JP2019040805A - Power generation device, control device, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

A power generation device, a control device, and a control program are provided which are improved with respect to processing when an abnormality occurs. A power generation device includes at least a fuel cell that generates power using gas, an auxiliary device that is a peripheral device of the fuel cell, a power source that supplies power to a part of the auxiliary device, and a control unit that controls the auxiliary device and the power source. With. When the control unit determines that an abnormality relating to the gas has occurred, the control unit stops power supply from the power source to the auxiliary machine. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a power generation device, a control device, and a control program. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a power generation device including a fuel cell, a control device for the power generation device including a fuel cell, and a control program executed by such a device.

  A power generation apparatus including a fuel cell such as a solid oxide fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as “SOFC”) generates power using fuel gas or the like. In such a power generator, the temperature of the fuel cell may rise abnormally. Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, when the temperature of the fuel cell rises abnormally, the power generation device is stopped.

JP-A-2015-133213

  Conventional power generators have room for improvement with regard to processing when an abnormality occurs.

  An object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved power generation apparatus, control apparatus, and control program regarding processing when an abnormality occurs.

  A power generation device according to an embodiment includes at least a fuel cell that generates power using gas, an auxiliary device that is a peripheral device of the fuel cell, a power source that supplies power to a part of the auxiliary device, the auxiliary device, and the power source And a control unit for controlling. When the control unit determines that an abnormality relating to the gas has occurred, the control unit stops power supply from the power source to the auxiliary machine.

  The control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment is a control apparatus which controls an electric power generating apparatus. The power generation device includes at least a fuel cell that generates power using gas, an auxiliary device that is a peripheral device of the fuel cell, and a power source that supplies power to a part of the auxiliary device. When determining that an abnormality relating to the gas has occurred, the control device stops the power supply from the power source to the auxiliary machine.

  The control program which concerns on one Embodiment is a control program performed by the control apparatus which controls an electric power generating apparatus. The power generation device includes at least a fuel cell that generates power using gas, an auxiliary device that is a peripheral device of the fuel cell, and a power source that supplies power to a part of the auxiliary device. The control program determines whether or not an abnormality related to the gas has occurred in the control device, and determines that an abnormality related to the gas has occurred and stops supplying power from the power source to the auxiliary machine. Is executed.

  According to one embodiment, it is possible to provide an improved power generation device, control device, and control program for processing when an abnormality occurs.

It is a functional block diagram showing roughly the composition of the power generator concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication. It is a functional block diagram showing a part of a power generator concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication in detail. It is a functional block diagram showing a part of a power generator concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication in detail. It is a functional block diagram showing a part of a power generator concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication in detail. It is a figure for demonstrating the process when making a power generation device transfer to a standby state through a stop process. It is a figure for demonstrating the process at the time of making an electric power generating apparatus transfer to a standby state through a shutdown process. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the power generation device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a power generation device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a functional block diagram showing roughly the modification of the composition of the power generator concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the power generation device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the power generation device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 2, 3, and 4 are functional block diagrams illustrating a part of the power generation device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is connected to a hot water storage tank 60, a load 100, and a commercial power supply (grid) 200. As shown in FIG. 1, raw fuel gas, water, and air as an oxygen-containing gas are supplied to the power generation apparatus 1 from the outside. The power generation device 1 generates power using the supplied raw fuel gas, water, and air. The power generator 1 supplies the generated power to the load 100 and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generator 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 12, a fuel cell module 20, a gas supply unit 32, an air supply unit 34, a reforming water supply unit 36, and a power condition. And an exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50, a circulating water processing unit 52, and a gas sensor 70.

  The power generation device 1 includes at least one processor as the controller 10 to provide control and processing capabilities for performing various functions, as will be described in further detail below. According to various embodiments, the at least one processor may be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC) or as a plurality of communicatively connected integrated circuits ICs and discrete circuits. . The at least one processor can be implemented according to various known techniques.

  In certain embodiments, the processor includes one or more circuits or units configured to perform one or more data computation procedures and processes. For example, a processor can be one or more processors, controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, or any combination or combination thereof. Alternatively, the functions described below may be performed by including other known devices or combinations of configurations.

  The control unit 10 is connected to the storage unit 12, the fuel cell module 20, the gas supply unit 32, the air supply unit 34, the reforming water supply unit 36, the power conditioner 40, and the gas sensor 70. The entire power generation apparatus 1 is controlled and managed including each of the functional units. The control unit 10 acquires a program stored in the storage unit 12. The control part 10 implement | achieves the various functions which concern on each part of the electric power generating apparatus 1 by running the acquired program. When a control signal or various types of information is transmitted and received between the control unit 10 and other function units, the control unit 10 and the pair of function units may be connected by wire or wirelessly. Control according to the present embodiment executed by the control unit 10 will be further described later.

  The storage unit 12 stores information acquired from the control unit 10. The storage unit 12 also stores programs executed by the control unit 10. In addition, the storage unit 12 also stores various data such as a calculation result by the control unit 10, for example. Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that the storage unit 12 can further include a work memory when the control unit 10 operates. The storage unit 12 can be configured by, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the storage unit 12 may be any storage device. For example, the storage unit 12 may be an optical storage device such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like.

  As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the fuel cell module 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes reformers 22A and 22B, cell stacks 24A and 24B, temperature sensors 26A and 26B, temperature sensors 27A and 27B, and an ignition heater. 28A and 28B. FIG. 2 shows only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, the gas supply unit 32, and the power source 43 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, when the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “reformer 22”. Similarly, when the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “cell stack 24”. Similarly, when the temperature sensor 26A and the temperature sensor 26B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “temperature sensor 26”. Similarly, when the temperature sensor 27A and the temperature sensor 27B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “temperature sensor 27”. Similarly, when the ignition heater 28A and the ignition heater 28B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “ignition heater 28”.

  The fuel cell module 20 generates power by the cell stack 24. The fuel cell module 20 supplies the generated DC power to the power conditioner 40 shown in FIG. The fuel cell module 20 is also called a hot module. In the fuel cell module 20, the cell stack 24 generates heat with power generation. In the present embodiment, the cell stack 24 that actually generates power is referred to as a “fuel cell” as appropriate. In the present disclosure, any functional unit including the cell stack 24 may be collectively referred to as “fuel cell” as appropriate. For example, as the “fuel cell”, a single cell or a fuel cell module may be cited.

  The reformer 22 generates steam using the reformed water supplied from the reformed water supply unit 36 shown in FIG. Further, the reformer 22 generates hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide by using the raw fuel gas supplied from the gas supply unit 32 by steam reforming using the generated steam. That is, the reformer 22 reforms the raw fuel gas supplied from the gas supply unit 32 into a fuel gas by steam reforming. In the present embodiment, the raw fuel gas and the gas used by the fuel cell for power generation (air as fuel gas or oxygen-containing gas) are simply described as “gas”. The reformer 22 supplies the generated hydrogen and carbon monoxide to the cell stack 24. The cell stack 24 generates power by reacting hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide supplied from the reformer 22 with oxygen in the air supplied from the air supply unit 34 shown in FIG. In other words, in the present embodiment, the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell generates power by an electrochemical reaction. The reformer 22 is not limited to the reformer that performs the steam reforming described above. For example, the reformer 22 may be a reformer that performs partial oxidation reforming (Partial Oxidation (POX)) that generates hydrogen using air containing oxygen or the like.

  Hereinafter, the cell stack 24 will be described as being an SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell). However, the cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the SOFC. The cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), and a molten carbonate fuel cell (PAFC). A fuel cell such as Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) may be used. In the present embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 may include, for example, four cell stacks that can generate about 700 W of power alone. In this case, the fuel cell module 20 can output about 3 kW of electric power as a whole.

  The fuel cell module 20 and the cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment are not limited to the configuration described above. Various configurations can be employed for the fuel cell module 20 and the cell stack 24. For example, the fuel cell module 20 may include only one cell stack 24. In this embodiment, the electric power generating apparatus 1 should just be provided with the fuel cell which produces electric power using gas at least. The gas that the fuel cell uses for power generation is, for example, fuel gas (hydrogen) or air as an oxygen-containing gas. Therefore, for example, the power generation apparatus 1 may include only one fuel cell instead of the cell stack 24 as a fuel cell. Further, the fuel cell according to the present embodiment may be a fuel cell included in a module (case) that does not have a reformer, such as PEFC.

  The temperature sensor 26A detects the temperature of the portion where the gas burns above the cell stack 24A (hereinafter referred to as “combustion portion”). The temperature sensor 26A is installed near the cell stack 24A, for example, above the cell stack 24A. The temperature sensor 26B detects the temperature of the combustion part of the cell stack 24B. The temperature sensor 26B is installed near the cell stack 24B, for example, above the cell stack 24B. The temperature sensor 26 outputs the detected temperature of the combustion unit to the control unit 10.

  The temperature sensor 27A detects the temperature near the center of the cell stack 24A (hereinafter referred to as “center temperature”). The temperature sensor 27A is disposed, for example, near the center of the cell stack 24A. The temperature sensor 27B detects the center temperature of the cell stack 24B. The temperature sensor 27B is disposed near the center of the cell stack 24B.

  The ignition heater 28 </ b> A ignites unreacted fuel leaking from the opening of each cell constituting the cell stack 24 </ b> A based on a control signal from the control unit 10. Similarly, the ignition heater 28 </ b> B ignites unreacted fuel leaking from the opening of each cell constituting the cell stack 24 </ b> B based on a control signal from the control unit 10.

  1 supplies raw fuel gas to the reformer 22 of the fuel cell module 20 shown in FIG. At this time, the gas supply unit 32 controls the amount of raw fuel gas supplied to the reformer 22 based on a control signal from the control unit 10. In this embodiment, the gas supply part 32 may be comprised by the gas line, for example. Moreover, in this embodiment, the gas supply part 32 may perform the desulfurization process of raw fuel gas, and may heat raw fuel gas preliminarily. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for heating the raw fuel gas. The raw fuel gas is, for example, city gas or LPG, but is not limited thereto. For example, the raw fuel gas may be natural gas or coal gas depending on the fuel cell.

  The gas supply unit 32 includes flow meters 91A and 91B and gas pumps 92A and 92B, as shown in more detail in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the gas supply unit 32 can communicate with the control unit 10 by wire or wirelessly. Further, the gas supply unit 32 is driven by electric power supplied from the power supply 43. The gas supply unit 32 shown in FIG. 2 includes two flow meters 91A and 91B, and two gas pumps 92A and 92B. However, the number of flow meters and gas pumps included in the gas supply unit 32 is not limited to this, and may be one or three or more, for example. Hereinafter, when the flow meter 91A and the flow meter 91B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “flow meter 91”. Similarly, when the gas pump 92A and the gas pump 92B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “gas pump 92”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the raw fuel gas supplied to the gas supply unit 32 is branched from one supply source into two paths, and supplied to the flow meter 91A and the flow meter 91B, respectively. However, for example, the raw fuel gas may be supplied from separate sources to the flow meter 91A and the flow meter 91B.

  The flow meter 91A measures the amount of raw fuel gas flowing through the flow meter 91A. The flow meter 91B measures the amount of raw fuel gas flowing through the flow meter 91B. Information on the flow rate of the raw fuel gas measured by the flow meter 91 is transmitted to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 can control the amount of raw fuel gas supplied to the reformer 22 by the gas pump 92 based on the flow rate of the raw fuel gas acquired from the flow meter 91. Any flowmeter 91 can be used as long as it can measure the flow rate of the raw fuel gas.

  The gas pump 92A sends the raw fuel gas to the reformer 22A via the flow meter 91A. The gas pump 92B sends the raw fuel gas that has passed through the flow meter 91B to the reformer 22. The gas pump 92 </ b> A and the gas pump 92 </ b> B are driven by electric power supplied from the power supply 43. Any gas pump 92 can be used as long as it can deliver gas.

  The pump provided in the gas supply unit 32 is not limited to the gas pump 92 that sends the raw fuel gas to the reformer 22. For example, the pump provided in the gas supply unit 32 may include an air pump that sends air as a gas used for power generation to the reformer 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the air supply unit 34 shown in FIG. 1 supplies air as an oxygen-containing gas to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20. At this time, the air supply unit 34 controls the amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24 based on a control signal from the control unit 10. In this embodiment, the air supply part 34 may be comprised by the air line, for example. The air supply unit 34 may preliminarily heat the air taken from the outside and supply the air to the cell stack 24. In the present embodiment, the air supply unit 34 supplies air used for an electrochemical reaction when the cell stack 24 generates power. Note that the air supply unit 34 may supply an oxygen-containing gas other than air to the cell stack 24. Alternatively, the air supply unit 34 may supply only oxygen to the cell stack 24.

  As shown in more detail in FIG. 3, the air supply unit 34 includes air blowers 93A and 93B and flow meters 94A and 94B. 3 shows only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, the air supply unit 34, and the power source 43 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the air supply unit 34 is connected to the control unit 10 in a communicable manner by wire or wirelessly. The air supply unit 34 is driven by power supplied from the power supply 43. The air supply unit 34 shown in FIG. 3 includes two air blowers 93A and 93B, and two flow meters 94A and 94B. However, the number of air blowers and flow meters included in the air supply unit 34 is not limited to this, and may be one or three or more, for example. Hereinafter, when the air blower 93A and the air blower 93B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “air blower 93”. Similarly, when there is no particular distinction between the flow meter 94A and the flow meter 94B, it is simply referred to as “flow meter 94”.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the air supplied to the air supply unit 34 is branched into two paths from one supply source, and is supplied to the air blower 93 </ b> A and the air blower 93 </ b> B, respectively. However, for example, air may be supplied to the air blower 93A and the air blower 93B from separate sources.

  The air blower 93A sends the air supplied to the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24A via the flow meter 94A. The air blower 93B sends the air supplied to the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24B via the flow meter 94B. The air blower 93 </ b> A and the air blower 93 </ b> B are driven by electric power supplied from the power supply 43. Any air blower 93 can be used as long as it can deliver air.

  The flow meter 94A measures the amount of air flowing through the flow meter 94A. The flow meter 94B measures the amount of air flowing through the flow meter 94B. Information on the air flow rate measured by the flow meter 94 is transmitted to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 can control the amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24 by the air blower 93 based on the air flow rate acquired from the flow meter 94. Any flowmeter 94 can be used as long as it can measure the air flow rate.

  The reforming water supply unit 36 shown in FIG. 1 supplies the reforming water to the reformer 22 of the fuel cell module 20 as shown in FIG. At this time, the reforming water supply unit 36 controls the amount of reforming water supplied to the reformer 22 based on the control signal from the control unit 10. In the present embodiment, the reforming water supply unit 36 may be configured by a reforming water line, for example. The reforming water supply unit 36 may generate reforming water using water collected from the exhaust gas from the cell stack 24 as a raw material. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for generating the reformed water.

  The reforming water supply unit 36 includes reforming water pumps 95A and 95B and bubble sensors 96A and 96B, as shown in more detail in FIG. 4 shows only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, the reforming water supply unit 36, and the power source 43 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the reforming water supply unit 36 is connected to the control unit 10 so as to be communicable by wire or wirelessly. The reforming water supply unit 36 is driven by electric power supplied from the power supply 43. The reforming water supply unit 36 shown in FIG. 4 includes two reforming water pumps 95A and a reforming water pump 95B, and two bubble sensors 96A and a bubble sensor 96B. However, the numbers of the reforming water pumps and the bubble sensors included in the reforming water supply unit 36 are not limited to this, and may be one or three or more, for example. Hereinafter, when there is no particular distinction between the reforming water pump 95A and the reforming water pump 95B, they are simply referred to as “reforming water pump 95”. Similarly, when the bubble sensor 96A and the bubble sensor 96B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “bubble sensor 96”.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the reforming water supplied to the reforming water supply unit 36 is branched into two paths from one supply source, and is supplied to the reforming water pump 95A and the reforming water pump 95B, respectively. Supplied. However, for example, the reforming water may be supplied to the reforming water pump 95A and the reforming water pump 95B from separate sources.

  The reforming water pump 95A sends the reforming water supplied to the reforming water supply unit 36 to the reformer 22A via the bubble sensor 94A. The reforming water pump 95B sends the reforming water supplied to the reforming water supply unit 36 to the reformer 22A via the bubble sensor 94B. The reforming water pump 95 </ b> A and the reforming water pump 95 </ b> B are driven by the power supplied from the power source 43. Any reforming water pump 95 can be used as long as it can deliver the reforming water.

  The bubble sensor 96A detects bubbles in the reformed water flowing through the bubble sensor 96A. The bubble sensor 96 </ b> A transmits the detection result to the control unit 10. The bubble sensor 96B detects bubbles in the reformed water flowing through the bubble sensor 96B. The bubble sensor 96B transmits the detection result to the control unit 10. Any bubble sensor 96 can be used as long as it can detect the bubbles of the reformed water.

  The power conditioner 40 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20 shown in FIG. The power conditioner 40 converts the DC power generated by the cell stack 24 into AC power. The AC power output from the power conditioner 40 is supplied to the load 100 via a distribution board or the like. The load 100 receives power output from the power conditioner 40 via a distribution board or the like. In FIG. 1, the load 100 is illustrated as a single member, but may be an arbitrary number of various electrical devices that constitute the load. The load 100 can also receive power from the commercial power supply 200 via a distribution board or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power conditioner 40 includes a converter 41, an inverter 42, and a power source 43.

  The converter 41 is a DC-DC converter, for example. The converter 41 is connected to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20 shown in FIG. The converter 41 converts the DC voltage supplied from the cell stack 24 into a predetermined DC voltage. Converter 41 supplies DC power after voltage conversion to inverter 42. The converter 41 can also supply a part of the DC power after voltage conversion to the power supply 43.

  Inverter 42 is connected to converter 41. Inverter 42 converts the DC power supplied from converter 41 into AC power. The inverter 42 supplies the converted AC power to the load 100 or the like via a distribution board or the like. The inverter 42 may be a bidirectional inverter. In this case, the inverter 42 may convert AC power supplied from the commercial power source 200 into DC power. Further, the inverter 42 may supply the converted DC power to the power source 43.

  The power source 43 is a secondary battery, for example. The power supply 43 can be charged by the power supplied from the cell stack 24 shown in FIG. In addition, when the inverter 42 is a bidirectional inverter, the power source 43 can be charged by electric power supplied from the commercial power source 200 via the inverter 42. The power source 43 may not be a secondary battery. The converter 41 or the inverter 42 in the power conditioner may be supplied with power from the commercial power source 200 or power generated by the cell stack.

  The power source 43 supplies power to a part of the auxiliary machine by discharging the charged power. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary machine is a peripheral device of the fuel cell. The auxiliary equipment to which the power source 43 supplies power includes, for example, a gas supply unit 32, an air supply unit 34, a reformed water supply unit 36, and a circulating water treatment unit 52. However, the auxiliary machine to which the power supply 43 supplies power is not limited to this. For example, the auxiliary machine to which the power source 43 supplies power may include a solenoid valve attached to the gas line, a solenoid valve attached to the air line, a solenoid valve attached to the reforming water line, and the like.

  The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 recovers exhaust heat from the exhaust generated by the power generation of the cell stack 24 shown in FIG. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 may be configured with, for example, a heat exchanger or the like. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 is connected to the circulating water processing unit 52 and the hot water storage tank 60.

  The circulating water treatment unit 52 includes a circulating water pump 54. The circulating water processing unit 52 circulates water from the hot water storage tank 60 to the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 by the circulating water pump 54. The circulating water pump 54 is driven by electric power supplied from the power supply 43. The water supplied to the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 is heated by the heat recovered by the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 and returns to the hot water storage tank 60. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 exhausts the exhaust from which the exhaust heat has been recovered to the outside. Further, as described above, the heat recovered by the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 can be used for heating gas, air, or reformed water.

  The hot water storage tank 60 is connected to the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 and the circulating water processing unit 52. The hot water storage tank 60 can store hot water generated using exhaust heat recovered from the cell stack 24 shown in FIG.

  The gas sensor 70 detects a gas leak inside the power generation apparatus 1. When the gas sensor 70 detects a gas leak, the gas sensor 70 transmits a detection signal to the control unit 10.

  Next, the operation of the control unit 10 will be described.

  When the control unit 10 receives an operation stop instruction from the outside or detects a relatively mild abnormality during the operation of the power generation apparatus 1, the control unit 10 executes a stop process. Moreover, the control part 10 will perform a shutdown process, if a comparatively serious abnormality is detected during the driving | operation of the electric power generating apparatus 1. FIG. In addition, when the control unit 10 detects an abnormality related to gas, that is, a serious abnormality during the operation of the power generation apparatus 1, the control unit 10 performs a process of stopping the power supply from the power supply 43 to the auxiliary machine.

  The power generation device 1 shifts to a standby state through a stop process, a shutdown process, or a process of stopping power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine. The standby state is a state in which the power generation apparatus 1 is waiting for an operation start instruction or the like from the outside in a state where power generation is stopped. Hereinafter, the stop process, the shutdown process, and the process of stopping the power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine will be described.

<Stop processing>
When the control unit 10 receives an operation stop instruction from the outside or detects a relatively mild abnormality during the operation of the power generation apparatus 1, the control unit 10 executes a stop process. A relatively mild abnormality is, for example, a decrease in the temperature of the combustion section in a power generation state. The power generation device 1 shifts to a standby state through a stop process. Processing of the control unit 10 at this time will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a process when the power generation device 1 is shifted to a standby state through a stop process. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis is the center temperature T1 of the cell stack 24. The center temperature T1 may be the higher of the center temperature of the cell stack 24A and the center temperature of the cell stack 24B shown in FIG. Alternatively, the center temperature T1 may be an average value of the center temperature of the cell stack 24A and the center temperature of the cell stack 24B.

  In the stop process, the control unit 10 first stops the power generation of the cell stack 24. Furthermore, the control part 10 cools the fuel cell module 20 with the ventilation fan in the electric power generating apparatus 1, for example. By cooling the fuel cell module 20, the center temperature T1 gradually decreases.

  When the center temperature T1 is 300 ° C. or higher, the control unit 10 maintains the gas supply unit 32, the air supply unit 34, and the reforming water supply unit 36 in an operating state. When the center temperature T1 falls below 300 ° C., the control unit 10 first stops the gas supply unit 32 and then stops the reforming water supply unit 36.

  When the center temperature T1 falls below 135 ° C., the control unit 10 performs a purge process using the air supply unit 34. The purge process is a process for discharging the gas remaining in the fuel cell module 20 to the outside of the fuel cell module 20.

  When the center temperature T1 falls below 100 ° C., the control unit 10 places the power generator 1 in a standby state. In the standby state, when the center temperature of the cell stack 24 is in the range from 100 ° C. to 60 ° C., the control unit 10 performs processing for preventing condensation in the fuel cell module 20 (hereinafter referred to as “condensation prevention processing”). This is executed by the air supply unit 34. In the standby state, when the center temperature of the cell stack 24 falls below 60 ° C., the control unit 10 stops all of the gas supply unit 32, the air supply unit 34, and the reforming water supply unit 36.

<Shutdown processing>
When the control unit 10 detects a relatively severe abnormality during the operation of the power generation device 1, the control unit 10 executes a shutdown process. The relatively severe abnormality is, for example, that when the combustion section misfires in the power generation state, the combustion section does not recover from misfire even if misfire recovery control is executed. The power generation device 1 shifts to a standby state through a shutdown process. Processing of the control unit 10 at this time will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing when the power generation device 1 is shifted to the standby state through the shutdown processing. In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis is the center temperature T1 as in FIG.

  In the shutdown process, first, the control unit 10 stops the power generation of the cell stack 24 and also stops the gas supply unit 32. Thereafter, the control unit 10 cools the fuel cell module 20 by, for example, a ventilation fan in the power generation device 1 in the same manner as the stop treatment. By cooling the fuel cell module 20, the center temperature T1 gradually decreases.

  In the shutdown process, the control unit 10 executes the oxidation prevention process when the center temperature T1 is 300 ° C. or higher. The oxidation prevention process is a process for reducing the oxidation of the members in the fuel cell module 20 due to the remaining oxygen. In the oxidation prevention process, the control unit 10 operates the reforming water supply unit 36 about once every 30 minutes to supply reforming water to the fuel cell module 20. The reformed water can become water vapor inside the fuel cell module 20. Oxygen remaining in the fuel cell module 20 can be discharged by the water vapor. Further, the control unit 10 stops the air supply unit 34 in the oxidation prevention process.

  When the center temperature T1 falls below 300 ° C., the control unit 10 stops the reforming water supply unit 36 in addition to the gas supply unit 32 and the air supply unit 34.

  When the center temperature T1 falls below 100 ° C., the control unit 10 places the power generator 1 in a standby state. In the standby state, the control unit 10 executes a process similar to the above-described stop process.

<Process to stop power supply from power supply to auxiliary equipment>
When the control unit 10 determines that an abnormality relating to gas has occurred during the operation of the power generation device 1, the control unit 10 stops the power supply from the power supply 43 to the auxiliary machine. The abnormality related to the gas according to the first embodiment is a state where the temperature of the combustion part is high in spite of the low temperature in the vicinity of the fuel cell in a state where the ignition process is not executed in the fuel cell. Such a state is a state in which there is a high possibility that the gas is combusted in the combustion section even though the ignition process is not executed. In such a state, there is a probability that the ignition heater has failed and the ignition heater is always ON, a probability that the thermocouple in the combustion section has failed, or a probability that gas has leaked into the power generator 1. Is expensive. In the case of a gas leak, the voltage of the power supply 43 applied to the auxiliary machine may ignite the leaked gas.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the control unit 10 determines that the temperature of the combustion unit is high in spite of the low temperature near the fuel cell in a state where the ignition process is not performed in the fuel cell, The power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine is stopped. The temperature in the vicinity of the fuel cell is, for example, the temperature inside the fuel cell and the temperature in the region adjacent to the fuel cell outside the fuel cell. The temperature in the fuel cell is, for example, the center temperature of a single cell, the center temperature of the cell stack 24, or the like. Hereinafter, the temperature near the fuel cell is assumed to be the center temperature of the cell stack 24.

  Specifically, when the control unit 10 does not perform the ignition process in the cell stack 24, the center temperature of the cell stack 24 is lower than the first temperature, and the temperature of the combustion unit exceeds the second temperature, The power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine is stopped. The first temperature is a temperature at which it can be determined that the cell stack 24 is not generating power. The first temperature is about 250 ° C., for example. The second temperature is a temperature at which it can be determined that the gas is burning in the cell stack 24. The second temperature is, for example, about 500 ° C.

  The control unit 10 may use the higher one of the center temperature of the cell stack 24A and the center temperature of the cell stack 24B for the process of determining an abnormality related to the gas. Alternatively, the control unit 10 may use the average value of the center temperature of the cell stack 24A and the center temperature of the cell stack 24B for processing for determining an abnormality related to the gas. Further, the control unit 10 may use the lower one of the temperature of the combustion unit of the cell stack 24A and the temperature of the combustion unit of the cell stack 24B for the process of determining an abnormality related to the gas. Or the control part 10 may use the average value of the temperature of the combustion part of cell stack 24A, and the temperature of the combustion part of cell stack 24B for the process which determines abnormality regarding gas.

  Moreover, when it determines with the abnormality regarding gas having generate | occur | produced, the control part 10 may perform the process which stops the electric power supply from the power supply 43 to an auxiliary machine in parallel with the above-mentioned shutdown process. In this case, when it is determined that an abnormality relating to gas has occurred, the control unit 10 may perform a process of stopping the power generation of the cell stack 24 in the shutdown process and stopping the power supply from the power supply 43 to the auxiliary machine. .

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the state where the ignition process is not executed in the cell stack 24 will be described as the standby state. However, the state where the ignition process is not executed in the cell stack 24 is not limited to the standby state.

  The control part 10 determines whether the electric power generating apparatus 1 is a standby state (step S10). When it determines with the electric power generating apparatus 1 being a standby state (step S10: Yes), the control part 10 progresses to the process of step S11. On the other hand, the control part 10 complete | finishes a process, when it determines with the electric power generating apparatus 1 not being in a standby state (step S11: No).

  In the process of step S <b> 11, the control unit 10 acquires the center temperature T <b> 1 of the cell stack 24 by the temperature sensor 27. In the process of step S12, the control unit 10 acquires the temperature T2 of the combustion unit by the temperature sensor 26.

  In the process of step S13, the control unit 10 determines whether the center temperature T1 is lower than the first temperature and the temperature T2 of the combustion unit exceeds the second temperature. When it is determined that the center temperature T1 is lower than the first temperature and the temperature T2 of the combustion unit exceeds the second temperature (step S13: Yes), the control unit 10 proceeds to the process of step S14. On the other hand, when it is not determined that the center temperature T1 is lower than the first temperature and the temperature T2 of the combustion unit exceeds the second temperature (No at Step S13), the control unit 10 ends the process.

  In the process of step S14, the control unit 10 stops the power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine. The control unit 10 may stop the power supply from the power supply 43 to the auxiliary machine in parallel with the above-described shutdown process.

  As described above, in the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment, the center temperature of the cell stack 24 is lower than the first temperature and the temperature of the combustion unit is the first in a state where the ignition process is not performed in the cell stack 24. When the temperature exceeds 2, the power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine is stopped. In other words, the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment compensates from the power source 43 when it is determined that there is a high possibility that gas is burning in the cell stack 24 even though the ignition process is not performed. Stop the power supply to the machine. By such control, even when there is a high probability that gas has leaked into the power generation device 1, the voltage of the power source 43 applied to the auxiliary machine may ignite the leaked gas. Can be reduced. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the power generation apparatus 1 that is improved with respect to processing when an abnormality occurs. A state in which there is a high possibility that the gas is burning in the cell stack 24 even though the ignition process is not executed is a failure in the ignition heater such that the ignition heater is always ON, or a failure in the thermocouple in the combustion section. Or it may be caused by a gas leak or the like.

  Here, in general, in a power generation apparatus, monitoring for abnormalities related to gas is often strengthened when the power generation state is set. However, in the power generation device, monitoring for abnormalities related to gas is often not enhanced when the power generation state is not in effect.

  On the other hand, when the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment is in a state where the ignition process is not performed in the cell stack 24 such as the standby state, that is, when the power generation state is not, has an abnormality related to gas occurred? Judge whether or not. Therefore, even when the power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is not in a power generation state such as a standby state, monitoring for abnormalities related to gas can be enhanced. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the power generation apparatus 1 that is more excellent in safety with respect to abnormality related to gas.

  Furthermore, if it determines with the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment having generate | occur | produced abnormality regarding gas, the electric power supply from the power supply 43 to an auxiliary machine will be stopped. By stopping the power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine, the gas supply unit 32 driven by the power of the power source 43 can be quickly stopped. By quickly stopping the gas supply unit 32, for example, even if a gas leak occurs from the gas supply unit 32, the gas leak can be stopped quickly. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the power generation apparatus 1 that is more excellent in safety with respect to abnormality related to gas.

  In addition, in the first embodiment, by stopping power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine, auxiliary machines such as the gas supply unit 32, the air supply unit 34, and the reforming water supply unit 36 can be stopped. With this control, in the present embodiment, the process of stopping the auxiliary machine can be simplified.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the power generator according to the second embodiment will be described. The power generation device according to the second embodiment can employ the same configuration as that of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the following description will focus on differences from the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the content of abnormality relating to the gas to be detected. In the second embodiment, the abnormality related to the gas to be detected is a state in which the raw fuel gas flows out from the gas supply unit 32 even though the operation of the gas supply unit 32 is stopped. Such a state may occur when the gas pump 92 shown in FIG. 2 fails or when the solenoid valve attached to the gas line fails. In such a state, there is a high probability that gas has leaked into the power generation device 1. Furthermore, the voltage of the power supply 43 applied to the auxiliary machine may ignite the leaked gas.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, when the control unit 10 determines that the raw fuel gas is flowing out from the gas supply unit 32 even though the gas supply unit 32 is stopped, the control unit 10 supplies power to the auxiliary machine from the power source 43. Stop power supply.

  Specifically, when the control unit 10 stops the gas supply unit 32 and a predetermined time has elapsed, and determines that the flow rate of the raw fuel gas flowing out from the gas supply unit 32 exceeds a predetermined amount, the control unit 10 supplies the auxiliary device from the power source 43. Stop power supply to. The predetermined time can be set in consideration of the configuration of the gas line and the like. The predetermined amount can be set in consideration of a predetermined time, for example. For example, if the predetermined time is less than 1 minute, the predetermined amount is 1 [NL / min]. For example, if the predetermined time is 1 minute or more, the predetermined amount is 0.25 [NL / min].

  Note that the control unit 10 may determine whether an abnormality relating to the raw fuel gas has occurred when the power generation device 1 is not in the power generation state. Specifically, the control unit 10 may determine whether an abnormality relating to the raw fuel gas has occurred in the standby state, the start state, or the stop state of the power generation device 1.

  Further, similarly to the first embodiment, when the controller 10 determines that an abnormality relating to the raw fuel gas has occurred, the power from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine is parallel to the shutdown process described above. You may perform the process which stops supply.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the power generation device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

  The control unit 10 determines whether or not the power generation device 1 is in a power generation state (step S20). When the control unit 10 determines that the power generation device 1 is not in the power generation state (step S20: No), that is, when it is determined that the power generation device 1 is in the standby state, the start state, or the stop state, the control unit 10 performs the process of step S21. move on. On the other hand, the control part 10 complete | finishes a process, when it determines with the electric power generating apparatus 1 being a power generation state (step S20: Yes).

  In the process of step S21, the control unit 10 stops the gas supply unit 32. After the control unit 10 stops the gas supply unit 32 and a predetermined time has elapsed (step S22), the flow rate of the raw fuel gas is acquired by the flow meter 91 (step S23).

  The control unit 10 determines whether or not the flow rate of the acquired raw fuel gas exceeds a predetermined amount (step S24). When it is determined that the flow rate of the obtained raw fuel gas exceeds the predetermined amount (step S24: Yes), the control unit 10 proceeds to the process of step S25. On the other hand, when it determines with the flow volume of the acquired raw fuel gas being below predetermined amount (step S24: No), the control part 10 complete | finishes a process.

  In the process of step S25, the control unit 10 stops the power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine. The control unit 10 may stop the power supply from the power supply 43 to the auxiliary machine in parallel with the above-described shutdown process.

  As described above, the power generation apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment determines that the flow rate of the raw fuel gas flowing out from the gas supply unit 32 exceeds a predetermined amount after the gas supply unit 32 is stopped and a predetermined time has elapsed. When this happens, the power supply from the power source 43 to the auxiliary machine is stopped. In other words, when the control unit 10 determines that the raw fuel gas is flowing out from the gas supply unit 32 even though the gas supply unit 32 is stopped, the control unit 10 stops the power supply from the power supply 43 to the auxiliary machine. . By such control, even when there is a high probability that gas has leaked into the power generation device 1, the voltage of the power supply 43 applied to the auxiliary machine may ignite the leaked gas. Can be reduced. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to provide the power generation apparatus 1 that is improved with respect to processing when an abnormality occurs.

  Here, as described in the first embodiment, generally, in a power generation device, monitoring for abnormalities related to gas is often strengthened when the power generation state is set. However, in the power generation device, monitoring for abnormalities related to gas is often not enhanced when the power generation state is not in effect.

  In contrast, the power generation device 1 according to the second embodiment determines that an abnormality relating to the raw fuel gas has occurred when the power generation state is not in the standby state, the start state, or the stop state. Therefore, even when the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment is not in a power generation state such as a standby state, a start state, or a stop state, monitoring for abnormalities related to gas can be enhanced. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the power generation apparatus 1 that is more excellent in safety with respect to abnormality related to gas.

  In the power generator 1 according to the second embodiment, other effects and controls are the same as those of the power generator 1 according to the first embodiment.

  Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various variations and modifications based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each functional unit, each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so that there is no logical contradiction, and a plurality of functional units, steps, etc. are combined or divided into one. It is possible. In addition, each of the embodiments of the present invention described above is not limited to being performed faithfully to each of the embodiments described above, and is implemented by appropriately combining the features or omitting some of the features. You can also.

  For example, the abnormality relating to the gas is not limited to that described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. For example, the abnormality related to the gas may be that a gas leak has occurred in the power generation device 1. In this case, the control part 10 may stop the electric power supply from the power supply 43 to an auxiliary machine, if a detection signal is received from the gas sensor 70 shown in FIG. Moreover, the control part 10 may perform the process which stops the electric power supply from the power supply 43 to an auxiliary machine in parallel with the shutdown process. The gas sensor 70 may be configured to detect a gas leak in the power generation apparatus 1 in any of the standby state, the start state, the power generation state, and the stop state.

  For example, the embodiment of the present disclosure can be realized as a control device that controls a fuel cell from the outside without including the fuel cell. An example of such an embodiment is shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control device 2 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a control unit 10 and a storage unit 12. The control device 2 controls an external power generation device 1 including a fuel cell. That is, if it determines with the control apparatus 2 which concerns on this embodiment having detected abnormality regarding gas, it will stop the electric power supply from the power supply 43 to an auxiliary machine.

  Furthermore, the embodiment of the present disclosure can also be realized as a control program executed by the control device 2 as described above, for example. That is, the control program according to the present embodiment determines whether or not a gas-related abnormality has occurred in the control device 2, and determines that a gas-related abnormality has occurred. And executing a step of stopping.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power generator 2 Control apparatus 10 Control part 12 Memory | storage part 20 Fuel cell module 22,22A, 22B Reformer 24,24A, 24B Cell stack 26,26A, 26B Temperature sensor 27,27A, 27B Temperature sensor 28,28A, 28B Ignition heater 32 Gas supply unit 34 Air supply unit 36 Reformed water supply unit 40 Power conditioner 41 Converter 42 Inverter 43 Power supply 50 Waste heat recovery processing unit 52 Circulating water processing unit 54 Circulating water pump 60 Hot water storage tank 70 Gas sensors 91, 91A, 91B Flow meter 92, 92A, 92B Gas pump 93, 93A, 93B Air blower 94, 94A, 94B Flow meter 95, 95A, 95B Reformed water pump 96, 96A, 96B Bubble sensor 100 Load 200 Commercial power supply

Claims (7)

A fuel cell that generates electricity using at least gas,
An auxiliary machine that is a peripheral device of the fuel cell;
A power source for supplying power to a part of the auxiliary machine;
A controller for controlling the auxiliary machine and the power source,
When the control unit determines that an abnormality related to the gas has occurred, the control unit stops power supply from the power source to the auxiliary machine. The power generation device according to claim 1,
The control unit is configured such that the temperature in the vicinity of the fuel cell is lower than the first temperature and the temperature of the combustion unit of the power generator is higher than the first temperature in a state where the ignition process is not performed in the fuel cell. A power generator that determines that an abnormality relating to the gas has occurred when it is determined that the temperature exceeds two temperatures. The power generation device according to claim 2,
The state in which the ignition process is not executed is a power generation device in a standby state of the power generation device. The power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The gas includes a fuel gas;
A reformer that reforms the raw fuel gas into the fuel gas;
The auxiliary machine includes a gas supply unit that supplies raw fuel gas to the reformer,
When the control unit determines that the flow rate of the raw fuel gas flowing out from the gas supply unit exceeds a predetermined amount after a lapse of a predetermined time after stopping the gas supply unit, an abnormality relating to the raw fuel gas has occurred. Determine the power generator. The power generation device according to claim 4,
The control unit determines whether or not an abnormality relating to the raw fuel gas has occurred when the power generation device is not in a power generation state. A fuel cell that generates electricity using at least gas,
An auxiliary machine that is a peripheral device of the fuel cell;
A power supply that supplies power to a part of the auxiliary machine, and a control device that controls a power generator,
When the control device determines that an abnormality relating to the gas has occurred, the control device stops power supply from the power source to the auxiliary machine. A fuel cell that generates electricity using at least gas,
An auxiliary machine that is a peripheral device of the fuel cell;
A control device for controlling a power generation device including a power source for supplying power to a part of the auxiliary machine,
Determining whether an abnormality relating to the gas has occurred;
Determining that an abnormality relating to the gas has occurred, stopping the power supply from the power source to the auxiliary machine; and
A control program that executes

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