Control apparatus, control system, control method, and recording medium for controlling devices to charge or discharge electricity storage apparatus

• US 10,135,248 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Kaori, Yano, Hirotoshi, Yabe, Masaaki, Minezawa, Satoshi, Endo, Satoshi, Maruyama, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Adam
• Application Number:
  US15/118,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20170324246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• 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 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/466 Scheduling the operation of the generators, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a given demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A control apparatus is configured to control a control target device among load devices for which power supply from an electricity storage apparatus is controlled based on total power consumption of the load devices. The control apparatus includes a power monitor and a device controller. The power monitor is configured to acquire a value of the total power consumption of the load devices. The device controller is configured to control the control target device to change the power consumption of the control target device so that the value of the total power consumption changes to a value having a level where the electricity storage apparatus supplies the power to the load devices when the value of the total power consumption acquired by the power monitor is at a level where the power is not supplied from the electricity storage apparatus to the electrical devices.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for controlling a control target device among a plurality of electrical devices for which supply of power from an electricity storage apparatus is controlled based on a total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices, the control apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a hardware processor coupled to the memory, the processor performs operations to;

acquire a value of the total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices,

determine that the value of the total power consumption is greater than a current power generation of the electricity storage apparatus, and

compare a remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus with a first threshold, wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is not equal to or greater than the first threshold then the processor controls the electricity storage apparatus to supply power to the electrical devices from to a commercial power source, and wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is equal to or greater than the first threshold then the processer controls the control target device to satisfy a predetermined discharge condition and starts discharging the electricity storage apparatus.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operations to

store an operation schedule indicating a scheduled operation state of the plurality of electrical devices,

acquire a projected value of the total power consumption,

determine that the predetermined discharge condition is not satisfied by the operation schedule,

determine that the predetermined discharge condition will be satisfied by changing the operation schedule,

change the operation schedule and

control the plurality of electrical devices based on the changed operation schedule after the operation schedule is changed.

3. The control apparatus according, to claim 2, wherein the processor further performs operations to

store a user schedule, and

change the operation schedule based on the stored user schedule.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor further performs operations to

select a time slot of a plurality of time slots prior to determining that the predetermined discharge condition is not satisfied by the operation schedule, and

determine that all of the plurality of time slots have been selected prior to controlling the plurality of electrical devices based on the changed operation schedule.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operations to

notify a user that the control target device is to be controlled prior to controlling the target device to satisfy the predetermined discharge condition.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operations to

control the control target device after obtaining permission from a user.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electricity storage apparatus supplies power to, the plurality of electrical devices when the value of the total power consumption exceeds a second threshold, and the second threshold is a value based on a conversion efficiency at which the electricity storage apparatus converts direct-current power to alternating-current power to supply the alternating-current power to the plurality of electrical devices.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electricity storage apparatus supplies power to the plurality of electrical devices when the value of the total power consumption exceeds a second threshold, and the second threshold is a value based on an electricity billing rate of the commercial power source to which the electricity storage apparatus is connected.

9. A control apparatus for controlling a control target device among a plurality of electrical devices supplied with power generated by a power generation apparatus and an electricity storage apparatus, the control apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a hardware processor coupled to the memory, the processor performs operations to;

acquire a value of a total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices;

acquire a value of the power generation;

determine that the value of the total power consumption is not greater than the value of the power generation; and

compare a remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus with a first threshold, wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is not equal to or lower than the first threshold then the processor controls the electricity storage apparatus to sell surplus power to a commercial power source, and wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is equal to or lower than the first threshold then the processor controls the control target device to satisfy a predetermined charge condition and starts charging the electricity storage apparatus.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processor further performs operations to

store an operation schedule indicating a scheduled operation state of the plurality of electrical devices;

acquire a projected value of the total power consumption;

acquire a projected value of the power generation;

determine that the predetermined charge condition is not satisfied by the operation schedule;

determine that the predetermined charge condition will be satisfied by changing the operation schedule,

change the operation schedule; and

control the plurality of electrical devices based on the changed operation schedule after the operation schedule is changed.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor further performs operations to

determine that the predetermined charge condition is satisfied by the operation schedule and that the surplus power exists;

determine that at least one of the electrical devices is operable with the surplus power by changing the operation schedule;

change the operation schedule; and

control the plurality of electrical devices based on the changed operation schedule.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the electricity storage apparatus stores the surplus power when the value of the surplus power exceeds a second threshold, and the second threshold is a value based on a conversion efficiency at which the electricity storage apparatus converts alternating-current power to direct-current power to store the direct-current power.

13. A control system, comprising:

an electricity storage apparatus of which power supply to a plurality of electrical devices is controlled based on a total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices;

a control target device that is a control target among the plurality of electrical devices; and

a control apparatus configured to control the control target device, wherein the control apparatus comprises;

a memory; and

a hardware processor coupled to the memory, the processor performs operations to;

acquire a value of the total power consumption;

determine that the value of the total power consumption is greater than a current power generation of the electricity storage apparatus, and

compare a remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus with a threshold, wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is not equal to or greater than the threshold then the processor controls the electricity storage apparatus to supply power to the electrical devices from a commercial power source, and wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is equal to or greater than the threshold then the processor controls the control target device to satisfy a predetermined discharge condition and starts discharging the electricity storage apparatus.

14. A control system, comprising:

a power generation apparatus;

an electricity storage apparatus;

a control target device that is a control target among a plurality of electrical devices supplied with power generated by the power generation apparatus and the electricity storage apparatus; and

a control apparatus configured to control the control target device, wherein the control apparatus comprises;

a memory; and

a hardware processor coupled to the memory, the processor performs operations to;

acquire a value of a total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices;

acquire a value of the power generation;

determine that the value of the total power consumption is not greater than the value of the power generation; and

compare a remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus with a threshold, wherein when the remaining level or power of the electricity storage apparatus is not equal to or lower than the threshold than the processor controls the electricity storage apparatus to sell surplus power to a commercial power source, and wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is equal to or lower than the threshold then the processor controls the control target device to satisfy a predetermined charge condition and starts charging the electricity storage apparatus.

15. A control method for controlling a control target device among a plurality of electrical devices for Which supply of power from an electricity storage apparatus is controlled based on a total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices, the control method comprising:

acquiring a value of the total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices;

determining that that the value of the total power consumption is greater than a current power generation of the electricity storage apparatus, and

comparing a remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus with a threshold, wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is not equal to or greater than the threshold then controlling the electricity storage apparatus to supply power to the electrical devices from a commercial power source, and wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is equal to or greater than the threshold then controlling the control target device to satisfy a predetermined discharge condition and starting discharging of the electrical storage apparatus.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the method of claim 15.

16. A control method for controlling a control target device among a plurality of electrical devices supplied with power generated by a power generation apparatus and an electricity storage apparatus, the control method comprising:

acquiring a value of a total power consumption of the plurality of electrical devices;

acquiring a value of the power generation;

determining that the value of the total power consumption is not greater than the value of the power generation; and

comparing a remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus with a threshold, wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is not equal to or lower than the threshold then controlling the electricity storage apparatus to sell surplus power to a commercial power source, and wherein when the remaining level of power of the electricity storage apparatus is equal to or lower than the threshold then controlling the control target device to satisfy a predetermined charge condition and starting charging of the electricity storage apparatus.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the method of claim 16.