KR20110138811A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A network system is provided to enable a power supply manager to effectively manage the power of a network system by predicting the power usage rate of each energy consumption unit. CONSTITUTION: A utility area network(10) includes an energy generation unit. The utility network transmits energy information including electric charge information. A home area network(20) includes one or more energy consumption units which consumes energy in the energy generation unit. The hone area network receives the energy information. An energy measurement unit(25) recognizes predicted power information related to the power which is consumed in the energy consumption units.

Description

Network system

This embodiment relates to a network system.

The supplier simply supplied energy sources such as electricity, water and gas, and the consumer simply used the supplied energy sources. Therefore, effective management in terms of energy production, distribution, or energy use has been difficult to carry out. Therefore, a network system for effectively managing energy is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a network system capable of effective management of an energy source.

According to an aspect, a network system includes: a utility network including an energy generation unit and capable of transmitting energy information including electric charge information or information other than electric charges; A home network including at least one energy consumption unit for consuming energy generated by the energy generation unit and capable of receiving the energy information; And an energy measuring unit capable of recognizing predicted power information related to power to be consumed by the at least one energy consuming unit.

According to the proposed invention, not only the real-time power consumption but also the predicted power consumption of each energy consumption unit and the power consumption of the entire house can be predicted, and thus the power supplier can efficiently manage power.

In addition, since the amount of power used by each energy consumption unit may be estimated using the information stored in the memory unit, an additional measuring unit (for example, a current sensor) for directly measuring power consumption of each energy consumption unit is unnecessary.

1 is a view schematically showing an example of a network system according to the present invention;
2 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a network system according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of configuring a home network of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an energy measuring unit according to a first embodiment.
5 is a view schematically showing an information table for predicting power usage of an energy consumption unit stored in a memory unit of the energy measurement unit.
6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an energy consumption unit according to a second embodiment.

1 is a view schematically showing an example of a network system according to the present invention.

This network system is a system for managing energy sources such as electricity, water, and gas. The energy source means that the amount of generation, the amount of use, etc. can be measured. Thus, energy sources not mentioned above may also be included in the management of this system. Hereinafter, as an energy source, electricity will be described as an example, and the contents of the present specification may be equally applied to other energy sources.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary network system includes a power plant that generates electricity. The power plant may include a power plant that generates electricity through thermal power generation or nuclear power generation, and a power plant using hydro, solar, wind, and the like, which are environmentally friendly energy.

In addition, the electricity generated in the power plant is transmitted to the power station through the transmission line, and in the power station (substation) to transmit electricity to the substation so that the electricity is distributed to the demand destination, such as home or office.

In addition, the electricity produced by the environmentally friendly energy is also transmitted to the substation to be distributed to each customer. Then, the electricity transmitted from the substation is distributed to the office or home via the electrical storage device or directly.

Even in homes that use a home area network (HAN), they can produce, store, or distribute their own electricity through solar light or fuel cells mounted on a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), The surplus electricity can also be sold back to the outside world (for example, the utility).

In addition, the network system includes a smart meter for real-time measuring the electricity usage of the demand destination (home or office, etc.), and a meter (AMI: Advanced Metering infrastructure) for real-time measurement of the electricity usage of a plurality of demand destinations. May be included. That is, the measuring device may receive the information measured by the plurality of smart meters to measure the electricity usage.

The network system may further include an energy management system (EMS) for managing energy. The energy management device may generate information about the operation of one or more components in relation to energy (generation, distribution, use, storage, etc.) of energy. The energy management device can generate instructions relating to the operation of at least the component.

In the present specification, the function or solution performed by the energy management device may be referred to as an energy management function or an energy management solution.

In the network system of the present invention, one or more energy management devices may be present in separate configurations, or may be included in one or more components as an energy management function or solution.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a network system according to the present invention.

1 and 2, the network system of the present invention is constituted by a plurality of components. For example, power plants, substations, power stations, energy management devices, appliances, smart meters, capacitors, web servers, instrumentation devices, and home servers are the components of network systems.

In addition, in the present invention, each component may be constituted by a plurality of detailed components. For example, when one component is a home appliance, a detailed component may be a microcomputer, a heater, a display, etc. constituting the home appliance.

That is, in the present invention, everything that performs a specific function can be a component, and these components constitute the network system of the present invention. In addition, the two components may communicate by a communication means.

In addition, one network may be one component or may be composed of multiple components.

In the present specification, a network system in which communication information is associated with an energy source may be referred to as an energy grid.

The network system according to an exemplary embodiment may be configured of a utility network (UAN) 10 and a home network (HAN) 20. The utility network 10 and the home network 20 may communicate by wire or wirelessly by communication means. For example, the communication means may be a simple communication line or a power line communication means. Of course, the power line communication means may include a communicator (eg, a modem) connected to each of the two components. As another example, the communication means may be zigbee, wi-fi, or the like.

In the present specification, there is no limitation on the method for wired communication or the method for wireless communication.

In this specification, a home means a group of specific components such as a building, a company, as well as a home in a dictionary meaning. And, utility means a group of specific components outside the home.

The utility network 10 includes an energy generation component 11 for generating energy, an energy distribution component 12 for distributing or transferring energy, and an energy storage unit for storing energy. An energy storage component 13), an energy management component 14 for managing energy, and an energy metering component 15 for measuring energy related information.

When one or more components constituting the utility network 10 consume energy, the component that consumes energy may be an energy consumer.

The energy generator 11 may be, for example, a power plant. The energy distributor 12 distributes or delivers the energy generated by the energy generator 11 and / or the energy stored in the energy storage 13 to the energy consumer 26. The energy distribution unit 12 may be a power transmitter, a substation, or a power station.

The energy storage unit 13 may be a storage battery, and the energy management unit 14 is related to energy, the energy generating unit 11, energy distribution unit 12, energy storage unit 13, energy consumption unit ( 26) generates information for one or more of driving. The energy management unit 14 may generate a command regarding the operation of at least a specific component.

The energy management unit 14 may be an energy management device. The energy measuring unit 15 may measure information related to energy generation, distribution, use, storage, and the like, and may be, for example, a measuring device (AMI). The energy management unit 14 may be a separate configuration or may be included as an energy management function in other components.

The utility network 10 may communicate with the home network 20 by a terminal component (not shown). The terminal component may be, for example, a gateway. Such terminal components may be provided in one or more of the utility network 10 and the home network 20.

In addition, the two components constituting the utility network 10 may communicate by a communication means.

The home network 20 includes an energy generation component 21 for generating energy, an energy distribution component 22 for distributing energy, and an energy storage component for storing energy. 23, an energy management component 24 that manages energy, an energy metering component 25 that measures energy-related information, and an energy consumption component that consumes energy. 26, a central management component 27 for controlling a plurality of components, and an energy grid assistance component 28.

The energy generation component 21 may be a household generator, the energy storage component 23 may be a storage battery, and the energy management component 24 may be an energy management device. The energy metering component 25 may measure information related to generation, distribution, use, and storage of energy. For example, the energy metering component 25 may be a smart meter. The energy consumption unit 26 may be, for example, a heater, a motor, a display, or the like constituting a home appliance or a home appliance. Note that there is no restriction on the type of energy consumption unit 26 in this embodiment.

The energy management unit 24 may be a separate configuration or may be included as an energy management function in other components.

The energy generator 21, the energy distributor 22, and the energy storage unit 23 may be individual components or may constitute a single component.

The central management unit 27 may be, for example, a home server controlling a plurality of home appliances.

The energy network assistant 28 is a component that has an original function while performing an additional function for the energy network. For example, the energy network assistant may be a web service provider (for example, a computer), a mobile device, a television, or the like.

In addition, the two components constituting the home network 20 may communicate by a communication means.

Energy generation unit 11, 21, energy distribution unit 12, 22, energy storage unit 13, 23, energy management unit 14, 24, energy measuring unit 15, 25, energy consumption unit mentioned above (26), the central management unit 27 may exist independently of each other, or two or more may constitute a single component.

For example, the energy management unit 14 and 24, the energy measuring unit 15 and 25, and the central management unit 27 each exist as a single component, and perform smart functions, energy management devices, and home servers that perform their respective functions. Or the energy management unit 14, 24, the energy measuring unit 15, 25, the central management unit 27 may mechanically constitute a single device.

In addition, in performing one function, the function may be sequentially performed in a plurality of components and / or communication means. For example, energy management functions may be sequentially performed in a separate energy management unit, an energy measuring unit, and an energy consumption unit.

In the case of the present network system, a plurality of utility networks 10 may communicate with a single home network 20, and a single utility network 10 may communicate with a plurality of home networks 20.

In addition, a plurality of components of a specific function constituting the utility network and the home network may be provided. For example, there may be a plurality of energy generating units or energy consuming units.

Meanwhile, in the network system of the present invention, a specific component may receive information related to energy (hereinafter referred to as "energy information") by the communication means. In addition, the specific component may further receive additional information (environmental information, status or operation information of another component, time information, etc.) in addition to energy information by the communication means. At this time, the information may be received from other components. In other words, the received information includes at least energy information.

The specific component may be one component constituting the utility network 10 or one component constituting the home network 20.

As described above, the energy information may be one of information such as electricity, water, and gas.

For example, information relating to electricity includes information other than time-based pricing and electricity rates. Information other than the electric charge includes energy curtailment, grid emergency, grid reliability, energy amount, operation priority, and the like.

Such information may be classified into schedule information previously generated based on previous information and real time information that changes in real time. The schedule information and the real time information may be distinguished by predicting information after the current time (future).

The energy information may be transmitted / received by a true or false signal such as a Boolean on a network system, an actual price may be transmitted or received, or a plurality of levels may be transmitted and received.

The energy information may be classified into time of use (TOU) information, critical peak pattern (CPP) information, or real time pattern (RTP) information according to a change pattern of data over time.

According to the TOU information, data is gradually changed over time. According to the CPP information, the data changes step by step or in real time with time, and emphasis is displayed at a specific time point. According to the RTP information, data changes in real time with time.

If the energy information is, for example, electricity rate information, the information related to the electricity rate is changed. The electric charge information may be transmitted / received by a true or false signal such as a Boolean on a network system, an actual price may be transmitted or received, or a plurality of levels may be transmitted and received.

When the specific component receives a true or false signal such as a Boolean, one signal may be recognized as an on-peak signal and the other signal may be regarded as an off-peak signal. have.

In contrast, a specific component may recognize information on at least one driving including the electric charge, and the specific component compares the recognized information value with the reference information value to turn on-peak and off-peak. (off-peak) can be recognized.

For example, when a specific component recognizes the leveled information or the actual price information, the specific component compares the recognized information value and the reference information value to the on-peak and off-peak ( off-peak).

In this case, the information value related to the driving may be at least one of an electric charge, a power amount, a change rate of the electric charge, a change rate of the power amount, an average value of the electric charge, and an average value of the electric power. The reference information value may be at least one of an average value, an average value of minimum and maximum values of power information during a predetermined section, and a reference rate of change of power information (eg, slope of power consumption per unit time) during the predetermined section.

The reference information value may be set in real time or may be set in advance. The reference information value may be set in a utility network or in a home network (input from a consumer direct input, an energy manager, a central manager, etc.).

When the specific component (for example, the energy consumption unit) recognizes an on-peak (for example, a recognition time point), the output may be zero (stopped or stopped) and the output may be reduced. And, if necessary, the output can be restored or increased. The specific component may determine the driving method in advance before starting the operation, or change the driving method when the on-peak is recognized after starting the operation.

Alternatively, when the specific component recognizes an on-peak (for example, a recognition time), the output is maintained when the specific component is operable. At this time, the operable condition means that the information value for driving is below a certain standard. The information value related to the driving may be information about an electric charge, power consumption, or operation time. The predetermined criterion may be a relative value or an absolute value.

The schedule standard may be set in real time or may be set in advance. The schedule criterion may be set in the utility network or in a home network (input from a consumer direct input, an energy manager, a central manager, etc.).

Alternatively, when the specific component recognizes an on-peak (eg, a recognition time), the output may be increased. However, even when the output is increased when the on-peak is recognized, the total output amount during the entire driving period of the specific component may be reduced or maintained than the total output amount when the specific component operates at the normal output. Or, even if the output is increased when the on-peak is recognized, the total power consumption or total electric charge for the entire operating period of a particular component is the total power consumption or total power when the specific component operates at normal output. It can be lower than the electricity bill.

When the specific component recognizes an off-peak (for example, a recognition time), the output may be increased. For example, when an operation reservation is set, a specific component may start driving before a set time, or a component having a larger output among a plurality of components may be driven first. In addition, in the case of the refrigerator to increase the output than the existing output supercooled, or in the case of a washing machine or a washing machine, the hot water can be stored by driving the heater in advance than the scheduled time of operation of the heater. Alternatively, when a specific component recognizes an off-peak (eg, a recognition time), power storage may be performed.

The energy reduction information is information related to a mode in which a component is stopped or a low electric charge is used. The energy saving information may be transmitted and received with a true or false signal, for example, as a Boolean on a network system.

The grid emergency information is information related to a power failure and the like, and may be transmitted / received as a true or false signal such as a Boolean. Information related to the power outage is related to the reliability of the component using energy.

When the specific component recognizes the emergency information, it may be immediately shut down.

The grid reliability information is information about a high or low amount of electricity supplied or information on the quality of electricity. The AC power is transmitted or received as a true or false signal, such as Boolean, or supplied to a component (for example, home appliance). The component may determine the frequency of the signal.

That is, when a frequency lower than the reference frequency of the AC power supplied to the component is detected, the amount of supply electricity may be determined to be small, and when a frequency higher than the reference frequency of the AC power may be determined, the amount of supply electricity may be determined.

When the specific component recognizes that the amount of electricity is low in the network safety information or the information that the electrical quality is not good, as described above, the specific component may be output 0 (stopped or stopped) in some cases. Can be reduced, the output maintained or the output increased.

The excessive amount of generated electricity information is information on a state in which surplus electricity is generated because the amount of electricity consumed by the component consuming energy is smaller than the amount of generated electricity. For example, the generated electricity amount may be transmitted and received as a true or false signal such as a Boolean.

When the specific component recognizes excess electricity quantity information, the output may be increased. For example, when an operation reservation is set, a specific component may start driving before a set time, or a component having a larger output among a plurality of components may be driven first. In addition, in the case of the refrigerator to increase the output than the existing output supercooled, or in the case of a washing machine or a washing machine, the hot water can be stored by driving the heater in advance than the scheduled time of operation of the heater.

3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of configuring a home network of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the home network 20 according to an embodiment includes an energy measuring unit 25 capable of real-time measuring power (or supplied power) and / or electric charges used in each home, and the energy It may include one or more energy consumption unit that can communicate with the measurement unit 25.

For example, the energy consumption unit may include at least one of a refrigerator 31, a washing machine and / or a dryer 32, an air conditioner 33, a TV 34, a cooking appliance 35, and the like.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the energy measuring unit 25 communicates with the energy consumption unit. However, the energy consumption unit 25 communicates with the central management unit 27 or the energy management unit 24, and the energy measuring unit 25 It may be configured to communicate with the central management unit 27 or the energy management unit 24. That is, the energy measuring unit may communicate directly or indirectly with the energy measuring unit 25.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an energy measuring unit according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an information table for predicting power usage of an energy consuming unit stored in a memory unit of the energy measuring unit.

4 and 5, the energy measuring unit 25 communicates with the control unit 251, the first communication unit 252 for communication with one or more energy consumption units, and the utility network 10. The second communication unit 253 for use, the memory unit 254 for storing the predicted power information according to the mode of each energy consumption unit, the display unit 255 for displaying various kinds of information, and the power consumption of the specific energy consumption unit from the outside. And a data receiver 256 for updating the information for prediction.

In detail, referring to FIG. 5, the memory unit 254 stores the total estimated usage amount and the estimated usage amount information for each load in each energy consumption unit mode. In this case, the total predicted usage amount and the predicted usage amount for each load may be stored in the form of one of current, voltage, power, power amount, and electric charge.

For example, in the case of a cooking appliance, the total forecast usage amount when thawing and the total forecast usage amount when warming may be stored.

In the case of the washing machine, the total predicted usage amount in the standard course, the total forecast amount used in the course for washing the blanket, and the like may be stored.

At this time, the memory unit 254 stores different estimated usage information for each operation time of a specific mode. That is, since the operating time is different depending on the quantity in the standard course of the washing machine, detailed information about this is stored.

The memory unit 254 stores different information values for each product even in the case of the same type of energy consumption unit. That is, even in the case of the washing machine, since the operation characteristics are different for each product, the unique information of each product and the total estimated usage information thereof are stored. The total estimated usage information for each product stored in the memory unit 254 may be determined by a plurality of experiments.

In addition, new product information for each energy consuming unit and forecast usage information thereof may be updated through the data receiving unit 256. Unlike this, the second communication unit 253 may periodically receive and update new product information and a predicted usage information value thereof from the utility network.

On the other hand, the energy measuring unit 25 can measure the real-time power consumption of the plurality of energy consumption unit generally constituting the home network 20.

Each energy consuming unit may transmit its operation information and / or state information to the energy measuring unit 25. Then, the energy measuring unit 25 may determine the predicted power consumption according to the operation information of each energy consumption unit as an example.

That is, the energy measuring unit 25 may predict the power consumption of each energy consumption unit. In this case, it is also possible to estimate the total power consumption of many energy consumption units in the home. In addition, the amount of power to be used after a specific time for each energy consumption unit or the amount of power to be used for the entire energy consumption unit may be displayed on the display unit 255. In addition, the current power consumption of each energy consumer or the total power consumption of the energy consumer may be displayed on the display unit 255.

Alternatively, the estimated power consumption of each energy consumption unit and the current power consumption of each energy consumption unit may be transmitted from the energy measuring unit to the corresponding energy consumption unit and displayed in the corresponding energy consumption unit.

In addition, the predicted power consumption of the total energy consumption unit and the current power consumption of the total energy consumption unit may be transmitted from the energy measuring unit 25 to each energy consumption unit and displayed in the corresponding energy consumption unit.

Then, the user can check the predicted power consumption and the current power usage displayed on the display unit 255 of the energy consumption unit or the display unit 255 of the energy measurement unit 25, so that the user can try to reduce the power consumption. have.

The predicted usage information may be transmitted to the utility network 10 side. Then, the manager who manages the utility network 10 may grasp the predicted power usage, adjust the amount of power generation, the amount of distribution, or the like and reflect the electricity rate information.

For example, if the predicted usage amount after one hour is increased, the amount of power generation can be increased or the amount of distribution can be increased. Alternatively, when the real-time billing information is transmitted to the home network, the price of the electric billing information after one hour may be increased.

When the power consumption is predicted because the power consumption may vary according to the time elapsed when the mode is performed for each energy consumption unit, and the specific energy consumption unit may not be currently operated but may be scheduled to operate one hour later. Power management can be efficiently performed.

According to the present invention, not only the real-time power consumption but also the predicted power consumption of each energy consumption unit and the power consumption of the entire home can be predicted, and thus the power supplier can efficiently manage power.

In addition, since the amount of power used by each energy consumption unit may be estimated using the information stored in the memory unit, an additional measuring unit (for example, a current sensor) for directly measuring power consumption of each energy consumption unit is unnecessary.

In the above embodiment, it is described as recognizing the predicted information of the energy consumption unit by using the information stored in the memory of the energy measurement unit. Alternatively, the energy consumption unit and the energy measurement unit communicate through the energy management unit or the central management unit, The memory is provided in the energy management unit or the central management unit may be configured to grasp the prediction information in the energy management unit or the central management unit. Then, the energy measuring unit may receive and recognize the prediction information from the energy management unit or the central management unit.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an energy consumption unit according to a second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the estimated power consumption information value of the energy consumption unit is stored in the energy consumption unit.

Referring to FIG. 6, the energy consumption unit 26 of the present embodiment includes a control unit 261, a memory unit 262, a communication unit 263, and a display unit 264. The memory unit 262 stores predicted usage information according to an operation mode. Except for the information of the other energy consumption unit, since the estimated usage information stored in the memory unit 262 is the same as the information stored in the memory unit described in the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

According to the present embodiment, the predicted power consumption information according to the operation mode is determined by the energy consumption unit 26, and the determined predicted power usage information may be transmitted to the energy measuring unit 25. The energy measuring unit 25 may collect and transmit information of the plurality of energy consumption units to the utility network 10.

In addition, the display unit 264 may display the current power consumption and the predicted power usage. The energy consumption unit may receive the current power consumption and the predicted power consumption of the entire energy consumption unit from the energy measuring unit 25. In addition, the power consumption information of the received total energy consumption unit may be displayed on the display unit 264.

Summarizing the above two embodiments, when the energy measuring unit 25 itself detects the predicted power consumption of each energy consumption unit or receives and estimates the predicted power usage information from the energy consumption unit, the energy measuring unit 25 is consequently determined. The estimated power consumption of each energy consumption unit and the estimated power consumption of the entire energy consumption unit are recognized.

10: utility network 20: home network
25: energy measuring unit 26: energy consumption unit

Claims (12)

A utility network including an energy generation unit and capable of transmitting energy information including electric charge information or information other than electric charges;
A home network including at least one energy consumption unit for consuming energy generated by the energy generation unit and capable of receiving the energy information; And
And an energy measuring unit capable of recognizing predicted power information related to power to be consumed by the at least one energy consuming unit. The method of claim 1,
In the utility network or home network,
An energy management unit controlling the energy consumption unit;
An energy measuring unit capable of recognizing energy consumption information of the energy consuming unit;
An energy distribution unit for distributing energy generated by the energy generation unit; And
And at least one of an energy storage unit for storing energy generated by the energy generator or energy distributed by the energy distributor. The method of claim 1,
The predicted power information is one of current, voltage, power, amount of electricity, and electricity bill information. The method of claim 1,
The energy measuring unit includes a memory that stores the predicted power information according to an operation mode of the at least one energy consumption unit. The method of claim 4, wherein
The energy measuring unit may recognize an operation mode of the at least one energy consumption unit,
And a network system capable of recognizing predicted power information in a corresponding mode of the energy consumer by recognizing the operating mode. The method of claim 4, wherein
The memory stores unique information of a plurality of energy consumption units and predicted power information according to an operation mode of each energy consumption unit.
The energy measuring unit further includes a data receiving unit for updating the unique information and the predicted power information of the new energy consumption unit. The method of claim 1,
The energy consumption unit may include a memory that stores the estimated power information according to an operation mode. The method of claim 7, wherein
The energy measuring unit recognizes the predicted power information received from the energy consumption unit. The method of claim 1,
At least one of the energy consumption unit and the energy measuring unit includes a display unit for displaying the predicted power information of the energy consumption unit. The method of claim 1,
Further comprising a central management unit for controlling a plurality of energy consumption unit,
The central management unit is capable of communicating with the plurality of energy consumption units and the energy measurement unit,
The central management unit includes a memory that stores the predicted power information according to an operation mode of the plurality of energy consumption units. The method of claim 1,
Further comprising an energy management unit for managing the energy consumption of the at least one energy consumption unit,
The energy management unit is in communication with the at least one energy consumption unit and the energy measuring unit,
The energy management unit includes a memory that stores the predicted power information according to an operation mode of the plurality of energy consumption units. The method of claim 1,
The energy measuring unit may measure in real time information related to power consumed by the at least one energy consuming unit.

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