OREANDA-NEWS. April 11, 2012. To realize next-generation energy management systems, DENSO Corporation, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Systems Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd.(SEC), Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd., and Toyota Consumers’ Cooperative Union (MEGLiA) will jointly begin testing Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. BEMS will help companies better manage energy usage in commercial facilities and commercial or delivery vehicles by allowing companies to generate their own electricity. The demonstration test will run from April 2012 to December 2014.

 
The companies will use the test data to develop highly efficient energy management systems that will optimize energy sources for commercial use. The demonstration test will evaluate four key focus areas:

1. BEMS performance using both a heat pump hot water supply system and photovoltaic generation unit in commercial buildings.

2. A reduction in fuel consumption and production costs that can be realized when downsizing the vehicle’s battery unit.

3. Battery charging site management for delivery and commercial vehicles.

4.Supplying power in an event of disaster or power outage.

 
Demonstration Location:

In Japan, Toyota City is designated as an experimental city for next-generation energy sources and social systems, a program which has been promoted by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry since April 2010. The BEMS test will be held as part of Toyota City’s Project for Building a Low-carbon City.

 
Demonstration Test Details:


1. Evaluating BEMS performance using a heat pump hot water supply system and a photovoltaic generation unit for commercial facility usage.

At participating convenience stores and shopping malls, the BEMS will consist of a BEMS controlling unit, a battery storage device, a photovoltaic generation unit, heat pump hot water supply system, and a charging pole.

 
How it works:

When the photovoltaic unit generates electricity, it transfers it to the heat pump hot water supply system where the energy is stored for later use. To provide sufficient hot water to each store when needed, the hourly hot water usage is based on previous usage data. 

 
Heat Pump System Improves Energy Efficiency

The electricity generated by photovoltaic generation units is direct current. And to be used for electric equipment the energy needs to be converted to an alternating current. Typically, there is an energy loss when making this conversion. To mitigate this energy loss, DENSO developed a heat pump water supply system that can operate with direct current, which minimizes the conversion loss and increases efficiency when heating water.


Additionally, commercial vehicles making deliveries can also use the BEMS unit to re-charge the vehicle’s battery. Commercial vehicle delivery times are based on previous data to ensure there is sufficient electricity to charge vehicles when needed. When surplus electricity is generated, it will be used by other electric devices in the shop. This will allow the feasibility of local energy production for local consumption to be examined.

 
2. Examining the reduction of fuel consumption and production cost by downsizing the vehicle’s battery unit

Refrigerated delivery vehicles that regularly transport goods to commercial facilities also will be equipped with a battery storage system. This will allow the refrigerator or freezer to continue to operate when the engine is stopped or at an idle.

The battery storage systems can be fully charged at distribution centers and can be partially charged at the commercial facilities in which the vehicle visits. This allows the capacity per battery cell to be reduced, allowing for a smaller battery pack.

The demonstration test will measure improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced production costs that can be achieved when making the battery unit smaller.

 
3. Examining an optimal battery charging site management system to guide vehicles to appropriate places for battery charging

By monitoring commercial facilities BEMS battery status and the delivery vehicle’s location and battery status - all in real time - the demonstration test will examine if battery charge information in each area can be effectively managed and visualized to guide commercial vehicles to the best location for battery charging.

 
4. Supplying power in the event of a disaster or power outage

The test will examine how portable battery systems installed at each commercial facility can be transported and used within the facility as well as transported where it is needed in the event of a disaster or power outage.

 
The roles of each company in the demonstration test will be as follows:

DENSO:

• Developing a storage battery system, a power conditioner, and BEMS incorporating a BEMS controlling unit

• Developing a heat pump water supply system that can operate with direct current

• Developing a battery charging system, including battery and electric compressor, for commercial vehicle with stop/start system

 
Toyota Tsusho:

• Developing a photovoltaic generation unit that works with BEMS

• Developing a portable battery system and its usage system

 
SEC:

• Developing a system to collect, manage, and deliver energy usage data

• Developing a system to guide vehicles to appropriate places for battery charging


Yamato Transport:

Location of the shop where systems are to be installed: Matsudaira Branch, 1-1-17, Shibuya-cho, Toyota, Aichi

• Offering a site where systems (photovoltaic generation unit, BEMS, and charging pole) will be installed and operated

• Operating vehicles to be tested and charging their batteries

 
Seven-Eleven:

Location of the shop where systems are to be installed: Ueno-cho Shop, 5-8-1, Ueno-cho, Toyota, Aichi

• Offering a site where systems (photovoltaic generation unit, BEMS, heat pump hot water supply system, and charging pole) will be installed and operated

• Using water supplied by a heat pump hot water supply system and surplus electricity supplied by a photovoltaic generation unit

 
MEGLiA:

Location of the shop where systems are to be installed: MEGLiA-MINI-Kamogawa Shop, 4-2, Ueno-cho, Toyota, Aichi

• Offering a site where systems (photovoltaic generation unit, BEMS, heat pump hot water supply system, and charging pole) will be installed and operated

• Using water supplied by a heat pump hot water supply system and surplus electricity supplied by a photovoltaic generation unit

 
 The companies aim to develop and commercialize more efficient energy management systems to
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