WO2021018437A1

WO2021018437A1 - Automatic, signal-based, not uninterruptible control of domestic appliances, heating and air-conditioning systems and electrical charging facilities

Info

Publication number: WO2021018437A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/064973
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Heise
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-08-01
Filing date: 2020-05-29
Publication date: 2021-02-04
Also published as: DE102019211543A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) for a residence or a building, which is configured to run a work program predefined by a stored program flow plan and to this end to receive control signals external to the device and to start the work program depending on a starting control signal received. The device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) is configured to divide up the work program into a sequence of work program parts and to interrupt the execution of the sequence of work program parts between two work program parts as a reaction to a control signal triggering an interruption and to continue same on compliance with a continuation condition. An independent claim is directed to a method with which the electric device is operated.

Description

description

title

Automatic, signal-based, non-interruption-free control of

Household appliances, heating and air conditioning systems and electrical charging devices

State of the art

The present invention relates to an electrical device for a household or a building, which is set up to store a

To run the program flow chart predetermined work program, the sequence of the work program being associated with a consumption of electrical energy, and to receive device-external control signals and to start the work program as a function of a received start control signal.

The electrical energy consuming electrical devices nowadays have fixed program flow charts according to which they perform their tasks. A

Washing machine, for example, has an electricity demand curve that is run through in an almost fixed sequence after it is started. After a start, a heat pump needs a certain lead time before the reservoir to be heated has reached its target temperature. An electric vehicle can charge electricity, but does not have to accept the charging current continuously from the time a connection to the charging device (wall box or charging station) is established.

The electrical energy required to operate electrical devices connected to a local electrical network is partly drawn from a photovoltaic system, if one is available. Another part of the electrical energy comes from an external one

Energy supply network of an energy supply company. As a rule, it is economical for the operator of a local network, which is, for example, an electrical network of a building It is cheaper to consume electrical energy generated with your own photovoltaic system than this energy from the external one

Obtain power supply network. If electrical energy is drawn from the external network, the electricity prices may depend on the time of day, so that it is economically advantageous to run high-consumption electrical devices when cheaper electricity is available in the external network. In this context, it is assumed here as known that electrical devices are started when cheaper electricity is available. In the prior art, this is achieved by shifting entire load profiles over time. Here, a load profile is understood to mean the time course of the consumption of electrical energy by an electrical device during the course of its work program.

Disclosure of the invention.

The present invention differs from this prior art in that the electrical device is set up to divide its work program into a sequence of work program parts and to assign the sequence of work program parts between two work program parts in response to a control signal that triggers an interruption

interrupt and continue if a continuation condition is met

This has the advantage that, compared to shifting entire load profiles, much smaller electrical loads can be shifted in time. This results in the possibility of better adapting the consumption of electrical energy in the local network to the course of available cheaper electrical energy, which gives the operator of the local network economic advantages.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the electrical device is a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher or a

Washer or dryer or washer dryer.

It is also preferred that the electrical device is an air conditioner or a

Heat pump or an electric heater. It is further preferred that the electrical device is a charging device for a battery storage device or an electric vehicle.

Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the electrical device has a programmable interface which is set up to respond to external control signals with a change in the

To respond to the program flow chart of the electrical device. The

Programmable interface allows the energy management control device to control the sequence of the work programs of the electrical devices connected to the local network which have such an interface.

It is also preferred that the work program parts cannot be further subdivided. With this refinement, the best possible adaptability of a power requirement of a set of electrical devices to an available supply of inexpensive electrical energy is achieved compared to a coarser subdivision.

It is further preferred that the electrical device is set up to interrupt its work program flow in response to a received interrupt control signal between two predetermined work program parts and to continue the work program flow in response to a received continuation control signal. In this case, the continuation control signal is output by the energy management control device. The continuation condition is fulfilled in this embodiment when the electrical device receives the continuation control signal.

With this configuration, the energy management can be activated for a short time

Changes in the available electrical energy react. For example, it can restart interrupted work program parts if the supply of electrical energy changes. Short-term changes to this offer can occur, for example, if the solar radiation on a photovoltaic system changes.

Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the electrical device is set up to process its work program as Response to a received from the energy management control unit

Interrupt control signal between two predetermined

To interrupt parts of the work program for a specified interruption period and to continue independently at the end of the interruption period. The continuation condition is fulfilled in this embodiment when a time counter of the electrical device reaches a count which corresponds to the predetermined end of the interruption.

This configuration allows the energy management control unit to approximate a predetermined supply of cheap electrical energy, which can vary in a predictable manner, with the consumption curves of the electrical devices connected to the local network by appropriately shifting the individual work program parts over time.

It is also preferred that a duration of the interruption period is specified by the interruption control signal.

It is further preferred that the duration of the interruption is limited to a maximum value predetermined by the electrical device. This

Design effectively prevents certain work program parts from being postponed for an undesirably long time. For example, the

"Drying" work program part of a tumble dryer or washer dryer should not be postponed excessively in order to avoid disadvantages for the result of the entire work program.

Further advantages emerge from the following description, the drawings and the subclaims. It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the invention are shown in

Drawings shown and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show, each in schematic form: Figure 1 shows the technical environment of the invention in the form of a local network with connected electrical devices and a

Energy supply network;

Figure 2 shows a single electrical device together with one

uninterrupted load profile;

FIG. 3 shows a modified load profile based thereon and having all permitted interruptions of maximum length;

FIG. 4 shows a modified load profile based thereon and actually having predetermined interruptions with actually predetermined lengths; and

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

In detail, FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of an energy management control device 10, electrical energy consuming electrical devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, a photovoltaic system 28 and an external electrical energy supply network 30. The electrical devices 12 , 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, the photovoltaic system 23 and the energy management control device 10 are, for example, connected to a common local electrical network,

for example, the electrical network of a building. The external electrical energy supply network 30 is a larger electrical network of an energy supply company.

The electrical devices are, for example, household devices such as a dishwasher 12, a washing machine 14, a

Washer-dryer 16 or a clothes dryer 18 as well as a heating and / or air-conditioning device 20, a heat pump 22, an electric charging device 24, for example a wall box for charging electric vehicles, and a battery storage 26.

This listing of examples of electrical devices is only intended

Exemplary character and is not meant to be conclusive. In such an arrangement, the energy management control device 10 controls the flows of electrical energy between the photovoltaic system 28 and the electrical energy supply network 30 and between the photovoltaic system 28, the electrical energy supply network 30 and the battery storage 26 on the one hand and the electrical charging device 24, the

Household appliances 12, 14, 16, and the heating and / or air conditioning device 20 on the other side. The connections between the individual blocks shown in FIG. 1 represent communication paths with which the

Energy management control device 10 communicates with the other elements of FIG. Apart from the connection between the electrical power supply network 30 and the energy management control device 10, the connections represent a message bus system, for example.

Lines via which, for example, the energy required to operate the electrical devices is transmitted are not shown in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity.

The electrical devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 each have a programmable interface 12.1, 14.1, 16.1, 18.1, 20.1, 22.1, 24.1 and 26.1, via which they can communicate with the energy management control device 10 bi -Can communicate directionally.

The programmable interface is, for example, an API (application

Programming interface). Such a programmable interface is a part of the program that is included in the energy management control device 10

running control program is provided by the control programs of the electrical devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 in such a way that the control program of the energy management control device 10 executes the control programs of the electrical devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 can affect.

FIG. 2 shows a single electrical device 32 representative of the electrical devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 shown in FIG. 1. The electrical device 32 fulfills its function with a work program in which the in FIG. 2 shows its demand over time

electrical energy W, ie its load profile, or its consumption curve over the time t, which represents an uninterrupted work program sequence. The load profile accordingly also has none

Interruptions.

The work program consists of several work program parts, which are preferably separated from one another by minima of the load profile. Without

For reasons of generality, it is assumed that a first work program part extends to the first minimum of the consumption curve, a second work program part extends from the first minimum to the third minimum, a third work program part extends from the third minimum to the fourth minimum, and that a fourth

Part of the program extends from the fourth minimum to the end of the work program.

FIG. 3 shows a load profile 36 having three interruptions 38, 40, 42. The three interruptions 39, 40, 42 represent a maximum length of time

Interruptions permitted by electrical device 32. The maximum duration of the first interruption 38 is, for example, 45 minutes. The maximum duration of the second interruption 40 is, for example, 15 minutes. The maximum duration of the third interruption 42 is, for example, 15 minutes. The electrical device 32 transfers the positions and maximum permissible lengths of the Interruptions 38, 40, 42 to the energy management control device 10. The energy management control device 10 calculates from this data and corresponding data of the other electrical devices a sequence of work program parts of the totality of the work program parts of the connected electrical devices and influences the

programmable interfaces of the connected electrical devices, the execution of the work programs of these devices in compliance with the condition of the location and maximum length of the interruptions.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a load profile 44 with such interruptions, which is based on the two load profiles 34, 36 shown above, and that in the selection of interruptions and time periods of the

Interruptions from the energy management control device 10 is specified. In this load profile 44, serving only as an example, both the first interruption 38 and the second interruption 40 are in the

Work program sequence switched. A third interruption 42 possible in the example chosen does not take place. The length of the first interruption 38 is specified by the energy management control device 10 as 22 min, for example, and the length of the second interruption 40 is specified by the energy management control device 10 as 14.4 min.

In a first alternative, the energy management control device 10 transfers the positions and lengths of the interruptions 38, 40 to the relevant electrical device 32, and the electrical device 32 modifies its work program sequence accordingly and processes the modified sequence independently. In a second alternative, the energy management control device 10 takes over the interruption and termination of the interruptions taking place in accordance with the modified sequence and transfers the interruption control signals and continuation control signals to the electrical device 32 in each case to be executed immediately.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a method according to the invention. In a first step 46, an electrical device 32 having the features of claim 1 provides a program flow chart and a load profile 34 occurring in the process.

In a second step 48, the electrical device 32 marks in the

Program sequence possible positions and maximum permissible lengths of

Interruptions in the program sequence. These data are saved via a

Interface of the electrical device 32 provided for reading and read out by the energy management control device. In a third step 50, the electrical device 32 receives control signals provided by the energy management control device, which determine the actual duration and location of interruptions in the work program sequence. Such signals can, for example, show the chronological progression of electricity prices that change within a day. As an alternative or in addition, it can be signals that indicate the time of day and the

Dependent on weather conditions maps the supply of photovoltaic power. Such control signals are, for example, from an energy management control unit 10 of the local network provided, which also knows the load profiles of other electrical devices that are connected to the local network.

In a fourth step 52, the electrical device modifies its own

Work program flow by recording positions and lengths of the

Interrupts and starts the modified work program flow immediately or at a specified later time.

In a fifth step 54, the electrical device processes the modified work program sequence and interrupts it at the specified one

Points in time for the specified duration.

Claims

Expectations

1. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) for a household or a building, which is set up to run a work program specified by a stored program flow chart, the sequence of the Work program is associated with a consumption of electrical energy, and to receive device-external control signals and start the work program as a function of a received start control signal, characterized in that the electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) is set up to divide its work program into a sequence of work program parts, and to interrupt the sequence of work program parts in response to a control signal that triggers an interruption between two work program parts and to continue when a continuation condition is met.

2. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 ; 32) is a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher or a washing machine or a tumble dryer or a washer-dryer.

3. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical device is an air conditioner or a heat pump or an electrical heater.

4. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical device is a charging device for a battery storage device or an electric vehicle.

5. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to one of the

The preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical device has a programmable interface which is set up to to react to external control signals with a change in the program flow chart of the electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32).

6. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that the

Parts of the work program cannot be further subdivided.

7. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical device is set up to its work program sequence in response to a received interrupt control signal between two

to interrupt predetermined work program parts and the

To continue working program flow in response to a received continuation control signal.

8. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to one of the

Claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the electrical device is set up to interrupt its work program sequence in response to a received interrupt control signal between two predetermined work program parts for a predetermined interruption period and to continue independently after the end of the interruption period.

9. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to claim 8, characterized in that a duration of the interruption period is specified by the interruption control signal.

10. Electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) according to claim 8, characterized in that the interruption time is limited to a maximum value predetermined by the electrical device.

11. A method for controlling an electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) for a household or a building, which is set up to use a predetermined program flow chart

To run the work program, whereby the expiry of the

Work program is associated with a consumption of electrical energy, and to receive device-external control signals and the work program depending on a received start Start control signal, characterized in that the electrical device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26; 32) divides its work program into a sequence of work program parts and the sequence of

Share work programs in response to an interruption

interrupts the triggering control signal between two work program parts and continues when a continuation condition is met.