Abstract: A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, an electricity storage device, and a control device. The control device determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on power conversion efficiency of the electricity storage device, coefficients of performance of the heat pump hot-water supply device of a current day and a next day, and an electricity rate structure of a commercial power system.

Abstract: A grid-connected power supply system includes a power generation apparatus configured to generate power by using natural energy and connected in parallel to a commercial power grid; a electricity storage device; and a control device configured. The control device predicts an amount of power to be generated on a subsequent day by the power generation apparatus and a power demand of the loads and charges the electricity storage device with power in a time zone in which an electricity rate of the commercial power grid is relatively low if a predicted value of the amount of power to be generated is lower than a predicted value of the power demand, or does not charge the electricity storage device with power during the time zone if the predicted value of the amount of power to be generated is not lower than the predicted value of the power demand.

Abstract: A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, a storage tank for storing hot water obtained by operating the heat pump hot-water supply device, and a control device for controlling starting/stopping of the heat pump hot-water supply device. The control device estimates an outside air temperature of a place where the heat pump hot-water supply device is installed and determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on an estimated value of the outside air temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy supply/demand control system provided with: a plurality of load apparatuses used within a predetermined area, each having a sensor for detecting usage conditions and the operation states thereof; and an electricity consumption measurement device measuring an electricity amount consumed by the load apparatuses. The energy supply/demand control system is further provided with a control device which obtains at least one of the usage condition and the operation state detected by the sensor, as well as the electricity consumption amount measured by the electricity consumption measurement device, and carries out energy supply/demand control of the apparatuses within the predetermined area based on an estimated consumption amount which is determined by using the information obtained from the sensor and the electricity consumption amount.

Abstract: An energy management system for managing electric power generated by an electric power generation apparatus for generating the electric power by using natural energy and electric power to be supplied to an electric appliance as a load, the energy management system includes a controller for determining one of destinations to which surplus electric power of the generated electric power is supplied; and a storage unit storing one or more rules regarding use of electric power that is set with a priority order of candidates of the destinations to which the surplus electric power is supplied. The controller determines the destination based on the rules stored in the storage unit, and information about a price of electric power to be sold.

Abstract: A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, an electricity storage device, and a control device. The control device determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on power conversion efficiency of the electricity storage device, coefficients of performance of the heat pump hot-water supply device of a current day and a next day, and an electricity rate structure of a commercial power system.

Abstract: A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, a storage tank for storing hot water obtained by operating the heat pump hot-water supply device, and a control device for controlling starting/stopping of the heat pump hot-water supply device. The control device estimates an outside air temperature of a place where the heat pump hot-water supply device is installed and determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on an estimated value of the outside air temperature.

Abstract: A grid-connected power supply system includes a power generation apparatus configured to generate power by using natural energy and connected in parallel to a commercial power grid; a electricity storage device; and a control device configured. The control device predicts an amount of power to be generated on a subsequent day by the power generation apparatus and a power demand of the loads and charges the electricity storage device with power in a time zone in which an electricity rate of the commercial power grid is relatively low if a predicted value of the amount of power to be generated is lower than a predicted value of the power demand, or does not charge the electricity storage device with power during the time zone if the predicted value of the amount of power to be generated is not lower than the predicted value of the power demand.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding elongate workpieces intermittently sideways one by one to successively located machining and parts-assembling stations includes a pair of first parallel spaced feed rods supported on a transfer table and extending in a direction in which the workpieces are transferred. Each of the first feed rods has a plurality of workpiece-engaging projections spaced therealong at an interval that corresponds to a distance at which the processing stations are spaced. A second rod extends parallel to the first feed rods and has a plurality of second workpiece-engaging projections spaced therealong at the above-mentioned interval. The first and second rods are coupled together through a lost motion drive, and are axially movable between advanced and retracted positions. Upon engagement of the lost motion drive, the first and second projections jointly provide a plurality of workpiece holders while the first and second rods are being advanced.