AU785256B2 - System for managing power generation equipment - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: *o Kurita Water Industries Actual Inventor(s): Tsutomu Kurokawa, Shigeaki Sato, Yoshiteru Misumi Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: SYSTEM FOR MANAGING POWER GENERATION EQUIPMENT Our Ref 654711 POF Code: 510/458215 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 6006q ELECTRICITY GENERATION EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electricity generation equipment management system that efficiently maintains and manages operation of a generator unit installed in a region where laying of electricity cable from a public electricity company is difficult. The present invention also relates to an electricity generation equipment management system that supplies power to a specific electricity consumer, allowing for reliable billing and payments of electricity 10 supply service fees between the electricity consumer and an electricity provider operating the generator unit.

Electricity generated using nuclear power, thermal power, water power, or the like serves a very important role as a source of daily energy. There is also widespread use of electrical devices, actuating devices in various machinery, 15 iniormation conmunuication devices, and the like that use this electricity as an energy source to provide light or heat.

This type of electricity is generated by power companies, which supply electricity consumers, businesses and standard households, viapredetermined electrical cables. The electricity consumers pay the power companies a fee based 20 on the amount of electricity used.

However, in places such as farms in large plains or remote islands, the laying of electrical cable from the power company involves enormous installation -2costs. This makes providing electricity to these consumers very difficult in practical terms. Electricity consumers in these remote areas can install a generator unit, using petroleum as an energy source, to serve as a home generator. Alternatively, solar energy, wind energy, or geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity.

However, installing home generators involves very high installation costs.

Furthermore, there are very high operation costs (running costs) for monitoring the operation status of a home generator and running the generator in a stable and efficient manner while providing adequate maintenance. Thus, the efficient use of electrical energy is made very difficult.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electricity generation management system which overcomes at least some of the foregoing problems.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electricity generation equipment management system that allows power generated from a 20 generator unit installed locally to be used in substantially the same manner as power supplied from an electric company, even if the laying of electric cable from the electricity company is difficult is the region.

SoAnother object of the present invention is to provide an electricity S 25 generation equipment management system that maintains and manages a generator unit installed locally in a region for which laying electrical cable from the electricity company is difficult, and that can efficiently handle billing and payments of electricity supply service fees charged to the electricity consumer.

30 According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a generator unit installed locally to supply power to an electricity consumer. A :29. SEP. 2006-16:27 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK JO. 2236-P. -3management center monitors operation status of the generator unit and monitors the amount of electricity supplied to the electricity consumer by the generator unit A service company performs maintenance and management for the generator unit based on instructions from the management center or the operation status ofthe generator unit.

An electricity provider operating the generator unit bills the electricity consumer for an electricity supply service fee based on information sent to the management center. The resulting electricity generation equipment management system maintains and manages a generator unit without placing a burden on an electricity consumer, allowing efficient billing and payment of electricity supply service fees.

The present invention -also provides an electricity generation equipment management system including at least one generator unit, operated by an electricity provider, supplying electricity to at least one specific electricity consumer; a service company maintaining and managing operation of said at least one generator unit; a management center, monitoring an operation status of said at least one generator unit and monitoring an amount.of electricity supplied to said at least one specific electricity consumer by said at least one generator unit; a database including a relationship data record indicating information regarding an association between the at least one generator unit and a specific service company, the database operable to store and manage information collated at the at least one generator unit,. the information containing at least one of detection information, generator unit specification information, maintenance information, and service company information; the management center operable to access the database information so as to provide unified management over the information, and further operable to select the specific service company to receive instructions based on the association in the relationship data record; a system for communicating information between said management center and said electricity provider, and COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 29. SEP. 2006 16:27 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236 P. 6 3a an Internet virtual financial institution that supports transactions that bill an electricity supply service fee to each of said at least one specific electricity consumer based on information received from said management center.

In an electricity generation equipment management system according to an embodiment the present invention, a service company maintains and manages COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 operation of the generator unit based on instructions from the management center or the operation status of the generator unit Thus,, in the electricity generation equipment management system according to the present invention, a generator unit for supplying electricity to the electricity consumer is set up in association with the electricity provider instead of the electricity consumer. The operation status of the generator unit and the amount of electricity supplied to the electricity consumer is monitored by a management center via a predetermined com~munication circuit A service comapany that maintains and manages the operations of the generator unit receives maintenance/management instructions from the management center or receives information about operation status of the generator unit. Based on this, the service coIpn performs maintenance and mainagement operations for the generator uit. Apart ifrom the maintenance and management of the generator system 0% 0 performed by the service company, the electricity provider bills and receives payment from the electricity consumer for an electricity supply service fee based on the amount of power supplied to the electricity consumer or the like.

Thie generator unit can be, for example, a fuel cell electricity generation cl evice that uses LPG (liquid petroleum fuel), NP (natural gas), or the lie as fuel to generate electricity. The service company includes a fuel supply company supplying fuel (LPG or NP) to the fuel cell electricity generation device (fuel cell system); and a maintenance/managemuent company perfonning maintenance on the fuel cell electricity generation device and responding to irregularities in the fuel cell electricity generation device.

According to another aspect of the electricity generation equipment nianagcment system according to the present inavention, the generator unit is t 2. SP.20062627PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236 P. 7 especially effective when used locally by a specific'electricity consumer as a home generator system in a region where laying or maintaining electrical cable from a public electricity company is difficult in a wide plain or a remote island.

In this case, it would be desirable for the management center to use wireless communication equipment to collect information from the generator wit regarding operation status of the generator unit and regarding an amount of electricity supplied to the specific electricity consumer. The electricity provier would then use, for example, the Internet for billing and payment of an electricity supply service fee for the specific J 10 elctricity consumer..

The present invention also provides an electricity generation equipment management system including: at least one locally installed fuel cell electricity generating device supplying 15 electricity to at least one specific electricity consumer; a management center monitoring an operation status of said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device via a predetermined network .fa service company maintaining and operating said fuel cell electricity generating device based on instructions received from said management center; a database having a relationship data record indicating information regarding an t association between the fuel cell electricity generating device and a specific service I company, the database configured to store-information about irregularities issued from said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device in association with information relating to said service company corresponding to said irregularity information; means for selecting the specific service company to receive instructions based on the association in the relationship data record; means for notifying said ser-vice company associated with said irregularity by looking up said database upon detection of an irregularity in said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device; and an Internet virtual financial institution that supports transactions that bill each of said at least one specific electricity consumer a maintenance and operating sevice fee based on information stored in said database.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 29. SEP. 2006 16:28 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236 P. 8 The present invention also provides an electricity management system, including: generating means for generating electricity; *1 4 COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 29. SEP. 2006-16:28 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236 P. 9 -6said generating means being local to a specific electricity consumer, whereby power cables from an electricity provider to said specific electricity consumer are unnecessary; monitoring means for remotely monitoring said generating means; a storage means having a relationship data record indicating an association between the generating means and a specific service company, the storage means configured to store and manage information collected at the generating means, the information containing at least one of detection information, generator unit specification information, maintenance information, and service company information; the management center operable to access the database information so as to provide unified management over the informafion, and further operable to select the specific service company to receive instructions based on the association in the relationship data record; and billing means for charging said specific electricity consumer for a consumed amount of said electricity, the billing means including an Internet virtual financial institution, The above, and other objects; ,features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of the overall architecture of an electricity generation equipment management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

TS No' o nala4S4Tl -M Oat fl 2= I COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 29 SEP. 2006-16:28 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO 2236 P. -6a Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the architectire of a fuel cell generator, which is one example of a generator unit that is suitable for incorporating in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a drawing illustrating sample operation status information for a generator unit monitored by a management center.

Figure 4 is a drawing illustrating a sample database in a management center for managing operations of a generator unit.

Figure 5 is a drawing illustrating a sample database, distributed between a management center and service companies, for managing infomuation to operate generator units.

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OMSIDNo:SBI-9125 Receid by I Australia: Time :33 Dte 206-029 COMS ID No: SBM-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the figures, the following is a description of an electricity generation equipment management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to'Fig. 1, there is shown the schematic architecture of an electricity generation equipment mianagement systemn according to this embodiment Electricity generation units I a, Ilb are disposed separately and are associated with electricity consumers 2a, 2b, standard households. Electricity generation units Ia, lb supply power to the electricity consumers 2a, 2b respectively. The electricity generation unit la is installed locally as a home electricity generator for a standard household (electricity consumer 2a) located in a city arTea A in an electricity service area to which power from a public power company (not shown in the figure) can be provided via power cables. Electricity generation unit lb is installed locally as a generator for a standard household (electricity consumer 2b) located in a remote area B, a remote island or large plainT for which installation of power cables from a public power company is cult.

Referring to the schematic architecture shown in Fig. 2, electricity g~eneration units la, lb are formed as fuel cell generators (fuel cell systems) in which LPG (liquid petroleum gas) or NP (natural gas) is used as fuel anad aia electrochemnical reaction is performed with the hydrogen in the fuel and oxygen in air to generate electricity (power). Briefly, this fuel cell generator is essentially formed from a fuel reforming device 11, a carbon monoxide (CO) transformer 12, and a fuel cell 13. Also included are a water processor 14, a cooling water tank and a DC-AC converter (inverter) 16.

Fuel reforming device 11 performs vapor reformation on the LPG or NP supplied as fuel to provide a gas having hydrogen as its primary component. More specifically, the LPG or the NP is heated using a heat exchanger (not shown in the figure) or the like. A water- adding/desulfurizing device (not shown in the figure) is used to eliminate sulfur components contained in the gas. Then, the gas is sent to fuel reforming device 11 along with water vapor, providing a gas having hydogen (H 2 as its main component. Then, this hydrogen gas is sent to carbon monoxide transformer 12, where the carbon monoxide (CO) contained in the gas is converted to carbon dioxide (CO2). The hydrogen gas processed in this manner is then sent to the fuel electrode of fuiel cell 13 while air is sent to the air electrode of fuel. cell 13 simultaneously. The oxygen in this air and the hydrogen in the hydrogen gas forms an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity (direct 15 current electricity).

Hydrogen is consumed in fuel cell 13 in. the by the electrochemnical reaction and the remaining hydrogen is discharged along with the ::::*carbon dioxide as an unreacted gas. This unreacted gas is returned to fuel reforming device I1I to serve as a heat source.

o ~.20 The cooling device built into fuel cell 13 cools fuel cell. 13 by introducing 0: cooling water from cooling tank 15. The cooling water that is heated by fuel c'ell 0 00 13 then returns to cooling tank 15 by way of the heat exchanger (not shown in the fi~gure thus allowing it to be used for both heating the hydrogen gas and cooling the heated water. Water processor 14, described above, supplies water to cooling tank 15 and serves as a water source for providing the water vapor sent to fuel reforming device 11. Water processor 14 does this by, for example, purifying tap water or well water.

The direct current electricity (DC) generated by fuel cell 13 is converted using DC- AC converter 16 formed from an inverter to provide an alternating current (AC) at a predetermined frequency and voltage. This is sent out as the generated output to electricity consumers 2a 2b.

Fuel cell generators formed in this manner may be equipped with a backup power supply 17 that includes a secondary battery. Backup power supply 17 stores electrical energy by being chaged by the output from fuel cell 13 -If there is an irregularity in fuel cell 13, or if there is a sudden increase in power consumption that cannot be met by the output, electrical energy from backup power supply 17 is sent to DC-AC converter 16 in place of fuel cell 13. This provides output of AC power for a predetermined length of time. This type of backup power supply 17 provides backup over a predetermined period in case of 15 a failure due to a irregularity in the fuel cell generator or due to a spike in power consumption, thus guaranteeing a stable supply of power to electricity consumers 2b.

Referring back to Fig. 1, characteristic features of a generator equipment management systemn will be described. A management center 3 is disposed in the city area A to monitor the operations of generator units 1 a, 1 b, and to monitor the power supplied to electricity consumers 2a, 2b from generator units I a, lb.

City area A is also generally equipped with an electricity provider 4 operatin g generator units 1la, 1ib, and service companies, providing maintenance and management for generator units I a, l b. These service companies can include fuiel supply companies 5a, 5b supplying fuel by delivering fuel containers (tank-s) filled to a predetermined pressure to the sites of generator units (fuel cell generators) la, lb. These service companies can also include maintenance management companies 6a, 6b, providing maintenance operations such as going to the sites of generator units (fuel cell generators) la, lb when there is an irregularity in a fuel cell generator and re-filling or replacing consumables in the fuel cell generators.

Management center 3 provides unified management over a predetermined management network system BNS by providing information communication between generator units la, Ib, electricity provider 4, fuel supply companies 5b, and maintenance/management firms 6a, 6b. Establishing a direct information communication link between generator unit lb and management network system BNS is difficult since generator unit lb is installed in remote area B, where even the laying of power cables is difficult. Thus, information communication is provided, for example, using a communication base station BS connected to 15 management network system BNS via a communication satellite CS.

Management center 3 is entrusted by electricity provider 4 to provide operation management over generator units a, lb. This operations management is performed in the following manner. To provide a first feature, management center 3 collects, via management network systemBNS, information regarding the 20 operation status of generator units la, Ib, described later; and information o regarding the amount of power supplied to power consumers 2a, 2b. Then, the information collected from generator units la, lb is organized by generator unit and stored, thus allowing the activity status of generator units la, lb to be monitored individually.

To provide a second feature, management center 3 reports to electricity provider 4, via management network system BNS, regarding the amount of power used by electricity consumers 2a, 2b, the amount of power supplied individually by generator units la, lb. Furthermore, to provide a third feature, management center 3 uses management network system BNS to inistruct fuel supply companies 5a, 5b to provide fuel to generator units la, 1b. Furthiennore, to provide a fourth feature, management center 3 instructs maintenance/ management companies 6a, 6b to respond to irregularities in generator units I a, l b and to re-fi1l/replace consumables and the like.

The collection of information from generator units la, lb according to the first feature described above will be described in more detail.

Refering to Fig. 3, if generator units la, lb are formed as fuel cell generators as described above, generator units Ia, lb are equipped with sensing features. The sensing mechanism is equipped with a status detector 18 that detects :0 15 the remaining fuel (LPG or NP) supplied in the fuel tanks described above. Status detector 18 also detects gas leaks in the fuel gas supply system between fuel reforming device I11 and fuel cell 13. Status detector 18 also detects the ::::*concentration of hydrogen in the hydrogen gas output from fuel reforming device 11; the concentration of carbon monoxide in the hydrogen gas from carbon monoxide (CO) transformer 12; the output voltage (DC voltage) from fuel cell 13; and output voltage (AC voltage) from AC-DC converter 16. Furthermore, status detector 18 also detects the charge in backup power supply 17; information about the water quality and the like of the processed water from water processor 14; and the amount of power supplied to power consumers 2a, 2b from the fuel cell 2 5 generator devices.

The information detected by status detector 18, along with ID information assigned to the corresponding generator unit, is sent to management center 3 via a communication device 19 at regular intervals, once a day. For generator unit l b, installed in the remote area B, information is sent to management center 3 via communication satellite CS as described above. Of course, it would also be possible to have management center 3 access communication device 19, which would then send the detection information collected up to that point or the detection information for the time of access.

Management center 3 receives detection information relating to activity status from generator units 1 a, l b in this manner.

Referring to Fig. 4, management center 3 is equipped with a database DB that manages device specifications x for generator units la, lb: maintenance 1tufor-mation y; and information z regarding the service companies performing maintenance/management operations; and the like. Management center 3 uses this database DB to provided unified management over the information collected from generator units la, lb as described above. Furthermore, by looking up the database DB information, management center 3 determines where to report the

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detected information regarding the activity status of generator units I a, lb collected as described above. This information is sent to the corresponding department (service company).

More specifically, management center 3 may, for example, notify the amount of power supplied to power consumers 2a, 2b to electricity provider 4 on a monthly basis. Also, management center 3 informs fuel supply companies about the remaining fuel in generator units (fuel cell generators) la, 1b, and m.tructs them to provide re-fills. Furthermore, management device 3 sends 13 information to maintenance/management companies 6a, 6b, information about problems or irregularities in generator units (fiiel cell generators) 1 a, l b as determined by analysis of the activity information described above, and instructs them to provide maintenance operations, respond to the problems.

it is also possible to have the activity information itself (the raw data) sent from management center 3 to maintenance/management companies 6a, 6b, and to instruct mnaintenance/management companies 6a, 6b to perform analysis and provide maintenance based on the analysis.

Referring to Fig. 5, management center 3 prepares a set of relational databases. A database DB 1 contains machine specifications x and information destinations z. Database DB2 contains maintenance contents y for the individual generator units (fuel cell generator) I a, lb handled by maintenance/management companies 6a, 6b. This allows management information to be distrbuted between multiple databases DBI1, DB2.

Fuel supply companies 5a, 5b then respond to the fuel supply instructions from management center 3 and supply fuel (LPG Or NP), deliver fuel tanks, to their respective generator units (fuel cell generators) la.. lb. Based on maintenance instructions or information about irregularities received from management center 3, maaintenance/mnanagemnent companies 6a, 6b go on-site and see* 20 provide maintenance to their respective generator units (fuel cell generators) 1 a, l b. More specifically, failed or defective sections in the fuel cell generators are repaired or replaced and consumables are replaced or re-filled.

In response to information from management center 3 regarding the amount of power supplied, electricity provider 4 bills electricity consumers 2a, 2b for electricity supply services. The electricity supply service fees vary according 14 to the provider contract. For example, a set electricity fee is associated with the amount of electricity supplied. Additional charges may optionally be applied for fuel supplied to the fuel cell generators and for consumables. In fixed-rate contracts, a fixed rate is charged up to a predetermined amount ofpower described in the contract, and additional power used is charged with an additional fee.

Essentially, the electricity supply service fee is charged according to the provider contract, based on the amount of power used by electricity consumers 2a, 2b, the operating costs of the fuel cell generators, and the like. Accounting operations are carried out by receiving the electricity supply service fees from electricity 10 consuners 2a, 2b.

The billing and payment of these electricity supply service fees can be performed through the mailing of bills and the depositing of the fees. However, it is also possible to use the Intemet INT as shown in Fig. 1. In this case, a virtual financial institution BK in the Internet INT is used to provide transactions with electronic money information. The use of this type of transaction format S simplifies billing and payment of electricity supply service fees, especially for power consumer 2b in remote area B. In this case, power consumer 2b connects to the Internet INT via communication satellite CS or a wireless station RS.

With the generator equipment management system described above, electricity is supplied using locally installed generator units la, lb for electricity consumers 2a, 2b. This allows generator units la, lb to be used efficiently as home generators. In particular, in remote area B, where laying of electricity cables is difficult, power is supplied relatively inexpensively and easily from generator unit I b installed for electricity consumer 2b.

The operation status of generator units la, lb are monitored by management center 3, and, when necessary, instructions are sent to fuel supply companies 5a, 5b and maintenance/management companies 6a, 6b to supply fuel (LPG or NP) or provide maintenance for generator units la, lb. As a result, generator units la, lb easily provide stable and efficient operations. Electricity accounting operations between electricity consumers 2a, 2b and electricity providers 6, involving the billing and payment for the amount of electricity supplied (amount of electricity used), are performed separately from the management operations of generator units la, lb described above. Thus, 10 management center 3 is used by electricity provider 6 in an effective way to operate generator units Ia, lb.

The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above.

For example, generator units la, 1b can generate electricity using micro-generator turbines fueled by petroleum, solar power, wind power, geothermal power, or the like. In these cases, it is necessary to provide adequate consideration of how the power supply will be backed up if these natural energy sources are interrupted.

In particular, there will be a need to back up the power supply over long intervals, so the power capacity (charge capacity) of backup power supply 17 must be sufficiently large.

Maintenance operations for generator units la, lb do not have to all be handled by service companies. Simple operations that can be performed by electricity consumers 2a, 2b may be dealt with by sending maintenance information and instructions to electricity consumers 2a, 2b from management center 3, via the Internet INT. Furthermore, maintenance operations for generator units 1 a, 1b can be carried by the maintenance management companies 6a, 6b at fixed intervals, while irregularities, such as gas leaks, are dealt with when they occur. Other changes can be implemented as well as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.

With the present invention as described above, electricity is supplied in a stable mannar from a generator unit installed for an electricity consumer, even if laying ofelecteiity cables from a public power company is difficult. Furthernore, the operation status of the generator unit is monitored by a management center.

Based on this monitoring, instructions are sent to service companies to provide maintenance operations for the generator unit, supplying fuel and performing maintenance inspections. This allows the generator unit to be operated in an efficient manner. Furthermore, accounting operations for electricity supply service fees are performed between the electricity provider operating the generator unit and the electricity company. These accounting operations are performed separate from the operations/maintenance tasks for the generator unit. Thus, the electricity provider can conduct business in a reliable manner.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effeated therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims-

Claims (1)

1. 29. SEP. 2006-16:28 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236--P 11- 17- The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. An electricity generation equipment management system including, at least one generator unit, operated by an electricity provider, supplying electricity to at icast one specific electricity consumer; a service company maintaining and managing operation of said at least one generator unit; a management center, monitoring an operation status of said at least one generator unit and monitoring an amount of electricity supplied to said at least one specific electricity consumer by said at least one generator unit; 0 a database including a relationship data record indicating information regarding an association between the at least one generator unit and a specific service company, the database operable to store and manage information collected at the at least one generator unit, the information containing at least one of detection information, generator unit specification information, maintenance information, and service company information; the management center operable to access the database information so as to provide unified management over the information, and further operable to select the specific service company to receive instructions based on the association in the relationship data record; a system for communicating information between said management center and said electricity provider;, and an Internet virtual financial institution that supports transactions that bill an electricity supply scrvice fee to each of said at least one specific electricity consumer based on information received from said management center. 2. An electricity generation equipnient management system acoording to claim 1, wherein said at least one generator unit is installed locally with respect to said at least one specific electricity consumer. Thwi~i.a "*,.tflw6q IM 29ac GM 2=u f COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 29SEP. 200C6'"6:29 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236 P. 12 -18- 3. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided one of said at least one generator unit for each one of said at least one specific electricity consumer. 4. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim I wherein: said at least one generator unit is a fuel cell electricity geterating device; said service company includes a fuel supply company and a maintenancemanagement company; :said fuel supply company supplying fuel to said fuel cell electricity generating device; and said maintenance/management company performing maintenance on said fuel cell electricity generating device and responding to irregularities in said fuel cell 15 electricity generating device. m An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 2 wherein said at least one generator unit is used locally by said at least one specific electricity consumer as a home-generator system. 6. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim I wherein said at least one generator unit is used locally by said at least one specific *electricity consumer as a home generator system, 7. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 2 wherein: said at least one generator unit is installed for said at least one specific electricity consumer in a region where laying of maintaining electrical cable from said electricity provider is difficult; and MTh*M.dWm-omabAl lmAfldlI d-4mut, Js 4 7l -2Mta f0A COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 29. SEP. 2006 16:29 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236"-P. 13 -19- Said management center uses wireless commnunication equipment to collect information from said at least one generator unit regarding operation status of said at least one generator unit and regarding an amount of electricity Supplied to said at least one specific electricity consumer. S. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 8 wherein said electricity provider uses the Internet for billing and payment of said electricity supply service fbe for said at least one specific electricity consumer. 9. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 1 wherein: said at least one generator unit is installed for said at least one specific electricity consumer in a region where laying or maintaining electrical cable from said electricity provide is diffivu and said management center uses wireless communication equipment to collect information from said generator unit regarding operation status of said at least one generator unit and regarding an amount of electricity supplied to said at least one specific electricity consumer. 10. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 9 wherein said electricity provider pses the Internet for billing and payment of said electricity supply service for said at least one specific electricity consumer, 11. An electricity generation equipment management system including: at least one locally installed fuel cell electricity generating device supplying el ectricity to at least one specific electricity consunmer, a management center monitoring an operation status of said at leas one fuel cell electricity generating device via a predetermined network; a service company maintaining and operating said fael cell electricity generating device based on instructions received from said management center; COMSID No: SBMI-0412855 Received by IP Australia: rime 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 2 9,-SEP 2006-16:29 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK NO. 2236-P. 14 a database having a relationship data record indicating information regarding an association between the fuel cell electricity generating device and a specific service company, the database configured to store-information about irregularities issued from said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device in association with infonnation relating to said specific service company corresponding to said irregularity information; and means for selecting the specific service company to receive instructions based on the association in the relationship data record; means for notifying said service company associated with said irregularity by looking up said -database upon detccti6n of an irregularity in said at least one fael cell electricity generating device; and an Internet virtual financial institution that supports transactions that bill each of said at least one specific electricity consumer a maintenance and operating service fee based on information stored in said database. 12. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 11, wherein there is provided one of said at least one fuel cell electricity generating device for each one of said at least one specific electricity consumer. 13. An.electricity management system, including: generating means for generating electricity; said generating means being local to a specific electricity consumer, whereby power cables from an electricity provider to said specific electricity consumer arc unnecessary;, monitoring means for remotely monitoring said generating means; a storage means having a relationship data record indicating an. association between the generating means and a specific service company, the storage, means configured to store and manage Information collected at the generating means, the information containing at least one of detection information, generator unit specification information, maintenance information, and service company information; In f.iati PD COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29 29. SEP. 2006 16:29 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK -NO, 2236"-P, the management center operable to access the database information so as to provide unified management over the information, and further operable to select the specific service company to receive instructions based on the association in the relationship data record; and billing means for charging said specific electricity consumer for a consumed amount of said electricity, the billing means including an Internet virtual financial institution. 14. An electricity management system according to claim 13, wherein the management center is further operable to receive data from said monitoring means, 15. An electicity management system according to claim 13 wherein: said generating means includes a fuel cell electricity generating device; said service company includes a fuel supply company and a maintenance/management company; said fuel supply company supplying fuel to said fuel cell electricity generating device; and said maintenance/management company performing maintenance on said fuel cell electricity generating device and responding to irregularities in said fuel cell electricity generating device. 16, An electricity management system according to claim 14, wherein said management center uses wireless communication equipment to collect information from said generating means regarding operation status of said generating means and regarding an amount of electricity supplied to said specific electricity consumer. 17. An electricity management .system according. to claim 16 wherein said electricity provider uses the. Internet for billing and payment of an electricity supply service fee for said specific electricity consumer. 18. An electricity generation equipment management system according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ThW*W4SwciOS M avarni uf- an-me.w p &peaezgf COMS ID No: SBMI-04912855 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:33 Date 2006-09-29