JP6719669B2 - Control device, power management system, device control method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control device, a power management system, a device control method, and a program.

In recent years, there are an increasing number of cases in which electric power consumers themselves own power generation facilities that generate power using natural energy such as sunlight and wind power. Such an electric power consumer can reduce the electric power purchased from the commercial electric power system by consuming the electric power generated by the electric power generation equipment.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a hot water storage type hot water supply system in which hot water is heated by surplus power generated by solar power generation. The hot water storage type hot water supply system disclosed in Patent Document 1 predicts the surplus power of the next day, and when the surplus power of the next day is predicted to be large, compared with the case where the surplus power of the next day is predicted to be low. Reduce the amount of night lifting. As a result, the surplus power can be effectively used, and the power used for the nightside driving operation can be reduced.

JP, 2013-148287, A

In the technology that uses surplus power as described above, when the communicable telegram between the control target device and the control source is different, the control target device cannot be operated properly, and the surplus power is effective. May not be available for. Therefore, it is required to effectively use the surplus power even if the communicable message between the device to be controlled and the control source is different.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a control device and the like that can effectively use surplus power.

In order to achieve the above object, the control device according to the present invention,
A control device for operating equipment with surplus power generated by a power generation facility of a power consumer,
Communication means for communicating with the device;
When the device is compatible with the communication in the first telegram, the communication means is caused to communicate with the device in the first telegram so that the surplus power is applied to the device in the first period in the first period. Amount of operation , and when the device does not support communication in the first telegram, by causing the communication means to communicate with the device in the second telegram, the surplus power is generated in the first period. in and an operation control means for the operation of the first amount to said equipment,
The operation control means sets a second amount by which the device operates in a second period before the first period based on the first amount, and causes the communication means to have the first electronic message. Alternatively, by causing the device to communicate with the device by the second telegram, the device is caused to perform the second amount of operation in the second period,
The operation control unit sets an amount obtained by subtracting the first amount from a specified amount as the second amount when the device does not support communication in the first electronic message.

According to the present invention, when the device supports communication in the first message, the device operates the surplus power by the communication in the first message, and the device does not support communication in the first message. In this case, the device is operated with the surplus power by the communication in the second telegram. Therefore, according to the present invention, the surplus power can be effectively used.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the power management system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of transitions of generated power and power consumption in Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the structure of the heat pump unit with which the water heater which concerns on Embodiment 1 was equipped. Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control device according to the first embodiment Diagram showing the structure of electronic messages in Echonet Lite Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the management server according to the first embodiment Block diagram showing the functional configuration of the power management system according to the first embodiment FIG. 3 is a diagram showing information stored in the database according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the estimated electric energy in Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the example of transition of the amount of hot water of the water heater which concerns on Embodiment 1. The figure which shows an example of the setting screen of daytime armpit in Embodiment 1. The figure which shows an example of the display screen at the time of daytime arm raising control in Embodiment 1. Sequence diagram showing an outline of processing executed in the power management system according to the first embodiment Flowchart showing the flow of surplus power prediction processing executed by the management server according to the first embodiment The flowchart which shows the flow of the daytime armrest adjustment processing performed by the control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. Flowchart showing a flow of nighttime and daytime arm-raising processing executed by the control device according to the first embodiment Block diagram showing a functional configuration of a power management system according to a second embodiment Sequence diagram showing an outline of processing executed in the power management system according to the second embodiment A block diagram showing a functional configuration of a power management system according to a third embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of the nighttime and daytime arm-raising processing performed by the control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a power management system 1 according to the first embodiment. The power management system 1 is a so-called HEMS (Home Energy Management System) system that manages the power consumed in the house H. The house H is a so-called general residential building, and is a demand area and a consumption area of electric power supplied from the commercial electric power system 8 and the power generation facility 3. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the power management system 1 includes a power generation facility 3, a power measuring device 4, a water heater 6, a plurality of electric devices 7 (7a, 7b,... ), a control device 20, and an operation terminal. 30, a management server 40, and a weather server 50.

<Power generation equipment 3>
The power generation facility 3 is a private power generation facility that is installed in the house H and that generates electricity using sunlight, which is natural energy. While the commercial power system 8 supplies power to an unspecified number of power consumption areas including the house H, the power generation facility 3 is owned by a specific power consumer and is supplied to the house H which is a specific power consumption area. Supply power. The power generation facility 3 is also called a distributed power source.

The power generation facility 3 includes a PV panel 10 that performs photovoltaic power generation (PV: Photovoltaic) and a PV-PCS 11 that is a power conditioning system. The PV panel 10 is, for example, a polycrystalline silicon type solar panel. The PV panel 10 is installed on the roof of the house H and converts solar energy into electric energy to generate solar power.

The PV-PCS 11 receives the power generated by the PV panel 10 and outputs the supplied power to the distribution board 9 via the power line D2. At that time, the PV-PCS 11 converts the electric power supplied from the PV panel 10 from DC power to AC power at a specified conversion efficiency so as to be used in the house H, and outputs the converted power.

Although not shown, the PV-PCS 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a communication interface, and a readable/writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The PV-PCS 11 communicates with the control device 20 via the home network built in the house H. The PV-PCS 11 may be connected to the home network via an external communication adapter (not shown).

<Power measuring device 4>
The power measuring device 4 measures the value of the power transmitted through each of the power lines D1 to D3 arranged in the house H. The power line D1 is arranged between the commercial power system 8 and the distribution board 9, the power line D2 is arranged between the power generation facility 3 and the distribution board 9, and the power line D3 is arranged as the distribution board 9. It is arranged between the water heater 6. The power measuring device 4 is connected to each of CTs (Current Transformers) 1 to CT3 connected to the power lines D1 to D3, respectively, via communication lines. CT1 to CT3 are sensors that measure alternating current.

The CT1 arranged on the power line D1 measures the power P1 supplied from the commercial power system 8 to the house H. The electric power P1 corresponds to purchased electric power that is an electric power purchased from an electric utility by an electric power consumer who demands electric power in the house H. The CT2 arranged on the power line D2 measures the power P2 output from the power generation equipment 3 to the distribution board 9. The electric power P2 is the electric power generated by the power generation facility 3, is supplied to the house H, and corresponds to the electric power that can be used in the house H. The CT3 arranged on the power line D3 measures the electric power P3 supplied from the distribution board 9 to the water heater 6. Electric power P3 corresponds to the electric power consumed in water heater 6.

When the power consumption of the entire house H including the water heater 6 and the plurality of electric devices 7 is represented by Pc, the power consumption Pc is the purchased power P1 measured by CT1 and the generated power P2 measured by CT2. Is equivalent to the sum of and. That is, the relational expression Pc=P1+P2 holds.

FIG. 2 shows an example of changes in the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc. The solid line in FIG. 2 represents the transition of the electric power P2 generated by the power generation facility 3, which peaks at noon when the amount of solar radiation increases and increases during the daytime. On the other hand, the broken line in FIG. 2 represents the power consumption Pc in the house H, which generally increases from afternoon to evening when the amount of power consumption in the home increases.

When the generated power P2 is smaller than the power consumption Pc as in the periods T1 and T3 in FIG. 2, the house H cannot supply the required power only by the generated power P2, and therefore it is necessary to purchase power from the commercial power grid 8. Therefore, the purchased power P1 has a positive value. On the other hand, when the generated power P2 is larger than the power consumption Pc as in the period T2 in FIG. 2, surplus power is generated in the house H.

When the surplus power is generated, the power consumer of the house H can sell the power to the electric power company by supplying the surplus power to the commercial power grid 8 as reverse power. In this way, the fact that electric power is supplied from the house H to the commercial electric power system 8 to return the electric power from the electric power consumer side to the electric power supplier side is called “reverse power flow”. While the reverse power flow is occurring, the purchased power P1 has a negative value, and the reverse power (sold power) is represented as (-P1).

The power measuring device 4 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, and a readable/writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory, which are not shown. Further, the power measuring device 4 includes a wireless communication interface and communicates with the control device 20 via the home network. The power measuring device 4 may be connected to the home network via an external communication adapter (not shown).

In response to a request from the control device 20, the power measurement device 4 generates measurement data including measurement values of power including generated power P2 and power consumption Pc obtained by measuring CT1 to CT3, and the control device 20 Send to. The transmitted measurement data includes the device address of the power measuring device 4, the power line ID, and the measurement time. The measured value of the electric power transmitted to the control device 20 by the electric power measuring device 4 may be expressed in the unit of electric power (watt), or the electric power amount of the electric power obtained by integrating the electric power over a specified time. It may be expressed in units.

<Water heater 6>
The water heater 6 is a hot water storage type water heater including a heat pump unit 60 and a tank unit 61. The heat pump unit 60 and the tank unit 61 are connected by a water pipe 62 through which hot water flows. The water heater 6 is electrically connected to the commercial power system 8 and the power generation facility 3 via the power line D3 branched by the distribution board 9, and operates by obtaining power from the commercial power system 8 or the power generation facility 3. To do.

The heat pump unit 60 is a heat pump type heat source device using CO ₂ (carbon dioxide) or HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) as a refrigerant. The heat pump unit 60 uses the surrounding air as a heat source to boil the low temperature water in the hot water storage tank 63 into high temperature water. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat pump unit 60 includes a compressor 71, a first heat exchanger 72, an expansion valve 73, a second heat exchanger 74, a blower 75, a water pump 76, and a control unit. And a substrate 79.

The refrigerant pipe 70 annularly connects the compressor 71, the first heat exchanger 72, the expansion valve 73, and the second heat exchanger 74. As a result, a refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant circulates is formed. The refrigerant circuit is also called a heat pump or a refrigeration cycle. The water pipe 62 starts from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 63 and returns to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 63 via the water pump 76 and the first heat exchanger 72. As a result, a boiling circuit for circulating hot water is formed.

The compressor 71 compresses the refrigerant to raise the temperature and pressure. The compressor 71 includes an inverter circuit that can change the capacity, which is the delivery amount per unit, according to the drive frequency. The compressor 71 changes the above capacity according to an instruction from the control board 79.

The first heat exchanger 72 is a heating source for heating the city water to a target boiling temperature. The boiling temperature is also called the hot water storage temperature. The first heat exchanger 72 is a plate-type, double-tube type, or other heat exchanger, and performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and water. Due to the heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 72, the refrigerant radiates heat to lower the temperature and the water absorbs heat to raise the temperature.

The expansion valve 73 expands the refrigerant to lower the temperature and pressure. The expansion valve 73 changes the valve opening degree according to an instruction from the control board 79.

The second heat exchanger 74 exchanges heat between the outside air sent by the blower 75 and the refrigerant. Due to the heat exchange in the second heat exchanger 74, the refrigerant absorbs heat and the temperature rises, and the outside air radiates heat to lower the temperature.

The water pump 76 conveys the low temperature water from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 63 to the first heat exchanger 72. The water pump 76 includes an inverter circuit, and changes the drive rotation speed in accordance with a control value instructed by the control board 79, thereby changing the water flow rate during transportation.

The control board 79 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, and a readable/writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The control board 79 is communicably connected to each of the compressor 71, the expansion valve 73, and the blower 75 via a communication line, and controls these operations. The control board 79 is communicatively connected to the hot water supply controller 64 of the tank unit 61 via a communication line (not shown).

Returning to FIG. 1, the tank unit 61 includes a hot water storage tank 63, a hot water supply controller 64, a mixing valve 66, and the like. These components are housed in a metal outer case.

The hot water storage tank 63 is made of metal such as stainless steel, resin, or the like. A heat insulating material is arranged outside the hot water storage tank 63. As a result, the hot water can be kept warm in the hot water storage tank 63 for a long time.

Although not shown, the hot water supply controller 64 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, and a readable/writable non-volatile semiconductor memory, and controls the hot water supply device 6 as a whole. The hot water supply controller 64 is communicably connected to the control board of the heat pump unit 60 via a communication line (not shown). Further, the hot water supply controller 64 is communicatively connected to the remote controller 65 via a communication line 69. Further, hot water supply controller 64 is communicably connected to control device 20 via the home network.

The remote controller 65 is a terminal device for displaying the operating state and hot water storage state of the water heater 6 and presenting them to the user. The remote controller 65 is installed in the bathroom of the house H and receives an operation input regarding boiling or hot water supply from the user.

Although not shown, the remote controller 65 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a readable and writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory, an input device such as a push button, a touch panel or a touch pad, a display device such as an organic EL display or a liquid crystal display, and the like. It has a communication interface.

At the start of the boiling operation, the high temperature water in the hot water storage tank 63 is consumed, and low temperature water near the temperature of city water is stored in the lower portion of the hot water storage tank 63. By operating a pump (not shown), this low-temperature water enters the first heat exchanger 72 of the heat pump unit 60 and is heated by heat exchange with the refrigerant to become high-temperature water. This high-temperature water is returned to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 63, and in the hot water storage tank 63, high temperature water is accumulated in the upper part and low temperature water is accumulated in the lower part to form temperature stratification, and a temperature boundary is formed between the high temperature water and the low temperature water. A layer is created.

When the amount of boiling increases and the area of high-temperature water increases, the temperature boundary layer approaches the lower part of the hot water storage tank 63, and the temperature of water entering the first heat exchanger 72 gradually rises.

A hot water outlet pipe is connected to an upper portion of the hot water storage tank 63, and high temperature water discharged from the hot water storage tank 63 via the hot water outlet pipe is mixed with city water by a mixing valve 66. Thereby, hot water having a temperature desired by the user (for example, 40° C.) is supplied to the hot water supply terminal such as the shower 67 or the faucet 68 provided in the bathroom. At this time, in the hot water storage tank 63, city water is supplied from a water supply pipe (not shown) connected to the lower portion of the hot water storage tank 63 due to the volume of the high temperature water flowing from the upper portion and the water pressure. As a result, the temperature boundary layer moves upward in the hot water storage tank 63. When the high-temperature water becomes low, the water heater 6 performs additional boiling.

<Electrical equipment 7a, 7b,...>
The electric devices 7 (electric devices 7a, 7b,...) Are electric devices such as an air conditioner, an illuminator, a floor heating system, a refrigerator, an IH (Induction Heating) cooker, and a television. The electric devices 7a, 7b,... Are installed in the house H or the site thereof, and are electrically connected to the commercial power system 8 and the power generation facility 3 via the power lines D4, D5,. Has been done.

Each electric device 7 has a wireless communication interface, and communicates with the control device 20 via the home network. Note that each electric device 7 may have a specification of being connected to the home network via an external communication adapter (not shown). In response to the request from the control device 20, each electric device 7 stores the operating state data in which the device ID (Identification), the current time, and the information indicating the current operating state are stored via the home network. Send to.

<Control device 20>
The control device 20 is an information collecting unit that is installed in an appropriate place in the house H and collects information transmitted from each device installed in the house H via the home network. The control device 20 is, for example, a HEMS controller capable of integrally controlling each device installed in the house H. As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a clock unit 23, an in-home communication unit 24, and an out-of-home communication unit 25. These units are connected via a bus 29.

Although not shown, the control unit 21 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processing unit that executes various processes and calculations, and is also called a central processing unit, a central processing unit, a processor, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or the like. In the control unit 21, the CPU reads out the programs and data stored in the ROM, and uses the RAM as a work area to integrally control the control device 20.

The storage unit 22 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), and plays a role as a so-called secondary storage device (auxiliary storage device). .. The storage unit 22 stores various programs and data used by the control unit 21 to perform various processes, and various data generated or acquired by the control unit 21 performing various processes.

The clock unit 23 is a clock device that includes an RTC (Real Time Clock) and continues clocking while the power of the control device 20 is off.

The home communication unit 24 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card controller) for communicating via the home network built in the house H. Under the control of the control unit 21, the in-home communication unit 24 communicates with each of the power generation equipment 3, the power measuring device 4, the water heater 6 and the electric device 7 via the in-home network. The home communication unit 24 functions as a communication means.

The home network is specifically a wireless network conforming to ECHONET Lite. Echonet Light is a communication protocol for controlling home appliances and equipment, and is widely used as a standard protocol of HEMS. In the Echonet Lite, two types of electronic messages, a standard electronic message and an optional electronic message, are transmitted and received. The prescribed telegram is a telegram in the format prescribed by the consortium. The arbitrary message is a message whose format can be freely defined. The arbitrary message is an example of the first message, and the prescribed message is an example of the second message.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of a telegram in Echonet Lite. Both the standard message and the optional message include a header (EHD1 and EHD2), a transaction ID (TID), and data (EDATA) of the transmission content. The specified message EDATA is data whose contents are specified in advance, such as the ID (SEOJ and DEOJ) of the transmission destination, the information acquisition command (ESV), and the control contents (EPC) of the device. For example, simple and frequently used control such as switching on/off of the device and setting the temperature and the air volume of the air conditioner are specified in the specified message EDATA and can be executed by the specified message. All devices that communicate with Echonet Lite can communicate with each other as long as they communicate with the prescribed telegram.

On the other hand, since EDATA of an arbitrary message can be freely defined, it is possible to execute control that is not specified by the specified message. For example, the acquisition of an image of an infrared camera attached to the air conditioner, the setting of the amount of hot water that the water heater 6 raises in the middle of the night, and the like are executed by arbitrary telegrams. Further, the control that can be executed by the prescribed message or the arbitrary message may be executed. For example, the set temperature of the air conditioner which is set in the unit of 1° C. in the specified telegram can be set in the unit of 0.5° C. by using the arbitrary telegram. As described above, the arbitrary message is designed variously by the vendor that provides the device. Since arbitrary messages used by each vendor are not disclosed to the public, communication between devices of different vendors cannot be done by voluntary messages unless the information is signed by forming an alliance between the vendors, and communication by standard messages is required. Limited to

Returning to FIG. 4, the home communication unit 24, under the control of the control unit 21, the operation terminal 30, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Wi-SUN (registered trademark), wired LAN (Local Area Network), and the like. To communicate through.

The operation terminal 30 is a mobile device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a remote controller, a mobile phone, or a laptop computer, and functions as a user interface. The operation terminal 30 includes an input device such as a push button, a touch panel, or a touch pad, a display device such as an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display or a liquid crystal display, and a communication interface. The operation terminal 30 receives an operation from the user and transmits information indicating the received operation content to the control device 20. Further, the operation terminal 30 receives the information to be presented to the user, which is transmitted from the control device 20, and displays the received information.

The out-of-home communication unit 25 includes a communication interface for connecting to the wide area network N via the router 31, and communicates with an external device including the management server 40 via the wide area network N under the control of the control unit 21. To do. The router 31 is a device capable of communicating with an external device via the wide area network N, and is, for example, a broadband router. The wide area network N is, for example, the Internet.

<Management server 40>
The management server 40 is a server that causes the power management system 1 to function in cooperation with the control device 20, and is a server that provides resources in cloud computing, for example. The management server 40 remotely manages the control devices installed in a plurality of power consumption areas including the house H via the wide area network N. As shown in FIG. 6, the management server 40 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a communication unit 43. These respective units are connected via a bus 49.

The control unit 41 includes a CPU, ROM and RAM. The CPU is a processing unit that executes various processes and calculations, and is also called a central processing unit, a central processing unit, a processor, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a DSP, or the like. In the control unit 41, the CPU reads out the programs and data stored in the ROM, and uses the RAM as a work area to centrally control the management server 40.

The storage unit 42 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM, and plays a role as a so-called secondary storage device or an auxiliary storage device. The storage unit 42 stores programs and data used by the control unit 41 to perform various processes, and data generated or acquired by the control unit 41 performing various processes.

The communication unit 43 includes a communication interface for connecting to the wide area network N, and communicates with the control device 20 and the weather server 50 via the wide area network N under the control of the control unit 41. Specifically, the communication unit 43 acquires weather information from the weather server 50. In addition, the communication unit 43 acquires the measured value of the generated power P2 by the power generation facility 3 and the measured value of the power consumption Pc of the house H from the control device 20, and predicts the surplus power of the house H in the control device 20. Send.

<Weather server 50>
The meteorological server 50 is a data server operated by the Meteorological Agency, a meteorological operator, and the like, and provides meteorological information to the general public. The weather information is information on weather forecasts and results such as weather, temperature, solar radiation amount, sunshine duration, wind direction, and the like. The weather server 50 is communicably connected to the control device 20 installed in the power consumption area of each power consumer via the wide area network N, and distributes the weather information via the wide area network N.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a functional configuration of the power management system 1 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the control device 20 functionally includes a measurement value acquisition unit 210, a measurement value transmission unit 220, a prediction information reception unit 230, an operation setting unit 240, a determination unit 250, and an operation control. And a section 260. Further, the management server 40 functionally includes a weather information acquisition unit 410, a measurement value acquisition unit 420, a prediction unit 430, and a prediction information transmission unit 440.

Each of these functions is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and the firmware are described as programs and stored in the ROM or the storage units 22 and 42 of each device. Then, in the control units 21 and 41, the CPU realizes the functions of the respective units by executing the programs stored in the ROM or the storage units 22 and 42. The management server 40 also includes a database 490. The database 490 is constructed in the storage area in the storage unit 42.

In the control device 20, the measurement value acquisition unit 210 acquires, from the power measurement device 4 via the home network, measurement values of the power obtained by the power measurement device 4 including the generated power P2 and the power consumption Pc. The power measuring device 4 transmits the measured values of power obtained by CT1 to CT3 to the control device 20 periodically, for example. Alternatively, the measurement value acquisition unit 210 transmits a request for a power measurement value to the power measurement device 4 as necessary, and the power measurement device 4 transmits the power measurement value to the control device 20 in a system that responds to the request. You may.

When the measurement value acquisition unit 210 acquires the measurement value of power from the power measurement device 4, the measurement value acquisition unit 210 stores the acquired measurement value in the storage unit 22. The measurement value acquisition unit 210 is realized by the control unit 21 cooperating with the in-home communication unit 24 and the storage unit 22. The measurement value acquisition unit 210 functions as a measurement value acquisition unit.

The measurement value transmission unit 220 transmits the measurement value of the generated power P2 and the measurement value of the power consumption Pc acquired by the measurement value acquisition unit 210 to the management server 40 via the wide area network N. The measured value transmission unit 220 transmits the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc stored in the storage unit 22 to the management server 40 at a specified timing or in response to a request from the management server 40. Note that the measurement value transmission unit 220 may transmit the measurement value of the generated power P2 and the measurement value of the power consumption Pc collectively or separately. The measurement value transmission unit 220 is realized by the control unit 21 cooperating with the outside communication unit 25. The measurement value transmitting unit 220 functions as a measurement value transmitting unit.

In the management server 40, the weather information acquisition unit 410 acquires weather information from the weather server 50. The weather information includes a weather forecast that is a forecast of weather, an amount of solar radiation, a sunshine duration, and the like in an area including the house H, and a past weather record of these, and generates power P2 generated by the power generation facility 3. It is used as an index for prediction.

The weather information acquisition unit 410 transmits a request to the weather server 50 via the wide area network N, and acquires weather information from the weather server 50 as a response to the request. The weather information acquisition unit 410 acquires weather information from the weather server 50 each time the weather information is updated in the weather server 50, and stores the acquired weather information in the database 490. The weather information acquisition unit 410 is realized by the control unit 41 cooperating with the communication unit 43. The weather information acquisition unit 410 functions as a weather information acquisition unit.

The measurement value acquisition unit 420 acquires the measurement value of the power P2 generated by the power generation facility 3 and the measurement value of the power consumption Pc of the house H. Specifically, the measurement value acquisition unit 420 transmits the measurement values when the measurement value transmission unit 220 of the control device 20 transmits the measurement values of the generated power P2 and the power consumption Pc via the wide area network N. Get the value.

The measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc acquired by the measured value acquisition unit 420 may be expressed in units of electric power (watt), or the electric energy obtained by integrating the electric power over a specified time. It may be expressed in units of. The measurement value acquisition unit 420 is realized by the control unit 41 cooperating with the communication unit 43. The measurement value acquisition unit 420 functions as a measurement value acquisition unit.

The database 490 stores the meteorological information acquired by the meteorological information acquisition unit 410 and the measured values of the generated power P2 and the power consumption Pc acquired by the measured value acquisition unit 420. Specifically, the database 490 stores weather forecast information 491, meteorological record information 492, generated power information 493, and power consumption information 494, as shown in FIG. 8.

The weather forecast information 491 is information indicating the weather forecast of the next day in the area including the house H. The meteorological record information 492 is information indicating past meteorological records in the area including the house H. The generated power information 493 is information indicating the measured value of the generated power P2 in the house H. The power consumption information 494 is information indicating the measured value of the power consumption Pc in the house H. The meteorological record information 492, the generated power information 493, and the consumed power information 494 store the meteorological record, the measured value of the generated power P2, and the measured value of the consumed power Pc in the past prescribed period, respectively, in chronological order. These pieces of information stored in the database 490 are updated every time they are acquired by the weather information acquisition unit 410 or the measurement value acquisition unit 420.

Returning to FIG. 7, the prediction unit 430, based on the meteorological information acquired by the meteorological information acquisition unit 410 and the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc acquired by the measured value acquisition unit 420, the house Predict surplus power at H. The surplus power is generated, for example, when the generated power P2 exceeds the power consumption Pc in the period T2 shown in FIG. The prediction unit 430 predicts the surplus power of the house H on the next day based on the information stored in the database 490. The prediction unit 430 is realized by the control unit 41 cooperating with the storage unit 42. The prediction unit 430 functions as a prediction unit.

First, the prediction unit 430 predicts the power generation amount of the house H on the next day. Therefore, the prediction unit 430 creates a power generation prediction model based on the weather record information 492 and the generated power information 493 stored in the database 490. The power generation prediction model is a model for predicting the generated power P2, and is a model in which the power generation amount in the past prescribed period is classified by weather and time zone. The prescribed period is 2 weeks, 1 month, etc.

The predicting unit 430 refers to the meteorological record in the past specified period, classifies the power generation amount in the specified period according to the weather such as sunny, cloudy, and rain, and the classified power generation amount for each specified time zone. Calculate the averaged average value. Then, the prediction unit 430 creates a power generation prediction model by associating the calculated average value of the power generation amount with the weather and the time zone. The prescribed time zone is a time zone divided by a length of 30 minutes, 1 hour, or the like.

The prediction unit 430 refers to the weather forecast information 491 stored in the database 490 and acquires the weather information of the next day in the area including the house H. Then, the prediction unit 430 refers to the power generation prediction model and predicts the power generation amount of each time zone corresponding to the weather of the next day as the power generation amount of the next day.

Secondly, the prediction unit 430 predicts the power consumption of the house H on the next day. Therefore, the prediction unit 430 creates a consumption prediction model based on the power consumption information 494 stored in the database 490. The power consumption prediction model is a model for predicting the power consumption Pc, and is a model in which the power consumption amount in the past prescribed period is classified by day of the week and time zone.

The prediction unit 430 classifies the power consumption amounts in the past specified period by day of the week, and calculates an average value of the classified power consumption amounts for each specified time period. Then, the prediction unit 430 creates a consumption prediction model by associating the calculated average value of the power consumption with the day of the week and the time of day. The specified period and specified time zone are the same as those in the power generation prediction model. The prediction unit 430 refers to the consumption prediction model and predicts the power consumption in each time zone corresponding to the day of the next day as the power consumption of the next day.

When the power generation amount and the power consumption amount of the next day are predicted in this way, the prediction unit 430 predicts a period in which the power generation amount exceeds the power consumption amount as a period in which surplus power is generated. The period during which the surplus power is generated specifically corresponds to the daytime period T2 shown in FIG. Furthermore, the prediction unit 430 predicts, as the surplus power amount, an amount obtained by subtracting the power consumption amount from the power generation amount during the period in which the surplus power is generated. The prediction unit 430 calculates an amount obtained by subtracting the power consumption amount from the power generation amount for each prescribed time period in the period in which the surplus power is generated. As a result, the prediction unit 430 predicts the amount of surplus power in each time period included in the period in which surplus power is generated, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

The prediction information transmission unit 440 transmits, to the control device 20, prediction information indicating the surplus power predicted by the prediction unit 430. More specifically, the prediction information transmission unit 440 transmits prediction information indicating a period in which surplus power is generated and the surplus power amount in each time zone illustrated in FIG. 9 to the control device 20 via the wide area network N. Send. The prediction information transmission unit 440 transmits the prediction information to the control device 20 when the specified timing arrives or in response to the request from the control device 20. The prediction information transmission unit 440 is realized by the control unit 41 cooperating with the communication unit 43. The prediction information transmission unit 440 functions as a prediction information transmission unit.

In the control device 20, the prediction information receiving unit 230 communicates with the management server 40 via the wide area network N and receives the prediction information transmitted from the management server 40. The prediction information receiving unit 230 is realized by the control unit 21 cooperating with the outside communication unit 25. The prediction information receiving unit 230 functions as a prediction information receiving unit.

The operation setting unit 240 sets the first period, which is a period in which the water heater 6 is operated with the surplus power, based on the prediction information received by the prediction information receiving unit 230. The period in which the hot water supply device 6 is operated with the surplus power is a period during which the hot water supply device 6 uses the surplus power to raise the hot water during the daytime when the power generation facility 3 generates the surplus power.

FIG. 10 shows changes in the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 63 when the water heater 6 raises the hot water during the daytime and when it does not raise the hot water during the daytime. In FIG. 10, a solid line L1 represents the amount of hot water stored when the hot water is not pumped up during the daytime, and a broken line L2 represents the amount of hot water stored when the hot water is heated up during the daytime.

If the surplus power is low or absent, such as on a rainy or cloudy day, the water heater 6 does not boil hot water during the day. In this case, as shown by the solid line L1, the water heater 6 raises the target amount of hot water at night when the electricity charge is low. On the other hand, when a large amount of surplus power is generated, such as on a sunny day, the water heater 6 uses the surplus power of V1 of the target hot water storage amount, as indicated by a broken line L2. And raise it up in the daytime. In this case, the amount of hot water pumped up at night is reduced by V1. A period during which the water heater 6 raises hot water during the day when excess power is generated is called a first period, and the water heater 6 is heated at night before the first period and when no excess power is generated. The period of raising the arm is called the second period.

The operation setting unit 240 determines whether or not to cause the water heater 6 to raise the hot water in the daytime based on the estimation result of the surplus power by the management server 40, and when making the water heater 6 raise the hot water in the daytime. , Set the period and amount of hot water to boil. Specifically, the operation setting unit 240 sets a period in which the surplus power is larger than the power consumption of the water heater 6 as the first period, that is, the daytime raising period. The operation setting unit 240 refers to the prediction information received from the management server 40 and compares the size of the surplus power in each time period included in the period in which the surplus power is generated with the power consumption of the water heater 6. Then, operation setting unit 240 sets a period during which the surplus power exceeds the power consumption of water heater 6 as the daytime raising period.

When there are a plurality of periods when the surplus power exceeds the power consumption of water heater 6, operation setting unit 240 sets the longest period of the plurality of periods as the daytime raising period. In this way, by setting the longest possible time as the daytime raising period, the number of times of starting and stopping the water heater 6 can be reduced, so that the water heater 6 can be operated efficiently.

Note that the power consumption of the water heater 6 is the power consumed by the water heater 6 while the water heater 6 is performing the raising operation. The operation setting unit 240 acquires information on the power consumption of the water heater 6 from the water heater 6 by communicating with the water heater 6 via the in-home communication unit 24. Alternatively, the operation setting unit 240 may acquire, as the power consumption of the water heater 6, the measurement value of the power P3 measured by CT3 from the power measurement device 4, or may be input by the user or set as an initial value. Alternatively, a fixed value may be used.

Further, the operation setting unit 240 sets the daytime amount of boiling, which is the first amount of hot water heated by the water heater 6 in the set daytime raising period. Specifically, the operation setting unit 240 sets a value obtained by multiplying the set length of the daytime raising period by the raising ability of the water heater 6 as the first amount of hot water that the water heater 6 should raise in the daytime. To do.

The boiling capacity of the water heater 6 is an index showing how fast the water heater 6 can boil hot water, and is represented by the amount of water that the water heater 6 can boil per specified time. The operation setting unit 240 obtains the information on the raising capacity of the water heater 6 from the water heater 6 by communicating with the water heater 6 via the in-home communication unit 24. Alternatively, the operation setting unit 240 may use a fixed value input by the user or set as an initial value as the arm raising capability of the water heater 6.

When the multiplication value obtained by multiplying the set length of the daytime raising period by the raising ability of the water heater 6 is smaller than the upper limit value, the operation setting unit 240 sets this multiplication value as the daytime raising amount. The upper limit value is the maximum amount of hot water that the water heater 6 can raise. Specifically, the upper limit value is preset as a value obtained by subtracting the hot water outage prevention amount from the maximum value of the hot water storage amount. The hot water drainage prevention amount is, for example, 100 L, which is a fixed value. When the value obtained by multiplying the set length of the daytime raising period by the raising ability of water heater 6 is larger than the upper limit value, operation setting unit 240 sets the upper limit value as the daytime raising amount.

In this way, the operation setting unit 240, based on the surplus power prediction information acquired from the management server 40, the hot water heater in the daytime warm-up period and the daytime warm-up period in which the hot water heater 6 is operated by the surplus power. 6 Set the amount of daytime lift up. The operation setting unit 240 is realized by the control unit 21. The operation setting unit 240 functions as operation setting means.

The determination unit 250 determines whether or not the water heater 6 is compatible with communication by an arbitrary electronic message. The fact that the water heater 6 supports communication by arbitrary message means that the water heater 6 has a function of communicating with the control device 20 by arbitrary message and can communicate with the control device 20 by arbitrary message. To do. Since the format of the arbitrary message is not defined like the standard message, if the system configuration differs between the control device 20 and the water heater 6, the arbitrary message cannot be communicated between the water heater 6 and the controller 20. there is a possibility. In particular, if the vendor, the version, etc. are different between the control device 20 and the water heater 6, the system configurations are often different. Therefore, the determination unit 250 determines whether or not it is possible to communicate with the water heater 6 by an arbitrary message. Check if

Specifically, the determination unit 250 determines that the water heater 6 is compatible with communication in an arbitrary message when the specific information is successfully obtained from the water heater 6 by communication in the arbitrary message. If the acquisition of the specific information fails, it is determined that the water heater 6 does not support communication by arbitrary message. The specific information is information that can be communicated by an arbitrary electronic message but cannot be communicated by a prescribed electronic message in Echonet Lite. The specific information is, specifically, the nighttime pull-up amount of the water heater 6.

The nighttime heating amount is the amount of hot water set in the water heater 6 as the amount of hot water that the water heater 6 should raise at night. The night-time pumping amount is set based on the current hot water storage amount and the hot water amount required on the next day. When the determination unit 250 transmits a request for the nighttime heating amount to the water heater 6 by an arbitrary message and receives the nighttime heating amount from the water heater 6 as a response to the request, the water heater 6 performs communication by the arbitrary message. It is determined to be compatible. The determination unit 250 is realized by the control unit 21 cooperating with the in-home communication unit 24. The determination unit 250 functions as a determination unit.

Operation control unit 260 controls the operation of water heater 6. The operation of the water heater 6 is an operation of boiling up the hot water during the daytime when surplus power is generated or at night when the electricity rate is low. The operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to communicate with the water heater 6 via the in-home network, and sends a control command to the water heater 6 to cause the water heater 6 to perform the raising operation. The operation control unit 260 is realized by the control unit 21 cooperating with the in-home communication unit 24. The operation control unit 260 functions as operation control means.

The operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to communicate with the water heater 6 by an arbitrary message or a prescribed message according to the determination result of the determination unit 250, thereby operating the water heater 6 with surplus power. Operating the water heater 6 with surplus power means causing the water heater 6 to raise the hot water by using the surplus power generated in the house H. The operation control unit 260 causes the water heater 6 to raise the amount of hot water set in the daytime set by the operation setting unit 240 during the daytime set-up period set by the operation setting unit 240. Further, the operation control unit 260 sets the second amount of hot water that the water heater 6 should raise in the nighttime heating period based on the daytime heating amount, and the water heater 6 sets the second amount of hot water in the nighttime heating period. Bring up the hot water.

As a result of the determination by the determination unit 250, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to communicate with the hot water supply device 6 by an arbitrary message so that excess power is generated by the in-home communication unit 24. Let the water heater 6 raise the water. When the water heater 6 supports communication by an arbitrary electronic message, the determination unit 250 has succeeded in acquiring the nighttime lift amount from the water heater 6. In this case, operation control unit 260 transmits a first command based on the amount of nighttime lifting to water heater 6 by communication in an arbitrary telegram.

To be more specific, the operation control unit 260 subtracts the daytime amount of pull-up set by the operation setting unit 240 from the amount of night-time pull-up obtained by the determination unit 250 as a new night-time pull-up amount. Set. The new nighttime heating amount is the second amount of hot water that the water heater 6 should raise during the nighttime heating period. Then, operation control unit 260 transmits a command to boil a new night boil amount of hot water at night as a first command to water heater 6 by communication by in-home communication unit 24 by an arbitrary message.

When the water heater 6 receives a new nighttime heating amount from the control device 20, the hot water heater 6 raises the received new nighttime heating amount at nighttime. After that, the water heater 6 determines the amount of hot water that is insufficient with respect to the initial nighttime heating amount, and determines the daytime heating amount by itself. Then, the determined daytime amount of hot water is heated to the side during the daytime heating period when the surplus power is generated.

In this way, when the hot water supply device 6 receives a new nighttime heating amount from the control device 20, it determines the amount of hot water that needs to be heated during the daytime, and the heating water heater 6 itself during the daytime heating period during which excess power is generated. Judgment is made, and hot water is raised by surplus power. Therefore, when the water heater 6 supports communication by arbitrary telegram, the operation control unit 260 sets a new nighttime heating amount obtained by subtracting the daytime heating amount from the nighttime heating amount acquired from the water heating device 6. It transmits to the water heater 6. Then, operation control unit 260 entrusts hot water supply device 6 with the execution of the following daytime raising.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination by the determination unit 250, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to communicate with the hot water supply device 6 by the specified electronic message when the hot water supply device 6 does not support communication by the arbitrary electronic message. Thus, the hot water heater 6 is caused to raise the hot water with the surplus power. When the operation control unit 260 cannot communicate with the water heater 6 by the arbitrary message, the operation controller 260 transmits the second command to the water heater 6 by the communication by the prescribed message, and causes the water heater 6 to raise the hot water. The second command is a command that can be transmitted as a specified message, and thus is different from the first command transmitted as an arbitrary message.

Specifically, when the water heater 6 does not support communication by an arbitrary electronic message, the determination unit 250 has failed to acquire the nighttime heating amount from the water heater 6. In this case, the motion control unit 260 sets an amount obtained by subtracting the daytime armlift amount set by the motion setting unit 240 from the specified amount as the night arm lift amount. This nighttime heating amount is the second amount of hot water that the water heater 6 should raise during the nighttime heating period. In other words, the operation control unit 260 cannot acquire the information on the nighttime heating amount currently set in the water heater 6, and therefore estimates the nighttime heating amount from various information.

The specified amount is specifically the maximum amount of hot water stored in the water heater 6. The operation control unit 260 acquires information on the maximum hot water storage amount of the water heater 6 from the water heater 6 by communicating with the water heater 6 via the in-home communication unit 24. Alternatively, the operation control unit 260 may use a fixed value as the specified amount. For example, operation control unit 260 may use the amount estimated from the capacity of hot water storage tank 63 as the prescribed amount, or may use the average value of the nighttime raising amount in the past prescribed period as the prescribed amount.

The water heater 6 automatically performs nighttime raising from 23:00 to 7:00 the next morning. During this nighttime heating period, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to communicate with the water heater 6 by a prescribed telegram, and causes the water heater 6 to raise the set amount of nighttime hot water. More specifically, during the night-time raising period, the operation control unit 260 monitors the remaining hot water amount of the water heater 6 by acquiring the remaining hot water amount from the hot water heater 6 at a specified time interval through communication by a specified telegram. To do. The operation control unit 260 transmits a request for the amount of remaining hot water to the water heater 6 at a prescribed time interval by the in-home communication unit 24, and receives a response to the request from the water heater 6. The request for the amount of remaining hot water and its response are transmitted by a prescribed electronic message. The prescribed time interval is 30 seconds, 1 minute, or the like.

As a result of monitoring the amount of remaining hot water of the water heater 6, the operation control unit 260 turns on the water heater 6 when the increment amount from the amount of remaining hot water at the start of the night heating period reaches the set night heating amount. Stop. More specifically, when the set night-time amount of hot water is pumped up, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to send a command to the water heater 6 to stop pumping. The command to stop raising the arm is transmitted by a standard telegram. As a result, the operation control unit 260 forcibly ends the night-time heating before the night-time heating amount originally set for the water heater 6 is heated.

After night-time raising, the operation control unit 260 waits until the daytime raising period set by the operation setting unit 240 comes. Then, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to communicate with the water heater 6 by a specified message during the daytime heating period, and the hot water supply device 6 is supplied with the daytime amount of hot water set by the operation setting unit 240. To raise.

More specifically, the operation control unit 260 transmits a command to start heating to the water heater 6 by the in-home communication unit 24 when the timing when the daytime heating period starts. Thereby, operation control unit 260 causes water heater 6 to raise hot water with surplus power. After that, when the timing for ending the daytime pump-up period comes, the operation control unit 260 transmits a command to stop pumping to the water heater 6 by the in-home communication unit 24. As a result, the water heater 6 stops the raising of the water in the daytime. The commands for starting and stopping the raising of the arm are transmitted by a prescribed telegram.

FIG. 11 shows a setting screen displayed on the operation terminal 30. The control unit 21 of the control device 20 communicates with the operation terminal 30 via the in-home communication unit 24 to display the setting screen of the water heater 6 on the display device of the operation terminal 30. A user who is a power consumer can set the daytime pumping of the water heater 6 via the input device of the operation terminal 30 on the setting screen shown in FIG. 11.

More specifically, when the item of “automatic daytime raising” is set to ON on the setting screen shown in FIG. 11, the daytime raising function of the water heater 6 can be enabled. Also, if the item "Control with other company's device/old device" is set to ON, even if the water heater 6 is a device of another company or an old version device that cannot communicate with arbitrary messages, it will be It is possible to cause the water heater 6 to perform daytime raising. The control unit 21 functions as a setting receiving unit that receives the setting input by the user in this way.

FIG. 12 shows a display screen of the operation terminal 30 when the daytime arm raising function is enabled. The control unit 21 of the control device 20 functions as a display control unit that communicates with the operation terminal 30 via the in-home communication unit 24 and causes the display device of the operation terminal 30 to display the current power status of the house H.

Specifically, on the display screen shown in FIG. 12, the operation terminal 30 displays that the daytime underarm control is in progress near the image of the water heater 6. Then, since the operating terminal 30 is in the daytime arm-raising control, it displays that the night arm-raising amount is being reduced. With such a display, the user can confirm various information during the daytime armlifting control.

A flow of processing executed in the power management system 1 configured as above will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. FIG. 13 shows a flow of processing executed by the weather server 50, the management server 40, the control device 20, and the water heater 6 in one day.

When the process shown in FIG. 13 starts, the control unit 41 in the management server 40 acquires the weather information from the weather server 50 (step S1). Specifically, the control unit 41 accesses the weather server 50 via the wide area network N at the timing when the weather information is updated in the weather server 50 three times a day in the morning, daytime, and evening. Then, the control unit 41 acquires, from the meteorological server 50, forecast information on the weather, the amount of solar radiation, and the sunshine duration in the area including the house H as the meteorological information. Upon acquiring the weather information, the control unit 41 stores the acquired weather information in the database 490. In step S1, the control unit 41 functions as the weather information acquisition unit 410.

After obtaining the weather information, the control unit 41 obtains the measured value of the generated power P2 by the power generation facility 3 and the measured value of the power consumption Pc of the house H from the control device 20 at about 19:00 in the evening ( Steps S2 and S3). In the control device 20, the control unit 21 sets the measured values of the generated power P2 and the power consumption Pc measured by the power measurement device 4 to the wide area network N at a specified timing or in response to a request from the management server 40. Via the management server 40. The control unit 41 acquires the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc thus transmitted from the control device 20, and stores the acquired measured values in the database 490. In steps S2 and S3, the control unit 21 functions as the measurement value transmission unit 220, and the control unit 41 functions as the measurement value acquisition unit 420.

When the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc are acquired, the control unit 41 predicts the surplus power in the house H (step S4). In step S4, the control unit 41 functions as the prediction unit 430. Details of the surplus power prediction process in step S4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the surplus power prediction process shown in FIG. 14 is started, the control unit 41 creates or updates the power generation prediction model (step S401). More specifically, the control unit 41 refers to the meteorological record and the measured value of the generated power P2 stored in the database 490, and models the power generation amount in the past prescribed period for each weather and time zone. To create. Alternatively, when the power generation prediction model has already been created, the control unit 41 updates the power generation prediction model based on the latest information stored in the database 490.

When the power generation prediction model is created or updated, the control unit 41 creates or updates the consumption prediction model (step S402). More specifically, the control unit 41 refers to the measured value of the power consumption Pc stored in the database 490, and creates a model in which the power consumption amount in the past specified period is classified by day of the week and time zone. .. Alternatively, if the consumption prediction model has already been created, the control unit 41 updates the consumption prediction model based on the latest information stored in the database 490.

When the consumption prediction model is created or updated, the control unit 41 acquires the weather forecast for the next day in the target area (step S403), and predicts the amount of power generation in the house H for the next day based on the power generation prediction model and the weather forecast. (Step S404). Specifically, the control unit 41 acquires the weather information of the next day in the area including the house H based on the weather information stored in the database 490. Then, the control unit 41 inputs the predicted weather into the power generation prediction model, and predicts the power generation amount of each time zone corresponding to the input weather as the power generation amount of the next day.

After predicting the generated power, the control unit 41 predicts the power consumption on the next day in the house H based on the consumption prediction model (step S405). More specifically, the control unit 41 inputs the next day of the week into the consumption prediction model, and predicts the power consumption of each time zone corresponding to the input day of the week as the power consumption of the next day.

After predicting the power consumption, the control unit 41 predicts the surplus power of the next day in the house H based on the predicted power generation amount and the power consumption amount (step S406). Specifically, the control unit 41 predicts a period in which the power generation amount exceeds the power consumption amount as a period in which surplus power is generated. Further, the control unit 41 predicts, as the surplus power amount, an amount obtained by subtracting the power consumption amount from the power generation amount in each time period included in the period in which the surplus power is generated. With the above, the surplus power prediction process shown in FIG. 14 is completed.

Return to FIG. After predicting the surplus power in the house H in this way, at about 21 o'clock at night, the control unit 41 transmits the prediction information of the surplus power to the control device 20 via the wide area network N (step S5). In the control device 20, the control unit 21 receives the prediction information transmitted from the management server 40. In step S5, the control unit 41 functions as the prediction information transmission unit 440, and the control unit 21 functions as the prediction information reception unit 230.

Upon receiving the prediction information, the control unit 21 adjusts the daytime armlifting based on the received prediction information (step S6). In step S6, the control unit 21 functions as the operation setting unit 240. Details of the daytime arm raising adjustment processing in step S6 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the daytime raising adjustment process shown in FIG. 15 is started, the control unit 21 sets a period in which the surplus power exceeds the power consumption of the water heater 6 (step S601). Then, the control unit 21 determines the longest period of the identified periods as the daytime raising period (step S602). Specifically, the control unit 21 refers to the prediction information received from the management server 40, and predicts that the surplus power in each time period of the period in which surplus power is generated is larger than the power consumption of the water heater 6. Identify the time period. Then, the control unit 21 sets the longest continuous period from the specified periods as the daytime raising period.

When the daytime raising period is set, the control unit 21 calculates the daytime raising amount (step S603). More specifically, the control unit 21 multiplies the length of the set daytime throw-up period by the throwing capacity of the water heater 6 to calculate the amount that the water heater 6 can raise during the daytime throw-up period. ..

After calculating the daytime lift amount, the control unit 21 determines whether the daytime lift amount is larger than the upper limit value (step S604). When the daytime armature is larger than the upper limit (step S604; YES), the control unit 21 sets the upper limit to the daytime armage instead of the calculated daytime armage (step S605).

On the other hand, when the daytime pull-up amount is equal to or less than the upper limit value (step S604; NO), the control unit 21 skips the process of step S605. In other words, the control unit 21 sets the daytime armlift amount calculated in step S603 as the final daytime arm lift amount. With the above, the daytime armrest adjustment processing shown in FIG. 15 is completed.

Returning to FIG. 13, when the daytime armlifting is adjusted, the control unit 21 cooperates with the water heater 6 to perform armlifting at night and in the daytime of the next day (step S7). Details of the nighttime and daytime arm-raising processing in step S7 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the process shown in FIG. 16 is started, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the nighttime heating amount has been acquired from the water heater 6 (step S701). More specifically, the control unit 21 transmits a request for the nighttime raising amount to the water heater 6 by an arbitrary message and determines whether or not a response to the request has been received from the water heater 6. As a result, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the hot water supply device 6 is compatible with communication in arbitrary messages. In step S701, the control unit 21 functions as the determination unit 250.

When the nighttime heating amount can be acquired from the water heater 6 (step S701; YES), the control unit 21 supplies the hot water as a new nighttime heating amount by subtracting the daytime heating amount from the acquired nighttime heating amount. To the device 6 (step S702). In other words, when the water heater 6 supports communication by arbitrary telegram, the control unit 21 subtracts the amount of hot water to be raised in the daytime from the amount of nighttime heat initially set in the water heater 6. A command is sent to the water heater 6 by an arbitrary message so that it can be pulled up at night.

When the hot water supply controller 64 of the water heater 6 receives the command for the new nighttime heating amount from the control device 20, the hot water supply controller 64 raises the received new nighttime heating amount at night. After that, the hot water supply controller 64 raises the amount of hot water obtained by subtracting the new amount of nighttime heating from the initial amount of nighttime heating during the daytime heating period so that the amount of hot water required for one day is not insufficient.

On the other hand, when the night-time heating amount cannot be obtained from the water heater 6 (step S701; NO), the control unit 21 sets the night-time heating amount to the amount obtained by subtracting the daytime heating amount from the specified amount. Yes (step S703). In other words, when the water heater 6 does not support communication by arbitrary telegram, the control unit 21 cannot acquire the information about the nighttime raising amount that is currently set in the water heater 6, and therefore the control device 20 side preliminarily. Set the night lift amount using the specified amount.

When the night-time heating amount is set, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the heating amount of the water heater 6 has reached the set night-time heating amount during the night-time heating starting from around 23:00. (Step S704). Specifically, the control unit 21 monitors the amount of remaining hot water of the water heater 6 by communication in a specified telegram when the nighttime bubbling period starts. Then, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the nighttime amount of hot water set in step S703 has been heated during the nighttime heating period.

When the amount of armpits has not reached the set amount of night armpits (step S704; NO), the control unit 21 keeps the process in step S704 until the amount of armpits reaches the set amount of night armpits.

Finally, when the amount of armpits reaches the set amount of armpits at night (step S704; YES), the control unit 21 instructs the water heater 6 to stop the armpits (step S705). More specifically, the control unit 21 transmits a command to stop heating to the water heater 6 by communication in a specified telegram. When the water heater 6 receives the command to stop the armpit raising, it stops the armpit raising at night.

After the nighttime raising, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the daytime raising start time has arrived (step S706). Specifically, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the daytime raising period set in step S602 has arrived. When the start time of the daytime arm raising has not arrived (step S706; NO), the control unit 21 keeps the process at step S706 until the start time arrives.

When the start time of the daytime armlifting arrives (step S706; YES), the control unit 21 instructs the water heater 6 to start arming (step S707). More specifically, the control unit 21 transmits a command to start heating to the water heater 6 by communication in a specified telegram. When the water heater 6 receives the command to start the arm warming, it starts the arm warming in the daytime.

When the daytime armlift is started, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the daytime armarm end time has come (step S708). When the end time of the daytime arm raising has not arrived (step S708; NO), the control unit 21 keeps the process at step S708 until the end time arrives.

When the end time of the daytime armlifting arrives (step S708; YES), the control unit 21 instructs the water heater 6 to stop armpiting (step S709). More specifically, the control unit 21 transmits a command to stop heating to the water heater 6 by communication in a specified telegram. When the water heater 6 receives the command to stop the arm raising, it stops the arm raising in the daytime.

With the above, the arm raising process shown in FIG. 16 and the process executed on a daily basis in the power management system 1 shown in FIG. 13 are completed. In steps S702 to S709, the control unit 21 functions as the operation control unit 260.

As described above, the power management system 1 according to Embodiment 1 predicts the surplus power of the next day in the house H, and causes the water heater 6 to raise the hot water during the daytime when the surplus power is generated. At that time, when the hot water supply device 6 supports communication by an arbitrary electronic message, the control device 20 causes the hot water supply device 6 to perform daytime raising by the communication by the optional electronic message, and the hot water supply device 6 performs the optional electronic message. If the communication is not supported, the hot water supply device 6 is caused to perform the daytime raising by the communication by the specified telegram. Thereby, even if the communicable telegram between control device 20 and water heater 6 is different, water heater 6 can be operated properly. As a result, even if the water heater 6 is manufactured by another company or is an old model, the water heater 6 can be caused to perform daytime pumping, and thus surplus power can be effectively used.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the same features as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 17 shows a functional configuration of the power management system 1a according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the power management system 1a includes a power measurement device 4, a water heater 6, a router 31, a management server 40a, and a weather server 50. The power management system 1 according to the first embodiment is installed in the house H and includes the control device 20 that controls the water heater 6. On the other hand, the power management system 1a according to the second embodiment does not include the control device 20. Instead, the management server 40a functions as a control device that controls the water heater 6 via the router 31.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the management server 40a functionally includes a weather information acquisition unit 410, a measurement value acquisition unit 420, a prediction unit 430, an operation setting unit 240, a determination unit 250, and an operation control unit 260. And In the control unit 41, the CPU realizes the function of each unit by executing the program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 42.

Each function provided in the management server 40a is the same as the function described in the first embodiment. However, the measured value acquisition unit 420 acquires the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc from the power measuring device 4 via the router 31. In other words, the measured value acquisition unit 420 acquires the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc without passing through the control device 20. The operation setting unit 240, the determination unit 250, and the operation control unit 260 are included in the control device 20 in the first embodiment, but are included in the management server 40a in the second embodiment. The management server 40a also includes a database 490. The database 490 is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

The flow of processing executed in the power management system 1a configured as above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 shows a flow of processing executed by the weather server 50, the management server 40a, the power measuring device 4, and the water heater 6 in one day.

When the process illustrated in FIG. 18 is started, the control unit 41 in the management server 40a acquires the weather information from the weather server 50 (step S21). The process of step S21 is the same as the process of step S1 in the first embodiment.

After acquiring the weather information, the control unit 41, at about 19:00 in the evening, measures the value of the generated power P2 by the power generation facility 3 and the power consumption Pc of the house H from the power measurement device 4 via the wide area network N. The measurement value of is acquired (steps S22 and S23). The power measuring device 4 transmits the measured values of the generated power P2 and the power consumption Pc to the management server 40a via the wide area network N at a specified timing or in response to a request from the management server 40a. The control unit 41 acquires the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc thus transmitted from the power measuring device 4, and stores the acquired measured values in the database 490.

When the measured values of the generated power P2 and the consumed power Pc are acquired, the control unit 41 predicts the surplus power in the house H (step S24). After that, at around 21 o'clock at night, the control unit 41 adjusts the daytime arm raising (step S26). After adjusting the daytime raising, the control unit 41 controls the water heater 6 via the wide area network N to execute the nighttime and the next day's daytime raising (step S27). The processes of steps S24, S26 and S27 are the same as the processes of steps S4, S6 and S7 in the first embodiment, respectively.

As described above, in the power management system 1a according to the second embodiment, the management server 40a acquires the measured value of the power in the house H, predicts the surplus power in the house H on the next day, and calculates the power of the water heater 6. Adjust daytime arm lift. Then, the management server 40a causes the hot water supply device 6 to remotely raise the daytime. As a result, even when the control device 20 is not installed in the house H, the water heater 6 can be caused to carry out daytime raising, so that the configuration of the power management system 1a can be simplified.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described. The description of the features similar to those of the second and third embodiments will be omitted.

FIG. 19 shows a functional configuration of the power management system 1b according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, the power management system 1b includes a water heater 6, a router 31, and a communication adapter 80. The communication adapter 80 is externally attached to the water heater 6 and electrically connected to the water heater 6, and relays communication between the water heater 6 and the outside. In the third embodiment, communication adapter 80 functions as a control device that controls water heater 6.

As shown in FIG. 19, the communication adapter 80 functionally includes an instruction receiving unit 270, a conversion unit 280, a determination unit 250, and an operation control unit 260. The communication adapter 80 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, and a readable/writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The CPU executes the programs stored in the ROM to realize the functions of the above-described units.

The instruction receiving unit 270 communicates with the aggregator 90 via the wide area network N and the router 31, and receives an instruction to operate the water heater 6 from the aggregator 90. The aggregator 90 is, for example, an electric power company or an electric power company that mediates buying and selling of electric power. For example, the instruction receiving unit 270 receives, from the aggregator 90, an instruction on the amount of nighttime raising and an instruction on the daytime raising time. The instruction receiving unit 270 functions as an instruction receiving unit.

The conversion unit 280 converts the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 270 into a corresponding arbitrary electronic message or prescribed electronic message. More specifically, since the aggregator 90 transmits instructions of various formats and contents, it may not be possible to transmit the control instruction to the water heater 6 as it is. Therefore, the conversion unit 280 interprets the content of the instruction transmitted from the aggregator 90. Then, in order to operate water heater 6 in accordance with the content of the instruction, conversion unit 280 selects a telegram of a format that can communicate with water heater 6 and corresponds to the content of the instruction. The conversion unit 280 functions as a conversion unit.

The determination unit 250 determines whether or not the water heater 6 is compatible with communication by an arbitrary electronic message. The function of the determination unit 250 is the same as in the first and second embodiments.

The operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to communicate with the water heater 6 by an arbitrary electronic message or a prescribed electronic message corresponding to the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 270. Thereby, operation control unit 260 operates water heater 6 with the surplus power according to the instruction from aggregator 90. More specifically, if the result of the determination by the determination unit 250 is that the hot water supply device 6 is compatible with the communication in the arbitrary message, the control command is transmitted to the water heater 6 by the communication in the optional message. On the other hand, when the water heater 6 does not support communication by the arbitrary message, the control command is transmitted to the water heater 6 by communication by the prescribed message.

For example, when the instruction receiving unit 270 receives an instruction for the nighttime raising amount from the aggregator 90, when the water heater 6 supports communication by an arbitrary electronic message, the operation control unit 260 determines that the nighttime raising amount is instructed. Is transmitted to the water heater 6 by an arbitrary message. On the other hand, when the water heater 6 does not support communication by an arbitrary telegram, the operation control unit 260 sends a command to start and stop the pumping to the water heater 6 by the prescribed telegram. As a result, the operation control unit 260 causes the hot water supply device 6 to perform daytime raising.

In addition, when the instruction receiving unit 270 receives the instruction for the daytime arm-raising time from the aggregator 90, the operation control unit 260 transmits a command for starting and stopping the arm-raising to the water heater 6 by a specified telegram. More specifically, when the instructed daytime arm-raising time arrives, operation control unit 260 transmits a command to start the arm-raising to water heater 6 by a prescribed telegram. Then, when the amount of heated water reaches the specified amount of hot water, the operation control unit 260 transmits a command to stop heating of the heated water to the water heater 6 by a specified message.

As described above, in power management system 1b according to the third embodiment, communication adapter 80 receives an instruction from aggregator 90 and operates water heater 6 according to the received instruction. At that time, the communication adapter 80 converts the instruction received from the aggregator 90 into a format that can be transmitted to the water heater 6, and transmits the control instruction to the water heater 6. Accordingly, when the aggregator 90 directly controls the water heater 6, the water heater 6 can be flexibly operated even if instructions of various formats and contents are transmitted from the aggregator 90. As a result, the surplus power is used more effectively.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. The description of the same features as those of the first to third embodiments will be omitted.

In the first to third embodiments, operation control unit 260 causes water heater 6 to carry out daytime pumping by the communication in the prescribed telegram when water heater 6 does not support the communication in the arbitrary telegram. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, when the water heater 6 does not support communication by the arbitrary message, the determination unit 250 determines that the water heater 6 is the third message different from the arbitrary message and the prescribed message. It is determined whether or not communication is supported. As a result of the determination by the determination unit 250, if the water heater 6 is compatible with the communication in the third telegram, the operation control unit 260 causes the water heater 6 to perform the daytime raising by the communication in the third telegram. On the other hand, if the water heater 6 does not support communication by the third telegram, the operation control unit 260 causes the water heater 6 to perform daytime raising by communication by the prescribed telegram.

Specifically, the third telegram is a telegram capable of communicating with Release I of Echonet Lite. Release I is one version of Echonet Lite. The third telegram corresponds to items such as "daytime armpit shift time", "daytime armpit predicted power amount", and "hourly power consumption amount" which are newly added in Release I. A device compatible with Release I can transmit information on such an item by communication in the third electronic message.

FIG. 20 shows the flow of the nighttime and daytime arm-raising processing (step S7) executed by the control device 20 according to the fourth embodiment.

When the process shown in FIG. 20 is started, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the nighttime raising amount has been acquired from the water heater 6 (step S701). The process of step S701 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The control unit 21 transmits a request for the nighttime raising amount to the water heater 6 by an arbitrary message and determines whether or not a response to the request has been received from the water heater 6. As a result, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the hot water supply device 6 is compatible with communication in arbitrary messages.

When the nighttime heating amount can be acquired from the water heater 6 (step S701; YES), the control unit 21 supplies the hot water as a new nighttime heating amount by subtracting the daytime heating amount from the acquired nighttime heating amount. To the device 6 (step S702). The process of step S702 is the same as that of the first embodiment. When the water heater 6 supports communication by an arbitrary electronic message, the control unit 21 pulls the amount of hot water to be pumped up in the daytime from the nighttime amount of heat initially set in the water heater 6 at night. A command is transmitted to the water heater 6 by an arbitrary electronic message so as to raise it.

On the other hand, when the nighttime heating amount cannot be acquired from the water heater 6 (step S701; NO), the control unit 21 determines whether or not the water heater 6 supports Release I (step S710). ). More specifically, the control unit 21 supplies information such as “daytime armpit shift time”, “daytime armpit predicted power amount”, and “hourly power consumption amount” newly added in Release I to hot water supply. It is determined whether it can be acquired from the machine 6. For example, when the control unit 21 transmits a request for these pieces of information to the water heater 6 in the third message and receives a response to the request from the water heater 6, the water heater 6 uses Release I and the third message. It is determined that the communication is supported. In step S710, the control unit 21 functions as the determination unit 250.

When the water heater 6 is compatible with Release I (step S710; YES), the control unit 21 controls the water heater 6 with Release I (step S711). In other words, the control unit 21 causes the water heater 6 to perform nighttime and daytime armlifting by communication using the third electronic message. In step S711, the control unit 21 functions as the operation control unit 260.

More specifically, the control unit 21 transmits the daytime arm-raising shift time to the water heater 6 by communication using the third electronic message. The water heater 6 automatically starts nighttime raising during the nighttime raising period. The control unit 21 monitors the amount of heating of the water heater 6 during the nighttime heating period, and at the timing when the amount of heating of the water heater 6 reaches the nighttime heating amount, issues a command to stop heating the water heater 6. Send to stop raising at night. Then, control unit 21 transmits the automatic setting of raising the arm to water heater 6 so that water heater 6 can automatically start the raising in the daytime. After that, when the daytime armpit shift time transmitted from the control device 20 arrives, the water heater 6 automatically starts daylight armature. At the timing when the daytime raising period ends, the control unit 21 transmits a command to stop heating to the water heater 6 to stop nighttime raising. In this way, the control unit 21 causes the water heater 6 to perform nighttime and daytime armlifting. The method of setting the daytime raising period, the daytime raising amount, and the nighttime raising amount is the same as in the first embodiment when the water heater 6 does not support arbitrary telegrams.

Alternatively, the control unit 21 may control the water heater 6 by the communication in the specified telegram, based on the information obtained by the communication in the third telegram. For example, by the communication in the third telegram, the "daytime armpit shift time" is 14:00, the "daytime armpit expected power amount" is 2 kWh, and the "hourly power consumption amount" is 1 kWh. Is notified, the control unit 21 sets the daytime raising period to 2 hours from 14:00 to 16:00, and sets the daytime raising amount to the amount of hot water that can be raised in 2 hours. Then, control unit 21 causes water heater 6 to perform nighttime and daytime armlifting by communication by the same telegram as in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, when water heater 6 does not support Release I (step S710; NO), control unit 21 executes the same processing as steps S703 to S709 in the first embodiment. In other words, when the water heater 6 does not support arbitrary telegrams or Release I, the control unit 21 causes the water heater 6 to perform nighttime and daytime breeze by communication using the prescribed telegram.

As described above, control device 20 according to the fourth embodiment determines whether water heater 6 supports Release I when water heater 6 does not support communication by arbitrary message. Then, when water heater 6 is compatible with Release I, control device 20 causes water heater 6 to perform daytime pumping up by communication by a communication message by Release I. In this way, by determining the telegram that can communicate with the water heater 6 in two steps, even if the telegram that can communicate with the control device 20 and the water heater 6 are different, the water heater 6 can be more accurately determined. Can be operated. As a result, the surplus power can be used more effectively.

(Modification)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications and applications are possible in carrying out the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the arbitrary message is the first message, and the specified message is the second message. However, in the present invention, the first message and the second message are different in format, and may be messages in other formats as long as the command contents that can be transmitted to the equipment are different. Further, in the above-described Embodiment 4, the third telegram is not limited to a telegram capable of communicating with Release I, and may be a telegram of another format. The network for the control device 20 to communicate with the equipment is not limited to Echonet Lite.

In the above-described embodiment, the prediction unit 430 creates the consumption prediction model based on the measured value of the power consumption Pc in the past specified period. However, in the present invention, the prediction unit 430 may create the consumption prediction model based on the user's schedule, weather information, etc. in order to improve the accuracy of the model. In addition, the prediction unit 430 is not limited to calculating the average value of the power generation amount and the power consumption amount when creating the power generation prediction model and the consumption prediction model, and the power generation amount is calculated using a method such as statistical analysis or machine learning. Also, the power consumption may be predicted. The power consumption Pc is not limited to the power consumption (P1+P2) consumed by the entire house H, but is the power (P1+P2-P3) obtained by removing the power consumption P3 of the water heater 6 from the power consumed by the entire house H. You may decide. In this case, the surplus power is generated when the generated power P2 is larger than the power consumption Pc obtained by removing the power consumption P3 of the water heater 6 from the power consumption of the entire house H. The process of calculating the power consumption Pc from the powers P1, P2, P3 measured by CT1 to CT3 may be executed by the power measuring device 4, the control device 20, or the management server 40. You can run it.

In the above-described embodiment, determination unit 250 determines that hot water supply device 6 is compatible with communication in arbitrary messages when specific information can be acquired from hot water supply device 6 by communication in arbitrary messages. However, in the present invention, the determination unit 250 may determine whether the water heater 6 is compatible with the communication in the first electronic message by checking the model code, model number, etc. of the water heater 6. good. The same applies to the process of determining whether or not the water heater 6 is compatible with the communication in the third telegram in the fourth embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the water heater 6 automatically starts nighttime raising during the nighttime raising period when the water heater 6 does not support communication by arbitrary telegram, and the operation control unit 260 causes the raising of the armature. When the amount reached the set amount, the water heater 6 was stopped. However, in the present invention, the function of the water heater 6 to automatically perform nighttime raising may be stopped. In this case, since the water heater 6 does not automatically start nighttime heating, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to start heating the water heater 6 at a specified message at the timing of starting nighttime heating. Send a command.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation control unit 260 moves to the water heater 6 when the end time of the daytime heating period arrives in the daytime heating period when the water heater 6 does not support communication by arbitrary message. Stopped raising. However, in the present invention, the operation control unit 260 monitors the remaining hot water amount of the water heater 6, and when the boiling amount reaches the daytime boiling amount set by the operation setting unit 240, the water heater 6 is blown. You may stop raising.

Further, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to supply hot water to the hot water supply device 6 after stopping the night water heating in the night time heating period when the hot water supply device 6 does not support communication by arbitrary telegram. A command for automatic raising may be transmitted to the machine 6. Similarly, the operation control unit 260 causes the in-home communication unit 24 to stop the hot water supply device 6 during the daytime when the hot water supply device 6 does not support communication by an arbitrary telegram and then stops the daytime operation. A command for automatic raising may be transmitted to the water heater 6. The automatic raising command is a command for permitting the water heater 6 to prevent the hot water from running out, and is transmitted as a specified telegram.

In the above-described embodiment, the device to be controlled in the power management systems 1, 1a, 1b is the water heater 6. However, in the present invention, the device to be controlled may be a power storage facility, an air conditioner, or the like. The power storage facility is a stationary storage battery, an electric vehicle, or the like. The air conditioner is a room air conditioner, an ice heat storage device, a floor heating system using hot water, or the like.

For example, when the device to be controlled is power storage equipment, the operation control unit 260 operates the power storage equipment by charging the power storage equipment with surplus power. In this case, the amount of pumping up and the amount of remaining hot water in the above embodiment can be explained in the same manner as in the above embodiment by replacing the amount of charge and the amount of remaining battery, respectively. Similar to the case where the water heater 6 raises the hot water, the surplus power can be effectively used by charging the power storage facility with the surplus power.

When the device to be controlled is an air conditioner, the operation control unit 260 operates the air conditioner by causing the air conditioner to air-condition with surplus power. When the air conditioner is air-conditioned with the surplus power, heat is stored in the room, the skeleton, etc. Therefore, the surplus power can be converted into heat for use. Therefore, the description can be made similarly to the case of the water heater 6 and the power storage equipment.

In the above embodiment, the house H has been described as an example of the target to which the power management system 1 is applied. However, in the present invention, the target to which the power management system 1 is applied is not limited to a general house such as the house H, but may be an apartment house, a facility, a building, a factory, or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, in the control unit 21 of the control device 20 and the control unit 41 of the management servers 40 and 40a, the CPU executes the programs stored in the ROM or the storage unit 22, thereby making FIG. It functions as each part shown in 19. However, in the present invention, the control units 21 and 41 may be dedicated hardware. The dedicated hardware is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. When the control units 21 and 41 are dedicated hardware, the functions of the respective units may be realized by individual hardware, or the functions of the respective units may be collectively realized by a single hardware.

In addition, a part of the functions of each unit may be realized by dedicated hardware and the other part may be realized by software or firmware. As described above, the control units 21 and 41 can realize the above-described functions by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

By applying an operation program that defines the operations of the control device 20 and the management server 40 according to the present invention to a computer such as an existing personal computer or an information terminal device, the computer is used as the control device 20 and the management server according to the present invention. It is also possible to function as 40.

In addition, a method of distributing such a program is arbitrary, and for example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk ROM), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an MO (Magneto Optical Disk), or a memory card is used. It may be stored and distributed, or may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

The present invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the above-described embodiments are for explaining the present invention and do not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is shown not by the embodiments but by the scope of the claims. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered within the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably applied to a system that manages power.

1, 1a, 1b Power management system, 3 Power generation equipment, 4 Power measuring device, 6 Water heater, 7 (7a, 7b,...) Electric equipment, 8 Commercial power system, 9 distribution board, 10 PV panel, 11 PV- PCS, 20 control device, 21 control unit, 22 storage unit, 23 clock unit, 24 home communication unit, 25 outside communication unit, 29 bus, 30 operation terminal, 31 router, 40, 40a management server, 41 control unit, 42 Storage unit, 43 communication unit, 49 bus, 50 weather server, 60 heat pump unit, 61 tank unit, 62 water pipe, 63 hot water storage tank, 64 hot water controller, 65 remote controller, 66 mixing valve, 67 shower, 68 faucet, 69 communication line , 70 Refrigerant piping, 71 Compressor, 72 First heat exchanger, 73 Expansion valve, 74 Second heat exchanger, 75 Blower, 76 Water pump, 79 Control board, 80 Communication adapter, 90 Aggregator, 210 Measured value Acquisition unit, 220 measurement value transmission unit, 230 prediction information reception unit, 240 operation setting unit, 250 determination unit, 260 operation control unit, 270 instruction reception unit, 280 conversion unit, 410 weather information acquisition unit, 420 measurement value acquisition unit, 430 prediction unit, 440 prediction information transmission unit, 490 database, 491 weather forecast information, 492 weather record information, 493 power generation information, 494 power consumption information, D1 to D5 power lines, H houses, N wide area network

Claims (15)

A control device for operating equipment with surplus power generated by a power generation facility of a power consumer,
Communication means for communicating with the device;
When the device is compatible with the communication in the first telegram, the communication means is caused to communicate with the device in the first telegram so that the surplus power is applied to the device in the first period in the first period. Amount of operation , and when the device does not support communication in the first telegram, by causing the communication means to communicate with the device in the second telegram, the surplus power is generated in the first period. in and an operation control means for the operation of the first amount to said equipment,
The operation control means sets a second amount by which the device operates in a second period before the first period based on the first amount, and causes the communication means to have the first electronic message. Alternatively, by causing the device to communicate with the device by the second telegram, the device is caused to perform the second amount of operation in the second period,
When the device does not support communication in the first electronic message, the operation control unit sets an amount obtained by subtracting the first amount from a specified amount as the second amount,
Control device. Further comprising a determination unit that determines that the device is compatible with the communication in the first message when the specific information is successfully obtained from the device in the first message.
The operation control unit causes the communication unit to operate with the surplus power by causing the communication unit to communicate with the device by the first message or the second message according to the determination result by the determination unit,
The control device according to claim 1. When the operation control unit succeeds in obtaining the specific information from the device, the operation control unit transmits a first command based on the specific information to the device by communication in the first electronic message, When the acquisition of the specific information has failed, a second command different from the first command is transmitted to the device by communication using the second electronic message.
The control device according to claim 2. The device is a water heater,
The operation control unit causes the communication unit to communicate with the water heater by the first message or the second message, thereby causing the water heater to raise the hot water with the surplus power.
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Further comprising a first period in which the water heater in the excess power is raised aside hot water, the a first quantity of water to raise the water heater is aside in the first period, the operation setting means for setting, and
The operation control means causes the communication means to communicate with the water heater by the first electronic message or the second electronic message, thereby causing the water heater to operate in the first period set by the operation setting means. To raise the first amount of hot water set by the operation setting means,
The control device according to claim 4. The operation setting means sets a period in which the surplus power exceeds the power consumption of the water heater as the first period, and a value obtained by multiplying the length of the first period by the raising capacity of the water heater. Set as the first amount of hot water,
The control device according to claim 5. The operation control means, a pre-Symbol second hot water to raise the water heater side in the second period, and set based on the first quantity of water, the first message or the second said communication means Causing the hot water supply device to raise the second hot water amount in the second period by communicating with the hot water supply device by a telegram;
The control device according to claim 5 or 6. When the water heater corresponds to the communication in the first telegram, the operation control means selects the amount of hot water set in the water heater as the amount of hot water to be raised by the water heater in the second period. An amount obtained by subtracting the amount of hot water of 1 is set as the second amount of hot water,
The control device according to claim 7. When the water heater does not support communication by the first electronic message, the operation control means sets an amount obtained by subtracting the first amount of hot water from a prescribed amount as the second amount of hot water.
The control device according to claim 7. Instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction to operate the device,
The operation control unit causes the communication unit to communicate with the device by the first electronic message or the second electronic message corresponding to the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit, and thereby the device with the surplus power. To work,
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. If the device does not support communication in the first message, and the device supports communication in the third message, the operation control unit notifies the communication unit of the third message. By operating the device with the surplus power by communicating with the device by the device, and if the device does not support communication in the third message, the communication means communicates with the device in the second message. By operating the device with the surplus power by communicating,
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Weather information acquisition means for acquiring weather information,
A measured value of the generated power of the power generation facility, and a measured value acquisition means for acquiring a measured value of the power consumption in the power consumption area of the power consumer,
Prediction means for predicting the surplus power based on the weather information acquired by the weather information acquisition means, and the measured value of the generated power and the measured value of the power consumption acquired by the measured value acquisition means And,
The operation control unit causes the communication unit to communicate with the device by the first electronic message or the second electronic message to operate the device during a period in which the surplus power predicted by the prediction unit occurs.
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A power management system comprising: the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and a management server,
The management server is
Weather information acquisition means for acquiring weather information,
A measured value of the generated power of the power generation facility, and a measured value acquisition means for acquiring a measured value of the power consumption in the power consumption area of the power consumer,
Prediction means for predicting the surplus power based on the weather information acquired by the weather information acquisition means, and the measured value of the generated power and the measured value of the power consumption acquired by the measured value acquisition means When,
Prediction information indicating the surplus power predicted by the prediction means, prediction information transmission means for transmitting to the control device,
The control device is
Further comprising prediction information receiving means for receiving the prediction information transmitted from the management server,
The operation control unit causes the communication unit to communicate with the device by the first electronic message or the second electronic message, thereby generating the surplus power indicated by the prediction information received by the prediction information receiving unit. Operate the device during the period,
Power management system. A control method for operating a device with surplus power generated by a power generation facility of a power consumer,
If the device supports communication in the first message, by communicating with the device in the first message, the first amount of operation to the equipment by the excess power in the first period Let
When the device does not support communication in the first telegram, by communicating with the device in the second telegram, the surplus power is used to supply the first amount of the first amount to the device in the first period. to the operation,
A second amount by which the device operates in a second period prior to the first period is set based on the first amount, and the device is set in the first telegram or the second telegram. Communicating to cause the device to operate the second amount during the second period,
When the device does not support communication by the first electronic message, an amount obtained by subtracting the first amount from a specified amount is set as the second amount,
How to control equipment. A computer having communication means for communicating with the device,
When the device supports communication in the first telegram, the communication means is caused to communicate with the device in the first telegram so that the surplus generated by the power generation facility of the power consumer in the first period. by a first amount of operation on the device at a power, if the component is not compatible with communication in the first message, by communicating with the device in a second message to said communication means, said Causing the device to perform the first amount of operation with the surplus power in a first period ,
The operation control means sets a second amount by which the device operates in a second period before the first period based on the first amount, and causes the communication means to have the first electronic message. Alternatively, by causing the device to communicate with the device by the second telegram, the device is caused to perform the second amount of operation in the second period,
When the device does not support communication in the first electronic message, the operation control unit sets an amount obtained by subtracting the first amount from a specified amount as the second amount,
program.

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