JP5222516B2 - Device control system, device control controller, and device control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control system, a device control controller, and a device control program that control equipment equipment existing in a facility.

  Conventionally, equipment such as indoor units and outdoor units of air conditioners existing in the facility, refrigeration equipment such as showcases and refrigerators are connected by communication lines, and the controller controls each equipment through the communication lines. There is known a system capable of centrally managing the state of each facility device. Until now, each equipment has been operated independently of the operation of other equipment, but this system is used to control each equipment in an integrated manner. To reduce power consumption.

  For example, by controlling the compression operation of the compressor (compressor) in the refrigerator to which the showcase is connected in consideration of the operating state of the showcase and the detection value of the temperature sensor included in the showcase, Good cooling and reduced power consumption in showcases and refrigerators. In addition, the control controller integratedly controls the showcase and the refrigerator to perform control that does not overload the refrigerator, achieving a long service life for the refrigerator and reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator. .

  In this system, the contents of control as described above, the state of each equipment and the control results are displayed on the display section of the control controller, and the operating status and power reduction effect of each equipment are presented to the user. Is done. As a result, the user has grasped whether each equipment is operating as desired or whether power is being wasted.

In Patent Document 1, as a technique for presenting the above-described conventional user with the operating state and power reduction effect of each facility device, the illumination intensity of the in-store lighting and the set temperature of the air conditioner in the store are presented to the user. And the like, and a level of energy saving (reduction amount of electricity bill) in that case is also presented, and a technique used as a reference when a user sets a device using a controller is disclosed.
JP 2002-295940 A

  Such a conventional technique presents the control contents and control result of the controlled equipment, that is, the illuminance and the set temperature, and the energy saving effect in that case, so that the user knows the illuminance and the set temperature and the energy saving effect in that case. However, as a result of the control, it has not been understood how the environment in the facility (for example, the illumination intensity in the facility, the temperature and humidity in the facility, the temperature inside the showcase, etc.) changes.

  When the environment in the facility changes, there is a considerable influence on what is in the facility (for example, human beings, animals and plants, products, equipment and machines). For example, if the illuminance is lowered, the inside of the facility will become much darker, and if the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed, the temperature inside the facility will change, so there is little chance of giving discomfort to those in the facility. It can happen. When the facility is a store or the like, what is in the facility is a customer. In this case, the customer is uncomfortable.

  As described above, even though this conventional technology can contribute to reducing electricity bills by presenting energy-saving effects, etc., the user is uncertain about changes in the environment in the facility. The inconvenience of being unable to take into account the effects on the things in the facility due to environmental changes and not being able to notice them even if they have an adverse effect on the things in the facility.

The present invention is an equipment control system that includes equipment installed in a facility and controls the equipment using control schedule data created in advance for the equipment, and creates a plurality of the control schedule data. A device schedule data creating unit, an environment change degree deriving unit for deriving a degree of environmental change in the facility corresponding to each of the plurality of created control schedule data, and a plurality of created control schedule data An estimated power consumption deriving unit for deriving an estimated power consumption value that is an estimated value of power consumption of the corresponding equipment, a plurality of the control schedule data, the degree of change in the environment, and the estimated power consumption value are displayed in association with each other And a selection for selecting one of the control schedule data displayed on the display unit. When the control schedule data includes a control unit for controlling the facility device by using the control schedule the selected data, specific for a particular said equipment to control content in a past predetermined period has not changed The control schedule data having a plurality of control schedule data includes the third control schedule data that does not change the control content of the specific control schedule data .

The environmental change degree deriving unit includes environmental change degree data that is data relating to an environmental change degree in the facility with respect to an elapsed time since the control unit starts controlling the equipment using the control schedule data. And a database update unit that updates the database using current environmental change data.

The degree of change in the environment in the facility is a degree of change in temperature in the facility.

  According to the present invention, equipment control that allows a user to select control schedule data for equipment in consideration of the effect on the equipment in the facility due to changes in the environment in the equipment resulting from the control of equipment. A system, a device controller controller, and a device control program can be provided.

  The significance or effect of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments.

  However, the following embodiment is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the meaning of the term of the present invention or each constituent element is not limited to that described in the following embodiment. Absent.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a device control system according to the first embodiment.

  The device control controller 1 monitors each equipment device SB existing in a facility such as a store, a convenience store, a factory, an office, and a hall through a communication line T, and controls and manages each equipment device. . The device controller 1 uses control schedule data created in advance for each facility device in order to control each facility device SB. Details of the control schedule data will be described later. As a control method performed by the device controller 1, for example, there are methods called energy saving control and demand control. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the facility is a store such as a department store or a supermarket.

  The control controller 1 includes an equipment device SB existing in the facility, controls the equipment device SB using control schedule data included in the equipment control schedule table and created in advance for the equipment device SB, and obtains control schedule data. A plurality of device schedule data creation units 103 are created. Further, an environment change degree deriving unit 104 for deriving a degree of change in the environment in the facility corresponding to each of the plurality of created control schedule data, and the facility device corresponding to each of the plurality of created control schedule data. An estimated power consumption deriving unit (hereinafter referred to as a power consumption re-derivation unit) 105 that derives an estimated power consumption value that is a power consumption value is included.

  Further, the display unit 106 displays the target power, a plurality of control schedule data, a message corresponding to the degree of environmental change or the degree of environmental change, and the degree of change of the environment and the estimated power consumption value in association with each other. When the user of the device control system of the present embodiment tries to change the control schedule, he / she looks at the display unit 106 to determine the degree of environmental change or the degree of environmental change with respect to the displayed control schedule. After confirming the corresponding message, a selection unit 107 for selecting one of the plurality of control schedule data is provided, and the control of the equipment is performed using the control schedule data selected by the selection unit 107 It has the control part 101 which performs.

  Further, the communication I / F (Inter Face) 108 communicates with each facility device SB existing in the store through the communication line T and the device controller KC, and receives measurement data such as the temperature of each facility device SB, Send control schedule data.

  The equipment SB refers to refrigeration equipment such as a refrigeration / refrigeration showcase and a refrigerator, an air conditioner composed of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and other equipment such as lighting, a signboard, and a PC (personal computer). The equipment controller KC is attached to or attached to the equipment equipment SB, and controls the equipment equipment SB and measures the measurement data of each equipment equipment.

  In the device control system of the present embodiment, the device schedule data creation unit 103, the environment change degree derivation unit 104, and the like use the device control schedule table 103a, the device state table 103b, and the environment state change amount table (environment change degree referred to in the present invention). An example of a database including data 104a is used. The database is not limited to a table, and may be in the form of a log or a list.

  With the configuration in FIG. 1, the user can select the control schedule data of the equipment considering the influence on the things in the facility due to the change in the environment in the facility resulting from the control of the equipment. Specifically, when the user tries to change the control schedule, he / she looks at the display unit 106 and confirms the degree of environmental change or the message corresponding to the degree of environmental change for the displayed control schedule. One of a plurality of control schedule data can be selected.

  The operation in a more specific system configuration will be described in detail in the second embodiment below. The specific operation of each part in the first embodiment will be described together in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a device control system according to the second embodiment. In the following description, the same contents as those described in the first embodiment are omitted. In the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the facility is a store such as a department store or a supermarket.

  According to the figure, the controller 1 includes a control unit 101, a power consumption derivation unit 102, a device schedule data creation unit 103, an environment change degree derivation unit 104, a power consumption re-derivation unit 105, the device control schedule table 103a described above, A state table 103b, an environmental state change amount table 104a, a display unit 106, a selection unit 107, and a communication I / F 108 are included.

  The control unit 101 creates control data for controlling each equipment device based on the control schedule data, sends out control data, collects measurement data such as the temperature of each equipment device, controls the entire controller, etc. The power deriving unit 102 (current estimated power consumption deriving unit referred to in the present invention) derives a current estimated power consumption value that is a power consumption value (total value) of equipment in the case of control schedule data currently used in the control unit. The device schedule data creation unit 103 creates a plurality of control schedule data using the derived current estimated power consumption value, the device control schedule table 103a, the device state table 103b, and the like. The environmental change degree deriving unit 104 derives the degree of environmental change in the store corresponding to each of the plurality of control schedule data created using the environmental state change amount table 104a, and the power consumption re-deriving unit 105 creates a plurality. An estimated power consumption value that is a power consumption value of the equipment corresponding to each of the control schedule data thus obtained is derived.

  The environment within a facility is a parameter of a medium that can change and have an effect on what is in the facility. The degree of change in the environment is a difference in the time direction of the parameter. In this embodiment, the environment in the store refers to the temperature in the store, and the temperature in the store refers to the temperature of each part partitioned by walls such as rooms existing in the store, or a plurality of stores It means the temperature of each section when it is divided into sections. Further, the degree of change in the environment in the store refers to the degree of change in the temperature in the store. The environment in the facility is not limited to the temperature, and humidity, illuminance, odor level, noise index, vibration index, floor inclination, and the like can be taken. In this embodiment, an example of the temperature will be described. Note that the medium for temperature, humidity, and noise is air, the medium for illuminance is light, the medium for bad odor is a odorous substance, the medium for vibration is a substance such as a floor, and the medium for floor tilt is the floor. is there.

  The display unit 106 displays the target power, the above-described plurality of control schedule data, the correspondence between the change in the temperature in the store, and the estimated power consumption value, and the like. The selection unit 107 is used when selecting one of the plurality of created control schedule data. For example, the selection unit 107 has a button, and the user of the device control system of the present embodiment can select one from a plurality of control schedule data by pressing the button. Thereafter, the control unit 101 controls the entire equipment using the selected control schedule data, and in the controller, the power consumption deriving unit 102 uses the selected control currently used in the control unit. The current estimated power consumption value of the equipment in the case of schedule data is derived.

  The communication I / F 108 communicates with each facility device SB existing in the store through the communication line T under the control of the control unit 101, receives measurement data such as the temperature of each facility device SB, and transmits each facility device. Control data to be controlled is transmitted.

  According to the figure, the communication I / F 108 is connected to the communication devices T through the communication line T, the refrigerators 2, 2a, ..., showcases (not distinguished between freezing and refrigeration) 31, 32, 33, 34, 31a included in each equipment SB. 32a, 33a, 34a ..., outdoor units 5, 5a ..., indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a ..., lighting 8 ..., hot plate 9a or PC 9b, other than hot plate or PC Other equipment 9 is connected. In addition, the equipment device SB is not directly connected to the communication line T, but an equipment controller (not shown) for controlling each of the equipment devices is connected as described above. Each facility device communicates with the communication I / F 108 through the device controller, and transmits measurement data such as the temperature of each facility device and receives control data for controlling each facility device. In the present embodiment, communication with each facility device through the device controller is premised, but description of this point will be omitted hereinafter.

  The refrigerator 2 supplies refrigerant to the showcases 31, 32, 33, 34... Through the refrigerant pipe 41 and collects the refrigerant. The refrigerator 2a supplies refrigerant to the showcases 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a... Through the refrigerant pipe 41a and collects the refrigerant. Thus, the showcases 31, 32, 33, 34, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a,... Can be displayed in a state where the goods are refrigerated or frozen.

  The outdoor unit 5 supplies the refrigerant to the indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64... Through the refrigerant pipe 71 and collects the refrigerant. The outdoor unit 5a supplies refrigerant to the indoor units 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a... Through the refrigerant pipe 71a and collects refrigerant. Thereby, indoor unit 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a ... can cool the inside of a store. The indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a... Are divided into units in each compartment when the room is partitioned by walls or the like, or the store is divided into a plurality of compartments. Each is assigned to be cooled.

  A method called low pressure control is used to control the compressor in the outdoor unit of the refrigerator or air conditioner. In the low-pressure control, control for determining the cooling capacity of the compressor is performed with reference to the pressure on the low-pressure side of the compressor. For example, with reference to the pressure on the low pressure side, the inverter compressor operates at the number of revolutions, and the constant speed compressor operates at a duty ratio (duty ratio: efficiency ratio of the engine. In this embodiment, the compressor is operating for the operating time. The temperature that can be cooled (or cooled), the time to reach the set temperature, and the like are determined. In the present embodiment, parameters including the rotation speed and the duty ratio (hereinafter referred to as low pressure control parameters) are used. The equipment controller of the outdoor unit of the refrigerator or the air conditioner can receive the control parameters such as the low-pressure control parameter from the equipment control controller 1 and operate the refrigerator or the air conditioner by setting it in the refrigerator or the air conditioner. I can do it.

  The equipment includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and the like, and the equipment controller transmits the measurement values of the corresponding sensors to the communication I / F 108 as measurement data.

  The device control controller in the present embodiment can be realized in hardware by a CPU, memory, or other LSI of an arbitrary computer, and is realized in software by a program having an integrated control function loaded in the memory. The That is, the device controller 1 is represented by a functional block diagram in FIG. 2, but can also be realized by a computer that functions as the device controller using a program, for example. An example of a hardware configuration diagram of the computer in this case is shown in FIG. Needless to say, the functional blocks can be realized in various forms such as hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

  According to the figure, the device controller 1 includes a CPU 1001, a timer 1002, a storage unit 1003 such as a disk or a memory, the display unit 106, the selection unit 107, and the communication I / F 108 described above. The timer 1002 performs time management and the like, and the functions of the control unit 101, the power consumption derivation unit 102, the device schedule data creation unit 103, the environment change degree derivation unit 104, and the power consumption re-derivation unit 105 are realized by the CPU 1001 and the storage unit 1003. The The device control schedule table 103a, the device state table 103b, and the environmental state change amount table 104a are stored in the storage unit 1003.

  Next, the device control schedule table 103a, the device state table 103b, and the environmental state change amount table 104a will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the environmental state change amount table 104a.

  When the operation of any of the indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a,... Is stopped, the environmental state change amount table in FIG. Data on how much the temperature around the unit (which can be estimated to be the temperature in the room, compartment, facility, etc. where the indoor unit exists. The environmental change degree data referred to in the present invention is included as an element. In the figure, the horizontal axis direction represents the difference between the indoor air temperature and the outside air temperature at the time when the operation of the indoor unit is stopped, and the vertical axis direction indicates that the indoor unit starts to be controlled by the control unit 101 using the control schedule data. Elapsed time from (minutes). For example, when the difference between the room temperature and the outside temperature at the time when the operation of the indoor unit is stopped is 3 ° C., the room temperature rises by 1.5 ° C. after 10 minutes have elapsed.

  This figure is for an indoor unit. For example, the environmental change data can also be used at the temperature inside the showcase. In this case, the environmental state change amount table indicates how much the temperature inside the chamber rises over time when the control unit 101 starts control to stop the refrigerant intake in the showcase, and the horizontal axis The direction is the degree of change in the temperature in the showcase chamber, for example, the difference between the showcase chamber temperature and the outside temperature at the time when the showcase stops taking in the refrigerant, and the vertical axis direction is the elapsed time (minutes). Represents. In addition, the environmental change degree data in the case of the internal temperature of a showcase is shown in the figure (b).

  In addition, the environmental state change amount table in FIG. 3 represents the temperature rise in the case of control in which the control unit 101 stops the indoor unit. However, the air conditioning unit is not stopped completely and its cooling capacity is changed from the current one. In the following case, the environmental state change amount table (not shown) for this control is also used.

  The environmental state change amount table 104a is updated by the environmental change degree deriving unit 104 using the current environmental change degree data. This update method will be described later.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the device status table 103b.

  The equipment state table indicates past operation of equipment such as showcases 31, 32, 33, 34, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a... And indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a. The status is recorded by time (by minute). The horizontal axis direction represents equipment, and the vertical axis direction represents time. For example, in the same figure (a), the operating state refers to showcases 31, 32, 33, 34, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a ... and indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a ... Is the operating temperature or whether the operation is stopped, or in FIG. 4B, the set temperature in the indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a, etc. In addition, the same figure (b) may be the preset temperature in showcase 31,32,33,34,31a, 32a, 33a, 34a ....

  As can be seen in the figure, the specific equipment (hereinafter referred to as “specific equipment”) is selected from the equipment depending on the state of operation during a certain period in the past, for example, depending on whether or not the control content has been changed in the past certain period. (Equipment equipment) may be determined. The reason for determining the specific equipment will be described later.

  In FIG. 6A, it is determined whether or not the air conditioner has been stopped during a certain period in the past, and the air conditioner has not stopped even though there are other air conditioners that have stopped. If there is an air conditioner (that is, the control content has not been changed for a certain period in the past), the air conditioner is regarded as having a high degree of importance for operation, and is treated as a specific equipment device. In the figure, it is shown that the air conditioner 3 is treated as a specific equipment device from an operation state between 12:00 and 12:30.

  FIG. 5B shows an example of recording whether or not the set temperature of the device has changed within a certain period in the past, and the set temperature of the device is lower than that of other devices. Equipment that has changed to a specific equipment is handled. In the figure, it is shown that the air conditioner 3 is treated as a specific equipment device from an operation state between 12:00 and 12:30. In the past certain period, for example, a value such as the last 30 minutes can be taken, and in FIGS. 9A and 9B, it is determined whether or not the equipment is a specific equipment device from the operation state for the last 30 minutes.

  Although this figure is an example of an air conditioner, a similar table can be created and used for devices other than an air conditioner such as a showcase.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the device control schedule table 103a.

  The equipment control schedule table refers to equipment equipment such as showcases 31, 32, 33, 34, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a... And indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a. It includes information such as the time, an identifier such as the name of the equipment to identify the equipment, and the control content scheduled after the current time of the equipment. Recorded separately (every minute). The horizontal axis direction represents equipment, and the vertical axis direction represents time. The control contents in the present embodiment are, for example, showcases 31, 32, 33, 34, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a... And indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a. Or a set temperature in the indoor units 61, 62, 63, 64, 61a, 62a, 63a, 64a, etc. as another example ((b)). There is also. In addition, the same figure (b) may be the preset temperature in showcase 31,32,33,34,31a, 32a, 33a, 34a .... The device control schedule table is created using control schedule data for each equipment device.

  Each table described above is shown in a matrix form in the figure, but each table may be in a log form or a list form, for example. For example, the device control schedule table may be a list-like table in which “the air conditioner A is stopped from what hour to what hour”.

  Further, the environmental state change amount table may exist for each type of equipment (for example, an air conditioner, a showcase, etc.), or may exist for each equipment. In other words, in the former case, there is one table for the entire air conditioner and one table for the entire showcase. This is considered sufficient if the difference is not significant. In the latter case, there is one table for each air conditioner and one table for each showcase. For example, it is suitable when there is a large difference in temperature change depending on the location of the air conditioner and showcase. It is thought that there is. In the present embodiment, the latter case will be described.

  Next, the operation of the device control controller in the device control system according to the present embodiment will be described using an operation flowchart. Note that the device control controller according to the present embodiment can be realized, for example, by a computer having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 described above, using a device control program coded based on the operation flow diagram. In addition, a device control method such as the device control system of the present embodiment can be realized based on the operation flow diagram.

  The following description will be made on the assumption of demand control. The demand control refers to control based on a demand contract concluded with a power company so that power consumed in a predetermined demand time period (for example, 30 minutes) does not exceed a predetermined upper limit power value. Although the description will be made on the assumption of demand control, the control method is not limited to demand control.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall operation. The operation flow includes three main processes: a table creation process for creating the above-described table, a control determination process for creating control schedule data for each facility device, and an instruction confirmation process for inputting user instructions.

  In the figure, step S1 determines whether it is the timing of the table creation process. When it is the timing of the table creation process, the process proceeds to step S2, and when it is not the timing of the table creation process, the process proceeds to step S3. Note that if the table creation is performed every minute, for example, the timing of the table creation process occurs every minute.

  In step S2A, a table creation process described in detail later is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S2B.

  In step S2B, it is determined whether or not the processing has been performed for all the equipment devices. If the processing has not been performed for all the equipment devices, the process returns to step S2A, and if the processing has been performed for all the equipment devices, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, it is determined whether it is time to perform the control determination process. When it is the timing of the control determination process, the process proceeds to step S4, and when it is not the timing of the control determination process, the process proceeds to step S5. Note that if the control decision is made, for example, every 5 minutes, the timing of the table creation process occurs every 5 minutes.

  In step S4, a control determination process described in detail later is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, it is determined whether or not the status is waiting for an instruction from the user determined depending on the result of the control determination process. If the status is waiting for instructions from the user, the process proceeds to step S6. If the status is not waiting for instructions from the user, the process proceeds to step S7. The status is a flag indicating whether or not the user is waiting for an instruction.

  In step S6, an instruction confirmation process from the user, which will be described in detail later, is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1.

  Hereinafter, the case where the equipment is a plurality of air conditioners will be described as an example.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the table creation process. Processing for updating the environmental state change amount table is performed in steps S101 to S106, and processing for updating the device state table is performed in step S107. The operation of the table creation process may be performed by the control unit 101, or may be performed by the device schedule data creation unit 103 and the environment change degree deriving unit 104 under the control of the control unit 101.

  In the figure, the operation shifts from step S1 to step S101.

  In step S101, it is determined whether there is an air conditioner that has changed from an operating state to a stopped state. If there is a change from the operation state to the stop state, the process proceeds to step S103, and if there is no change from the operation state to the stop state, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S103, a timer corresponding to the air conditioner is started to start the update sequence of the environmental state change amount table, and the temperature difference between the room temperature and the outside temperature at the current timing is measured. The value of the temperature difference indicates where in the horizontal axis direction in the table in FIG. 4 (that is, which column is updated). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S107. Note that the activation of the timer includes storing the activation time corresponding to the air conditioner.

  In step S102, it is confirmed whether there is an active timer. If there is an active timer, the process proceeds to step S104. If there is no active timer, the process proceeds to step S107. In other words, the fact that there is a running timer means that there is a place where the indoor temperature rises with time as the operation of the air conditioner stops, and the environmental state change amount table is displayed. That is, there is data that can be updated. Therefore, since the environmental state change amount table can be updated with the latest measured data, the process proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, it is confirmed whether or not the air conditioner corresponding to the timer is in a stopped state and the timer measurement time is within 30 minutes. If the air conditioner is in a stopped state and the timer measurement time is within 30 minutes, the process proceeds to step S105, and if not, the process proceeds to step S106. That is, when the air conditioner corresponding to the timer changes from the stopped state to the operating state, data that can update the environmental state change amount table can no longer be obtained. In order to move, the process proceeds to step S106. In the present embodiment, the environmental state change amount table stores data up to an elapsed time of 30 minutes. Therefore, if the measured time of the timer exceeds 30 minutes, data that can update the environmental state change amount table is no longer necessary, and the process proceeds to step S106 to proceed to the process of ending the update sequence of the environmental state change amount table.

  A step S105 measures the temperature difference between the room temperature and the outside temperature at the current timing, and updates the environmental state change amount table corresponding to the air conditioner. That is, in the column data found in step S103 of the environmental state change amount table in FIG. 4, the component at the location corresponding to the corresponding elapsed time (minutes) is updated with the temperature difference. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S107.

  A step S106 resets the corresponding timer to stop the timer in order to end the update sequence of the environmental state change amount table. Note that the stop of the timer includes storing the stop time corresponding to the air conditioner.

  In step S107, the operating state of the air conditioner currently responding (ON / OFF of the air conditioner operation, set temperature, etc.) is stored in the device state table. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S2B.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control determination process.

  In the figure, the operation shifts from step S3 to step S201.

  In step S201, the control unit 101 derives a value of power consumption (current estimated power consumption) that is expected to be consumed by all equipment from the current time to the end of the demand time limit. As a method of calculating the current estimated power consumption value, for example, a method of calculating the power at the end of the demand time period from the amount of change (difference information of power) assuming that the power change situation at a certain past time will continue in the future, In addition, there is a method of recording the power transition around the same time in the past as data and calculating the power consumption at the end of the demand time period using the past power transition data.

  In step S202, it is determined whether it is necessary to change the control of the air conditioner. If there is a need to change the control of the air conditioner, the process proceeds to step S203, and if there is no need to change the control of the air conditioner, the process proceeds to step S5. In other words, when it is necessary to reduce the amount of increase in power consumption by stopping the air conditioner, such as when the current estimated power consumption is likely to exceed a predetermined threshold, for example, target power in demand control, the process proceeds to S203. To do. The target power is determined based on, for example, an upper limit power value within the demand time limit in demand control.

  Step S203 creates air conditioner control data (first control schedule data) that is intended to reduce the predicted power consumption of all equipment devices below the target power. That is, depending on the equipment, some of the control contents change. Such first control schedule data includes, for example, low-pressure control parameters for performing low-pressure control so that the expected power consumption of all equipment does not exceed the target power. For an inverter compressor, the number of revolutions is reduced or further reduced to zero, and for a constant speed compressor, the duty ratio is decreased or further reduced to zero (hereinafter referred to as lowering the low-pressure control parameter). Control).

  Examples of how to determine the control target air conditioner for creating the first control schedule data and how to control the control target air conditioner include the following.

  As a method of determining air conditioners to be controlled, a stop pattern is determined in advance for each air conditioner, and a control pattern is created by a method of controlling the air conditioners in that order. The order can be determined depending on the installation location of the indoor unit and the number of indoor units installed at the location.

  The control method of the controlled air conditioner can be determined by increasing the set temperature only for the specific controlled air conditioner, or by gradually increasing the set temperature for all controlled air conditioners or all air conditioners. There is a method to make it.

  In step S203, the degree of change in the environment (degree of increase in the room temperature) in the case of the first control schedule data is also calculated from the environmental state change amount table corresponding to the indoor unit.

  In step S204, it is determined whether or not the temperature rise in the room obtained in step S203 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. If the temperature rise in the room is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S205. If the room temperature rise is less than a predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S208. Note that the predetermined threshold for the temperature rise in the room is determined depending on, for example, how many customers feel uncomfortable when the temperature rises, or how much the customer decreases. .

  In step S205, second control schedule data is created. As described below, the second control schedule data can have a smaller degree of change in the control of the equipment than the first control schedule data. For example, in the second control schedule data, the degree of decrease in the low-pressure control parameter is smaller than that in the first control schedule data.

  As a method of creating the second control schedule data, for example, the degree of change in the environment in which the degree of change in the room temperature is smaller than the degree of increase in the room temperature corresponding to the first control schedule data (the second change in the present invention) It is conceivable to derive control schedule data corresponding to the degree of environmental change in the second facility. As another method, for example, an air conditioner that is completely stopped by the first control schedule data is operated with its low pressure control parameter set to a value of 50% of the maximum value, or an air conditioner that is operating is operated at its low pressure. There is a method of halving the value of the control parameter compared to the first control schedule data. Alternatively, the set value such as the value of the low-pressure control parameter of the first control schedule data is used as it is, but the time for performing the control may be shortened. For example, when stopping the air conditioner, the stop time may be halved. Note that the second control schedule data includes such control that there is an air conditioner that does not change the control at all. The purpose of creating the second control schedule data is to provide data that requires less change in the environment than the change in environment due to the first control schedule data.

  In step S205, the degree of change in the environment (degree of increase in the room temperature) in the case of the second control schedule data is also calculated from the environmental state change amount table corresponding to the indoor unit.

  As described above, when the air conditioner is controlled by the second control schedule data, it is possible to simultaneously achieve both reduction of power consumption and suppression of change in indoor temperature.

  In step S206, it is determined whether or not an air conditioner whose control content is changed in the second control schedule data compared to the first control schedule data is not a specific equipment device in the device status table of FIG. If such specific equipment is present, the process proceeds to step S207, and if not, the process proceeds to step S208.

  As described above, the specific equipment is a device that has not been stopped despite the presence of other air conditioners that have stopped in a certain period in the past, that is, the control content has not been changed in the past certain period. This is a device whose set temperature has changed to a lower state than other devices within a certain period in the past. The reason why the specific equipment is determined, that is, the purpose of creating the third control schedule data in the next step S207 is to prevent the user of the equipment control system from changing the operation in the original equipment control schedule table with any intention. (For example, to operate continuously), or the temperature may be set lower than other devices, so it is considered to estimate the intention of such a user. is there. In the present embodiment, the certain period in the past is the last 30 minutes.

  Step S207 creates third control schedule data. In this embodiment, if it is a specific equipment device, the air conditioner is regarded as an air conditioner that should not be stopped, and is excluded from the control target. For example, in the second control schedule data, the third control schedule data that does not change the control content is created for specific control schedule data (hereinafter, specific control schedule data) that is control schedule data for the specific equipment. . Note that the third control schedule data may be control data such as shortening the control time.

  In step S207, the degree of change in the environment (degree of increase in the room temperature) in the case of the third control schedule data is also calculated from the environmental state change amount table corresponding to the indoor unit.

  As described above, it is possible to control the equipment in consideration of the user's wishes.

  In step S208, the control schedule data created above is written into the device control schedule table.

  In step S209, the control schedule data created as described above and the temperature rise in the room are displayed on the screen. It should be noted that the degree of increase in the room temperature may be displayed as well as the degree of increase in the room temperature. In addition, the target power and the estimated power consumption value may be displayed. Whereas the current estimated power consumption value is the value of the predicted power consumption in the case of the current control schedule data, the estimated power consumption value is the first control schedule data derived by the control unit 101 in the procedure described above, It is the value of the predicted power consumption of the plurality of facility devices corresponding to control schedule data such as second control schedule data and third control schedule data. Each estimated power consumption value is preferably lower than the current estimated power consumption value or target power value, but within the range that matches the purpose of creating each control schedule data, it is greater than the current estimated power consumption value or target power value. It doesn't matter.

  Display examples displayed on the screen in step S209 are shown in FIGS.

  In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in FIG. 11 (a), the degree of increase in the room temperature is displayed as a specific numerical value, and in FIG. 11 (b), words and sentences according to the degree of increase in the room temperature (hereinafter, messages and Display). The numerical values displayed in FIG. 9A are displayed using the values obtained in steps S203, 205, and 207 in FIG. In the case of the indoor unit, for example, “Slightly hot”, “Hot”, “Hot”, “No change”, “ "Maintain the current situation", "Slightly cool", "Cool", "Cool", etc. can be considered. These messages are prepared in advance in the device controller. These messages are selected according to the temperature rise or temperature drop. For example, if the temperature rise is more than the threshold +1.5 degrees, the message is “hot”, and if the temperature rise is between the threshold +1.5 degrees and the threshold ± 0 degrees, it is “slightly hot”. When the degree coincides with the threshold value ± 0 degree, “maintain the current state”, when the degree of temperature decrease is between the threshold value −1.5 degrees and the threshold value ± 0 degree, “slightly cool”, the degree of temperature decrease is the threshold value−1. When it is 5 degrees or less, it becomes “cold”. Each threshold value on the left is an example, and each threshold value is determined by the result of a monitor experiment or the like. In the present embodiment, this selection operation is performed by the control unit 101, the temperature rise degree and each threshold value are compared by a comparator, and a response is made from message data stored in a flash memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), or the like. Read what you want. In addition, you may display both the message according to the rise degree of indoor temperature, and the rise degree of indoor temperature.

  The contents of the screens shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 will be described.

  A target power is displayed in the upper part 601 of the screen. In the middle screen 602, in order from the left, the first control schedule data obtained in S203, which is the basic control pattern, the degree of increase in the indoor temperature corresponding to each control schedule data, the estimated power consumption value (reference numeral 602a), the second The second control schedule data obtained in S205, which is a control pattern, the degree of increase in indoor air temperature corresponding to each control schedule data and the estimated power consumption value (reference numeral 602b), the third control pattern obtained in S207, which is the third control pattern. The control schedule data, the degree of indoor temperature rise corresponding to each control schedule data, and the estimated power consumption value (reference numeral 602c) are displayed. In the control schedule data, data related to the control time, the control device, and the control content is displayed. In step S301 in FIG. 10, the user selects and instructs a desired one from these basic control pattern, second control pattern, and third control pattern.

  A display prompting the user to select which control schedule data is displayed on the lower part 603 of the screen. The user can make a selection input corresponding to a display prompting the user at the lower part by using a button or the like of the selection unit 107.

  In the figure, only one of the first control schedule data, the second control schedule data, and the third control schedule data is displayed. If there are a plurality of them, the plurality of control schedule data are displayed. Also good. Further, when there is no change in the control contents in the third control schedule data, it may not be displayed as shown in the figure, or a display that the corresponding air conditioner is not changed may be displayed. If the contents of the second control schedule data and the third control schedule data are the same, only one of them may be displayed. Furthermore, as shown in the figure, in the control schedule data in the middle stage, there is a display that restricts the operation operation such as 50% operation, but when control that enhances the cooling operation such as 120% operation is performed. , 120% operation may be displayed.

  Unlike FIG. 11, FIG. 12 shows a display when the control of all the air conditioners is not changed at all in the third control pattern. In this case, since the control content does not change, the comfortable state can be maintained without any environmental change.

  Step S210 in FIG. 9 sets the status to a state waiting for an instruction from the user. Thereby, in the branch of step S5 in FIG. 7, the process proceeds from step S5 to step 6. In step S210, a timer for status confirmation is started.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the instruction confirmation process which is step S6 of FIG.

  The process proceeds from step S5 to step S301.

  In step S301, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction (control pattern selection) from the user. An instruction from the user is given by an input using a button or the like of the selection unit 107 corresponding to a control pattern provided under the display unit 106, for example. If there is an instruction from the user, the process proceeds to step S302, and if there is no instruction from the user, the process proceeds to step S303.

  In step S303, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed with reference to the timer. If the fixed time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S304. If the fixed time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S1.

  In step S302, the control unit 101 starts control according to the instruction selected by the user. Also, the status is released from the user instruction waiting state and the timer is stopped. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1.

  In step S304, assuming that there is no change in the control content, the control unit 101 starts control according to the basic control pattern (that is, the first control schedule data). Also, the status is released from the user instruction waiting state and the timer is stopped. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1.

  As described above, the user can also display on the display unit 106 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 while watching the degree of increase in the indoor temperature displayed on the display unit 106 as shown in FIGS. It is possible to select a desired one from among the plurality of control schedule data that has been input by button input. In other words, while aiming for energy saving and electricity bill reduction, it is possible to determine the setting of the indoor unit and the like while taking into account the degree of increase in the indoor temperature and taking the balance between the two. For example, even in a setting that can reduce the power consumption to a desired level in a store, if the temperature rise in the room is a value that makes the customer uncomfortable, the setting is not suitable for the store. In addition, even with such a setting, even if the power consumption is reduced, the air conditioner is not considered to play the role of the air conditioner, and on the contrary, it may be that wasteful power is consumed.

As described above, a device control system that allows a user to select control schedule data for a facility device in consideration of the effect on the things in the facility caused by changes in the temperature in the store resulting from the control of the facility device, A device control apparatus controller and a device control program can be provided. The embodiment of the present invention can be variously modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

It is a block diagram of the apparatus control system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram of the apparatus control system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware block diagram which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the environmental state change amount table which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the apparatus state table which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the apparatus control schedule table which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the whole operation | movement which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the table creation process which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the control determination process which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the instruction | indication confirmation process which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the display which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the display which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control controller 101 Control part 102 Power consumption derivation part 103 Equipment schedule data preparation part 103a Equipment control schedule table 103b Equipment state table 104 Environmental change degree derivation part 104a Environmental state change amount table 105 Power consumption rederivation part 106 Display part 107 Selection part 602 middle screen SB equipment

Claims (3)

An equipment control system comprising equipment installed in a facility and controlling the equipment using control schedule data created in advance for the equipment,
A device schedule data creation unit for creating a plurality of the control schedule data;
An environmental change degree deriving unit for deriving a change degree of the environment in the facility corresponding to each of the plurality of created control schedule data;
An estimated power consumption deriving unit for deriving an estimated power consumption value that is an estimated value of the power consumption of the equipment corresponding to each of the plurality of created control schedule data;
A display unit that displays a plurality of the control schedule data, the degree of change in the environment, and the estimated power consumption value in association with each other;
A selection unit for selecting one of the plurality of control schedule data displayed on the display unit;
A control unit for controlling said equipment with said selected control schedule data
The control schedule data has specific control schedule data for the specific equipment whose control content has not been changed in a past fixed period, and a plurality of the control schedule data created are:
The device control system characterized in that the specific control schedule data includes the third control schedule data that does not change the control content . The environmental change degree deriving unit includes environmental change degree data that is data relating to an environmental change degree in the facility with respect to an elapsed time since the control unit starts controlling the equipment using the control schedule data. A database update unit that updates the database using current environmental change data.
The device control system according to claim 1. Wherein a change of the facility environment, the device control system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the change of the temperature of the facility.

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