ELECTRIC POWER MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120242293A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Terashima, Yoshiki, Yumura, Tsubasa
• Granted Patent: US 9,252,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electric power management apparatus is for controlling electric power of at least one home appliance using at least one rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes an analysis unit, a first generating unit, and a second generating unit. The analysis unit analyzes a charge residue of the rechargeable battery. The first generating unit generates a control schedule used to control the electric power of the home appliance in accordance with the charge residue. The second generating unit generates a charge/discharge schedule used to control charge and discharge of the rechargeable battery in accordance with the charge residue.

Claims

1. An electric power management apparatus for controlling electric power of at least one home appliance using at least one rechargeable battery, the apparatus comprising:

an analysis unit configured to analyze a charge residue of the rechargeable battery;

a first generating unit configured to generate a control schedule used to control the electric power of the home appliance in accordance with the charge residue; and

a second generating unit configured to generate a charge/discharge schedule used to control charge and discharge of the rechargeable battery in accordance with the charge residue.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first communication unit configured to receive and transmit a first packet from and to the rechargeable battery.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second communication unit configured to receive a second packet for a request to save electric power from outside,

wherein the electric power is saved in accordance with the second packet.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a schedule unit configured to determine whether the request to save electric power is satisfied only by discharge of the rechargeable battery, when the second communication unit receives the second packet.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the schedule unit estimates a charge residue of the rechargeable battery assumed at an electric power saving start time, based on a current charge residue of the rechargeable battery, a current time and the electric power saving start time, and determines whether the request is satisfied only by the discharge of the rechargeable battery based on comparing the charge residue of the rechargeable battery at the electric power saving start time with the requested saving electric power.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when it is determined that the request is satisfied only by the discharge of the rechargeable battery, the schedule unit determines whether the rechargeable battery needs to be charged.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the schedule unit determines whether the rechargeable battery needs to be charged, the schedule unit compares a current charge residue with the requested saving electric power.

13. The method according to claim 4, wherein when it is determined that the request is satisfied only by the discharge of the rechargeable battery, whether the rechargeable battery needs to be charged is determined.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein when whether the rechargeable battery needs to be charged is determined, a current charge residue is compared with the electric power requested to save by the request.

8. An electric power management method for controlling electric power of at least one home appliance using at least one rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

analyzing a charge residue of the rechargeable battery;

generating a control schedule used to control the electric power of the home appliance in accordance with the charge residue; and

generating a charge/discharge schedule used to control charge and discharge of the rechargeable battery in accordance with the charge residue.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising receiving and transmitting a first packet from and to the rechargeable battery.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving a second packet for a request to save electric power from outside,

wherein the electric power is saved in accordance with the second packet.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising determining whether the request to save electric power is satisfied only by discharge of the rechargeable battery, when the second packet is received.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

estimating a charge residue of the rechargeable battery assumed at an electric power saving start time, based on a current charge residue of the rechargeable battery, a current time and the electric power saving start time; and

determining whether the request is satisfied only by the discharge of the rechargeable battery based on comparing the charge residue of the rechargeable battery at the electric power saving start time with the requested saving electric power.

15. An electric power management system comprising:

at least one home appliance;

at least one rechargeable battery; and

an electric power management unit,

wherein the electric power management unit comprises;

an analysis unit configured to analyze a charge residue of the rechargeable battery;

a first generating unit configured to generate a control schedule used to control the electric power of the home appliance in accordance with the charge residue; and

a second generating unit configured to generate a charge/discharge schedule used to control charge and discharge of the rechargeable battery in accordance with the charge residue.