Abstract:
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for smart energy management by controlling power consumption. Power consumption information is collected from one or more electrical device groups with a smart meter and electrical devices connected through gateways. When the method estimates that the power consumption will be larger than a threshold value, a control command is outputted to a load controller connected through the gateway and power consumption of electrical devices that belong to the electrical device using group is remotely controlled. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an energy company that produces and supplies energy can supply energy depending on a consumer&#39;s demand by using current facilities because the present invention can collect remotely energy consumption, analyze energy consumption patterns, and control automatically the energy consumption of electrical devices installed in a customer&#39;s area. The consumer who consumes energy can save the energy consumption and the charge of the energy consumption.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0126730 filed on Dec. 18, 2009 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0015266 filed on Feb. 19, 2010, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for smart energy management by controlling power consumption, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for smart energy management to saving power consumption by remotely collecting an energy consumption, analyzing and estimating energy consumption patterns, and remotely controlling power consumption of an energy consumption apparatus in a smart grid field regarded as an essential technology for saving the energy consumption. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A remote measurement system which is being used at present is configured as a technology that remotely measures an energy consumption of a meter (electric power, gas, water supply, etc.) installed in an energy consumer&#39;s residence or business, which primarily consumes energy and transmits the metering data to a central server. According to a previously applied patent, metering data of the meter is just transferred to the central server and does not provide a method for controlling energy consumption in the consumer. 
         [0006]    Further, a unidirectional communication is used for data transmission. Under such an environment, data collected in the central server is being utilized as key information for determining the tendency of an energy consumption which is being consumed at present and plays an important role in controlling energy production and energy supply. However, the capacity of a facility producing energy is limitative. Therefore, when the energy consumption amount is larger than the maximum energy production, a problem such as electricity failure occurs, thereby causing considerable social and economical damages. 
         [0007]    In order to prevent the problem from being generated, production facilities should be extended in order to increase the energy production amount as much as the increased energy consumption. However, the energy consumption dramatically increases on a predetermined season (e.g., summer or winter) and after the corresponding period, the energy consumption decreases. Therefore, since the extended production facilities operate for a short period and stop for the rest of the period, a continuous increase of the production facilities causes large cost expenditure and exists as non-operational facilities in energy production companies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    There is an object to provide an apparatus and a method for smart energy management for saving an energy consumption amount by remotely controlling an energy consumption apparatus that is being operated in an energy consumer&#39;s residence or business when the energy consumption amount of the consumer is larger than a predetermined threshold by analyzing and estimating the energy consumption amount of the consumer as well as storing a remote measurement result in a server. 
         [0009]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smart energy management apparatus controlling power consumption that includes: a data collection module that is connected with one or more electrical device using groups through gateways to collect power consumption information of the electrical device using groups; a consumption pattern analysis module that analyzes the power consumption data to acquire a power consumption pattern of the electrical device using groups; a consumption estimation module that estimates a power consumption for a predetermined period on the basis of the power consumption pattern of the electrical device using groups; and a control command generation module that outputs a control command to limit power consumption of the electrical device using groups. 
         [0010]    The control command generation module outputs the control command for an electrical device using group of which the estimated power consumption is larger than a threshold value. 
         [0011]    The smart energy management apparatus further includes a communication control module controlling transmission and reception of a signal to and from the electrical device using group through the gateway. 
         [0012]    The gateway includes: an energy service portal (ESP) module accessing a network of the electrical device using groups to transmit and receive data in a ZigBee communication scheme; a communication control module connected with the data collection module in the wired scheme to transmit and receive data; and a conversion module converting a communication scheme of signals transmitted and received between the network of the electrical device using groups and the data collection module. 
         [0013]    The electrical device using group includes a smart meter that is connected with electrical devices that belong to the electrical device using group and measures the power consumption of the electrical device using group. 
         [0014]    The electrical device using group further includes a load controller that is connected with the electrical devices which belongs to the electrical device using group and controls power consumption of the electrical devices in accordance with the control command from the control command generation module. 
         [0015]    The load controller includes at least one of a smart energy display (SED), an infrared load control device (IR_LCD), and a load control device (LCD). 
         [0016]    The SED includes: an information display module displaying at least one of the power consumption information and the control command from the gateway; and a ZigBee communication module communicating with the gateway. 
         [0017]    The LCD includes: the ZigBee communication module communicating with the gateway and the electrical device; a device identification module identifying a connected electrical device; a measurement module measuring a power consumption of the connected electrical devices; and an operation control module controlling power consumption of the electrical devices in accordance with the control command from the gateway. 
         [0018]    The IR_LCD includes: the ZigBee communication module communicating with the gateway; an infrared communication module communicating with the connected electrical devices; the device identification module identifying the electrical devices; and the operation control module controlling the power consumption of the electrical devices in accordance with the control command from the gateway. 
         [0019]    Meanwhile, the smart energy management apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention further includes a group management module managing group information on the electrical device using group including energy metering devices and energy consuming devices. 
         [0020]    Further, the smart energy management apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention further includes a device management module managing device information of the electrical devices that belongs to the electrical device using group. 
         [0021]    The device management module transmits information on an electrical device added to the electrical device using group to an authentication server and manages the added electrical device on the basis of a legality examination result from the authentication server. 
         [0022]    Meanwhile, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a smart energy management method controlling power consumption that includes: collecting power consumption information of one or more electrical device using groups through gateways; acquiring a power consumption pattern of the electrical device using groups by analyzing the power consumption information; estimating power consumption for a predetermined period on the basis of the power consumption pattern of the electrical device using groups; and outputting a control command to limit power consumption of the electrical device using groups. 
         [0023]    The outputting outputs the control command for the electrical device using group of which the estimated power consumption is larger than a threshold value. 
         [0024]    The collecting receives the power consumption information from the smart meter, that is connected with electrical devices that belong to the electrical device using group and measures the power consumption of the electrical device using group, and an LCD that measures the power consumption of connected electrical device. 
         [0025]    The smart energy management method further includes transmitting the control command to an electrical device using group of which the estimated power consumption is larger than a threshold value through the gateway. 
         [0026]    The transmitting transmits the control command to a load controller that is connected with the electrical devices which belongs to the electrical device using group and controls the power consumption of the electrical device. 
         [0027]    The gateway transmits and receives a signal to and from the electrical device using group in a ZigBee communication scheme. 
         [0028]    The smart energy management method further includes collecting and managing group information on the electrical device using groups. 
         [0029]    The smart energy management method further includes collecting and managing device information of the electrical devices that belongs to the electrical device using group. 
         [0030]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, an energy company that produces and supplies energy can supply energy depending on a consumer&#39;s request by using current facilities by remotely collecting an energy consumption and analyzing energy consumption patterns in a smart grid field without installing additional energy production and supplying facilities with a continuous increment of the energy consumption and the consumer who consumes energy can save the energy consumption and charge of energy consumption. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a system configuration of a smart energy management system of an electrical device using group adopting a smart energy management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram referenced for describing a configuration of a management server according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram referenced for describing a configuration of a gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 4 to 7  are diagrams referenced for describing a configuration of a load controller according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram referenced for describing a configuration of an authentication server according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing an operational flow of a smart energy management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0038]    A smart energy management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention collects power consumption information of all power consumption apparatuses and customers from smart meters and LCDs installed in a home of a consumer, a building, a factory, or the like that uses electrical power and when it judges that power consumption is generated at a threshold value or more, the smart energy management apparatus controls power consumption amounts of electrical devices in accordance with a pre-contract with the corresponding customer. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a system configuration of a smart energy management system of an electrical device using group adopting a smart energy management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The smart energy management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will now be referred to as a ‘management server’. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a smart energy management system implemented by the present invention, the management server  100  is connected with one or more electrical device using group with electrical devices through a gateway  200 . Although one gateway  200  and one electrical device using group connected thereto are shown in  FIG. 1 , more gateways  200   a  and more electrical device using groups connected thereto may be connected to the management server  100 . 
         [0041]    Herein, the electrical device using group includes an electrical device  10 , a smart meter  400  measuring power consumption of the electrical devices  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group, and a load controller, as node devices  310 ,  320 ,  330 , and  340 , controlling the power consumption of the electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group in accordance with a control command from the management server  100 . 
         [0042]    Further, in the electrical device using group, the electrical device  10 , the smart meter  400 , and the load controller are connected to a network of a ZigBee wireless communication scheme to share information with each other. 
         [0043]    The electrical device  10  may correspond to a refrigerator  11 , an air-conditioner  12 , a wash machine  13 , a TV 19 , etc. that consume electrical power in the home and correspond to various machines in a factory. 
         [0044]    The gateway  200  is accessible to the network of the electrical device using group by using the ZigBee communication scheme. Further, the gateway  200  is connected with the management server  100  by a wired communication scheme. Of course, the gateway  200  may also be connected with the management server  100  by a wireless communication scheme in accordance with a connection set-up. 
         [0045]    Herein, the gateway  200  serves as a relay between the electrical device using group and the management server  100 . Further, the gateway  200  serves to collect power consumption information measured by the electrical device using group and provide the information to the management server  100 . 
         [0046]    At this time, the gateway  200  corresponds to one electrical device using group one to one. In other words, another electrical device using group transmits and receives signals to and from the management server  100  by using another gateway  200 . 
         [0047]    The management server  100  acquires a consumption pattern for the electrical device using group by analyzing the power consumption information from the gateway  200  and estimates power consumption. At this time, the management server  100  outputs a control command to the load controller of the electrical device using group in accordance with contents of a contract which is agreed with a customer of the electrical device using group when the estimated power consumption amount is larger than a threshold value. 
         [0048]    Therefore, the load controller of the electrical device using group intercepts the consumption of electrical power of the electrical device  10  in accordance with the control command from the management server  100  so as to limit energy consumption of the electrical device using group. 
         [0049]    Therefore, referring to  FIG. 2 , a configuration of the management server according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.  FIG. 2  is a block diagram referenced for describing a configuration of a management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the management server  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a communication module  110 , a device management module  120 , a group management module  130 , a data collection module  140 , a consumption pattern analysis module  150 , a consumption estimation module  160 , a data storage module  170 , and a control command generation module  180 . 
         [0051]    First, the communication module  110  is connected with the gateway  200  in a wired scheme to receive the power consumption information of the electrical device using group collected in the gateway  200  or transmit the control command of the management server  100  for the electrical device using group to the gateway  200 . 
         [0052]    The device management module  120  manages device information of the electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group. Specifically, the device management module  120  manages unique information including a serial number, a model, etc. of the electrical device  10  and manages power limitation priority information, etc. of the electrical device  10 . At this time, the device management module  120  classifies and manages device information for each electrical device using group. 
         [0053]    Further, the device management module  120  manages information on the smart meter  400 , the load controller, etc. that belong to the electrical device using group. 
         [0054]    At this time, the group management module  130  manages customer information for electrical device using group. At this time, the group management module  130  manages contents of a contract including the power consumption, the charge of power consumption, etc., which is agreed with the customer. 
         [0055]    Meanwhile, the data collection module  140  collects power consumption information for an electrical device using group connected through the gateway  200  and the consumption pattern analysis module  150  analyzes the collected power consumption information to acquire a power consumption pattern of the electrical device using group. Further, the consumption pattern analysis module  150  may calculate a cost depending on the power consumption of the electrical device using group. 
         [0056]    Further, the consumption estimation module  160  estimates the power consumption on the basis of the power consumption pattern of the electrical device using group. 
         [0057]    As an example, the consumption estimation module  160  estimates a power consumption consumed for a predetermined period on the basis of the corresponding period. 
         [0058]    In this case, the consumption estimation module  160  estimates the power consumption consumed for the predetermined period to allow the customer, that is, a power consumer to verify whether or not the power consumption is larger than a threshold value even though the predetermine period does not elapse. 
         [0059]    Meanwhile, the data storage module  170  stores the customer information of the electrical device using group and the device information of the electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group, and in addition, stores the power consumption information collected by the data collection module  140 . Further, the data storage module  170  stores output data from the consumption pattern analysis module  150  and the consumption estimation module  160 . 
         [0060]    Further, the control command generation module  180  generates a control command for the electrical device using group on the basis of the estimated power consumption. 
         [0061]    At this time, the control command generation module  180  compares the threshold value with the estimated power consumption and when the estimated power consumption is larger than the threshold value, the control command generation module  180  generates a control command to limit power consumption of the electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group. 
         [0062]    Herein, in the case of the control command, a corresponding command may be generated for each electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group on the basis of the device information stored in the data storage module  170 . At this time, the generated control command may include identification information on the electrical device  10  for executing the corresponding control command. 
         [0063]    Further, the threshold value is defined depending on contract contents of a customer registered by the group management module  130 . The threshold value may be reference power consumption or the charge of the power consumption depending on the power consumption. 
         [0064]    At this time, the control command generation module  180  outputs the control command through the communication module  110 . The control command outputted through the communication module  110  is transmitted to the load controller of the electrical device using group through the gateway  200 . 
         [0065]    Meanwhile, the control command generation module  180  generates and transmits a message for notifying a start of a control to limit the electrical power of the electrical device  10  to the customer. 
         [0066]    Meanwhile,  FIG. 3  is a block diagram referenced for describing a configuration of a gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention and referring to  FIG. 3 , the configuration of the gateway according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the gateway  200  accesses the network of the electrical device using group in the ZigBee wireless communication scheme to connect the electrical device  10 , the load controller including an SED  310 , an IR_LCD  320 , an LCD  330 , etc., and the smart meter  400 . Accordingly, the gateway  200  exchanges information with the smart meter  400  and the load controller. 
         [0068]    At this time, the gateway  200  includes a communication control module  210 , which is connected with the management server  100  in a wired scheme and transmits and receive data, a conversion module  220  that converts a communication scheme of a signal transmitted and received between the electrical device using group and the management server  100  and an energy service portal (ESP) module  230  that accesses the electrical device using group in the ZigBee communication scheme to transmit and receive data. 
         [0069]    Herein the ESP module  230  is connected with the smart meter  400  and the load controller to receive the power consumption information of the electrical device  10  from the smart meter  400  and transmit the control command from the management server  100  to the load controller. 
         [0070]    Meanwhile, the conversion module  220  converts the signal of the ZigBee communication scheme received by the ESP module  230  to a signal of the wired communication scheme recognizable by the communication control module  210 . Further, the conversion module  220  converts the control command from the management server  100  inputted into the communication control module  210  into the signal of the wired communication scheme to the signal of the ZigBee communication scheme to allow the ESP module  230  to recognize the control command. 
         [0071]    Meanwhile,  FIGS. 4 to 7  are block diagrams referenced for describing a configuration of a load controller according to an embodiment of the present invention and referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the configuration of the load controller according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  shows node devices corresponding to the load controller  300  and as shown in  FIG. 4 , the load controller  300  includes the smart energy display (SED)  310 , the infrared load control device (IR_LCD)  320 , the load control device (LCD)  330 , etc. 
         [0073]    Herein, a detailed configuration of the SED  310  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 , a detailed configuration of the IR_LCD  320  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . Further, a detailed configuration of the LCD  330  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0074]    First, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the SED  310  includes a temperature sensor module  311  measuring room temperature, an information display module  313  displaying the measured room temperature, a control command and a notification message from the gateway  200 , etc., and energy consumption information including a current consumed energy consumption amount, an energy consumption charge, etc., and a ZigBee communication module  315  communicating with the ESP module  230  of the gateway  200 . 
         [0075]    Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the IR_LCD  320  includes an infrared (IR) communication module  321  communicating with the connected electrical device  10 , a ZigBee communication module  323  communicating with the ESP module  230  of the gateway  200 , a device identification module  327  identifying the electrical device  10  connected through the IR communication module  321 , and an operation control module  329  controlling power consumption of the electrical device  10  in accordance with the control command from the gateway  200 . 
         [0076]    At this time, the operation control module  329  may limit power consumption of the corresponding electrical device  10  on the basis of the identification information of the electrical device  10  included in the control command. Meanwhile, the operation control module  329  may, according to a priority of electrical devices  10  preregistered in the IR_LCD  320 , limit power consumption of the corresponding electrical device  10 . 
         [0077]    Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the LCD  330  includes a measurement module  331  measuring a power consumption amount consumed by the electrical device  10 , a device identification module  333  identifying the connected electrical device  10 , a ZigBee communication module  335  communicating with the ESP module  230  of the gateway  200 , and an operation control module  337  controlling power consumption of the electrical device  10  in accordance with the control command from the gateway  200 . 
         [0078]    At this time, the operation control module  337  may limit power consumption of the corresponding electrical device  10  on the basis of the identification information of the electrical device  10  included in the control command. Meanwhile, the operation control module  337  may, according to a priority of electrical devices  10  preregistered in the LCD  330 , limit power consumption of the corresponding electrical device  10 . 
         [0079]    Herein, the IR_LCD  320  is wirelessly connected with the electrical devices  10  such as an air-conditioner  12 , a TV  19 , etc., which are controllable by a wireless remote controller using an infrared communication. Further, the LCD  330  may generally be directly connected with a refrigerator  11 , a wash machine  13 , a computer, etc. that consume electrical power. 
         [0080]    As one example, the IR_LCD  320  increases the set temperature of the air-conditioner  12  without inconveniencing an indoor resident and stops the air-conditioner  12  for a predetermined period. Further, the LCD  330  stops the wash machine  13  for a predetermined period and thereafter, restarts the wash machine  13  when the power consumption amount is lower than a predetermined level. 
         [0081]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram referenced for describing a configuration of an authentication server according to an embodiment of the present invention. The authentication server  500  serves to examine the legality of an electrical device  10  additionally installed in the electrical device using group. Of course, the authentication server  500  may examine the legalities of the SED  310 , the IR_LCD  320 , the LCD  330 , the smart meter  400 , etc., in addition to the electrical device  10 . 
         [0082]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the authentication server  500  includes a communication control module  510 , a device legality examination module  520 , a device information storage module  530 , and a control command generation module  540 . 
         [0083]    The communication control module  510  receives information of the electrical device  10  for examining the legality of the corresponding device  10  from the management server  100 . Further, the communication control module  510  transmits the legality examination result of the corresponding electrical device  10  to the management server  100 . 
         [0084]    The information of the electrical device  10  transmitted from the management server  100  is stored in the device information storage module  530 . 
         [0085]    Thereafter, the device legality examination module  520  examines the legality on the basis of the information stored in the device information storage module  530 . At this time, the device legality examination module  520  examines whether the corresponding electrical devices are legally purchased or installed. The legality examination result by the device legality examination module  520  is stored in the device information storage module. 
         [0086]    If it is judged that the corresponding electrical devices  10  are illegal devices by the device legality examination module  520 , the control command generation module  540  generates a command to remote the corresponding electrical device  10  from the network and transmits the control command to the management server  100  through the communication control module  510 . 
         [0087]    Of course, if it is judged that the corresponding electrical devices  10  are legal devices by the device legality examination module  520 , the control command generation module  540  generates a command to maintain the corresponding electrical devices  10  in the network and transmits the control command to the management server  100  through the communication control module  510 . 
         [0088]    Meanwhile, the management server  100  transmits the legality examination result from the authentication server  500 , to the device management module  120 . Accordingly, the device management module  120  manages the corresponding electrical device  10  to be removed from or maintained in the network depending on the control command from the authentication server  500 . 
         [0089]    The operation of the present invention configured as above will now be described in more detail. 
         [0090]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing an operational flow of a smart energy management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0091]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the smart meter  400  connected with the electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group or the LCD  330  of the load controller  300  measures the power consumption amount of the electrical device  10  (S 900 ). At this time, the smart meter  400  transmits the power consumption information of the electrical device using group and the LCD  330  transmits power consumption information of each connected electrical device to the gateway  200  (S 910 ). 
         [0092]    The gateway  200  receives the power consumption information of the electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device ( 10 ) using group from the smarter meter  400  or the LCD  330  (S 910 ) and transmits it to the management server  100  (S 920 ). At this time, the signal of the ZigBee communication scheme received from the smart meter  400  or the LCD  330  is transmitted while being converted into the signal of the wired communication scheme recognizable by the management server  100 . 
         [0093]    Meanwhile, the management server  100  collects the power consumption information of the electrical device using group from the gateway  200  and stores it (S 930 ). 
         [0094]    At this time, the management server  100  analyzes the collected power consumption information to acquire the power consumption pattern of the electrical device using group (S 940 ) and estimates the power consumption for a predetermined period on the basis of the acquired power consumption pattern (S 950 ). Further, the management server  100  compares the threshold value with the estimated power consumption (S 960 ) and according to the result, the management server  100  generates the control command to limit the power consumption of the electrical device  10  of the electrical device using group (S 970 ). At step ‘S 960 ’, the management server  100  performs a step after step ‘S 970 ’ when the estimation result of the power consumption is larger than the threshold value. 
         [0095]    The control command generated at step ‘S 970 ’ is transmitted to the load controller  300  controlling the electrical device  10  that belongs to the electrical device using group through the gateway  200  (S 980  and S 990 ). At this time, the gateway  200  converts the control command from the management server  100  into the signal of the ZigBee communication scheme from the signal of the wired communication scheme and transmits it to the load controller  300 . 
         [0096]    Accordingly, the load controller  300  controls power consumption of the corresponding device  10  in accordance with the control command from the management server  100  or outputs a control message included in the control command to notify execution of power control to a user (S 1000 ). 
         [0097]    As described above, the apparatus and method for smart energy management by controlling power consumption according to the embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described as above, but the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all the embodiments or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made.