Patent Publication Number: US-2022239131-A1

Title: User interface providing device, method of providing discharge capacity of secondary battery system, and method of providing charge/discharge capacity of secondary battery system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a user interface providing device, a method of providing a discharge capacity of a secondary battery system, and a method of providing a charge-discharge capacity of secondary battery system. 
     Description of the Background Art 
     A NaS battery system including a natrium-sulfur (NaS) battery is used by an owner having the NaS battery system. The owner can recognize a state of the NaS battery system with reference to a screen displayed on a terminal provided with the NaS battery system in many cases, and operates the terminal, thereby being able to drive the NaS battery system. A user who can recognize the state of the NaS battery system and drive the NaS battery system is limited to the owner in many cases. 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-176226 relates to a method of borrowing a free capacity of a rechargeable battery. In the method of borrowing the free capacity of the rechargeable battery, a consumer sets a free capacity and a free period of time of a lendable rechargeable battery and a price for lending. An electrical system operator determines a free capacity and a free period of time to borrow. A consumer side rechargeable battery charges and discharges a compensating amount of charge and discharge in accordance with an instruction from the electrical system operator. The electrical system operator measures a used electrical power amount and pays a price to the consumer. 
     The NaS battery can discharge large electrical power for a long period of time. Thus, the NaS battery system including the NaS battery potentially has a discharge capacity which can be provided to a plurality of users other than the owner. 
     However, a scheme of providing the plurality of users other than the owner with the discharge capacity of the NaS battery system is not conventionally provided, thus the discharge capacity which the NaS battery system potentially has is not sufficiently used. 
     This problem also occurs in a secondary battery system other than the NaS battery system. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a user interface providing device. 
     The user interface providing device includes an acquisition part, a receiving part, a determination part, and a generation part. 
     The acquisition part acquires a discharge capacity capable of providing to a whole plurality of users other than a main user in a discharge capacity of a secondary battery system. 
     The receiving part receives a logon of a user included in the plurality of users. 
     The determination part determines a usable discharge capacity for the logged-on user from the discharge capacity capable of providing to the whole plurality of users. 
     The generation part generates information indicating contents of a user interface screen including a screen element indicating the usable discharge capacity for the logged-on user. 
     The acquisition part, the receiving part, the determination part, and the generation part constituting the user interface providing device may be made up of a plurality of apparatuses. Two or more elements included in the acquisition part, the receiving part, the determination part, and the generation part may be made up of one apparatus. When the acquisition part, the receiving part, the determination part, and the generation part are made up of a plurality of apparatuses, the plurality of apparatuses are disposed in positions physically separated from each other, and communicably connected to each other via a communication line. 
     The present invention is also directed to a method of providing a discharge capacity of secondary battery system, and a method of providing a charge-discharge capacity of secondary battery system. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, the user who has logged on can recognize the usable discharge capacity in the discharge capacity of the secondary battery system. Accordingly, the scheme of providing the plurality of users other than the main user such as the owner with the discharge capacity of the secondary battery system can be provided. 
     Therefore, the problem to be solved by present invention is to provide a scheme of providing a plurality of users other than a main user such as an owner with a discharge capacity which a secondary battery system potentially has. 
     These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a multiuse system. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a user interface providing device included in the multiuse system. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a user interface providing device included in the multiuse system. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically illustrating a user interface screen provided in the multiuse system. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the user interface screen provided in the multiuse system. 
         FIG. 6  is a graph illustrating examples of a charge-discharge capacity of natrium-sulfur (NaS) battery system, a charge-discharge capacity used by a main user, and a usable charge-discharge capacity for a plurality of users other than the main user in the multiuse system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     1 Multiuse System 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a multiuse system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     A multiuse system  1  according to the embodiment 1 in  FIG. 1  includes a natrium-sulfur (NaS) battery system  11 , a virtual server  12 , and a plurality of clients  13 . 
     The NaS battery system  11  discharges AC power. The discharged AC power is stepped up by a transformer  21 . The stepped-up AC power is supplied to a system  22 . The AC power supplied from the system  22  is stepped-down by the transformer  21 . The NaS battery system  11  is charged by the stepped-down AC power. 
     The NaS battery system  11  is one NaS battery system delivered in one arrangement position. The NaS battery system  11  may be a plurality of NaS battery systems delivered in a plurality of arrangement positions, respectively. 
     A main user  31  of the NaS battery system  11  such as an owner thereof can monopolize the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11 , or can release the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11  to a plurality of users  32  other than the main user  31 . When the main user  31  monopolizes the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11 , only the main user  31  can use the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11 . When the main user  31  releases the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11  to the plurality of users  32 , at least one user included in the main user  31  and the plurality of users  32  can use the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11 . 
     The virtual server  12  acquires, from the NaS battery system  11 , the charge-discharge capacity capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32  in the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11 . The charge-discharge capacity capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32  is a charge-discharge capacity obtained by subtracting the charge-discharge capacity used by the main user  31  from the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11 . The virtual server  12  receives a logon of a user  32 L included in the plurality of users  32 . The virtual server  12  determines the usable charge-discharge capacity for the logged-on user  32 L from the charge-discharge capacity capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32 . The virtual server  12  provides the logged-on user  32 L with a user interface screen indicating the usable charge-discharge capacity for the logged-on user  32 L. 
     The plurality of clients  13  can access to the virtual server  12 . The plurality of users  32  are able to make the plurality of clients  13  access to the virtual server  12 , respectively, and to log on the virtual server  12  via the plurality of clients  13 , respectively. Two or more users may log on the virtual server  12  via one client. The user interface screen described above is provided to the logged-on user  32 L to the virtual server  12  via a client  13 L having access to the virtual server  12 . 
     The virtual server  12  and the plurality of clients  13  are connected to Internet. Thus, the virtual server  12  is a web human machine interface (web HMI) server providing user interface on Internet. An address of the virtual server  12  is open to the plurality of users  32 . Accordingly, the plurality of users  32  are able to make the plurality of clients  13  have access to the virtual server  12 , respectively. Each user  32   i  included in the plurality of users  32  is an account user having an account for logging on the virtual server  12 . The account of each account user  32   i  is set by the main user  31 , and given from the main user  31  to each user  32   i . The main user  31  sets the account given to each account user  23   i  to a user interface providing device  51  described hereinafter. It is also applicable that the account of each account user  32   i  is set by an account manager other than the main user  31  and given from the account manager to each account user  32   i . The account manager may set the account given to each account user  23   i  to the user interface providing device  51  described hereinafter. 
     The virtual server  12  is built in the NaS battery system  11 . It is also applicable that the virtual server  12  is not built in the NaS battery system  11  but may be replaced with a physical server communicably connected to the NaS battery system  11 . Any connection is applicable as a connection of the physical server to the NaS battery system  11 , thus any of wireless connection and wired connection is also applicable. The connection is performed using Internet or a mobile communication network, for example. 
     2 NaS Battery System 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the NaS battery system  11  includes a NaS battery  41 , an AC-DC converter  42 , a NaS battery control device  43 , an AC-DC converter control device  44 , and a terminal  45 . 
     The NaS battery  41  discharges DC power. The AC-DC converter  42  converts the discharged DC power into AC power discharged by the NaS battery system  11 . The AC-DC converter  42  converts the AC power for charging the NaS battery system  11  into DC power. The NaS battery  41  is charged by the DC power. The AC-DC converter control device  44  controls the AC-DC converter  42 . The NaS battery control device  43  acquires information from the NaS battery  41  and the AC-DC converter control device  44 , controls the NaS battery  41 , and transmits an instruction to the AC-DC converter  42  via the AC-DC converter control device  44 . The NaS battery control device  43  calculates the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11  and a state of the NaS battery system  11  other than the charge-discharge capacity from the acquired information, the control which has been performed, and the transmitted instruction, for example. The terminal  45  receives an input of a plurality of priorities given to the plurality of users  32 , respectively. The plurality of priorities are inputted by the main user  31 . The plurality of priorities may be inputted by an account manager other than the main user  31 . The NaS battery control device  43  acquires the inputted plurality of priorities, and calculates the charge-discharge capacity capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32  in the charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11  and the usable charge-discharge capacity for each account user  32   i  based on the acquired plurality of priorities. 
     The virtual server  12  is installed in the terminal  45 . A function of the virtual server  12  may be mounted on the NaS battery control device  43 . The function of the virtual server  12  may be provided by a cloud system. 
     The NaS battery system  11  having a configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be replaced with a NaS battery system having a configuration different from that illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The NaS battery  41  is an example of a secondary battery, and the NaS battery system  11  including the NaS battery  41  is an example of a secondary battery system including the secondary battery. Thus, the NaS battery system  11  including the NaS battery  41  may be replaced with a secondary battery system including a secondary battery other than the NaS battery  41 . The secondary battery other than the NaS battery  41  is a redox flow battery, a lithium battery, a nickel hydride battery, and a lead storage battery, for example. The NaS battery  41  has advantages that it has a large battery capacity, and can charge and discharge the battery for a long period of time, thus a future forecast of the battery capacity can be easily performed. 
     The virtual server  12 , the NaS battery control device  43 , and the terminal  45  may be made up of one apparatus or a plurality of apparatuses. When the virtual server  12 , the NaS battery control device  43 , and the terminal  45  are made up of the plurality of apparatuses, each of the virtual server  12 , the NaS battery control device  43 , and the terminal  45  may be made up of one apparatus, or two elements selected from the virtual server  12 , the NaS battery control device  43 , and the terminal  45  may be made up of one apparatus. 
     3 User Interface Providing Device and User Interface Screen 
       FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are block diagrams each schematically illustrating a user interface providing device included in the multiuse system. 
     The user interface providing device  51  illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  is made up of the virtual server  12  and the NaS battery control device  43 . 
     The user interface providing device  51  includes an acquisition part  61 , a receiving part  62 , a determination part  63 , and a generation part  64 . These elements may be made up of a computer executing a program, or may also be made up of hardware. 
     The user interface providing device  51  handles a charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 , a charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32 , a usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L, a state  74  of the NaS battery system  11 , a plurality of priorities  75  provided to the plurality of users  32 , respectively, a charge-discharge capacity  76  desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use, a usable charge-discharge capacity  77  for each account user  32   i , and information (interface screen information)  78  indicating contents of a user interface screen. Each of the charge-discharge capacities  72 ,  73 ,  76 , and  77  includes a charge capacity and a discharge capacity. Only discharge capacity may be handled in place of the charge-discharge capacities  72 ,  73 ,  76 , and  77 , respectively. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically illustrating a user interface screen provided in the multiuse system. 
     A user interface screen  81  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is provided by the user interface providing device  51  illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
     The user interface screen  81  includes a screen element  91  indicating the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 , a screen element  92  indicating the charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32 , a screen element  93  indicating the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L, a screen element  94  receiving an input of the charge-discharge capacity  76  desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use, a screen element  95  indicating a state of the NaS battery system  11 , and the other screen element  96 . The screen element  91  and the screen element  92  may be included in the user interface screen  81  only when the user  32 L who has logged on is the main user  31 . 
     4 Display of Usable Charge-Discharge Capacity for Logged-on User 
     The acquisition part  61  acquires, from the NaS battery control device  43 , the charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32  in the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 . 
     The charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32  includes a charge-discharge capacity forecasted to be capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32  in each period of time included in a plurality of future periods of time. The forecast of the charge-discharge capacity includes a forecast of charge-discharge electrical power and/or charge-discharge electrical power amount. 
     The receiving part  62  receives a logon of the user  32 L included in the plurality of users  32 . 
     The determination part  63  determines the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L from the charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32 , acquired by the acquisition part  61 . 
     The usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L is a charge-discharge capacity specific to the logged-on user  32 L changing in accordance with the logged-on user  32 L. 
     The usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L includes a charge-discharge capacity forecasted to be usable for the logged-on user  32 L in each period of time included in a plurality of future periods of time. The forecast of the usable charge-discharge capacity includes a forecast of charge-discharge electrical power and/or charge-discharge electrical power amount. 
     The generation part  64  generates, as the interface screen information  78 , the information to indicate the screen element  93  indicating the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L. 
     The user interface screen  81  is a user interface screen specific to the logged-on user  32 L changing in accordance with the logged-on user  32 L. 
     The interface screen information  78  includes a hypertext markup language (HTML) document, for example. The generation part  64  transmits the interface screen information  78  to the client  13 L. The client  13 L renders the interface screen information  78 , and displays the user interface screen  81  including the contents indicated by the information  78 . 
     Accordingly, the logged-on user  32 L can recognize the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  in the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 . Thus, with the multiuse system according to the present embodiment, it becomes possible to provide the scheme of providing the plurality of users  32  other than the main user  31  with the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 . For instance, it becomes possible to use the NaS battery system  11  for a visual power plant (VPP) or an adjusting power project, for example. 
     5 Priority 
     The acquisition part  61  acquires the plurality of priorities  75  given to the plurality of users  32 , respectively, from the terminal  45 . The plurality of priorities  75  given to the plurality of users  32 , respectively, are determined by consultations between the main user  31  and the plurality of users  32 . An account manager other than the main user  31  may have a role in the determination of the plurality of priorities  75 . 
     The determination part  63  selects the priority given to the logged-on user  32 L from the plurality of priorities  75  given to the plurality of users  32 , respectively. The determination part  63  determines the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L so that the logged-on user  32 L having higher priority can preferentially use the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 . 
     For example, in a case where the priority given to a first user is higher than that given to a second user, if the charge-discharge capacity desired by the first user to use and the charge-discharge capacity desired by the second user to use compete against each other, the usable charge-discharge capacity for the first user is determined so that the charge-discharge capacity desired by the first user to use can be used by the first user. 
     1.6 Input of Charge-Discharge Capacity which User Desires to Use 
     The generation part  64  also generates, as the interface screen information  78 , the information to indicate the screen element  94  receiving the input of the charge-discharge capacity  76  desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use. 
     The determination part  63  determines the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for each user  32   i  from the charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32 . When the input of the charge-discharge capacity  76  desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use is received, the determination part  63  updates the usable charge-discharge capacity  77  for each account user  32   i , to reflect the charge-discharge capacity  76  desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use on the usable charge-discharge capacity  77  for each account user  32   i.    
     The charge-discharge capacity  76  desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use includes a charge-discharge capacity desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use in a future period of time. The charge-discharge capacity includes a charge-discharge electrical power and/or a charge-discharge electrical power amount. 
     7 Display of Charge-Discharge Capacity of NaS Battery System 
     The acquisition part  61  acquires the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11  from the terminal  45 . 
     The charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11  includes a forecasted charge-discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11  in each period of time included in a plurality of future periods of time. The forecast of the charge-discharge capacity includes a forecast of charge-discharge electrical power and/or charge-discharge electrical power amount. 
     The generation part  64  also generates, as the screen interface information  78 , the information to indicate the screen element  91  indicating the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 , acquired by the acquisition part  61 . 
     8 Display of Charge-Discharge Capacity Capable of Providing to the Whole Plurality of Users 
     The acquisition part  61  acquires, from the terminal  45 , the charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32  as described above. 
     The generation part  64  also generates, as the screen information  78 , the information to indicate the screen element  92  indicating the charge-discharge capacity  72  capable of providing to the whole plurality of users  32 . 
     9 Display of State of NaS Battery System 
     The acquisition part  61  acquires a state  74  of the NaS battery system  11  other than the charge-discharge capacity  71 . 
     The state  74  of the NaS battery system  11  includes presence or absence of failure in the NaS battery system  11  and a current charge-discharge electrical power of the NaS battery system  11 , for example. 
     The generation part  64  also generates, as the information  78 , the information to indicate the screen element  95  indicating the state  74  of the NaS battery system  11 . 
     10 Other Screen Element 
     The generation part  64  also generates, as the information  78 , the information to indicate the other screen element  96  than the screen elements  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 , and  95  described above. 
     11 Authority of Main User 
     The main user  31  has an authority of limiting an authority of each user  32   i  using the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11  at will. Thus, the main user  31  can change an account and a priority given to each user  32   i  at an optional timing and terminate an account given to each user  32   i  at an optional timing. The main user  31  can change the usable charge-discharge capacity  77  for each account user  32   i  and the screen elements  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 ,  95 , and  96  included in the user interface screen  81  at an optional timing. Change of the charge-discharge capacity  77  includes change of a period of time in which the charge and discharge can be performed and change of the charge-discharge electrical power and/or charge-discharge electrical power amount in a period of time in which the charge and discharge can be performed. Change of the screen elements  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 ,  95 , and  96  includes limitation of the contents of the information indicated by the screen elements  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 ,  95 , and  96 . 
     12 Example of User Interface Screen 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram schematically illustrating a user interface screen provided in the multiuse system. 
     The user interface screen  81  illustrated in  FIG. 5  includes the screen element  91  indicating the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11 , the screen element  93  indicating the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L, the screen element  94  receiving the input of the charge-discharge capacity  76  desired by the logged-on user  32 L to use, the screen element  95  indicating the state of the NaS battery system  11 , and the other screen element  96 . 
     The screen element  91  indicating the charge-discharge capacity  71  of the NaS battery system  11  includes a graph. The graph includes a forecast of the charge-discharge electrical power amount in which the NaS battery system  11  can charge and discharge the power in each period of time included in a plurality of future periods of time, a past record of the charge-discharge electrical power amount in which the NaS battery system  11  could charge and discharge the power in each period of time included in a plurality of past periods of time, and a past record of the charge-discharge electrical power amount in which the NaS battery system  11  can charge and discharge the power in a current period of time. The graph is drawn so that reliability of the forecast can be understood by a difference of a display state of a color, for example. 
     The screen element  93  indicating the usable charge-discharge capacity  73  for the logged-on user  32 L includes a graph. The graph includes a forecast of the usable charge/discharge capacity for the logged-on user  32 L in each period of time included in a plurality of future periods of time, a past record of the usable charge/discharge capacity for the logged-on user  32 L in each period of time included in a plurality of past periods of time, and a past record of the usable charge/discharge electrical power for the logged-on user  32 L in a current period of time. 
     Each period of time has a length of thirty minutes. A segment number for identifying each period of time is given to each period of time. Each period of time may have any length longer than thirty minutes or any length shorter than thirty minutes. 
     The screen element  94  receiving the input of the desired charge/discharge capacity  76  for the logged-on user  32 L to use includes a graphical user interface (GUI) component  101  receiving an input whether or not the logged-on user  32 L uses the charge/discharge capacity in each period of time for each period of time included in a plurality of periods of time and a GUI component  102  receiving an input of the desired charge-discharge electrical power for the logged-on user  32 L to use in each period of time, for example. 
     The screen element  95  indicating the state of the NaS battery system  11  includes a display region  111  displaying presence or absence of failure in the NaS battery system  11 , for example. 
     The screen element  96  includes the display region  121  displaying the information for specifying the logged-on user  32 L, a display region  122  displaying information indicating a priority given to the logged-on user  32 L, a display region  123  displaying information indicating the number of logged-on users, and a display region  124  displaying information indicating a time for which the logged-on user  32 L can maintain a logon state. 
     The other screen element  96  includes an order button  131  and a cancel button  132 , for example. When the order button  131  is operated, an instruction of requesting the charge and discharge at the charge-discharge electrical power corresponding to the input received by the GUI component  102  at the period of time corresponding to the input received by the GUI component  101  is transmitted to the NaS battery control device  43  via the virtual server  12 . When the cancel button  132  is operated, an instruction of requesting cancelling of the charge and discharge at the charge-discharge electrical power corresponding to the input received by the GUI component  102  at the period of time corresponding to the input received by the GUI component  101  is transmitted to the NaS battery control device  43  via the virtual server  12 . Contents of these instructions are reflected on a graph included in the screen element  91 , a graph included in the screen element  93 , and a graph illustrated in  FIG. 6  described hereinafter. 
     13 Example of Charge-Discharge Capacity of NaS Battery System, Charge-Discharge Capacity Set to be Used by Main User, and Charge-Discharge Capacity Set to be Used by Plurality of Users 
       FIG. 6  is a graph indicating an example of a charge-discharge capacity of NaS battery system, a charge-discharge capacity set to be used by a main user, and a charge-discharge capacity set to be used by a plurality of users other than the main user in the multiuse system. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates that a sum of the charge/discharge capacity set to be used by the main user  31  and the charge/discharge capacity set to be used by the plurality of users  32  such as “USER A” and “USER C” is equal to or smaller than the charge/discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11  illustrated by a broken line and the charge/discharge capacity set to be used by the plurality of users  32  is obtained by subtracting the charge/discharge capacity set to be used by the main user  31  from the charge/discharge capacity of the NaS battery system  11 . 
     The present invention has been shown and described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is therefore understood that numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.