that controls an air conditioner that has a processor and has a function of adjusting temperature with a set temperature as a target. A control program for causing the predetermined control process to receive DR information indicating a DR (demand response) period for requesting reduction of power consumption, and the DR information received in the reception step A determination step of determining whether a result obtained by comparing the set temperature of the air conditioner with a predetermined reference value satisfies a predetermined condition in a control period from the start to the end of the DR period shown; When it is determined that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to a predetermined value, and the result of the comparison indicates the predetermined condition Not change the setting temperature of the air-conditioning equipment when it is determined not to satisfy the, and a control step.

  A control device and a control method according to an aspect of the present invention realize appropriate control of an air conditioner in accordance with the situation of the user who uses the air conditioner (the situation of the user appearing in the set temperature of the air conditioner). In addition, when the control program according to one aspect of the present invention is executed, appropriate control of the air conditioner is realized according to the situation of the user.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the power management system containing the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of a control apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of a server apparatus and a control device. It is a figure which shows the example of the data which a high-order server apparatus transmits. It is a figure which shows the structure and content example of DR information. It is a figure which illustrates the composition of apparatus registration information which a control device uses. It is a figure which illustrates the composition of the information for control contents specification which a control device uses. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a server apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing by a control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows specific processing of control content of an air conditioner (air conditioner). It is a flow chart which shows air-conditioner control processing. It is a flow chart which shows air-conditioner control processing concerning a modification.

Embodiment 1
Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Each embodiment shown here shows one specific example of the present invention. Accordingly, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement and connection forms of the components, and the order of steps (steps) and steps etc. shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and limit the present invention. is not. Among the components in the following embodiments, components not described in the independent claims are components that can be added arbitrarily. Further, each drawing is a schematic view, and is not necessarily illustrated exactly.

  Hereinafter, a power management system including a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a power management system 10 according to an embodiment. The power management system 10 is a system for transmitting and controlling information related to demand response (DR). As shown in the figure, the power management system 10 includes a host server device 20, server devices 200a and 200b, and control devices (DR controllers) 100a to 100e for each of a plurality of facilities 11a to 11e in a certain area. Configured

  The upper-level server device 20 is a computer that is operated, for example, by a power company, a DR aggregator, an information service provider, etc., and distributes DR information for transmitting a DR command.

  The server devices 200a and 200b are provided, for example, corresponding to each of a plurality of facilities (for example, every building such as an apartment). A computer (for example, HEMS) that relays and distributes the DR information to each control device of a plurality of facilities (for example, each dwelling unit in an apartment complex such as an apartment) by receiving the DR information from the upper server device 20 Server). Transmission of DR information between each device is performed via a wired or wireless communication network.

  With the power management system 10, the electric power company, the DR aggregator, etc. request the DR command which is a request to suppress the use (consumption) of electric power in a plurality of facilities as a group of electric power consumers at the time when the power demand peaks. , DR information can be transmitted. The DR command is performed by specifying a demand response (DR) period for suppressing the use of power. For example, upon receiving an instruction from a power company, a DR aggregator, or the like, the upper-level server device 20 distributes DR information indicating a DR command specifying a DR period to each of the server devices 200a and 200b in advance of the DR period. . The DR period is the time when the tightness of power supply and demand is expected (such as the peak time of power demand). Note that the upper-level server device 20 may communicate with an external device operated by a power company or a DR aggregator, for example, and may receive a transmission instruction relating to a DR command via the external device, or an input operation etc. May receive the instruction.

  The control devices 100a to 100e are, for example, computers installed in facilities 11a to 11e (for example, dwelling units, individual houses or the like) of persons (residents or the like) who previously made a contract with, for example, a power company or a DR aggregator. The control devices 100a to 100e, for example, have a function as a HEMS controller, can communicate with various devices 30a, 30b and the like (for example, air conditioners) in the facility by HAN, and can control these devices. Each of the facilities 11a to 11e receives supply of grid power (commercial power) from a power company or the like, and consumes power by various devices in the facility.

  The devices 30a and 30b are representative of the devices installed in the facility 11a for convenience of explanation, and the devices include, for example, an air conditioner (air conditioner), a television receiver (television), a lighting device, It is a power storage device or the like. In order to respond to the DR command in the power management system 10, it is useful to control devices that are assumed to have a relatively large reduction in power usage, but devices that are assumed to have a large reduction May be controlled. Similar to the facility 11a, various devices are installed in the other facilities 11b to 11e and the like.

  Although FIG. 1 shows five control devices 100a to 100e of facilities 11a to 11e for convenience of explanation, in operation of the power management system 10, the server devices 200a and 200b communicate with control devices of more facilities. It can. Also, the upper server device 20 can communicate with more server devices.

  FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of the control device 100a.

  The control device 100a is a computer including a processor 101, a memory 102, a communication interface (I / F) 103, and an input device 104 as shown in FIG. The memory 102 is a ROM that holds programs and data in advance, a RAM for storing data etc. when the program is executed, and may include, for example, a non-volatile memory. The processor 101 executes, for example, a control program stored in the memory 102 to control, for example, the communication I / F 103 and perform various processes. The communication I / F 103 wirelessly or wiredly communicates with devices (devices 30a, 30b, etc.) in the facility 11a via HAN, and communicates with the server device 200a via a wide area network or a dedicated network. It is a communication circuit. The input device 104 is a device serving as a user interface such as a keyboard, a pointing device, and a touch panel, and receives an operation of a user who is a person (administrator, resident, etc.) of a facility. Note that the input device 104 may be configured to receive a touch operation by the user, as well as a voice operation and a remote operation by a remote control or the like. Further, the control device 100a may include a display device such as a display. In addition, the control device 100a has a content server function (for example, a web server function), receives an access from a browser of an external device (for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, etc.) and transmits information to transmit information to the browser. May be displayed, and information input via the browser may be received. In this case, the external device can substitute for the display and input device 104 for the control device 100a. In addition to the memory, the control device 100a may be provided with an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk device to use for storing data. The control devices 100b to 100e also have the same configuration as the control device 100a.

  The server devices 200a and 200b may have the same hardware configuration as the control device 100a, but may not include the input device 104.

  Hereinafter, each functional component of the server apparatus 200a and the control apparatus 100a installed in the facility 11a will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the server device 200a and the control device 100a. In addition, the apparatus which can be controlled by the control apparatus 100a is also attached to the same figure.

  The server device 200a includes a receiver 210 and a transmitter 220 as functional components as shown in FIG.

  The receiving unit 210 adds identification information (for example, a code predetermined for each building such as an apartment or a code determined for each control device) for specifying a facility to which the upper server device 20 is to be a distribution destination. And the function of receiving the DR information transmitted. The receiving unit 210 is realized by a processor that executes a program and a communication I / F. The identification information attached to the DR information related to the DR command issued by the electric power company, the DR aggregator, etc. is determined to correspond to the area, the building, etc. to be the target of the DR command. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of data transmitted by the upper server apparatus 20 and received by the receiving unit 210.

  The transmitting unit 220 identifies the control device of each of the plurality of facilities, which is the transmission destination of the DR information based on the identification information received by the receiving unit 210, and is received by the receiving unit 210 for the identified control device. Has a function of transmitting (distributing) DR information. The transmission unit 220 is realized by a processor that executes a program and a communication I / F. In the server apparatus 200a, for example, based on a predetermined correspondence table or the like indicating the correspondence between the identification information and the control apparatus of the facility, the control apparatus of the transmission destination (for example, the device code of the control apparatus or the IP address) Is identified. Of all the control devices constituting the power management system 10, DR information may be distributed to some of the control devices based on the identification information, and the control devices need not necessarily be individually identified by the identification information. For example, the server device 200a may broadcast the DR information to a group of control devices for each dwelling unit connected to the LAN (Local Area Network) of the housing complex identified by the identification information.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration and contents of DR information that the receiving unit 210 receives and the transmitting unit 220 transmits. The DR period is a period during which a power company, a DR aggregator or the like issues a DR command for requesting a reduction (power saving) of power consumption (power saving). The format indicating the DR period in the DR information may be designation of a period in a time zone that can cover multiple days (no designation of day), but in FIG. 5, one date and time (DR start date and time and DR An example of designation of a period by end date and time is shown. In addition to the DR period, the DR information may include, for example, the date and time of generation of the DR information, and, for example, the expiration date of the file is included assuming that the file is held in the received control device. It is also good. For example, in the case of specifying a period only in a time zone that can cover multiple days, the expiration date of this file determines the end date of the period covering multiple days.

  The other server device 200b also has the same configuration as the server device 200a. Also, when the upper server device 20 receives an instruction to transmit related to a DR command via an external device, the upper server device 20 can also have the same configuration as that of the server device 200a.

  The control device 100a can communicate with devices (air conditioners) 30a, 30b installed in the facility 11a, devices (power storage devices) 31a, 31b, etc. by HAN, and as a functional component, the receiving unit 110 as shown in FIG. The reception unit 120, the storage unit 130, and the control processing unit 140 are provided. The devices (air conditioners) 30a and 30b are air conditioners having a function of adjusting the temperature with the set temperature as a target.

  The receiving unit 110 is realized by the processor 101 that executes a control program, the communication I / F 103, and the like, and has a function of receiving DR information transmitted by the server device 200a and storing the received DR information in the storage unit 130.

  The reception unit 120 has a function of receiving an instruction from a manager of the facility 11a, a resident, or the like (user) about control of each device in the facility 11a. The receiving unit 120 is realized by the processor 101 that executes a control program, the input device 104, and the like. The instruction by the user for the control of each device is, for example, an instruction for control according to the DR command of the device (control for reducing power use, hereinafter referred to as DR control), and control for each device is performed. It is an acceptable instruction or an unacceptable (prohibited) instruction. The accepting unit 120 has a function of updating the permission / refusal information in the device registration information stored in the storage unit 130 according to the instruction when accepting an instruction for permitting or not for controlling the device.

  The storage unit 130 is realized by an area (for example, an area of a non-volatile memory) of the memory 102 and the like, stores the DR information received by the receiving unit 110, and stores the DR information about the devices 30a, 30b, 31a, 31b, etc. It has a function of storing device registration information.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of device registration information. The device registration information is a list of devices in the facility 11a, and as shown in the figure, is configured to include a device type, an identification code, permission information of DR control, etc. for each device that can be controlled by the control device 100a. . The device type is, for example, information that distinguishes the type of device such as an air conditioner or a power storage device. The identification code is a code (for example, a product code, a serial number, etc.) for identifying the device defined by the manufacturer of the device or the like. The device type and the identification code may be, for example, information input by a facility administrator, a resident, or the like (user) via the input device 104 of the control device 100a in accordance with the description of the device. Further, for example, the information may be information collected and communicated from each of the devices 30a, 30b, 31a, 31b, etc. via the HAN. Communication between the control device 100a and various devices (such as the device 30a) in the facility 11a is performed according to a predetermined protocol. As an example of this protocol, the network layer is IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), the transport layer is UDP (User Datagram Protocol), the application layer is ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) or the like. This is only an example and may be IPv4 or the like. Permissibility information (permission information for DR control) is information indicating whether or not to allow the device to perform DR control, and an initial value is information indicating that DR control is prohibited (not permitted), for example. The permission information may be updated by the receiving unit 120 in accordance with an instruction from the user. Note that it is useful for the user to configure the permission information so that control of the device can be performed only after receiving an instruction to permit DR control from the user, assuming that the initial value of the permission information prohibits DR control. It is. Depending on the permission or rejection information, equipment to which DR control is performed can be selected according to the situation of the user who is the manager of the facility, the resident, or the like. In FIG. 6, a portion of the device registration information indicating the device instructed to allow the DR control is shown as control permitted device information. Reception unit 120 receives an input of control permitted device information indicating only a device which permits control from the user instead of receiving an instruction for permitting or not allowing control of the device from the user, and stores the input in storage unit 130 May be In addition, storage unit 130 may store not all of the device registration information if it stores control-permitted device information indicating the device for which the receiving unit 120 receives an instruction to allow control of the device. DR control of the device is possible. In addition, it is useful to store the DR information and the device registration information in a non-volatile storage medium such as a non-volatile memory so as not to be lost when the control device 100a is temporarily turned off. Also, by storing the DR information received by the receiving unit 110 in the storage unit 130, DR control of the equipment of the facility 11a is realized even when the control device 100a and the server device 200a can not communicate in the DR period. It can be done. The DR information is stored, for example, as a file in the storage unit 130. When DR information is stored as a file, the control device 100a can delete the file when the DR information becomes unnecessary. When the DR information becomes unnecessary, for example, when the DR period indicated by the DR information ends, when the information related to the withdrawal of the DR command is received, the expiration date of the file is indicated when the expiration date of the file is indicated in the DR information Etc. is the case.

  The control processing unit 140 has a function of performing processing for executing DR control of the device in the DR period indicated by the DR information, and as shown in FIG. 3 as an example of function sharing for realizing this function, The unit includes a unit 141, a determination unit 142, and a control unit 143.

  The identifying unit 141 has a function of identifying the device to be controlled in DR control and the control content of the device based on the DR information received by the receiving unit 110 and the user's instruction accepted by the accepting unit 120. The identifying unit 141 is realized by the processor 101 or the like that executes a control program. The identifying unit 141 identifies a device indicated by the control-permitted device information (for example, a device indicating that the permission / non-permission information permits DR control in the device registration information) as a control target.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of control content identification information that can be used by the identification unit 141 to identify control content and the like of the device. The control content specifying information is set to a predetermined value (28 ° C.) under constant conditions at the time of cooling operation at the start of DR, which is the start time of the DR period, when controlling the air conditioner in the example of FIG. In the heating operation, it is shown that the predetermined value (20 ° C.) is set under a constant condition. The example of FIG. 7 indicates that control is not performed during air flow other than cooling and heating, such as air flow or dehumidification, and that control is not performed when DR ends, which is the end of the DR period. In addition, it can be determined by collecting information from the device by the determination unit 142 as to whether or not the fixed condition is satisfied. When the storage device is to be controlled in the example of FIG. 7, the storage device is controlled to shift to the forced discharge mode in which the discharge is exclusively performed at the start of DR, and at the end of DR which is the end of the DR period, It shows that the power storage device is controlled to shift from the forced discharge mode to the automatic mode. In the forced discharge mode, for example, as long as the amount of stored power remains more than a predetermined amount, the device is controlled to be discharged to use the power of the power using device (for example, a television, a home appliance such as a lighting device) in the facility 11a. . The fixed amount may be, for example, an amount set by the user or a predetermined amount, and the value of the amount may be zero. In the automatic mode, for example, based on a predetermined algorithm, an economic priority mode in which a state of storing power and a state of discharging are switched in relation to fluctuations of the power rate for each time zone; Storage priority mode, etc. At the start of the DR, the identifying unit 141 refers to the control content identifying information, for example, to identify the device 31a, which is a power storage device with an identification code of B001 (see FIG. 6), as a DR control target. Then, the identifying unit 141 identifies transition of the device 31a to the forced discharge mode at the start of DR as the control content of the DR control. Further, the identifying unit 141 identifies transition of the device 31a to the automatic mode at the end of DR as the control content.

  The determination unit 142 is realized by the processor 101 that executes a control program, the communication I / F 103, and the like. The determination unit 142 has a function of confirming (determining) whether or not there is a condition for performing the DR control for the device specified as the control target of the DR control by the specifying unit 141. If it is determined that the condition is not satisfied, the device is excluded from the control target, and is treated as being not specified as the control target by the specifying unit 141. For this reason, an apparatus having a condition for performing DR control can be finally identified as a control target only when the determination unit 142 determines that the condition is satisfied. For example, when the air conditioner is set as a control target of the DR control, the determination unit 142 determines whether the result of comparing the set temperature of the air conditioner with a predetermined reference value at the start of DR satisfies the predetermined condition. For example, the predetermined reference value is 28 ° C. in the cooling operation, the predetermined condition is that the set temperature of the air conditioner is lower than the predetermined reference value, and the predetermined reference value is 20 ° C. in the heating operation. The condition is that the set temperature of the air conditioner is higher than a predetermined reference value (see FIG. 7). The determination unit 142 determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied by acquiring information indicating the operating state of the air conditioner and the set temperature information indicating the set temperature by communicating with the air conditioner at the start of DR. When the determination unit 142 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied for the air conditioner, the specifying unit 141 sets the set temperature of the air conditioner to a predetermined value (28 ° C.) during the cooling operation, and the set temperature of the air conditioner at the predetermined operation during the heating operation. The control content is specified to be (20 ° C.) (see FIG. 7). The predetermined reference value and the predetermined value may be the same value or different values. For example, when the predetermined reference value is 28 ° C. in the cooling operation and the predetermined condition is that the set temperature is lower than the predetermined reference value, for example, the predetermined value may be 28 ° C. or a value higher than 28 ° C. Just do it.

  The control unit 143 transmits the control signal determined in advance corresponding to the control content specified by the specifying unit 141 to the device specified by the specifying unit 141, thereby controlling the device in the DR period. Have. The control unit 143 is realized by the processor 101 that executes a control program, the communication I / F 103, and the like.

  For example, when the identification unit 141 identifies the device 30a whose air conditioner is the identification code as the control target, the control unit 143 performs control in accordance with the determination result of the determination unit 142. That is, when the determination unit 142 determines that the comparison result of the set temperature of the air conditioner and the predetermined reference value satisfies the above-described predetermined condition, the control unit 143 sets the set temperature of the air conditioner to a predetermined value (for example, Change to 28 ° C during cooling operation and 20 ° C during heating operation. Further, when it is determined that the comparison result of the set temperature of the air conditioner and the predetermined reference value does not satisfy the above-described predetermined condition, the control unit 143 does not change the set temperature of the air conditioner. In addition, even when the permission information in the device registration information stored in the storage unit 130 is updated to indicate that the control of the device is prohibited during the DR period after the DR is started, the control unit 143 also performs the DR period. It is also possible not to change control on the device in

  The functional configurations of the control devices 100b to 100e are also similar to those of the control device 100a described above.

(Operation)
Hereinafter, an operation example of the power management system 10 having the above-described configuration will be described. Here, it demonstrates paying particular attention to the control apparatus 100a of the plant | facility 11a shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the DR information distribution process performed by the server device 200a. Hereinafter, the operation of the server device 200a will be described with reference to FIG.

  The upper-level server device 20 adds identification information for specifying a facility where the power company or the DR aggregator wants to request power saving, and sends DR information indicating a future DR period corresponding to the DR command to the server device 200a. Deliver (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  The server device 200a receives the DR information to which the identification information for specifying a facility is attached (Step S11).

  Subsequently, the server device 200a specifies the transmission destination according to the identification information and transmits the DR information (step S12). As a result, for example, the DR information is transmitted to the control device 100a or the like of the facility 11a before the DR period.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control device 100a. Hereinafter, the operation of the control device 100a (that is, the control method used for the control device 100a) will be described based on FIG. The control device 100a of the facility 11a will be described on the assumption that the storage unit 130 stores device registration information (see FIG. 6) which is information of various devices installed in the facility 11a.

  When an instruction (input) is issued by the user according to permission or rejection of DR control of the device (step S21), the control device 100a updates permission information in the device registration information according to the instruction (step S22). The user can optionally input to the control device 100a whether to allow or prohibit the DR control of each device (the devices 30a, 30b, 31a, 31b, etc.). The permission / disapproval information remains at an initial value (for example, a value indicating that DR control of each device is prohibited) in a state where the user does not particularly input, and the accepting unit 120 responds to the user's input. It may be updated to a value indicating that DR control is permitted or a value indicating that it is prohibited.

  When the receiving unit 110 receives the DR information from the server device 200a (step S23), the receiving unit 110 stores the DR information in the storage unit 130 (step S24).

  The identifying unit 141 in the control processing unit 140 refers to the DR period indicated by the DR information stored in the storage unit 130 and the permission information in the device registration information, and determines whether the condition for DR control is satisfied (step S25). For example, the identifying unit 141 determines whether there is a device for which DR control is permitted at the start of DR (a device for which permission / disapproval information indicates permission, that is, a device indicated by control permitted device information). When the condition for DR control is satisfied, the identifying unit 141 identifies the device for which DR control is permitted as a control target, and identifies the control content based on the control content identification information (see FIG. 7) and the like (see Step S26). When the condition for DR control is satisfied and there are two or more devices to be controlled (devices indicated by the control-permitted device information), the specifying unit 141 specifies the control content for each of the devices. In the identification of the control target and the identification of the control content, when there is a fixed condition (for example, when the condition is attached to the control content candidate of the control content specification information), the determination unit 142 communicates with each device. Check if the conditions are met.

  Subsequently, the control unit 143 controls the device to be controlled by transmitting the control signal corresponding to the control content to the device to be controlled specified in step S26 (step S27). By the DR control based on this control signal, the device is in a state in which the power consumption is suppressed. Note that depending on the control content for the device specified as the control target at the start of DR, the control unit 143 may transmit a control signal at the end of DR besides transmitting the control signal at the start of DR.

(Specification of air conditioner (air conditioner) control content)
Hereinafter, as a specific example of the control content of the device by the control device 100a described above, the specification of the control content of the air conditioner (air conditioner) will be described using FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process of specifying the air conditioner control content by the control device 100a.

  When the DR start time has come (step S51), the identifying unit 141 of the control device 100a determines whether the permission information of the air conditioner permits the DR control (step S52). Specifically, referring to the device registration information (see FIG. 6) stored in the storage unit 130, the device 30a (air conditioner with identification code “A001”) and device 30b (air conditioner with identification code “A002”) For each of the above, it is determined whether the permission information permits the DR control. Devices for which DR control is permitted are candidates for control. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, DR control is permitted for the device 30a, and the description will be continued assuming that the device 30a is a candidate for control.

  By communicating with the device 30a (air conditioner) that has been identified as a control target candidate by the identification unit 141, the determination unit 142 requests the device 30a for operating condition information indicating the operating condition of the air conditioner and setting temperature information indicating the set temperature. (Step S53). Then, the determination unit 142 receives the operation state information and the set temperature information from the device 30a (step S54). The operation state information indicates whether the air conditioner is in the cooling operation state, the heating operation state, or in any other state such as dehumidification.

  The determination unit 142 determines whether the device 30a is in the cooling operation state based on the received operation state information (step S55). If in the state of the cooling operation, the determination unit 142 determines, based on the received set temperature information, whether the predetermined condition that the set temperature indicated by the set temperature information is lower than the predetermined reference value (28 ° C.) for cooling is satisfied. It is determined (step S56). If the determination unit 142 determines that the predetermined condition that the set temperature is lower than the predetermined reference value for cooling (28 ° C.) is satisfied, the identifying unit 141 sets the predetermined value for cooling (28 ° C.) It specifies as a control content (step S57).

  If it is determined in step S55 that the device 30a is not in the cooling operation state, the determination unit 142 determines whether the device 30a is in the heating operation state (step S58). If in the state of the heating operation, the determination unit 142 determines whether the set condition indicated by the set temperature information is higher than the predetermined reference value (20 ° C.) for heating based on the received set temperature information. It is determined (step S59). If the determination unit 142 determines that the predetermined condition that the set temperature is higher than the predetermined reference value for heating (20 ° C.) is satisfied, the identifying unit 141 sets the predetermined value for heating (20 ° C.) It specifies as a control content (step S60). If the determination unit 142 determines that the heating operation is not performed in step S58, or if it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied in step S56 and step S59, the specifying unit 141 does nothing as the control content. The device 30a is treated as one that has not been identified as a control target. Further, at the start of DR, the air conditioner whose permission / disapproval information indicates that DR control is not permitted (prohibited) (step S52) is not a control target candidate and is not controlled.

(Control of air conditioner (air conditioner))
Next, as a specific example of control of the device by the control device 100a described above, control of the device 30a specified as a control target by the specifying unit 141 at the start of DR (air conditioner control processing) will be described using FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an air conditioner control process by the control device 100a.

  When the control target and the control content are specified by the specifying unit 141 at the start of DR, the control unit 143 controls the control signal (signal for setting the set temperature to a predetermined value) determined corresponding to the specified control content. It transmits to the air-conditioner (apparatus 30a) identified as (step S61). Thus, the set temperature of the device 30a is set to a predetermined value (28 ° C. in the cooling operation and 20 ° C. in the heating operation) at the start of DR. During the subsequent DR period (in the middle of the DR period), for example, even if the user is about to lose physical condition and manually changes the set temperature of the air conditioner to a more comfortable temperature, the control device 100a determines the set temperature. Do not force anything to return to the specified value and do nothing. As described above, the determination unit 142 makes the determination only at the start of the DR period, and the control unit 143 does not control the device unless it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied. Therefore, even during the DR period, the user can freely change the set temperature of the air conditioner depending on the conditions such as the physical condition and the thermal environment.

  Next, an example in which control is performed not only at the DR start but also at the DR end that is the end of the DR period by modifying the above-described air conditioner control process will be described. The control device 100a may perform this deformed air conditioner control process.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an air conditioner control process by the control device 100a according to the modification.

  When the control target and the control content are specified by the specifying unit 141 at the start of DR, the control unit 143 acquires the set temperature by requesting the set temperature information from the air conditioner (device 30a) specified as the control target, and restores it. It stores in storage part 130 as preset temperature (Step S71). Then, control unit 143 transmits a control signal (a signal for setting the set temperature to a predetermined value) predetermined corresponding to the specified control content to the air conditioner (device 30a) specified as the control target. (Step S72).

  Thereafter, when the DR end time arrives (step S73), the control unit 143 determines whether the temperature (predetermined value) set in step S73 is maintained, that is, whether the predetermined value matches the acquired set temperature. (Step S74). In order to determine whether or not the set temperature (predetermined value) is maintained, for example, the control unit 143 requests the set temperature information from the air conditioner (device 30a) controlled at the start of DR to set the set temperature. To get Here, instead of the method of requesting the set temperature information from the air conditioner, the method of mainly transmitting the information related to the change of the setting to the control device 100a when the set temperature of the air conditioner is directly changed by the user in the DR period You may use.

  If it is determined in step S74 that the temperature set in step S73 is maintained, control unit 143 sets the set temperature for restoration stored in storage unit 130 to the air conditioner (device 30a). The control signal is transmitted to the device 30a (step S75). As a result, the set temperature of the device 30a returns (is restored) to the same state as before the DR period. Note that the user may be able to select whether or not to perform such restoration control.

  When it is determined in step S74 that the set temperature is not maintained, the control unit 143 does nothing in particular. Therefore, when the user manually changes the set temperature of the air conditioner in the middle of the DR period, the set temperature set by the user is maintained even after the end of the DR period.

(Other embodiments etc.)
The power management system 10 and the like including the control device 100a have been described above according to the first embodiment, but it is needless to say that the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and various changes, additions, omissions and the like are possible.

  In the above-mentioned embodiment, although a dwelling unit of collective housing was mentioned as an example of a facility (facility 11a etc. which installed various devices used as a target of DR control by a control device), a facility is not restricted to this and individual buildings It may be a house, an office, a factory, a stadium, a building, a station or the like. Further, the collective housing may be treated as one facility, and various devices in the collective housing may be controlled by one control device. Also, the control device of the facility (the control device 100a etc.) may be controlled by the equipment of the facility, and in addition to the device installed in the facility (stationary type device), the manager of the facility, the resident, etc. (For example, a portable terminal etc.). In addition, the power management system 10 (see FIG. 1) is downsized, the higher-level server device 20 is deleted from the server device group, and the server device 200a acquires DR information related to the DR command by the power operator, DR aggregator, etc. The transmission may be performed instead of the upper server device 20.

  Further, the DR information (see FIG. 5) may include information indicating control content related to the DR control. However, even if the DR information includes information indicating the control content, whether or not the control device 100a or the like performs control with the control content according to an instruction (permission or rejection information etc.) by the user. Decide. That is, even if the DR information includes information indicating the control content, the control device 100a or the like does not execute the control according to the control content depending on the instruction of the user.

  In addition, when the user issues an instruction to allow the DR control to the device during the DR period after the DR start (that is, in the middle of the DR period), the control device 100a described above (the permission information is acceptable) It is decided not to control the device especially when it is updated as shown. However, in response to a user instruction to permit DR control instead of prohibiting DR control, the control device 100a may perform DR control of a device such as an air conditioner also in the middle of the DR period.

  Further, the information indicating the operation state such as the cooling operation and the heating operation required for the DR control of the air conditioner described above by the control processing unit 140 described above receives information indicating the operation state from the air conditioner and is input from the user It may be

  Further, instead of the control processing unit 140 specifying the control target and the control content, determining the conditions such as the set temperature of the air conditioner, and controlling the device at the start of DR, the control target at the start of the DR period. And, the control content may be specified, the condition may be determined, and the device may be controlled. Here, when the DR period starts, it means within a relatively short fixed period before and after the DR start, such as 5 minutes before, 5 minutes after the DR start, for example, before and after the DR start Within a length of less than 20%. In addition, instead of controlling the device at the end of DR (for example, setting the setting temperature for restoration to the air conditioner, etc.), control the device at the end of the DR period (that is, within a relatively short fixed period before and after the end of DR). You may do it. As a result, for example, the control device 100a can perform DR control on the device in a control period in which the end of the DR period or the end of the DR period ends with the start of the DR period as the start period. Hereinafter, the determination of the determination unit 142 will be described in relation to the control period. For example, the determination unit 142 of the control device 100a compares the set temperature of the air conditioner (air conditioner) with the predetermined reference value in the control period from the start to the end of the DR period indicated by the DR information received by the receiver 110. It may be determined whether the result satisfies a predetermined condition. Further, for example, when the permission information indicates that the control of the air conditioner is not permitted at the start of the DR period, the determination unit 142 may suppress the determination in the control period. Further, for example, the determination unit may make the determination only at the start of the DR period in the control period.

  Further, the function sharing of the specification unit 141 and the determination unit 142 in the control processing unit 140 described above is arbitrary, and one part or all of the functions may be included in the other. When the determination unit 142 includes the function of the identification unit 141, the determination unit 142 determines the conditions such as the set temperature of the air conditioner in the DR period when the permission information indicates that the control of the air conditioner is not permitted at the start of DR. You may not do it. Under the premise that the air conditioner is not subject to DR control unless the determination unit 142 determines that the condition is satisfied, the determination of the condition related to the set temperature when the permission information indicates that the control of the air conditioner is not permitted at the start of DR. By doing this, DR control for the air conditioner is suppressed.

  Further, the determination unit 142 described above may determine conditions such as the set temperature of the air conditioner only at the start of the DR period. That is, as the DR control (change of the set temperature) is performed only at the start of the DR period, the special DR control may not be performed during the other DR period. As a result, DR control is not performed such that the set temperature is forcibly changed during the DR period, and the user can freely change the set temperature of the air conditioner.

  Further, the set temperature set in the air conditioner by the control unit 143 is not limited to a fixed predetermined value, and may be a different value for each time zone, for example. For example, the set temperature (predetermined value) set by DR control from 1 to 3 pm in the cooling operation is 28 ° C., and the set temperature (predetermined value) set by DR control from 3 to 5 pm May be 29 ° C. or the like.

  Also, in order to control the device in the DR period, the control unit 143 may reserve an operation of the device in the DR period by transmitting a control signal to the device prior to the start of the DR.

  In addition, the execution order of the operation procedure (see FIGS. 8 to 12) of the above-described server device 200a and control device 100a is not necessarily limited to the above-described order, and within the scope of the invention. , The execution order can be changed, or a part thereof can be omitted. Further, all or part of the above-described operation procedure may be realized by hardware such as the control device 100a or the server device 200a, or may be realized using software. The process by software is realized by the processor included in the control device 100a and the server device 200a executing a control program stored in the memory. In addition, the control program may be recorded on a recording medium and distributed or distributed. For example, by installing the distributed control program in the apparatus and causing the processor of the apparatus to execute the program, it is possible to cause the apparatus to perform, for example, all or part of the operation (control processing) of the control apparatus 100a described above. It becomes.

  Further, an embodiment realized by arbitrarily combining the components and the functions shown in the above-described embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  Note that various aspects of the present invention include one or more combinations of an apparatus, a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, a computer readable recording medium, and the like.

  Hereinafter, configurations, modifications, effects, and the like of the control device and the control program according to an aspect of the present invention will be described.

  (1) The control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a control device 100a that controls an air conditioner (for example, the device 30a) having a function of adjusting the temperature to a set temperature as a target. The set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) and the predetermined reference in the control period from the start to the end of the DR period indicated by the DR information received by the reception unit 110 that receives the DR information indicating the period and the DR information received by the reception unit 110 The determination unit 142 determines whether the result of comparison with the value satisfies the predetermined condition, and the set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) when the determination unit 142 determines that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition. And a control unit 143 which does not change the set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) when it is determined that the result of the comparison does not satisfy the predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is, for example, a condition that is satisfied when there is room to reduce the power consumption by changing the set temperature to a constant value. For example, under the condition that the set temperature is lower than a predetermined reference value (for example, 28 ° C.) when the air conditioner is in the cooling operation state, for example, under the condition that the set temperature is higher than the predetermined reference value (for example 20 ° C.) in the heating operation state is there. At the start here, it is generally at the start of the DR period, but it may be slightly shifted before and after the start.

  Thus, for example, it is determined whether or not control to change the temperature setting of the air conditioner is performed in response to the DR command according to the set temperature of the air conditioner which has been manually set by the user. For this reason, appropriate control can be realized according to the user's situation that has appeared as the set temperature of the air conditioner at that time. The control device 100a has a configuration for realizing, for example, the following appropriate control in accordance with the situation of the user appearing in the set temperature of the air conditioner. The control device 100a realizes that, for example, the control device sets the set temperature to 28 ° C. or the like during the DR period when the user manually sets the set temperature at the time of cooling operation of the air conditioner to 27 ° C. Do. Also, for example, in a situation where the user is in a physical condition and is setting the cooling temperature of the air conditioner manually at 30 ° C. in fear of overcooling, the user should not set the temperature to 28 ° C., etc. in the DR period. Can be realized. At this time, since the set temperature is kept at 30 ° C., as a result, the reduction of the power consumption can be sufficiently realized in the DR period.

  (2) For example, at the start of the DR period, the determination unit 142 receives the set temperature information indicating the set temperature of the air conditioner from the air conditioner (device 30a), thereby performing the determination (the result of the comparison described above If the determination unit 142 determines that the result of the above-described comparison satisfies the predetermined condition, the control unit 143 determines whether the air conditioner The set temperature of the device 30a) may be changed to a predetermined value (for example, 28 ° C. in the cooling operation state, and 20 ° C. in the heating operation state).

  Thus, based on the preset temperature of the air conditioner which has been manually set by the user at the end of the DR period, the preset temperature is set to a predetermined value only when the predetermined condition is satisfied. obtain.

  (3) For example, when the control unit 143 further changes the set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) to the predetermined value, the set temperature information received from the air conditioner (device 30a) indicates the start of the DR period. The set temperature is held as the set temperature for restoration, and when the set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) at the end of the DR period is the same as the predetermined value, the air conditioner (device The set temperature of 30a) may be changed to the set temperature for restoration.

  As a result, even if the set temperature is changed to reduce power consumption during the DR period, the user originally set the same prior to the DR period unless the user subsequently changes the set temperature manually. The set temperature is restored.

  (4) For example, the predetermined value is the same value as the predetermined reference value (for example, 28 ° C. in the cooling operation state, 20 ° C. in the heating operation state), and the determination unit 142 When the set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) is lower than a predetermined reference value in the state where the cooling operation is performed, the above determination (the result of the above comparison satisfies the predetermined condition) as the predetermined condition is satisfied. If the air conditioner (apparatus 30a) is in a heating operation state, the above determination is made on the assumption that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the set temperature of the air conditioner (apparatus 30a) is higher than a predetermined reference value. You may do it.

  Thereby, the predetermined value preset for the control device 100a to basically set as the set temperature of the air conditioner is more effective in reducing the power consumption than the set temperature set by the user before the DR period. Set up the air conditioner only if it is the case. For this reason, a reduction in power use is effectively realized in the DR period.

  (5) For example, the control device 100a further stores the permission information indicating whether to permit control of the air conditioner (device 30a) and whether to allow control of the air conditioner (device 30a). And an acceptance unit 120 for accepting permission instructions and updating permission information according to the instructions, wherein the determination unit 142 does not permit the control of the air conditioner (device 30a) when the DR period starts. When indicating the effect, the determination may be suppressed in the control period.

  This allows the user to always indicate whether to allow DR control of the air conditioner. Then, the user can prevent the setting temperature of the air conditioner from being changed by the control device 100 a by indicating that the permission / disapproval information is not permitted at the start of the DR period according to the instruction.

  (6) For example, the determination unit 142 may perform the determination only at the start of the DR period in the control period.

  Accordingly, even during the DR period, even if the user changes the set temperature of the air conditioner, the control device 100a does not change the set temperature of the air conditioner. Therefore, in the middle of the DR period, the user can freely change the set temperature of the air conditioner according to the physical condition of the user, the actual thermal environment and the like.

  (7) The control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a control method used in a control device 100a that controls an air conditioner (for example, the device 30a) having a function of adjusting the temperature to a set temperature as a target. In the control step from the start to the end of the receiving step (for example, step S23) for receiving the DR information indicating the DR period requesting reduction and the DR period indicated by the DR information received in the receiving step, If the comparison result in the determination step satisfies the predetermined condition in the determination step (for example, steps S56, S59, etc.) which determines whether the result of comparing the set temperature of 30a) and the predetermined reference value satisfies the predetermined condition or not When it is determined that the set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) is changed to a predetermined value and the result of the comparison does not satisfy the predetermined condition. Do not change the set temperature of the air-conditioning equipment (equipment 30a), and a control step (e.g., step S57, S60, etc.).

  With this control method, appropriate control of the air conditioner is realized according to the user's situation.

  (8) The control program according to an aspect of the present invention includes the processor 101 and performs predetermined control processing on the control device 100a that controls an air conditioner (for example, the device 30a) having a function of adjusting the temperature to a target setting temperature. It is a control program for making it execute, and the predetermined control process indicates a receiving step (for example, step S23) of receiving DR information indicating a DR period for requesting a reduction of power consumption, and DR information received in the receiving step In the control period from the start to the end of the DR period, it is determined whether the result of comparing the set temperature of the air conditioner (device 30a) and the predetermined reference value satisfies the predetermined condition (for example, step S56, S59 and the like, and when it is determined that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition in the determination step, the set temperature of the air conditioner (the device 30a) is Change the value, the result of the comparison does not change the set temperature of the air-conditioning equipment (equipment 30a) when it is determined not to satisfy the predetermined condition, and a control step (e.g., step S57, S60, etc.).

  If this control program is installed in the computer, the computer functions as the control device 100a, and the control device 100a realizes appropriate control of the air conditioner according to the situation of the user.

100a to 100e Control device 101 Processor 110 Reception unit 120 Reception unit 130 Storage unit 142 Determination unit 143 Control unit 30a, 30b Equipment (air conditioner)

Claims (6)

A control device for controlling an air conditioner having a function of adjusting temperature with a target set temperature,
A receiver for receiving DR information indicating a DR (demand response) period for requesting reduction of power consumption;
In a control period from the start to the end of the DR period indicated by the DR information received by the receiving unit, whether a result obtained by comparing the set temperature of the air conditioner with a predetermined reference value satisfies a predetermined condition A determination unit that determines
When it is determined that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition by the determination unit, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to a predetermined value, and it is determined that the result of the comparison does not satisfy the predetermined condition. A control unit that does not change the set temperature of the air conditioner ;
The determination unit performs the determination by receiving set temperature information indicating a set temperature of the air conditioner from the air conditioner at the start of the DR period,
The control unit changes the set temperature of the air conditioner to a predetermined value at the start of the DR period when the determination unit determines that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition.
When changing the set temperature of the air conditioner to the predetermined value, the control unit further holds the set temperature indicated by the set temperature information received from the air conditioner at the start of the DR period as the set temperature for restoration. When the set temperature of the air conditioner at the end of the DR period is the same as the predetermined value, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to the set temperature for restoration at the end of the DR period. Control device. The predetermined value is the same value as the predetermined reference value,
The determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the set temperature of the air conditioner is lower than the predetermined reference value when the air conditioner is in a state of performing a cooling operation, and the air conditioner determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed on the assumption that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the set temperature of the air conditioner is higher than the predetermined reference value when the heating operation is performed. The controller further comprises
A storage unit storing permission information indicating whether to allow control of the air conditioner;
A reception unit that receives an instruction relating to whether or not to allow control of the air conditioner and updates the permission information according to the instruction;
The determination unit, the control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 to inhibit the determination at the control period when the permission information at the start of the DR period indicating that does not permit control of the air-conditioning equipment . The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the determination unit performs the determination only at the start of the DR period in the control period. A control method used in a control device for controlling an air conditioner having a function of adjusting temperature with a target set temperature,
A receiving step of receiving DR information indicating a DR (demand response) period requesting reduction of power consumption;
In a control period from the start to the end of the DR period indicated by the DR information received in the reception step, whether the result of comparing the set temperature of the air conditioner with a predetermined reference value satisfies a predetermined condition or not A determination step of determining
When it is determined in the determination step that the comparison result satisfies the predetermined condition, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to a predetermined value, and it is determined that the comparison result does not satisfy the predetermined condition. not change the setting temperature of the air-conditioning equipment, seen including a control step,
In the determination step, at the start of the DR period, the determination is performed by receiving setting temperature information indicating a setting temperature of the air conditioner from the air conditioner,
In the control step, when it is determined in the determination step that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to a predetermined value at the start of the DR period,
In the control step, when changing the set temperature of the air conditioner to the predetermined value, the set temperature indicated by the set temperature information received from the air conditioner at the start of the DR period is held as the set temperature for restoration. When the set temperature of the air conditioner at the end of the DR period is the same as the predetermined value, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to the set temperature for restoration at the end of the DR period. Control method. A control program for causing a control device that controls an air conditioner that has a processor and has a function to perform temperature control with a set temperature as a target to execute predetermined control processing,
The predetermined control process is
A receiving step of receiving DR information indicating a DR (demand response) period requesting reduction of power consumption;
In a control period from the start to the end of the DR period indicated by the DR information received in the reception step, whether the result of comparing the set temperature of the air conditioner with a predetermined reference value satisfies a predetermined condition or not A determination step of determining
When it is determined in the determination step that the comparison result satisfies the predetermined condition, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to a predetermined value, and it is determined that the comparison result does not satisfy the predetermined condition. not change the setting temperature of the air-conditioning equipment, seen including a control step,
In the determination step, at the start of the DR period, the determination is performed by receiving setting temperature information indicating a setting temperature of the air conditioner from the air conditioner,
In the control step, when it is determined in the determination step that the result of the comparison satisfies the predetermined condition, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to a predetermined value at the start of the DR period,
In the control step, when changing the set temperature of the air conditioner to the predetermined value, the set temperature indicated by the set temperature information received from the air conditioner at the start of the DR period is held as the set temperature for restoration. When the set temperature of the air conditioner at the end of the DR period is the same as the predetermined value, the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed to the set temperature for restoration at the end of the DR period. Control program.

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