KR101639080B1 - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a network system and a control method thereof.
The network system according to the present invention includes a utility network including a first energy generator and capable of transmitting energy information including information on electricity rates or information other than electricity bills; A home network including an energy consuming unit consuming energy generated in the energy generating unit and capable of receiving the energy information; An energy measuring unit, which is associated with the energy consuming unit, for recognizing the energy information; And an energy management unit for managing the energy information in relation to the energy consuming unit, wherein the energy consuming unit includes a plurality of first energy consuming units, each of which is controlled in accordance with a predetermined period or time to maintain a set value, And the first energy consuming unit is controlled to change the predetermined period or time based on the energy information.

Description

Network system

The present invention relates to a network system.

Suppliers simply supply energy sources such as electricity, water, and gas, and demanders simply use the supplied energy sources. Therefore, effective management in terms of energy production, distribution, or energy use is difficult to perform.

In other words, energy is a radial structure that is distributed from an energy supplier to a large number of consumers, that is, from the center to the periphery, and is characterized by a one-way supplier center rather than a consumer center.

The price information of electricity can not be known in real time, but it can be seen only through the power exchange, and because the price system is also a fixed price system, incentives such as incentives for consumers through price changes can not be used There was also a problem.

In order to solve these problems, there has been a lot of efforts recently to implement a horizontal, cooperative and distributed network that can efficiently manage energy and enable interaction between a consumer and a supplier.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a network system capable of effectively managing an energy source, and reducing electric charges and energy consumption.

The network system according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a utility network including a first energy generation unit and capable of transmitting energy information including information on electricity rates or information other than electric charges; A home network including an energy consuming unit consuming energy generated in the energy generating unit and capable of receiving the energy information; An energy measuring unit, which is associated with the energy consuming unit, for recognizing the energy information; And an energy management unit for managing the energy information in relation to the energy consuming unit, wherein the energy consuming unit includes a plurality of first energy consuming units, each of which is controlled in accordance with a predetermined period or time to maintain a set value, And the first energy consuming unit is controlled to change the predetermined period or time based on the energy information.

According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently produce, use, distribute, and store an energy source, thereby effectively managing the energy source.

In addition, it is possible to drive and control the electric appliances in the home using the energy information transmitted from the supplier, and it is possible to reduce the energy usage fee or power consumption.

1 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic diagram of a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a refrigerator as an energy consumption unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of the refrigerator. FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the refrigerator.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a network system including a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

1 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The network system is a system for managing energy sources such as electricity, water, and gas. The energy source means that the generated amount or the used amount can be measured. Therefore, the energy source can be SOURCE not mentioned above. Hereinafter, electricity will be described as an example of the energy source, and the contents of this specification can be equally applied to other energy sources.

Referring to FIG. 1, the network system of one embodiment includes a power plant that produces electricity. The power plant may include a power plant that generates electricity through thermal power generation or nuclear power generation, and a power plant that uses eco-friendly energy such as hydroelectric power, solar power, and wind power.

Electricity generated in the power plant is transmitted to a substation through a transmission line, and electric power is transmitted to a substation in a power station so that electricity is distributed to consumers such as a home or an office.

Electricity generated by environmentally friendly energy is also transmitted to the substation and distributed to each customer. Electricity transmitted from the substation is distributed through an electric storage device or directly to the office or each household.

In the home using a home network (HAN, home area network), electric power can be produced, stored, distributed, or distributed through a solar cell or a fuel cell mounted on a PHEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) The remaining electricity can be returned to the outside.

In addition, the network system may include a smart meter for real-time grasping the amount of electricity used by the customer (home or office) or the amount of electricity supplied to the customer, in real time, And an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for measuring the amount of electricity supplied in real time.

In addition, the network system may further include an energy management system (EMS: Energy Management System) for managing energy. The energy management device can generate information about the operation of one or more components in relation to energy (generation, distribution, use, storage, etc.) of the energy. The energy management device may generate at least instructions related to operation of the component.

In the present specification, a function or a solution performed by the energy management apparatus may be referred to as an energy management function or an energy management solution.

In the network system of the present invention, the energy management device may be included in one or more components in a separate configuration, or may be included as an energy management function or solution in one or more components.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the network system of the present invention is configured by a plurality of components. For example, power plants, substations, power stations, energy management devices, household appliances, smart meters, capacitors, web servers, measuring devices, and home servers are components of the network system.

Further, in the present invention, each component can be constituted by a plurality of detailed components. For example, when one component is an electrical product, the microcomputer, the heater, the display, and the like may be detailed components.

That is, in the present invention, everything that performs a specific function may be a component, and these components constitute the network system of the present invention. And the two components can communicate by communication means.

Further, one network may be a single component or may be composed of a plurality of components.

In this specification, a network system in which communication information is related to an energy source may be referred to as an energy grid.

The network system of one embodiment may be composed of a utility network (UAN) 10 and a home network (HAN) 20. The utility network 10 and the home network 20 can be wired or wirelessly communicated by communication means.

In this specification, the assumption means a group including one or more specific components such as a building, a company, and the like, as well as assumptions of a dictionary meaning. A utility is a group that includes one or more specific components outside the home.

The utility network 10 includes an energy generation component 11 for generating energy, an energy distribution component 12 for distributing or transferring energy, and an energy storage unit An energy storage component 13 for managing energy, an energy management component 14 for managing energy, and an energy metering component 15 for measuring energy related information.

When one or more components of the utility network 10 consume energy, the energy consuming component may be an energy consuming part.

The energy generating unit 11 may be, for example, a power plant. The energy distribution unit 12 distributes or delivers the energy generated by the energy generation unit 11 and / or the energy stored in the energy storage unit 13 to the energy consumption unit 26 consuming energy. The energy distribution unit 12 may be a power transmission unit, a substation, a power station, or the like.

The energy storage unit 13 may be a battery and the energy management unit 14 may include an energy generation unit 11, an energy distribution unit 12, an energy storage unit 13, an energy consumption unit 26). ≪ / RTI > The energy management unit 14 may generate at least instructions related to the operation of the specific component.

The energy management unit 14 may be an energy management device and may exist in a separate configuration or may be included as an energy management function in another component. The energy measurement unit 15 may measure information related to energy generation, distribution, use, storage, and the like. For example, the energy measurement unit 15 may be an Advanced Metering Infra-structure (AMI).

The utility network 10 can transmit information or receive information via a terminal component (not shown). That is, the information generated or transmitted by the specific components constituting the utility network 10 can be transmitted through the terminal component or receive information from other components.

In addition, the two components constituting the utility network 10 can communicate by communication means.

The home network 20 includes an energy generation component 21 for generating energy, an energy distribution component 22 for distributing energy, an energy storage component 22 for storing energy, 23, an energy management component 24 for managing energy, an energy metering component 25 for measuring energy related information, and an energy consumption component 26, a central management component 27 and an energy grid assistance component 28 for controlling a number of components.

The energy generation unit 11, the energy distribution unit 12, the energy storage unit 13, the energy management unit 14, and the energy measurement unit 15 are connected to a first energy generation unit, a first energy distribution unit, The energy storage unit 22, the energy storage unit 23, the energy management unit 24, and the energy measurement unit 25, which are referred to as a storage unit, a first energy management unit, and a first energy measurement unit, May be referred to as a second energy generation unit, a second energy distribution unit, a second energy storage unit, a second energy management unit, and a second energy measurement unit.

The energy generation component 21 may be a household power generator and the energy storage component 23 may be a battery and the energy management component 24 may be an energy management device. The energy metering component 25 may measure information related to energy generation, distribution, use, storage, and the like. For example, the energy metering component 25 may be a smart meter.

The energy consuming unit 26 may be, for example, a heater, a motor, a display, etc. constituting an electric product or an electric product. It is to be noted that there is no limitation in the kind of the energy consuming section 26 in the present embodiment.

The energy management unit 24 may exist in a separate configuration or may be included in at least one component as an energy management function.

The energy generating unit 21, the energy distributing unit 22, and the energy storing unit 23 may be individual components or a single component.

The central management unit 27 may be, for example, a home server that controls a plurality of appliances.

The energy network auxiliary unit 28 is a component having an original function while performing an additional function for the energy network. For example, the energy network sub-unit may be a web service provisioning (e.g., a computer), a mobile device, a television, and the like.

The two components constituting the home network 20 can be communicated by communication means.

The energy distributing units 12 and 22, the energy storing units 13 and 23, the energy managing units 14 and 24, the energy measuring units 15 and 25, The central management unit 26 and the central management unit 27 may exist independently of each other, or two or more may constitute a single component.

For example, the energy management units 14 and 24, the energy measurement units 15 and 25, and the central management unit 27 exist as a single component, and each of the smart meters, the energy management device, Or the energy management units 14 and 24, the energy measurement units 15 and 25, and the central management unit 27 may constitute a single apparatus.

Further, in performing a single function, the functions may be sequentially performed in a plurality of components and / or communication means. For example, an energy management function may be sequentially performed in a separate energy management unit, an energy measurement unit, and an energy consumption unit.

In this network system, a plurality of utility networks 10 can communicate with a single home network 20, and a single utility network 10 can communicate with a plurality of home networks 20.

In addition, a plurality of components of a specific function configuring the utility network and the home network may be provided. For example, the energy generating unit or the energy consuming unit may be plural.

3 is a schematic diagram of a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the home network 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an energy measurement unit 25 that can measure power and / or electricity charges supplied to the homes from the utility network 10 in real time For example, a smart meter, the energy measurement unit 25, and an energy management unit 24 connected to and controlling the operation of the electric product.

On the other hand, the electricity rate of each household can be charged at an hourly rate. Hour electricity bill is expensive in a time period where the power consumption is rapidly increased, and the electricity bill per hour may be lowered when the power consumption is relatively low.

The energy management unit 24 is connected to the electric appliance such as the refrigerator 100, the washing machine 400, the air conditioner 500, the dryer 600, or the cooking appliance 700 as an energy consuming unit 26, And can be used for bi-directional communication.

Communication in the home can be done through wired such as Zigbee, wifi, or a power line communication (PLC, Power line communication), and one household appliance can be connected to communicate with other household appliances.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a refrigerator as an energy consuming unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the refrigerator, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the internal configuration of the refrigerator.

4 to 6, the refrigerator 100 may be included in the energy consuming unit 26 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The refrigerator 100 includes a main body 110 forming an outer appearance and a door 120 selectively shielding the main body 110. The door 120 is rotatably coupled to the front of the main body 110 and the door 120 is provided with a door knob 140 which can be operated to open and close the door.

The door 120 further includes an openable home bar door 130. The storage box 200 stored in the main body 110 can be easily accessed through the home bar door 130. In addition, since there is no need to open the door 120 to access the necessary storage box 200, there is an effect that the cooling loss can be minimized.

One storage box among the plurality of storage boxes 200 is disposed on the rear side of the home bar door 130. The user can open the home bar door 130 and take out the stored contents of the one storage box.

Inside the main body 110, a plurality of storage boxes 200 are provided. The plurality of storage boxes 200 may be arranged in two stages in the vertical direction.

Each storage box 200 includes a box body 205 capable of storing a stored object and a box door 210 that can be opened in front of the box body 205.

The main body 110 is provided with a cool air supply hole 118 through which cool air is supplied for cooling the plurality of storage boxes 200 and a special coolant supply unit for supplying cool air to a storage box among the plurality of storage boxes 200 115 are formed. The special supply portion 115 may be formed on the inner side of the main body 110, for example, on the upper side of the main body 110.

The plurality of storage boxes 200 are formed with through holes 220 into which cool air supplied from the special cooling supply unit 115 can flow. The through hole 220 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the special cooling supply unit 115 and facing the special cooling supply unit 115.

The plurality of storage boxes 200 may be indirectly cooled by the cool air supplied by the cool air supply hole 118. The one storage box among the plurality of storage boxes 200 may be directly cooled by the special cooling supply unit 115, and the time of direct cooling may be set in advance.

The plurality of storage boxes 200 are provided to be movable. In detail, the plurality of storage boxes 200 may be rotatably provided in a predetermined direction.

The main body 110 is provided with a drive box 300 for generating and delivering driving force for rotating the storage boxes 200. A plurality of the driving box 300 may be provided on the lower portion and the upper portion of the main body 100.

The driving box 300 includes a driving motor 310 for providing driving force for rotating the plurality of storage boxes 200 and a motor sprocket 340 coupled to the driving motor 310 and rotatably operated. And a rotation guide unit 150 interlocked with the motor sprocket 340 and guiding the rotation of the storage box 200.

The driving motor 310 may be supported inside the driving box 300 by a motor support part 320.

The motor sprocket 340 receives the rotational force of the driving motor 310 through the motor shaft 330. When the motor sprocket 340 is rotated, the rotation guide unit 150 is driven, and thus the plurality of storage boxes 200 are rotated.

The rotation guide 150 may be a chain capable of interlocking with the motor sprocket 340. However, the motor sprocket 340 may be provided as a "rope" rather than as a "sprocket", in which case the rotation guide 150 may be a pulley.

The motor sprocket 340 and the rotation guide 150 may be referred to as a power transmission portion and the motor sprocket 340 may be referred to as a first transmission portion and the rotation guide 150 may be referred to as a second transmission portion.

At the rear side of the storage box 200, a guide engaging portion 280 is provided which is engaged with the rotation guide 150. Each storage box 200 is coupled to a specific position of the rotation guide 150 and can be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by the rotation of the rotation guide 150.

The speed at which the storage boxes 200 are rotated may be preset and may be rotated in a predetermined cycle.

In the process of rotating the storage box 200, the position of the through hole 220 of one storage box 200 among the plurality of storage boxes 200 may correspond to the position of the special cooling supply unit 115. The plurality of storage boxes 200 are sequentially positioned in the special cooling supply unit 115 and can be controlled to receive cold air.

Alternatively, if it is determined that the special storage of one storage box among the plurality of storage boxes 200 is required, the one storage box may be positioned at one side of the special cooling supply unit 115 by controlling the driving motor 310 .

Each of the storage boxes 200 may include a temperature sensor 250 for sensing a temperature inside the storage box 200.

When the value sensed by the temperature sensor 250 is recognized as being higher than a predetermined temperature, the storage box 200 is positioned at one side of the special cooling supply unit 115 so as to receive cold air from the special cooling supply unit 115 can do.

However, when the outflow of cool air through the door 120 or the door 130 is not large, the storage box 200 may be supplied with the cool air sequentially from the special coolant supply unit 115 while being rotated at a constant speed. Accordingly, the storage box 200 may be maintained at a predetermined temperature.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a network system including a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

7, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of temperature sensors 250 for sensing the internal temperature of the storage box 200, And a control unit 370 for controlling the temperature sensor 250 and the driving motor 310. The control unit 370 controls the temperature sensor 250 and the driving motor 310 to rotate.

In detail, each storage box 200 may be given a unique identification number, and a specific temperature to be maintained according to the type of storage stored in each of the storage boxes 200 may be preset. The specific temperature may be a minimum temperature (a critical temperature) at which the state of the stored product can be maintained.

The storage boxes 200 may be controlled to the limit temperature by the cool air supplied by the cool air supply holes 118. When the temperature sensed by the one-day storage box 200 reaches the limit temperature or more, the one storage box 200 may be moved to the special cooling supply unit 115 side to receive cold air from the special cooling supply unit 115 .

In the network system, if the information (energy information) related to the power reduction or the reduction of the electricity rate is recognized as exceeding the predetermined reference value, that is, the on-peak time period, the energy available in the refrigerator 100 is limited Can

Therefore, according to the refrigerator 100, the refrigerator 100 can be driven with a minimum energy.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator (100) is provided with an input unit (350) for inputting a predetermined command for reducing the electric power or reducing the electric charge based on the energy information.

The input unit 350 is provided with a general driving mode input unit through which the refrigerator 100 can be driven without regard to the energy information and a power saving mode input unit 320 for saving energy based on the energy information May be included.

The input unit 350 includes a code input unit for inputting a unique identification code of each storage box 200 and a storage management input unit for inputting and managing the storage information of each storage box 200 .

The refrigerator (100) further includes a display unit (360) capable of displaying an operating state of the refrigerator.

The network system includes an energy management unit 24 or an energy measurement unit 25 that can communicate with the control unit 370.

When the predetermined energy information is recognized in the network system, the energy information may be transmitted to the controller 370 from the energy manager 24 or the energy meter 25.

For example, the energy information may be on-peak time interval information exceeding a predetermined reference value. In the on-peak time period, it is necessary to reduce the electric power generated by reducing the amount of power consumption.

According to the energy information, the controller 370 may reduce the speed at which the storage boxes 200 are rotated. In this case, the load applied to the driving motor 310 can be reduced, and the amount of power consumed thereby can be reduced. And, the cool air supply time through the special coolant supply unit 115 can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the on-peak time interval information ends, the controller 370 may change the rotational speed of the storage box 200 or the cool-air supply time to an originally set value.

As described above, when there are a plurality of other energy consuming units (storage boxes) constituting the energy consuming unit (refrigerator), a preset cycle (rotation cycle) for maintaining the set value (set temperature) (Temperature control) is performed, and when predetermined energy information is transmitted, a preset period for maintaining the set value may be changed.

The predetermined time (supply time of the special supply unit) for maintaining the set value of the storage box can be changed.

Here, a plurality of energy consuming parts (a storage box, a special cooling supply part, a driving motor, a temperature sensor, etc.) consuming energy will be described. The first energy consuming part, the second energy consuming part, Third Energy Consumption.

As a result, efficient energy management is possible in response to the energy information recognized by the network system, thereby reducing power consumption or electric charges.

10: utility network 20: home network
24: Energy management unit 25: Energy measurement unit
26: Energy consumption section 100: Refrigerator
150: rotation guide part 200: storage box

Claims (12)

A household network capable of receiving the energy information, the energy consuming unit consuming energy to be supplied from a utility network capable of transmitting energy information about an electricity bill;
An energy measuring unit, which is associated with the energy consuming unit, for recognizing the energy information; And
And an energy management unit for managing the energy information with respect to the energy consuming unit,
Wherein the energy consuming unit includes a first energy consuming unit controlled in accordance with a predetermined period or time to maintain a set value,
Wherein when the energy information is recognized as exceeding the reference value, the first energy consuming unit is controlled to decrease the predetermined period or time. The method according to claim 1,
In the utility network,
A first energy generating unit generating energy;
A first energy distribution unit for distributing energy generated in the first energy generation unit; And
And a first energy storage unit for storing the energy generated by the first energy generation unit or the energy distributed by the first energy distribution unit. 3. The method of claim 2,
In the home network,
A second energy generating unit for generating energy;
A second energy distribution unit for distributing energy generated in the second energy generation unit; And
And a second energy storage unit for storing energy generated by the second energy generation unit or energy distributed by the second energy distribution unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the energy information comprises information related to power reduction or reduction of the electricity bill. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the energy consuming portion is a refrigerator and the first energy consuming portion is a storage box rotatably provided in the refrigerator. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the set value is a temperature value set to be maintained in the storage box, and the predetermined period is a rotation period of the storage box. 8. The method of claim 7,
In the refrigerator,
A drive motor for providing driving force for rotating a plurality of storage boxes; And
And a power transmission portion for transmitting the drive motor to the storage box. 10. The method of claim 9,
In the power transmitting portion,
A sprocket or a pulley rotated by driving the driving motor;
And a chain or rope interlocking with said sprocket or pulley. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the energy consuming unit is a refrigerator and the first energy consuming unit is a special cooling supplying unit that supplies cool air to a storage box provided in the refrigerator. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the set value is a temperature value set to be maintained in the storage box, and the predetermined time is a cold supply time of the special cooling supply unit.

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