JP2003216697A - Energy control network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an energy control network system for environmental protection by uniquely controlling power and heat generated naturally or by utilizing non-used energy sources. <P>SOLUTION: A demand-supply estimation unit 12 of a control center 1 estimates demand and supply of energy in an object area, a plan preparation and support/LCA and LCC evaluation unit 13 supports preparation of an energy generation plan in an energy generation plant 5 to utilize nature and non-used energy sources, and simulates an environmental effect and the cost for each generated plan. An operation planning and support unit 14 determines the energy generation plan optimum for the object area based on he result of simulation, prepares the operational plan of each energy generation plant based on the plan, and notifies it to each plant. Since the use of fossil energy sources can be reduced, the environmental protection can be performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an energy management network system for efficiently supplying and supplying energy for at least one of electric power and heat energy in a region by using electronic technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, much attention has been paid to the limits of global resources and environmental destruction, and there is a demand for the construction of a zero emission society (resource recycling society) in order to save resources and preserve the environment. As a power generation system effective for resource saving and environmental protection, a power generation plant using a natural energy source such as hydraulic power, sunlight and wind power, and a fuel cell are receiving attention.

A fuel cell is being developed as a power source for automobiles, and is attracting attention as one of industrial and domestic distributed generators, in which a fuel cell generates electric power and heat. Just generate and drain water,
This is because it is a clean energy source that does not emit CO ₂ . And, as a source of hydrogen required for such a fuel cell, organic emissions such as plastic waste, solid waste, automobile shredder dust, sewage sludge, and biomass waste, which are increasing year by year, are processed in a gasification furnace. Attention is paid to the hydrogen gas generated at that time.

In the gasification furnace, the organic emission can be decomposed to the level of a single molecule by causing a thermal decomposition and a partial oxidation reaction without completely combusting it, whereby hydrogen gas can be decomposed. Can be obtained. Since the hydrogen gas obtained in this way is generated from an unused energy source such as waste, it is possible to reduce the environmental load as compared with the case of simply incinerating the waste. It can contribute to resource saving. Thus, organic emissions can be converted to hydrogen fuel and are therefore referred to as "unused energy sources".

As described above, in consideration of resource saving and environmental protection, power generation using a natural energy source and fuel cells using an unused energy source are expected to be widespread, but they are not yet widespread. Not enough, still
An extremely high proportion depends on the electric power generated using fossil energy sources such as natural gas and oil. That is, since power generation using a natural energy source depends on the natural environment, it is difficult to constantly provide electric power that meets demand, which prevents its spread. Regarding fuel cells, there are fuel cells installed in automobiles, and fuel cells installed in companies, public organizations and homes.
A specific system of how to provide hydrogen gas has not yet been proposed. Therefore, the hydrogen gas obtained from the unused energy source in the gasification furnace has not been effectively utilized, and the utilization of the fuel cell has not been promoted. The same problem with power supply can be applied to heat supply, and the proportion of fossil energy sources as an energy source for heat generation is still high.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example, and an object thereof is to generate electric power using a natural energy source and an unused energy source in a target area, and By centrally managing the supply of at least one of thermal energy, the use of fossil energy sources is reduced as much as possible, which contributes to resource saving and environmental conservation. Another object of the present invention is to efficiently manage energy by centrally managing the conversion of natural energy sources and unused energy sources into hydrogen gas for fuel cells and the supply of the hydrogen gas in the target area. To use it.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in an energy management network system for managing at least one of electric power and thermal energy in a target area according to the present invention, power and A plurality of energy generation plants that generate at least one of thermal energy and a control center for managing these energy generation plants in an integrated manner through an electronic communication network, and the energy consumption record of consumers in the target area. Prediction means for performing energy demand prediction based on the energy supply plan of the energy generation plant, and support for creating a plurality of energy generation plans corresponding to the energy demand prediction and the supply prediction And the environmental impacts and And a means for deciding an optimum energy generation plan for the target area based on the result of the simulation, creating an operation plan for each energy generation plant based on the plan, and notifying each plant. It is characterized by consisting of a control center included.

In the energy management network system according to the present invention described above, the energy generation plant is:
It is preferable that the plant uses a natural energy source and an unused energy source to generate at least one of electric power and thermal energy. The energy management network system further includes a hydrogen production plant, and the control center further includes means for accepting purchase of hydrogen fuel and hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen production plant to the purchaser when the purchase of hydrogen fuel is accepted. And a means for instructing the conveyance of. In this case, the control center further includes means for collecting operation record data from the energy generation plant and the hydrogen production plant and supporting a maintenance plan for the energy production plant and the hydrogen production plant based on the collected operation record data. Is preferred.

In the above energy management network system according to the present invention, the control center further informs the external energy supply company of the target area based on the predicted energy demand and the predicted energy supply from the energy generation plant. Preferably, means are provided for ordering the energy supply.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of an energy management network system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a control center that manages electric power and heat energy, 21 and 22 are hydrogen production plants, 3 is a hydrogen sales station, 4 is an energy generation plant that generates energy of at least one of electric power and heat, 5 Is a large consumer of electric power and thermal energy in factories, offices, public facilities, waste treatment facilities, etc., and 6 is a small consumer of electric power and thermal energy in general households. The large consumer 5 and the small consumer 6 may be equipped with either or both of the fuel cell and the solar power generation facility. Reference numeral 7 is a maintenance company that maintains and maintains the hydrogen production plants 21 and 22 and the energy generation plant 4, and 8 is an external energy supply company that provides at least one of electric power and thermal energy. The external energy supply company 8 is a company for backing up energy when the electric power and thermal energy generated by the energy generation plant 4 in the network cannot satisfy the demands of the large-scale consumer 5 and the small-scale consumer 6. They are electric power companies, large-scale thermal energy providers, etc. The hydrogen production plants 21 and 22, the hydrogen sales station 3, the energy generation plant 4, the large consumer 5, the small consumer 6, the maintenance company 7, and the external energy supply company 8 communicate electronic data to the control center 1. It is connected by a public communication line such as the Internet or a dedicated communication line.

The hydrogen production plant, as shown in FIG.
Hydrogen production plant 21 of a method (electrolysis method) of producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water using electric power
And a hydrogen decomposing / reforming hydrogen production plant 22. Gas decomposition / reforming hydrogen production plant 22
Is obtained from decomposition and reforming of hydrocarbon-based gas and liquid fuel consisting of natural gas, petroleum, etc. (fossil energy source), or organic emissions at sludge treatment facilities and waste treatment facilities such as gasifiers. Hydrogen is produced by decomposing and reforming gas. Only one of the hydrogen production plants 21 and 22 of the electrolysis type and the gas decomposition / reforming type may be provided. The control center 1 preferentially uses an unused energy source, that is, a gas obtained in a sludge treatment facility and an emission treatment facility such as a gasifier as an energy source used for hydrogen fuel production in the hydrogen production plant 22. The fossil energy sources such as natural gas and petroleum are managed as auxiliary energy sources.

The hydrogen produced in the hydrogen production plants 21 and 22 is filled in a compressed hydrogen gas cylinder or a liquid cylinder according to the purchase application of the hydrogen sales station 3, the large-scale consumer 5 and the small-scale consumer 6 each having a fuel cell. It is transported by a hydrogen trailer or sold for sale. The hydrogen vending station 3 generally sells hydrogen as a fuel for a fuel cell mounted on an automobile, but the hydrogen fuel enclosed in a cylinder for a fuel cell is also sold to a large consumer 5 and a small consumer 6. Sell.

The energy generation plant 4 is a plant for generating at least one of electric power and thermal energy using either a natural energy source or an unused energy source, and as shown in FIG. 2, uses the natural energy. Exhaust heat recovery power generation plant 4 that uses exhaust heat and sewage exhaust heat recovered from an incinerator such as a stoker type power plant 41, a solar power generation plant 42, a wind power generation plant 43
4, an exhaust heat recovery heat pump 45, an ice heat storage refrigerator 46, a diesel engine 47, a gas engine 48, and a micro gas turbine 49. Exhaust heat recovery power generation plant 4
Reference numeral 4 denotes a plant that recovers the exhaust heat obtained when the unused energy exhaust is incinerated in an incinerator and the sewage exhaust heat to generate electricity. The exhaust heat recovery heat pump 45 heats the exhaust heat. It is intended to be collected as available.

Of course, it is not necessary to include all these types of energy production plants in the energy management network system of the present invention. For example, only the power generation plants such as the hydroelectric power generation plant 41, the solar power generation plant 42, the wind power generation plant 43, and the exhaust heat recovery power generation plant 44 are managed, and the supply of only the electric power energy in the target area is centrally managed. May be. The supply of only thermal energy may be centrally managed.

The control center 1 is divided according to its function, as shown in FIG. 3, a hydrogen fuel purchase acceptance / notification unit 11, a power / thermal energy demand / supply prediction unit 12, a plan creation support / LCA / LCC. An evaluation unit 13, an operation plan support unit 14 that supports the operation plan of the energy generation plant 4,
Maintenance plan support unit 15 for supporting maintenance and maintenance plans of the energy generation plant and the hydrogen production plant 3, power /
An energy ordering unit 16 for ordering heat energy to the external energy supply company 8 and an energy interchange instruction unit 17 are provided. The functions of these control centers 1 are
It is executed on a computer based on the computer program.

The hydrogen fuel purchase reception / notification unit 11 of the control center 1 sends a web to the hydrogen fuel user, that is, the hydrogen sales station 3, and the large-scale consumers 5 and the small-scale consumers 6 who have the fuel cells. Accept hydrogen fuel purchase orders by providing the hydrogen fuel purchase order page above. To purchase hydrogen fuel, call F
You may receive via arbitrary communication means, such as AX. Then, based on the received hydrogen fuel purchase order data, the hydrogen production plant 2 is sent to the carrier (not shown).
It is instructed to carry the hydrogen fuel cylinder manufactured in 1 or 22 or a hydrogen trailer. The hydrogen production plant 21 or 22 is also notified of the necessary information.

As shown in FIG. 4, the demand / supply forecasting unit 12 periodically, in step S131, records the actual values of the power consumption and heat consumption of the large-scale consumer 6 and the small-scale consumer 7 as electronic data. It collects and memorizes in and builds the consumption record database of electricity and heat energy for each consumer. Then, in step S132, by analyzing these collected and stored actual values, a basic pattern of electric power and thermal energy consumption viewed from the entire target area is obtained.
These basic patterns are created as appropriate time cycles such as yearly / monthly / dayly. Next, in step S133, the basic pattern is corrected based on the prediction of weather, temperature, humidity, etc. by using an appropriate statistical analysis method such as Kalman filter, thereby predicting the demand for electric power and thermal energy of the entire target area. Generate a pattern.
These demand forecast patterns are also generated as an appropriate time cycle such as yearly / monthly / dayly. At this time, it is preferable to generate the demand forecast pattern in consideration of the planned event in the target area and the change in the social structure of the target area (such as the change in population and the change in industrial activity). In addition, although the basic pattern of the energy demand forecast of the entire target area is obtained in the above, the energy demand forecast pattern of each consumer may be obtained instead of the entire target area.

Further, in step S134, the demand / supply prediction unit 12 periodically collects and stores, as electronic data, the actual values of the generated amounts of electric power and thermal energy from each energy generation plant 4, and stores the results. Build a database of generation results of electric power and heat energy. Then, in step S135, a basic pattern of power and / or thermal energy generation for each energy generation plant is obtained by analyzing these collected and stored actual values. These basic patterns are generated as appropriate time cycles such as yearly / monthly / dayly. Next, in step S136, the basic pattern is corrected based on the prediction of weather, temperature, humidity, etc. by using an appropriate statistical analysis method such as Kalman filter, thereby supplying electric power and thermal energy for each energy generation plant. Generate a prediction pattern. The supply forecast pattern is also generated as an appropriate time cycle such as yearly / monthly / daily.

Since the energy generation plant 4 of the present invention uses the natural energy source and the unused energy source to generate electric power and thermal energy, it is difficult to stably generate energy. There is. Therefore, by predicting the energy supply amount in advance,
When the energy shortage is predicted for the entire region, a backup from the external energy supply company 8 can be requested. Steps S131 to S133 and Step S
134 to S136 are repeatedly executed at an appropriate cycle, and the energy demand prediction pattern of the entire target area and the energy generation prediction pattern of each energy generation plant are generated and updated.

Plan making support / LCA / LCC evaluation unit 1
3 supports the creation of the energy generation plan,
It is a function to evaluate the created plan for environmental impact and cost. Plan making support / LCA / LCC
As shown in FIG. 5, the evaluation unit 13 determines, in step S141, an original unit price of each fossil energy source, an unused energy source, a natural energy source, and an electric power energy source, and the power generation efficiency of each energy generation plant 4. And / or based on the heat recovery efficiency, the amount of CO ₂ generated per unit power of each energy generation plant 4 is simulated and calculated. The plan creation support and LCA / LCC evaluation unit 13 also determines the unit of each energy generation plant 4 in step S142 based on the operation (power and labor cost) cost and maintenance cost (for example, annual) of each energy generation plant 4. Calculate the cost per energy (power and / or heat). The original unit price for each energy source required for these calculations, and the energy generation efficiency, operation cost, and maintenance cost for each energy generation plant are stored in advance in an appropriate storage medium (not shown).

Plan preparation support / LCA / LC based on the obtained CO ₂ generation amount per unit energy and cost
In step S143, the C evaluation unit 13 performs energy source unit tendency management analysis for each energy source and each energy generation plant. In winter and summer, the heat load tends to increase due to the demand for heating and cooling, and it is effective to operate the combined heat and power system that simultaneously generates heat with electric power in the energy generation plant 4.
The trend management analysis is to understand the energy consumption tendency of the target area due to such a season and to perform an analysis for an optimum operation combination of the types of energy generation plants.

Next, the plan preparation support / LCA / LCC evaluation unit 13 supports the preparation of a plurality of energy generation plans by the operator in step S144. In the energy generation plan creation support, the plan creation support / LCA / LCC evaluation unit 13 provides the supply forecast information and the demand forecast information from the demand / supply forecast unit 12 to the operator on the monitor screen. That is, the operator is provided with the operable plant (energy generation possible) of the energy generation plant 4 under its control, the energy generation prediction amount by the plant, and the energy demand prediction amount. Based on such information, the operator creates a plurality of energy generation plans capable of generating energy corresponding to demand.

[0023] Then, plan preparation support / LCA / LCC
In step S145 and S146, the evaluation unit 13 sees the LCA simulation of each energy generation plan created from the environmental impact, and the LCC viewed from the operation (operation and maintenance) of the energy generation plant 4 incorporated in the plan. Perform a simulation. The obtained LCA and LCC information is sent to the operation plan support unit 14 together with the corresponding energy generation plan. As the plan creation support / LCA / LCC evaluation unit 13, the ZISA (registered trademark) system already proposed by the applicant can be used.

The operation plan support unit 14 determines the optimum operation plan by referring to the LCA and LCC information attached to the plan among the plurality of energy generations from the plan preparation support / LCA / LCC evaluation unit 13, The created operation plan is notified to each energy generation plant 4 as electronic data.
Each energy generation plant 4 operates based on the notified operation plan. The operation plan support unit 14 also supports the preparation of operation plans for the hydrogen production plants 21 and 22.
In this case, the operator is assisted to prepare an operation plan based on the hydrogen fuel sales status at the hydrogen sales station 3 and the hydrogen fuel order status on the web page.

As shown in FIG. 6, the maintenance plan support unit 15 periodically collects process operation data online from the hydrogen production plants 21 and 22 and the energy generation plant 4 in step S171. Then, in step S173, based on the above-described process operation data collected online, the daily inspection information, failure repair investigation information, and inspection facility information (offline data) notified by inspection personnel, etc., the hydrogen production plant 21 , 22 and assist the operator in creating a maintenance plan for the facilities of the energy generation plant 4,
The created maintenance plan is notified to the corresponding hydrogen production plant and energy generation plant, and also to the maintenance company 7. In addition, we will also arrange the materials necessary for planned maintenance. The facility maintenance plan includes
Includes equipment renewal plan, equipment expansion and expansion plan, budget plan,
These plans also include estimates of energy generation costs after the plans have been executed.

The energy ordering unit 16 satisfies the demands of the large-scale consumer 5 and the small-scale consumer 6 with the amount of electric power or heat energy generated by the energy generation plant 4 managed by the control center 1 (with a predetermined margin). If it cannot be included), it is determined and the shortage is ordered from the external energy supply company 8. The energy interchange instruction unit 17
When the energy generation plant 4, which is an electric power plant, generates a larger amount of electric power than the planned amount of power generation (for example, in a power generation plant using a natural energy source such as a wind power generation plant 43, the power generation amount greater than the predicted power generation amount is generated. (In the case of being broken), the energy generation plant is instructed to transmit the surplus power to the electrolysis hydrogen production plant 21, and the hydrogen production plant 21 is used to produce hydrogen. Instruct. In addition, the energy generation plant 4 is an exhaust heat recovery power generation plant 44 that generates power by using the exhaust heat recovered in the waste incineration system, and surplus electric power is generated when the electric power consumed by the incineration system itself is generated. Is instructed to be transmitted to the electrolysis hydrogen production plant 21, and the hydrogen production plant 21 is instructed to produce hydrogen.

In this way, by using the surplus power as energy for hydrogen production, the surplus power can be converted into hydrogen gas and stored. Then, since the electric power can be obtained by using the hydrogen gas as the energy source of the fuel cell, the surplus electric power generated in the energy generating plant 4 can be effectively utilized at a necessary time without being wasted. . Note that, as described above, the hydrogen production plant 21 preferentially uses the surplus power in the energy generation plant 4, but not only the surplus power but also the power from the external energy supply company 7 is used to supply the hydrogen fuel. To generate. Further, the gas decomposition / reforming hydrogen production plant 22 preferentially uses the gas obtained as a result of treating the exhaust gas, which is an unused energy source, in the gasification furnace, the sludge treatment facility, etc. In addition, hydrogen fuel is also produced by decomposing and reforming natural gas, which is a fossil energy source. In this way, the hydrogen fuel is constantly generated and stored, and is prepared for the purchase application of the hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen selling station 3 or the like.

[0028]

The present invention is configured as described above, and centrally manages the generation and supply of electric power and thermal energy generated using the natural energy source and the unused energy source in the target area. The use of fossil energy sources can be significantly reduced, which can contribute to resource saving of the earth and environmental conservation. Further, the conversion from the natural energy source and the unused energy source to the hydrogen fuel for the fuel cell and the supply of the hydrogen fuel are centrally managed, which can contribute to the spread of the fuel cell.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an energy management network system according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing types of energy generation plants in the system shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions performed by a control center of the system shown in FIG.

4 is a flowchart of an example of a prediction process executed by a demand / supply prediction unit of the control center shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by a plan creation support / LCA / LCC evaluation unit of the control center shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by a maintenance plan support unit of the control center shown in FIG.

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hisashi Iijima             11-1 Haneda Asahi-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             Inside the EBARA CORPORATION (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Ueki             11-1 Haneda Asahi-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             Inside the EBARA CORPORATION (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Tanaka             11-1 Haneda Asahi-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             Inside the EBARA CORPORATION (72) Inventor Toshiko             11-1 Haneda Asahi-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             Inside the EBARA CORPORATION (72) Inventor Yoshinori Asai             11-1 Haneda Asahi-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             Inside the EBARA CORPORATION (72) Inventor Tsu Ni Nagai             11-1 Haneda Asahi-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             Inside the EBARA CORPORATION

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An energy management network system for managing energy of at least one of electric power and thermal energy in a target area, a plurality of energy generating plants for generating at least one of electric power and thermal energy, and these energy generating plants. It is a control center for integrated management of energy consumption through electronic communication networks, predicts energy demand based on energy consumption records of consumers in the target area, and also supplies energy records of energy generation plants. And a means for predicting energy supply based on the above, a means for supporting the creation of a plurality of energy generation plans corresponding to the energy demand prediction and the supply prediction, and a means for simulating environmental impact and cost for each generated plan. , The result of the simulation And a control center including means for determining an optimal energy generation plan for the target area based on the plan, creating an operation plan for each energy generation plant based on the plan, and notifying each plant. Energy management network system. 2. The energy management network system according to claim 1, wherein the energy generation plant is a plant that uses a natural energy source and an unused energy source to generate at least one of electric power and thermal energy. A characteristic energy management network system. 3. The energy management network system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes a hydrogen production plant, and the control center further includes means for accepting purchase of hydrogen fuel and purchase of hydrogen fuel. An energy management network system comprising means for instructing the transfer of hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen production plant to the purchaser when received. 4. The energy management network system according to claim 3, wherein the control center further collects operation record data from the energy generation plant and the hydrogen production plant, and based on the collected operation record data, the energy production plant. And an energy management network system comprising means for supporting a maintenance plan of a hydrogen production plant. 5. The energy management network system according to claim 1, further comprising:
The center further comprises means for ordering an energy supply to the target area to an external energy supply company based on the energy demand forecast amount and the energy supply forecast amount from the energy generation plant. ·system.