ELECTRIC POWER CONTROLLER, ELECTRIC POWER MANAGEMENT DEVICE, ELECTRIC POWER CONTROL METHOD, AND ELECTRIC POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20130015708A1
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ukita, Masakazu, Yoshida, Asami, Moriai, Shiho, Katagi, Masanobu
• Granted Patent: US 9,866,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/43
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

An energy control device, an energy management device, an energy control method, and an energy management system are provided. The energy management system includes the energy management device and the energy control device. The energy management device includes an electric power management unit configured to generate an instruction specifying a supply destination for electric power generated by an electric power generator, and includes a communication unit configured to transmit the instruction to the energy control device. The energy control device includes a power conditioner configured to distribute the electric power to the supply destination based on the instruction, and includes a control unit configured to control an operation of the power conditioner.

Claims

1. An energy control device comprising:

a power conditioner configured to distribute electric power generated by an electric power generator to a supply destination; and

a control unit configured to control an operation of the power conditioner.

2. The energy control device of claim 1, wherein the supply destination is at least one of a battery, an electric power network, and electric power equipment.

3. The energy control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive an instruction specifying the supply destination,

wherein the control unit controls distribution of the electric power by the power conditioner based on the instruction.

4. The energy control device of claim 3, wherein the communication unit receives the instruction via a network.

5. The energy control device of claim 3, wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit electric storage amount information indicating an electric storage amount stored in a battery.

6. The energy control device of claim 1, wherein the control unit switches the operation of the power conditioner between a plurality of modes including i) a charging mode in which the electric power is output to a battery connected to the power conditioner, ii) a discharging mode in which electric power stored in the battery is extracted and output to at least one of an electric power market and electric power equipment, and iii) an autonomous operation mode.

7. The energy control device of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the power conditioner based on an electric power price in an electric power market.

8. An energy management device comprising:

an electric power management unit configured to generate an instruction specifying a supply destination for electric power generated by an electric power generator; and

a communication unit configured to transmit the instruction to an energy control device that at least controls supplying the electric power to the supply destination.

9. The energy management device of claim 8, wherein the supply destination is at least one of a battery, an electric power network, and electric power equipment.

10. The energy management device of claim 8, wherein the communication unit transmits the instruction to the energy control device via a network.

11. The energy management device of claim 8, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive electric storage amount information indicating an electric storage amount stored in a battery connected to the energy control device, and

wherein the electric power management unit specifies the supply destination based on the electric storage amount information.

12. The energy management device of claim 11, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive electric power price information in an electric power market, and

wherein the electric power management unit specifies the supply destination based on the electric storage amount information and the electric power price information.

13. An energy control method comprising:

receiving an instruction from an electric power management device, the instruction specifying a supply destination of electric power generated by an electric power generator; and

distributing the electric power to the supply destination based on the instruction.

14. The energy control method of claim 13, wherein the supply destination is at least one of a battery, an electric power network, and electric power equipment.

15. The energy control method of claim 13, wherein the instruction is received via a network.

16. The energy control method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting electric storage amount information indicating an electric storage amount stored in a battery.

17. The energy control method of claim 13, further comprising:

switching an operation of a power conditioner configured to distribute the electric power to the supply destination between a plurality of modes including i) a charging mode in which the electric power is output to a battery connected to the power conditioner, ii) a discharging mode in which electric power stored in the battery is extracted and output to at least one of an electric power market and electric power equipment, and iii) an autonomous operation mode.

18. The energy control method of claim 13, wherein distributing the electric power is based on an electric power price in an electric power market.

19. An energy management system comprising:

an energy management device including;

(a) an electric power management unit configured to generate an instruction specifying a supply destination for electric power generated by an electric power generator; and

(b) a communication unit configured to transmit the instruction to an energy control device;

the energy control device including;

(a) a power conditioner configured to distribute the electric power to the supply destination based on the instruction; and

(b) a control unit configured to control an operation of the power conditioner.

20. The energy management system of claim 19, wherein the supply destination is at least one of a battery, an electric power network, and electric power equipment.

21. The energy management system of claim 19, wherein the energy control device includes a communication unit configured to transmit electric storage amount information to the energy management device indicating an electric storage amount stored in a battery connected to the power conditioner, and

wherein the electric power management unit specifies the supply destination based on the electric storage amount information.

22. The energy management system of claim 21, wherein the communication unit included in the energy management device is configured to receive electric power price information in an electric power market, and

wherein the electric power management unit specifies the supply destination based on the electric storage amount information and the electric power price information.

23. The energy management system of claim 19, wherein the control unit switches the operation of the power conditioner between a plurality of modes including i) a charging mode in which the electric power is output to a battery connected to the power conditioner, ii) a discharging mode in which electric power stored in the battery is extracted and output to at least one of an electric power market and electric power equipment, and iii) an autonomous operation mode.

24. The energy management system of claim 19, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the power conditioner based on an electric power price in an electric power market.