WO2012124370A1

WO2012124370A1 - Load control device, control method therefor, and control program

Info

Publication number: WO2012124370A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/050936
Authority: WO
Inventors: 琢也中井
Original assignee: オムロン株式会社
Priority date: 2011-03-14
Filing date: 2012-01-18
Publication date: 2012-09-20
Also published as: JP2012195990A

Abstract

A load control device (5), wherein if the amount of power supplied from a distributed power source (2) is greater than the amount of power consumed by load devices (4), a device (33) for identifying devices to be controlled identifies load devices (4) which can be controlled by the load control device (5) and which must be started as devices to be controlled, and a load operation instruction unit (34) instructs the identified load device(s) (4) to start operation.

Description

LOAD CONTROL DEVICE, ITS CONTROL METHOD, AND CONTROL PROGRAM

The present invention relates to a load control device, a control method thereof, and a control program that are used in a power system in which power supplied from a distributed power source using natural energy is consumed by a load and controls the operation of the load. is there.

Recently, distributed power sources using natural energy, such as solar power generation and wind power generation, are attracting attention as a means of securing energy to replace fossil fuels and solving global environmental problems. It is also beginning to spread. However, a distributed power source using natural energy is not stable because the power generation output is affected by natural conditions such as weather and air volume. For this reason, the balance between power supply and power consumption is likely to be lost, and power consumption is likely to be greater than supply power, or supply power is likely to be greater than power consumption.

When the power consumption becomes larger than the supply power, there is a problem that the breaker is activated and the supply power is cut off, and the load device that does not want to stop the operation also stops. On the other hand, when the supplied power becomes larger than the consumed power, problems such as an increase in supply voltage, frequency fluctuation, and the like, causing the load device not to operate stably occur. For this reason, maintaining the balance between the power supplied by the commercial power supply using the centralized power supply and various distributed power supplies and the power consumption by various loads such as household appliances (hereinafter referred to as “home appliances”). Is important.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a power supply and demand control device that adjusts the power generation output of a plurality of distributed power sources in a power system to make the difference between the total power generation output of the distributed power source and the load power (power consumption) constant. ing. Further, in Patent Document 2, if there is a power supply request from a home appliance, whether power supply is permitted based on the required power of the home appliance and the power that can be supplied from a power source such as a commercial power source, a power generation device, or a power storage device. An arbitration server for determining whether or not is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Publication “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-271723 (published on Nov. 06, 2008)” Japanese Patent Publication “JP 2010-193562 A (published on Sep. 02, 2010)”

In Patent Documents 1 and 2, the balance between the power supply and the power consumption is maintained by adjusting the power supply of each power source. However, in the case of a distributed power source using natural energy, there is no need to purchase fuel for power generation, so the cost required for power generation is zero. Therefore, it is desirable that a distributed power source using natural energy outputs the maximum power that can be supplied.

For this reason, conventionally, surplus power obtained by subtracting power consumption from the power supplied from the distributed power source is supplied to a commercial power supply system, so-called power sale, or the surplus power is charged to a storage battery. However, in order to supply the commercial power supply system, it is necessary to perform conversion from direct current to alternating current, boosting, etc., and energy loss occurs. In addition, when the battery is charged or the electric power is taken out from the battery, energy loss is not a little generated. As a result, the energy utilization efficiency deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a load control device and the like that can maintain a balance between supplied power and consumed power without deteriorating energy use efficiency. It is in.

A load control device according to the present invention is a load control device that controls the operation of the load by being used in a power system in which power supplied from a distributed power source using natural energy is consumed by the load. In order to solve the problem, a power value acquisition unit that acquires a supply power value supplied by the power source and a power consumption value consumed by the load, a supply power value acquired by the power value acquisition unit, and As a result of comparison between the power value comparison means for comparing the power consumption values and the power value comparison means, if the supplied power value is larger than the power consumption value, the load control device controls the operation of the load. Control target determining means that determines a load that needs to be started and that should be started as a control target, and load operation instruction means that instructs the start of the operation for the load determined by the control target determination means It is characterized in that it comprises.

In addition, the load control device control method according to the present invention is used in a power system in which power supplied from a distributed power source using natural energy is consumed in a load, and the load control device controls the operation of the load. In order to solve the above-described problem, the control method includes a power value acquisition step of acquiring a power supply value supplied by the power supply and a power consumption value consumed by the load, and the power value acquisition If the supply power value is larger than the power consumption value as a result of comparison in the power value comparison step for comparing the supply power value and the power consumption value acquired in step, and the power value comparison step, the load Among these, a control object determination step for determining, as a control object, a load that is capable of controlling an operation by the load control device and needs to start the operation, and the control object determination step To determined Te load, it is characterized by comprising a load operation instruction step for instructing the start of operation.

According to the above configuration and method, when the power supplied from the distributed power source using natural energy is larger than the power consumption by the load, the load is instructed to start operation. As a result, the load starts to operate, the power consumption increases, and the balance between the supplied power and the power consumption can be maintained.

By the way, the load needs to be always operated like a refrigerator, the load needs to be immediately operated by a user's operation like a television receiver (hereinafter abbreviated as “TV”), There are those that need to operate for a predetermined period, such as a recorder. For such a load, it is considered that there is little room for the load control device to instruct the start of operation.

On the other hand, some loads (hereinafter referred to as “flexible loads”) only need to be completed within a set period. For example, in the case of a dishwasher, it is sufficient that the washing of dishes is completed by the preparation of the next meal. For such a flexible load, the load control device can control the operation at an appropriate time within the set period.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the supplied power is larger than the power consumption, the flexible load that needs to start the operation is instructed to start the operation. On the other hand, if the operation of the flexible load is started when the supplied power is less than the consumed power, the supplied power from the commercial power supply system or storage battery is required, and the energy use efficiency deteriorates. become. Therefore, according to the present invention, the balance between the supplied power and the consumed power can be maintained without deteriorating the energy utilization efficiency.

As described above, the load control device according to the present invention can control the operation by the load control device when the supplied power is larger than the power consumption, and start the operation on the load that needs to start the operation. Therefore, there is an effect that the balance between the supplied power and the consumed power can be maintained without deteriorating energy use efficiency.

It is a block diagram which shows the detail of the electric power system which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the said electric power system. It is a figure which shows an example of the load operation information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part in the load control apparatus of the said electric power system by a table format. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation history information memorize | stored in the said memory | storage part in a table format. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the said load control apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the power system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the thick line indicates the flow of power, and the thin line indicates the flow of data.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power system 1 supplies power from various distributed power sources 2 to various load devices 4 through a distribution board 3. In addition, in this embodiment, although the case where the electric power system 1 is installed in a house is assumed, it is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a power system installed in an arbitrary building using a plurality of power sources such as an office and a factory, or the present invention can be applied to a power system installed in a specific area including a plurality of buildings. Can also be applied.

The distributed power source 2 is a device that supplies power by distributing relatively small power generators near a consumption area. In this embodiment, although the solar power generation device 2a and the wind power generation device 2b using natural energy are used as the distributed power source 2, it is not limited to this. Other distributed power sources such as a geothermal power generation device, a fuel cell device, and a storage battery can also be used for the power system 1 of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the

distributed power sources

2a and 2b are collectively referred to as “distributed power source 2”.

The distribution board 3 distributes the power supplied from the distributed power supply 2 to the load device 4. The load device 4 consumes power. In the example of FIG. 2, a washing machine 4 a and a dishwasher 4 b are used as the load device 4, but any electric device such as a refrigerator, an air conditioner, an electric kettle, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), or an electric lamp is used. be able to.

In the present embodiment, the power system 1 includes a load control device 5. The load control device 5 controls the load device 4 so as to maintain a balance between power supply and power consumption.

As shown in FIG. 2, the load control device 5 is communicably connected to the solar power generation device 2a, the wind power generation device 2b, and the load device 4. In addition, it is preferable that the load control device 5 and the load device 4 are communicably connected via a communication network. Examples of this communication network include a wired LAN (Local Area Network) by power line communication (PLC) and a wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11).

FIG. 1 shows the details of the power system 1. As illustrated, each of the distributed power supply 2 and the load device 4 is provided with a sensor 10 for measuring electric power. In addition, since the method of measuring electric power is well-known, the description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, as shown in the figure, each load device 4 is provided with a controller 11 for controlling the operation of the load device 4. The controller 11 is configured by a computer including a CPU (CentralＣＰＵProcessing Unit) and a memory, for example. Then, the operation control of the load device 4 is performed by causing a computer to execute a control program.

The sensor 10 and the controller 11 may be incorporated in the corresponding device, or may be externally attached between the corresponding device and the power line. When the sensor 10 and the controller 11 of the load device 4 are externally attached, it is preferable that the sensor 10 and the controller 11 are an integrated device, and further, the integrated device has a communication function with the load control device 5. desirable. When the sensor 10 and the controller 11 are externally attached, the distributed power source 2 and the load device 4 do not need to have a communication function.

Next, details of the load control device 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the load control device 5 includes a control unit 20 and a storage unit 21. The control unit 20 controls the operation of various components in the load control device 5 in an integrated manner, and is configured by a computer including a CPU and a memory, for example. And operation control of various composition is performed by making a computer run a control program. The storage unit 21 records information and includes a recording device such as a hard disk or a flash memory.

Next, details of the control unit 20 and the storage unit 21 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 20 includes a supply power acquisition unit (power value acquisition unit) 30, a power consumption acquisition unit (power value acquisition unit) 31, a supply and demand comparison unit (power value comparison unit) 32, and a control target determination. This includes a unit (control target determining unit) 33 and a load operation instruction unit (load operation instruction unit) 34. The storage unit 21 includes a load operation storage unit 40 and an operation history storage unit 41.

The load operation storage unit 40 stores load operation information including information on the operation of the load device 4 for each load device 4 to be controlled. FIG. 3 shows an example of the load operation information in a table format. In the example shown in the figure, the ID, name, and control availability regarding the load device 4 are stored for each load device 4 as the load operation information.

Here, “controllability” indicates whether or not the load control device 5 can control the operation. In FIG. 3, “permitted” indicates that the above operation is possible, and “impossible” indicates that the above operation is impossible.

For example, since the television and the vacuum cleaner need to follow the operation of the user, the operation control by the load control device 5 is impossible (impossible). On the other hand, for example, the washing machine 4a may have to finish washing clothes before returning home. In this case, the operation of the load control device 5 can be controlled. Similarly, the dishwasher 4b may have only to complete the dishwashing before preparing the next meal, and in this case, the operation of the load control device 5 can be controlled. Therefore, depending on the load device 4, control may or may not be possible.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the load operation information stores the current operation state for each load device 4 whose control is possible. In the figure, “Before starting” indicates that the operation is before starting, “In operation” indicates that the operation is being executed, and “Pausing” indicates that the operation is temporarily stopped. It shows that there is.

The operation history storage unit 41 stores operation history information including an operation history of the load device 4 for each load device 4 to which the load control device 5 has instructed an operation. FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation history information in a table format. In the illustrated example, the ID, name, and operation history related to the load device 4 are stored for each load device 4 as the operation history information.

The supply power acquisition unit 30 acquires the supply power value supplied by each distributed power supply 2. Specifically, the supply power acquisition unit 30 acquires the supply power value of the distributed power supply 2 from the sensor 10 of each distributed power supply 2. The supplied power acquisition unit 30 sends the acquired supply power value to the supply and demand comparison unit 32.

The power consumption acquisition unit 31 acquires the power consumption value consumed by each load device 4. Specifically, the power consumption acquisition unit 31 acquires a power consumption value from the sensor 10 of each load device 4. The power consumption acquisition unit 31 sends the acquired power consumption value to the supply and demand comparison unit 32.

Further, the power consumption acquisition unit 31 determines that the operation of the load device 4 is finished when the power consumption value of the load device 4 instructed by the load operation instruction unit 34 is lowered to about standby power. Then, the power consumption acquisition unit 31 updates the operation state of the load device 4 from “in operation” to “before start” for the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40, and the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41. The operation history of the load device 4 is updated.

The supply and demand comparison unit 32 compares the supply power value and the power consumption value. Specifically, the supply and demand comparison unit 32 calculates the sum of the power supply values of the distributed power sources 2 acquired from the power supply acquisition unit 30, while the power consumption value of each load device 4 acquired from the power consumption acquisition unit 31. Is calculated, and the calculated sum of the supplied power values is compared with the calculated sum of the power consumption values. The supply and demand comparison unit 32 notifies the control target determination unit 33 of the comparison result.

The control target determination unit 33 determines the load device 4 that is the operation control target based on the comparison result from the supply and demand comparison unit 32. The control target determination unit 33 notifies the load operation instruction unit 34 of the determination result.

Specifically, the control target determining unit 33 first refers to the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40 when the sum of the supplied power values is greater than the sum of the power consumption values according to the comparison result. A search is made for a load device 4 whose control availability is “permitted” and whose operation state is “before start” or “temporarily stopped”. The retrieved load device 4 is a load device 4 that can be controlled by the load control device 5 and needs to start the operation.

Next, the control target determining unit 33 refers to the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41 and identifies the load device 4 that does not require or is not desirable for the current operation of the loaded load device 4. . Then, the control target determining unit 33 determines, as a control target for starting the operation, the one that has excluded the specified load device 4 among the searched load devices 4 and notifies the load operation instructing unit 34 thereof.

For example, referring to the operation history of the dishwasher 4b, if the period from the completion of the most recent operation to the present time is several hours or less, the tableware used for the next meal may be in the dishwasher 4b. Therefore, it is specified as the load device 4 that does not require the current operation. In addition, referring to the operation history of the washing machine 4a, when the operation is performed only during the daytime, it is highly likely that the operation at night is not desirable. To do.

On the other hand, if the total of the supplied power values is smaller than the total power consumption value based on the comparison result, the control target determining unit 33 first refers to the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40 to determine whether control is possible. The load device 4 that is “permitted” and whose operation state is “in operation” is searched. The retrieved load device 4 can be controlled by the load control device 5, needs to start the operation, and is the load device 4 that is executing the operation.

Next, the control target determining unit 33 refers to the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41, and the load device 4 that does not need or is not required to temporarily stop the operation of the load device 4 that has been searched for at the present time. Is identified. Then, the control target determining unit 33 determines, among the searched load devices 4, those that exclude the identified load device 4 as control targets for the operation suspension, and notifies the load operation instructing unit 34.

The load operation instruction unit 34 instructs the load device 4 to be controlled based on the notification from the control target determination unit 33. The load operation instruction unit 34 updates the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40 and the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41 based on the instruction content. The update may be performed by the power consumption acquisition unit 31 based on the power consumption of the load device 4 to be controlled.

Specifically, the load operation instruction unit 34 instructs the controller 11 of the load device 4 to be controlled to start the operation when the control target of the operation start is notified from the control target determination unit 33. The controller 11 starts the operation of the load device 4 to be controlled. Next, the load operation instruction unit 34 updates the operation state of the load device 4 to be controlled from “before start” or “being temporarily stopped” to “in operation” with respect to the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40. The load operation instruction unit 34 updates the operation history of the load device 4 to be controlled with respect to the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41.

On the other hand, when the control target of the operation suspension is notified from the control target determination unit 33, the load operation instruction unit 34 instructs the controller 11 of the load device 4 to be controlled to pause the operation. The operation of the load device 4 to be controlled is temporarily stopped by the controller 11. Next, the load operation instruction unit 34 updates the operation state of the load device 4 to be controlled from “operating” to “temporarily stopped” with respect to the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40.

Next, the processing operation in the load control device 5 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a processing flow of the load control device 5. As shown in the figure, first, the supply power acquisition unit 30 acquires the supply power value of each distributed power supply 2, and the power consumption acquisition unit 31 acquires the power consumption value of each load device 4 (S10, power value acquisition step). . At this time, the power consumption acquisition unit 31 updates the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40 and the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41, if necessary, based on the acquired power consumption value.

Next, the supply and demand comparison unit 32 compares the acquired sum of the supplied power values with the acquired sum of the consumed power values (S11, power value comparison step). If (the sum of the supplied power values) = (the sum of the power consumption values), the power supply-demand balance is maintained, and the process proceeds to step S18 without doing anything.

On the other hand, when (the sum of the supplied power values)> (the sum of the power consumption values), the control target determining unit 33 can control the operation by the load control device 5 and needs to start the operation. The load device 4 is searched (S12). Next, the control target determining unit 33 refers to the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41 and identifies the load device 4 that does not require or is not desirable for the current operation of the loaded load device 4. . Then, the control target determining unit 33 determines, as the load device 4 to be controlled to start the operation, the load device 4 that is excluded from the searched load devices 4 (S13, control target determination step). .

Next, the load operation instruction unit 34 instructs the load device 4 to be controlled to start operation (S14, load operation instruction step). Thereby, the operation of the load device 4 to be controlled is started. Further, the load operation instruction unit 34 updates the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40 and the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41 based on the above instruction. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S18.

On the other hand, if (the sum of the supplied power values) <(the sum of the power consumption values), the control target determining unit 33 can control the operation by the load control device 5 and is executing the operation. 4 is searched (S15). Next, the control target determining unit 33 refers to the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41, and the load device 4 that does not need or is not required to temporarily stop the operation of the load device 4 that has been searched for at the present time. Is identified. Then, the control target determining unit 33 determines, as a load apparatus 4 to be controlled for temporary suspension of operation, a part of the retrieved load apparatuses 4 excluding the identified load apparatus 4 (S16).

Next, the load operation instructing unit 34 instructs the load device 4 to be controlled to temporarily stop the operation (S17). As a result, the operation of the load device 4 to be controlled is temporarily stopped. Further, the load operation instruction unit 34 updates the load operation information in the load operation storage unit 40 and the operation history information in the operation history storage unit 41 based on the above instruction. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, the process waits until a predetermined period elapses, and then returns to step S10 to repeat the above processing operation.

Therefore, the load control device 5 of the present embodiment is a load that can be controlled by the load control device 5 and needs to start operation when the sum of the supplied power is larger than the sum of the power consumption. Instruct the flexible load that is the load to start operation. On the other hand, when the operation of the flexible load is started when the sum of the supplied power is smaller than the sum of the consumed power, the power supplied from the commercial power system or the storage battery is required, and the energy use efficiency Will get worse. Therefore, the load control device 5 of the present embodiment can maintain the balance between the supplied power and the consumed power without deteriorating energy use efficiency.

Further, when the total of the supplied power is smaller than the total of the consumed power, the operation of the flexible load being executed is temporarily stopped, so that the supplied power and the consumed power can be reduced without deteriorating energy use efficiency. The balance can be maintained reliably. In addition, since flexible loads that are unnecessary or undesirable for the start or pause of the operation are excluded from the control target, it is possible to prevent the flexible load from being instructed to start or pause the operation.

Note that if there is no flexible load that is unnecessary or undesirable for starting or pausing the operation, the processing related to the operation history may not be performed. In this case, the operation history storage unit 41 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and steps S13 and S16 shown in FIG. 5 can be omitted.

Further, in order to stably supply power to the load device 4, it is desirable that the power system 1 can be connected to a commercial power system that is a central power source. However, even in this case, in order to make maximum use of natural energy, it is desirable to make maximum use of power from the distributed power supply 2 as in the present embodiment.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the load control apparatus 5 is controlling operation | movement of the washing machine 4a and the dishwasher 4b, the washing machine 4a and the dishwasher 4b are a user's operation at the time which a user desires. It may work. In this case, the control propriety item in the load operation information shown in FIG. 3 is changed from “permitted” to “impossible”.

In addition, it is desirable that the washing machine 4a and the dishwasher 4b include notification means such as a display device and an audio output device for notifying the user that the washing is controlled by the load control device 5. In this case, since the user can grasp whether or not the washing machine 4a and the dishwasher 4b are controlled by an external device, the convenience for the user is improved.

As described above, the load control device 5 is used for the power system 1 in which the power supplied from the distributed power source 2 using natural energy is consumed by the load device 4 and controls the operation of the load device 4. is there. In the present embodiment, the load control device 5 includes a supply power acquisition unit 30 that acquires the supply power value supplied by the distributed power supply 2 and a power consumption acquisition unit that acquires the power consumption value consumed by the load device 4. 31, the supply and demand comparison unit 32 that compares the acquired supply power value and the power consumption value, and when the supply power value is larger than the power consumption value, the operation of the load control device 5 can be controlled by the load control device 5. A control target determining unit 33 that determines a load device 4 that needs to start operation as a control target, and a load operation instruction unit 34 that instructs the determined load device 4 to start the operation. . Thereby, the objective of maintaining the balance between supply power and power consumption can be achieved without deteriorating energy utilization efficiency.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope indicated in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the flexible load includes the washing machine 4a and the dishwasher 4b, but is not limited thereto. For example, it is possible to control the operation of the load control device 5 such as a charger for an electric device operated by a built-in secondary battery, such as a portable device, an automatic vacuum cleaner, an electric pot, a rice cooker, an outdoor light, Any load device 4 that needs to start operation can be used.

Finally, each block of the load control device 5, particularly the control unit 20, may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

That is, the load control device 5 includes a CPU that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, a RAM (random access memory) that develops the program, the program, and various types A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing data is provided. An object of the present invention is a recording medium on which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the load control device 5 which is software for realizing the functions described above is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying the load control device 5 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

Examples of the recording medium include tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks / hard disks, and disks including optical disks such as CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

Alternatively, the load control device 5 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

As described above, the load control device according to the present invention is a load control device that controls the operation of the load used in a power system in which power supplied from a distributed power source using natural energy is consumed by the load. In order to solve the above problem, a power value acquisition unit that acquires a supply power value supplied by the power source and a power consumption value consumed by the load, and the power value acquisition unit acquires If the supply power value is larger than the power consumption value as a result of comparison between the power value comparison means for comparing the supplied power value and the power consumption value, and the power value comparison means, the load control device among the loads The control target determining means that determines the load that needs to start the operation as the control target, and the negative that instructs the start of the operation to the load determined by the control target determination means It is characterized in that it comprises an operation instruction means.

Furthermore, in the present invention, when the supplied power is greater than the power consumption, the flexible load that needs to start the operation is instructed to start the operation. On the other hand, if the operation of the flexible load is started when the supplied power is less than the consumed power, the supplied power from the commercial power supply system or storage battery is required, and the energy use efficiency deteriorates. become. Therefore, according to the present invention, the balance between the supplied power and the consumed power can be maintained without deteriorating the energy utilization efficiency.

In the present application, the start of the operation includes a case where the operation is resumed from a temporary stop. Further, the comparison between the power supply value and the power consumption value may be performed for each specific distributed power supply and load, but the sum of the power supply values of all the distributed power supplies and the power consumption value of all the loads Are preferably compared.

In the load control device according to the present invention, the control target determining means, when the supplied power value is smaller than the power consumption value, determines the load to which the load operation instructing means has instructed the start of operation as the control target for suspension. Preferably, the load operation instructing means instructs the operation to be temporarily stopped with respect to the load determined by the control object determining means as the control object to be temporarily stopped. In this case, even when the supplied power is less than the power consumption, the operation of the flexible load being executed is temporarily stopped, so that the supply power and the power consumption can be reduced without deteriorating energy use efficiency. Balance can be reliably maintained.

The load control device according to the present invention further includes a storage unit that stores operation history information including, for each load, the operation history of the load for which the load operation instruction means instructs the start of the operation, and determines the control target Preferably, the unit refers to the operation history information of the storage unit and excludes the load from the control target.

Here, the load excluded from the control target includes a load in which the period from the time when the load last operated to the current time is shorter than a predetermined period, and the current time is included in a time zone during which the operation of the load is not performed. Such a load. For example, if the dishwasher completes the washing of the dishes for about one hour, it is unlikely that the dishes used for the next meal are in the dishwasher. In this case, the dishwasher does not need to perform dish washing. Also, it is not desirable to operate the washing machine at night in an apartment house or the like.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the start or pause of the operation from instructing the start or pause of the operation to an unnecessary or undesirable flexible load. In addition, since the said predetermined period usually changes for every said flexible load, it is preferable to set for every said flexible load.

In addition, each step in the control method of the load control device can be executed by a computer using a control program. Furthermore, the control program can be executed on any computer by storing the control program in a computer-readable recording medium.

As described above, the load control device according to the present invention can control the operation by the load control device when the supplied power is larger than the power consumption, and start the operation on the load that needs to start the operation. Since the balance between the supplied power and the consumed power can be maintained without deteriorating energy utilization efficiency, it can be applied to a power system using any distributed power source.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power system 2 Distributed power supply 2a Solar power generation device 2b Wind power generation device 3 Distribution board 4 Load device 4a Washing machine 4b Dishwasher 5 Load control device 10 Sensor 11 Controller 20 Control part 21 Storage part 30 Supply power acquisition part (Power value acquisition) means)
31 Power consumption acquisition unit (power value acquisition means)
32 Supply-demand comparison section (electric power value comparison means)
33 Control object determination unit (control object determination means)
34 Load operation instruction section (load operation instruction means)
40 Load operation storage unit 41 Operation history storage unit

Claims

A load control device for controlling the operation of the load used in a power system in which power supplied from a distributed power source using natural energy is consumed by a load,
A power value acquisition means for acquiring a power supply value supplied by the power source and a power consumption value consumed by the load;
Power value comparison means for comparing the supplied power value and the power consumption value acquired by the power value acquisition means;
If the supplied power value is larger than the consumed power value as a result of the comparison by the power value comparing means, the operation of the load control device among the loads can be controlled, and the operation needs to be started. Control target determining means for determining a load as a control target;
A load control device comprising load operation instruction means for instructing start of an operation with respect to the load determined by the control target determining means.
The control target determining means determines, as the control target for suspension, the load that the load operation instructing means instructed to start the operation when the supplied power value is smaller than the power consumption value,
2. The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the load operation instructing unit instructs the load to be temporarily stopped for the load determined by the control target determining unit as a control target to be temporarily stopped.
The load operation instruction means further includes a storage unit that stores operation history information including the operation history of the load instructed to start the operation for each load,
The load control device according to claim 1, wherein the control target determining unit excludes the load from the control target with reference to operation history information of the storage unit.
A control method of a load control device for controlling the operation of the load, which is used in a power system in which power supplied from a distributed power source using natural energy is consumed by a load,
A power value acquisition step of acquiring a power supply value supplied by the power source and a power consumption value consumed by the load;
A power value comparison step for comparing the power supply value and the power consumption value acquired in the power value acquisition step;
If the supplied power value is larger than the consumed power value as a result of the comparison in the power value comparing step, the operation of the load control device among the loads can be controlled, and the operation needs to be started. A control object determination step for determining a load as a control object;
A load operation instructing step for instructing the load determined in the control object determining step to start the operation.
In a control program for operating a load control device that controls the operation of the load, which is used in a power system in which power supplied from a distributed power source using natural energy is consumed by a load,
A power value acquisition step of acquiring a power supply value supplied by the power source and a power consumption value consumed by the load;
A power value comparison step for comparing the power supply value and the power consumption value acquired in the power value acquisition step;
If the supplied power value is larger than the consumed power value as a result of the comparison in the power value comparing step, the operation of the load control device among the loads can be controlled, and the operation needs to be started. A control object determination step for determining a load as a control object;
A control program for causing a computer to execute a load operation instruction step for instructing the start of an operation for the load determined in the control object determination step.