JP2003223914A - Fuel cell power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a fuel cell power generator which can prevent temporary increase of electric power received from an electric power system, can avoid a reverse current, and does not have to make the capacity of the fuel cell larger than required. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell power generator is operated in linkage with the electric power system 1 and the fuel cell 3. The electric power required for all the power consuming instruments 41, 42, 51, and 52 can be supplied by the electric power received from the electric power system 1 and the electric power generated in the fuel cell 3. Several of the power consuming instruments 41, 42, 51, and 52 are operated within the limits of the contract of the received electric power from the electric power system 1. The power generator has a control means 6. If a start request signal 4a is inputted from the power consuming instrument 41 of the other 41 and 42, which are in a non-operating state, out of the above 41, 42, 51, and 52, the control means 6 gives a power output increase instruction to the fuel cell 3 to increase the power output by that much required to operate the 41 that output the start request signal 4a, and at the same time, gives a start signal 6a to the power consuming instrument 41 outputting this start request signal 4a. <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 a fuel cell power generator that operates in cooperation with start / stop or load change information of a plurality of power consuming devices (hereinafter referred to as load devices).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel cell that operates in cooperation with an electric power system of an electric power company or the like and supplies electric power to a plurality of load devices in a facility has a function of starting / stopping each load device or changing load. There were many cases where constant output operation was performed regardless of.

In this case, a plurality of load devices in the facility start operating at the same time, the power consumption of the entire facility becomes excessive, the power received from the power system temporarily increases, and conversely, the plurality of load devices may In case of simultaneous stoppage, reverse power flow operation was performed in which the electric power generated by the fuel cell was made to flow back to the power system.

[0004]

However, the temporary increase in the received power causes an increase in the contracted power amount and an increase in the power receiving equipment capacity.
Alternatively, it leads to an increase in the capacity of the fuel cell itself, and for the reverse flow power of the power generated by the fuel cell to the power system, the electric power company's electricity purchase fee is set lower than the fuel price consumed for power generation. Therefore, all of them had economically disadvantageous results.

As one of the above measures, there is a case where a method of controlling the power generation output of the fuel cell so that the received power from the power system becomes constant. In this case, the problem of increase in the received power from the power system is alleviated to a certain extent,
The problems of increased contracted electricity and reverse flow to the power system still remain.

On the other hand, even when the fuel cell is operated independently of the electric power system, considering that the load equipment in the facility starts operating at the same time, the capacity of the fuel cell is calculated as the total power consumption of all the load equipment. It was necessary to set the value, and there was a problem of excessive equipment. Further, when a plurality of load devices are stopped at the same time, the output of the fuel cell is extremely narrowed, resulting in an operation with low power generation efficiency, which is economically disadvantageous.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, and its purpose is to raise the basic charge due to a temporary increase in the received power and to reduce the cost. It avoids reverse flow operation that is disadvantageous to, and prevents the capacity of the fuel cell from becoming larger than necessary.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell power generation device effective for optimizing operating costs.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 operates by connecting an electric power system such as an electric power company and a fuel cell to each other, and receiving electric power from the electric power system. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by the power generation output from the fuel cell, some of the power consuming devices are included in the received power from the power system. When a start request signal is input from the remaining non-operating power consuming equipment among the power consuming equipment that operates within the contracted power range,
At the same time as giving an output increase command for increasing the power generation output to the fuel cell by an amount necessary to operate the power consuming equipment that has issued the activation request signal, And a control means for providing a start signal.

According to the invention of claim 1, the output of the fuel cell can be increased at the same time when the power consuming device in the non-operating state is started. Therefore, most of the increase in the power consumption is directly It can be absorbed as an increase in fuel cell output without appearing as an increase in received power.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 2 operates by connecting an electric power system of an electric power company or the like and a fuel cell to each other to receive electric power from the electric power system and generate electric power from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by output, some of the power consuming devices are within the range of contract power of the power received from the power system. When a start request signal is input from the remaining non-operating power consuming devices among the power consuming devices that are in operation, only the amount required to operate the power consuming device that issued the start request signal Control means for giving an output increase command for increasing the power generation output to the fuel cell, and for giving an activation signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the activation request signal after a lapse of a certain time after giving the output increase command When A fuel cell power generation system comprising.

According to the invention corresponding to claim 2, the increase in the output of the fuel cell is used as the power generation output of the fuel cell to the fuel cell by an amount necessary for operating the power consuming device which has issued the start command. Since a command to increase the power generation output is given and the start command is issued after a certain time has passed after giving this command, most of the increase in power consumption does not appear as an increase in directly received power. Can be absorbed as an increase in fuel cell output.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 3 operates in such a manner that an electric power system of an electric power company or the like and a fuel cell are connected to each other to receive electric power from the electric power system and power generation from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by output, some of the power consuming devices are within the range of contract power of the power received from the power system. When a start request signal is input from the remaining non-operating power consuming devices among the power consuming devices that are in operation, only the amount required to operate the power consuming device that issued the start request signal An output increase command for increasing the power generation output is given to the fuel cell, and the power consumption device that has issued the start request signal after the increase in the power generation output of the fuel cell is completed by the output increase command is activated. Belief A fuel cell power plant and a control means for providing a.

According to the invention corresponding to claim 3, as in claims 1 and 2, the increase in power consumption can be absorbed as an increase in output of the fuel cell without directly appearing as an increase in received power.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 4 operates in such a manner that an electric power system of an electric power company or the like and an electric power system are operated in an interconnected manner, and electric power received from the electric power system and power generation from the fuel cell In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by output, some of the power consuming devices are within the range of contract power of the power received from the power system. When a stop request signal is input from among the power consuming appliances in operation and remaining in the operating state, the amount of power that decreases when the power consuming appliance that issued the stop request signal is stopped And a control means for giving a stop permission signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the stop request signal, while giving an output reduction command for reducing the power generation output to the fuel cell by the same amount as Departure It is a device.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the output reduction command can be issued to the fuel cell and the power consuming device can be stopped at the same time. Therefore, the decrease in the power consumption is directly related to the received power. It can be absorbed as a decrease in fuel cell output without appearing as a decrease. In particular, if the power consumption of the entire facility and the output of the fuel cell are close to each other, even if the power consuming device suddenly stops, the fuel cell can simultaneously follow the rapid change in power consumption and the reverse power flow can be prevented. It is effective in preventing.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 5 operates in an interconnected manner with an electric power system such as an electric power company and a fuel cell, and receives electric power from the electric power system and power generation from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by output, some of the power consuming devices are within the range of contract power of the power received from the power system. When a stop request signal is input from among the power consuming appliances in operation and remaining in the operating state, the amount of power that decreases when the power consuming appliance that issued the stop request signal is stopped And a control means for giving a stop permission signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the stop request signal after a lapse of a fixed time after giving an output decrease command for decreasing the power generation output to the fuel cell by the same amount as Fuel A pond power generation equipment.

According to the invention corresponding to claim 5, since the output reduction command can be issued to the fuel cell prior to the stop of the power consuming equipment, the reduction of the power consumption directly reduces the received power. It can be absorbed as a decrease in the output of the fuel cell without appearing as. In particular, when the power consumption of the entire facility and the output of the fuel cell are close to each other, even if the power consumption device suddenly stops, the fuel cell will start the operation to follow the rapid decrease in the power consumption in advance. Therefore, it is effective in preventing the occurrence of reverse power flow.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 6 operates by connecting an electric power system such as an electric power company and a fuel cell to each other to receive electric power from the electric power system and power generation from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by output, some of the power consuming devices are within the range of contract power of the power received from the power system. When a stop request signal is input from among the power consuming appliances in operation and remaining in the operating state, the amount of power that decreases when the power consuming appliance that issued the stop request signal is stopped And a power reduction command for reducing the power generation output to the fuel cell by the same amount as the above, and the stop request signal is issued after the reduction of the power generation output of the fuel cell is completed by this power reduction command. A fuel cell power plant and a control means for providing a stop permission signal to.

According to the invention corresponding to claim 6, since the power consuming device is stopped after the output reduction of the fuel cell is completed, the reduction of the power consumption does not directly appear as the reduction of the received power. Can be absorbed as a reduction in fuel cell output. In particular, when the power consumption of the entire facility and the output of the fuel cell are close to each other, even if the power consuming device suddenly stops, the fuel cell will follow the rapid decrease in power consumption in advance. Therefore, it is effective to prevent the occurrence of reverse power flow (the generated power of the fuel cell flows backward to the power system).

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 7 operates in such a manner that an electric power system of an electric power company or the like is connected to a fuel cell, and the electric power is received from the electric power system and the power is generated from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by output, some of the power consuming devices are within the range of contract power of the power received from the power system. When a load change request signal for operating and changing the load of the power consuming device is input, the power generation output is output to the fuel cell by the load change of the power consuming device that issued the load change request signal. The load change request signal is issued after a load change command to increase or decrease is given, or after a certain period of time after the load change command is issued, or after the power generation output of the fuel cell reaches the target power generation output. Power consumption machine A fuel cell power plant and a control means for providing a load change permission signal to.

According to the invention corresponding to claim 7, when the power consuming device changes the load (increases or decreases), the power generation output of the fuel cell is changed at the same time or as a preceding operation. As in the cases of items 1 to 6, the increase or decrease in the power consumption does not directly appear as the increase or decrease in the received power, but can be absorbed as the output change of the fuel cell.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 8 operates independently of a power system such as an electric power company and a fuel cell, and uses a power generation output from the fuel cell to output a plurality of power consumption devices. In a fuel cell power generator capable of supplying all necessary electric power, when a start request signal is input from a non-operating power consuming device among the power consuming devices, the power consuming device starts operating. In addition to determining whether the power generation output of the fuel cell exceeds the maximum output value, if it is determined that the power output exceeds the maximum output value, the operation start of the power consumption device is put in a standby state, and the power generation output of the fuel cell is A fuel cell power generation device comprising: a control unit that gives an operation start permission signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the activation request signal at the time of shifting to a state where the maximum output value is not exceeded.

According to the invention corresponding to claim 8, the following problems are solved. That is, when the fuel cell is operated independently of the power system, unlike the case of the grid interconnection, the operation is performed when the total value of the power consumption of the power consumption equipment in the facility exceeds the power generation capacity of the fuel cell. The power supply to all the power consuming devices inside will stop. On the other hand, according to the invention corresponding to claim 8, it can be confirmed that this problem does not occur when a certain power consuming device starts to operate, and the operation can be started in a state where no problem occurs.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 9 operates independently of a power system such as an electric power company and a fuel cell, and uses a power generation output from the fuel cell to control a plurality of power consumption devices. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying all necessary power, when a stop request signal for stopping the operating power consuming device among the power consuming devices is input, the power consuming device It is determined whether or not the power generation output of the fuel cell becomes less than or equal to the minimum output value specified in advance at the time of the stop, and if it is determined that it becomes less than or equal to the minimum output value, the power consuming device is stopped. And a control means for delaying the stop signal for a certain period of time.

The invention according to claim 9 is effective in the following situations. That is, when the fuel cell is operated independently of the power system, unlike the case of system interconnection, the total value of the power consumption of the power consuming equipment in the facility and the power generation output of the fuel cell are kept equal. Here, as a state in which the total value of the power consumption of the power consuming device is lower than the rated capacity of the fuel cell, it is possible that multiple devices are stopped at the same time, and the power generation efficiency decreases or The usage rate may decrease. In addition, as a reaction, it is assumed that a plurality of devices will be in an operating state in the same time zone and power consumption will be excessive.

According to the invention corresponding to claim 9, a large change in power consumption can be leveled, the rated capacity of the fuel cell power generator is set to the minimum required value, and economical operation is possible. It will be possible.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 10 operates a power system of a power company or the like and a fuel cell independently, and uses a power generation output from the fuel cell to operate a plurality of power consumption devices. In a fuel cell power generation device capable of supplying all necessary power, when a stop request signal for stopping the operating power consuming device among the power consuming devices is input, the power consuming device When it is determined that the power generation output of the fuel cell will be less than or equal to the minimum output value specified in advance when the shutdown is performed, and if it is determined to be less than or equal to the minimum output value, the operation of the power consuming device is performed. Is a fuel cell power generation device having a control means for continuing the operation until another power consumption device that is stopped starts operating and the power generation output of the fuel cell does not fall below the specified minimum value. .

According to the invention corresponding to claim 10, which is similar to the operation of claim 9, by avoiding the case where a plurality of devices are stopped at the same time, a large change in power consumption is leveled. In addition, the rated capacity of the fuel cell can be set to the minimum required value, and economical operation can be performed.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the first to third embodiments of the fuel cell power generator according to the present invention. First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A power system 1 of an electric power company or the like, and a configuration described below, that is, a fuel cell 3, a plurality of power consuming devices (automatic devices) 41 and 42, and a plurality of power consuming devices (manual devices) 5.
1, 52, the facility 2 equipped with the control means 6.
It should be noted that the facility 2 also includes the case where there are power consumption devices other than 41, 42, 51, 52.

The fuel cell 3 is connected to the electric power system 1 to operate and supplies a part or all of the electric power to the plurality of power consuming devices 41, 42, 51 and 52. And a control means 6 having the following functions. The fuel cell 3, the control means 6, and the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52 are electrically connected to each other by a signal cable (not shown).

The control means 6 includes power consuming devices 41 and 42.
From the start request signals 4a1 and 4a2, which will be described later, are input to the start request signals 4a1 and 4a2, respectively.
Is input, an output increase command 6 is issued to the fuel cell 3.
b1 and 6b2 are given, and at the same time, the power consuming device 4
Activation permission signals 6a1 and 6a2 are provided to the terminals 1 and 42.

The control means 6 is specifically a power consuming device 4
Electric power consuming equipment in a non-operating state out of 1, 42, for example, 4
When the activation request signal 4a1 from 1 is input, an output increase command 6b1 for increasing the power generation output to the fuel cell 3 by an amount necessary to operate the power consuming device 41 that issued the activation request signal 4a1 is issued. At the same time, the activation permission signal 6a1 is given to the power consuming equipment 41 which issued the activation request signal 4a1.

Here, the power consuming devices 41 and 42 are constituted by an air conditioner, a refrigerator, etc., and each of them judges the starting state, the stopping state, the load changing state, etc. by itself, for example, the set temperature and the actual measurement. The start request signal, the stop request signal, and the load change signal are automatically output according to the temperature difference.

On the other hand, the power consuming devices 51 and 52 are constituted by an electric vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer, an elevator, etc., and all of them can manually give a start command, a stop command, a load change command and the like.

In such a structure, the electric power system 1 of a power company or the like is operated in cooperation with the fuel cell 3, and a plurality of electric power is received from the electric power system 1 and a power generation output from the fuel cell 3. It is possible to supply the necessary electric power to all of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52, and now, two of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52, 51 and 52, are supplied from the power grid 1. It is assumed that the operation is within the contracted electric power within the received electric power.

Next, the function and effect of the fuel cell power generator having such a structure will be described. A start request signal of, for example, one of the power consuming devices 41 and 42 in the non-operating state (when the necessity of starting the operation occurs, that is, the difference between the actual temperature and the temperature set value exceeds a predetermined value). A signal automatically output from the power consuming device 41) is sent from the power consuming device 41 to the control means 6 as a start request signal 4a1.

From the control means 6, the activation request signal 4a is previously set.
For the power consuming device 41 to which the start request signal 4a1 is issued at the same time as sending the output increase command 6b1 to the fuel cell 3 for increasing the power generation output by the power consumption of the power consuming device 41 to which 1 is input, , Start permission signal (start signal)
6a1 is sent.

As described above, since the output of the fuel cell 3 can be increased at the same time as the power consuming device 41 is started, all the increase in the power consumption in the facility 2 directly increases the power received from the power system 1. Can be absorbed as a change in the output of the fuel cell 3.

Therefore, even if the power consuming device 41 of the facility 2 is activated, the received power amount of the entire facility 2 is the power consuming device 51.
It is possible to limit the total amount of power consumption of the power consumption device and the power consumption of the power consumption device 52 to 52.
It is possible to avoid making the value larger than necessary, such as adding the power consumption of 1 or 42.

Further, assuming that the fuel cell supplies most or all of the power consumption of the power consumption equipment 41, 51, 52, the power consumption equipment of the fuel cell 3 is newly added to the power consumption equipment. When 42 issues the activation request signal 4a2, by activating the power consumption device 42 that has issued the activation request signal 4a2 at the time when the other power consuming device 51 stops and the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 decreases. , Fuel cell 3
It is possible to avoid making the rated capacity of the above excessive.

In the second embodiment, the control means 6 of the first embodiment is as follows. The control means 6 includes 51, 52 of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52.
Is operated within the range of the contract power of the received power from the power system 1, and the start request signal 4a1 is selected from the remaining non-operating power consuming devices 41 and 42 of the power consuming devices.
Is input, an output increase command 6b1 for increasing the power generation output is given to the fuel cell 3 by an amount necessary to operate the power consuming device 41 that has issued the activation request signal 4a1, and at the same time the output increase is issued. The power consuming device 4 which has issued the activation request signal 4a1 after a certain time has passed after the instruction 6b1 is given.
The activation signal 6a1 is provided to the 1 signal.

In this case, the "constant time" is usually set between 50% and 90% of the time it takes for the fuel cell 3 to start increasing the output and reach the target output. desirable. In the case of a household or commercial fuel cell of 1 kW to several tens of kW, it is on the order of several seconds to several tens of seconds.

In this embodiment, even when the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 is the maximum and the output cannot be further increased, the "constant time" is set to a large number (for example, about 1 minute) and the standby state is notified. Informing means, for example, a buzzer sound, can be used to switch off the other power consuming devices 51, 52 that can be turned on and off manually, so that the power consuming devices 41, 42 can be activated after that. Like

In the second embodiment described above, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the third embodiment, the control means 6 of the first embodiment is as follows. The control means 6 includes 51, 52 of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52.
Is operated within the range of the contracted electric power of the electric power received from the electric power system 1, and is activated from the remaining non-operating electric power consuming equipment 41, 42 of the electric power consuming equipment 41, 42, 51, 52. When the request signal 4a1 is input, the output increase command 6b1 for increasing the power generation output is given to the fuel cell 3 by an amount necessary to operate the power consuming device 41 that has issued the start request signal 4a1. Output increase command 6b
1, the start signal 6a1 is given to the power consuming equipment 41 which has issued the start request signal 4a1 after the increase of the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 is completed.

According to the third embodiment described above, for the power consuming equipment 41 to which the activation request signal is issued,
After the control means 6 recognizes that the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 has reached the target output, the activation permission signal is given to the power consuming device 41. As a result, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.

In the fourth embodiment, the control means 6 of the first embodiment is as follows. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 6 operates 51, 52 of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52 within the range of the contracted power of the power received from the power system 1, and the power consuming device When the stop request signal 4b1 is input from the remaining power consumption devices 41, 42 of the
1 is given to the fuel cell 3 by an amount required to stop the power consuming device 41 that has generated 1 and at the same time, the power consuming device 41 that issued the stop request signal 4b1 is issued to the power consuming device 41. On the other hand, the stop permission signal 6d1 is given.

The stop request signal 4b1 in this case is output to the control means 6 when the difference between the target temperature and the actual temperature of the power consuming device 41 itself reaches a predetermined value. Stop request signal 4b
When 1 is input to the control means 6, an output reduction command 6c1 for reducing the power consumption amount of the power consuming equipment 41 which has issued the stop request signal 4b1 to the fuel cell 3 from the control means 6
At the same time, the stop permission signal 6d1 is given to the power consuming equipment 41 which issued the stop request signal 4b1.

According to the fourth embodiment, the fuel cell 3
Since the output can be reduced simultaneously with the stop of the power consumption device 41, the reduction in the power consumption can be absorbed as the output reduction of the fuel cell 3 without directly appearing as the reduction of the received power. In particular, when the power consumption of the facility 2 and the output of the fuel cell 3 are close to each other, the power consumption device 4 suddenly operates.
Even if 1 is stopped, the fuel cell 3 cannot follow a sudden change in power consumption and a reverse flow (the generated power of the fuel cell flows backward to the power system) occurs, which is effective in preventing this. is there.

In the fifth embodiment, the control means 6 of the first embodiment is as follows. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 6 operates 51, 52 of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52 within the range of the contracted power of the power received from the power system 1, and the power consuming device When the stop request signal 4b1 is input from the remaining power consumption devices 41, 42 of the
1 is given to the fuel cell 3 by an amount required to stop the power consuming device 41, and then the stop request signal 4b is given after a certain time has elapsed.
Stop permission signal 6d to the power consuming device 41 that issued 1
It is configured to give 1.

In this case, it is usually desirable to set the "constant time" to be between 50% and 90% of the time it takes for the fuel cell 3 to start decreasing its output and reach its target output. For a household or commercial fuel cell of 1 kW to several tens of kW, it is usually on the order of several seconds.

According to the fifth embodiment, the above-mentioned first
Therefore, the same effect as that of the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

In the sixth embodiment, the control means 6 of the first embodiment is as follows. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 6 operates 51, 52 of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52 within the range of the contracted power of the power received from the power system 1, and the power consuming device When the stop request signal 4b1 is input from the remaining power consumption devices 41, 42 of the
1 is given to the fuel cell 3 to reduce the power generation output by the amount required to operate the power consuming device 41, and at the same time, the power reduction command 6c1 causes the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 to be reduced. The power consumption device 41 that has issued the stop request signal 4b1 is provided with the stop permission signal 6d1 after the reduction of the power consumption is completed.

According to the sixth embodiment, the fuel cell 3
Can be performed prior to the stop of the power consumption device 41, so that the reduction in the power consumption does not appear as a reduction in the directly received power but can be absorbed as a reduction in the output of the fuel cell power generator. In particular, when the power consumption of the entire facility 2 and the output of the fuel cell 3 are close to each other, even if the power consumption device 41 suddenly stops, the fuel cell 3 cannot follow the rapid change in the power consumption, which is the reverse. A tidal current (the generated power of the fuel cell 3 flows backward to the power system 1) is generated, which is effective in preventing this.

In the seventh embodiment, the control means 6 of the first embodiment is as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 6 operates 51, 52 of the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52 within the range of contracted power of the power received from the power grid 1, and the power consuming device When the load change request signal 4c1 for changing the load among the 41 is input, the power consuming device 4 that issues the load change request signal 4c1.
1 is given to the fuel cell 3 by a load change command 6e1 to increase or decrease the power generation output, or a fixed time after the load change command is issued, or to the fuel. The power consuming device 41 that issues the load change request signal 4c1 after the power generation output of the battery reaches the target power generation output.
To the load change permission signal 6f1.

According to the seventh embodiment described above, when a load change request signal is input to the control means 6 from, for example, one of the power consuming appliances 41 and 42, the control means 6 sends a signal. An output change command for changing the power generation output by an amount corresponding to the change in power consumption of the consumed power consuming device 41 has been given to the fuel cell 3.

With respect to the power consuming equipment 41 for which the load change request signal has been issued, the output change command is issued to the fuel cell 3 at the same time, or after a certain period of time elapses, or the power generation of the fuel cell 3 is started. After the control unit 6 recognizes that the output has completed the change to the target output, the load change permission signal for changing the load is given to the power consuming device 41.

The operational effects of this seventh embodiment are as follows:
This is similar to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the eighth embodiment of the fuel cell power generator according to the present invention. It is possible to operate the electric power system 1 and the fuel cell 3 of an electric power company or the like independently, and supply the necessary electric power to all of the plurality of power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52 by the power generation output from the fuel cell 3. In the fuel cell power generator, the power consuming devices 41, 4
When the activation request signal 4d1 is input from the power consuming device 41 in the non-operating state among the two, the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 exceeds the maximum output value when the power consuming device 41 starts operating. If it is determined that the fuel consumption exceeds the maximum output value, the operation start of the power consuming device 41 is set to a standby state, and the start request is issued at the time when the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 does not exceed the maximum output value. The control means 6 is provided to give the operation start permission signal 6g1 to the power consuming equipment 41 which has issued the signal 4d1.

The operation and effect of the eighth embodiment configured as described above will be described. In, for example, 41 of the power consuming devices 41, 42, for example, when the difference between the target temperature and the actual temperature exceeds a predetermined value, the activation request signal 4d1 is issued, and when this is input to the control means 6, the power consuming device An activation request signal 4d1 is sent from 41 to the control means 6.

The control means 6 monitors the current power generation output of the fuel cell 3, and uses this power generation output as the power consumption equipment 41.
If the power consumption when starting up is added, the fuel cell 3
It is determined whether or not the rated output (maximum output value) is exceeded, and if it is determined that the rated output (maximum output value) is exceeded, output of the activation start permission signal 6g1 to the power consuming device 41 is temporarily postponed.

When the control means 6 confirms that any of the other power consuming devices 42, 51, 52 has stopped and the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 has not exceeded the rated output, control is performed. The activation permission signal 6g1 is issued from the means 6 to the power consuming device 41.

As a result, according to the eighth embodiment described above, the power consuming devices 51, 52 or 41, 42 are intensively operated and the power generation capacity of the fuel cell 3 is exceeded. This can be avoided, and the facility cost can be reduced by suppressing the facility scale of the fuel cell power generation device to the necessary minimum. In addition, since the facility utilization rate of the fuel cell 3 is high, the depreciation cost of the facility is advantageous, and the fuel cell 3 can be operated in a region where the power generation efficiency is high, so that the running cost can be reduced.

Also in this case, as in the case of the second embodiment, if a notification means, such as a buzzer, for notifying that the vehicle is in the standby state for activation is installed, it can be manually turned on and off freely. Since it becomes possible to switch off the other power consumption devices 51, 52 that can be used, the power consumption devices 41, 4
2 can be activated.

In the ninth embodiment, the control means 6 of the eighth embodiment is as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the stop request signal 4e for stopping the power consuming device 41 in the operating state among the power consuming devices 41 and 42.
When 1 is input, and when the power consuming device 41 is stopped, it is determined whether or not the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 becomes less than or equal to a predetermined minimum output value, and the minimum output When it is determined that the value is equal to or less than the value, the stop signal 6h1 for stopping the power consuming device 41 is configured to be delayed for a predetermined time.

Here, taking a refrigerator as an example of the power consuming equipment 41, 42, in the case where the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 falls below the minimum output even when the temperature inside the refrigerator falls to the set temperature and the compressor is switched off. It is conceivable to put off the switch for a few minutes or reset the temperature in the refrigerator to 1 ° C lower. By doing so, the timing at which the compressor is switched on next time can be shifted backward, which can contribute to load leveling.

According to the ninth embodiment described above, unlike the case of being connected to the power system 1 as shown in FIG. 1, the power consuming devices 41, 42, 51, 52 in the facility 2 are The total value of power consumption and the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 are kept equal. Here, as a state in which the total value of the power consumption of the power consuming devices 41, 42 is lower than the rated capacity of the fuel cell 3, it is possible that a plurality of power consuming devices 41, 42 are stopped at the same time. As a reaction to this, it is assumed that the plurality of power consumption devices 41 and 42 are in the operating state in the same time zone. By using the fuel cell power generator described in the ninth embodiment, such a large change in power consumption can be leveled, and the rated capacity of the fuel cell 3 can be set to the minimum necessary value. Is possible.

In the tenth embodiment, the control means 6 of the eighth embodiment is as follows. That is, the control means 6 receives the stop request signal 4e1 for stopping the power consuming device 41 in the operating state among the power consuming devices 41 and 42 as shown in FIG. When the device 41 is stopped, it is determined whether or not the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 is equal to or lower than a predetermined minimum output value, and if it is determined that the power output is equal to or lower than the minimum output value, the power consuming device is determined. The operation of No. 41 is continued until another power consuming device that is stopped, for example, 42, 51, 52 starts operation and the power generation output of the fuel cell 3 does not fall below the specified minimum value. It is configured to continue.

According to the tenth embodiment described above, as in the eighth embodiment, a plurality of power consumption devices 41, 42 are used.
By avoiding the case where the fuel cells 3 are stopped at the same time, a large change in the power consumption can be leveled, and the rated capacity of the fuel cell 3 can be set to the minimum necessary value.

According to each of the embodiments described above, it is possible to level the power consumption of the facility and keep it within an appropriate range, and to set the maximum power consumption (contracted power) to an unnecessarily large value. Since it can be avoided, the cost of the power receiving and transforming equipment and the contracted electricity charge can be kept low, and the reverse flow can be prevented.

Further, by suppressing the equipment scale of the fuel cell to a necessary minimum, the equipment cost can be reduced, and by making the equipment utilization rate of the fuel cell high, the depreciation expense of the equipment is also advantageous, and the high power generation efficiency is achieved. Since the operating time in the area can be extended, the running cost can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
It can be implemented by modifying it as follows.

For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, an example in which two automatic devices and two manual devices are used as power consumption devices has been described, but the number is not limited to this, and any number may be used. .

[0075]

According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid an increase in basic charge due to a temporary increase in received power, reverse power flow operation which is economically disadvantageous, and to increase the capacity of the fuel cell more than necessary. A fuel cell power generator effective for prevention can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining first to third embodiments of a fuel cell power generator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining fourth to sixth embodiments of the fuel cell power generator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a seventh embodiment of the fuel cell power generator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining an eighth embodiment of the fuel cell power generator of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a ninth and a first aspect of the fuel cell power generator of the present invention.
The block diagram for demonstrating the embodiment of 0.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Power system 2 ... Facility 3 ... Fuel cell 41, 42 ... Power consumption equipment (automatic equipment) 51, 52 ... Power consumption equipment (manual equipment) 6 ... Control means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electric power system of an electric power company or the like is operated in an interconnected manner with a fuel cell, and electric power required for all of a plurality of electric power consuming devices is supplied by electric power received from the electric power system and generated output from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generator that can be supplied, some of the power consuming devices are operated within the range of contracted power of the received power from the power system, and the rest of the power consuming devices are not in operation. When a start request signal is input from a power consuming device in a state, an output increase that increases the power generation output to the fuel cell by an amount necessary to operate the power consuming device that issued the start request signal A fuel cell power generation device comprising: a control unit that gives a start signal to a power consuming device that has issued the start request signal at the same time as giving a command. 2. An electric power system of an electric power company or the like is operated in an interconnected manner with a fuel cell, and electric power required for all of a plurality of electric power consuming devices is supplied by electric power received from the electric power system and power generation output from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generator that can be supplied, some of the power consuming devices are operated within the range of contracted power of the received power from the power system, and the rest of the power consuming devices are not in operation. When a start request signal is input from a power consuming device in a state, an output increase that increases the power generation output to the fuel cell by an amount necessary to operate the power consuming device that issued the start request signal A fuel cell power generation device comprising: a control unit that gives a command and also gives a start signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the start request signal after a lapse of a fixed time after giving this output increase command. . 3. An electric power system of an electric power company or the like is operated in an interconnected manner with a fuel cell, and electric power required for all of a plurality of electric power consuming devices is supplied by electric power received from the electric power system and power generation output from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generator that can be supplied, some of the power consuming devices are operated within the range of contracted power of the received power from the power system, and the rest of the power consuming devices are not in operation. When a start request signal is input from a power consuming device in a state, an output increase that increases the power generation output to the fuel cell by an amount necessary to operate the power consuming device that issued the start request signal And a control means for giving a start signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the start request signal after the increase of the power generation output of the fuel cell is completed by the output increase command by the output increase command. Burning Cell power plant. 4. An electric power system of an electric power company or the like is operated in an interconnected manner with a fuel cell, and electric power required for all of a plurality of electric power consuming devices is supplied by electric power received from the electric power system and power generation output from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generator that can be supplied, some of the power consuming devices are operated within the range of contracted power of the received power from the power system, and the remaining operating states of the power consuming devices are When a stop request signal is input from one of the power consuming devices in, the power generation output to the fuel cell is reduced by the same amount as the amount of power reduced when the power consuming device that issued the stop request signal is stopped. A fuel cell power generation device comprising: a control unit that gives a stop permission signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the stop request signal, while giving a reduction output reduction command. 5. An electric power system of an electric power company or the like is operated in an interconnected manner with a fuel cell, and electric power required for all of a plurality of electric power consuming devices is supplied by electric power received from the electric power system and power generation output from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generator that can be supplied, some of the power consuming devices are operated within the range of contracted power of the received power from the power system, and the remaining operating states of the power consuming devices are When a stop request signal is input from one of the power consuming devices in, the power generation output to the fuel cell is reduced by the same amount as the amount of power reduced when the power consuming device that issued the stop request signal is stopped. A fuel cell power generation device comprising: a control unit that gives a stop permission signal to the power consuming device that has issued the stop request signal after a lapse of a fixed time after giving a decreasing output reduction command. 6. The electric power system of an electric power company or the like is operated in cooperation with a fuel cell, and electric power required for all of a plurality of electric power consuming devices is supplied by electric power received from the electric power system and power generation output from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generator that can be supplied, some of the power consuming devices are operated within the range of contracted power of the received power from the power system, and the remaining operating states of the power consuming devices are When a stop request signal is input from one of the power consuming devices in, the power generation output to the fuel cell is reduced by the same amount as the amount of power reduced when the power consuming device that issued the stop request signal is stopped. Control means for giving a decrease output command and for giving a stop permission signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the stop request signal after the reduction of the power generation output of the fuel cell is completed by this output decrease command. Fuel cell power generation apparatus characterized by. 7. An electric power system of an electric power company or the like is operated in an interconnected manner with a fuel cell, and electric power required for all of a plurality of electric power consuming devices is supplied by electric power received from the electric power system and power generation output from the fuel cell. In a fuel cell power generator that can be supplied, some of the power consuming devices are operated within a contracted power range of the received power from the power system, and the load of the power consuming devices is changed. When the load change request signal is input, a load change command for increasing or decreasing the power generation output is given to the fuel cell by the load change of the power consuming device that has issued the load change request signal. Is a control for giving a load change permission signal to the power consuming equipment that has issued the load change request signal after a fixed time has elapsed after issuing the load change command or after the power generation output of the fuel cell has reached the target power generation output. Means and Fuel cell power plant, characterized in that was e. 8. A fuel cell power generator capable of independently operating a power system of a power company or the like and a fuel cell and supplying the power required by all of the plurality of power consuming devices by the power generation output from the fuel cell. When a start request signal is input from a power consuming device in a non-operating state among the power consuming devices, the power generation output of the fuel cell exceeds the maximum output value when the power consuming device starts operating. If it is determined that the power consumption is exceeded, the operation start of the power consuming device is set to the standby state, and the start is performed when the power generation output of the fuel cell does not exceed the maximum output value. A fuel cell power generation device comprising: a control unit that gives an operation start permission signal to a power consuming device that has issued a request signal. 9. A fuel cell power generator capable of independently operating a power system such as an electric power company and a fuel cell, and capable of supplying necessary power to all of a plurality of power consuming devices by the power generation output from the fuel cell. , When the stop request signal for stopping the power consuming equipment in the operating state among the power consuming equipment is input, and the power generation output of the fuel cell is previously output when the power consuming equipment is stopped. And a control means for delaying a stop signal for stopping the power consuming device for a certain period of time, when determining whether the output value is equal to or less than a specified minimum output value or not. A fuel cell power generator characterized in that 10. A fuel cell power generator capable of independently operating a power system of a power company or the like and a fuel cell, and supplying electric power required for all of a plurality of power consuming devices by a power generation output from the fuel cell. The power generation output of the fuel cell when the stop request signal for stopping the power consuming device in the operating state among the power consuming devices is input and the power consuming device is stopped. When it is determined that the output power is below the minimum output value specified in advance, and if it is determined that the output power is below the minimum output value, the power consuming device starts operation, and other power consuming devices that are stopped start operating. Then, the fuel cell power generation device is provided with: a control unit that continues until the power generation output of the fuel cell does not fall below the specified minimum value.