Electricity generation equipment management system

• US 20020123974A1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Shigeaki, Misumi, Yoshiteru, Kurokawa, Tsutomu
• Granted Patent: US 7,133,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A generator unit is installed locally to supply power to an electricity consumer. A management center monitors operation status of the generator unit and monitors the amount of electricity supplied to the electricity consumer by the generator unit. A service company performs maintenance and management for the generator unit based on instructions from the management center or the operation status of the generator unit. An electricity provider operating the generator unit bills the electricity consumer for an electricity supply service fee based on information sent to the management center. The resulting electricity generation equipment management system maintains and manages a generator unit without placing a burden on an electricity consumer, allowing efficient billing and payment of electricity supply service fees.

Claims

1. An electricity generation equipment management system comprising:

at least one generator unit, operated by an electricity provider, supplying electricity to at least one specific electricity consumer;

a management center, monitoring an operation status of said at least one generator unit and monitoring an amount of electricity supplied to said at least one specific electricity consumer by said at least one generator unit; and

a system for communicating information between said management center and said electricity provider, whereby said electricity provider bills an electricity supply service fee to each of said at least one specific electricity consumer based on information received from said management center.

2. The electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one generator unit is installed locally with respect to said at least one specific electricity consumer.

3. The electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided one of said at least one generator unit for each one of said at least one specific electricity consumer.

4. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 2 further comprising:

a service company maintaining and managing operation of said at least one generator unit; and

said service company receiving instructions from said management center.

5. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 4 wherein:

said at least one generator unit is a fuel cell electricity generating device;

said service company includes a fuel supply company and a maintenance/management company;

said fuel supply company supplying fuel to said fuel cell electricity generating device; and

said maintenance/management company performing maintenance on said fuel cell electricity generating device and responding to irregularities in said fuel cell electricity generating device.

6. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 2 wherein said at least one generator unit is used locally by said at least one specific electricity consumer as a home generator system.

7. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 4 wherein said at least one generator unit is used locally by said at least one specific electricity consumer as a home generator system.

8. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 2 wherein:

said at least one generator unit is installed for said at least one specific electricity consumer in a region where laying of maintaining electrical cable from said electricity provider is difficult; and

said management center uses wireless communication equipment to collect information from said at least one generator unit regarding operation status of said at least one generator unit and regarding an amount of electricity supplied to said at least one specific electricity consumer.

9. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 8 wherein said electricity provider uses the Internet for billing and payment of said electricity supply service fee for said at least one specific electricity consumer.

10. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 4 wherein:

said at least one generator unit is installed for said at least one specific electricity consumer in a region where laying of maintaining electrical cable from said electricity provider is difficult; and

said management center uses wireless communication equipment to collect information from said generator unit regarding operation status of said at least one generator unit and regarding an amount of electricity supplied to said at least one specific electricity consumer.

11. The electricity generation equipment management system as described in claim 10 wherein said electricity provider uses the Internet for billing and payment of said electricity supply service fee for said at least one specific electricity consumer.

13. The electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 12, wherein there is provided one of said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device for each one of said at least one specific electricity consumer.

15. The electricity management system as described in claim 14, further comprising a management center for receiving data from said monitoring means.

16. The electricity management system as described in claim 15 further comprising:

a service company maintaining and managing operation of said generator unit; and

said service company receiving instructions from said management center.

17. The electricity management system as described in claim 16 wherein:

said generating means includes a fuel cell electricity generating device;

said service company includes a fuel supply company and a maintenance/management company;

said fuel supply company supplying fuel to said fuel cell electricity generating device; and

said maintenance/management company performing maintenance on said fuel cell electricity generating device and responding to irregularities in said fuel cell electricity generating device.

18. The electricity management system as described in claim 15, wherein said management center uses wireless communication equipment to collect information from said generating means regarding operation status of said generating means and regarding an amount of electricity supplied to said specific electricity consumer.

19. The electricity management system as described in claim 18 wherein said electricity provider uses the Internet for billing and payment of an electricity supply service fee for said specific electricity consumer.

12. An electricity generation equipment management system comprising:

at least one locally installed fuel cell electricity generating device supplying electricity to at least one specific electricity consumer;

a management center monitoring an operation status of said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device via a predetermined network; and

a service company maintaining and operating said fuel cell electricity generating device based on instructions received from said management center;

a database for storing information about irregularities issued from said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device in association with information relating to said service company corresponding to said irregularity information; and

means for notifying said service company associated with said irregularity by looking up said database upon detection of an irregularity in said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device.

14. An electricity management system, comprising:

generating means for generating electricity;

said generating means being local to a specific electricity consumer, whereby power cables from an electricity provider to said specific electricity consumer are unnecessary;

monitoring means for remotely monitoring said generating means; and

billing means for charging said specific electricity consumer for a consumed amount of said electricity.