APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER SUPPLY AND DEMAND

• US 20140025213A1
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Otsuki, Tomoshi, Hayashi, Hisashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/007 Arrangements for selectively connecting the load or loads to one or several among a plurality of power lines or power sources for providing uninterruptable power supply H02J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an apparatus sends a request to adjust a power consumption to a plurality of request targets, based on power supply and demand. A minimum adjustment time of each request target is stored. The minimum adjustment time is an interval between a time when a request target receives the request and a time when the request target starts to adjust the power consumption. If an estimation value of the power supply is different from an estimation value of the power demand at a first time to start to adjust, at least one request target is selected from the request targets by using the minimum adjustment time. The at least one request target is acceptable for the request at a second time as a predetermined time prior to the first time. A first adjustment amount to the at least one request target is calculated until the second time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sending a request to adjust a power consumption to a plurality of request targets, based on power supply and demand, comprising:

a memory unit configured to store a minimum adjustment time of each request target, the minimum adjustment time being an interval between a time when a request target receives the request and a time when the request target starts to adjust the power consumption;

a selection unit configured to, if an estimation value of the power supply is different from an estimation value of the power demand at a first time to start to adjust the power consumption, select at least one request target from the request targets by using the minimum adjustment time, the at least one request target being acceptable for the request at a second time, the second time being a predetermined time prior to the first time; and

a first calculation unit configured to calculate a first adjustment amount to the at least one request target until the second time.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the selection unit selects the at least one request target of which the minimum adjustment time is shorter than or equal to an interval between the first time and the second time.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second time is the minimum adjustment time prior to the first time,

further comprising:

a communication unit configured to send a signal indicating the first adjustment amount to the at least one request target at the second time.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first calculation unit calculates the first adjustment amount so that the sum of adjustment amounts to the plurality of request targets gets close to a target value, and

the target value is a power amount to resolve a gap value between the estimation value of the power supply and the estimation value of the power demand.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the first calculation unit calculates a cost to execute the first adjustment amount, and calculates the first adjustment amount so that the cost is minimized.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the first calculation unit calculates a cost to execute the first adjustment amount if the at least one request target receives the request, and calculates the first adjustment amount so that the cost is minimized.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second calculation unit configured to calculate an incentive of the at least one request target by using the cost.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the first calculation unit calculates a probability density function of which variable is a gap value between the power supply and the power demand, and calculates the first adjustment amount by using the probability density function.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the request target is one device equipped by a customer to accept the power supply.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the request target is a plurality of devices equipped by a customer to accept the power supply, and

the memory unit stores the minimum adjustment time as an interval between a time when the customer receives the request and a time when the customer starts to adjust the power consumption.

11. A method for controlling an apparatus that sends a request to adjust a power consumption to a plurality of request targets, based on power supply and demand, the method comprising:

receiving a minimum adjustment time of each request target, the minimum adjustment time being an interval between a time when a request target receives the request and a time when the request target starts to adjust the power consumption;

if an estimation value of the power supply is different from an estimation value of the power demand at a first time to start to adjust the power consumption,

selecting at least one request target from the request targets by using the minimum adjustment time, the at least one request target being acceptable for the request at a second time, the second time being a predetermined time prior to from the first time; and

calculating a first adjustment amount to the at least one request target until the second time.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the selecting includes

selecting the at least one request target of which the minimum adjustment time is shorter than or equal to an interval between the first time and the second time.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the second time is the minimum adjustment time prior to the first time,

further comprising:

sending a signal indicating the first adjustment amount to the at least one request target at the second time.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the calculating includes

calculating the first adjustment amount so that the sum of adjustment amounts to the plurality of request targets gets close to a target value,

wherein the target value is a power amount to resolve a gap value between the estimation value of the power supply and the estimation value of the power demand.