Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power distribution
system for distributing an electric power to individual
dwelling units which form an apartment building.
Background of the Invention
In recent years, there is proposed a technology in
which a power generation device for performing an
independent power generation through the use of natural
energy source is installed in a house and in which an
electric power generated by the power generation device is
supplied to various kinds of electric appliances such as an
illumination device and the like (see Patent document 1) .
In Patent document 1, a solar cell and a battery storing the
electric power generated in the solar cell are installed in
a house.
If an electric power is available from a main power
supply represented by a commercial power source, the
electric power is supplied from the main power source to
various kinds of electric appliances. At this time, the AC
power supplied from the main power source is converted to a
DC voltage which in turn is supplied to electric appliances
(often referred to as "DC appliances") driven by the DC
voltage. On the other hand, if the electric power is not
available from the main power source due to a power outage,
the DC appliances are operated by the DC power supplied from
a battery.
In the event that a power outage occurs in an
apartment building having a plurality of dwelling units, the
DC power is supplied from the battery to the respective
dwelling units.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2009-159780
In the power distribution system disclosed in Patent
document 1, the DC power charged in the battery is used when
the house suffers from a power outage. In recent years,
however, a strong demand exists to effectively use the DC
power charged in a battery, thereby reducing the use amount
of the AC power supplied from a main power source to a
house.
Summary of the Invention
In view of the above, the present invention provides a
power distribution system capable of reducing the use amount
of an AC power in individual dwelling units of an apartment
building.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a power distribution system for
distributing an electric power charged in a battery to a
plurality of dwelling units, including: a first control
device having a residual amount measuring unit for measuring
a residual amount of the electric power charged in the
battery. Herein, the first control device is configured to
adjust an amount of the electric power supplied from the
battery to the dwelling units based on a measurement result
of the residual amount measuring unit.
The power distribution described above may further
includes a power generation device having an independent
power generation function, the power generation device being
configured to generate an electric power and charge the
battery with at least a part of the electric power thus
generated; and a plurality of second control devices which
are provided in a corresponding relationship with the
dwelling units and make communications with the first
control device. Herein, the first control device is
configured to adjust the amount of the electric power
supplied from the battery to the dwelling units based on the
measurement result and information received from each of the
second control devices.
With such configuration, the DC power is supplied from
the battery to each of the dwelling units, according to the
residual amount of the electric power charged in the battery
and the information transmitted to the first control device
from the corresponding second control device. Thus, the
electric power is supplied from the battery to each of the
dwelling units even when no electric outage occurs. It is
therefore possible to reduce the amount of the AC power used
in each of the dwelling units.
Further, each of the second control devices may be
configured to transmit power consumption information on a
power consumption amount consumed in the corresponding
dwelling units to the first control device.
With such configuration, the DC power is supplied from
the battery to each of the dwelling units based on the
amount of the electric power used in the corresponding
dwelling unit. It is therefore possible to equally reduce
the amounts of the AC power used in each of the dwelling
units.
Further, each of the second control devices may
include a converter for converting an AC power supplied from
a commercial power source to a DC power. The first control
device may be configured to, during a time period in which
the power generation device generates an increased amount of
electric power, restrain supply of the electric power from
the battery to each of the dwelling units and transmit a
power supply restraining notice to each of the second
control devices, and each of the second control devices may
be configured to, upon receiving the power supply
restraining notice, supply the DC power converted by the
converter to DC appliances.
With such configuration, the electric power generated
in the power generation device is supplied to the battery
during the time period in which the power generation amount
in' the power generation device is kept large. In each of
the dwelling units, the AC power supplied from the
commercial power source is converted to the DC power which
in turn is supplied to the DC appliances. It is therefore
possible to appropriately charge the battery.
Further, the first control device may be configured
to, during a time period in which the power generation
device generates a reduced amount of electric power,
transmit to each of the second control devices a notice of
supply permission of the electric power from the battery to
each of the dwelling units, and each of the second control
devices may be configured to, upon receiving the notice of
the supply permission of the electric power, supply the
electric power from the battery to DC appliances.
With such configuration, the DC power is supplied from
the battery to each of the dwelling units during the time
period in which the power generation amount in the power
generation device is kept small. In each of the dwelling
units, the DC appliances are operated by the electric power
supplied from the battery. It is therefore possible to
appropriately distribute the DC power charged in the battery
to each of the dwelling units.
Further, each of the second control devices may
include a converter for converting an AC power supplied from
a commercial power supply to a DC power. The first control
device may be configured to, if the residual amount measured
by the residual amount measuring unit is smaller than a
predetermined residual amount threshold, restrain supply of
the electric power from the battery to each of the dwelling
units and transmit a power supply restraining notice to each
of the second control devices, and each of the second
control devices may be configured to, upon receiving the
power supply restraining notice, supply the DC power
converted by the converter to DC appliances.
With such configuration, if the residual amount of the
electric power charged in the battery becomes smaller than
the residual amount threshold, the supply of the electric
power from the battery to each of the dwelling units is
restrained. It is therefore possible to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery having a reduced residual power
amount.
Further, the first control device may be configured
to, if the residual amount measured by the residual amount
measuring unit is smaller than a predetermined residual
amount threshold, make the amount of the electric power
supplied from the battery to each of the dwelling units
become smaller than the amount of the electric power
supplied from the battery to each of the dwelling units when
the residual amount is equal to or larger than the
predetermined residual amount threshold.
With such configuration, if the residual amount of the
electric power charged in the battery becomes smaller than
the residual amount threshold, the amount of the electric
power supplied from the battery to each of the dwelling
units is made smaller than the amount of the electric power
supplied from the battery to each of the dwelling units when
the residual amount is equal to or larger than the residual
amount threshold. It is therefore possible to prevent
excessive discharge of the battery and to reduce the amount
of the AC power consumed in each of the dwelling units.
Further, each of the second control devices may
include a converter for converting an AC power supplied from
a commercial power supply to a DC power. The first control
device may be configured to, if the residual amount measured
by the residual amount measuring unit is equal to or smaller
than a predetermined excessive discharge determination
threshold which is smaller than the predetermined residual
amount threshold, restrain supply of the electric power from
the battery to each of the dwelling units and transmit a
power supply restraining notice to each of the second
control devices, and each of the second control devices may
be configured to, upon receiving the power supply
restraining notice, supply the DC power converted by the
converter to DC appliances.
With such configuration, if the residual amount of the
electric power charged in the battery becomes equal to or
smaller than the excessive discharge determination
threshold, the supply of the electric power from the battery
to each of the dwelling units is restrained. It is
therefore possible to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery having a reduced residual power amount.
The power distribution described above may further
include a third control device which corresponds to a common
unit shared by the dwelling units and makes communications
with the first control device. The first control device may
be configured to adjust an amount of the electric power
supplied from the battery to each of the dwelling units and
the common unit based on the measurement result of the
residual amount measuring unit, the information received
from the second control devices and information received
from the third control device.
With such configuration, the electric power is
supplied from the battery to the common unit of an apartment
building. It is therefore possible to reduce the amount of
the AC power used in the common unit.
In accordance with the present invention, it is
possible to reduce the amount of the AC power used in the
dwelling units of an apartment building.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of
embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a configuration view schematically showing
an apartment building power distribution system in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a configuration view schematically showing
main parts of the power distribution system;
Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a power
distribution processing routine executed in a general
controller of the power distribution system; and
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a power adjustment
processing routine executed in a dwelling-unit-side control
unit and a common-unit-side control unit of the power
distribution system.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
which form a part hereof. Throughout the drawings, like
reference numerals will be given to like parts, and
redundant description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to Fig. 1, an apartment building having a
plurality of dwelling units and a common unit shared by the
dwelling units is provided with a power distribution system
HS for adjusting the electric power supplied to the
respective dwelling units and the common unit. The power
distribution system HS includes a solar cell SC as a power
generation device for generating an electric power with the
sunlight which is an example of natural energy, a large-
capacity battery BT storing and discharging the electric
power generated in the solar cell SC and a general
controller 50 as a first control device for distributing the
DC power charged in the battery BT to the respective
dwelling units and the common unit.
The power distribution system HS further includes a
dwelling-unit power supply system 1 for supplying an
electric power to various kinds of appliances (such as an
illumination device, an air conditioner, a home appliance
and an audiovisual device) installed in each of the dwelling
units and a common-unit power supply system 1A for supplying
an electric power to various kinds of appliance (such as an
illumination device and an elevator) installed in the common
unit. In the power distribution system HS, the electric
power to be charged in the battery BT may not be supplied
from the solar cell SC serving as a power generation device
but may be supplied from a commercial AC power source 2
through the dwelling-unit-side controller 7 and the general
controller 50. The apartment building referred to herein
means, e.g., a building within which a plurality of offices,
stores or dwelling units.
Next, the general controller 50 will be described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the solar cell SC installed
on the roof of the apartment building and the battery BT are
electrically connected to the general controller 50. The
general controller 50 supplies the electric power generated
in the solar cell SC to the battery BT to charge the battery
BT or transmits the electric power generated in the solar
cell SC to a power company to sell the electric power.
The general controller 50 includes a general control
unit 51, a power measuring unit 52 for measuring an amount
of an electric power generated in the solar cell SC and a
residual amount measuring unit 53 serving as a residual
amount measuring means for measuring the residual amount of
an electric power charged in the battery BT. The general
controller 50 further includes a power distribution unit 54
for distributing the electric power supplied from the
battery BT to the respective dwelling units and the common
unit and a general communications unit 55 for making
wireless communications with the dwelling-unit-side
controller 7 of each of the dwelling units and a common-
unit-side controller 80 of the common unit.
The general control unit 51 includes a digital
computer having a CPU, a ROM and a RAM not shown in the
drawings. The measurement results of the power measuring
unit 52 and the residual amount measuring unit 53 and the
results received by the general communications unit 55 are
inputted to the general control unit 51. The general
control unit 51 outputs control instructions to the power
distribution unit 54 to independently control the amounts of
the DC power supplied from the battery BT to the respective
dwelling units and the common unit.
Each of the power measuring unit 52 and the residual
amount measuring unit 53 includes a DC power meter (not
shown) and a computation unit (not shown) for computing an
electric energy amount based on a measurement signal
outputted from the DC power meter. Each of the power
measuring unit 52 and the residual amount measuring unit 53
outputs the computation result of the computation unit (that
is, the information on the power generation amount of the
solar cell SC and the residual power amount of the battery
BT) to the general control unit 51.
The power distribution unit 54 is connected to the
dwelling-unit-side controller 7 and the common-unit-side
controller 80 through a DC power line 15. The power
distribution unit 54 includes adjusting units (e.g.,
variable resistors) (not shown) for adjusting the amounts of
the DC power supplied from the battery BT to the respective
dwelling units and the common unit; and switching units for
permitting or restraining the supply of the DC power from
the battery BT to the respective dwelling units and the
common unit. The adjusting units and the switching units of
the power distribution unit 54 are provided in a
corresponding relationship with the respective dwelling
units and the common unit. Further, the adjusting units and
the switching units are operated based on the control
instructions transmitted from the general control unit 51.
Next, the dwelling-unit power supply system 1 will be
described with reference to Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 1, the power supply system 1 supplies
the commercial alternating current power (AC power) obtained
from the commercial AC power source 2 as a power source to
operate various kinds of appliances and also supplies the
electric power (the DC power) supplied from the solar cell
SC and the battery BT as a power source to the various kinds
of appliances. The power supply system 1 supplies the
electric power not only to DC appliances 5 operated with the
DC power inputted thereto but also to AC appliances 6
operated with the AC power inputted thereto.
The power supply system 1 includes a dwelling-unit-
side controller 7 as a second control device and a DC
distribution board 8 (having a DC breaker installed
therein). The power supply system 1 further includes a
relay unit 10 and a control unit 9 for controlling the
operations of the DC appliances 5 of each of the dwelling
units.
An AC distribution board 11 for distributing the AC
power is connected to the dwelling-unit-side controller 7
through an AC power line 12. The dwelling-unit-side
controller 7 is connected to the commercial AC power source
2 through the AC distribution board 11 and is connected to
the general controller 50 (more specifically, the battery
BT) through the DC power line 15. The dwelling-unit-side
controller 7 is supplied with the AC power from the AC
distribution board 11 and is supplied with the DC power from
the general controller 50. The dwelling-unit-side
controller 7 converts the AC power and the DC power to a
specified DC power to be supplied to the appliances. The DC
power thus converted is outputted to the DC distribution
board 8 through a DC power line 14. The dwelling-unit-side
controller 7 exchanges data with the DC distribution board 8
through a signal line 17.
The DC distribution board 8 is a kind of breaker for
the DC power. The DC distribution board 8 divides the DC
power inputted from the dwelling-unit-side controller 7.
The DC power thus divided is outputted to the control unit 9
through a DC power line 18 or to the relay unit 10 through a
DC power line 19. The DC distribution board 8 exchanges
data with the control unit 9 through a signal line 2 0 or
with the relay unit 10 through a signal line 21.
The DC appliances 5 are connected to the control unit
9. The DC appliances 5 are connected to the control unit 9
through DC supply lines 22 each of which has a pair of lines
capable of transmitting both the DC power and the data
therethrough. The electric power and the data are
transmitted to the DC appliances 5 through the respective DC
supply lines 22 by virtue of so-called power line
communications in which communications signals for
transmitting data with high-frequency carrier waves are
overlapped with the DC power to be supplied to the DC
appliances 5 by using a pair of lines. The control unit 9
receives the DC power for the DC appliances 5 through the DC
power line 18. Based on the operation instruction obtained
from the DC distribution board 8 through the signal line 20,
the control unit 9 determines which of the DC appliances 5
is to be controlled in what manner. Then, the control unit
9 outputs a DC voltage and the operation instruction to the
designated DC appliances 5 through the corresponding DC
supply lines 22, thereby controlling the operations of the
DC appliances 5.
Switches 23 operated to switch over the operations of
the DC appliances 5 are connected to the control unit 9
through the DC supply line 22. In addition, a sensor 24 for
detecting electric waves transmitted from, e.g., an infrared
remote controller is connected to the control unit 9 through
the DC supply line 22. Accordingly, the DC appliances 5 are
controlled by transmitting communications signals through
the DC supply lines 22 in response to not only the operation
instruction obtained from the DC distribution board 8 but
also to the operation of the switches 23 and the detection
in the sensor 24.
The DC appliances 5 are connected to the relay unit 10
through individual DC power lines 25. The relay unit 10
obtains the DC power for the DC appliances 5 through the DC
power line 19. Based on the operation instruction obtained
from the DC distribution board 8 through the signal line 21,
the relay unit 10 determines which of the DC appliances 5 is
to be operated.
The relay unit 10 controls the operations of the DC
appliances 5 in such a way that the relays installed therein
turn on and off the supply of powers to the designated DC
appliances 5 through the DC power lines 25. Switches 2 6 for
use in manually switching the operations of the DC
appliances 5 are connected to the relay unit 10. The DC
appliances 5 are controlled by manually operating the
switches 2 6 to cause the relays to turn on and off the
supply of powers to the DC power lines 25
A DC socket 27 installed in each of the dwelling units
in the form of, e.g., a wall socket or a floor socket is
connected to the DC distribution board 8 through a DC power
line 28. If a plug (not shown) of one of the DC appliances
5 is inserted into the DC socket 27, it becomes possible to
directly supply the DC power to the corresponding DC
appliance.
A power meter 2 9 capable of remotely measuring the use
amount of the electric power used by the commercial AC power
source 2 is connected between the commercial AC power source
2 and the AC distribution board 11. The power meter 29 has
a function of the power line communications or wireless
communications as well as the function of remotely measuring
the use amount of the electric power used by the commercial
AC power source 2. The power meter 2 9 transmits the
measurement results to a power company or the like through
the power line communications or the wireless
communications.
The power supply system 1 includes a network system 30
that makes it possible to control various kinds of home
appliances through network communications. The network
system 30 includes a home server 31 as a control unit
thereof. The home server 31 is connected to an outdoor
management server 32 through a network N such as the
Internet or the like and is connected to a home appliance 34
through a signal line 33. The home server 31 is operated by
the DC power obtained from the DC distribution board 8
through a DC power line 35.
A control box 3 6 for managing the operation control of
various kinds of home appliances by network communications
is connected to the home server 31 through a signal line 37.
The control box 36 is connected to the dwelling-unit-side
controller 7 and the DC distribution board 8 through a
signal line 17 and is capable of directly controlling the DC
appliances 5 through a DC power line 38. A gas/tap water
meter 39 capable of remotely reading, e.g., the amounts of
the gas and the tap water used, is connected to the control
box 36. The control box 36 is connected to an operation
panel 40 of the network system 30. A monitoring device 41
formed of, e.g., a door phone extension unit, a sensor or a
camera is connected to the operation panel 40.
If operation instructions for operating various kinds
of home appliances are inputted through the network N, the
home server 31 notifies the control box 36 of the operation
instructions and operates the control box 36 so that the
various kinds of home appliances can make operation based on
the operation instructions. Moreover, the home server 31
can provide various kinds of information obtained from the
gas/tap water meter 39 to the management server 32 through
the network N. Upon receiving the abnormality detection
information from the monitoring device 41 through the
operation panel 40, the home server 31 provides an
information reception notice to the management server 32
through the network N.
Next, the dwelling-unit-side controller 7 will be
described with reference to Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, only the
main parts of the present embodiment connected to the
dwelling-unit-side controller 7 are shown, and description
of the remaining parts will be omitted.
As shown in Fig. 2, the dwelling-unit-side controller
7 includes a dwelling-unit-side control unit 71, a power
consumption detecting unit 72 for detecting the current
power consumption amount in each of the dwelling units and a
dwelling-unit-side communications unit 73 for transmitting
and receiving different kinds of information to and from the
general communications unit 55 of the general control unit
51. The dwelling-unit-side controller 7 further includes an
AC-DC converter 7 4 as a converter unit for converting the AC
power supplied from the commercial AC power source 2 to the
DC power and a power distribution unit 75 for adjusting the
supply pattern of the DC power supplied to the respective DC
appliances 5.
The dwelling-unit-side control unit 71 includes a
digital computer having a CPU, a ROM and a RAM not shown in
the drawings. The dwelling-unit-side control unit 71
operates the AC-DC converter 74 and the power distribution
unit 75 based on the information inputted from the general
controller 50 through the dwelling-unit-side communications
unit 73. Moreover, the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71
causes the dwelling-unit-side communications unit 73 to
transmit the information on the current power consumption
amount in each of the dwelling units detected by the power
consumption detecting unit 72 (hereinafter referred to as
"power consumption information") to the general
communications unit 55. In the present embodiment, the
power consumption information contains the information on
the total sum of the power consumption amounts of the DC
appliances 5 in each of the dwelling units.
The power consumption detecting unit 72 includes
detector units (not shown) for individually detecting the
power consumption amounts of the DC appliances 5 provided in
each of the dwelling units. The detector units are arranged
in the respective DC appliances 5. The power consumption
detecting unit 72 further includes a computation unit (not
shown) for summing up the power consumption amounts of the
respective DC appliances 5 detected by the individual
detector units to acquire the total power consumption amount
in each of the dwelling units. The power consumption amount
in each of the dwelling units computed by the computation
unit is outputted to the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71.
Next, the common-unit power supply system 1A will be
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the power supply system 1A
supplies the commercial AC power obtained from the
commercial AC power source 2A to operate various kinds of
appliances and also supplies the electric power supplied
from the solar cell SC and the battery BT to the various
kinds of appliances. The power supply system 1A supplies
the electric power not only to DC appliances (such as
illumination devices and the like) 5 operated with the DC
power inputted thereto but also to AC appliances (such as an
elevator and the like) (not shown) operated with the AC
power inputted thereto.
The power supply system 1A includes a common-unit-side
controller 80 as a third control device and a DC
distribution board (not shown). The power supply system 1A
further includes a relay unit and a control unit for
controlling the operations of the DC appliances 5 of the
common unit, both of which are not shown in the drawings.
The respective DC appliances 5 are connected to the control
unit and the relay unit.
The common-unit-side controller 8 0 includes a common-
unit-side control unit 81, a power consumption detecting
unit 82 for detecting the current power consumption amount
in the common unit (that is, the total sum of the power
consumption amounts of the respective DC appliances 5) and a
common-unit-side communications unit 83 for transmitting and
receiving different kinds of information to and from the
general communications unit 55 of the general control unit
51. The common-unit-side controller 80 further includes an
AC-DC converter 84 for converting the AC power supplied from
the commercial AC power source 2A to the DC power and a
power distribution unit 85 for adjusting the supply pattern
of the DC power supplied to the respective DC appliances 5.
The common-unit-side control unit 81 includes a
digital computer having a CPU, a ROM and a RAM not shown in
the drawings. The common-unit-side control unit 81 operates
the AC-DC converter 84 and the power distribution unit 85
based on the information inputted from the general
controller 50 through the common-unit-side communications
unit 83. Moreover, the common-unit-side control unit 81
causes the common-unit-side communications unit 83 to
transmit the information on the current power consumption
amount in the common unit detected by the power consumption
detecting unit 82 to the general communications unit 55.
Next, a power distribution processing routine executed
by the general controller 50 will be described with
reference to a flowchart shown in Fig. 3.
The general control unit 51 executes a power
distribution processing routine at a predetermined time
interval (e.g., at a time interval of several milliseconds).
In the power distribution processing routine, the general
control unit 51 causes the power measuring unit 52 to
measure the power generation amount G in the solar cell SC,
thus acquiring the measurement result from the power
measuring unit 52 (step S10) . The general control unit 51
determines whether the power generation amount G acquired in
step S10 is not greater than a predetermined power
generation amount threshold KG (step Sll). The power
generation amount threshold KG is a reference value for
determining whether the present time belongs to the time
period (e.g., the nighttime) in which the power generation
amount G in the solar cell SC is kept small. The power
generation amount threshold KG is set in advance by tests
and simulations. If the determination result is XN0' in
step Sll (if G>KG) , the general control unit 51 determines
that the present time belongs to the time period (e.g., the
daytime) in which the power generation amount G in the solar
cell SC is kept large. Then, the processing flow proceeds
to step S2 0 where the battery BT is charged with the
electric power generated in the solar cell SC.
If the determination result is *YES' in step Sll (if
G^KG) , the general control unit 51 determines that the
present time belongs to the time period (e.g., the
nighttime) in which the power generation amount G in the
solar cell SC is kept small. The general control unit 51
causes the residual amount measuring unit 53 to measure the
residual amount D of the electric power in the battery BT,
thus acquiring the measurement result from the residual
amount measuring unit 53 (step S12). Then the general
control unit 51 determines whether the residual amount D
acquired in step S12 is smaller than a predetermined first
residual amount threshold KD1 (e.g., a value corresponding
to 50% of a fully charged amount) (step S13) . The first
residual amount threshold KD1 is a reference value set to
prevent excessive discharge of the battery BT and is set in
advance by tests or simulations.
If the determination result is 'NO' in step S13 (if
D>KD1), the general control unit 51 determines that the
battery BT is charged with a sufficient amount of electric
power. The general control unit 51 causes the general
communications unit 55 to transmit a normal supply
instruction to the respective dwelling units and the common
unit (step S14). Subsequently, the general control unit 51
determines whether the power consumption information is
received from the respective dwelling units (the respective
dwelling-unit-side communications units 73) and the common
unit (the common-unit-side communications unit 83) (step
S15) . If the determination result is 'NO' in step S15, the
general control unit 51 repeatedly executes the
determination processing of step S15 until the power
consumption information is received. This is because the
current power consumption amounts in the respective dwelling
units and the common unit are unclear.
On the other hand, if the determination result is
'YES' in step S15, the general control unit 51 operates the
power distribution unit 54 such that the electric power is
normally supplied from the battery BT (step S16) . More
specifically, the general control unit 51 operates the power
distribution unit 54 so that the DC power depending on the
power consumption amounts in the respective dwelling units
and the common unit can be supplied to the respective
dwelling units and the common unit. As s result, all the DC
appliances 5 of the respective dwelling units and the common
unit are operated by the DC power supplied from the battery
BT. Thereafter, the general control unit 51 terminates the
power distribution processing routine.
If the determination result is ^ES' in step S13 (if
DKD2), the general control unit 51 causes the general
communications unit 55 to transmit a supply amount reduction
instruction to the respective dwelling units and the common
unit so as to reduce the discharge amount in the battery BT
(step S18). Then, the general control unit 51 operates the
power distribution unit 54 so that the supply amount of the
electric power supplied from the battery BT to the
respective dwelling units and the common unit can be smaller
than the supply amount of the electric power when the
residual amount D is equal to or greater than the first
residual amount threshold KD1 (step S19) . As one example,
the general control unit 51 operates the power distribution
unit 54 so that about one half of the electric power amount
required in the respective dwelling units and the common
unit can be supplied to the respective dwelling units and
the common unit. Thereafter, the general control unit 51
terminates the power distribution processing routine.
In step S20, the general control unit 51 causes the
general communications unit 55 to transmit a supply stop
instruction to the respective dwelling units and the common
unit in order to restrain the discharge of the battery BT.
Then the general control unit 51 operates the power
distribution unit 54 so as to stop the supply of the
electric power from the battery BT to the respective
dwelling units and the common unit (step S21) . Thereafter,
the general control unit 51 terminates the power
distribution processing routine.
Next, a power adjustment processing routine executed
by the dwelling-unit-side controller 7 and the common-unit-
side controller 80 will be described with reference to a
flowchart shown in Fig. 4. Since the common-unit-side
controller 80 executes the same processing as executed by
the dwelling-unit-side controller 7, description will be
made herein on the power adjustment processing routine
executed by the dwelling-unit-side controller 7.
The dwelling-unit-side control unit 71 executes the
power distribution processing routine at a predetermined
time interval (e.g., at a time interval of several
milliseconds). In the power adjustment processing routine,
the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71 determines whether
the dwelling-unit-side communications unit 73 has received
an instruction (one of the normal supply instruction, the
supply amount reduction instruction and the supply stop
instruction) from the general control unit 51 (step S30) .
If the determination result is ^NO', the dwelling-unit-side
control unit 71 repeatedly executes ¦• the determination
processing of step S30 until any one of the instructions is
received. On the other hand, if the determination result is
XYES' in step S30, the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71
determines whether the instruction received by the dwelling-
unit-side communications unit 73 is the normal supply
instruction (step S31).
If the determination result is 'YES' (if the normal
supply instruction is received), the dwelling-unit-side
control unit 71 causes the power consumption detecting unit
72 to detect the power consumption amounts in the dwelling
units and causes the dwelling-unit-side communications unit
7 3 to transmit the power consumption information on the
detected power consumption amounts to the general
communications unit 55 of the general controller 50 (step
S32). Subsequently, the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71
operates the AC-DC converter 74 and the power distribution
unit 7 5 so that the DC power supplied from the battery BT
can be distributed to the respective DC appliances 5 while
restraining the supply of the AC voltage from the commercial
AC power source 2 (step S33). Thereafter, the power
adjustment processing routine comes to an end.
On the other hand, if the determination result is *NO'
in step S31 (if the normal supply instruction is not
received), the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71 determines
whether the instruction received by the dwelling-unit-side
communications unit 73 is the supply amount reduction
instruction (step S34). If the determination result is
XYES' (if the supply amount reduction instruction is
received), the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71 executes a
selecting processing (step S35).
More specifically, if only one of the DC appliances 5
is being used in a dwelling unit, the dwelling-unit-side
control unit 71 operates the power distribution unit 75 so
as to stop the supply of the electric power to the relevant
DC appliance 5 and notifies a resident of the power supply
stop notice. If a plurality of the DC appliances 5 is being
used in the dwelling unit, the dwelling-unit-side control
unit 71 operates the power distribution unit 75 so as to
stop the supply of the electric power to some of the DC
appliances 5 and outputs a power supply stop notice to the
DC distribution board 8, the control unit 9 and the rely
unit 10.
At this time, the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71
restrains the supply of the AC voltage from the commercial
AC power source 2. Thus, the remaining DC appliances 5 are
operated by the DC power supplied from the battery BT. The
supply and non-supply of the DC power to the DC appliances 5
is decided by a specified threshold (e.g., the use amount of
the DC power). Thereafter, the dwelling-unit-side control
unit 71 terminates the power adjustment processing routine.
On the other hand, if the determination result is *NO'
in step S34 (if the supply amount reduction instruction is
not received), the dwelling-unit-side control unit 71
determines that the instruction received by the dwelling-
unit-side communications unit 73 is the supply stop
instruction and causes the AC-DC converter 74 to execute AC-
DC conversion processing (step S36). More specifically, the
dwelling-unit-side control unit 71 causes the AC-DC
converter 74 to convert the AC power supplied from the
commercial AC power source 2 to the DC power and operates
the power distribution unit 75 so as to distribute the
converted DC power to the respective DC appliances 5. At
this time, all the appliances in the dwelling unit are
operated by the AC power. Thereafter, the dwelling-unit-
side control unit 71 terminates the power adjustment
processing routine.
For example, if the battery BT is sufficiently changed
by the solar cell SC during the daytime, the DC appliances 5
of the respective dwelling units and the common unit are
operated in the nighttime by the DC power supplied from the
battery BT. Since the AC power is not used in the nighttime
to operate the DC appliances 5 of the respective dwelling
units and the common unit, it is possible to reduce the use
amount of the AC power supplied from the commercial AC power
source 2. In addition, the DC power depending on the power
consumption information transmitted from the dwelling-unit-
side communications unit 73 and the common-unit-side
communications unit 83 is supplied from the battery BT to
the respective dwelling units and the common unit. This
makes it possible to equally reduce the use amount of the AC
power used in the respective dwelling units.
If the residual amount D of the electric power in the
battery BT becomes smaller than the first residual amount
threshold KD1 over time, it is determined that the residual
amount D is not enough. Then, the DC power supplied from
the battery BT to the respective dwelling units and the
common unit grows smaller than the DC power previously
supplied to the respective dwelling units.
In order to cope with the reduction in the supply
amount of the DC power supplied from the battery BT, a
selecting processing is executed in the respective dwelling
units and the common unit. As one example, if a plurality
of the DC appliances 5 is being used in a dwelling unit, the
supply of the DC power to some of the DC appliances 5 is
compulsorily stopped while normally supplying the DC power
to the remaining DC appliances 5. As a result, the
consumption amount of the DC power in the dwelling unit is
reduced in keeping with the reduction in the supply amount
of the DC power supplied from the battery BT. At this time,
it may be also possible to reduce the supply amount of the
DC power supplied to the remaining DC appliances 5.
Thereafter, if the time is further lapsed, it is
sometimes the case that the residual amount D of the
electric power in the battery BT becomes smaller than the
second residual amount threshold KD2. In this case, the
supply of the DC power from the battery BT to the respective
dwelling units and the common unit is compulsorily
restrained. Thus, the DC power is no longer supplied from
the battery BT to the respective dwelling units and the
common unit. Accordingly, the AC power supplied from the
commercial AC power sources 2 and 2A is converted to the DC
power by the AC-DC converters 74 and 84 and is then supplied
to the DC appliances 5. This makes it possible to avoid
occurrence of a situation that the DC appliances 5 become
unusable in the respective dwelling units and the common
unit.
At this time, it becomes possible to prevent the
battery BT from being completely discharged. The electric
power remaining a little in the battery BT can be used as an
emergency power in the event of electric outage occurring in
the apartment building.
With the present embodiment, the following effects can
be obtained.
(1) The DC power is supplied from the battery BT to
the respective dwelling units, according to the residual
amount D of the electric power charged in the battery BT and
the information transmitted from the dwelling-unit-side
controller 7. Thus, the electric power is supplied from the
battery BT to the respective dwelling units even when no
electric outage occurs. It is therefore possible to reduce
the amount of the AC power used in the respective dwelling
units.
(2) The DC power is supplied from the battery BT to
the respective dwelling units, according to the power
consumption information transmitted from the dwelling-unit-
side controller 7. In other words, the DC power is supplied
from the battery BT to the respective dwelling units based
on how much DC power is consumed. It is therefore possible
to equally reduce the amounts of the AC power used in the
respective dwelling units.
(3) During the time period in which the power
generation amount G in the solar cell SC is kept large, the
electric power generated by the solar cell SC is supplied to
the battery BT and charged in the battery BT. It is
therefore possible to reliably charge the battery BT during
the daytime.
(4) During the time period (e.g., • the nighttime) in
which the power generation amount G in the solar cell SC is
kept small, the DC power is supplied from the battery BT to
the respective dwelling units. In each of the dwelling
units, the DC power from the battery BT is supplied to the
DC appliances 5, thereby operating the DC appliances 5. It
is therefore possible to appropriately distribute the DC
power charged in the battery BT to the respective dwelling
units .
(5) If the residual amount D of the electric power
charged in the battery BT becomes smaller than the first
residual amount threshold KD1, the amount of the DC power
supplied from the battery BT to the respective dwelling
units is reduced. At this time, the selecting processing
stated above is executed in the respective dwelling units to
reduce the power consumption amount. It is therefore
possible to restrain excessive discharge of the battery BT
and to reduce the amount of the AC power consumed in the
respective dwelling units.
(6) Thereafter, if the residual amount D of the
electric power charged in the battery BT becomes equal to or
smaller than the second residual amount threshold KD2, the
supply of the electric power from the battery BT to the
respective dwelling units is restrained. It is therefore
possible to restrain excessive discharge of the battery BT
having a reduced residual power amount.
(7) In the present embodiment, the DC power is
' supplied from the battery BT not only to the respective
dwelling units but also to the common unit of the apartment
building. It is therefore possible to reduce the amount of
the AC power used in the common unit.
The present embodiment may be modified to other
alternative embodiments as described below.
In an alternative embodiment, the DC power may not be
supplied from the battery BT to the common unit. In this
case, all the electric appliances of the common unit are
operated by the AC power supplied from the commercial AC
power supply.
In an alternative embodiment, if the residual amount D
of the electric power charged in the battery BT becomes
smaller than the first residual amount threshold KD1 and if
the amount of the DC power supplied from the battery BT to
the respective dwelling units and the common unit, gets
reduced, only the amount of the AC power corresponding to
the reduction amount of the DC power supplied from the
battery BT may be used in the respective dwelling units and
the common unit. With this configuration, it is possible to
reduce the amount of the AC power used in the respective
dwelling units, as compared with a case where the DC power
is not supplied from the battery BT to the respective
dwelling units.
In an alternative embodiment, if the determination
result is 'YES' in step S13 (if D