Technical Field
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The present disclosure relates to a power generation set.
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The present application claims priority based on
Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-050452 filed in Japan on March 27, 2023 , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Background Art
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A transportable power generation set that accommodates a generator, a device for driving the generator, and the like inside an enclosure has been proposed.
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For example, PTL 1 discloses a package-type power generation device in which a generator, an engine for driving the generator, a fuel tank for storing fuel to be supplied to the engine, a silencer into which exhaust gas from the engine is introduced, and the like are accommodated inside a package (enclosure).
Citation List
Patent Literature
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[PTL 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-180192 Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
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Meanwhile, for example, equipment that can generate a spark, such as a generator or an electric wire, is provided inside the enclosure. When a spark is generated at a place where the fuel gas leaks inside the enclosure and the concentration is locally high, the spark may become an ignition source, and combustion explosion may occur. In particular, in a case where a combustible fuel such as hydrogen is used, there is a high need to reduce such a risk.
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In view of the above circumstances, an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a power generation set capable of effectively reducing a risk of combustion explosion caused by leakage of a fuel gas.
Solution to Problem
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According to at least one embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a power generation set including:
- a power generation unit that includes a generator and a drive device for generating a driving force for rotationally driving the generator by combusting a fuel;
- an enclosure that includes an air supply port and an exhaust port and accommodates the power generation unit; and
- a fuel pipe for supplying the fuel to the drive device, in which
- in the fuel pipe, an internal pipe portion that is provided inside the enclosure is located above the generator in an up-down direction.
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Advantageous Effects of Invention
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According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a power generation set capable of effectively reducing a risk of combustion explosion caused by leakage of a fuel gas.
Brief Description of Drawings
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- FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a power generation set according to an embodiment as viewed from a side.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the power generation set shown in FIG. 1 as viewed in a plan view.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an exterior of a part of the power generation set shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a part of the power generation set shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a part of the power generation set shown in FIG. 2.
Description of Embodiments
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Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, shapes, relative dispositions, and the like of components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely explanatory examples.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a power generation set according to an embodiment as viewed from a side. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the power generation set shown in FIG. 1 as viewed in a plan view. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an exterior of a part of the power generation set shown in FIG. 1.
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As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a power generation set 1 according to the embodiment includes a power generation unit 10 including a generator 38 and a drive device 35, and an enclosure 2 for accommodating the power generation unit 10. In addition, the power generation set 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an exhaust unit 4 for exhausting combustion exhaust gas from the drive device 35 to an outside of the enclosure 2.
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The generator 38 includes a rotor that is connected to an output shaft of the drive device 35, and is rotationally driven by the drive device 35.
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The drive device 35 is configured to generate a driving force for rotationally driving the generator 38 by combusting a fuel. For example, the drive device 35 may be an internal combustion engine such as a reciprocating engine or a gas turbine engine. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive device 35 is a reciprocating engine 36 that includes a combustion chamber 40 including one or more cylinders and a crank chamber 42 that accommodates a rotary shaft. A turbocharger 44 is provided in the engine 36.
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The fuel combusted by the drive device 35 may be gas lighter than air, and may be, for example, hydrogen gas.
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The drive device 35 includes an air supply duct 48 for guiding air inside the enclosure 2 to the combustion chamber 40, a fuel pipe 52 for guiding a fuel gas to the combustion chamber 40, and an exhaust pipe 50 for discharging combustion exhaust gas from the combustion chamber 40. An air supply filter 46 is provided at an inlet 47 of the air supply duct 48. The fuel pipe 52 includes an internal pipe portion 54 provided inside the enclosure 2 and an external pipe portion 56 provided outside the enclosure 2.
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As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal pipe portion 54 may be provided with one or more valves 57 for adjusting the flow of the fuel gas in the internal pipe portion 54. The one or more valves 57 may include a shutoff valve 58. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve 57 may be supported by a stand (valve skid) 60 (60A, 60B) provided inside the enclosure 2.
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As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the enclosure 2 includes an enclosure body portion 8 for accommodating the power generation unit 10, an air supply port 12 for taking air into an internal space of the enclosure body portion 8, and an exhaust port 14 for discharging air from the internal space of the enclosure body portion 8.
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The enclosure body portion 8 includes a foundation portion 16 on which the power generation unit 10 is placed, a side wall portion 18 provided on the foundation portion 16 to surround the power generation unit 10, and a roof portion 24 provided above the side wall portion 18 to cover the power generation unit 10. The internal space of the enclosure body portion 8 is a space surrounded by the foundation portion 16, the side wall portion 18, and the roof portion 24. In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the side wall portion 18 includes a pair of long portions 19 extending along a longitudinal direction of the enclosure body portion 8, and short portions (an air supply side portion 20 and an exhaust side portion 22 to be described later) connecting the pair of long portions 19 to each other. The output shaft of the drive device 35 or the rotary shaft of the generator 38 may be provided to extend along the longitudinal direction of the enclosure body portion 8.
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In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the enclosure 2 includes an air supply hood 30 that is provided outside the enclosure body portion 8 and that forms an air supply port 12. The air that has entered the enclosure 2 from the air supply port 12 is introduced into the internal space of the enclosure body portion 8 through an inlet opening 26 of the enclosure body portion 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the inlet opening 26 may be at least partially formed by an upper end 20a of the air supply side portion 20 of the side wall portion 18 and a lower surface 25 of the roof portion 24.
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In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the enclosure 2 includes an exhaust duct 32 that is provided outside the enclosure body portion 8 and that forms the exhaust port 14. The air inside the enclosure body portion 8 is guided to the exhaust duct 32 through an outlet opening 28 of the enclosure body portion 8, and is discharged from the exhaust port 14 to the outside of the enclosure 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the outlet opening 28 may be at least partially formed by an upper end 22a of the exhaust side portion 22 of the side wall portion 18 and the lower surface 25 of the roof portion 24.
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As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the enclosure 2 may include a ventilation fan 34 for ventilating the inside of the enclosure 2. That is, the ventilation fan 34 may introduce outside air into the enclosure 2 and discharge the air inside the enclosure 2 to the outside.
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As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a partition plate 37 may be provided at a position between the air supply port 12 and the exhaust port 14 in a plan view in the internal space of the enclosure 2. The partition plate 37 may have a portion that extends at least partially along an up-down direction and may be configured to guide the air introduced from the air supply port 12 into the internal space of the enclosure 2 to flow downward. The partition plate 37 shown in FIG. 1 includes a lower end portion extending along the up-down direction. In addition, the partition plate 37 shown in FIG. 1 includes an upper end portion having a shape that is curved to approach the inlet opening 26 as going upward.
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As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a partition plate 29 may be provided at a position between the air supply duct 48 and the internal pipe portion 54 (fuel pipe 52) in a plan view in the internal space of the enclosure 2. The partition plate 29 may be provided to extend along the up-down direction. The partition plate 29 may be provided over a region including the air supply duct 48 and the internal pipe portion 54 in the up-down direction.
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The exhaust unit 4 includes a silencer 78 provided outside the enclosure 2, and a connection pipe portion 72 for guiding the combustion exhaust gas from the drive device 35 to the silencer 78. In addition, the exhaust unit 4 includes an outlet pipe portion 80 connected to the silencer 78. The combustion exhaust gas from the silencer 78 is released to the atmosphere through the outlet opening 82 of the outlet pipe portion 80. The silencer 78 shown in FIG. 1 is supported by a support table 84.
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As shown in FIG. 1, the exhaust unit 4 including the silencer 78 is provided on a foundation portion 70. The foundation portion 70 may be different from the foundation portion 16 in which the enclosure 2 is provided. In this case, the foundation portion 16 in which the enclosure 2 is provided and the foundation portion 70 in which the exhaust unit 4 is provided can be separately transported by being loaded on separate vehicles or the like.
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Hereinafter, the power generation set 1 according to some embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged views showing a part of the power generation set shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
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In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the fuel pipe 52, the internal pipe portion 54 that is provided inside the enclosure 2 is located above the generator 38 in the up-down direction.
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In the above-described embodiment, the internal pipe portion 54 (fuel pipe 52) through which the fuel gas flows is located above the generator 38 in the up-down direction inside the enclosure 2. Therefore, even if the fuel gas leaks from the internal pipe portion 54, since the lightweight fuel gas rises inside the enclosure 2 and is discharged from the exhaust port 14, it is possible to suppress the contact between the leaked fuel gas and the generator 38. Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, even in a case where the fuel gas leaks inside the enclosure 2, the risk of combustion explosion can be effectively reduced.
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The exhaust port 14 of the enclosure 2 is provided at a position above the internal pipe portion 54. In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the exhaust port 14 may be located above a highest position of the lower surface 25 of the roof portion 24 of the enclosure body portion 8.
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In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a part of the internal pipe portion 54 overlaps the generator 38 in a plan view.
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According to the above-described embodiment, in a plan view, a part of the internal pipe portion 54 overlaps the generator 38. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the installation space for the equipment inside the enclosure 2. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the power generation set 1 including the enclosure 2.
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In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more valves 57 provided in the internal pipe portion 54 is supported by the stand 60 (stand 60A or 60B in FIGS. 4 and 5) provided above the generator 38.
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In the above-described embodiment, since the stand 60 is provided above the generator 38, the valve 57 installed in the internal pipe portion 54 provided at a relatively high position above the generator 38 can be appropriately supported by the stand 60.
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In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the internal pipe portion 54 is located above an electric wire 41 connected to the generator 38 in the up-down direction inside the enclosure 2.
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In the above-described embodiment, the internal pipe portion 54 (fuel pipe 52) through which the fuel gas flows is located above the electric wire 41 connected to the generator 38 in the up-down direction inside the enclosure 2. Therefore, even if the fuel gas leaks from the internal pipe portion 54, since the lightweight fuel gas rises inside the enclosure 2 and is discharged from the exhaust port 14, it is possible to suppress the contact between the leaked fuel gas and the electric wire 41 connected to the generator 38. Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, even in a case where the fuel gas leaks inside the enclosure 2, the risk of combustion explosion can be more effectively reduced.
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In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal pipe portion 54 is provided with the shutoff valve 58 for shutting off the supply of the fuel gas to the drive device 35 through the fuel pipe 52. In a case where the plurality of valves 57 are provided in the internal pipe portion 54, the shutoff valve 58 may be provided on a most upstream side of the plurality of valves 57.
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In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a portion of the internal pipe portion 54 on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 58 has the upward inclination angle of 0 degrees or more in the flow direction of the fuel with respect to the horizontal direction at all positions in the flow direction. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the portion of the internal pipe portion 54 on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 58 has an upward inclination angle of approximately 0 degrees in the flow direction of the fuel with respect to the horizontal direction at all positions in the flow direction. That is, the portion of the internal pipe portion 54 on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 58 is provided along a horizontal plane.
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According to the above-described embodiment, in the internal pipe portion 54, the portion on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 58 has an upward inclination angle of 0 degrees or more in the flow direction of the fuel with respect to the horizontal direction at all positions in the flow direction. That is, since the internal pipe portion 54 does not have a descending slope and has an ascending slope or extends horizontally on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 58, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of the fuel gas in the pipe. Therefore, when the operation of the power generation unit is stopped, it is possible to suppress a local increase in the fuel gas concentration in the internal pipe portion 54, and it is possible to effectively reduce the risk of combustion explosion in the fuel pipe or the like.
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In some embodiments, when a length of a portion of the internal pipe portion 54 on an upstream side of the shutoff valve 58 is set to L1 (refer to FIGS. 3 and 5), the external pipe portion 56 includes a descending slope portion in which a position in a height direction decreases toward a downstream side in the flow direction of the fuel at a portion having a length of L1 or less from the enclosure 2.
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In the shown embodiment, the external pipe portion 56 includes a first portion 56a that is closest to the enclosure 2, is connected to an upstream end of the internal pipe portion 54, and extends along the horizontal direction, a second portion 56b that is connected to an upstream end of the first portion 56a and extends along the vertical direction, and a third portion 56c that is connected to an upstream end of the second portion 56b and extends along the horizontal direction. The fuel gas from the fuel gas supply source passes through the external pipe portion 56 in the order of the third portion 56c, the second portion 56b, and the first portion 56a, and is guided to the internal pipe portion 54. Here, the length L2 of the first portion 56a is shorter than the length L2 of the portion on the upstream side of the shutoff valve 58 of the internal pipe portion 54. That is, the second portion 56b of the external pipe portion 56 is a descending slope portion in which the position in the height direction decreases toward the downstream side in the flow direction of the fuel at a position in which the length from the enclosure 2 is L2 (L1 or less).
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According to the above-described embodiment, the external pipe portion 56 has the descending slope portion (the second portion 56b described above) at the portion having the length of L1 or less from the enclosure 2. Therefore, when the supply of the fuel gas is stopped, the relatively lightweight fuel gas can be accumulated at the descending slope portion, and the amount of the fuel gas that may leak into the enclosure 2 can be suppressed to the volume of the portion (the first portion 56a described above) on the downstream side of the descending slope portion in the external pipe portion 56 and of the internal pipe portion 54 at the maximum. Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the amount of the fuel gas that may leak into the enclosure 2 can be reduced, and thus, the risk of combustion explosion can be effectively reduced.
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For example, contents described in each of the above-described embodiments are understood as follows.
- (1) According to at least one embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a power generation set (1) including:
- a power generation unit (10) that includes a generator (38) and a drive device (35) for generating a driving force for rotationally driving the generator by combusting a fuel;
- an enclosure (2) that includes an air supply port (12) and an exhaust port (14) and accommodates the power generation unit; and
- a fuel pipe (52) for supplying the fuel to the drive device, in which
- in the fuel pipe, an internal pipe portion (54) that is provided inside the enclosure is located above the generator in an up-down direction.
In the configuration of (1) above, the internal pipe portion (fuel pipe) through which the fuel gas flows is located above the generator in the up-down direction inside the enclosure. Therefore, even if the fuel gas leaks from the internal pipe portion, since the lightweight fuel gas rises inside the enclosure and is discharged from the exhaust port, it is possible to suppress the contact between the leaked fuel gas and the generator. Therefore, according to the configuration of (1) above, even in a case where the fuel gas leaks inside the enclosure, the risk of combustion explosion can be effectively reduced. - (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above,
the internal pipe portion is located above an electric wire (41) connected to the generator in an up-down direction inside the enclosure.
In the configuration of (2) above, the internal pipe portion (fuel pipe) through which the fuel gas flows is located above the electric wire connected to the generator in the up-down direction inside the enclosure. Therefore, even if the fuel gas leaks from the internal pipe portion, since the lightweight fuel gas rises inside the enclosure and is discharged from the exhaust port, it is possible to suppress the contact between the leaked fuel gas and the electric wire connected to the generator. Therefore, according to the configuration of (2) above, even in a case where the fuel gas leaks inside the enclosure, the risk of combustion explosion can be more effectively reduced. - (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) or (2) above,
a part of the internal pipe portion overlaps the generator in a plan view.
According to the configuration of (3) above, in a plan view, a part of the internal pipe portion overlaps the generator. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the installation space for the equipment inside the enclosure. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the power generation set including the enclosure. - (4) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (3) above,
the power generation set further includes:
- a valve (57) provided in the internal pipe portion, in which
- the valve is supported by a stand (60) provided above the generator.
According to the configuration of (4) above, since the stand is provided above the generator, the valve installed in the pipe provided at a relatively high position above the generator can be appropriately supported by the stand. - (5) In some embodiments, in the configuration of any one of (1) to (4) above,
the power generation set further includes:
- a shutoff valve (58) provided in the internal pipe portion, in which
- a portion of the internal pipe portion on a downstream side of the shutoff valve has an upward inclination angle of 0 degrees or more in a flow direction of the fuel with respect to a horizontal direction at all positions in the flow direction.
According to the configuration of (5) above, in the internal pipe portion, the portion on the downstream side of the shutoff valve has an upward inclination angle of 0 degrees or more in the flow direction of the fuel with respect to the horizontal direction at all positions in the flow direction. That is, since the internal pipe portion does not have a descending slope and has an ascending slope or extends horizontally on the downstream side of the shutoff valve, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of the lightweight fuel gas in the pipe. Therefore, when the operation of the power generation unit is stopped, it is possible to suppress a local increase in the fuel gas concentration in the internal pipe portion, and it is possible to effectively reduce the risk of combustion explosion in the fuel pipe or the like. - (6) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (5) above,
- the fuel pipe includes an external pipe portion provided outside the enclosure, and
- when a length of a portion of the internal pipe portion on an upstream side of the shutoff valve is set to L1, the external pipe portion includes a descending slope portion (for example, the second portion 56b described above) in which a position in a height direction decreases toward a downstream side in the flow direction of the fuel at a portion having a length of L1 or less from the enclosure.
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According to the configuration of (6) above, the external pipe portion has the descending slope portion at the portion having the length of L1 or less from the enclosure. Therefore, when the supply of the fuel gas is stopped, the relatively lightweight fuel gas can be accumulated at the descending slope portion, and the amount of the fuel gas that may leak into the enclosure can be suppressed to the volume of the portion on the downstream side of the descending slope portion in the external pipe portion and of the internal pipe portion at the maximum. Therefore, according to the configuration of (6) above, the amount of the fuel gas that may leak into the enclosure can be reduced, and thus, the risk of combustion explosion can be effectively reduced.
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Even when the fuel gas leaks from the external pipe portion provided outdoors, since the fuel gas is immediately diffused into the atmosphere and the fuel gas concentration is lowered unlike the inside of the enclosure, there is almost no possibility of combustion explosion occurring. Therefore, it is considered that the risk of combustion explosion does not increase even when a descending slope portion in which the fuel gas can accumulate is provided in the external pipe portion.
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Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes modifications of the above-described embodiments and a combination of these embodiments as appropriate.
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In the present specification, expressions representing relative or absolute dispositions such as "in a certain direction", "along a certain direction", "parallel", "orthogonal", "center", "concentric", and "coaxial" not only strictly represent the dispositions, but also represent a state where the dispositions are relatively displaced with a tolerance or at an angle or a distance to such an extent that the same function can be obtained.
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For example, expressions representing that matters are in an equal state such as "same", "equal", and "homogeneous" not only strictly represent an equal state, but also represent a state where a difference exists with a tolerance or to such an extent that the same function can be obtained.
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Further, in the present specification, expressions representing shapes such as a quadrangular shape and a cylindrical shape not only represent shapes such as a quadrangular shape and a cylindrical shape in a geometrically strict meaning, but also represent shapes including an uneven portion or a chamfered portion within a range where the same effect can be obtained.
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Further, in the present specification, expressions such as "being provided with", "including", and "having" one component are not exclusive expressions excluding the presence of other components.
Reference Signs List
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- 1: power generation set
- 2: enclosure
- 4: exhaust unit
- 8: enclosure body portion
- 10: power generation unit
- 12: air supply port
- 14: exhaust port
- 16: foundation portion
- 18: side wall portion
- 19: long portion
- 20: air supply side portion
- 20a: upper end
- 22: exhaust side portion
- 22a: upper end
- 24: roof portion
- 25: lower surface
- 26: inlet opening
- 28: outlet opening
- 29: partition plate
- 30: air supply hood
- 32: exhaust duct
- 34: ventilation fan
- 35: drive device
- 36: engine
- 37: partition plate
- 38: generator
- 40: combustion chamber
- 41: electric wire
- 42: crank chamber
- 44: turbocharger
- 46: air supply filter
- 47: inlet
- 48: air supply duct
- 50: exhaust pipe
- 52: fuel pipe
- 54: internal pipe portion
- 56: external pipe portion
- 56a: first portion
- 56b: second portion
- 56c: third portion
- 57: valve
- 58: shutoff valve
- 60: stand
- 60A: stand
- 60B: stand
- 70: foundation portion
- 72: connection pipe portion
- 78: silencer
- 80: outlet pipe portion
- 82: outlet opening
- 84: support table