IP Library Granted Patent US 9,766,679
Granted Patent B2
US 9,766,679 · App. 14/394,592 · Granted Sep 19, 2017

Power monitoring device and power monitoring system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,766,679
App. No.
14/394,592
Granted
Sep 19, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention pertains to a power monitoring device configured in such a manner as to make it as easy as possible to perform power monitoring, notification and control for customers in coordination with the power utilization rate of a utility grid. The power monitoring device is provided with: a target power setting unit that receives, from outside, information indicating the power utilization rate of a utility grid by time, and, with regard to time periods in which the power utilization rate is greater than a prescribed threshold value, reduces preset target power consumption levels, and sets target power consumption levels by time; and an assessment and control unit that obtains, from outside, the power usage of power-consuming devices, and performs control in order to save power for the power-consuming devices in time periods in which the obtained power usage exceeds the target power consumption level.

Claims (15)

1. A power monitoring device which monitors power of a power consuming device using the power supplied from a utility grid, the power monitoring device comprising:

a power amount actual value holding unit which holds an actual value of a power amount used in the power consuming device in the past;

a target power setting unit which calculates a predicted value of a power usage amount used in the power consuming device using the actual value of the power amount, receives information indicating respective power utilization rates of respective time periods of the utility grid, changes a previously determined target power amount to a target power amount that is reduced from the predicted value of the power usage amount concerning a time period in which a respective power utilization rate is larger than a prescribed threshold, and sets respective target power amounts of the respective time periods; and

an assessment and control unit which obtains the power usage amount used in the power consuming device, and performs control for performing power saving of the power consuming device in a time period in which the obtained power usage amount exceeds the target power amount.

2. The power monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein the target power amount is reduced from the predicted value of the power usage amount by a constant value.

3. The power monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein the assessment and control unit transmits notification information to notify information associated with power saving of the power consuming device, or transmits control information to cause the power consuming device perform to set the power saving to the power consuming device.

4. A power monitoring system configured by a plurality of power monitoring devices to monitor power of a power consuming device using the power supplied from a utility grid, and a power management server capable of being connected to the plurality of power monitoring devices by communication,

wherein the power management server includes:

a power amount actual value holding unit which holds an actual value of a power amount used in the power consuming device in the past for each of the plurality of power monitoring devices; and

a target power configuring unit which receives information indicating respective power utilization rates of respective time periods of the utility grid, calculates a predicted value of a power usage amount used in the power consuming device using the actual value of the power amount for each of the plurality of power monitoring devices, changes a previously determined target power amount to a target power amount that is reduced from the predicted value of the power usage amount concerning a time period in which a respective power utilization rate is larger than a prescribed threshold, and configures respective target power amounts of the respective time periods; and

wherein a power monitoring device of the plurality of power monitoring devices includes:

a target power setting unit which sets respective target power amounts of respective time periods of the power monitoring device configured by the target power configuring unit; and

an assessment and control unit which performs control for performing power saving of the power consuming device in a time period in which the power usage amount exceeds the respective target power amounts of the respective time periods of the power monitoring device.

5. The power monitoring system according to claim 4 , wherein the target power amount is reduced from the predicted value of the power usage amount by a constant value.

6. The power monitoring system according to claim 4 , wherein the assessment and control unit transmits notification information to notify information associated with power saving of the power consuming device, or transmits control information to cause the power consuming device to set the power saving to the power consuming device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 8, 2019
From: HITACHI APPLIANCES, INC.
To: HITACHI GLOBAL LIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049997/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2014
From: KOSAKA, TADAYOSHI; MIYATA, KATSUYA; TERAOKA, HIDETOSHI
To: HITACHI APPLIANCES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034079/0939 →