JP7673013B2 - Driving Control System - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an operation control system that controls the operation of multiple equipment devices installed in a facility such as a store or office.

In recent years, with the development of IoT, management systems for saving energy used in the facilities they manage, such as HEMS (Home Energy Management System) and BEMS (Building Energy Management System), are becoming more widespread. In addition, there is an increasing demand for promoting energy conservation due to global warming. For this reason, facilities such as stores and offices are installing equipment such as solar power generators, storage batteries, and heat pump water heaters, and treating the entire facility as a virtual power plant (VPP) to improve the efficiency of power consumption. At the same time, there is also a demand for optimizing the power consumption of individual equipment.

JP 2012-178915 A

Electricity charges are divided into a basic charge and an energy charge. The basic charge varies depending on the contracted amount of energy, and the higher the contracted amount of energy, the higher the basic charge. Therefore, for example, if the storage battery is not used efficiently, the contracted amount of energy cannot be reduced, and as a result, electricity charges cannot be reduced. The amount of electricity generated by a solar power generator is large during the day and small at night. In contrast, electricity consumption at a facility is generated continuously 24 hours a day. However, in facilities, the amount of stored electricity is often smaller than the amount of electricity generated by solar power generators, etc. Therefore, in order to reduce electricity charges, in other words, power consumption, it is necessary to consider the relationship between power consumption (discharging) and the amount of stored electricity (charging).

The objective of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an operation control system for facility equipment that can efficiently reduce power consumption throughout a facility such as a store or office.

An operation control system according to one embodiment controls the operation of a plurality of equipment devices installed in a facility. The operation control system includes a solar power generator, a storage battery, a heat pump water heater, a plurality of electrical devices, and a control device. The storage battery is charged with electricity generated by the solar power generator, and is capable of either discharging or storing the charged electricity. The heat pump water heater generates hot water used in the facility. The plurality of electrical devices can be operated by either power supply from a commercial power source or by discharging from the storage battery. The control device acquires weather forecast information for the location of the facility, and controls the operation of the solar power generator, the storage battery, and the heat pump water heater according to the acquired forecast information. The storage battery can discharge the electricity charged and stored by the solar power generator as first electricity that can be purchased from a commercial power source, or as second electricity that can be purchased from the commercial power source and has a purchase price higher than that of the first electricity. The plurality of electrical devices include at least one first electrical device operated by the first electricity and at least one second electrical device operated by the second electricity. The control device causes the second electric device to discharge from the storage battery preferentially over the first electric device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a driving control system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the change over time in power supply and demand during a day on a sunny day in winter in a store equipped with an operation control system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the time transition of power supply and demand during rainy weather in a day in a store equipped with an operation control system according to an embodiment. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the change over time in power supply and demand during a sunny day in summer in a store equipped with an operation control system according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the time transition of power supply and demand during a day on a sunny day in an intermediate season in a store equipped with an operation control system according to an embodiment.

An embodiment of an operation control system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. The operation control system is used to coordinate and control the operation of multiple equipment devices installed in a facility such as a store or office. As an example, this embodiment assumes an operation control system that controls the operation (operational mode) of multiple equipment devices (hereinafter referred to as store equipment) installed in various stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets. Store equipment is equipment or devices that are installed in a store and contribute to store operations.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of an operation control system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the operation control system 1 includes, as its main components, a solar power generator 2, a storage battery 3, a heat pump hot water heater 4, electrical equipment 5, and a control device 6. The solar power generator 2, the storage battery 3, the heat pump hot water heater 4, and the electrical equipment 5 all correspond to store equipment. The control device 6 controls the operating modes of these store equipment.

The solar power generator 2 includes a solar cell module (solar panel), a power conversion unit (power conditioner), a power measurement unit, an output control unit, and the like, all of which are not shown in the figure, and receives sunlight with the solar cell module to generate electricity. In this embodiment, the solar power generator 2 supplies the generated electricity (power) to the storage battery 3 as charging power. In addition, the suppression power of the solar power generator 2 is grounded to prevent leakage current.

The storage battery 3 is charged with electricity (charging power) generated by the solar power generator 2, and discharges or stores the charged electricity. The electricity (discharge power) discharged from the storage battery 3 is supplied to the heat pump hot water supply device 4, electrical equipment 5, etc. That is, the storage battery 3 stores the electricity generated by the solar power generator 2 so that it can be discharged to the store equipment. The storage battery 3 discharges the stored electricity as electricity that can be purchased from commercial power sources 7a and 7b. For example, the electricity (power) that can be purchased from the commercial power source 7a is three-phase 200V power for driving, and the electricity (power) that can be purchased from the commercial power source 7b is single-phase 100V power for lighting. Hereinafter, the electricity that can be purchased from the commercial power source 7a is referred to as the first electricity, and the electricity that can be purchased from the commercial power source 7b is referred to as the second electricity. The second electricity has a higher purchase price than the first electricity. The storage battery 3 discharges the first electricity (three-phase 200V power for driving) and the second electricity (single-phase 100V power for lighting) in accordance with the store equipment. Note that the purchase price for the first electricity and the purchase price for the second electricity may be the same.

The heat pump water heater 4 generates hot water to be used in the store 10. The heat pump water heater 4 operates by receiving power from the commercial power source 7b (purchased power for electric lights) or discharged power from the storage battery 3 as power for boiling hot water. Therefore, the heat pump water heater 4 operates by the second electricity (single-phase 100V power for electric lights). The heat pump water heater 4 includes a heat source device 41 and a tank 42 as main components. The heat source device 41 includes, for example, a compressor, a water heat exchanger, a pump, a heater, etc. (all not shown). The heat source device 41 circulates water with a pump in a water flow path between the heat source device 41 and the tank 42, and heats the circulating water with the refrigerant discharged from the compressor by the water heat exchanger. The tank 42 stores the heated water (hot water) and supplies it to a specified hot water supply destination. The supplied hot water is used, for example, for air conditioning the store 10 and cleaning the fryer 51c.

The electric equipment 5 is various equipment that can be operated by either power supply from the commercial power sources 7a and 7b (supply of purchased power for electric lights and power) or discharge from the storage battery 3 (discharged power). A plurality of electric equipment 5 is installed in the store 10. The electric equipment 5 includes a first electric equipment 51 and a second electric equipment 52. At least one of each of the first electric equipment 51 and the second electric equipment 52 is installed in the store 10. The first electric equipment 51 is a store equipment that is operated (operated) by the first electricity (power supply of three-phase 200V for power). In the example shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator 51a, an air conditioner 51b, and a fryer 51c are installed in the store 10 as the first electric equipment 51. However, specific examples of the first electric equipment 51 are not limited to these. The second electric equipment 52 is a store equipment that is operated (operated) by the second electricity (power supply of single-phase 100V for electric lights). In the example shown in FIG. 1, a total heat exchanger 52a, a cooling device 52b, and in-store equipment 52c are installed in the store 10 as second electrical equipment 52. However, examples of the second electrical equipment 52 are not limited to these. The in-store equipment 52c is, for example, lighting equipment or broadcasting equipment. The heat pump hot water supply device 4 is included in the second electrical equipment 52.

The control device 6 controls the operation (operation mode) of multiple store devices installed in the store 10, specifically the solar power generator 2, the storage battery 3, the heat pump type hot water supply device 4 (heat source device 41, tank 42), and the electrical devices 5 (first electrical device 51, second electrical device 52). The control device 6 includes, for example, a CPU, a memory, a storage device (non-volatile memory), an input/output circuit, a timer, etc. (all not shown), and executes a predetermined calculation process. The control device 6 reads various data through the input/output circuit, performs calculation process using a program read from the storage device to the memory in the CPU, and controls the operation of each of the solar power generator 2, the storage battery 3, the heat source device 41, the tank 42, the first electrical device 51, and the second electrical device 52 based on the processing result. The control device 6 is connected to each of these store devices by wire or wirelessly, and transmits and receives data necessary for executing the calculation process.

In this embodiment, the control device 6 acquires weather information for the location of the store 10, which is an example of a facility, and controls the operation (operation mode) of the solar power generator 2, the storage battery 3, and the heat pump water heater 4 in accordance with the acquired weather information. For this reason, the control device 6 is connected to the external system 8 via a communication network such as the Internet, which may be wired or wireless.

The external system 8 is a system that holds weather information for the area where the store 10 is located so that it can be provided, such as a system of the Japan Meteorological Agency or a weather company. The weather information is information about the weather in the area where the store 10 is located, such as actual observation information and forecast information. In this embodiment, the control device 6 obtains weather forecast information for a specific day in the area where the store 10 is located from the external system 8. For example, the control device 6 obtains weather forecast information for the next day or the day after in the area where the store 10 is located, and predicts the weather for the next day or the day after. However, the specific day that is the target date for the prediction is not limited to the next day or the day after, but may be one week from now, one month from now, or even the current day.

In this embodiment, as an example, the control device 6 determines whether the weather in the area where the store 10 is located the next day will be sunny or rainy. The criterion for determining whether the weather is sunny or rainy is, for example, whether there is enough sunshine (sunshine hours) to cause the amount of electricity (power generation) generated by the solar power generator 2 to reach a threshold value. Therefore, the control device 6 obtains forecast information for the amount of sunshine (sunshine hours) in the area where the store 10 is located the next day from the external system 8.

The threshold value of the judgment criterion is, for example, a value of the amount of power generation that can cover the power (discharge power for electric lights) required to operate the second electric device 52 other than the heat pump type hot water heater 4 and can also cover the power required to operate the heat pump type hot water heater 4 to boil hot water. Such a threshold value is set in advance according to, for example, the capacity of the second electric device 52 including the heat pump type hot water heater 4. The control device 6 stores information in the storage device that links the set threshold value with the amount of sunlight (sunshine hours) at which the amount of power generated by the solar power generator 2 reaches the threshold value, and reads it out into the memory when determining whether the weather is sunny or rainy. Then, the control device 6 compares the amount of sunlight (sunshine hours) in the location area of the store 10 acquired from the external system 8 with the amount of sunlight (sunshine hours) linked to the threshold value read out into the memory, and judges whether the weather is sunny or rainy. For example, if the amount of sunlight (sunshine hours) in the location area of the store 10 acquired from the external system 8 is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control device 6 judges that it is sunny, and if it is less than the threshold value, that it is rainy. Whether the weather is sunny or rainy may be determined based on, for example, atmospheric pressure fluctuations, rather than the amount of sunlight (sunshine hours). Whether the weather is sunny or rainy may also be determined based on weather forecast information, specifically, forecast information on sunny or rainy weather. In these cases, the control device 6 may obtain forecast information on atmospheric pressure and weather for a specific day (the next day, for example) from the external system 8.

Figures 2 and 3 each show an example of the change over time in the supply and demand of electricity at store 10 in one day. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the change over time in the supply and demand of electricity on a sunny day. In contrast, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the change over time in the supply and demand of electricity on a rainy day. In Figures 2 and 3, bar graphs C1 to C6 and line graphs L1 to L4 respectively show the changes over time in the following indicators.

C1 is the amount of power purchased for motive power (hereinafter referred to as the amount of power purchased for motive power), which is the amount of power purchased for the first electricity, for example, the amount of power purchased for motive power of three-phase 200V. C2 is the amount of power purchased for electric lights (hereinafter referred to as the amount of power purchased for electric lights), which is the amount of power purchased for the second electricity, for example, the amount of power purchased for single-phase 100V electric lights. C3 is the amount of power discharged for motive power (hereinafter referred to as the amount of power discharged for motive power), which corresponds to the reduction in the amount of power purchased for motive power. C4 is the amount of power discharged for electric lights (hereinafter referred to as the amount of power discharged for electric lights), which corresponds to the reduction in the amount of power purchased for electric lights. C5 is the amount of power consumed by the heat pump hot water heater 4, which is the amount of power required to operate the heat pump hot water heater 4 to boil hot water (amount of power required to boil water). C6 is the amount of charged power (hereinafter referred to as the charging amount) of the storage battery 3, which is the amount of power generated by the solar power generator 2 and charged to the storage battery 3. The power charged to the storage battery 3 is discharged (supplied) directly to the first electrical device 51 and the second electrical device 52, and the power exceeding the discharge amount is stored.

L1 is the amount of power generated by the solar power generator 2 (hereinafter referred to as the power generation amount), L2 is the amount of power stored in the storage battery 3 (hereinafter referred to as the remaining storage amount), L3 is the amount of hot water stored in the tank 42 of the heat pump hot water supply device 4, and L4 is the hot water demand in the store 10. The power generation amount L1 of the solar power generator 2 corresponds to the charge amount C6 of the storage battery 3.

The horizontal axis indicates the time of the day (from midnight to midnight), the left vertical axis indicates the amount of power consumed, and the right vertical axis indicates the amount of hot water. The center of the left vertical axis is zero, with the upper side being positive and the lower side being negative. Therefore, the amount of power purchased for power C1 and the amount of power purchased for lighting C2 are shown as positive values of power consumption. The amount of charge C6 of the storage battery 3 and the amount of power generated L1 of the solar power generator 2 are shown as negative values of power consumption, with the larger the negative value, the greater the amount of power charged and generated. The remaining amount of power stored in the storage battery 3 L2 is shown as a positive value of power consumption. This is because it is considered that the larger the positive value, the greater the amount of power that can be consumed, and the larger the remaining amount of power stored L2 will be.

As shown in FIG. 2, on a sunny day, during the daytime sunshine hours, between 6:00 and 17:00 in the example shown in FIG. 2, the solar power generator 2 can generate power L1 (charge amount C6 of the storage battery 3). Therefore, during such hours, at least a portion of the required power discharge amount C3 and lamp discharge amount C4 can be covered by the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6). For example, at 11:00, the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6) can cover all of the power generation amount C3 and lamp discharge amount C4, and during that time, the power generation amount C1 and lamp purchase amount C2 can be reduced.

In addition, during the daytime sunshine hours, the control device 6 supplies the lighting power purchase amount C2, which is the amount of power of the second electricity with a higher power purchase rate, to the store equipment from the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6) in preference to the power purchase amount C1 for power use, which is the amount of power of the first electricity. That is, the control device 6 preferentially discharges the second electrical equipment 52 from the storage battery 3 over the first electrical equipment 51. Therefore, for example, at 7:00 and 8:00, only a part of the lighting power purchase amount C2 is covered by the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6), and both the power purchase amount C1 for power use and the lighting power purchase amount C2 are generated. Next, at 9:00 and 10:00, the lighting power purchase amount C2 is covered entirely by the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6), and the lighting power purchase amount C2 is zero. In contrast, the amount of electricity purchased for motive power C1 is partially covered by the amount of electricity generated L1 (amount of charge C6), and the remainder is covered by the amount of electricity purchased for motive power C1. And at 11:00, the amount of electricity purchased for motive power C1 and the amount of electricity purchased for lighting C2 are both entirely covered by the amount of electricity generated L1 (amount of charge C6).

On the other hand, at 11:00, the power generation amount L1 of the solar power generator 2 reaches its peak, and accordingly, the charge amount C6 also reaches its peak. After 12:00, the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6) decreases, but the integrated value exceeds the power discharge amount C3 and the lamp discharge amount C4. Therefore, the remaining charge amount L2 of the storage battery 3 is almost zero until 11:00, but increases from 12:00.

In this way, during the morning (e.g., from sunrise to noon) of each day, the control device 6 discharges electricity generated by the solar power generator 2 from the storage battery 3 to the store equipment, specifically the electrical equipment 5.

On the other hand, from the afternoon onwards, the control device 6 charges the storage battery 3 with electricity generated by the solar power generator 2 so that the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 peaks during a specified time period. Therefore, the control device 6 controls the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 so that the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 peaks during a specified time period in the afternoon. In other words, the control device 6 controls the power supply to the store equipment from the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6) so that the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 peaks during a specified time period. The specified time period can be set arbitrarily, but in this embodiment, it is set to between 14:00 and 18:00 as an example. The time period from 14:00 to 18:00 corresponds to the time period during which the temperature (outside air temperature of the store 10) rises the most in a day, and this time period includes the time when the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 peaks, and is a time period during which the remaining charge L2 can be sufficiently supplied from the storage battery 3 to the store equipment as discharge power (hereinafter referred to as a dischargeable time period).

While controlling the peak of the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 in this manner, the control device 6 discharges the battery 3 to the heat pump water heater 4 during the dischargeable time period, causing the heat pump water heater 4 to generate hot water. For this reason, the control device 6 starts supplying power (heating power) to the heat pump water heater 4 after the start of the dischargeable time period, that is, after 2 p.m.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the time period during which the storage battery 3 can discharge is between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., with the peak time being 3 p.m. The control device 6 starts supplying the power consumption (heating power amount) C5 of the heat pump hot water supply device 4 at 2 p.m. This causes the heat pump hot water supply device 4 to operate and heat up hot water. In other words, the heating of hot water starts at 2 p.m., which is the start time of the time period during which the discharge can be performed. Therefore, the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6) and the remaining storage amount L2 of the storage battery 3 can cover the amount of power required for heating up the power amount C5 and the amount of power purchased for the lights C2 that is originally required. Therefore, the purchased power for the lights can be reduced by the amount of discharge for the lights C4, which is the amount of power equivalent to the purchased power amount for the lights C2.

When the heat pump water heater 4 operates to boil hot water, the hot water storage amount L3 in the tank 42 of the heat pump water heater 4 increases. The hot water storage amount L3 always exceeds the hot water demand amount L4 in the store 10. Therefore, the hot water demand amount L4 in the store 10 can be met by the hot water storage amount L3 in the tank 42, and there is no shortage of hot water.

Then, from 6 p.m., when the amount of power generated L1 (charged amount C6) and the remaining amount of power stored in the storage battery 3 L2 become zero, until 7 a.m. the following day, the power supplied to the store equipment is almost entirely covered by the amount of power purchased for power C1 and the amount of power purchased for lighting C2.

Therefore, the amount of electricity purchased for power use C1 and the amount of electricity purchased for lighting C2 in a day, i.e., the amount of electricity purchased, can be reduced, and the electricity purchase fee can be reduced. In addition, reducing the amount of electricity purchased can actively contribute to promoting energy conservation and reducing the environmental burden. Furthermore, during the time period when discharge is possible, the remaining storage amount L2 of the storage battery 3 can cover the amount of electricity equivalent to the amount of electricity purchased for lighting C2 and the amount of electricity used for heating C5, making it possible to reduce the contracted amount of electricity for the electricity fee. This makes it possible to reduce the basic electricity fee, and further reduce the electricity fee, i.e., the electricity purchase fee.

As shown in FIG. 3, in rainy weather, the solar power generator 2 can generate the power generation amount L1 (the charge amount C6 of the storage battery 3) during the daytime sunshine hours, from 6:00 to 16:00 in the example shown in FIG. 3. However, the power generation amount L1 is less than that in the sunny weather shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6) cannot fully cover the power discharge amount C3 and the light discharge amount C4, including during this time period, and only covers a part of the light discharge amount C4 from 7:00 to 14:00. Even in this case, the control device 6 supplies the light purchase amount C2, which is the power amount of the second electricity with a higher power purchase fee, from the power generation amount L1 (charge amount C6) in preference to the power purchase amount C1, which is the power amount of the first electricity. In other words, the control device 6 discharges from the storage battery 3 preferentially to the second electric device 52 over the first electric device 51. Therefore, for example, from 7:00 to 14:00, part of the electricity purchase amount C2 for lighting can be covered by the generated electricity amount L1 (charged amount C6), which can reduce the electricity purchase fee.

On the other hand, because the amount of power generated L1 is small, the remaining amount of stored power L2 in the storage battery 3 is almost zero throughout the day. Also, when it is raining, the hot water demand L4 in the store 10 is less than when it is sunny. For example, the tank 42 stores hot water that has been boiled the day before and kept warm. For this reason, the hot water storage amount L3 is always much greater than the hot water demand L4 in the store 10 compared to when it is sunny. Therefore, the hot water demand L4 in the store 10 can be met by the hot water storage amount L3 in the tank 42, and the control device 6 does not need to operate the heat pump hot water supply device 4 to boil hot water.

The remaining stored power L2 is almost zero throughout the day, so from 4 p.m., when the generated power L1 and charged power C6 are both zero, until 6 a.m. the following day, the power supplied to the store equipment is almost entirely covered by the purchased power for power C1 and the purchased power for lighting C2.

As such, the time course of electricity supply and demand in the store 10 during a day differs between sunny and rainy days, so the control device 6 controls the operation (operating mode) of the solar power generator 2, storage battery 3, and heat pump hot water device 4 based on weather forecast information for the area where the store 10 is located.

In this embodiment, as an example, the control device 6 obtains the amount of sunlight (sunshine hours) for the next day in the area where the store 10 is located from the external system 8 as described above, and determines whether the next day will be sunny or rainy.

When it is determined that the next day will be rainy, the control device 6 stops the generation of hot water by the heat pump water heater 4 on the day of the rain. In other words, on the day of the rain, the heat pump water heater 4 is not operated and hot water is not heated. Therefore, for example, the amount of power consumption can be reduced by the amount of power required to heat hot water (the amount of power C5 to heat water as in the example shown in FIG. 2), and as a result, the electricity purchase fee can be reduced. When hot water is needed for air conditioning in the store 10 or cleaning the fryer 51c, the hot water stored in the tank 42 is supplied. Therefore, when the control device 6 determines that the next day will be rainy, it adjusts the amount of hot water stored in the tank 42 for that day (the amount of hot water the day before the next day) taking into account the amount of hot water for the next day.

For example, if the control device 6 determines that the day after a sunny day will be rainy, as shown in the example of FIG. 2, it operates the heat pump water heater 4 to start heating hot water after the start of the dischargeable time period of the storage battery 3, specifically at 2 p.m. In doing so, taking into account the usage for the next day, which will be rainy, the amount of hot water produced by the heat pump water heater 4 on the determined day, i.e., the amount of hot water stored, is increased compared to when it is determined that the next day will be sunny. Even when heating is performed in this way, the power consumption (heating power amount) C5 of the heat pump water heater 4 can be covered by the remaining power storage amount L2 of the storage battery 3, so there is no need to increase the electricity purchase fee.

In contrast, if the control device 6 determines that the next day will be sunny, it will also operate the heat pump water heater 4 to start heating hot water after the start of the dischargeable time period of the storage battery 3, specifically at 2 p.m., as in the example shown in FIG. 2. However, since there is no need to consider the amount of usage for the next day, as in the case where it is determined that the next day will be rainy, there is no need to increase the amount of hot water stored, as there is when it is determined that the weather will be rainy. In this case, too, the power consumption (amount of power to heat) C5 of the heat pump water heater 4 can be covered by the remaining power storage amount L2 of the storage battery 3, so there is no need to increase the electricity purchase fee.

The control device 6 may control the operation (operation mode) of the solar power generator 2, the storage battery 3, and the heat pump hot water supply device 4 according to the season, in addition to the weather forecast for the location of the store 10, in other words whether the next day will be sunny or rainy. The seasons can be divided arbitrarily, but for example, a year can be divided into three periods: summer, intermediate, and winter. The summer period is the period corresponding to summer, for example, four months from June to September. The winter period is the period corresponding to winter, for example, four months from December to March. The intermediate period is the remaining period between summer and winter, for example, two months from April to May and two months from October to November, for a total of four months. Of the summer, intermediate, and winter periods, the summer period is the period with the highest temperature (outdoor air temperature of the store 10), the winter period is the period with the lowest temperature, and the intermediate period is the period with temperatures between these.

In addition, seasons may be divided according to temperature, rather than on a seasonal basis, or more simply, on a monthly basis. According to the temperature, the operation of the solar power generator 2, the storage battery 3, and the heat pump water heater 4 can be controlled by the control device 6 in a more detailed and accurate manner. For example, a temperature equal to or above a first threshold value is treated as the same as summer, a temperature equal to or below a second threshold value is treated as the same as winter, and a temperature equal to or above the second threshold value and below the first threshold value is treated as the same as an intermediate season, making it possible to capture seasons on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the change in electricity supply and demand over time in a day at store 10 on a sunny day in summer. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the change in electricity supply and demand over time in a day at store 10 on a sunny day in the intermediate season. Note that Figure 2 described above is a diagram showing an example of the change in electricity supply and demand over time in a day at store 10 on a sunny day in winter. In Figures 4 and 5, C1 to C6 in the bar graph and L1 to L4 in the line graph are the same as the indicators C1 to C6 in the bar graph and L1 to L4 in Figure 2 described above.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 2, during the time period when the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 can be discharged, the control device 6 controls the operation of the solar power generator 2, the storage battery 3, and the heat pump water heater 4 so that the amount of power generated L1 (charged amount C6) and the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3 cover the amount of power required for heating C5 and the amount of power purchased for lighting C2 that is originally required. In other words, this control is common to sunny days in the summer, mid-season, and winter.

In that case, that is, when the operation control is performed on sunny days in any of the summer, intermediate, and winter seasons, the control device 6 delays the peak time period of the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 in the order of winter, intermediate, and summer. The peak time period is a predetermined time period (for example, a time period of about one hour) that includes the time (peak time) when the remaining amount of stored power L2 is at its peak among the dischargeable time periods. Therefore, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 2, the peak time period of the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 is the latest in summer, the earliest in winter, and the intermediate period in between. In the example of sunny days in summer shown in Figure 4, the peak time period of the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 is the time period from 16:00 to 17:00. In the example of sunny days in the intermediate season shown in Figure 5, the peak time period of the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 is the time period from 15:00 to 16:00. In the example of sunny days in winter shown in Figure 2, the peak time period of the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 is the time period from 14:00 to 15:00.

That is, the control device 6 controls the charging of the storage battery 3 with electricity generated by the solar power generator 2 so that the time when the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 peaks when the air temperature (outside air temperature of the store 10) is at or above a predetermined temperature is later than the time (peak time) when the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 peaks when the air temperature is below a predetermined temperature. Here, the first threshold value and the second threshold value are used as the predetermined temperature, and the time (peak time) when the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 peaks is delayed in the order of winter, intermediate season, and summer. As a result, the peak time period for the remaining amount of stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 is latest in summer and earliest in winter, with the intermediate season falling in between.

Therefore, even on sunny days in summer, mid-season, or winter, during the dischargeable time period including the peak time period of the remaining charge L2 in the storage battery 3, the generated power amount L1 (charged amount C6) and the remaining charge L2 in the storage battery 3 can cover the amount of electric power equivalent to the boiling power amount C5 and the amount of electric power purchased for lighting C2 that is originally required. This makes it possible to reduce the purchased electric power for lighting by the amount of electric power discharged for lighting C4, which is the amount of electric power equivalent to the purchased electric power amount C2 for lighting.

The time period during the day when the temperature rises the most is the latest in the order of winter, midseason, and summer, with winter being the fastest and summer being the latest, with the midseason falling in between. Therefore, by delaying the peak time period for the remaining stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 to winter, midseason, and summer, it is possible to delay the time period during which the remaining stored power L2 of the storage battery 3 covers the amount of energy used for heating C5 and the amount of energy purchased for lighting C2 that is actually required. This makes it possible to more efficiently reduce the electricity purchase fee equivalent to the amount of energy purchased for lighting C2.

The time progression of the power supply and demand in the store 10 during rainy weather during one day can be similar to the example shown in FIG. 3 regardless of whether it is summer, intermediate, or winter. Therefore, when the control device 6 determines that the next day will be rainy during summer, intermediate, or winter, for example, the control device 6 will not operate the heat pump water heater 4 on the next day, i.e., the day of the rain, and will stop the production of hot water by the heat pump water heater 4. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of power consumed by, for example, the amount of power required to boil hot water (the amount of power required to boil water C5 in the example shown in FIG. 2) regardless of whether it is rainy during summer, intermediate, or winter, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the power purchase fee.

For example, if it is determined that the day after a sunny day will be rainy, the control device 6 operates the heat pump water heater 4 to start heating hot water after the start of the dischargeable time period of the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3, specifically at 14:00, as shown in the example in FIG. 2. At this time, the amount of hot water stored is increased compared to when it is determined that the next day will be sunny, taking into account the amount of usage for the next day, which will be rainy. Even when heating is performed in this way, the power consumption (amount of heating power) C5 of the heat pump water heater 4 can be covered by the remaining charge L2 of the storage battery 3, so there is no need to increase the electricity purchase fee. In addition, when hot water is required for air conditioning in the store 10 or cleaning the fryer 51c, hot water that was boiled on the previous day in sunny weather and stored in the tank 42 can be supplied.

In this way, the store equipment (facility equipment) operation control system 1 according to this embodiment can efficiently reduce power consumption throughout a facility such as a store 10.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

1...operation control system, 2...photovoltaic generator, 3...storage battery, 4...heat pump water heater, 5...electrical equipment, 6...control device, 7a, 7b...commercial power source, 8...external system, 10...store, 41...heat source device, 42...tank, 51...first electrical equipment, 51a...refrigeration unit, 51b...air conditioner, 51c...fryer, 52...second electrical equipment, 52a...total heat exchanger, 52b...equipment requiring cooling, 52c...in-store equipment.

Claims (6)

An operation control system that controls the operation of a plurality of equipment devices installed in a facility,
A solar generator,
A storage battery that is charged with electricity generated by the solar power generator and can either discharge or store the charged electricity;
A heat pump type hot water supply device for generating hot water to be used in the facility;
A plurality of electrical devices that can be operated by either power supply from a commercial power source or by discharging from the storage battery;
a control device that acquires weather forecast information for a location area of the facility and controls operation of the solar power generator, the storage battery, and the heat pump hot water supply device in accordance with the acquired forecast information ;
The storage battery is capable of discharging electricity charged and stored by the solar power generator as first electricity that can be purchased from a commercial power source or second electricity that can be purchased from the commercial power source and has a purchase price higher than that of the first electricity,
The plurality of electric devices include at least one first electric device operated by the first electricity and at least one second electric device operated by the second electricity,
The control device causes the second electric device to discharge the storage battery preferentially over the first electric device.
Driving control system. 2. The operation control system according to claim 1, wherein the control device discharges the electricity generated by the solar power generator from the storage battery to the electrical equipment in the morning, and stores the electricity generated by the solar power generator in the storage battery in the afternoon so that the remaining charge of the storage battery peaks during a specified time period in the afternoon. The operation control system according to claim 2 , wherein the control device causes the heat pump hot water supply device to generate hot water by discharging the electric power from the storage battery during the predetermined time period. The control device obtains at least one of the weather, amount of sunshine, hours of sunshine, and atmospheric pressure on a specified day in the area where the facility is located as the forecast information, determines whether the specified day in the area where the facility is located will be sunny or rainy, and if it determines that it will be rainy, stops the production of hot water by the heat pump water heater on the specified day . The operation control system according to claim 4 , wherein when the control device determines that the next day will be rainy, the control device increases the amount of hot water generated by the heat pump hot water heater on the day of the determination compared to when the next day will be sunny. 3. The operation control system according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls charging of the storage battery with electricity generated by the solar power generator so that, during the specified time period, the time when the remaining amount of stored electricity in the storage battery peaks when the outside air temperature of the facility is equal to or higher than a specified temperature is later than the time when the remaining amount of stored electricity in the storage battery peaks when the outside air temperature is below a specified temperature.

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