FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“POWER SUPPLY ARBITRATION DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY DEVICE,
POWER CONSUMPTION DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY REMOTE
CONTROLLER, POWER SUPPLY ARBITRATION METHOD, AND
POWER SYSTEM”
SONY CORPORATION, of 1-7-1, Konan, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 108-0075, Japan
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to
be performed.
2
DESCRIPTION
Title of the Invention:
POWER SUPPLY ARBITRATION DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, POWER
CONSUMPTION DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY REMOTE CONTROLLER, POWER
SUPPLY ARBITRATION METHOD, AND POWER SYSTEM
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power supply arbitration device, a power
supply device, a power consumption device, a power supply remote controller, a power
supply arbitration method, and a power system.
Background Art
[0002] Techniques have been disclosed that limit power supply or prompt a
consumer to save power as needed when there is a change in an amount of generation
of power or an amount of power demand of the consumer who uses the power. For
example, PTL 1 discloses a technique of sending the consumer a notification prompting
to turn off a power source of an electronic device or to change various settings in order
to adjust an amount of the power demand of the consumer when power shortage is
expected due to a change in weather, or the like.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003] PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-
106381
Summary of the Invention
3
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, existing techniques are aimed at stabilizing a power grid by
imposing limitation of power consumption on consumers before the power demand
surges; however, power consumption adjustment is not performed for individual electric
appliances used by the consumers.
[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a power supply arbitration device,
a power supply device, a power consumption device, a power supply remote controller,
a power supply arbitration method, and a power system that are novel and improved,
and that make it possible for side of a power consumer to take initiative to stabilize a
power grid and suppress peak power for the power consumer.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0006] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a power supply
arbitration device including: a control unit; a communication unit that communicates
with another device through a communication network; and a storage unit that stores
information, in which the control unit registers a power supply device in the storage
unit on a basis of power supply device registration information received by the
communication unit, the control unit registers a power consumption device in the
storage unit on a basis of power consumption device registration information received
by the communication unit, the control unit stores a power consumption profile of the
power consumption device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in
association with the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, and, in a
case where a power request received by the communication unit is requested from the
power consumption device registered in the storage unit, the control unit specifies the
power supply device registered in the storage unit as a power feeding device that
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supplies power requested by the registered power consumption device on a basis of the
power consumption profile associated with the registered power consumption device.
[0007] In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a power
supply device including: a control unit; a communication unit that communicates with
another device through a communication network; and a storage unit that stores
information, in which the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit
information for registration of an own device to a power supply arbitration device,
which arbitrates power supply, designated as a transmission destination, and, in a case
where an inquiry about a power supply amount received by the communication unit is
sent from the power supply arbitration device, the control unit causes the
communication unit to transmit power supply amount information from the own device
to the power supply arbitration device designated as the transmission destination.
[0008] In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a power
consumption device including: a control unit; a communication unit that communicates
with another device through a communication network; and a storage unit that stores
information, in which the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit
information for registration of an own device and a power consumption profile at the
own device to a power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates power supply,
designated as a transmission destination, and the control unit causes the communication
unit to transmit a power request to the power supply arbitration device designated as the
transmission destination.
[0009] In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a power
supply remote controller including: a display unit; an input unit with which an
instruction from a user is inputted; a control unit; a communication unit that
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communicates with another device through a communication network; and a storage
unit that stores information, in which the control unit registers a power consumption
device that consumes power in the storage unit on a basis of power consumption device
registration information received by the communication unit, the control unit stores a
power consumption profile of the power consumption device received by the
communication unit in the storage unit in association with the power consumption
device registered in the storage unit, the control unit causes the communication unit to
transmit information for registration of the power consumption device and the power
consumption profile to a power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates power supply,
designated as a transmission destination, and, in a case where activation reservation for
the power consumption device displayed on the display unit is selected by the input unit,
the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit a power request for the power
consumption device to the power supply arbitration device designated as the
transmission destination.
[0010] In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a power
supply arbitration method including causing a processor to: register a power supply
device on a basis of received power supply device registration information, register a
power consumption device on a basis of received power consumption device registration
information, store a received power consumption profile of the power consumption
device in association with the registered power consumption device, and specify the
power supply device registered as a power feeding device that supplies power requested
by the registered power consumption device on a basis of the power consumption profile
associated with the registered power consumption device in a case where a received
power request is requested from the registered power consumption device.
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[0011] In addition, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a power
system including: a power supply arbitration device; a power supply device that supplies
power; and a power consumption device that consumes power, in which the power
supply arbitration device includes a control unit, a communication unit that
communicates with another device through a communication network, and a storage unit
that stores information, in which the control unit registers the power supply device in
the storage unit on a basis of power supply device registration information received by
the communication unit, the control unit registers the power consumption device in the
storage unit on a basis of power consumption device registration information received
by the communication unit, the control unit stores a power consumption profile of the
power consumption device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in
association with the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, and, in a
case where a power request received by the communication unit is requested from the
power consumption device registered in the storage unit, the control unit specifies the
power supply device registered in the storage unit as a power feeding device that
supplies power requested by the registered power consumption device on a basis of the
power consumption profile associated with the registered power consumption device.
Effect of the Invention
[0012] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to
provide a power supply arbitration device, a power supply device, a power consumption
device, a power supply remote controller, a power supply arbitration method, and a
power system that are novel and improved, and that make it possible for side of a power
consumer to take initiative to stabilize a power grid and suppress peak power for the
power consumer.
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[0013] It is to be noted that the above-mentioned effects are not necessarily
limitative; in addition to or in place of the above effects, there may be achieved any of
the effects described in the present specification or other effects that may be grasped
from the present specification.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0014] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of
changes in daily power consumption amounts of four homes.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the power system
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the power system
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of the
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of a generation pattern
of a power reservation profile.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of the power
reservation profile.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of the power
reservation profile.
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[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of the power
reservation profile.
[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of the power
reservation profile.
[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of the power
reservation profile.
[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of the power
reservation profile.
[FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a format example of
communication messages exchanged in the power system according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 15] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of information
displayed by an application.
[FIG. 16] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a functional configuration
example of a power supply arbitration device 100 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[FIG. 17] FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a functional configuration
example of a battery device 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 18] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a functional configuration
example of a smartphone 600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 19] FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of
the power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 20] FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of power
consumptions of loads and power request profiles.
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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0015] Hereinafter, description is given in detail of preferred embodiments of the
present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that,
in the present specification and drawings, repeated description is omitted for
components substantially having the same functional configuration by assigning the
same reference numerals.
[0016] It is to be noted that description is given in the following order.
1. Embodiments of Present Disclosure
1.1. Overview
1.2. Configuration Example and Operation Example
2. Conclusion
<1. Embodiments of Present Disclosure>
[1.1. Overview]
[0017] First, description is given of an overview of an embodiment of the present
disclosure, before giving description in detail of the embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0018] In order to facilitate housework, electrification of products has been
advancing. Simultaneous use of a microwave oven, an IH (Induction heating) oven, a
washing machine with a drier, and a dish washer/dryer, which instantaneously need high
power, causes peak power to exceed a home power distribution capacity, resulting in
operation of a breaker to stop home electric appliances in operation.
[0019] In addition, simultaneous operation of a plurality of electric appliances
increases power usage rapidly; such use of electric appliance may possibly result in
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tight capacity of a transmission line or an unstable generator, thus inducing a power
failure.
[0020] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of changes in daily
power consumption amounts of four home. From 1:00 to 5:00, there is almost no
power consumption in all four cases. At around 6:00, a home 003 consumes 2.7 kW
instantaneously. These peaks are due to simultaneous use of a water heater and a
microwave oven; unless they are used overlappingly, they do not exceed a maximum
electric appliance consumption for a home (e.g., 1.5 kW). In addition, from around
14:00, the power consumption amount of each home starts to increase, and
consumptions of a home 001 and the home 003 overlap each other in the example of
FIG. 1. In a case where the two homes are nearby, power is supplied from the same
utility pole, and thus a load is applied to a pole transformer of the pole. At this time,
shifting use time of electric appliances, which consume a large amount of power, in one
home enables reduction of a load on the pole transformer; however, it is currently
difficult for consumers to perform such voluntary shift of the use time. In addition,
from 18:00 to 21:00, a power demand increases, for example, due to consumption of air
conditioners, and the like, thus resulting in tight capacity of a transmission line.
[0021] There is a system that aims at storing power generated by a solar power
generator in a battery and feeding power by reverse power flow via a power conditioner.
Such a system monitors a power grid voltage, and operates an inverter for the reverse
power flow after a voltage drop. Accordingly, an operation delay in the inverter causes
the power grid voltage to fluctuate, resulting in creation of an even more unstable
situation.
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[0022] Further, there is a technique (e.g., a demand response system) that limits
power supply or prompts consumers to save power as necessary when there is a change
in an amount of generation of power or an amount of power demand of the consumer
who uses the power. Such a system is aimed at stabilizing the power grid by imposing
limitation of power consumption on consumers before the power demand surges;
however, power consumption adjustment is not performed for individual electric
appliances used by the consumers.
[0023] Accordingly, in view of the above-described respects, the present discloser
has intensively studied a technique that makes it possible for side of the power consumer
to take initiative to stabilize the power grid and suppress peak power for the power
consumer. As a result, as described below, the present discloser has devised a
technique that makes it possible for the side of the power consumer to take initiative to
stabilize the power grid and suppress peak power for the power consumer.
[0024] The description has been given above of the overview of an embodiment of
the present disclosure. Subsequently, description is given in detail of an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[1.2. Configuration Example and Operation Example]
[0025] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter,
description is given, with reference to FIG. 2, of a configuration example of the power
system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] In the power system illustrated in FIG. 2, power generated at a power plant
is supplied to each home through a grid power line 10. Although eight homes are
illustrated in FIG. 2, such an example is not limitative. In addition to the power from
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the grid power line 10, a power supply system illustrated in FIG. 2 has a configuration,
in which a solar cell 300 that generates power by solar light is provided on a roof of
some of homes to charge a battery device 400 with natural energy from the solar cell
300, and a function is provided to perform reverse power flow to electric appliances in
the homes from the battery device 400 through a power conditioner (PCS) 500 to assist
a portion of an increase in the power consumption amount of the home. The electric
appliances in the homes are examples of a power consumption device of the present
disclosure.
[0027] A power supply arbitration device (PMC) 100 is coupled to a network (e.g.,
the Internet), and sends an instruction to the power conditioner 500 of a home provided
with the battery device 400. In addition, the power supply arbitration device 100 also
monitors a power storage amount and a suppliable amount of the battery device 400 in
a vicinity of a home where electric appliances are located.
[0028] In accordance with a power consumption profile and activation time sent to
the power conditioner 500 from the power supply arbitration device 100 through the
network, the power conditioner 500 controls an amount of power flowing reversely from
the battery device 400.
[0029] A power meter (AMR) 200 is a device that measures amounts of power
flowing to each home through the grid power line 10 and power used by each home, and
is coupled to the network (e.g., the Internet). Information on the power amount
measured by the power meter 200 is sent to the power supply arbitration device 100
through the network.
[0030] The power system illustrated in FIG. 2 confirms whether power is suppliable
from the battery device 400 near a wiring line path prior to switching on a power source
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of an electric appliance in each home. When the power is suppliable from the battery
device 400, reverse power flow from the battery device 400 to the grid power line 10
and power consumption by an electric appliance are synchronized with each other in
accordance with a power consumption profile provided for the electric appliance.
Therefore, the battery device 400 may include a function of communicating with other
devices or a processing function of performing a calculation, etc. of a predicted amount
of power storage. Electric appliances to be controlled for power consumption is
desirably configured to be remotely controllable for on and off of a power source, for
example, from an information processor such as a smartphone or a tablet-type terminal.
In addition, an application installed in the information processor is able to register an
electric appliance to be controlled for power consumption. In addition, the power
consumption profile of the registered electric appliance is registered in the information
processor. The application communicates with the power supply arbitration device
100 installed on the network by communication. The power supply arbitration device
100 monitors the power storage amount and the suppliable amount of the battery device
400 in the vicinity of the home where electric appliances are located. Information on
the power storage amount and the suppliable amount of the battery device 400 is sent to
the above application and displayed on the above information processor.
[0031] In accordance with a power consumption request from the above application,
the power supply arbitration device 100 chooses a battery device 400 that is close to its
power consumption source and is able to supply power in accordance with the requested
power consumption profile. The power supply arbitration device 100 sends, to the
power conditioner 500 provided for the battery device 400, the power consumption
profile and a starting time for supplying power, and sends start time to the application
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as well. The application remotely switches on an electric appliance at the starting time
sent from the power supply arbitration device 100. By remotely activating the electric
appliance from the above application in this manner, it becomes possible to synchronize
a power feeding timing from the battery device 400, a power feeding power amount,
and power consumption in the electric appliance with one another.
[0032] In a case where the electric appliance itself has a communication function,
the electric appliance communicates directly with the power supply arbitration device
100. The electric appliance sends a request for power supply to the power supply
arbitration device 100, and the power supply arbitration device 100 returns information
on activation time to the electric appliance that has sent the request for power supply.
The electric appliance activates to receive power supply at the activation time received
from the power supply arbitration device 100.
[0033] In addition to a function itself as an electric appliance, the above electric
appliance has an activation timer that operates in response to an instruction from the
network, and an information displaying function. The information displaying function
has a function of displaying time for the activation timer. When an activation request
button is pressed, the above electric appliance transmits, to the power supply arbitration
device 100, an activation request including identification information (ID information,
MAC address, etc.) assigned to itself. Then, the electric appliance sets an activation
timing returned from the power supply arbitration device 100 to operate the activation
timer, and displays waiting time using the information displaying function.
[0034] When the activation request is transmitted from the above home electric
appliance, the power supply arbitration device 100 reads the power consumption profile
registered in advance, and confirms information on power feeding reservation of the
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registered battery device 400. When there is the battery device 400 having a margin
for a remaining capacity, the power supply arbitration device 100 sends a power
consumption profile to the battery device 400 to reserve power transmission from the
battery device 400, and simultaneously sends activation timing information back to the
above electric appliance that has sent the activation request.
[0035] When the activation request is sent from the above electric appliance and
arbitration is made with a battery device 400 having a margin for the power, the power
supply arbitration device 100 generates temporary IDs, which are transitory, for the
battery device 400 and the above electric appliance. It is assumed that the respective
IDs are set as a power storage device temporary ID and a consumer home electric
appliance temporary ID. A pair of the generated power storage device temporary ID
and consumer home electric appliance temporary ID is sent to the battery device 400
and the above electric appliance.
[0036] The above electric appliance scheduled to consume power communicates
with the battery device 400 using the temporary ID generated by the power supply
arbitration device 100, and adjusts a timing for the activation time. This enables the
battery device 400 and the above electric appliance to be synchronized with each other
without the power supply arbitration device 100, thus making it possible to alleviate
synchronization disturbance due to a delay in communication or the like, and thus
making it unnecessary to set a timer for the above electric appliance. In addition, the
temporary ID generated by the power supply arbitration device 100 is valid only for the
power arbitration, thus making it possible to apply restriction to prevent the above
electric appliance from freely issuing the next request.
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[0037] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the power system
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates an operation
example of a case where the power supply arbitration device 100 intermediates optimal
battery selection, power supply confirmation, activation time calculation, and
arbitration until timer information generation to match timings for power supply and
reception. In addition, it is assumed that the electric appliance of FIG. 3 has a network
communication function, and is able to communicates with the power supply arbitration
device 100 through the network.
[0038] The power supply arbitration device 100 registers information on the electric
appliance or a power storage and power generation system (which refers to a system
including the solar cell 300 and the battery device 400) (step S101). When the
information on the electric appliance or the power storage and power generation system
is registered, the power supply arbitration device 100 transmits information on the
power storage device temporary ID to the power storage and power generation system,
and sends the consumer home electric appliance temporary ID and the power
consumption profile to the electric appliance. The power storage and power generation
system obtains and registers information on the power storage device temporary ID from
the power supply arbitration device 100 (step S102). In addition, the electric appliance
obtains and registers the consumer home electric appliance temporary ID and the power
consumption profile from the power supply arbitration device 100 (step S103).
[0039] Subsequently, the power supply arbitration device 100 obtains, from the
power storage and power generation system, a power supply plan of the power storage
and power generation system (step S104).
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[0040] Subsequently, the power supply arbitration device 100 waits until there is a
power request from the electric appliance (step S105). When a power source
consumption reservation switch is turned on to turn on a power source at a
predetermined time by an operation of a user (step S106), the electric appliance reserves
power source consumption, and transmits a power request to the power supply
arbitration device 100.
[0041] When receiving a power request from the electric appliance through the
network, the power supply arbitration device 100 specifies the electric appliance on the
basis of information on the registered power storage and power generation system, and
calculates power supply of the power storage and power generation system (step S107).
At this time, the power storage and power generation system registered by the power
supply arbitration device 100 answers an inquiry about a power supply amount from the
power supply arbitration device 100 (step S108).
[0042] The power supply arbitration device 100 sums up the power supply amounts
acquired from the power storage and power generation system, and waits until there is
a margin for power supply from the power storage and power generation system (step
S109). When there is a margin for the power supply from the power storage and power
generation system, the power supply arbitration device 100 transmits power feeding
time and a power feeding power profile to the power storage and power generation
system, and simultaneously sends activation time to the electric appliance (step S110).
[0043] The power storage and power generation system waits until power feeding
time is obtained from the power supply arbitration device 100 (step S111), and the
electric appliance waits until the activation time is obtained from the power supply
arbitration device 100 (step S112). When obtaining the power feeding time from the
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power supply arbitration device 100, the power storage and power generation system
starts feeding power from the battery device 400 at the power feeding time (step S113).
Accordingly, the battery device 400 may include a timer function. In addition, when
obtaining the activation time from the power supply arbitration device 100, the electric
appliance starts consuming power at the activation time (step S114).
[0044] In the above-described example, the electric appliance transmits a power
request to the power supply arbitration device 100 when the power source consumption
reservation switch is turned on, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an
example. For example, the electric appliance may transmit the power request to the
power supply arbitration device 100 at a timing when the power consumption profile is
updated.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the power system
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates an operation
example of a case where the power supply arbitration device 100 performs optimal
battery selection, power supply confirmation, and generation of a temporary ID, and
uses the temporary ID to cause the power storage and power generation system and the
electric appliance to feed and receive power to and from each other. In addition, it is
assumed that the electric appliance of FIG. 4 has a network communication function,
and is able to communicates with the power supply arbitration device 100 through the
network.
[0046] In the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4, a series of processing up to step S109
is the same as that in FIG. 3, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.
When there is a margin for power supply from the power storage and power generation
system, the power supply arbitration device 100 sends the respective temporary IDs (the
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power storage device temporary ID and the consumer home electric appliance temporary
ID) to the power storage and power generation system and the electric appliance (step
S120).
[0047] The power storage and power generation system waits until the temporary
ID is obtained from the power supply arbitration device 100 (step S121), and the electric
appliance waits until the temporary ID is obtained from the power supply arbitration
device 100 (step S122). When obtaining a temporary ID from the power supply
arbitration device 100, the power storage and power generation system starts feeding
power from the battery device 400 to the electric appliance having a target temporary
ID (step S123). In addition, when obtaining the temporary ID from the power supply
arbitration device 100, the electric appliance starts consuming power using power fed
from the target power storage and power generation system (step S124).
[0048] In a case where the power supply arbitration device 100 generates the
temporary ID in this manner, it is possible to provide flexibility such as extending power
feeding time between the electric appliance and the battery device 400 even when an
initially scheduled power consumption profile is changed. In addition, the temporary
ID generated by the power supply arbitration device 100 may be converted to a real ID
by the power supply arbitration device 100 or a relay router, and the real ID may
disappear when the power supply from the battery device 400 terminates. This makes
it possible to protect privacy of an owner of the power storage and power generation
system or the electric appliance.
[0049] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and, in particular,
an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement example of batteries and electric
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appliances registered in the power system, nodes to which cables are collectively
coupled, and monitorable power meters. In the arrangement example illustrated in FIG.
5, an optimal pair is selected from a current capacity of each power grid, the power
consumption profile of the electric appliance, and a supply capability of the battery
device 400, and the power supply from the battery device 400 is reserved. FIG. 5
illustrates a microwave oven 510 and an electric kettle 520 as examples of the electric
appliance.
[0050] For example, the microwave oven 510 that is a remotely controllable highly
functional electric appliance is able to collaborate with the battery device 400 using
timer reservation in cooperation with a smartphone 600, etc. illustrated in FIG. 5.
Meanwhile, in the case of a remotely uncontrollable low functional electric appliance
such as the electric kettle 520 including a heater, for example, a method is adopted that
collaborates with the battery device 400 in cooperation with a timer switch box 530
having a function of communication with the network. When the electric kettle 520 is
switched on, the timer switch box 530 detects that a resistance value on side of the
electric kettle 520 has been lowered, and notifies the power supply arbitration device
100. The timer switch box 530 may have a temperature sensor therein, and may have
a function of predicting time when a temperature of the heater of the electric kettle 520
is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature to arbitrate the power supply to
the power supply arbitration device 100.
[0051] The smartphone 600 may have a function of transmitting information for
registering information on the electric appliance to the power supply arbitration device
100. In addition, the smartphone 600 may have a function of displaying the power
consumption profile of the electric appliance. The power consumption profile
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illustrates a power consumption amount of the electric appliance in a time axis. The
power consumption amount of the electric appliance may include past achievements, or
may include a power consumption amount based on a future power consumption
prediction. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of power consumption profiles of electric
appliances. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of power consumption profiles of a
television, an electric kettle, a microwave oven, and a refrigerator. The television has
less change in the power consumption. Accordingly, the television may be set to
receive power from the power grid. The electric kettle has a drastic change in the
power consumption amount, and power to be used is able to be predicted by an amount
of hot water therein. Accordingly, the electric kettle may be set to receive power from
the battery device 400 located nearby. The microwave oven has a drastic change in
the power consumption, and power to be used is able to be predicted by an amount of
foods to be heated. Accordingly, the microwave oven may be set to receive power
from the battery device 400 located nearby. The refrigerator has less change in the
power consumption. Accordingly, the refrigerator may be set to receive power from
the power grid. Further, the smartphone 600 may receive the above-described
consumer home electric appliance temporary ID from the power supply arbitration
device 100 to execute processing of specifying an electric appliance that receives power.
[0052] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of the
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery
device 400 holds a certain amount or more of power storage amounts via the power
conditioner 500. A power consumption amount of a home is monitored in a unit of
second by the power meter 200, and is notified to a control unit (CNT) 150. In a home
H-2 illustrated in FIG. 6, a backup battery 401 is installed in the home.
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[0053] When the electric appliance is switched on, the control unit 150 acquires the
power consumption profile from the electric appliance, and calculates a total current
value of the power consumption profile and another electric appliance currently
operated and consuming power. In a case where the electric appliance consumes a first
power amount specified within a contracted power, the control unit 150 performs a
control to allow power exceeding the first power amount to be supplied from the power
conditioner 500 in synchronization with activation of the electric appliance.
[0054] Meanwhile, in a case where an integrated power consumption of electric
appliances in the home is equal to or less than a second power amount that is less than
the first power amount described above, the control unit 150 controls the power
conditioner 500, and controls charging to the battery device 400 to have a certain level
of an SOC (State of Charge) or more. Power reception reservation to the battery device
400 is performed by communicating with the power conditioner 500 via the network
(e.g., the Internet).
[0055] A capacity of the battery device 400 owned by the home according to this
function may be a capacity to such an extent as to suppress a peak of an electric
appliance that consumes the maximum power in a short period of time. In addition, a
capability of the power conditioner 500 to convert the power of the battery device 400
from a direct current to an alternating current can be set to match a single electric
appliance that uses large power instantaneously, instead of power consumptions of all
electric appliances owned by the home. Thus, it is possible for the power system
according to the present embodiment to reduce a size of the power conditioner 500 as
well as to keep the cost low.
23
[0056] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of a generation
pattern of the power reservation profile at the time of additional power reservation in
the power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7
illustrates an example of a case where the power consumption by the electric appliance
is changed with respect to the initial reservation.
[0057] For example, in a case where the control unit 150 of a home A-4 reserves
the power of the battery device 400 of a home A-1 and continues to make reservation
thereafter, when additional time can be reserved in advance to the battery device 400 of
the home A-1, continuous reservation is possible. Meanwhile, in a case where the
battery device 400 of the home A-1 no longer has a margin for power supply, reservation
is made for another battery device 400. In this case, the control unit 150 in the home
A-4 generates and asks the power reservation profile to supplement a power supply
ending pattern of the battery device 400 of the home A-1. In a case of initially
reserving power consumption for a long period of time, with a single battery device 400
unable to supply the power, the control unit 150 is also able to make reservations across
a plurality of battery devices 400. An additional power reservation profile 2 in FIG. 7
illustrates an example of reservations across three battery devices 400 (home A-1, home
A-3, and home B-1).
[0058] In a case where the power supply arbitration device 100 receives a power
request from the electric appliance that consumes power in such a state where there are
a margin in the power supply capability of the battery and a margin also in the power
grid, when no efficient battery with a margin exists, a battery that has already been
supplying power may also set an additional power reservation profile to control the
power supply from the battery that has been supplying power.
24
[0059] FIGs. 8 to 10 are each an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example
of the power reservation profile. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a power reservation
profile in a case where a microwave oven installed in the home A-4 reserves power
supply to the battery device 400 of the home A-1. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a
power reservation profile in a case where a microwave oven of a home C-1 also reserves
power supply to the same battery device 400 of the home A-1.
[0060] Such power reservations are made not only between each of the electric
appliances of the homes and the battery device 400 of the home A-1, but also with
respect to the battery device 400 of the home B-1 in FIG. 2 as well as with respect to
the backup battery 401 located in the home H-2 in FIG. 6.
[0061] Addition of an actual consumption part of FIG. 8 and an actual consumption
part of FIG. 9 corresponds to a solid line part in a power reservation profile illustrated
in FIG. 10. Here, the maximum suppliable power of the battery device 400 of the home
A-1 is less than a total peak value of power usage of the microwave oven installed in
the home A-4 and power usage of the microwave oven installed in the home C-1.
[0062] In a case where there is no battery device 400 having a sufficient margin to
meet a power reservation profile requested by the electric appliance that consumes
power, but power supply is possible by a combination of a plurality of battery devices
400, the battery device 400 may divide the power reservation profile requested by the
electric appliance into two or more to assign the divided power reservation profiles to
the respective battery devices 400.
[0063] FIGs. 11 to 13 are each an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example
of the power reservation profile. FIGs. 11 to 13 illustrate examples in which, in a case
where reservation of power consumption made by the home A-4 causes the power supply
25
arbitration device 100 to calculate the reserved power, but a single battery device 400
(e.g., the battery device 400 of the home A-1) is not able to supply the power, the power
reservation profile is divided and calculated to allow for reserved power feeding to
enable allocation to another battery device 400 (e.g., the battery device 400 of the home
A-3).
[0064] In the power grid illustrated in FIG. 5, in a case where reservations are made
that exceed the current capacity of the power grid in view of the reservation status, the
power supply arbitration device 100 generates a power transfer profile between the
battery devices 400 in advance, and moves power between the battery devices 400 on
the basis of the power transfer profile. This enables the power supply arbitration
device 100 to have functions of switching destinations of reservation of the battery
device 400 made by the electric appliance and also making adjustment for the
reservation not to exceed the capacity of the power grid. The power supply arbitration
device 100 has information on the power grid. The information on the power grid
includes information regarding coupling of the grids and information on a capacitance,
i.e., the maximal current of each grid. As examples, FIG. 5 illustrates, as Imax, the
maximal current of each of the power grids. On the basis of the above information on
the power grid, the power supply arbitration device 100 switches destinations of the
reservation of the battery device 400 made by the electric appliance to make adjustment
for the reservation not to exceed the capacity of the power grid.
[0065] For example, in a case where it is known that a power grid 2 illustrated in
FIG. 5 exceeds the capacity of the grid due to a reserved power feeding plan from the
electric appliance and that a circumstance occurs in a few hours where a further power
request is not accepted, the power supply arbitration device 100 generates a power
26
transfer profile in advance to transmit power from the battery device 400 of the home
A-1 to the battery device 400 of the home B-1, thus requesting the battery device 400
of the home A-1 to transmit power and charging the battery device 400 of the home B-
1. By moving power from the battery device 400 of the home A-1 to the battery device
400 of the home B-1 in this manner, it is possible to supply power to the microwave
oven 510 using power grids 3 and 4 without using the power grid 2.
[0066] FIG. 14 is a format example of a communication message exchanged in the
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A
communication message 700 includes a header part 710 and a payload part 720. The
header part 710 includes transmission source information 711, transmission destination
information 712, type information 713, and option information 714.
[0067] In the present embodiment, six pieces of information illustrated in FIG. 14
are stored as type information 713. Data stored in the payload part 720 differs for the
respective types.
[0068] The description has been given heretofore, as an operation example of the
power system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, of the example in
which, the power supply arbitration device 100 receives the power request from the
electric appliance installed in the home and adjusts the power supply from the battery
device 400. Subsequently, description is given, as an operation example of the power
system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an example in which a
power consumption amount of each home is monitored, and each home is prompted to
cooperate to allow a total power consumption amount not to reach a certain value.
[0069] The power meter 200 in the power system illustrated in FIG. 1 monitors an
amount of power usage periodically, for example, in a unit of seconds. The power
27
meter 200 transmits a monitored power amount to a server device. The server device
may be the power supply arbitration device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, or may be another
server device different from the power supply arbitration device 100.
[0070] The server device predicts consumption patterns of the respective homes on
the basis of data collected from the respective power meters 200. Then, the server
device calculates a value of the prediction and prediction of loads of respective pole
transformers according to a power distribution diagram, and distributes a power
consumption point value at that time to an information processor having a
communication function, such as a smartphone owned by a resident of each home.
[0071] A home registered in the power system according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure is able to confirm, using the above information processor, a
consumption pattern of an own house, an own consumption prediction, and a
consumption prediction of neighborhoods, which are summed up by the server device
on the network.
[0072] The prediction of power consumption may be carried out by using, for
example, a cumulative total of measured values up to the previous day for each time
zone, each day of the week (or each measured value of weekdays and weekends), an
average value of the cumulative total, data of the previous day, and the like.
[0073] The server device monitors sequential current values from the power meter
200 installed in the home and the power meter 200 installed in the power grid. The
server device calculates current values of a power feeding line in each home and a
transmission line coupled to the pole transformer, from the monitored current values
and transmission path information of the server device itself. Then, the server device
calculates a degree of margin for an allowable current value of the transmission line
28
from the current values of the power feeding line and the transmission line, and makes
conversion to representation centered on power feeding points of the home registered in
the system. The server device distributes, to the above information processor,
information (power feeding margin information) converted to the representation
centered on the power feeding points of the home.
[0074] An application installed in the information processor displays the power
feeding margin information sent from the server device and the electric appliance
registered in advance, and, when the displayed electric appliance is selected, the power
consumption profile of the electric appliance is displayed. The above-described
application has a mechanism of displaying how many points can be obtained when a
power source is turned on from a time point of the display onwards. On the basis of
the point information, the user reserves time to turn on the power source of the electric
appliance from the information processor. Then, when the electric appliance is
actually turned on at the reserved time, points can be obtained. Meanwhile, in a case
where time for consumption deviates significantly from the reserved time to result in a
tight situation where there is no margin for power, the points are subtracted.
[0075] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of information
displayed by an application installed in the above information processor. The above
application displays a power consumption status of the power grid on that day and
prediction of future power consumption. Then, the application displays a reserved
consumption profile of the selected electric appliance and points that can be obtained
(or subtracted) at that time when power is turned on. The example in FIG. 15
illustrates 30 points being added when the power is turned on at a time point when there
29
is a margin in power, whereas 10 points being subtracted when the power is turned on
at a time point when there is no margin in power.
[0076] The power consumption profile of the electric appliance is, for example, the
profile displayed by the smartphone 600 illustrated in FIG. 5. The above application
is able to move the power consumption profile to time in the future by an operation of
the user, and also simultaneously calculates and displays points at a time point when the
power consumption profile is moved. The user reserves activation of the electric
appliance while seeing the displayed points, and information on the reservation is
notified to the server device to start monitoring power consumption of the home. In a
case where there is consumption close to the reserved consumption profile at a time
point when consumption reservation time has elapsed to terminate the consumption, the
server device accumulates points displayed by the above application at the time of
reservation, and causes the above application to display the accumulated points.
[0077] The points thus accumulated can be used, for example, as an incentive for
an electricity bill in each home. By giving an incentive such as discounting an
electricity bill by a predetermined amount to a home in which a predetermined number
of points or more are saved within a predetermined period of time, it is possible to
prompt each home to disperse time zones in which power is used.
[0078] Next, description is given of a functional configuration example of the
power supply arbitration device 100 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the functional configuration
example of the power supply arbitration device 100 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
30
[0079] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the power supply arbitration device 100 includes
a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, and a storage unit 130.
[0080] The communication unit 110 communicates with other devices, e.g., the
power meter 200 or the battery device 400, or the home electric appliance or the
information processor such as a smartphone.
[0081] The control unit 120 is configured by a processor such as a CPU, for example,
and executes processing related to the power supply in the power system including the
processing described above related to the power supply arbitration.
[0082] For example, the control unit 120 registers the battery device 400 in the
storage unit 130 on the basis of the registration information on the battery device 400
received by the communication unit 110. In addition, for example, the control unit 120
registers an electric appliance in the storage unit 130 on the basis of the registration
information on the electric appliance, which is the power consumption device, received
by the communication unit 110. In addition, for example, the control unit 120 stores,
in the storage unit 130, a power consumption profile of the electric appliance, which is
the power consumption device, received by the communication unit 110 in association
with the electric appliance registered in the storage unit 130.
[0083] In addition, for example, in a case where a power request received by the
communication unit 110 is requested from the electric appliance registered in the
storage unit 130, the control unit 120 specifies a battery device 400 registered in the
storage unit 130 as the battery device 400 that supplies the power requested by the
registered electric appliance, on the basis of the power consumption profile associated
with the registered electric appliance.
31
[0084] The storage unit 130 is configured by a storage device such as a hard disk
drive, for example, and stores information related to the power supply in the power
system including information to be used in the above-described processing related to
the power supply arbitration.
[0085] It is to be noted that, in a case where the power supply arbitration device
100 executes the above-described point calculation for each home, the control unit 120
may execute processing of summation of the power amounts monitored by the power
meter 200 or point addition/subtraction.
[0086] Subsequently, description is given of a functional configuration example of
the battery device 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17
is an explanatory diagram illustrating the functional configuration example of the
battery device 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0087] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the battery device 400 includes a communication
unit 410, a control unit 420, a storage unit 430, and a battery 440.
[0088] The communication unit 410 communicates with other devices, e.g., the
power supply arbitration device 100 or the power meter 200, or the home electric
appliance or the information processor such a smartphone.
[0089] The control unit 420 is configured by a processor such as a CPU, for example,
and executes processing related to the power supply in the power system including the
above-described processing related to the power supply. The control unit 420 has a
timer function and has a function of starting or stopping supplying power at set time.
[0090] The storage unit 430 is configured by a storage device such as a hard disk
drive, for example, and stores information related to the power supply in the power
32
system including information to be used in the above-described processing related to
the power supply.
[0091] The battery 440 includes, for example, a secondary battery, stores power
generated by the solar cell 300 in the secondary battery, and discharges the power from
the secondary battery under the control of the control unit 420.
[0092] The battery device 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
has such a configuration, to thereby make it possible to execute the power supply on the
basis of information transmitted from the power supply arbitration device 100.
[0093] Subsequently, description is given of a functional configuration example of
the smartphone 600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is
an explanatory diagram illustrating the functional configuration example of the
smartphone 600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 18, the smartphone 600 according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure includes a communication unit 610, a control unit 620, a
storage unit 630, a display unit 640, and an input unit 650.
[0095] The communication unit 610 communicates with other devices, e.g., the
power supply arbitration device 100 and the power meter 200 as well as home electric
appliances, and the like.
[0096] The control unit 620 is configured by a processor such as a CPU, for example,
and executes processing related to the power supply in the power system including the
above-described processing related to the power supply.
[0097] The storage unit 630 is configured by a storage device such as a nonvolatile
memory, for example, and stores information related to the power supply in the power
33
system including information to be used in the above-described processing related to
the power supply.
[0098] The display unit 640 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display,
an organic EL display, or the like, and displays various types of information.
[0099] The input unit 650 is configured by, for example, a button, a touch panel,
and the like, and is used by a user of the smartphone 600 to perform operation inputs to
the smartphone 600.
[0100] As described above, the smartphone 600 according to the present
embodiment is able to acquire and display the power consumption profile of an electric
appliance, issue an activation instruction to the electric appliance, and acquire and
display points.
[0101] In a case where a plurality of loads exists in a single electric appliance, or
in a case where a plurality of electric appliances may be possibly used simultaneously,
the power consumption may fluctuate drastically. In such a case, supplying of power
to the electric appliance from the battery enables the power reservation profile to be a
profile that allows for charging of a low battery due to supplying power to the electric
appliance. Accordingly, the supplying of power to the electric appliance from the
battery makes it possible to simplify contents of the power reservation profile.
[0102] An example of one use case is illustrated. FIG. 19 is an explanatory
diagram illustrating a configuration example of the power system according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 illustrates one power domain 800 that
includes three loads 810a to 810c, a battery 820, and an uninterruptible power system
(UPS) 830. The uninterruptible power system 830 is an uninterruptible power system
that outputs a current-limited direct current. The power domain 800 may be configured
34
as a single electric appliance or may be a certain region in a single home. In a case
where the power domain 800 is the certain region in a single home, the loads 810a to
810c may be electric appliances, or may be mobile bodies each provided with a battery,
such as an electric vehicle or an electric motorcycle. The uninterruptible power system
830 is provided with a communication function, and communicates with another device,
e.g., the power supply arbitration device 100, through an external network such as the
Internet.
[0103] The uninterruptible power system 830 receives power supply from an AC
grid line, and supplies power to the loads 810a to 810c and the battery 820. A circuit
breaker 840 has a function of interrupting a current when a current of a predetermined
value or more flows. In the present embodiment, the circuit breaker 840 interrupts a
current when a current of 10 A or more flows.
[0104] The power domain 800 including a plurality of loads therein includes the
battery 820 having a capacity slightly greater than an average power consumption
amount, thus allowing for compensation for occurrence of rapid fluctuation in power
consumption due to the loads 810a to 810c using power supply from the battery 820.
When the power supply from the battery 820 advances to reduce a power storage amount
of the battery 820, a simple power request profile is generated, in which a requested
amount is flat, and power feeding is reserved to an external power supply device. This
enables a current flowing through the AC grid line to be also leveled and stabilized and
the contracted power to be also lowered to around the average power consumption, thus
making it possible to compensate costs for operation of the battery 820.
[0105] FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of power
consumptions of loads and power request profiles. For example, in a case where the
35
three loads 810a to 810c shift time zones to consume power at levels of, respectively,
8A, 6A, and 7A as illustrated in FIG. 20, the total consumption of the three loads
exceeds 10A greatly depending on time, thus resulting in interruption of a current by
the circuit breaker 840. In addition, when setting a power request profile
corresponding to the total power consumption amount of the loads 810a to 810c, the
power request profile fluctuates drastically with time to correspond to the total
consumption.
[0106] Therefore, in a case where the loads 810a to 810c consume power, the power
domain 800 supplies power from the battery 820. When the power storage amount is
reduced due to the power supply from the battery 820, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the power
domain 800 generates a simple power request profile, in which a requested amount is
flat, and reserves power feeding to an external power supply device. This power
feeding reservation is sent to the power supply arbitration device 100 to determine a
power supply device that supplies power by the battery 820. The charging of the
battery 820 is performed, for example, in a time zone when power is not used by the
loads 810a to 810c. In addition, the amount of current at that time is an amount of
current to such an extent that interruption of a current by the circuit breaker 840 does
not occur (e.g., 9A).
[0107] Providing the battery 820 in the power domain 800 in this manner suppresses
drastic power fluctuation in the AC grid line to simplify the power request profile
generated by the power domain 800. In addition, a smart house having the battery 800
(a house that carries out power supply by a direct current) is also able to be incorporated,
as an entire house, into the power system according to the present embodiment as the
power consumption device. Aside from those described above, such a power domain
36
800 is also applicable to a data center or the like including many servers and backup
batteries.
[0108] In a case where power usage by loads does not terminate even when the
power storage amount of the battery 820 is further lowered and the remaining power
storage amount is scarce, the power domain 800 may be switched to use power from the
AC grid line. At this time, the power domain 800 may supply power from the AC grid
line to the load, or may use the power from the AC grid line for charging of the battery
to supply the load with the power stored in the battery 820.
<2. Conclusion>
[0109] As described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
there are provided the power system that makes it possible for side of a power consumer
to take initiative to stabilize a power grid and suppress peak power for the power
consumer, and the power supply arbitration device 100, the battery device 400 and the
electric appliance used in the power system, as well as the information processor that
controls the devices used in the power system.
[0110] The respective steps in the series of processing to be executed by the devices
described herein need not necessarily be processed in chronological order illustrated as
the sequence diagram or the flowchart. For example, the respective steps in the series
of processing executed by the devices may be processed in an order different from the
order illustrated as the flowchart, or may be processed in parallel.
[0111] In addition, it is also possible to create a computer program to cause
hardware, such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM built in respective devices, to exhibit
functions equivalent to the configurations of the respective devices described above.
In addition, it is also possible to provide a storage medium in which the computer
37
program is stored. In addition, it is also possible to configure the respective functional
blocks illustrated in the functional block diagrams to thereby implement the series of
processing using the hardware.
[0112] Although the description has been given above in detail of preferred
embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings,
the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is
obvious that a person having ordinary skill in the art of the present disclosure may find
various alterations or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in
the claims, and it should be understood that these alterations and modifications naturally
come under the technical scope of the present disclosure.
[0113] In addition, the effects described herein are merely illustrative or exemplary,
and are not limitative. That is, the technology according to the present disclosure may
achieve, in addition to or in place of the above effects, other effects that are obvious to
those skilled in the art from the description of the present specification.
[0114] It is to be noted that the technical scope of the present disclosure also
includes the following configurations.
(1)
A power supply arbitration device including:
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit registering a power supply device in the storage unit on a basis
of power supply device registration information received by the communication unit,
38
the control unit registering a power consumption device in the storage unit on a
basis of power consumption device registration information received by the
communication unit,
the control unit storing a power consumption profile of the power consumption
device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in association with the
power consumption device registered in the storage unit, and
in a case where a power request received by the communication unit is requested
from the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, the control unit
specifying the power supply device registered in the storage unit as a power feeding
device that supplies power requested by the registered power consumption device on a
basis of the power consumption profile associated with the registered power
consumption device.
(2)
The power supply arbitration device according to (1), in which the control unit
specifies power feeding information used by the power feeding device to perform power
feeding and activation time information on the registered power consumption device,
causes the communication unit to transmit the power feeding information to the power
feeding device designated as a transmission destination, and causes the communication
unit to transmit the activation time information to the power consumption device
designated as a transmission destination.
(3)
The power supply arbitration device according to (1) or (2), in which the control
unit specifies identification information used by the power feeding device and the power
consumption device to control power reception and power feeding, and causes the
39
communication unit to transmit the identification information to the power feeding
device and the power consumption device designated as the transmission destinations.
(4)
The power supply arbitration device according to any one of (1) to (3), in which
the control unit specifies a power feeding destination for a power reception request on
a basis of information on coupling of power feeding grids among a power consumption
device group including one or more of the power supply devices to be controlled and a
power consumption device group including one or more of the power consumption
devices and on a basis of information on a current capacity of each of the power feeding
grids.
(5)
A power supply device including:
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit information for
registration of an own device to a power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates
power supply, designated as a transmission destination, and
in a case where an inquiry about a power supply amount received by the
communication unit is sent from the power supply arbitration device, the control unit
causing the communication unit to transmit power supply amount information from the
own device to the power supply arbitration device designated as the transmission
destination.
40
(6)
The power supply device according to (5), further including a timer, in which
the communication unit receives power feeding information used to supply
power to a power consumption device that consumes power, and
the control unit controls power feeding to the power consumption device on a
basis of the power feeding information and time information on the timer.
(7)
The power supply device according to (5) or (6), in which
the communication unit receives identification information used to control the
power feeding, and
the control unit controls the power feeding on a basis of the identification
information.
(8)
A power consumption device including:
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit information for
registration of an own device and a power consumption profile at the own device to a
power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates power supply, designated as a
transmission destination, and
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit a power request to
the power supply arbitration device designated as the transmission destination.
41
(9)
The power consumption device according to (8), further including a timer, in
which
the communication unit receives activation time information, and
the control unit controls activation of the own device on a basis of the activation
time information and time information on the timer.
(10)
The power consumption device according to (8) or (9), in which
the communication unit receives identification information used to control
power reception, and
the control unit controls the power reception on a basis of the identification
information.
(11)
The power consumption device according to any one of (8) to (10), in which the
control unit causes the communication unit to transmit transmission of the power request
in such a state that power consumption is reserved.
(12)
The power consumption device according to any one of (8) to (11), in which the
control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the transmission of the power
request in such a state that the power consumption profile is updated.
(13)
A power supply remote controller including:
a display unit;
an input unit with which an instruction from a user is inputted;
42
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit registering a power consumption device that consumes power
in the storage unit on a basis of power consumption device registration information
received by the communication unit,
the control unit storing a power consumption profile of the power consumption
device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in association with the
power consumption device registered in the storage unit,
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit information for
registration of the power consumption device and the power consumption profile to a
power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates power supply, designated as a
transmission destination, and
in a case where activation reservation for the power consumption device
displayed on the display unit is selected by the input unit, the control unit causing the
communication unit to transmit a power request for the power consumption device to
the power supply arbitration device designated as the transmission destination.
(14)
The power supply remote controller according to (13), in which
the communication unit receives activation time information on the power
consumption device, and
43
the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit information on
activation of the power consumption device on a basis of the activation time information
and time information on a timer provided in the power consumption device.
(15)
The power supply remote controller according to (12) or (13), in which
the communication unit receives activation time information on the power
consumption device, and
the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the activation time
information to the power consumption device designated as a transmission destination.
(16)
The power supply remote controller according to any one of (13) to (15), in
which
the communication unit receives identification information used by the power
consumption device to control power reception, and
the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the identification
information to the power consumption device designated as the transmission destination.
(17)
The power supply remote controller according to any one of (13) to (16), in
which the control unit causes the display unit to display the power consumption profile
of the power consumption device read from storage unit in response to an operation of
the input unit.
(18)
A power supply arbitration method including causing a processor to:
44
register a power supply device on a basis of received power supply device
registration information;
register a power consumption device on a basis of received power consumption
device registration information;
store a received power consumption profile of the power consumption device in
association with the registered power consumption device; and
specify the power supply device registered as a power feeding device that
supplies power requested by the registered power consumption device on a basis of the
power consumption profile associated with the registered power consumption device in
a case where a received power request is requested from the registered power
consumption device.
(19)
A power system including:
a power supply arbitration device;
a power supply device that supplies power; and
a power consumption device that consumes power,
the power supply arbitration device including
a control unit,
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network, and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit registering the power supply device in the storage unit
on a basis of power supply device registration information received by the
communication unit,
45
the control unit registering the power consumption device in the storage
unit on a basis of power consumption device registration information received by the
communication unit,
the control unit storing a power consumption profile of the power
consumption device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in
association with the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, and
in a case where a power request received by the communication unit is
requested from the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, the control
unit specifying the power supply device registered in the storage unit as a power feeding
device that supplies power requested by the registered power consumption device on a
basis of the power consumption profile associated with the registered power
consumption device.
(20)
A power controller including:
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network, and
a storage unit that stores information,
in a case where a power storage amount of a battery managed by an own device
is larger than a predetermined amount, the control unit prioritizing discharging power
to a load from the battery, and
in a case where the power storage amount of the battery managed by the own
device is equal to or smaller than the predetermined amount, the control unit causing
the communication unit to transmit a power request for the battery to a power supply
46
arbitration device, which arbitrates power supply, designated as a transmission
destination.
[Reference Numerals List]
[0115]
10 grid power line
100 power supply arbitration device
200 power meter
300 solar cell
400 battery device
500 power conditioner
510 microwave oven
520 electric kettle
530 timer switch box
600 smartphone
47
CLAIMS
[Claim 1]
A power supply arbitration device comprising:
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit registering a power supply device in the storage unit on a basis
of power supply device registration information received by the communication unit,
the control unit registering a power consumption device in the storage unit on
a basis of power consumption device registration information received by the
communication unit,
the control unit storing a power consumption profile of the power consumption
device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in association with the
power consumption device registered in the storage unit, and
in a case where a power request received by the communication unit is
requested from the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, the control
unit specifying the power supply device registered in the storage unit as a power
feeding device that supplies power requested by the registered power consumption
device on a basis of the power consumption profile associated with the registered power
consumption device.
[Claim 2]
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The power supply arbitration device according to claim 1, wherein the control
unit specifies power feeding information used by the power feeding device to perform
power feeding and activation time information on the registered power consumption
device, causes the communication unit to transmit the power feeding information to
the power feeding device designated as a transmission destination, and causes the
communication unit to transmit the activation time information to the power
consumption device designated as a transmission destination.
[Claim 3]
The power supply arbitration device according to claim 1, wherein the control
unit specifies identification information used by the power feeding device and the
power consumption device to control power reception and power feeding, and causes
the communication unit to transmit the identification information to the power feeding
device and the power consumption device designated as transmission destinations.
[Claim 4]
The power supply arbitration device according to claim 1, wherein the control
unit specifies a power feeding destination for a power reception request on a basis of
information on coupling of power feeding grids among a power consumption device
group including one or more of the power supply devices to be controlled and a power
consumption device group including one or more of the power consumption devices
and on a basis of information on a current capacity of each of the power feeding grids.
[Claim 5]
A power supply device comprising:
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a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit information for
registration of an own device to a power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates
power supply, designated as a transmission destination, and
in a case where an inquiry about a power supply amount received by the
communication unit is sent from the power supply arbitration device, the control unit
causing the communication unit to transmit power supply amount information from the
own device to the power supply arbitration device designated as the transmission
destination.
[Claim 6]
The power supply device according to claim 5, further comprising a timer,
wherein
the communication unit receives power feeding information used to supply
power to a power consumption device that consumes power, and
the control unit controls power feeding to the power consumption device on a
basis of the power feeding information and time information on the timer.
[Claim 7]
The power supply device according to claim 5, wherein
the communication unit receives identification information used to control
power feeding, and
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the control unit controls the power feeding on a basis of the identification
information.
[Claim 8]
A power consumption device comprising:
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit information for
registration of an own device and a power consumption profile at the own device to a
power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates power supply, designated as a
transmission destination, and
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit a power request to
the power supply arbitration device designated as the transmission destination.
[Claim 9]
The power consumption device according to claim 8, further comprising a
timer, wherein
the communication unit receives activation time information, and
the control unit controls activation of the own device on a basis of the
activation time information and time information on the timer.
[Claim 10]
The power consumption device according to claim 8, wherein
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the communication unit receives identification information used to control
power reception, and
the control unit controls the power reception on a basis of the identification
information.
[Claim 11]
The power consumption device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit
causes the communication unit to transmit transmission of the power request in such a
state that power consumption is reserved.
[Claim 12]
The power consumption device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit
causes the communication unit to transmit transmission of the power request in such a
state that the power consumption profile is updated.
[Claim 13]
A power supply remote controller comprising:
a display unit;
an input unit with which an instruction from a user is inputted;
a control unit;
a communication unit that communicates with another device through a
communication network; and
a storage unit that stores information,
52
the control unit registering a power consumption device that consumes power
in the storage unit on a basis of power consumption device registration information
received by the communication unit,
the control unit storing a power consumption profile of the power consumption
device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in association with the
power consumption device registered in the storage unit,
the control unit causing the communication unit to transmit information for
registration of the power consumption device and the power consumption profile to a
power supply arbitration device, which arbitrates power supply, designated as a
transmission destination, and
in a case where activation reservation for the power consumption device
displayed on the display unit is selected by the input unit, the control unit causing the
communication unit to transmit a power request for the power consumption device to
the power supply arbitration device designated as the transmission destination.
[Claim 14]
The power supply remote controller according to claim 13, wherein
the communication unit receives activation time information on the power
consumption device, and
the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit information on
activation of the power consumption device on a basis of the activation time
information and time information on a timer provided in the power consumption device.
[Claim 15]
The power supply remote controller according to claim 13, wherein
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the communication unit receives activation time information on the power
consumption device, and
the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the activation time
information to the power consumption device designated as a transmission destination.
[Claim 16]
The power supply remote controller according to claim 13, wherein
the communication unit receives identification information used by the power
consumption device to control power reception, and
the control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the identification
information to the power consumption device designated as a transmission destination.
[Claim 17]
The power supply remote controller according to claim 13, wherein the control
unit causes the display unit to display the power consumption profile of the power
consumption device read from storage unit in response to an operation of the input unit.
[Claim 18]
A power supply arbitration method comprising causing a processor to:
register a power supply device on a basis of received power supply device
registration information;
register a power consumption device on a basis of received power consumption
device registration information;
store a received power consumption profile of the power consumption device
in association with the registered power consumption device; and
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specify the power supply device registered as a power feeding device that
supplies power requested by the registered power consumption device on a basis of the
power consumption profile associated with the registered power consumption device
in a case where a received power request is requested from the registered power
consumption device.
[Claim 19]
A power system comprising:
a power supply arbitration device;
a power supply device that supplies power; and
a power consumption device that consumes power,
the power supply arbitration device including
a control unit,
a communication unit that communicates with another device through
a communication network, and
a storage unit that stores information,
the control unit registering the power supply device in the storage unit
on a basis of power supply device registration information received by the
communication unit,
the control unit registering the power consumption device in the
storage unit on a basis of power consumption device registration information received
by the communication unit,
the control unit storing a power consumption profile of the power
consumption device received by the communication unit in the storage unit in
association with the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, and
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in a case where a power request received by the communication unit is
requested from the power consumption device registered in the storage unit, the control
unit specifying the power supply device registered in the storage unit as a power
feeding device that supplies power requested by the registered power consumption
device on a basis of the power consumption profile associated with the registered power
consumption device.