Abstract:
The purpose of the present invention is to minimize impact on the comfort of people in a room and to achieve energy conservation in heat-source functions in an energy network comprising a plurality of heat-source functions that generate cold water and/or warm water, and a plurality of air-conditioning functions that obtain an air-conditioning effect by consuming the cold water and/or warm water generated by the heat-source functions. Disclosed is an energy network comprising a plurality of heat-source functions that generate thermal energy, and a plurality of air-conditioning functions that obtain an air-conditioning effect by consuming the thermal energy generated by the heat-source functions, wherein the energy network comprises: a first control function that selectively starts or stops the heat-source functions; and a second control function that controls the output of the air-conditioning functions. When the first control function starts or stops the heat-source function(s), the second control function controls the total load of the plurality of air-conditioning functions to a desired magnitude.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a thermal demand adjustment device for an energy network and a thermal demand adjustment method for an energy network. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A technology in which air-conditioning in a room is performed by supplying cold water (warm water) generated by a refrigerator (water heater) through a water pipe to an air conditioner provided in each room is realized. The air conditioner controls temperature of each room by using heat obtained by receiving the cold water (warm water). However, the refrigerator (water heater) is operated to supply the cold water (warm water) corresponding to temperature control. In this technology, in order to achieve energy conservation of efficient energy consumption, a technology in which a target value range of a comfort index value is previously stored, and a system is controlled by the comfort index value within the target value range so as to reduce energy consumption is known. The technology is described in JP-A-2013-50302 (PTL 1). 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0003]    PTL 1: JP-A-2013-50302 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0004]    Here, energy consumption of an air conditioner and comfort are generally in a trade-off relationship. That is, in the related art, when the energy consumption of air-conditioning is maximally reduced, the comfort is lowered up to an allowed limit point and this state is continued for a long time. In other words, for example, when temperature that people in the room hope is 26° C. and an upper limit of a comfort range is 28° C., a room temperature is always set to 28° C., in the related art. Accordingly, there is a problem that a setting temperature of the air-conditioning deviates over a long time from a setting temperature (26° C.) that the people in the room hope, and even though the room temperature is in a range which is allowed by the people in the room, the comfort is deteriorated. 
         [0005]    An object of the invention is to provide a thermal demand adjustment device for an energy network and a thermal demand adjustment method for an energy network capable of realizing comfort of people in a room even while achieving energy conservation in energy consumption. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0006]    In order to achieve the object, the invention is intended to adopt a configuration described in a range of aspects, and, according to an example thereof, configured to generate a number of operating units notification signal indicating which heat-source device is to be operated among a plurality of heat-source devices, calculate a thermal demand exchanged in an air conditioner, and generate an instruction value for the air conditioner so as to increase efficiency of the heat-source device based on load characteristics of the heat-source device according to the calculated thermal demand. 
         [0007]    Specifically, disclosed is an energy network including a plurality of heat-source functions that generate thermal energy, and a plurality of air-conditioning functions that obtain an air-conditioning effect by consuming the thermal energy generated by the heat-source functions, in which the energy network includes a first control function that selectively starts or stops the heat-source functions, and a second control function that controls output of the air-conditioning functions. When the first control function starts or stops the heat-source functions, the second control function controls the total load of the plurality of air-conditioning functions to a desired magnitude. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0008]    According to the invention, it is possible to realize comfort of people in a room even while achieving energy conservation of energy consumption. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an overall system configuration of a thermal demand adjustment device for an energy network. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an example of an interface of an input function  0105 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an example of an interface of an output function  0106 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a trend determination function  0112 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an example of a data format of a demand history database  0111 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an example of a data format of a refrigerator characteristics database  0114 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a graph of an example of efficiency characteristics with respect to a load factor of a refrigerator. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an outline of processing content of a load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an outline of a process of an air-conditioning output determination function  0116 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart of the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an example of a data format of a setting temperature database  0117 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an energy conservation effect according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is an overall system configuration of a thermal demand adjustment device for an energy network. 
         [0024]    Reference numeral  0101  represents a refrigerator (when it is used as heating, instead of freezing function, it is operated as a heating function. This is collectively referred as to a “heat-source device”). Here, a case where three refrigerators ( 0101   a ,  0101   b , and  0101   c ) are installed as an example is represented. Even though it is not illustrated, the refrigerator  0101  includes a peripheral device (control device of inverter, cooling tower, or the like) required for driving the refrigerator. In addition, the refrigerator  0101  supplies cold water, which will be described below, to a first water pipe  0107 , and receives the warm water from a second water pipe  0108  (when being used for heating, the refrigerator supplies warm water to the first water pipe  0107  and receives water of which temperature is lowered from the second water pipe  0108 ). 
         [0025]    The refrigerator  0101  is operated to maintain temperature of the first water pipe  0107  at a predetermined temperature in cooperation with a pump (water supply amount of first water pipe  0107  and second water pipe  0108  is controlled) (not illustrated). 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the refrigerator  0101  receives an increase or decrease stage instruction from an increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 , which will be described below, and outputs cold water load information to a trend determination function  0112  and a load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 . 
         [0027]    Reference numeral  0102  represents a room such as an office or the like. An air conditioner  0103 , a sensor function  0104 , an input function  0105 , and an output function  0106 , which will be described below, are provided in the room  0102 . Here, as an example, a case where the number of rooms in a demand side is three is represented ( 0102   a ,  0102   b , and  0102   c ). In addition, devices of  0103  to  0106  are provided in each room. 
         [0028]    Reference numeral  0103  represents the air conditioner. The air conditioner  0103  obtains cold heat from the cold water received through the first water pipe  0107 , which will be described below, and adjusts temperature of air in the room  0106  by using this. In addition, an amount of the cold heat obtained from the cold water is adjusted based on air-conditioning setting temperature information transmitted by the air-conditioning output function  0116 , which will be described below. 
         [0029]    Reference numeral  0104  represents a sensor function. The sensor function  0104  outputs a measurement value of a room temperature in the room in which this function is installed and setting temperature information of the air-conditioning to the increase or decrease stage determination function  0113  and the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 , which will be described below. 
         [0030]    Reference numeral  0105  represents an input function. The input function  0105  is an interface for setting an upper limit value, a reference value, and a lower limit value of the air-conditioning setting temperature by people in the room in which this function is installed. When the room temperature goes up or down under control of a thermal demand adjustment device  0109 , the upper limit value of the air-conditioning setting temperature is an upper limit value of the room temperature that the people in the room allow. In addition, when it is assumed that the air-conditioning is operated by setting the air-conditioning setting temperature at all times in a constant, the reference value of the air-conditioning setting temperature is an air-conditioning temperature set by the people in the room. In other words, the reference value is an air-conditioning temperature at which the people in the room feel that the room is in the most comfortable. When the room temperature goes up or down under the control of the thermal demand adjustment device  0109 , the lower limit value of the air-conditioning setting temperature is a lower limit value of the room temperature that the people in the room allow. 
         [0031]    The input function  0105  outputs the upper limit value, the reference value, and the lower limit value of the air-conditioning setting temperature to the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 , which will be described below. 
         [0032]    Reference numeral  0106  represents an output function. The output function  0106  displays a setting temperature instructed to the air conditioner  0103  in a corresponding living room in a time series under the control of the thermal demand adjustment device  0109 . 
         [0033]    Reference numeral  0107  represents the first water pipe. The first water pipe  0107  delivers the cold water generated by the refrigerator  0101  to the air conditioner  0103 . 
         [0034]    Reference numeral  0108  represents the second water pipe. The second water pipe  0108  delivers warm water after the cold heat is extracted by the air conditioner  0103  to the refrigerator  0101 . 
         [0035]    Reference numeral  0109  represents the thermal demand adjustment device. The thermal demand adjustment device  0109  can be realized as a general computer. The thermal demand adjustment device  0109  is configured by a weather forecast obtainment function  0110 , a demand history database  0111 , the trend determination function  0112 , the increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 , a refrigerator characteristics database  0114 , the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 , the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 , and a setting temperature database  0117 . The thermal demand adjustment device outputs an air-conditioning setting temperature to the air conditioner  0103  at constant intervals such as every 10 minutes, based on the cold water load information of the refrigerator  0101 , measurement value information of the sensor function  0104 , and setting information of the input function  0105 , and the refrigerator  0101  outputs the increase or decrease stage instruction. 
         [0036]    Reference numeral  0110  represents the weather forecast obtainment function. The weather forecast obtainment function  0110  obtains outside air temperature information corresponding to a time of a next control cycle from an outside of the thermal demand adjustment device  0109 , and the obtained information is transmitted to the trend determination function  0112 . 
         [0037]    Reference numeral  0111  represents the demand history database. The total of history of cold heat demand (that is, total value of cold water generation amount of entirety of air conditioners) is recorded for each control cycle in the demand history database  0111 . 
         [0038]    Reference numeral  0112  represents the trend determination function. The trend determination function  0112  obtains an outside air temperature forecast value at a timing of a next control cycle from the weather obtainment function  0110 , and past total cold heat demand information from the demand history database  0111 , and predicts the total cold heat demand at a timing of a next control cycle. Accordingly, a trend of three types such as whether the total cold heat demand increases, decreases, or is not greatly changed, is determined. A determined result of the trend is output to the increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 . 
         [0039]    Reference numeral  0113  represents the increase or decrease stage determination function. The increase or decrease stage determination function  0113  determines additional booting (increase stage) and additional stop (decrease stage) of the refrigerator by using the trend of the total cold heat demand output by the trend determination function  0112 , and room temperature information output by the sensor function  0104 , and outputs the increase or decrease stage instruction to the refrigerator  0101 . In addition, information of the number of running refrigerators is output to the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115  at a next control timing. 
         [0040]    Reference numeral  0114  represents a refrigerator characteristics database. In the refrigerator characteristics database  0114 , rated output information of the refrigerator  0101 , and operation efficiency information with respect to a load factor of the refrigerator  0101  are recorded for every refrigerator  0101 . 
         [0041]    Reference numeral  0115  represents the load adjustment amount calculation function. The load adjustment amount calculation function  0115  calculates the adjustment amount (hereinafter, it will be described as load adjustment amount) of the total cold heat demand required for operating the refrigerator in the maximum efficiency based on the information of the number of running refrigerators at the next control timing output by the increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 , recorded information of the refrigerator characteristics database  0114 , and the cold water load information output by the refrigerator  0101 . Accordingly, load adjustment amount information is output to the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 . 
         [0042]    Reference numeral  0116  represents the air-conditioning output determination function. The air-conditioning output determination function  0116  determines an instruction value of a setting temperature of each air conditioner  0103 , and outputs the determined instruction value to the air conditioner  0103 , on the basis of the load adjustment amount information output by the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 , and setting temperature database information, which will be described below. 
         [0043]    Reference numeral  0117  represents the setting temperature database. The setting temperature database  0117  is a table in which an increase or decrease amount of setting temperature of the air conditioner  0103  is recorded, and records the increase or decrease amount of the setting temperature of the air conditioner  0103  from a setting temperature before change, the room temperature of the room  0102 , and a cold heat amount to be increased by the air conditioner  0103 . 
         [0044]    Hereinafter, details of each function will be described. First, a function provided in a demand side is illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is an example of an interface of the input function  0105 . By using the function, the people in the room set a reference value  0201 , an upper limit value  0202 , and a lower limit value  0203  of the air-conditioning setting temperature. The reference value  0201  is a setting temperature selected by a user when it is not the energy conservation. The upper limit value  0202  is an allowed upper limit value when the thermal demand adjustment device for an energy network in the embodiment controls the air-conditioning setting temperature. The lower limit value  0203  is an allowed lower limit value when the thermal demand adjustment device for an energy network in the embodiment controls the air-conditioning setting temperature. Various devices are considered as a device for setting the reference value  0201 , the upper limit value  0202 , and the lower limit value  0203  by the people in the room. However, a touch panel on which the reference value  0201 , the upper limit value  0202 , and the lower limit value  0203  are displayed so as to increase or decrease the respective values is assumed in the embodiment. The reference value  0201 , the upper limit value  0202 , and the lower limit value  0203  are not necessary to be a constant value regardless of respective time zones, and the values may be changed according to the time zone. Furthermore, a “set” button  0204  is provided in the interface of the input function of the embodiment. When the “set” button  0204  is touched after the people in the room set values of the reference value  0201 , the upper limit value  0202 , and the lower limit value  0203 , information of the reference value  0201 , the upper limit value  0202 , and the lower limit value  0203  for every time is transmitted to the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is an example of an interface of the output function  0106 . A reference value  0301 , an upper limit value  0302 , and a lower limit value  0303  are the same values as the reference value  0201 , the upper limit value  0202 , and the lower limit value  0203  set in the input function  0105  by the people in the room, respectively. Reference numeral  0304  represents the setting temperature of the air conditioner, and is a value that is instructed to the air conditioner  0103  by the air-conditioning output setting function  0116 . By displaying the reference value  0301 , the upper limit value  0302 , the lower limit value  0303 , and the setting temperature of the air conditioner  0304  to the output function  0106 , since the people in the room can know that the room temperature is within a range between the upper limit value  0302  and the lower limit value  0303 , and difference between the room temperature and the reference value  0304 , it is possible to increase a degree of satisfaction of the people in the room. 
         [0047]    Next, a function provided in the thermal demand adjustment device  0109  will be described. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of the trend determination function  0112 . 
         [0049]    S 0401  is a process for recognizing the total cold water demand at the current time. The total cold water demand is obtained by summing up cold water loads sent from each refrigerator  0101 . 
         [0050]    S 0402  is a process for recognizing a control target time. The thermal demand adjustment device illustrated in the embodiment repeatedly instructs output of the air conditioner  0103  at constant intervals. In S 0402 , a time corresponding to the next control cycle with respect to the current time is recognized. 
         [0051]    S 0403  is a process for recognizing temperature forecast information. In the process, temperature information corresponding to the control target time recognized in S 0402  is obtained from the climate forecast obtainment function  0110 . 
         [0052]    S 0404  is a process for obtaining history data. In the process, with reference to the demand history database  0111  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the history data coinciding with conditions (date, time, day of week, and outside air temperature) at a timing of a next control cycle is obtained. An obtainment period may be arbitrarily set such as last 30 days from now and 30 days in a future direction from the same date of a year ago. 
         [0053]    Here, the demand history database  0111  will be described.  FIG. 5  is a data format of the demand history database. In accordance with the format, actual measurement value information of a past total cold water demand is recorded by being correlated with a date, a time, a day of week, and an outside air temperature. 
         [0054]    Returning to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0055]    S 0405  is a process for predicting a cold water demand of the control target time. In the process, a magnitude of the total cold water demand is predicted at the next control target time on the basis of the history data obtained in S 0404 . Any method may be used as the prediction method. In the prediction method, for example, it is considered to use a memory based reasoning (MBR) method. If an example of a prediction process of the total cold water demand using the MBR method is mentioned, first, in actual measurement value data of the past total cold water demand extracted in S 0404 , history data of which both the “day of week” and the “time” are the same as those of the next control target time is selected. Accordingly, by using the selected history data, it is possible to predict the magnitude of the total cold water demand at the next control target time according to performance of the MBR method using an outside air temperature value as parameters. 
         [0056]      0406  is a process for performing trend determination. In the process, it is determined whether the total cold water demand amount is a rising trend, a falling trend, or a no change trend, from magnitude difference between a current total cold water demand amount recognized in S 0401  and a total cold water demand prediction amount at the next control target time predicted in S 0405 . An example of a determination method is indicated as Equation 1. 
         [0000]      δ P=P 1− P 0  Equation 1
 
         [0057]    Here, P0 is a total cold water demand (obtained in S 0401 ) at the current time, and P1 is a prediction value (obtained in S 0405 ) of the total cold water demand at the next control target time. Accordingly, it is determined that
       it is the rising trend in a case of δP&gt;X,   it is the no change trend in a case of Y≦δP≦X, and   it is the falling trend in a case of δP&lt;Y.       
 
         [0061]    A determined result of the trend is sent to the increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 . 
         [0063]    S 0601  is a process for recognizing the number of current operating refrigerators. Information of the number of operating refrigerators is stored in an internal memory of the function  0113 , and the function  0113  refers to the stored information. 
         [0064]    S 0602  is a process for recognizing the trend of the cold water demand. Trend information of the cold water demand is received from the trend determination function  0112 . 
         [0065]    S 0603  is a process for condition branching in accordance with the trend of the cold water demand. When the cold water demand is the rising trend, the process proceeds to S 0604 . When the cold water demand is the falling trend, the process proceeds to S 0606 . When the cold water demand is the no change trend, the process proceeds to S 0608 . 
         [0066]    When the cold water demand is the rising trend, S 0604  is a branch in accordance with states of the number of operating refrigerators and a representative room temperature. The representative room temperature is the room temperature in a specific room when a plurality of the rooms  0102  exist. According to the embodiment, even though the plurality of rooms  0102  exist, since the room temperatures in respective rooms are equivalent, room temperature in any room  0102  may be selected. In the process  0604 , when the number of operating refrigerators is 0, or the number of operating refrigerators is greater than 0 and the representative room temperature is equal to or greater than a reference temperature  0201 +α (α≧0), it is determined as true determination, and the process proceeds to S 0605 . In a case of false determination, the process proceeds to S 0610 . 
         [0067]    S 0605  is a process for increasing one refrigerator. According to the process, one refrigerator having highest operation efficiency starts among the refrigerators stopped. 
         [0068]    S 0606  is a process for condition branching in accordance with the representative room temperature when the cold water demand is the falling trend. When the representative room temperature is smaller than the reference temperature  0201 −β, it is determined as the true determination, the process proceeds to S 0607 . When the number of operating refrigerators is greater than one, the value of β is set to be β&gt;0, and when the number of operating refrigerators is one, the value of β is set to be β=0. In the process, in a case of the false determination, the process proceeds to S 0610 . 
         [0069]    S 0607  is a process for decreasing one refrigerator. According to the process, one refrigerator having lowest operation efficiency is stopped among the refrigerators in operation. 
         [0070]    S 0608  is a process for condition branching in accordance with the number of operating refrigerators and the reference temperature when the total cold water demand is the no change trend. When the number of operating refrigerators is 0 and the representative room temperature is equal to or greater than the reference temperature  0201 +γ, it is determined as the true determination, the process proceeds to S 0605 . In a case of the false determination, the process proceeds to S 0609 . The value of γ may arbitrarily be set. 
         [0071]    In S 0609 , when the number of operating refrigerators is one and the representative room temperature is less than the reference temperature  0201 +δ, it is determined as the true determination, and the process proceeds to S 0607 . Meanwhile, in a case of the false determination, the process proceeds to S 0610 . The value of 6 may arbitrarily be set. 
         [0072]    S 0610  is a process for notifying the number of operating units. Information of the number of operating refrigerators to which a result of increased or decreased unit is received is transmitted to the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 7  is an example of a data format of the refrigerator characteristics database  0114 . In the database, efficiency information is recorded with respect to the rated output and the load factor for each refrigerator. 
         [0074]      FIG. 8  is a graph of an example of efficiency characteristics with respect to the load factor illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Since operation efficiency is different for each refrigerator, efficiency is also different according to the refrigerator at the same load factor, as illustrated in the diagram. Here, the refrigerators have good operation efficiency in order of the refrigerators A, B, and C, and each of the refrigerators has highest efficiency when the load factor is 1. In the example, even in any load factor, the refrigerators have good efficiency in order of the refrigerator A, the refrigerator B, and the refrigerator C. However, this is because to easily explain an example. For example, a system in which the efficiency of the refrigerator B is better than that of the refrigerator A in a load factor of 0.7, and, furthermore, the efficiency of the refrigerator C is better than that of the refrigerators A and B in a load factor of 0.8, may be used. In addition, in the example, although efficiency monotonically increases in any of the load factors, this is because to easily explain an example. For example, a system in which efficiency in load 0.85 may be best in the refrigerator A, efficiency in load 0.8 may be best in the refrigerator B, and efficiency in load 0.75 may be best in the refrigerator C may be used. 
         [0075]    An average value of the operation efficiency of each refrigerator may be used for the total operation efficiency of refrigerators at the time of operating the plurality of refrigerators. 
         [0076]      FIG. 9  is an outline of process content of the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 . It relates to an efficiency pattern with respect to a load factor when n units of the refrigerators are operated. Similar to an example of efficiency characteristics with respect to the load factor illustrated in  FIG. 8 , for example, if a load factor of any one of the refrigerators A, B, and C is smaller than load 1 and efficiency becomes best, a system of which efficiency becomes best in, for example, load 0.95 even in  FIG. 9  can be implemented. 
         [0077]    In efficiency characteristics with respect to the load factor illustrated in  FIG. 9 , for example, it is assumed that the current load factor is 0.3. At this time, since the total operation efficiency of the refrigerator is maximized when the load factor is 1, an increase amount of the load factor is set so as to set the load factor from 0.3 to 1 according to the process. 
         [0078]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 . 
         [0079]    S 1001  is a process for recognizing the refrigerator in operation. That is, it is recognized which refrigerator is in running. A recognition method of the refrigerator in running recognizes that the refrigerator is in operation in order of high operation efficiency, based on information of the number of operating units received from the increase or decrease stage determination function  0113 . 
         [0080]    S 1002  is a process for recognizing refrigerator characteristics. Efficiency for the load factor is obtained with respect to the refrigerator which is recognized to be in operation in S 1001  with reference to the refrigerator characteristics database  0114 . Furthermore, by calculating an average value of the efficiency of the refrigerator in operation, efficiency with respect to the load factor in the total refrigerators is calculated. 
         [0081]    S 1003  is a process for recognizing the current total cold water demand. The current total cold water demand may be obtained by summing up magnitudes of the cold water load sent from each refrigerator  0101 . 
         [0082]    S 1004  is a process for calculating the load factor. A current load factor value is obtained by dividing the total cold water demand calculated in S 1003  by a summation value of the rated output of the refrigerator being currently in operation which is recognized with reference to the refrigerator characteristics database  0114 . 
         [0083]    S 1005  is a process for calculating a load factor increase amount. An increase width used for increasing the load factor value calculated in S 1004  to a load factor by which the entirety of the refrigerators can be operated in maximum efficiency is calculated. 
         [0084]    S 1006  is a process for calculating a load increase amount. In order to calculate the load increase amount, the summation value of the rated output in the refrigerator being currently in operation may be integrated with the increase width of the load factor obtained in S 1005 . Information of the load increase amount is output to the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an outline of a process for the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 . In the process, a process for allocating a magnitude of the load increase amount calculated in the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115  for each air conditioner is performed. Here, an image in which magnitudes of the load increase amount are allocated in the air conditioners A, B, and C is illustrated. 
         [0086]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart of the air-conditioning output determination function  0116 . 
         [0087]    S 1201  is a process for recognizing the load increase amount. Information of the load increase amount is received from the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 . 
         [0088]    S 1202  is a process for estimating a ratio of an indoor thermal load for each air conditioner. Thermal load refers to energy produced by all of a heat-source (human, computer, or the like) being inside the room or heat invaded from outside of the room. In the process, a ratio of the magnitude of the thermal load for each air conditioner is obtained. A method for obtaining the ratio may be any method. For example, when the number of the air conditioners is three, if the air conditioners are operated while maintaining the air-conditioning output at a constant and room temperature increase amounts are 1° C., 1° C., and 2° C., respectively, at a constant time, it is possible to obtain the ratio of the magnitude of the thermal load as 1:1:2. 
         [0089]    S 1203  is a process for allocating the load increase amount for each air conditioner. The allocation of the load adjustment amount for each air conditioner is performed by using Equation 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Q 
                     n 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       Q 
                       0 
                     
                     × 
                     
                       
                         R 
                         n 
                       
                       
                         
                           ∑ 
                           
                             i 
                             = 
                             1 
                           
                           N 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         
                           R 
                           i 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   Equation 
                    
                   
                       
                   
                    
                   2 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0090]    Here, Qn is the load increase amount with respect to the air conditioner n, Q0 is the load increase amount calculated in the load adjustment amount calculation function  0115 , Rn is the ratio of the magnitude of the thermal load of the air conditioner n obtained in S 1202 , and N is the number of the air conditioners. 
         [0091]    S 1024  is a process for determining a setting temperature for each air conditioner. In the process, by referring to information of the setting temperature database  0117 , a setting temperature for actually increasing the load amount to be increased for each air conditioner calculated in S 1203  is determined. In order to determine the setting temperature, the setting temperature database  0117  is used.  FIG. 13  is an example of a data format of the setting temperature database  0117 . In the database, an amount of change in a setting temperature for increasing a desired load is recorded for each air conditioner. Data to be recorded in the database may be appropriately customized for each outside air temperature, for each pre-air-conditioning setting temperature, or the like. In S 1204 , a new setting temperature is determined by adding the amount of change in the setting temperature recorded in the setting temperature database  0117  to the pre-air-conditioning setting temperature received from the sensor  0104 . 
         [0092]    S 1205  is a process for condition branching according to comparison between the setting temperature determined in S 1204  and the upper limit temperature  0202  set by the people in the room. When the setting temperature determined in S 1204  is equal to or greater than the upper limit temperature  0202 , the process proceeds to S 1206  and the setting temperature is set to the upper limit temperature in S 1206 . Meanwhile, in S 1205 , when the setting temperature determined in S 1204  is less than the upper limit temperature  0202 , the process proceeds to S 1207 . 
         [0093]    S 1207  is a process for condition branching according to comparison between the setting temperature determined in S 1204  and the lower limit temperature  0203  set by the people in the room. When the setting temperature determined in S 1204  is equal to or less than the lower limit temperature  0203 , the process proceeds to S 1208  and the setting temperature is set to the lower limit temperature in S 1208 . Meanwhile, in S 1207 , when the setting temperature determined in S 1204  is greater than the lower limit temperature  0203 , the setting temperature determined in S 1204  is instructed to an air conditioner. 
         [0094]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an energy conservation effect according to the embodiment. Reference numeral  1401  represents an example of an operation method of general air-conditioning and the total cold water demand when a setting temperature is a constant value. Meanwhile, Reference numeral  1402  represents an example of the total cold water demand according to the embodiment. Values of  1403 ,  1404 , and  1405  in a vertical axis are the maximum efficiency point when one refrigerator is operated, the maximum efficiency point when two refrigerators are operated, and the maximum efficiency point when three refrigerators are operated, respectively. The efficiency is not the maximum value at positions other than  1403 ,  1404 , and  1405  in the vertical axis. Here, when  1401  and  1402  are compared with each other, integrated values (that is, area) of the total cold heat demand throughout a day are approximately the same. Meanwhile, regarding values of the total cold heat demand in each time, in  1401 , there are a lot of time zones in which the efficiency of the refrigerator is not the maximum value, but  1402  that is the embodiment is always on the maximum efficiency point. Accordingly, since an amount of energy consumed by a heat-source system is a value obtained by multiplying the efficiency of the refrigerator to the integrated value of the total cold heat demand throughout a day, it is possible to increase the energy conservation effect compared to a case where the setting temperature in the related art is constant, according to the embodiment. 
         [0095]    Furthermore, in the control method represented in PTL 1, a setting temperature of the air-conditioning sticks to the upper limit value  0302 . However, in the embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , since the setting temperature  0304  can be set to a value close to the reference value  0301  compared to the case of PTL 1, it is possible to improve the comfort of the people in the room. 
         [0096]    The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes various modifications. For example, embodiments described above are described in detail in order to better illustrate the present invention, and are not intended to be limited to those having necessarily all described configurations. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               0101  refrigerator 
               0102  room 
               0103  air conditioner 
               0104  sensor function 
               0105  input function 
               0106  output function 
               0107  first water pipe 
               0108  second water pipe 
               0109  thermal demand adjustment device 
               0110  weather forecast obtainment function 
               0111  demand history database 
               0112  trend determination function 
               0113  increase or decrease stage determination function 
               0114  refrigerator characteristics database 
               0115  load adjustment amount calculation function 
               0116  air-conditioning output determination function 
               0117  setting temperature database 
               0201  reference value of setting temperature 
               0202  upper limit value of setting temperature 
               0203  lower limit value of setting temperature 
               0204  set button 
               0301  reference value of setting temperature 
               0302  upper limit value of setting temperature 
               0303  lower limit value of setting temperature 
               0304  setting temperature of air conditioner 
               1401  example of total cold water demand when setting temperature is constant 
               1402  example of total cold water demand in the embodiment 
               1403  maximum efficiency point when one refrigerator is operated 
               1404  maximum efficiency point when two refrigerators are operated 
               1405  maximum efficiency point when three refrigerators are operated