JP7704600B2 - Virtual customer computer, DR simulation system, virtual customer program, and DR server formation method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a virtual consumer computer, a demand response (DR) simulation system, a virtual consumer program, and a method for forming a DR server.

When power consumption temporarily rises due to a concentration of power-consuming equipment, etc., and the power supply becomes tight, the amount of power supplied by electric power companies and other electric power suppliers can become insufficient. To avoid such a situation, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a technology has been proposed in which an aggregator that receives a request from an electric power supplier to reduce power consumption requests consumers to save power and controls the amount of power saved, performing demand response (DR).

International Publication No. WO 2016/186081

In one aspect of DR, an electric utility supplies an aggregator with a power-saving command value that instructs the aggregator on the amount of power consumption to be saved (hereinafter, negawatts). Here, the amount of power that can be saved per consumer varies from consumer to consumer and is by no means large. Therefore, in DR, the aggregator secures multiple consumers that can request power saving, and determines the combination of multiple consumers that request power saving and/or the requested amount of power saving according to the power-saving command value, thereby realizing the power-saving command value and tracking fluctuations in the power-saving command value.

In light of the above, when constructing a DR system to implement DR, system tuning of the algorithm for determining the content of the power saving request (the combination of consumers requesting power saving, the amount of power saving requested, etc.) is required. This system tuning is performed by running the DR system on a trial basis for actual consumers before the DR system officially starts operating, i.e., before the DR service officially starts. However, it is difficult to gather the number of consumers required for system tuning in a timely manner. For this reason, in the past, the operation of the DR system often started without sufficient system tuning. In addition, for purposes other than system tuning, there are also cases where it is desired to check the operation of the DR system and/or the operation of consumers (demand facilities) before the operation of the DR system starts or at any time thereafter.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and aims to make it possible to fully confirm the operation of the DR system and/or the operation of the consumer.

In order to solve the above problem, the virtual consumer computer of the present invention is a computer connected to a demand response (DR) system that requests power saving from at least one of a plurality of actual consumers based on the actual power consumption of each of the plurality of actual consumers and a power saving command value that commands the amount of power saving so that the amount of power saving of the entire plurality of actual consumers reaches the power saving command value, and a virtual consumer is constructed on the computer, and the virtual consumer includes a supply unit that supplies a virtual power consumption amount based on the power consumption amount measured in the past to the DR system as the actual power consumption amount, and a virtual power saving unit that reduces the virtual power consumption amount supplied to the DR system by the supply unit based on the power saving request from the DR system.

The previously measured power consumption may be the past power consumption of a real consumer based on the virtualization of the virtual consumer or of another real consumer having a power consumption pattern similar to that of the real consumer.

The past power consumption may be the power consumption in a first period, and the actual power consumption may be the power consumption in a second period that is shorter than the first period. The supply unit may divide the past power consumption and supply the divided power consumption to the DR system as the actual power consumption.

The virtual power consumption may include multiple types of virtual power consumption for one or more pieces of electrical equipment, and the virtual power saving unit may reduce at least one of the multiple types of virtual power consumption based on the power saving request.

The DR simulation system according to the present invention comprises the virtual consumer computer and the DR system.

The virtual consumer program of the present invention creates a virtual consumer that includes a supply unit that acquires previously prepared past power consumption amounts and supplies a virtual power consumption amount based on the acquired power consumption amount to the DR system as the actual power consumption amount, and a virtual power saving unit that reduces the virtual power consumption amount supplied to the DR system by the supply unit based on the power saving request from the DR system. The virtual consumer program of the present invention creates a virtual consumer that includes a supply unit that acquires previously prepared past power consumption amounts and supplies a virtual power consumption amount based on the acquired power consumption amount to the DR system as the actual power consumption amount, and a virtual power saving unit that reduces the virtual power consumption amount supplied to the DR system by the supply unit based on the power saving request from the DR system.

The method for forming a DR server according to the present invention includes a first step of performing a simulation in which the DR system requests power saving for the virtual consumer constructed in a virtual consumer computer, and a second step of system tuning the DR server that determines the content of the power saving request of the DR system based on the operation of the DR system in the simulation.

The present invention allows the operation of the DR system and/or the operation of the consumer to be fully confirmed.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a DR simulation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of DR executed by the DR system of the DR simulation system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an execution mode of a simulation performed by the DR simulation system. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an execution mode of a simulation performed by the DR simulation system. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for forming a DR server.

Below, a demand response (DR) simulation system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the DR simulation system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a DR system 20 and a virtual consumer computer 30. The DR simulation system 10 is managed and operated by an aggregator. The DR system 20 implements DR for real consumers A to E based on a power saving command value from an electric utility Y such as a power company (FIG. 2, details will be described later). The DR system 20 and the virtual consumer computer 30 are configured to simulate DR for real consumers A to E before DR is implemented for the real consumers A to E, particularly before the operation of the DR system 20 (FIG. 3, details will be described later). In this simulation, virtual consumers A to E (FIG. 3) that are virtualized real consumers A to E, respectively, are constructed in the virtual consumer computer 30. This simulation is performed to perform system tuning of the DR system 20 before the start of the DR service. This system tuning allows the DR system 20 to appropriately implement DR after the start of the DR service.

The electric power supplier Y actually consists of a management server that manages the supply and demand of electric power. The electric power supplier Y supplies the power saving command value to the DR system 20 via a network N such as the Internet.

Each of the actual consumers A to E is actually a demand facility installed in a building or other structure that demands (consumes) electricity from the electric utility Y. The demand facility includes a controlled object such as an air conditioning system or a lighting system, and a management device that controls the controlled object directly or indirectly via a specified controller and manages its power consumption (power saving, etc.). Examples of the management device include an EMS (Energy Management System) and a BAS (Building Automation System).

Each of the actual consumers A to E has a control point (control point 1, 2, etc.) for controlling the operation of one piece of electrical equipment or a set of multiple pieces of electrical equipment. When a control point is turned on, the electrical equipment connected to that control point operates. In other words, power is consumed. On the other hand, when a control point is turned off, the electrical equipment connected to that control point does not operate. In other words, power consumption is reduced. Note that when a control point is turned off, the electrical equipment may enter a power saving mode to reduce power consumption. The on/off of the control points is controlled by each management device of the actual consumers A to E.

The virtual consumer computer 30 comprises a processor 31 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 32 that functions as the processor's main memory, and a storage device 33 that stores programs executed by the processor and data used by the processor. The storage device 33 is a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk or SSD (Solid State Drive). The programs stored in the storage device 33 include a virtual consumer program that constructs each of the virtual consumers A to E in the virtual consumer computer 30. This virtual consumer program is prepared for each virtual consumer.

The DR system 20 comprises a collection server 21, a DB server 22, and a DR server 23 as components for implementing DR. These are also composed of computers, similar to the virtual consumer computer 30. Like the virtual consumer computer 30, each of the servers 21 to 23 comprises a processor such as a CPU, a RAM, and a storage device that stores the programs executed by the processor.

The servers 21-23 and the virtual customer computer 30 are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other via a network (not shown) such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). The servers 21-23 and the virtual customer computer 30 may be virtually constructed within a single computer system. In this case, the virtual customer computer 30 is virtually connected to the servers 21-23, i.e., the DR system 20.

The DR system 20, which includes a collection server 21, a DB server 22, and a DR server 23, collects the actual power consumption of each of the actual consumers A to E, and implements DR, which requests at least one of the actual consumers A to E to save power based on the collected actual power consumption and a power saving command value from the electric utility Y that instructs the amount of power saving, so that the total amount of power saving for the actual consumers A to E reaches the power saving command value.

Here, an embodiment of DR by the DR system 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the collection server 21 collects the actual power consumption of each of the actual consumers A to E by sequentially acquiring the actual power consumption amount from each of the actual consumers A to E in real time. The actual power consumption amount is measured for each control point (i.e., for each one or more pieces of electrical equipment connected to the control point) and is provided to the collection server 21 by each of the actual consumers A to E. The collection server 21 sequentially acquires the actual power consumption amount for one minute every minute in real time. The collection server 21 sequentially supplies the sequentially acquired actual power consumption amount to the DB server 22 together with time information indicating the date and time when the actual power consumption amount was acquired.

The DB server 22 associates the actual power consumption supplied from the collection server 21 with the time information transmitted together with the actual power consumption, and sequentially records it in its own storage device for each control point of the actual consumers A to E. As a result, time series data of the power consumption per minute is recorded in the storage device of the DB server 22 for each control point of the actual consumers A to E. This time series data is also called 1-minute time series data. The DB server 22 also stores 30-minute time series data, which will be explained later.

The DR server 23 monitors the one-minute time series data of each of the actual consumers A to E stored in the DB server 22. The DR server 23 also receives a power saving command value from the electric utility Y. Based on the current actual consumption amount and the power saving command value of the one-minute time series data of each of the actual consumers A to E, the DR server 23 determines the content of the power saving request, such as the combination of actual consumers for which power saving is requested and the requested power saving amount, so that the total of the power saving amounts of each of the actual consumers A to E reaches the power saving command value from the electric utility Y, and implements DR to request power saving from the actual consumers A to E with the determined content. The power saving amount is determined, for example, by comparing the actual consumption amount with a baseline.

The amount of power saved is controlled by the DR power saving request. The power saving request includes a command to turn on or off at least one of the multiple control points for each of the actual consumers A to E. The algorithm for determining the content of the DR, i.e., the content of the power saving request, is system tuned in a simulation described below. This allows the appropriate DR to be executed.

Next, the simulation performed by the DR simulation system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As described above, the simulation is performed to perform system tuning of the DR system 20 before the start of DR service. In this simulation, as shown in FIG. 3, a virtual consumer computer 30 operates together with the DR system 20.

During the simulation, the virtual consumer computer 30 operates as each of the virtual consumers A to E by the processor 31 executing the virtual consumer program stored in the storage device 33. In this way, virtual consumers A to E are constructed in the virtual consumer computer 30. Each of the virtual consumers A to E is set with a virtual control point that is a virtualized version of the control point of the actual consumers A to E.

The DB server 22 stores time series data on the amount of power consumption measured in the past for each control point of a large number of actual consumers, including actual consumers A to E. This past amount of power consumption is collected by any method. For example, a management device of a consumer, such as actual consumers A to E, has a function for managing power consumption, which is to measure the amount of power consumption for every 30 minutes in a certain period of time in the past for each control point (e.g., a power receiving point) and store the measured amount of power consumption as time series data together with time information. The time series data stored in the DB server 22 uses the time series data on the amount of power consumption for every 30 minutes. This time series data is also called 30-minute time series data.

When a simulation is performed, the date and time according to the season to be simulated, etc., are input to the virtual consumer computer 30 by an operator who instructs the execution of the simulation. The operator includes the producer and manager of the DR system 20 who tunes the system. The input date and time may be the current date and time input from a calendar section (not shown). The passage of time during the simulation may be faster than real time (for example, one minute is one second).

Each of the virtual consumers A to E, i.e., the processor 31 that executes the virtual consumer program, operates as a supply unit 31A and a virtual power saving unit 31B.

The supply unit 31A of each of the virtual consumers A to E acquires the power consumption of each control point for the time period of the approximate date and time when the power consumption is thought to be similar to the date and time input above, from the 30-minute time series data stored in the DB server 22. If there is no 30-minute time series data for any of the actual consumers A to E, the time series data of the past power consumption of a consumer with the same power consumption pattern as that consumer, stored in the DB server 22, is used as the 30-minute time series data for that consumer. The supply unit of each of the virtual consumers A to E acquires the power consumption every 30 minutes sequentially from the 30-minute time series data.

The approximate date and time is, for example, the approximate date and time 365 days ago, or one year ago. Note that if the input date and time is a weekday and the approximate date and time is a Saturday or a holiday, the power consumption amounts for both may not be close and may differ, so the approximate date and time is set to the date and time of the most recent weekday, not 365 days ago. For the same reason, if the input date and time is a Saturday (or holiday) and the approximate date and time is a weekday, the approximate date and time is set to the date and time of the most recent Saturday (or holiday), not 365 days ago.

The supply unit 31A of each of the virtual consumers A to E supplies the collection server 21 with a virtual power consumption amount based on the power consumption amount for each 30 minutes acquired above. Here, as described above, the collection server 21 accepts the power consumption amount for each minute, that is, for one minute. The DR server 23 monitors the power consumption amount for that one minute. Therefore, in order to meet this specification, the supply unit 31A divides the power consumption amount for 30 minutes into power consumption amounts for one minute (here, 30 equal parts). The supply unit 31A sequentially supplies the divided power consumption amount as a virtual power consumption amount to the collection server 21 for each virtual consumer minute. The virtual power consumption amount is supplied to the collection server 21 for each virtual control point of the virtual consumers A to E as the power consumption at the virtual control point corresponding to the control point at which the power consumption amount for that 30 minutes was measured. As a result, the virtual power consumption amount at the virtual control point of each of the virtual consumers A to E is sequentially supplied to the collection server 21 as the actual power consumption amount that the collection server 21 would normally accept.

The collection server 21 sequentially supplies the virtual power consumption per minute that is sequentially supplied to the DB server 22 together with the time information when the power consumption was acquired, in the same manner as the above-mentioned actual DR control. The DB server 22 associates the virtual power consumption supplied from the collection server 21 with the time information transmitted together with the power consumption, and sequentially records it in its own storage device for each control point of virtual consumers A to E. As a result, the DB server 22 stores one-minute time series data for each control point of virtual consumers A to E, similar to when DR is actually implemented.

The DR server 23 monitors the one-minute time series data for each control point of the virtual consumers A to E stored in the DB server 22. A power saving command value is input to the DR server 23 by an operator or the like as a power saving command value from the electric utility Y. The DR server 23 determines the content of the power saving request based on the current consumption amount and the power saving command value of the one-minute time series data of each of the virtual consumers A to E so that the total of the power saving amount (the reduction amount of virtual power consumption relative to the baseline) of each of the virtual consumers A to E reaches the power saving command value from the electric utility Y (here, the power saving command value from the operator or the like). The DR server 23 performs DR to request the virtual consumers A to E to save power with the determined content. The format of the power saving request is the same as the format of the power saving request for the actual consumers A to E. In other words, it includes a command to turn on or off the control point (here, the virtual control point). In the DR here, an algorithm before the completion of system tuning is used.

When the power saving request from the DR server 23 includes a command to turn off a control point, the virtual power saving unit 31B of each of the virtual consumers A to E turns off the virtual control point corresponding to the control point that is the target of the command. When the virtual power saving unit 31B turns off a virtual control point, as shown in FIG. 4, the virtual power saving unit 31B subtracts the power consumption of the virtual control point (the power consumption for one minute that is divided into the power consumption for 30 minutes and supplied to the collection server 21 sequentially) from the virtual power consumption to be supplied to the collection server 21 sequentially after the turning off. In FIG. 4, for example, since the virtual control point 1 of the virtual consumer A is turned off, the virtual power consumption of the virtual control point 1 is reduced to 0 after the turning off. In this way, the power consumption of the virtual control point 1 is subtracted from the total power consumption of each virtual control point of the virtual consumer A before the turning off. This creates a virtual negawatt. In addition, when a virtual control point is turned off and one or more pieces of electrical equipment connected to the corresponding control point enter a power saving mode, the virtual power consumption of the virtual control point is reduced by an amount of power consumption that is preset as the amount of power saved in that power saving mode.

When the power saving request from the DR server 23 includes a command to turn on a virtual control point, the virtual power saving unit 31B of each virtual consumer A to E turns on the virtual control point that is the target of the command. When each virtual consumer A to E turns on a virtual control point, it starts supplying the virtual power consumption of the turned-on virtual control point (the amount of power consumption for one minute that is divided into 30 minutes of power consumption and supplied sequentially to the collection server 21). This adds the virtual power consumption of the virtual control point to the previous virtual power consumption from that virtual consumer.

By the above process, a DR simulation for the virtual consumers A to E is performed on the DR system 20. The worker or the like monitors the operation of the DR system 20 (particularly the DR server 23) at this time, and performs system tuning of the DR server 23 that determines the content of the power saving request based on the operation. In this way, the desired DR server 23 is generated. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the worker or the like performs a DR simulation for the virtual consumers A to E (step S11), then monitors the operation of the DR system 20 (particularly the DR server 23) during the simulation, and performs system tuning of the DR server 23 based on the monitoring result (step S12). The simulation and system tuning are repeated until the DR server 23 with the desired accuracy is completed, that is, until the algorithm for determining the content of the power saving request becomes the desired algorithm (step S13). In this way, the DR server 23 is formed. The content of the power saving request includes a combination of consumers selected according to the power saving command value or the amount of power saving of the actual consumers A to E. System tuning includes updating the combination of selected consumers, and/or updating the algorithm for changing the power demand portfolio in response to changes in the power saving command value or the actual power saving amount of actual consumers A to E. This system tuning may be performed by an operator or by machine learning. For example, when a combination of consumers according to a power saving command value is predetermined as the content of a power saving request (Auto dispatch), an operator repeats the execution of the above simulation and the change of the combination many times to construct an optimal combination (power demand portfolio). The method of this system tuning may be the same as the method of system tuning in a conventional rehearsal conducted by gathering actual consumers, for example.

As described above, in this embodiment, the supply unit 31A of the virtual consumers A to E acquires the power consumption measured in the past (power consumption of 30-minute time series data), and supplies the virtual power consumption based on the acquired power consumption to the DR system 20 as the actual power consumption of the real consumers A to E. Furthermore, the virtual power saving unit 31B reduces the virtual power consumption supplied to the DR system 20 by the supply unit 31A based on a power saving request from the DR system 20. This allows a simulation to be performed in which the virtual consumers A to E behave as if they were real consumers A to E, and the operation of the DR system 20 (particularly the DR server 23) can be sufficiently confirmed in advance. Note that in an actual simulation, a greater number of virtual consumers than the virtual consumers A to E may be used.

The above simulation allows connection tests of a wide variety of real consumers to be performed in advance using virtual consumers, and allows quantitative testing and verification of the DR system 20's operation when the power saving command value changes. Furthermore, since complex settings and tests related to the connection of real consumers can be performed in advance after the DR service starts, these settings and tests can be significantly omitted when the DR service starts, shortening the work required to start the service and maintaining the quality of the system. In particular, a DR server 23 suitable for DR is obtained. Tests can also be performed by combining real consumers and virtual consumers, so that even if there are real consumers who cannot make it in time for the advance rehearsal test of the DR system 20, the consumers who cannot make it in time can be virtually constructed and incorporated into the overall test.

As in the above embodiment, the virtual consumers A to E are virtualized real consumers A to E that actually exist, and the virtual power consumption amount supplied by the supply unit 31A to the collection server 21 can be based on the past power consumption amount of the virtualized real consumer or other real consumers having the same power consumption pattern as the real consumer, thereby improving the accuracy of the virtual power consumption amount. The past power consumption that is the basis of the virtual power consumption may be the power consumption of a consumer other than the consumer. In this case, the virtual power consumption may be calculated by substituting the past power consumption into a certain formula. The virtual power consumption may be the power consumption amount based on the power consumption amount measured in the past. For example, if the power consumption amount measured in the past is the power consumption amount per minute, the virtual power consumption amount may be the power consumption amount measured in the past itself.

Furthermore, the past power consumption that is the basis of the virtual power consumption is the power consumption for a first period (here, 30 minutes), and the virtual power consumption or actual power consumption is the power consumption for a second period (here, 1 minute) that is shorter than the first period. The supply unit 31A then divides the past power consumption and supplies the power consumption obtained by the division to the DR system as the actual power consumption virtual power consumption. This makes it possible to perform the above simulation even if the periods of the past power consumption and the virtual power consumption or actual power consumption are different.

In the above embodiment, a virtual control point is provided that virtualizes the control point of the actual consumer. As a result, the power consumption measured in the past for each consumer (power consumption of 30-minute time series data for each control point) or the virtual power consumption for each virtual consumer used in the above simulation includes multiple types of power consumption for each control point and virtual control point, i.e., for one or more pieces of electrical equipment. Then, the virtual power saving unit 31B reduces at least one of the multiple types of power consumption by 0 or the power saving amount corresponding to the energy saving mode based on a power saving request (here, a command to turn off the control point of the power saving command value). Then, the supply unit 21A supplies the virtual power consumption after the subtraction to the collection server 21 as a new virtual power consumption. This improves the accuracy of the power saving amount in the simulation.

The use of the above simulation is not limited to system tuning. For example, when a consumer participates in DR, the above simulation may be performed to confirm in advance the operation of the consumer during DR. Also, a simulation may be performed to check the overall operation of the DR system 20 and the consumer. This allows the operation of the DR system and/or the consumer to be fully confirmed.

The hardware configuration of the virtual consumer computer is arbitrary. At least a portion of each unit 31A and 31B may be configured with one or more logic circuits. Examples of logic circuits include an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The 1-minute time series data and the 30-minute time series data may be stored and used on a server managed by a party other than the aggregator. The virtual consumer program may be stored in a non-transitory storage medium other than a storage device.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments and modifications, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications. For example, the present invention includes various modifications to the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications that can be understood by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. The configurations listed in the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause inconsistencies.

10...DR simulation system, 20...DR system, 21...collection server, 22...DB server, 23...DR server, 30...virtual consumer computer, 31A...supply unit, 31B...virtual power saving unit.

Claims (7)

A computer connected to a demand response (DR) system that requests power saving to at least one of a plurality of actual consumers based on actual power consumption of each of the plurality of actual consumers and a power saving command value that commands an amount of power saving so that an amount of power saving of the plurality of actual consumers as a whole reaches the power saving command value,
A plurality of virtual consumers are constructed on the computer by virtualizing the plurality of actual consumers ,
Each of the plurality of virtual consumers includes:
a supply unit that supplies a virtual power consumption amount based on a power consumption amount measured in the past to the DR system as the actual power consumption amount;
a virtual power saving unit that reduces the virtual power consumption amount supplied to the DR system by the supply unit based on the power saving request from the DR system,
Virtual customer computer. The previously measured power consumption is the past power consumption of an actual consumer based on the virtualization of the virtual consumer or another actual consumer having a power consumption pattern similar to that of the actual consumer.
The virtual customer computer of claim 1 . The past power consumption amount is a power consumption amount in a first period,
the actual power consumption amount is a power consumption amount in a second period that is shorter than the first period,
The supply unit divides the past power consumption amount and supplies the divided power consumption amount to the DR system as the actual power consumption amount.
The virtual customer computer according to claim 1 or 2. The virtual power consumption includes a plurality of types of virtual power consumption for each of one or more pieces of electrical equipment,
The virtual power saving unit reduces at least one of the plurality of types of virtual power consumption amounts based on the request for power saving.
The virtual customer computer according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A virtual customer computer according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
The DR system;
A DR simulation system comprising: A computer connected to a demand response (DR) system that requests at least one of a plurality of actual consumers to save power based on an actual power consumption amount of each of the plurality of actual consumers and a power saving command value that commands an amount of power saving so that an amount of power saving by the entire plurality of actual consumers reaches the power saving command value,
constructing a plurality of virtual consumers by virtualizing the plurality of actual consumers,
Each of the plurality of virtual consumers includes:
a supply unit that supplies a virtual power consumption amount based on a power consumption amount measured in the past to the DR system as the actual power consumption amount;
a virtual power saving unit that reduces the virtual power consumption amount supplied to the DR system by the supply unit based on the power saving request from the DR system ,
Virtual Consumer Program. A first step of performing a simulation in which the DR system requests power saving to the virtual consumer constructed in the virtual consumer computer according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
a second step of system tuning a DR server that determines the content of the power saving request of the DR system based on the operation of the DR system in the simulation;
A method for forming a DR server comprising:

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