Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Plural load circuit systems – Selectively connected or controlled load circuits
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-09
2004-08-10
Toatley, Jr., Gregory J. (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Plural load circuit systems
Selectively connected or controlled load circuits
C700S291000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06774506
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on Application No. 2001-281466, filed in Japan on Sep. 17, 2001, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power demand adjusting system and, more particularly, to the restraint of the fluctuation in an incentive necessary for adjusting the electric power demand or the restraint of the fluctuation in an electric power demand adjustment amount attributable to incentive.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional load-leveling type electric power demand and supply adjusting system disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-333369, stores nighttime electric power, which is in low demand, in a different form of energy and puts the stored energy back into electric power during a daytime time zone when the demand reaches its peak. The system also applies electric power accommodated from another electric power company when there is a shortage of electric power supply.
Such a load-leveling type electric power demand and supply adjusting system makes up for the difference between a planned demand value and an actual result value by accommodation from another electric power system demand and supply controller. The system, therefore, has been disadvantageous in that the system is not effective if there is a shortage in absolute supply amount. There has been also a problem in that the system does not have any means to restrain by itself the fluctuation involved in demand and supply adjustment, so that considerable uncertainty remains in company's revenue management, a project for leveling load, etc. especially in the recent circumstances where demand adjustment is priced in supporting the liberalization of electric power. Hence, there has been a demand for an electric power demand and supply adjusting system suited for the liberalization of electric power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made with a view toward solving the above problems, and it is an object thereof to provide an electric power demand adjusting system that remains effective even if a shortage in an absolute supply amount occurs and that is capable of successfully dealing with the liberalization of electric power.
To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric power demand adjusting system for restraining fluctuation in an incentive required for adjusting electric power demand in an electric power system for supplying electric power energy to a plurality of consumers through the intermediary of a plurality of lower units of an electric power supplier that have demand adjusting functions from a central apparatus of the electric power supplier that has an electric power demand adjusting function, the lower units transmitting an adjustment amount for demand adjustment and an amount associated with load conditions, including incentive, so as to make a decision by negotiating with the consumers, the central apparatus being accessed by the plurality of lower units, and the central apparatus, the plurality of lower units, and the computing machine systems of the consumers being linked through the intermediary of a communication network, wherein a computing machine system of the central apparatus includes a device for projecting a demand, a device for determining electric power demand adjustment amounts to the individual lower units on the basis of information that includes a projected situation and history data related to electric power demand adjustment of the plurality of lower units, and a device for transmitting the determined electric power demand adjustment amounts to the plurality of lower units.
With this arrangement, the following advantage will be provided. When an attempt is made to perform necessary adjustment of the demand for electric power according to the consumption of electric power by a consumer that varies depending upon natural conditions, such as weather, the location of a consumer, season, a day of the week, time, etc., the incentives necessary for performing such demand adjustment vary from one consumer to another. Furthermore, from a macroscopic viewpoint, the incentives vary also in the lower units involved in a plurality of consumers. The system in accordance with the present invention is advantageous in that the demand adjustment amounts for the individual lower units are determined, taking into account the history data or the like regarding the demand adjustment of a plurality of lower units to accomplish demand adjustment so as to control the influences of the fluctuation in incentives. This enables a central apparatus at, for example, an electric power supplier to reduce the influences of fluctuation in cost involved in incentives.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric power demand adjusting system for restraining fluctuation in an electric power demand adjustment amount due to an incentive in an electric power system for supplying electric power energy to a plurality of consumers through the intermediary of a plurality of lower units of an electric power supplier that have demand adjusting functions from a central apparatus of the electric power supplier that has an electric power demand adjusting function, the lower units transmitting an adjustment amount for demand adjustment and an amount associated with load conditions, including incentive, so as to make a decision by negotiating with the consumers, the central apparatus being accessed by the plurality of lower units, and the central apparatus, the plurality of lower units, and the computing machine systems of the consumers being linked through the intermediary of a communication network, wherein a computing machine system of the central apparatus includes a device for projecting a demand, a device for determining incentives to the individual lower units on the basis of information that includes a projected situation and history data related to electric power demand adjustment of the plurality of lower units, and a device for transmitting the determined incentives to the plurality of lower units.
With this arrangement, the following advantage will be provided. When an attempt is made to perform necessary adjustment of the demand for electric power according to the consumption of electric power by a consumer that varies depending upon natural conditions, such as weather, the location of a consumer, season, a day of the week, time, etc. or an alternative factor, such as a private power generation by a consumer, the demand adjustment amounts for incentives vary from one consumer to another. Furthermore, from a macroscopic viewpoint, the demand adjustment amounts vary also in the lower units involved in a plurality of consumers. The system in accordance with the present invention is advantageous in that the incentives to be allotted to the individual lower units are determined, taking into account the history data or the like regarding the demand adjustment of a plurality of lower units to accomplish demand adjustment so as to control the influences of the fluctuation in demand adjustment amounts. This enables a central apparatus at, for example, an electric power supplier, to reduce the influences of fluctuation in demand adjustment amounts obtained by a certain incentive.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric power demand adjusting system for restraining fluctuation in an incentive required for adjusting electric power demand or fluctuation in an electric power demand adjustment amount attributable to an incentive in an electric power system for supplying electric power energy to a plurality of consumers through the intermediary of a plurality of lower units of an electric power supplier that have demand adjusting functions from a central apparatus of the electric power supplier that has an electric power demand adjusting function, the lower units transmitting an adjustment amount for de
Hashimoto Hiroyuki
Izui Yoshio
Kitayama Masashi
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Toatley , Jr. Gregory J.
LandOfFree
Electric power demand adjusting system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electric power demand adjusting system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electric power demand adjusting system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3351753