[DESCRIPTION]
[Title of Invention]
Control apparatus and control method for distributed generation
apparatus
5 [Technical Field]
[0001]
The present invention relates to a control apparatus and a control
method for a distributed generation apparatus.
[Background Art]
10 [0002]
In recent years, it has become socially desirable to introduce
distributed generation apparatuses that make use of renewable
energy, such as a photovoltaic power generation apparatus, to cope
with issues like global warming. In order to promote the widespread
15 use of distributed generation apparatuses, a system for purchasing
power from a consumer-installed distributed generation apparatus
at a higher price than the ordinary electricity rate has been
proposed to the electric power companies. Under such a buy-back
system, it is hoped that consumers will want to generate as much
20 power as possible from distributed generation apparatuses.
Furthermore, even when a buy-back system does not exist, it is hoped
that consumers with a high sense of awareness concerning
environmental problems will work to protect the environment by
generating as much power as possible from their own distributed
25 generation apparatuses.
[0003]
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However, in line with introducing large numbers of distributed
generation apparatuses, problems that impact on the power grid, such
as surplus power and voltage fluctuations, may occur. To curb these
problems, it is necessary to suppress the output of a distributed
generation apparatus in accordance with a change in power 5 demand.
[0004]
For example, since there is less need for air conditioning during
seasons when the weather is mild, power demand declines. However,
regardless of the drop in power demand on the part of a consumer,
10 the consumer-installed photovoltaic power generation apparatus
continues to generate power according to the weather, resulting in
a surplus of power for each consumer. When this surplus power is
transmitted to the power grid as-is by consumers, the fear is that
the voltage and frequency of the power grid will fluctuate, causing
15 power quality to deteriorate.
[0005]
Accordingly, when power demand is low, it is desirable to suppress
the power-generating capacity (amount of power) of a
consumer-installed distributed generation apparatus. It is
20 necessary to know how much power-generating capacity is actually
capable of being suppressed, but in order to estimate the
power-generating capacity that it is possible to suppress, the
power-generating capacity when suppression is not carried out must
be estimated.
25 [0006]
A method for predicting the power-generating capacity of a
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distributed generation apparatus using a value measured by a sensor,
such as a solar radiation value meter or the like, and conversion
efficiency is conceivable here. In addition, a method for
predicting the amount of photovoltaic energy generated for an entire
prescribed region based on the weather (Non Patent Literature 5 e 1)
has also been proposed.
[Citation List]
[Non Patent Literature]
[0007]
10 [NPL 1]
The Transactions of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.
B, A publication of the Power and Energy Society, 127(7), 847-853,
July 1, 2007, The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.
[Summary of Invention]
15 [Technical Problem]
[0008]
In the prior art,
[0009]
The cost, time, and trouble involved in installing sensors in
20 individual distributed generation apparatuses are enormous. In
addition, techniques for estimating the total power-generating
capacity of photovoltaic power generation apparatuses within a
region on the basis of weather information are incapable of
predicting the power-generating capacities of the individual
25 photovoltaic power generation apparatuses.
[0010]
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5
The consumer hopes for maximum power generation from his distributed
generation apparatus in order recover his investment and/or
contribute toward alleviating environmental problems. Therefore,
when the power-generating capacity of a distributed generation
apparatus is suppressed, it will be necessary to estimate 5 how much
each consumer’s distributed generation apparatus is contributing
toward power suppression, and to provide the consumer with some sort
of benefit (monetary compensation or the like) corresponding to this
contribution. Otherwise, there is the danger that a sense of
10 unfairness will grow among consumers and become an obstacle to
promoting the widespread use of distributed generation apparatuses.
[0011]
With the foregoing in view, an object of the present invention is
to provide a control apparatus and a control method for a distributed
15 generation apparatus that make it possible to estimate potential
power-generating capacity had suppression not been performed in a
case where the power-generating capacity of the distributed
generation apparatus was suppressed.
[Solution to Problem]
20 [0012]
To solve the aforementioned problems, a control apparatus for a
distributed generation apparatus related to the present invention
is a distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus for
suppressing the power-generating capacity of the distributed
25 generation apparatus and for estimating the power-generating
capacity that has been suppressed, this control apparatus
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comprising: a power-generating capacity measurement unit
configured to measure the power-generating capacity of the
distributed generation apparatus; a control pattern setting unit
configured to control the power-generating capacity of the
distributed generation apparatus by setting, in a power-5 generating
capacity control unit for controlling the power-generating capacity
of the distributed generation apparatus, control pattern
information that is for controlling the power-generating capacity
of the distributed generation apparatus, and that includes at least
10 each of a first time period for suppressing power-generating
capacity and a second time period for not suppressing
power-generating capacity; and a potential power-generating
capacity estimation unit configured to acquire from the
power-generating capacity measurement unit a first
15 power-generating capacity in the first time period and a second
power-generating capacity in the second time period, and on the
basis of the first power-generating capacity and the second
power-generating capacity, estimate a potential power-generating
capacity that could have been produced in a case where the
20 power-generating capacity of the distributed generation apparatus
had not been suppressed during the first time period.
[0013]
The control pattern information can comprise a first pattern part
for suppressing the first power-generating capacity of the first
25 time period to a prescribed first upper limit, and a second pattern
part for suppressing the second power-generating capacity of the
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second time period to a prescribed second upper limit, and the second
upper limit can be set to a value that is equal to or higher than
the maximum power-generating capacity of the distributed generation
apparatus.
5 [0014]
At least a part of the configuration of the present invention can
probably be realized as either a computer program or a hardware
circuit. A computer program, for example, can be delivered via
either a communication medium like the Internet or a recording
10 medium like a hard disk or flash memory device.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0015]
[Fig. 1]
Fig. 1 is the overall configuration of a device for estimating a
15 suppressed power-generating capacity.
[Fig. 2]
Fig. 2 is a detailed configuration of a power suppression controller
for estimating the suppressed power-generating capacity.
[Fig. 3]
20 Fig. 3 is a computation processing flow of a method for estimating
the suppressed power-generating capacity.
[Fig. 4]
Fig. 4 is a flow for regulating the output of photovoltaic power
generation using PCS.
25 [Fig. 5]
Fig. 5 is a graph illustrating the relationship between voltage V
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and current I in a photovoltaic power generation apparatus.
[Fig. 6]
Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating the relationship between voltage V
and electric power W in the photovoltaic power generation apparatus.
5 [Fig. 7]
Fig. 7 is an example of a table illustrating a suppression
information pattern.
[Fig. 8]
Fig. 8 is an example of a graph in which a suppression pattern has
10 been plotted.
[Fig. 9]
Fig. 9 is an example of a suppression pattern graph.
[Fig. 10]
Fig. 10 is an example of a screen in which items having a degree
15 of similarity are displayed using a graph format.
[Fig. 11]
Fig. 11 is an example of a suppression pattern graph.
[Fig. 12]
Fig. 12 is an example of a screen in which items having a degree
20 of similarity are displayed using a graph format.
[Fig. 13]
Fig. 13 is an example of a suppression pattern graph.
[Fig. 14]
Fig. 14 is an example of a screen in which items having a degree
25 of similarity are displayed using a graph format.
[Fig. 15]
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Fig. 15 is an example of a suppression pattern graph.
[Fig. 16]
Fig. 16 is an example of a display screen for an operation display
apparatus.
5 [Fig. 17]
Fig. 17 is an example of a display screen for an operation display
apparatus.
[Fig. 18]
Fig. 18 is an example of a display screen for an operation display
10 apparatus.
[Fig. 19]
Fig. 19 is the overall configuration of a device for estimating a
suppressed power-generating capacity.
[Fig. 20]
15 Fig. 20 is the overall configuration of a device for estimating a
suppressed power-generating capacity.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0016]
The embodiment of the present invention will be explained below on
20 the basis of the drawings. In the embodiment, it is possible, on
the basis of a first power-generating capacity of a first time period
and a second power-generating capacity of a second time period
during which suppression is not performed, to estimate a potential
power-generating capacity during a first time period in which
25 power-generating capacity is suppressed. In one example of the
embodiment, a time period for suppressing the output
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(power-generating capacity) of a distributed generation apparatus
and a time period for not suppressing this output are set in a
specified prescribed time range. Then, in one example of the
embodiment, potential power-generating capacity in the first time
5 period during which suppression is performed, that is, the
power-generating capacity that could have been realized had
suppression not been performed is calculated by weight-averaging
second power-generating capacities in second time periods
therebefore and thereafter.
10 [0017]
In the embodiment, which is configured in this manner, the potential
power-generating capacity can be calculated relatively accurately
using a relatively simple method when suppressing the output of a
distributed generation apparatus (a power generation apparatus
15 installed on the consumer side). Therefore, the power-generating
capacity that has been suppressed (suppressed power-generating
capacity) can be calculated relatively accurately using a
relatively simple method.
[0018]
20 For example, a configuration such that a certain distributed
generation apparatus within a region is regarded as a reference
power generation apparatus and used without performing suppression,
and the potential power-generating capacities of other distributed
generation apparatuses in the same region are estimated on the basis
25 of the output of the reference power generation apparatus is
conceivable. However, since there are numerous types of
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distributed generation apparatuses, and performance differs for
each kind of apparatus, complicated arithmetic operations must be
performed in order to individually calculate the potential
power-generating capacity of the distributed generation
apparatuses within a region. Also, the power-5 generating capacity
of a distributed generation apparatus is one kind of personal
information with respect to a consumer, and a configuration that
uses the distributed generation apparatus of another person as a
reference power generation apparatus is not desirable from the
10 standpoint of security and so forth.
[0019]
In the embodiment, it is possible to estimate potential
power-generating capacity for each distributed generation
apparatus simply and relatively accurately without problems such
15 as this occurring.
[Example 1]
[0020]
Fig. 1 is a drawing of an overall configuration that includes a
control apparatus for a distributed generation apparatus related
20 to this example. Fig. 2 is a drawing of a detailed configuration
for a power suppression controller 42 for estimating a suppressed
power-generating capacity. Fig. 3 illustrates the computation
processing flow of a method for estimating a suppressed
power-generating capacity.
25 [0021]
The overall consumer-side configuration 1 is connected to a
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regional-side transceiving apparatus 2 via a communication network
11. The overall consumer-side configuration 1 receives a
suppression information signal as “control pattern information”
created by a regional planning apparatus 3 via a communication
channel 23, the regional-side transceiving 5 apparatus 2, a
communication channel 22, the communication network 11, and a
communication channel 21. The regional planning apparatus 3 is a
computer system for managing power demand in a prescribed area, and
is also connected to the computer system (not shown in the drawing)
10 of an electric power company.
[0022]
The overall consumer-side configuration 1 is connected to a power
grid 9 via a power transmission line 32, a power network 12, and
feeder line 31. The overall consumer-side configuration 1
15 purchases power from the power grid 9 when power demand cannot be
met using only the power-generating capacity of a photovoltaic power
generation apparatus 47. In contrast to this, the overall
consumer-side configuration 1 can supply surplus power to the power
grid 9 and sell this surplus power to the electric power company
20 when there is a surplus of power-generating capacity by the
photovoltaic power generation apparatus or other such power
generation equipment 47.
[0023]
The overall consumer-side configuration 1, for example, comprises
25 a configuration 41 inside a consumer building, a consumer-side
transceiving apparatus 51, a power generation meter 52, a surplus
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meter 53, a power meter 54, a transformer 55, power sensors 79, 80,
and 81, signal lines 67, 68, 69, 70, 74, 75, and 76 for connecting
thereto, and power lines 71, 72, 73 and 78.
[0024]
The configuration 41 inside the consumer 5 building, for example,
comprises a power suppression controller 42, a power conditioner
(hereinafter PCS) 43, a power distribution panelboard 44, an
operation display apparatus 45, a results database 46, power
generation equipment 47 serving as a “distributed generation
10 apparatus”, and electrical equipment 49 serving as an electrical
load. The electrical equipment 49 will differ in accordance with
the type of consumer, but, for example, may include a lighting system,
air conditioning equipment, a refrigerator, and an electric motor.
As the power generation equipment 47, for example, a photovoltaic
15 power generation apparatus, and a wind power generation apparatus
can be cited. The power generation equipment 47 may be connected
to a power storage apparatus (not shown in the drawing).
[0025]
In Fig. 1, the broken lines linking the equipment illustrate
20 communication lines, and the solid lines illustrate power lines.
A communication system may be a wired system or a wireless system.
The power suppression controller 42 is connected to the operation
display apparatus 45 via a communication line 62, to the results
database 46 via a communication line 63, to the PCS 43 via a
25 communication line 61, and to the consumer-side transceiving
apparatus 51 via a communication line 67. In addition, the power
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suppression controller 42 is connected to the power sensor 81 via
a communication line 70, to the power sensor 80 via a communication
line 69, and to the power sensor 79 via a communication line 68.
[0026]
The PCS 43 is connected to the power generation equipment 5 47 via
the power line 64, and is connected to the power generation meter
52 via the power line 71. The power distribution panelboard 44 is
connected to the electric equipment 49 via the power line 66, to
the power generation meter 52 via the power line 72, and to the
10 surplus meter 53 via the power line 73.
[0027]
The consumer-side transceiving apparatus 51 transmits various
information about the consumer side to the regional planning
apparatus 3, and receives a control signal (suppression information
15 signal) from the regional planning apparatus 3. The consumer-side
transceiving apparatus 51 is connected to the power generation meter
52 via a communication line 74, to the surplus meter 53 via a
communication line 75, and to the power meter 54 via a communication
line 76. In addition, the consumer-side transceiving apparatus 51
20 is connected to the regional-side transceiving apparatus 2 via the
communication network 11. The regional planning apparatus 3 is
connected to the regional-side transceiving apparatus 2 via a
communication line 23 transmitting and receiving information to and
from the consumer-side transceiving apparatus 51.
25 [0028]
The power suppression controller 42 is connected to the respective
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power sensors 79, 80, and 81 via a sensor data receiving unit 423,
and captures the amounts of power measured by these sensors 79, 80,
and 81. The power sensor 81 measures the power generated by the
power generation equipment 47 on its way from the PCS 43 to the power
generation meter 52. The power sensor 80 measures the amount 5 of
power between the power distribution panelboard 44 and the surplus
meter 53. The power sensor 79 measures the amount of power between
the surplus meter 53 and the power meter 54.
[0029]
10 The power suppression controller 42 stores the power data received
from the respective power sensors 79, 80, and 81 and the results
obtained via computation processing performed by the power
suppression controller 42 in the results database 46, and reads
either past power data or computation processing results from the
15 results database 46. Also, the power suppression controller 42
transmits control data to the PCS 43 via a PCS communication unit
422. In addition, the power suppression controller 42 transmits
display data to the operation display apparatus 45 via an operation
display communication unit 421.
20 [0030]
The operation display apparatus 45 is a man-machine interface for
exchanging information with a user (consumer). The operation
display apparatus 45 comprises a display function and an operation
function. The operation display apparatus 45 displays the display
25 data received from the power suppression controller 42. For example,
a measured power-generating capacity, a potential power-generating
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capacity, a suppressed power-generating capacity, and other such
information can be included in the display data. The operation
display apparatus 45 can use the operation function to request that
the power suppression controller 42 transmit required information.
The operation display apparatus 45 may be set such that 5 hat requesting
the power suppression controller 42 for information is done by the
user in accordance with a manual operation, or may be set such that
requesting the power suppression controller 42 for information is
done automatically when a prescribed condition, such as having
10 reached a prescribed date and time, has been met.
[0031]
The operation display apparatus 45 can be configured as dedicated
equipment for display and operation. A personal computer, a mobile
telephone, a personal data assistant, or a television set and the
15 like, which possess general-purpose properties, may be used as the
operation display apparatus 45.
[0032]
The power generation meter 52 measures the power-generating
capacity of the power generation equipment 47. The reason for
20 installing the power generation meter 52 is so that all of the power
generated by the power generation equipment 47 is able to be sold
back to the electric power company. The surplus meter 53 and the
power meter 54 only measure the flow of power in one direction. The
surplus meter 53 counts up the amount of power when the power
25 generated by the power generation equipment 47 is greater than the
power consumed by the electrical equipment 49, and does not perform
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counting when this is not the case.
[0033]
The power meter 54 counts up the amount of power when the power
generated by the power generation equipment 47 is less than the power
consumed 5 by the electrical equipment 49, and does not perform
counting when this is not the case. The power values of the power
sensors 79 and 80 are the same when the direction of the power can
be switched from positive to negative on the basis of the direction
of the current. That is, the absolute value of the power sensor
10 79 measurement value is equivalent to the absolute value of the power
sensor 80 measurement value.
[0034]
Direct current power generated by the power generation equipment
47 is transmitted to the power distribution panelboard 44 via the
15 power generation meter 52 after being converted to alternating
current by the PCS 43. The power consumed by the refrigerator, the
air conditioning equipment, the lighting system, and other such
electrical equipment 49 is supplied from the power distribution
panelboard 44.
20 [0035]
The power distribution panelboard 44 is connected to the transformer
55 via, for example, the surplus meter 53 and the power meter 54.
Surplus power generated by the consumer is transmitted to the power
grid 9 by way of, for example, the power distribution panelboard
25 44, and power that is lacking from the consumer is supplied to the
electrical equipment 49 from the power grid 9 via, for example, the
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power distribution panelboard 44. That is, the power used by the
electrical equipment 49 can be broken down into two types, i.e.,
power that is supplied from the power grid 9 via the transformer
55, and power that has been generated by the power generation
5 equipment 47.
[0036]
A case in which the power suppression controller 42 respectively
measures the amount of power between the PCS 43 and the power
generation meter 52 using the power sensor 81, the amount of power
10 between the power distribution panelboard 44 and the surplus meter
53 using the power sensor 80, and the amount of power between the
surplus meter 53 and the power meter 54 using the power sensor 79
was described using the example of Fig. 1.
[0037]
15 Instead, the power suppression controller 42 may receive via the
consumer-side transceiving apparatus 51 power data measured by the
power generation meter 52 and power data respectively measured by
the surplus meter 53 and the power meter 54. In this case, the power
sensors 79, 80, and 81, as well as the communication lines 68, 69,
20 and 70 between the sensors 79, 80, and 81 and the power suppression
controller 42 would become unnecessary.
[0038]
However, generally speaking, the power sensors 79, 80, and 81 are
installed for the consumer to measure its own power. In contrast
25 to this, the power generation meter 52, the surplus meter 53, and
the power meter 54 are installed for the power provider to compute
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an electricity rate and so forth. Therefore, for security reasons,
the power provider does not always disclose the power data measured
by the respective meters 52, 53, and 54 to the consumer. When the
power data of the respective meters 52, 53 and 54 cannot be utilized,
the power provider 5 uses the power sensors 79, 80, and 81.
[0039]
The regional planning apparatus 3 transmits information for
suppressing the output of the power generation equipment 47 to the
regional-side transceiving apparatus 2. This information is
10 transmitted from the regional-side transceiving apparatus 2 to the
consumer-side transceiving apparatus 51 via, for example, the
communication network 11. This information is ultimately
transmitted to the power suppression controller 42.
[0040]
15 The information created by the regional planning apparatus 3 for
suppressing the output of the power generation equipment 47, as will
be described below, includes information for identifying a consumer
that is targeted for suppression, a suppression-target date, a
suppression-target time period, and a power upper limit.
20 [0041]
When at least a portion of this information has been determined in
advance as a pattern, a pattern number for identifying the
predetermined pattern may be transmitted from the regional planning
apparatus 3 to the power suppression controller 42. The power
25 suppression controller 42 stores beforehand a table that associates
a pattern number with a pattern content, and makes a determination
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regarding the received pattern number on the basis of the table.
This makes it possible for the power suppression controller 42 to
determine whether the consumer provided with its own device is the
consumer targeted for suppression, and to set a suppression-target
time period and a suppression upper limit for the amount of power5 .
[0042]
The PCS 43, under normal circumstances, performs control so as to
maximize the output of the power generation equipment 47. Refer
to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an I-V curve illustrating the relationship
10 between current I and voltage V in the power generation equipment
47 (for example, a photovoltaic power generation apparatus), which
is the target of control by the PCS 43. For example, when the current
is Im and the voltage is Vm, in Math. 1, which reflects the product
of the two, the power of photovoltaic generation becomes W.
15 [0043]
[Math. 1]
[0044]
The relationship between voltage V and power W illustrated in Fig.
20 6 is obtained by changing the voltage Vm in the PCS 43. As is clear
from this graph, it is possible to perform control such that the
voltage achieves the maximum power by changing the voltage V in the
direction in which the power W increases. Because this maximum
power-generating voltage changes in accordance with the amount of
25 solar radiation, adjustments are made sometimes. Similarly, when
W  Im*Vm
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the target power is equal to or less than the maximum power, this
target power can be achieved by adjusting the voltage.
[0045]
The power suppression controller 42, which estimates the potential
power-generating capacity and the suppressed 5 power-generating
capacity, is configured as a computer system comprising, for example,
a microprocessor, a memory, a communication interface, and so forth.
[0046]
The power suppression controller 42, as shown in Fig. 2, for example,
10 comprises a control unit 411, a suppression-related information
receiving unit 412, a suppression pattern plotting unit 413, a meter
value capturing and processing unit 414, a determination processing
unit 415, a suppression condition setting unit 416, a data storage
processing unit 417, a suppressed-amount estimation processing unit
15 418, a request data capturing and transmitting unit 419, an
operation display communication unit 421, a PCS communication unit
422, a sensor data receiving unit 423, and a consumer-side
communication unit 424.
[0047]
20 The control unit 411 transfers data between the respective
processing units 412 through 424 and processes data for the smooth
performance of the processing functions of the respective
processing units 412 through 424 to allow the processing as a whole
to be carried out normally. Also, the control unit 411 issues a
25 processing request for storing data in the results database 46, and
issues a processing request for fetching data from the results
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database 46.
[0048]
The suppression-related information receiving unit 412 receives and
captures information related to the suppression of power-generating
capacity created by the regional 5 planning apparatus 3 from the
consumer-side communication unit 424. The suppression pattern
plotting unit 413, on the basis of suppression-related information
received by the suppression-related information receiving unit 412,
determines whether a consumer is targeted for suppression. When
10 it has been determined that the consumer is targeted for suppression,
the suppression pattern plotting unit 413 plots a suppression date,
a suppression time period, and a power generation upper limit (also
called an output upper limit) on the basis of a received pattern
number and the like.
15 [0049]
The information related to the output upper limit transmitted from
the regional planning apparatus 3, for example, can be set as a
percentage relative to the normal rated power of the power
generation equipment 47. In this case, the product of the
20 instructed percentage and either the normal rated power of the PCS
42 or the normal rated power of the power generation equipment 47
becomes the output upper limit. The meter value capturing and
processing unit 414 captures an amount of power measured by the power
sensors 79, 80, and 81 via the sensor data receiving unit 423. The
25 determination processing unit 415 determines whether or not it is
the time period for suppressing the power-generating capacity
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(power generation output) of the power generation equipment 47.
[0050]
The suppression condition setting unit 416 transmits to the PCS 43
via the PCS communication unit 422 the most recent amount of power
captured by the meter value capturing and processing unit 414 5 and
the value of the output upper limit computed by the suppression
pattern plotting unit 413.
[0051]
The suppressed-amount estimation processing unit 418, based on the
10 amounts of power measured by the power sensors 79, 80, and 81,
estimates the amount of power (potential power-generating capacity)
that could have been produced had suppression not been carried out
during the time period when the power-generating capacity was
suppressed. The difference between the potential power-generating
15 capacity during the suppression time period and the output upper
limit is the power that was intentionally suppressed, and in this
specification is called the suppressed power-generating capacity.
Also, the suppressed-amount estimation processing unit 418 computes
an electricity rate on the basis of the suppressed power-generating
20 capacity and the power-purchasing rate and power-selling rate
stored in the results database 46. This calculated electricity
tariff can be regarded as the basis for monetary compensation to
the consumer for the suppression of power-generating capacity.
[0052]
25 The data storage processing unit 417 stores in the results database
46 via the operation display communication unit 421 the amounts of
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power measured by the power sensors 79, 80, and 81, the suppressed
power-generating capacity, and the rates calculated by the
suppressed-amount estimation processing unit 418. In addition,
the potential power-generating capacity may also be stored in the
5 results database 46.
[0053]
The request data capturing and transmitting unit 419 captures from
the results database 46 data requested in accordance with an
operation from the operation display apparatus 45 and transmits this
10 data to the operation display apparatus 45.
[0054]
The processing for estimating the potential power-generating
capacity and the suppressed power-generating capacity will be
explained by referring to the processing flows presented in Figs.
15 3 and 4.
[0055]
Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed primarily
by the power suppression controller 42 for estimating the potential
power-generating capacity and the suppressed power-generating
20 capacity. Some of the steps are processed by a circuit other than
the power suppression controller 42.
[0056]
In Step S401, the power suppression controller 42 the power
suppression controller 42 receives suppression information shown
25 in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 illustrates an example of suppression information
serving as “control pattern information”.
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[0057]
The suppression information, for example, includes an area number,
a consumer group number, a suppression date, a pattern number, a
suppression amount, a suppression control start time, a suppression
5 control end time, a time interval for performing suppression, a
corrected start, and a corrected end.
[0058]
The area number is information for identifying each area managed
by the regional planning apparatus 3. The consumer group number
10 is information for identifying a consumer group comprising either
one or a plurality of consumers that exist within the area specified
by the area number. The suppression date is the date on which power
generation suppression is to be performed.
[0059]
15 The pattern number is for determining whether to suppress
power-generating capacity on the basis of the measured value of
power sensor 81, which measures the output of the power generation
equipment 47, or to suppress power-generating capacity on the basis
of the value measured by the power sensor 79. For example, when
20 the pattern number is “1”, control is performed on the basis of the
power sensor 81 measured value. When suppressing power-generating
capacity on the consumer side on the basis of the power output from
the power generation equipment 47, “1” is set in the pattern number.
When the pattern number is “2”, control is performed on the basis
25 of the power sensor 79 measured value. When suppressing
power-generating capacity on the consumer side on the basis of the
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amount of reverse power flow to the power grid 9, “2” is set in the
pattern number. That is, when “2” is set in the pattern number,
the occurrence of a reverse power flow is set as the condition for
starting suppression.
5 [0060]
The suppression amount indicates the amount of power-generating
capacity to be suppressed, and, for example, is set as a percentage
(%) of either a rated power-generating capacity or a rated capacity.
The value obtained by subtracting the suppression amount from either
10 the rated power-generating capacity or the rated capacity
constitutes the output upper limit. When the suppression amount
is defined using a percentage, the value obtained by multiplying
the suppression percentage by either the rated power-generating
capacity or the rated capacity constitutes the output upper limit.
15 [0061]
The suppression control start time is the time at which suppression
control of the power-generating capacity starts. The suppression
control end time is the time at which suppression control of the
power-generating capacity ends. The time interval is information
20 for establishing an interval during which the time period for
suppressing the power-generating capacity (suppression time
period) appears. The corrected start is information for adjusting
the time for starting the suppression of power-generating capacity.
The corrected end is information for adjusting the time for ending
25 the suppression of power-generating capacity.
[0062]
PHT110173
27
First of all, in Step S402, the power suppression controller 42
determines whether the “area number” and the “consumer group number”
in the suppression information received in Step S401 by the
suppression-related information receiving unit 412 correspond to
the consumer to which 5 its own apparatus is provided.
[0063]
When it is not the consumer to which its own apparatus is provided,
the power suppression controller 42 sets the output upper limit to
either the rated capacity of the PCS 43 or the rated output of the
10 power generation equipment 47. When, depending on the conditions,
there is a likelihood that the power generation equipment will
achieve output of equal to or greater than the rated output, the
output upper limit may be set, for example, to around two times the
rated output.
15 [0064]
In Step S402, the power suppression controller 42 regards “24:00”
as the processing reference time. In addition, in Step S402, the
power suppression controller 42, on the basis of the “pattern
number” in the suppression information, determines whether to
20 perform suppression on the basis of the measurement value of the
power sensor 81, or to perform suppression on the basis of the
measurement value of the power sensor 79.
[0065]
In Step S402, the power suppression controller 42 determines the
25 output upper limit by applying the numerical value specified by the
“suppression amount” in the suppression information to the rated
PHT110173
28
capacity of either the PCS 43 or the power generation equipment 47.
For example, when the rated capacity is 3kW and the suppression
amount is 60%, the output upper limit becomes “1.8kW”.
[0066]
According to the suppression information depicted in Fig. 7, 5 the
time at which the suppression time period for suppressing the
consumer-side power-generating capacity initially starts is “8:00”,
and the time at which the last suppression time period ends is “19:00”.
The time at which the last suppression time period starts is “18:00”,
10 but since a time interval of 60 minutes has been specified, the time
at which the last suppression time period ends is 19:00.
Consequently, in Step S402, the power suppression controller 42
plots the start times and end times of the power-generating capacity
suppressions on a time chart like that illustrated in Fig. 8.
15 [0067]
As illustrated in Fig. 8, the initial time period (suppression time
period) at which the suppression of power-generating capacity
starts is the 60 minute period from 8:00 to 9:00, the second
suppression time period is the 60 minute period from 10:00 to 11:00,
20 and a suppression time period is provided every other hour
thereafter. The last suppression time period is the 60 minute
period from 18:00 to 19:00. The time periods between a suppression
time period and a suppression time period during which the
consumer-side power-generating capacity is not suppressed
25 (non-suppression time period) are set to 60 minutes each. In the
suppression time period corresponding to the “first time period”,
PHT110173
29
it is only possible to generate power up to the output upper limit,
which is smaller than the rated output (or rated capacity). By
contrast, in the non-suppression time period corresponding to the
“second time period”, it is possible to generate power up to the
5 rated output.
[0068]
In Step S403, the power suppression controller 42 uses the meter
value capturing and processing unit 414 to read each of the output
values measured by the power sensors 79, 80, and 81. As described
10 hereinabove, instead of a configuration by which the power
suppression controller 42 reads the measurement values of the power
sensors 79, 80, and 81 directly, the configuration may be such that
the power suppression controller 42 reads the measurement values
of the respective meters 52, 53, and 54 via the consumer-side
15 transceiving apparatus 51.
[0069]
The power suppression controller 42 processes Steps S404, S405, S406,
and S407 using the determination processing unit 415. In Step S404,
the power suppression controller 42 determines whether or not the
20 current time exceeds “24:00”, which is the reference time for the
processing, and when a day has ended (S404: YES), ends the processing.
When this is not the case (S404: NO), in Step S405, the power
suppression controller 42 determines whether the current time
exceeds the suppression-end time, or is prior to the
25 suppression-start time. When this is not the case (S405: NO), in
Step S406, the power suppression controller 42 determines whether
PHT110173
30
the current time is the suppression time period.
[0070]
When the current time is the suppression time period (S406: YES),
the power suppression controller 42 checks whether the occurrence
of a reverse power flow is the start condition for the 5 suppression
of power-generating capacity, and when the occurrence of a reverse
power flow is the start condition for the suppression of
power-generating capacity, determines whether the power at the
power sensor 79 is flowing in the direction from the consumer side
10 to the power grid (S407).
[0071]
When the power is flowing from the consumer side to the power grid
(S407: YES), the power suppression controller 42 advances to Step
S408. The power suppression controller 42 also advances to Step
15 S408 when the occurrence of a reverse power flow is not the
suppression start condition.
[0072]
When the result of the determination in Step S405 is Yes, the result
of the determination in S406 is No, or the result of the determination
20 in S407 is No, the power suppression controller 42 advances to Step
S414. In Step S414, the power suppression controller 42 transmits
the power sensor measurement value (the meter value) to the PCS 42
without suppressing the power-generating capacity.
[0073]
25 The power suppression controller 42 uses the suppression condition
setting unit 416 to process Steps S408 and S413. In Steps S408 and
PHT110173
31
S413, the output upper limit and the meter value to be transmitted
are set.
[0074]
At this point, since the suppression time period is being targeted
in Step S408, an output upper limit corresponding to the 5 current
time is selected from among the output upper limits plotted as
patterns in Step S402. This output upper limit corresponds to the
“first upper limit”. Since Step S414 is not a suppression time
period, a value that cancels suppression, that is, the output upper
10 limit is set in the rated output. This output upper limit
corresponds to the “second upper limit”.
[0075]
As the transmission-target meter value, the measurement value of
the power sensor 81 is used when performing suppression on the basis
15 of the output from the power generation equipment 47, and the
measurement value of the power sensor 79 is used when performing
suppression on the basis of the amount of power in a reverse power
flow. The power suppression controller 42 transmits the set output
upper limit and power sensor measurement value to the PCS 43.
20 [0076]
Step S409 is processed by the PCS 43. The PCS 43 adjusts the output
of the power generation equipment 47 on the basis of the power sensor
measurement value and the output upper limit sent from the
suppression condition setting unit 416.
25 [0077]
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the PCS 43. The
PHT110173
32
PCS 43, in Step S501, receives the power sensor measurement value
(also called the meter value) and the output upper limit sent from
the suppression condition setting unit 416.
[0078]
In Step S502, the PCS 43 determines whether or not the 5 e meter value
exceeds the output upper limit. When the meter value exceeds the
output upper limit (S502: YES), the PCS 43 suppresses the output
of the power generation equipment 47 by adjusting the voltage (S503).
When the meter value does not exceed the output upper limit (S502:
10 NO), the PCS 43 increases the output of the power generation
equipment 47 by adjusting the voltage (S504).
[0079]
Return to Fig. 3. Steps S409 and S410 are processed by the data
storage processing unit 417. The power suppression controller 42
15 accumulates power until a suppression-time-period unit is reached
(S409). For example, when the suppression time period is set in
units of one hour, the power suppression controller 42 accumulates
one hour’s worth of power every hour on the hour.
[0080]
20 The power suppression controller 42 determines whether it is the
time for storing the data in the results database 46 (S410). When
it is not the data storage time (S410: NO), the power suppression
controller 42 moves to Step S413. When it is the data storaqe time
(S410: YES), the power suppression controller 42 stores the
25 power-accumulation values measured by the power sensors 79, 80, and
81 (also called accumulated values hereinafter) in the results
PHT110173
33
database 46 (S411). At the same time as storing the
power-accumulation values in the results database 46, the power
suppression controller 42 also initializes heretofore accumulated
values to zero.
5 [0081]
Step S412 is processed using the suppressed-amount estimation
processing unit 418 for estimating the suppressed power-generating
capacity and the potential power-generating capacity. The power
suppression controller 42 reads from the results database 46 the
10 accumulated values of the power sensors 79 and 81 at the
estimation-target suppression time period, and the accumulated
values of the power sensors 79 and 81 at two contiguous
non-suppression time periods before and after the estimation-target
suppression time period.
15 [0082]
A case in which suppression is performed using the accumulated value
of the power sensor 79 will be explained using as an example the
conditions set forth in the suppression information presented in
Fig. 7. In this case, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the accumulated
20 value of the power sensor 79 at the suppression time period t is
given as PV(t), the accumulated value of the power sensor 79 at the
non-suppression time period (t-1) immediately prior to the
suppression time period t is given as PV(t-1), and the accumulated
value of the power sensor 79 at the non-suppression time period (t+1)
25 immediately after the suppression time period t is given as PV(t+1).
[0083]
PHT110173
34
The potential power-generating capacity PVest(t) that should have
been produced had suppression not been performed in the suppression
time period, as presented in Math. 2, can be calculated as the average
value of the accumulated value PV(t-1) at the immediately-prior
non-suppression time period (t-1) and the accumulated value 5 PV(t+1)
at the immediately-subsequent non-suppression time period (t+1).
[0084]
[Math. 2]
10 [0085]
The amount of power dPV(t) estimated when suppression has actually
been performed in the suppression time period t, as presented in
Math. 3, can be found as the difference between the potential
power-generating capacity PVest(t) and the PV(t), which is the
15 allowable output value (that is, the output upper limit of the
suppression time period).
[0086]
[Math. 3]
20 [0087]
A case in which the rated capacities and the suppression amounts
(suppression percentages) of the respective power generation
2
( 1) ( 1)
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2
( 1) ( 1)
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
  

 
  
 
PV t PV t
else if PVest t
PV t then PVest t PV t
PV t PV t
else if
if PV t PVup t then PVest t PV t
dPV (t)  PVest(t)  PV(t)
PHT110173
35
equipment 47 of two consumers belonging to the same consumer group
are the same will be examined here. In this case, the suppression
percentage of the two pieces of power generation equipment 47 viewed
as a whole can be regarded as a fixed value by staggering the
suppression time periods of the consumers 5 by one hour.
[0088]
For example, a case in which one piece of power generation equipment
47 is suppressed at the suppression percentage of 60% from 12:00
to 13:00, and suppression is cancelled from 13:00 to 14:00, and
10 for another piece of power generation equipment 47, suppression
is cancelled from 12:00 to 13:00 and suppression is performed at
the suppression percentage of 60% from 13:00 to 14:00 will be given
as an example.
[0089]
15 In this case, between 12:00 and 13:00, the output of the one piece
of power generation equipment 47 is 60% and the output of the other
piece of power generation equipment 47 is 100%. Therefore, when
the two pieces of power generation equipment 47 are viewed as a
whole, the output thereof during the time period from 12:00 to 13:00
20 works out to 80%. Similarly, when the two pieces of power
generation equipment 47 are viewed as a whole, the output thereof
during the time period from 13:00 to 14:00 also works out to 80%.
That is, staggering the periods of the suppression pattern square
waves by a prescribed amount makes it possible to suppress in a
25 stable manner the power generation output of the consumer group
as a whole.
PHT110173
36
[0090]
Incidentally, as illustrated in Fig. 9, when the pattern for
suppressing output has been formed as a square wave pattern, the
output of the power generation equipment 47 changes suddenly at
the boundary between the suppression time period and 5 the
non-suppression time period. This sudden change in output is not
desirable for either the consumer’s electrical equipment 49 or for
the power grid 9.
[0091]
10 Accordingly, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the configuration may be
such that output suppression starts a prescribed time (for example,
five minutes) earlier than the suppression-start time, and ends
a prescribed time (for example, five minutes) later than the
suppression-end time.
15 [0092]
Fig. 11 is a suppression pattern that adjusts the output in
accordance with the suppression information of Fig. 10. When Fig.
11 is compared to Fig. 9, the shape of the graph at the start time
is sloped in Fig. 11 due to the output adjustment (output
20 suppression) starting five minutes prior to the suppression-start
time. Similarly, the shape of the graph at the end time is also
sloped due to suppression-end time having been delayed by five
minutes.
[0093]
25 In the example presented in Fig. 11, the suppression amount
(suppression percentage) of the suppression time period does not
PHT110173
37
work out to 60%. Since the output upper limit increases in
proportion to the slope, the average output upper limit becomes
slightly larger as indicated by the thin solid line. As
illustrated in Fig. 11, changing the pattern for suppressing the
power generation output from a square wave, which rises vertical5 ly
and falls vertically, to a trapezoid, which rises in a sloped manner
and falls in a sloped manner, makes it possible to lessen output
fluctuation more than in the case of Fig. 9.
[0094]
10 The output increase ePV(t) resulting from the output upper limit
having increased during the suppression time period can be
calculated in accordance with Math. 4.
[0095]
[Math. 4]
15
[0096]
When the output increase ePV(t) during the suppression time period
is evenly distributed between the non-suppression time periods
located immediately before and immediately after the suppression
20 time period, the output nPV(t) of the post-correction suppression
time period, the output nPV(t-1) of the immediately-prior
non-suppression time period (t-1), and the output nPV(t+1) of the
immediately-subsequent non-suppression time period (t+1)can be
computed in accordance with Math. 5.
( ) 0
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

  
else ePV t
if PV t PVup t then ePV t PV t PVup t
PHT110173
38
[0097]
[Math. 5]
[0098]
Using the post-correction output, it is possible to calculate 5 the
potential power-generating capacity during the suppression time
period t as an average value of the output of the
immediately-subsequent non-suppression time period similar to
Math. 2 as set forth in Math. 6. Also, as described using Math.
10 3, the suppressed power-generating capacity can be determined as
the difference between the potential power-generating capacity and
the output upper limit.
[0099]
[Math. 6]
15
[0100]
Another example of a suppression pattern will be explained. A case
conforming to the suppression conditions set forth in the
20 suppression information presented in Fig. 12 will be explained.
Fig. 13 is a graph of a suppression pattern based on Fig. 12. Fig.
( ) ( ) ( )
( 1) ( 1) ( ) / 2
( 1) ( 1) ( ) / 2
nPV t PV t ePV t
nPV t PV t ePV t
nPV t PV t ePV t
 
   
   
2
( 1) ( 1)
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2
( 1) ( 1)
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
  

 
  
 
nPV t nPV t
else if PVest t
nPV t then PVest t nPV t
nPV t nPV t
else if
if nPV t PVup t then PVest t nPV t
PHT110173
39
13 is substantially the same as Fig. 7, but the suppression pattern
in Fig. 13 has prescribed slopes at the start time and end time
due to setting the suppression-end time with a five-minute delay.
[0101]
The suppression percentage of the suppression time period t in th5 e
case illustrated in Fig. 13 is not 60%, and the output upper limit
increases in proportion to the slope. The average value of the
output upper limit during the suppression time period t is indicated
by the thin solid line. As illustrated in Fig. 13, providing a
10 slope to the output rising portion and falling portion makes it
possible to lessen output fluctuations the same as was described
using Fig. 11. The output increase ePV(t) accompanying the
increase in the output upper limit during the suppression time
period can be calculated based on Math. 4 described hereinabove.
15 [0102]
When distributing this increase ePV(t) to the non-suppression time
period (t+1) immediately after the suppression time period t, the
output nPV(t) of the post-correction suppression time period t,
the output nPV(t-1) of the immediately-prior non-suppression time
20 period (t-1), and the output nPV(t+1) of the
immediately-subsequent non-suppression time period (t+1) can be
calculated in accordance with Math. 7.
[0103]
[Math. 7]
( ) ( ) ( )
( 1) ( 1) ( )
( 1) ( 1)
nPV t PV t dPV t
nPV t PV t dPV t
nPV t PV t
 
   
  
PHT110173
40
[0104]
When distributing the increase ePV(t) to the non-suppression time
period (t-1) immediately before the suppression time period t, the
nPV(t), the nPV(t-1), and the nPV(t+1) can be calculated based o5 n
Math. 8.
[0105]
[Math. 8]
10 [0106]
The same as the aforementioned Math. 2, when the above-described
post-correction output is regarded as the average value, the
estimated output (potential power-generating capacity) during the
suppression time period t can be calculated in accordance with the
15 aforementioned Math. 6. The suppressed power-generating capacity
can be calculated using the aforementioned Math. 3.
[0107]
Yet another example of a suppression pattern will be explained by
referring to Figs. 14 and 15. Fig. 15 illustrates the suppression
20 pattern based on the suppression conditions set forth in the
suppression information indicated in Fig. 14.
[0108]
The suppression pattern of Fig. 15 is substantially the same as
the suppression pattern illustrated in Fig. 7, but the
( ) ( ) ( )
( 1) ( 1)
( 1) ( 1) ( )
nPV t PV t dPV t
nPV t PV t
nPV t PV t dPV t
 
  
   
PHT110173
41
suppression-start time is set five minutes early, and the pattern
has slopes corresponding to this five-minute-early start time.
Therefore, in this case as well, the suppression percentage during
the suppression time period t is not 60%, and the output upper limit
increases slightly in proportion to the slopes thereof. Therefore5 ,
the average of the output upper limits is illustrated in Fig. 15
as a thin solid line.
[0109]
As shown in Fig. 15, creating slopes at the rising portion and
10 falling portion of the suppression pattern makes it possible to
reduce output fluctuations compared to when a suppression pattern
with vertical rising and falling portions is used. Furthermore,
the output increase ePV(t) resulting from the output upper limit
of the suppression time period having increased can be computed
15 using the aforementioned Math. 4.
[0110]
When distributing this output increase ePV(t) to the
non-suppression time period (t+1) immediately after the
suppression time period t, the output nPV(t) of the post-correction
20 time t, the output nPV(t-1) of the non-suppression time (t-1), and
the output nPV(t+1) of the non-suppression time (t+1) can be
computed using Math. 7.
[0111]
Or, when distributing the output increase ePV(t) to the
25 immediately-prior non-suppression time period (t-1), the nPV(t),
the nPV(t-1), and the nPV(t+1) can be calculated based on Math.
PHT110173
42
8.
[0112]
The same as the aforementioned Math. 2, when the above-described
post-correction output is regarded as the average value, the
estimated output (potential power-generating capacity) during 5 the
suppression time period t can be calculated in accordance with the
aforementioned Math. 6. The suppressed power-generating capacity
can be calculated using the aforementioned Math. 3.
[0113]
10 Similarly, when suppression control is performed such that the
measurement value of the power sensor 81 becomes equal to or less
than the output upper limit, and when suppression control is
performed such that the reverse power flow measured by the power
sensor 79 becomes equal to or less than the output upper limit,
15 the potential power-generating capacity and the suppressed
power-generating capacity can be calculated using Math. 2 through
Math. 8.
[0114]
In Step S413 of Fig. 3, the power suppression controller 42 stores
20 in the results database 46 the measurement values of the power
sensors 79, 80, and 81, the potential power-generating capacity
(the estimated power-generating capacity had suppression not been
performed), the suppressed power-generating capacity, and the
corrected power-generating capacity. In addition, the power
25 suppression controller 42 computes either the power-purchasing
rate or the power-selling rate for each time period using a
PHT110173
43
power-purchasing unit price and a power-selling unit price read from
the results database 46.
[0115]
After storing the data in the results database 46 in Step S413, the
power suppression controller 42 once again returns to Step 5 S403.
[0116]
Next, the operation display apparatus 45 will be explained. Figs.
16, 17 and 18 are examples of screens displayed on the operation
display apparatus 45. Figs. 16 and 17 are examples of screens when
10 suppressing the output of the power generation equipment 47 on the
basis of the value of the power sensor 81. Fig. 18 is an example
of a screen when suppressing the output of the power generation
equipment 47 on the basis of the value of the power sensor 79.
[0117]
15 The operation display apparatus 45 requests that the request data
capturing and transmitting unit 419 of the power suppression
controller 42 transmit power-generating capacity data and
electricity rate data stored in the results database 46. The
operation display apparatus 45, upon receiving the information from
20 the power suppression controller 42, displays the received data on
the screen using graphs, numeric values, and so forth.
[0118]
The screen 101 of Fig. 16 will be explained. The screen 101
displays information related to power generation in the afternoon
25 (currently). An area 102 displays the current date and time. An
area 103 displays the current weather. An area 104 displays a
PHT110173
44
message. For example, it is possible to display a notice message
related to output suppression, such as “Output will be suppressed
today. The suppression percentage is set at 60% of the rated
output.” When the output of the power generation equipment 47 is
not suppressed, a notice message is not displayed in the area 105 4.
[0119]
A button 105 is for turning the power source for the operation
display apparatus 45 ON and OFF. The power source is currently
ON.
10 [0120]
A graph 106 displays changes over time in the current power
generation situation. The horizontal axis is the time and the
vertical axis is the power-generating capacity. A solid line 107
illustrates the suppression pattern. A bar graph 108 filled with
15 diagonal lines illustrates the power generation results of the
power generation equipment 47. A solid black bar graph 109
illustrates the suppressed power-generating capacity.
[0121]
A table 111 displays, for the day in question, total power
20 generation results, a total estimated suppressed power-generating
capacity, a sum of the total power generation results and the total
suppressed power-generating capacity, and a power-generating
capacity estimate. A table 112 displays, for the current month,
the total values for power generation results and suppressed
25 power-generating capacity, and a sum of the total values for the
power generation results and the suppressed power-generating
PHT110173
45
capacity. A table 113 displays information indicating whether or
not power generation output was suppressed, a suppression pattern,
a suppression percentage for determining an output upper limit,
and a reason for suppression.
5 [0122]
A button 114 is for displaying information related to the power
demand of the consumer. A button 115 is for displaying information
related to the power generation of the power generation equipment
47. A button 116 is for displaying information related to the
10 electricity rate. Buttons 117 through 119 are for setting a period
of time for displaying data, any one of which can be selected. The
button 117 displays information related to the daytime on that day.
The button 118 displays information for the entire day that day.
The button 119 displays information for an entire month.
15 [0123]
When the “daytime” button 117 is selected, the status for that day
is displayed in graph form in one-hour units, and when the “daily”
button 118 is selected, a sum total value for each day is displayed
using a graph. When the monthly button 119 is selected, a sum total
20 value for each month is displayed using a graph.
[0124]
Two buttons have been selected in Fig. 16, i.e., the “power
generation” button 115 and the “daytime” button 117. Any one of
buttons 114, 115, and 116 can be selected. The graph 106 is
25 displayed when the power generation button 115 has been selected.
[0125]
PHT110173
46
Fig. 17 illustrates an example of a display when the demand button
114 has been selected. When the electricity rate button 116 is
selected, information on the electricity rate is displayed.
[0126]
When the setting button 120 is selected, a setting screen (not show5 n
in the drawing) for setting the power-purchasing unit price and
the power-selling unit price by either season or time period is
displayed.
[0127]
10 The operation display apparatus 45 requests that the power
suppression controller 42 transmit the information required in
accordance with the button that was selected by the user (consumer).
The request data capturing and transmitting unit 419 of the power
suppression controller 42 reads and captures the requested data from
15 the results database 46, and transmits the data to the operation
display apparatus 45.
[0128]
When the daily button 118 is selected, the operation display
apparatus 45 captures data from the results database 46 on a regular
20 basis and updates the display on the screen.
[0129]
In Fig. 17, the power generation button 115 and the daily button
118 have been selected. The horizontal axis of the graph 121
represents the date, and the vertical axis represents power sales
25 revenue. The graph 121 is a bar graph with a power sales revenue
tabulated for each day. The bar graph 123 illustrated using
PHT110173
47
diagonal lines is the revenue (power-selling rate) when the actual
power generated is sold to the electric power company. The solid
black bar graph 122 illustrates the power sales revenue (amount of
compensation for sale) in accordance with the suppressed
power-5 generating capacity.
[0130]
A table 124 displays, for the day in question, total power sales
revenue results, a total amount of compensation based on the
suppressed power-generating capacity, a sum of the total power
10 sales revenue results and the total amount of compensation based
on the suppressed power-generating capacity, and a power sales
revenue estimate. A table 125, which is adjacent to the table 124,
displays, for the current month, the total power sales revenue
results, the total amount of compensation based on the suppressed
15 power-generating capacity, and a sum of the total power sales
revenue results and the total amount of compensation based on the
suppressed power-generating capacity.
[0131]
Fig. 18 is an example of the screen when restrictions have been
20 applied to the amount of power in a reverse power flow. The
measurement value of the power sensor 79, which measures the amount
of power in a reverse power flow, is the total of the power consumed
by the electrical equipment 49 (power demand) and the power
generated by the power generation equipment 47. Therefore, when
25 a “power generation and demand” button 216 is selected, the
horizontal axis of a graph 210 represents the time, and the vertical
PHT110173
48
axis represents the total value of the power consumption and the
power generation.
[0132]
A white bar graph 212 illustrates that power demand is high. For
example, when the power generation equipment 47 is a photovoltai5 c
power generation apparatus, power demand exceeds power generation
since power is not generated at night. A bar graph 213 depicted
using diagonal lines illustrates that power generation is higher
than power demand, and that surplus power that will result in a
10 reverse power flow is being generated. A black bar graph 214
illustrates a suppressed reverse power flow, that is, an estimated
suppressed power-generating capacity.
[0133]
A table 215 illustrates, for the day in question, total surplus
15 power results, a total suppressed power-generating capacity, a sum
of the total surplus power results and suppressed power-generating
capacity, and an estimated value for the surplus power-generating
capacity. A table 216 illustrates, for the current month, total
surplus power results, a total suppressed power-generating
20 capacity, and a sum of the total surplus power results and
suppressed power-generating capacity.
[0134]
In this example, which is configured in this manner, when the output
of the power generation equipment 47 is suppressed, it is possible
25 to calculate the potential power-generating capacity and the
suppressed power-generating capacity with relative accuracy using
PHT110173
49
a relatively simple method. Therefore, a consumer’s contribution
can be fairly evaluated and compensated for. For this reason, it
is possible to earn the cooperation of consumers to maintain the
power grid in a stable state even when large numbers of power
generation equipment 47 have been connected to the power grid 95 .
[Example 2]
[0135]
A second example will be explained by referring to Fig. 19. The
following examples, to include this example, are equivalent to
10 variations of the first example, and as such, the explanations will
focus on the differences with the first example.
[0136]
In the first example, a power generation meter 52, a surplus meter
53, and a power meter 54 are installed so as to be able to support
15 both a total energy purchasing system for the power generated by
the power generation equipment 47 and a surplus power purchasing
system. By contrast, in this example, an example of a
configuration that corresponds only to a surplus power purchasing
system will be explained by referring to Fig. 19.
20 [0137]
In the overall consumer-side configuration 1A illustrated in Fig.
19, only the power generation meter 52 and the power meter 54 are
installed, and the surplus meter 53 is not provided. Also, since
the surplus meter 53 is not provided in this example, the overall
25 configuration 1A comprises only the power sensor 81 for detecting
the power from the power distribution panelboard 44 to the power
PHT110173
50
generation meter 52, and the power sensor 79 for detecting the power
from the power meter 54 to the power distribution panelboard 44.
In this example, the measurement value of the power sensor 81 is
used by taking into account the direction of the power. This
example, which is configured in this manner, also achieves the sam5 e
effects as the first example.
[Example 3]
[0138]
A third example will be explained by referring to Fig. 20. This
10 example corresponds to a total energy purchasing system. The
overall consumer-side configuration 1B illustrated in Fig. 20
comprises only the power generation meter 52 and the power meter
54; the surplus meter 53 is not provided. In addition, the overall
configuration 1B of this example comprises only the power sensor
15 81 for measuring the power between the power distribution
panelboard 44 and the power generation meter 52; the other power
sensors 79 and 80 are not provided.
[0139]
The power generation meter 52 measures power that is generated by
20 the power generation equipment 47 and flows into the power
distribution panelboard 44 via the PCS 43. This generated power
is also measured by the power sensor 81. The power consumed by
the electrical equipment 49 is supplied to the consumer side from
the power grid 9 via the transformer 55, and the value thereof is
25 measured by the power meter 54.
[0140]
PHT110173
51
Thus, in this example, the generated power and the consumed power
flow independently without converging at the power distribution
panelboard 44. The generated power is measured by the power sensor
81. The consumed power is measured by the power sensor 79. This
example, which is configured in this manner, also achieves the sa5 me
effects as the first example.
[0141]
The present invention is not limited to the examples described
hereinabove. A person of ordinary skill in the art will be able
10 to make various additions and changes without departing from the
scope of the present invention. For example, the suppression time
period and the non-suppression time period need not be the same
length of time. Also, for example, the configuration may be such
that the cycle of suppression time periods and non-suppression time
15 periods is set shorter than the normal cycle (every 60 minutes)
for a prescribed time period during the daytime when power demand
is high and/or photovoltaic power generation is high. In addition,
examples of a square wave pattern and a trapezoidal pattern, which
is a type of square wave pattern, were given, but the present
20 invention is not limited thereto, and, for example, a pattern of
another shape, such as a triangle wave pattern, a sine wave pattern,
and so forth may be used.
[Reference Signs List]
[0142]
25 1, 1A, 1B Overall consumer-side configuration
3 Regional planning apparatus
PHT110173
52
42 Power suppression controller
43 PCS
44 Power distribution panelboard
45 Operation display apparatus
46 5 Results database
47 Power generation equipment
CLAIMS AMENDED UNDER ARTICLE 19
53

WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus for
suppressing a power-generating capacity of a distributed
generation apparatus and estimating a suppressed power-5 generation
capacity,
the control apparatus comprising:
a power-generating capacity measurement unit configured to
measure the power-generating capacity of the distributed
10 generation apparatus;
a control pattern setting unit configured to control the
power-generating capacity of the distributed generation apparatus
by setting, in a power-generating capacity control unit for
controlling the power-generating capacity of the distributed
15 generation apparatus, control pattern information, which is for
controlling the power-generating capacity of the distributed
generation apparatus, and which includes at least one of a first
time period for suppressing power-generating capacity, and a
second time period for not suppressing power-generating capacity;
20 and
a power-generating capacity estimation unit configured to
acquire from the power-generating capacity measurement unit a
second power-generating capacity for the second time period before
or after the first time period, and on the basis of the second
25 power-generating capacity, estimate a potential power-generating
capacity that could have been produced, had the power-generating
CLAIMS AMENDED UNDER ARTICLE 19
54
capacity of the distributed generation apparatus not been
suppressed during the first time period.
[Claim 2]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
5 according to claim 1, wherein
the control pattern information comprises a first pattern
part for suppressing the first power-generating capacity of the
first time period to a prescribed first upper limit, and a second
pattern part for suppressing the second power-generating capacity
10 of the second time period to a prescribed second upper limit, and
the second upper limit is set to equal to or greater than
the maximum power-generating capacity of the distributed
generation apparatus.
[Claim 3]
15 A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 2, wherein the power-generating capacity
estimation unit, in a case where the potential power-generating
capacity is equal to or greater than the first upper limit,
calculates a difference between the potential power-generating
20 capacity and the first upper limit as a suppressed power-generating
capacity.
[Claim 4]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 3, wherein
25 a plurality of each of the first pattern part and the second
pattern part is set in the control pattern information, and
CLAIMS AMENDED UNDER ARTICLE 19
55
the potential power-generating capacity estimation unit
calculates the potential power-generating capacity during the
first time period on the basis of the second power-generating
capacity for the second time periods before or after the first
time 5 period.
[Claim 5]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 4, wherein the control pattern information is
formed such that the first pattern part and the second pattern
10 part appear in an alternating manner.
[Claim 6]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 5, wherein the control pattern information is
formed such that the first time period and the second time period
15 are set to identical time periods.
[Claim 7]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 6, wherein
the first time period and the second time period are set to
20 identical time periods, and
the control pattern information is formed as a square wave
pattern in which the first pattern part and the second pattern
part appear in an alternating manner.
[Claim 8]
25 A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 7, wherein the control pattern information is
CLAIMS AMENDED UNDER ARTICLE 19
56
formed such that a rising portion and a falling portion of the
first pattern part, and a rising portion and a falling portion
of the second pattern part each slope at a prescribed angle.
[Claim 9]
A distributed-generation-5 apparatus control apparatus
according to any of claims 1 through 8, wherein the control pattern
information is created by a planning apparatus for controlling
power demand in either a building or a region in which the
distributed generation apparatus is installed.
10 [Claim 10]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 9 further comprising:
a display apparatus configured to display the potential
power-generating capacity calculated by the power-generating
15 capacity estimation unit.
[Claim 11]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control apparatus
according to claim 10, wherein the potential power-generating
capacity is converted to an electricity rate and displayed on the
20 display unit.
[Claim 12]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control method for
suppressing a power-generating capacity of a distributed
generation apparatus and estimating a suppressed power-generating
25 capacity,
the method executing:
CLAIMS AMENDED UNDER ARTICLE 19
57
acquiring control pattern information, which is for
controlling the power-generating capacity of the distributed
generation apparatus, and which includes at least one of a first
time period for suppressing power-generating capacity, and a
second time period for not suppressing power-generating capacity5 ;
controlling the power-generating capacity of the
distributed generation apparatus by setting the control pattern
information, which has been received, in a power-generating
capacity control unit for controlling the power-generating
10 capacity of the distributed generation apparatus;
acquiring from a measurement unit for measuring the
power-generating capacity of the distribution generation
apparatus a second power-generating capacity for the second time
period before or after the first time period; and
15 estimating, on the basis of the second power-generating
capacity, a potential power-generating capacity that could have
been produced, had the power-generating capacity of the
distributed generation apparatus not been suppressed during the
first time period.
20 [Claim 13]
A distributed-generation-apparatus control method
according to claim 11, wherein
the control pattern information comprises a first pattern
part for suppressing the first power-generating capacity of the
25 first time period to a prescribed first upper limit, and a second
pattern part for suppressing the second power-generating capacity
CLAIMS AMENDED UNDER ARTICLE 19
58
of the second time period to a prescribed second upper limit, and
the second upper limit is set to equal to or greater than
the maximum power-generating capacity of the distributed
generation apparatus.