Emission factor calculating apparatus and emission factor calculating method

• US 8,880,355 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Doi, Yusuke, Teramoto, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US13/217,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20120053848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• US Class Current: 702/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/84 Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/14 Energy storage units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an emission factor calculating apparatus includes a receiving unit, a received electricity (i.e., electric power) measuring unit, a generated electricity measuring unit, and an emission factor calculating unit. The receiving unit receives an emission factor of a higher-level system at first regular intervals. The received electricity measuring unit measures, as a received electricity, electricity received from the higher-level system and accumulated. The generated electricity measuring unit measures electricity generated with zero emission in a target system. The emission factor calculating unit calculates a substantial emission factor of the target system at regular intervals (i.e., at a fixed interval), based on a ratio between the received electricity and the measured electricity generated, and the emission factor of the higher-level system. The emission factor calculating unit informs a load or a lower-level system of the substantial emission factor.

Claims

1. An emission factor calculating apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive an emission factor of a higher-level system at first regular intervals;

a received electricity measuring unit configured to measure, as a received electricity, electricity received from the higher-level system and accumulated;

a generated electricity measuring unit configured to measure electricity generated with zero emission in a target system; and

an emission factor calculating unit configured to calculate a substantial emission factor of the target system at second regular intervals, based on a ratio between the received electricity and the measured electricity generated, and the emission factor of the higher-level system, the emission factor calculating unit informing a load or a lower-level system of the substantial emission factor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a generated electricity receiving unit configured to receive a measured value of electricity generated with zero emission by a neighboring device that does not belong to the target system;

an accumulating unit configured to accumulate the measured value of electricity;

an estimating unit configured to estimate an amount of electricity considered to be generated with zero emission in future in the target system, based on a space-time correlation between the measured value of electricity and the generated electricity measured by the generated electricity measuring unit; and

an emission factor calculating unit configured to calculate a future substantial emission factor based on the amount of electricity considered to be generated in future.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by a rechargeable battery;

and

when the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by the rechargeable battery, the emission factor calculating unit calculates the substantial emission factor also based on an emission factor of the rechargeable battery.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by a fuel cell;

and

when the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by the fuel cell, the emission factor calculating unit calculates the substantial emission factor also based on an emission factor of the full cell.

5. An emission factor calculating method comprising:

receiving an emission factor of a higher-level system at first regular intervals;

measuring, as a received electricity, electricity received from the higher-level system and accumulated;

measuring electricity generated with zero emission in a target system; and

calculating a substantial emission factor of the target system at second regular intervals, based on a ratio between the received electricity and the measured electricity generated, and the emission factor of the higher-level system,

the calculating the substantial emission factor emission factor including informing a load or a lower-level system of the substantial emission factor.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a measured value of electricity generated with zero emission by a neighboring device that does not belong to the target system;

accumulating the measured value of electricity;

estimating an amount of electricity considered to be generated with zero emission in future in the target system, based on a space-time correlation between the measured value of electricity and the generated electricity measured; and

calculating a future substantial emission factor based on the amount of electricity considered to be generated in future.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by a rechargeable battery;

and

when the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by the rechargeable battery, the calculating the future substantial emission factor calculates the substantial emission factor also based on an emission factor of the rechargeable battery.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by a fuel cell;

and

when the electricity generated with zero emission is generated by the fuel cell, the calculating the future substantial emission factor calculates the substantial emission factor also based on an emission factor of the full cell.