KR101701914B1 - Smart electricity saving system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart power saving system and a method thereof. According to the present invention, the smart power saving system comprises: an information collecting unit which collects electricity usage information of a customer in real time; a determining unit which determines a current state by comparing a target value set to at least one of the electricity usage and electric charge, respectively; a display unit which displays the current state of at least one of the electricity usage and the electric charge; and a control unit which controls the information collecting unit, the determining unit, and the display unit.

Description

[0001] SMART ELECTRICITY SAVING SYSTEM [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a smart power saving device and method in which a consumer can actively manage the amount of electricity used.

Various energy saving measures such as power demand management projects are being implemented in preparation for a power emergency.

Conventionally, there has been an inconvenience that a user has to connect to a KEPCO server with a user terminal to check the power usage state in order to manage electricity consumption. In addition, there is a problem that the information provided by the KEPCO server does not provide realistic and practically necessary information for reducing the electricity consumption, so that it is difficult for the consumer to actively and actively manage the electricity consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and provides a smart power saving device and method capable of positively inducing energy saving by analyzing at least one of an electricity usage amount and an electricity fee to a customer and providing current status information in real time The purpose is to do.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smart power saving device including an information collecting unit for collecting electricity usage information of a customer in real time; A determination unit for analyzing the collected electricity usage information and comparing the collected electricity usage information with a target value set for each of at least one of an electricity usage amount and an electricity rate to determine a current state; A display unit for displaying a current state of at least one of an electricity usage amount and an electricity fee; An input unit for receiving an operation signal including at least one of a target value setting and a use mode change of an electricity usage amount and an electricity rate; And a control unit for controlling the information collecting unit, the judging unit, the display unit, and the input unit.

For example, when the current value of the electricity usage amount or the electricity rate exceeds a predetermined ratio of the set target value, the determination unit determines the current state as the power saving requesting state. Otherwise, the determination unit determines the current state as the normal state.

The display unit may display a current value, a target value, and a current state of at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity bill.

The information collecting unit may collect the electricity usage information in real time from a server collecting information on the electricity usage amount of the customer, or may collect electricity usage information by being connected to the electricity meter of the customer.

The smart power saving device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an alarm unit for generating a warning signal step by step when the current state determined by the determination unit is a power saving request state.

Further, the smart power saving device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a registration device control panel having at least one switch for controlling power supply between a power source and an electric device registered in advance. In this case, when the current state determined by the determination unit is the power saving request state, the control unit can control the registered device control panel and perform the operation control for each electric device.

Alternatively, the smart power saving device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a communication unit capable of communicating with at least one previously registered electric device. In this case, when the current state determined by the determination unit is the power saving request state, the control unit can perform the operation control for each of the electric devices through the communication unit. For example, if the current state determined by the determination unit is the power save request state, the control unit may transmit a message including the current state to a user terminal of the customer set through the communication unit.

The smart power saving device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a printing unit for outputting an electric bill of the consumer. In this case, the information collecting unit receives the electricity bill information of the customer from the KEPCO server set in advance.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smart power saving method comprising: collecting electricity usage information of a customer in real time; Analyzing the collected electricity usage information, comparing the collected electricity usage information with a target value set for each of at least one of an electricity usage amount and an electricity charge to determine a current state; And displaying a current status of at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity bill. Here, the determining step may include determining whether the current state of the electricity usage amount or the electricity price exceeds a predetermined ratio of the set target value as a power saving request state, and if not, determining that the current state is a normal state, Way.

According to the present invention, energy savings can be positively induced by analyzing at least one of an electricity usage amount and an electricity fee to a customer and providing current status information in real time.

Accordingly, it is possible to prepare for a national power emergency in response to the government's energy saving measures, and to reduce the cost of issuing electricity bills.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between each customer and KEPCO.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a smart power saving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram showing a display screen of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a smart power saving device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating a registration device control panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing the flow of a smart power saving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a smart power saving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is capable of various modifications and various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known related arts will be omitted when it is determined that the gist of the present invention may be blurred.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like are used to specify that there is a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component or a combination thereof described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, .

First, the relationship between KEPCO and its customers will be explained using Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between each customer and KEPCO.

As shown in FIG. 1, in general, KEPCO 200 is a power supply company responsible for generating, transmitting, transforming, and distributing electricity. First, KEPCO 200 transmits electric power of each customer The meter 120 measures the amount of electricity used. The KEPCO 200 transmits the electricity bill to the customer 110 via mail or mail, and the customer 110 pays the electricity fee through the financial institution or the like. Meanwhile, each customer can access the KEPCO server 210 through the smart power saving device 100 according to the present invention and receive electricity usage amount information, electricity bill, and the like. For example, information can be provided through the i-smart service provided through the Korea Electric Power Corporation server 210. In general, electricity bills will be billed monthly by KEPCO, including 10% VAT, on the sum of the base rate, the usage fee, the power factor rate, and the electricity fund.

Next, a smart power saving device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a smart power saving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the smart power saving device 100 according to the present invention includes an information collecting unit 10, a determination unit 20, a display unit 30, a control unit 40, an input unit 50, 60, a communication unit 80, a printing unit 90, and a database 95.

First, the information collecting unit 10 collects electricity usage information of a customer in real time. The information collecting unit 10 collects the electricity usage information in real time from a server collecting the meter read electricity usage information of the customer, It is possible to collect electricity usage information.

For example, the information collecting unit 10 may be connected to the KEPCO server through the Internet network to receive electricity usage information for a customer in real time. For example, the information collecting unit 10 can receive power usage status information, power meter information, and the like in connection with an i-smart service provided through a server of KEPCO. The collected information may be stored in the database 95. Alternatively, as another example, the information collecting unit 10 may be connected directly to the electric meter of the customer to collect the electricity usage amount, thereby analyzing the electricity usage amount and calculate the electric fee.

Here, the electricity use amount information may include at least one of the contracted electric power (kW), the peak electric power (kW), and the cumulative use electric power (kW) per period, for example. Additionally, the electricity usage information may further include an electricity charge including at least one of a basic charge, a usage charge, other charges (power factor charge, power fund, VAT), progressive charge, and total charge.

Here, peak power means the maximum demand power used during the period set by KEPCO. The basic charge is the peak electric power and the price multiplied by the applicable basic charge for electric power contract with KEPCO. The usage fee is the charge multiplied by the electricity consumption and the electricity contract fee. Electricity contract fees can vary by season, time, and so on. The power factor rate is the sum of the ground power factor rate and the actual power factor rate. A progressive fee is an additional charge if you exceed the specified usage.

The determination unit 20 analyzes the electricity usage amount information collected by the information collection unit 10, compares the electricity usage amount information with a target value set for at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity rate, and determines the current state.

For example, when the current value of the electricity usage amount or the electricity rate exceeds a predetermined ratio of the set target value, the determination unit 20 determines the current state as the 'power saving request state', and if not, . The predetermined percentage of the target value may be adjusted according to the setting of the customer, and may be, for example, 80%.

In addition, the determination unit 20 can determine the current state of each item by classifying the electricity usage information by item. For example, the electricity use amount information is classified into at least one of the contracted power (kW), the peak power (kW), the cumulative use electric power (kW) per period, the basic charge, the usage charge, other charge, progressive charge, Can be determined. Display items can be changed by user setting.

In addition, the judging unit 20 can be automatically reset after the meter reading when the electric power meter reading is completed on the designated date every month at KEPCO, and the current state of the next month can be determined. In addition, the current state information of the previous month before being reset can be stored in the database 95. [

The display unit 30 displays the current state of at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity charge determined by the determination unit.

For example, the display unit 30 may display a current value, a target value, and a current status of at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity bill. Also, the display unit 30 may display the present value, the target value, and the current state only for the items selectively selected according to the customer selection for the electricity usage amount information classified by item.

As shown in Fig. 3, the display unit 30 can display, for example, real-time electricity usage and electric charges for a predetermined period on a monthly basis. Specifically, for the display items of the contracted power (kW), the peak power (kW), the usage amount (kW) (that is, the cumulative usage amount per period), the base rate, the usage rate fee, Value and current state information. The current state is, for example, indicated as 'power saving requirement' in the power saving request state, and 'normal' in the normal state. At this time, the current state may be represented using colors, symbols, or the like so that the customer can easily identify. The display unit 30 is automatically reset for each set period to display the electricity usage amount, the electricity rate, and the current state.

Accordingly, it is possible to provide a current state of the electricity usage amount and the electric charge to the customer in real time, thereby giving a constant energy saving awareness.

Next, the input unit 50 is configured to receive an operation signal including at least one of a target value setting and a use mode change from the customer's electricity usage amount and electric charge. The input unit 50 includes buttons such as a menu button, a direction key button, a selection button, a symbol button including a number, an output button, and the like, and receives an operation signal or the like from a customer.

For example, the input unit 50 can set an electric charge target value (an amount of electric power to be used) to be reduced by setting a power consumption amount, an electric charge, a peak electric power (maximum demand electric power), and the like. If only one of the electricity usage amount or the electric charge is set through the input unit 50, the remainder can be automatically calculated and set by the control unit 40, and displayed on the display unit 30.

As an embodiment, the display unit 30 and the input unit 50 may be implemented using a touch panel or the like which can be displayed and operated. 3, various buttons (for example, a numeric key button, a menu button, a direction key button, a selection button, and an output button) of the input unit 50 are displayed on the display unit 30 to receive an operation signal from a customer .

Accordingly, the customer can set the target value according to the situation, and can receive the feedback on the current state based on the set target value in real time. Therefore, the customer can reduce the electricity consumption by himself, Can be maximized.

The alarm unit 60 generates a warning signal step by step when the current state determined by the determination unit 20 is the power saving request state.

For example, the alarm unit 60 may include an LED lamp or a warning light to warn the customer visually of the insulation requirement status visually. At this time, the warning signal can be generated stepwise by controlling the color or flickering of the lamp. Alternatively, the alarm unit 60 may include a speaker or the like to audibly warn the customer of the state of the insulation request.

The control unit 40 includes an information collecting unit 10, a determination unit 20, a display unit 30, an input unit 50, an alarm unit 60, a communication unit 80, a printing unit 90, And is a processing unit that controls each configuration.

Further, the communication unit 80 is a configuration capable of communicating with at least one previously registered electric device. At this time, if the current state determined by the determination unit 20 is the power saving request state, the control unit 40 can perform the operation control for saving power for the set period for each electric device through the communication unit 80. [ For example, a circuit designed to enable the operation control of the electric equipment is built in the electrical equipment pre-registered by using electrical and electronic parts such as a timer, a sensor, a magnetic contactor, a modem, a PLC (power line communication) . For example, in a method of controlling the operation of the electric device, the operation control can be appropriately performed by using the ON / OFF control, the voltage control, the phase control, the cycle control, and the inverter control.

Alternatively, the control unit 40 may control the display unit 74 installed in each electric device previously registered through the communication unit 80 to output a warning message.

Meanwhile, when the current state determined by the determination unit 20 is the power saving request state, the controller 40 may transmit a message including the current state to the user terminal of the customer set through the communication unit 80. [

The printing unit 90 may further include a printing unit for outputting an electric bill for the customer. At this time, the information collecting unit 10 receives the electricity bill information of the customer from the KEPRI server set in advance. For example, the printing unit 90 may output the electric bill in the form of a simple bill, or may be connected to an external printer to output the electric bill. The printing unit 90 can automatically output the electricity bill within about 10 business days after the meter reading date, for example.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the enormous cost of issuing and dispatching electric bills at KEPCO, and prevent shipping accidents due to mail delivery.

The database 95 is a configuration for storing information received through the information collecting unit 10, the input unit 50, the determination unit 20, and the communication unit 80.

The smart power saving device 100 can be used according to the application (for industrial use, education use, multifamily residential use, etc.). In addition, the body of the smart power saving device can be manufactured in various forms such as a wall-hanging type, a desktop type, etc. by minimizing the weight by using plastic or the like.

4 and 5, a smart power saving device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a smart power saving device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a diagram illustrating a registration device control panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4, the smart power saving device 100 according to the present invention includes an information collecting unit 10, a determination unit 20, a display unit 30, a control unit 40, an input unit 50, A registration unit control panel 70, a printing unit 90, and a database 95. [0050]

The registered device control panel 70 has a configuration including at least one switch 75 for controlling power supply between a power source (not shown) and an electric device 73 registered in advance as shown in FIG.

For example, the registered device control panel 70 may further include a display unit 77 indicating the on / off state of each switch 75. The pre-registered electric device 73 may be, for example, a cooling device, an electric motor, a heating device, or the like. For example, the registered device control panel 70 and the electric device 73 may be connected through wired or wireless communication.

At this time, when the current state determined by the determination unit 20 is the power saving request state, the control unit 40 controls the registered device control panel 70 to control the respective switches 75 so as to save power for the set period for each electric device . Accordingly, it is possible to positively reduce the amount of electric power required for use of the electric device in the power saving request state, and also to reduce the standby power of the electric device.

The registered device control panel 70 may be embedded in the smart power saving device 100 as an example and the switch 75 and the display unit 77 of the registered device control panel 70 may be displayed on the display unit 30. [ Or may be separately installed and connected to the smart power saving device 100 by wire or wireless.

On the other hand, the customer can register or change the electric equipment 73 to be controlled in advance in the power saving request state through the input unit 50, and control the operation time of each electric equipment 73 and the like.

In addition, the configuration other than the registered device control panel 70 in FIG. 4 is the same as or similar to the configuration of the smart power saving device 100 of FIG. 2, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a smart power saving method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of a smart power saving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the smart power saving method according to the present invention, the information collection unit collects electricity usage amount information of a customer in real time (S10). Next, the judging unit analyzes the collected electricity use amount information, and compares the collected electricity usage amount information with a target value set for each of at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity charge (S20). Then, the current state of at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity charge is displayed through the display unit (S30).

Here, if it is determined that the current value of the electricity usage amount or the electricity price exceeds a predetermined ratio of the set target value, the determining step S20 determines that the current state is the power saving requesting state. Otherwise, it determines that the current state is the normal state .

The target value set for at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity charge can be input directly from the customer through the input unit.

7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a smart power saving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, KEPCO conducts remote meter reading of the electricity usage amount from each electric meter of the customer (S110). Then, the meter reading information is analyzed and stored in the Korea Electric Power Corporation server (S115). The information collecting unit of the smart power saving device accesses the KEPCO server to collect data of electricity usage amount information in real time and stores it in a database (S120). For example, the smart power saving device can be provided with i-smart service provided by KEPCO and remote meter reading and monthly electricity usage information amount information. At this time, the customer is provided with electric power contract, maximum demand power (peak power), electricity usage amount and electricity charge (basic charge, usage charge, power factor charge, total charge, etc.) contracted with KEPCO of i-smart service Can receive.

On the other hand, the customer can set the electric power usage setting, that is, the electricity consumption amount or the target value of the electric charge through the input unit, register the electric appliance to be controlled through the registered appliance control panel in the power saving request state, and set the control time of each electric appliance S125).

Then, the display unit displays the current state and the like of at least one of the electricity usage amount and the electricity charge (S130). The in-display determining unit compares the target value and the current value in real time (S135).

If the current state is a normal state, the current state is displayed on the display unit. However, if the current state is the power saving request state, the current state is displayed on the display unit, and a warning signal is generated through the alarm unit or the like, or a message is sent to the customer (S140).

Then, the registered device control panel controls on / off of the switch to control on / off operation of the registered power saving device, that is, the electric device (S145). On the other hand, in step S125, the customer can print out the printed bill according to the user's selection at the time of issuing the bill or output the bill to the display unit at step S127. In addition, when the electricity bill is issued, the previous electricity usage amount information and the like can be reset and the current state can be displayed on the display unit (S129).

According to the present invention, energy savings can be positively induced by analyzing at least one of an electricity usage amount and an electricity fee to a customer and providing current status information in real time. As a result, it can contribute to prevention of progressive charges due to excessive use of electric power and prevention of electric power emergency (reserve electric power).

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

10: information collecting unit 20:
30: Display unit 40:
50: input unit 60: alarm unit
70: registered device control panel 75: switch
77: Display section 80:
90: Printing section 95: Database
100: Smart power saving device

Claims (10)

An information collecting unit for collecting electricity usage information or electric bill information of a customer from a preset power supply company server;
A determination unit for analyzing the collected electricity usage information and comparing the collected electricity usage information with a target value set for each of the electricity usage amount and the electricity rate,
A display unit for displaying a current value, a target value, and a present state of the electricity usage amount and the electricity rate, whether the power saving request state is a normal state or not;
An alarm unit for generating a warning signal step by step when the current state determined by the determination unit is a power saving request state;
A registration device control panel having at least one switch for controlling power supply between a power source and a pre-registered electric device;
A communication unit capable of communicating with an indicator and a user terminal respectively installed in at least one electric appliance previously registered;
Wherein the control unit receives input of an operation signal including at least one of a target value setting and a use mode change of the electricity usage amount and the electricity charge and changes the operation time of each electric device An input unit that receives an operation signal to be controlled and has a menu button, a direction key button, a selection button, a symbol button including a number, and an output button;
A printing unit for periodically and automatically outputting the electric bill of the customer; And
A control unit for controlling the information collecting unit, the judging unit, the display unit, the alarm unit, the registration device control unit, the communication unit, the input unit, and the printing unit,
Wherein the determining unit determines that the current state is the power saving requesting state when the current value of the electricity usage amount or the electricity rate exceeds a predetermined ratio of the set target value,
Wherein the control unit controls the registered device control panel to perform operation control for each of the electric devices when the current state determined by the determination unit is a power save request state, And outputting a warning message by controlling an indicator installed in each of the pre-registered electric devices. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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