Drying machine and method for controlling the same

摘要

A method for controlling a drying machine which includes a drum, a fan to circulate air within the drum, and at least one heater to heat air provided to the drum, and uses the motor and the at least one heater as a load, includes, upon receiving a drying process command from a user, receiving power rate information for each hour from an energy management system (EMS), recognizing current power rates on the basis of the power rate information for each hour, determining whether the current power rates are higher than reference power rates by comparing the current power rates with the reference power rates, and adjusting the operation rate of any one of the motor and the at least one heater when the current power rates are higher than the reference power rates. The drying machine changes the load operation rate before the power rates exceed the reference power rates, resulting in reduction in power consumption. Furthermore, as the drying machine can prevent total power consumption from being rapidly increased, the power plant need not be additionally driven to generate more electricity. As a result, the drying machine reduces environmental impact and prevents power rates from being increased.

主权项

1. A drying machine comprising:
a drum including an object to be dried; a fan to circulate air within the drum; a plurality of loads comprising a motor to rotate the drum and the fan and a heater to heat air provided to the drum; a communication unit to receive power rate information from an energy management system (EMS); an input unit to receive a drying process command from a user; a storage unit to store power consumption of each of the plurality of loads and store at least one load operated in each of a plurality of drying sections of the drying process; and a controller, upon receiving the drying process command, to recognize current power rates on the basis of the received power rate information, to determine whether the current power rates are higher than reference power rates, and to recognize a current drying section from among several drying sections of the drying process when the current power rates are higher than the reference power rates; and to adjust an operation rate of a load having a highest power consumption from among the at least one load operated in the current drying section, wherein the current drying section comprises a heating drying section and a non-heating drying section.