JP2006012689A - Fuel cell system, fuel cell system control method, and collective apartment house with improved system-wide energy efficiency - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell system with system-wide energy efficiency improved. <P>SOLUTION: The system is provided with a plurality of fuel cells each provided in the vicinity of heat loads and power loads dispersedly existing, a power network for sending power generated by a fuel cell to a power load in the vicinity of another fuel cell, and a control part for activating a fuel cell in the vicinity of a heat load with a large demand with a larger output, supplying the power to the heat load with the use of the power network from the fuel cell with excess power, and when power consumption of the power load is fluctuated, accelerating response speed of power by responding to the fluctuations with the plurality of fuel cells. The control part, if the consumption power of the power load fluctuates more quickly, accelerates response speed of the power by changing outputs of more fuel cells in comparison with the case in which the consumption power fluctuates more moderately. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell system, a fuel cell system control method, and an apartment house that improve the energy efficiency of the entire system. In particular, the present invention operates a fuel cell in the vicinity of a heat load having a large heat demand with a larger output, supplies power from the fuel cell in which power surplus occurs to the heat load using the power network, The present invention relates to a fuel cell system, a fuel cell system control method, and an apartment house that increase the response speed of electric power by responding to the fluctuation by a plurality of fuel cells when the power consumption fluctuates.

In a distributed power source using a fuel cell, there is a cogeneration system that uses exhaust heat accompanying power generation of the fuel cell. In such a system, for example, the fuel cell provides the power consumed by the load equipment provided in the house, and the hot water generated with the power generation of the fuel cell is supplied to the hot water tank provided in the house (for example, a patent) Reference 1).
JP 2003-199254 A

  However, in the conventional system, the fuel cell is generated according to the electric power consumed by each house to generate electric power and heat. For this reason, for example, when the amount of electric power used is greater than the amount of heat consumed, heat is generated excessively, so that the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell is reduced. In addition, there is a problem that the amount of heat is insufficient when the amount of power used is small relative to the amount of heat consumed.

  In general, a load device that consumes electric power may fluctuate the power consumption in about 10 milliseconds. However, in order to fluctuate the amount of power generated by the fuel cell, it generally takes about several hundred milliseconds. Therefore, since the fuel cell cannot supply the power required by the load device with good time response, the load device cannot receive sufficient power, and the load device may malfunction. Further, the power generated until the power generated by the fuel cell reaches the power required by the load device is wasted without being effectively consumed. Therefore, in the conventional system, since the power required by the load device cannot be supplied with a good time response, the energy loss is large, and the energy efficiency of the entire system may be further reduced.

  In order to solve such a problem, a fuel cell system according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of fuel cells that are provided in the vicinity of a thermal load and a power load that are distributed, and a fuel cell. The power network that transmits the generated power to the power load in the vicinity of other fuel cells and the fuel cell in the vicinity of the heat load with a large heat demand are operated at a higher output, resulting in surplus power. A power supply unit that supplies power to the power load using the power network, and a controller that increases the response speed of the power by responding to the change by a plurality of fuel cells when the power consumption of the power load fluctuates. It was.

  The control unit operates a fuel cell in the vicinity of a heat load having a large heat demand at a larger output, supplies power from the fuel cell in which surplus power is generated to the heat load using the power network, and consumes power of the power load. When there is a fluctuation, the response speed of the electric power is increased by responding to the fluctuation by a plurality of fuel cells, so that the energy efficiency of the entire system is improved.

  When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the control unit responds to the power by changing the output of more fuel cells than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently. Increase speed. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the time until the power value generated by the fuel cell reaches the power value required by the power load, and to reduce the energy loss generated during that time.

  After the fuel cell generates enough power for power consumption, the control unit adjusts the power generation amount of each of the plurality of fuel cells again, thereby adjusting each of the plurality of fuel cells with an output that matches the heat demand. To work. For this reason, when the power consumption of the power load fluctuates, even if the amount of heat produced by the fuel cell is excessive or insufficient, the excessive or insufficient state can be resolved in a short time. Each fuel cell supplies heat only to a nearby heat load. For this reason, the heat loss during moving the amount of heat to the heat load can be reduced. Moreover, the equipment for supplying the amount of heat can be reduced in size.

  A fuel cell system control method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a step of generating power using a plurality of fuel cells provided in the vicinity of a thermal load and a power load that exist in a dispersed manner, and the fuel cell generates power. A step of transmitting electric power to an electric power load in the vicinity of another fuel cell using an electric power network, and a fuel cell in the vicinity of a heat load having a large heat demand are operated at a larger output, resulting in a surplus of electric power. A control step of increasing the response speed of power by supplying power to the power load using the power network and responding to the change by a plurality of fuel cells when the power consumption of the power load fluctuates. Prepared.

  An apartment house in another form of the present invention includes a plurality of houses each having a heat load and a power load, and a plurality of fuel cells provided in the vicinity of the heat load and the power load, which are distributed, Fuel that generates surplus power by operating a power network that transmits power generated by a fuel cell to a power load in the vicinity of another fuel cell and a fuel cell in the vicinity of a heat load with a large heat demand at a higher output. A controller that increases power response speed by supplying power from a battery to a power load using a power network and responding to the change by a plurality of fuel cells when the power consumption of the power load fluctuates. Equipped with.

  When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the control unit responds to the power by changing the output of more fuel cells than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently. Increase speed. When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the control unit responds to the power by changing the output of more fuel cells than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently. Increase speed.

  When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the control unit responds to the power by changing the output of more fuel cells than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently. Increase speed. When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the control unit responds to the power by changing the output of more fuel cells than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently. Increase speed.

  After the fuel cell generates enough power for power consumption, the control unit adjusts the power generation amount of each of the plurality of fuel cells again, thereby adjusting each of the plurality of fuel cells with an output that matches the heat demand. To work. Each fuel cell supplies heat only to a nearby heat load.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

  According to the present invention, the control unit operates a fuel cell in the vicinity of a heat load having a large heat demand with a larger output, and supplies power to the heat load from the fuel cell in which surplus power is generated using the power network. When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates, the response speed of the power is increased by responding to the fluctuation by a plurality of fuel cells, so that the energy efficiency of the entire system is improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the development means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a fuel cell system 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An object of the present embodiment is to provide a fuel cell system in which the energy efficiency of the entire system is improved.

  The fuel cell system 30 supplies power and heat to an apartment house including, for example, a plurality of houses (50a to 50c, hereinafter collectively referred to as 50). Here, the apartment house may be one in which a plurality of houses 50 are provided in one building, and each of a plurality of buildings provided in different areas may be the house 50.

  The house 50a includes a load 48a, a heat load 40a, and a fuel cell 42a. The house 50b and the house 50c have the same constituent elements as the house 50a, and the constituent elements of which house 50 are identified by adding the symbols b and c to the end of the reference numerals of the constituent elements, respectively.

  That is, the fuel cell system 30 of this embodiment includes a plurality of fuel cells (42a to 42c, hereinafter collectively referred to as 42), a plurality of power loads (48a to 48c, hereinafter collectively referred to as 48), and a plurality of heats. A load (40a to 40c, hereinafter collectively referred to as 40) is provided. The fuel cell system 30 further includes a power network 44 and a control unit 46.

  Hereinafter, the operation of each component of the house 50a will be described. The fuel cell 42a supplies power to the power load 48a and supplies heat generated by power generation to the heat load 40a. The fuel cell 42a is, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The fuel cell 42a may reform the city gas, propane gas or the like supplied to each house 50 to generate hydrogen gas as fuel, and the hydrogen gas supplied from the outside as fuel. You may do. The fuel cell 42a includes a battery, and the battery may be used as a power source for causing the fuel cell system 30 to function in an emergency, or may be used as a power source for starting up the fuel cell system 30.

  The power load 48a is operated by the power generated by the fuel cell 42a. The heat load 40a receives the exhaust heat from the fuel cell 42a by circulating cooling water for cooling the fuel cell 42a, for example. The heat load 40a may include a hot water storage tank that accumulates hot water, for example.

  The operation of each component of the house 50a has been described above, but the operation of each component of the house 50b and the house 50c is the same as the operation of each component of the house 50a, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The power network 44 is provided so that the power generated by the fuel cell 42 can be transmitted to the power load 48 of any house 50. For this reason, even if the amount of power that can be supplied by the fuel cell 42 in each house 50 is insufficient compared to the amount of power consumed by the power load 48, the fuel cell 42 provided in another house 50 Since electric power can be supplied to the electric power load 48, it is possible to cope with a wide variation of the load.

  The control unit 46 controls the fuel cell 42 and the power network 44 based on the heat demand of the heat load 40 and the power consumption of the power load 48. That is, the control unit 46 controls the fuel cell 42 that supplies heat to the heat load 40 having a large heat demand so as to operate at a larger output, and uses the power network 44 from the fuel cell 42 that generates surplus power. The power network 44 is controlled to supply power to the load 48. In addition, when the power consumption of the power load 48 changes, the control unit 46 increases the response speed of the power by causing the plurality of fuel cells 42 to cope with the change.

  In the fuel cell system 30 of the present embodiment, a plurality of fuel cells 42 are provided in a distributed manner in the houses 50, and the fuel cells 42 provided in each house 50 supply heat only to the heat load 40 provided in the house 50. . That is, since the fuel cell 42 supplies heat only to the heat loads 40 provided in the vicinity thereof, heat loss during the transfer of heat to the heat loads 40 can be reduced. Moreover, the equipment for supplying the amount of heat can be reduced in size.

  In general, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell 42 increases as the amount of power generated by the fuel cell 42 increases. Therefore, in the fuel cell system 30 of the present embodiment, each fuel cell 42 corresponds to the power consumed by the power load 48 as compared with, for example, a system in which one fuel cell 42 supplies power to all the power loads 48. Since each fuel cell 42 can be operated at a higher load factor by adjusting the amount of electric power to be generated, the entire system can be operated with higher efficiency. Even when the fuel cell 42 of a certain house 50 is stopped due to a failure or the like, power can be supplied from the fuel cell 42 provided in another house 50.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a time response of electric power generated by the fuel cell 42. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents power generated by the fuel cell 42. When the power required by the power load 48 changes from w1 to w2 at the time h1, the line JN is a time evolution when the increase in power consumption is accommodated by one fuel cell 42, and the line JM is 3 This is a time development in the case where the power consumption of the fuel cell 42 is increased.

  That is, when one fuel cell 42 is used, the power w2 required by the power load 48 is reached at time h3, but when three fuel cells 42 are used, the time is earlier than time h3. The power w2 required by the power load 48 can be reached at h2. Further, the power generated by the fuel cell 42 during the period until the power w2 required by the power load 48 is reached is wasted without being consumed by the power load 48. The amount of energy wasted during this period is represented by the area of the region JNL when handled by one fuel cell 42, and is represented by the area of the region JMK when handled by three fuel cells 42. That is, when responding to load fluctuations with three fuel cells 42, the response speed to load fluctuations can be increased compared to when dealing with load fluctuations with one fuel cell 42. It is possible to reduce the waste of electric power to be used.

  Similarly, when the power consumed by the power load 48 decreases, the power generated by a larger number of fuel cells 42 is decreased to increase the response speed to load fluctuations and reduce the energy loss generated during that time. it can.

  In the fuel cell system 30 of the present embodiment, when the power consumption of the power load 48 fluctuates rapidly, the control unit 46 changes the output of the plurality of fuel cells 42, thereby generating the power value generated by the fuel cells 42. By shortening the time required for the power load 48 to reach the power value required, it is possible to reduce energy loss generated during that time. Further, even when the storage battery is installed in preparation for the case where the power consumed by the power load 48 fluctuates rapidly, the capacity of the storage battery can be reduced. Moreover, even in the case where the fuel cell 42 generates surplus power in advance with respect to the power consumption in preparation for a case where the power consumption suddenly increases, the amount of surplus power generated can be reduced. .

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of the operation of the control unit 46. In S202, the control unit 46 selects the fuel cell 42 whose output is to be changed according to the amount of power fluctuation required by the power load 48. At this time, the control unit 46 may first select the fuel cell 42 included in the house 50 having the power load 48 whose power consumption fluctuates as the fuel cell 42 whose output is to be changed. Further, when the power consumed by the power load 48 fluctuates more quickly, more fuel cells 42 are selected. Further, in S204, the control unit 46 changes the output of the fuel cell 42 selected in S202. At this time, the control unit 46 controls the power network 44 to supply power to the power load 48 whose power consumption has fluctuated through the power network 44 as necessary.

  In S206, the control unit 46 determines whether or not the power generated by the fuel cell 42 has reached the amount of power required by the power load 48. If the amount of power required by the power load 48 has not been reached in S206, the determination in S206 is repeated.

  In S206, when the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42 reaches the amount of electric power required by the electric power load 48, the control unit 46 determines the housing 50 having a large heat demand based on the heat demand of each heat load 40. The power generated by the fuel cell 42 is adjusted again so that the amount of power generated by the fuel cell 42 increases (S208). At this time, the control unit 46 controls the amount of power generated by the fuel cell 42 so that the amount of power generated by the fuel cell 42 does not become insufficient compared to the power consumed by the power load 48.

  In S <b> 210, the control unit 46 causes the fuel cell 42 that does not need to supply power to the power load 48 to transition to an idling state in which only auxiliary power is generated for the operation of the fuel cell 42 itself. Further, in S212, the control unit 46 maintains the predetermined number of fuel cells 42 in the idling state, and ends the process. In S212, when the number of idling fuel cells 42 exceeds the predetermined number, the control unit 46 selects the predetermined number of fuel cells 42 to maintain the idling state, so that the other idling state is maintained. The fuel cell 42 is stopped. Further, when the number of idling fuel cells 42 is smaller than the predetermined number, the stopped fuel cells 42 are shifted to the idling state.

  By performing the control as described above, when the power consumption of the power load 48 fluctuates faster, the output of more fuel cells 42 than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently. By changing the above, the time until the power value generated by the fuel cell 42 reaches the power value required by the power load 48 can be shortened. Moreover, the loss of energy generated during that time can be reduced. In addition, after the fuel cell 42 generates sufficient power with respect to the power consumption, the power generation amount of each of the plurality of fuel cells 42 is adjusted again, so that the output of the plurality of fuel cells 42 can be output with the heat demand. Since each is operated, even if the amount of heat produced by the fuel cell 42 is excessive or insufficient when the power consumption of the power load 48 fluctuates, the excessive or insufficient state can be resolved in a short time.

  The control unit 46 records the history of heat consumption in each heat load 40 in order to adjust the power generated by the fuel cell 42 so that the power generated by the fuel cell 42 included in the house 50 with a large heat demand increases. 40 may be managed in association with each other. For example, the control unit 46 may divide a day into a plurality of time zones and manage the history of heat consumption in each heat load 40 for each time zone. When the fuel cell 42 supplies hot water to the heat load 40, the control unit 46 may manage the amount of hot water consumed by each heat load 40 as the heat consumption for each time zone. . Moreover, you may manage for each time slot | zone the temperature of the warm water which should be supplied to each heat load 40 as the said heat consumption. Moreover, the control part 46 may manage the amount of warm water which should be supplied to each heat load 40, and its temperature as the said heat consumption.

  The control unit 46 calculates the amount of heat that each fuel cell 42 should supply to the heat load 40 based on the history of heat consumption managed by the control unit 46, and each fuel cell 42 supplies the calculated amount of heat. Adjust the power generation amount. That is, the power generation amount of the fuel cell 42 is controlled so that the exhaust heat amount of the fuel cell 42 is substantially the same as the heat consumption amount of the heat load 40 of each house 50. With such control, it is possible to prevent excessive generation of heat in each house 50.

  Moreover, the control part 46 calculates the estimated heat demand of the predetermined period in the future of each heat load 40 based on the history of the heat consumption of the heat load 40, and calculates each calculated heat demand. The power generation amount of each fuel cell 42 may be controlled so that heat can be supplied.

  For example, the control unit 46 may calculate the predicted heat demand for each heat load 40 on the current day based on the heat consumption history of the same day of the previous year or the previous month in the heat consumption history. In addition, the control unit 46 calculates the average value of the predetermined number of days in the history of heat consumption in each time zone obtained by dividing the day into a plurality of time zones, for each heat load in each time zone of the current day. You may calculate as 40 predicted heat demand. Moreover, the control part 46 may classify | categorize the log | history of the heat consumption in the predetermined period for every day of the week, and may calculate the predicted heat demand for every day of the week. Even in this case, the predicted heat demand in each time zone obtained by dividing each day of the week into a plurality of time zones may be calculated. Further, the control unit 46 may calculate a future predicted heat demand based on the current heat consumption. For example, when the fuel cell 42 supplies hot water to the heat load 40, the temperature of the currently supplied hot water is detected, and the average value of the continuous supply time of the hot water at that temperature is calculated from the past history. Good.

  In addition, the control unit 46 may manage the history of the power consumption of the power load 48 in association with each power load 48. The control unit 46 may manage the history of heat consumption and power consumption for each house 50.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of heat consumption and power consumption history managed by the control unit 46. The control unit 46 manages the table illustrated in FIG. 4 for each house 50. That is, the control unit 46 classifies the history of heat consumption and power consumption for each weekday, Saturday, and Sunday, and further divides the day into hourly time zones in advance for each time zone. Manage the average of the number of days you have defined. The unit representing the heat consumption may be, for example, a value obtained by converting the amount of heat consumed per hour into the same unit as the unit of power consumption.

  Based on the history of heat consumption and power consumption, the control unit 46 predicts the total heat consumption and total heat production consumed within a predetermined period, and the amount of heat is insufficient within the predetermined period. It can be determined whether or not. Further, when the heat load 40 includes a hot water storage tank, the heat consumption of the heat load 40 minus the heat received by the hot water storage tank 42 from the fuel cell 42 may be managed as the heat consumption. In this case, it can be determined whether or not the amount of heat is insufficient within a predetermined period based on the amount of heat currently accumulated in the hot water storage tank and the heat consumption and power consumption within the predetermined period.

  When the control unit 46 adjusts the power generation amount of the fuel cell 42 according to the heat consumption of the heat load 40 of each house 50, the fuel cell 42 corresponds to the power demand amount of the power load 48 included in each house 50. Electric power may be generated excessively or too little. The control unit 46 supplies surplus power to the power network 44 when the power generated by each fuel cell 42 is larger than the power demand of the power load 48 provided in the house 50 having each fuel cell 42. To do. The control unit 46 also controls the power network 44 so that the power generated by each fuel cell 42 is greater than the power demand of the power load 48 provided in the same house 50 as the house 50 having each fuel cell 42. When the power is small, the surplus power received from the other fuel cell 42 is supplied to the power load 48 that lacks power. By performing such control, the electric power generated by each fuel cell 42 can be used efficiently. For this reason, the energy efficiency of the plurality of fuel cells 42 as a whole can be improved.

  In addition, when the control unit 46 generates the fuel cell 42 according to the heat demand of each heat load 40, the total power generation amount of the plurality of fuel cells 42 is larger than the total power demand amount of the plurality of power loads 48. It may be small. In such a case, the control unit 46 may perform control so as to increase the power generation amount of the fuel cell 42 that supplies heat to the heat load 40 in which the predicted heat demand increases in the near future in order to compensate for the shortage of power.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of time development of electric power generated by the fuel cell 42. Lines 610, 620, and 630 show the time evolution of the power generated by the fuel cell 42a, the fuel cell 42b, and the fuel cell 42c, respectively. The difference between P2 and P1, the difference between P3 and P2, the difference between P4 and P3, and the difference between P5 and P4 are all the same. At time t0, the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42a, the fuel cell 42b, and the fuel cell 42c is P1, P2, and P3, respectively. The electric power generated is, for example, the electric power load 48a, the electric power load 48b, and the electric power. The load 48c is consuming. At this time, when the power consumed by the power load 48c increases by the power difference between P4 and P1, and the power needs to be supplied to the power load 48c, the control unit 46 controls the fuel cell 42a, the fuel cell 42b, Further, the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42c is increased, and control is performed so as to become P2, P3, and P4, respectively, at time t1. Further, surplus power generated by the fuel cell 42a and the fuel cell 42b is supplied to the power load 48c, so that the power required by the power load 48c is supplied at time t1.

  Further, from time t1 to time t2, the control unit 46 further increases the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42a to supply heat to the heat load 40a having a large heat demand to supply P5 to P5, and the heat load 40c having a small heat demand. In order to reduce the amount of heat to be supplied, the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42c is reduced to P1. In this way, the control unit 46 needs the power generated by the entire fuel cell 42 and the entire power load 48 after quickly responding to the power consumed by the power load 48 using the plurality of fuel cells 42. The electric power generated by each fuel cell 42 is adjusted so that a larger amount of heat can be supplied to the thermal load 40 having a larger heat demand while keeping the electric power to be substantially the same.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the amount of heat produced by the fuel cell 42 with respect to the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42. The horizontal axis is power, and the vertical axis is the amount of heat. The amount of heat Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, and Q5 produced by the fuel cell 42 is determined for each of the electric power P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 generated by the fuel cell 42. The control unit 46 manages the heat generation amount for the generated power of each fuel cell 42 in correspondence with each fuel cell 42, so that the respective heat demands of the thermal load 40 are used to control the respective heat generation amounts. The power to be generated by the fuel cell 42 can be determined.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of power demand and heat demand in each house 50. FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C show the state of each house 50 at time t0, time t1, and time t2, respectively. At time t0, in the house 50a, the fuel cell 42a supplies the power P3 consumed by the power load 48a, and the heat load 40a consumes the amount of heat Q3 produced by the fuel cell 42a. Similarly, in the house 50b, the fuel cell 42b supplies the power P2 consumed by the power load 48b, and the heat load 40b consumes the amount of heat Q2 produced by the fuel cell 42b. Similarly, in the house 50c, the fuel cell 42c supplies the power P1 consumed by the power load 48c, and the heat load 40c consumes the amount of heat Q1 produced by the fuel cell 42c. Further, the control unit 46 predicts the future heat demand of the heat load 40a as Q5 based on the past heat consumption history, and predicts the future heat demand of the heat load 40b as Q3.

  When the electric power required by the electric power load 48c of the house 50c increases to P4, the control unit 46 generates electric power generated by the fuel cell 42a, the fuel cell 42b, and the fuel cell 42c so as to quickly supply electric power to the electric power load 48c. Is increased to P4, P3, and P1, respectively, and the increased power is further supplied to the power load 48c. FIG. 7B shows a state at time t1, which is immediately after the change in power consumption of the power load 48c.

  Further, from time t1 to time t2, the control unit 46 increases the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42a to P5 in order to supply heat to the thermal load 40a having a large predicted heat demand in the future, and the fuel cell 42a is generated. Let the amount of heat to be Q5. Further, the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42a is reduced to P1, which is the same as that at time t0, in order to reduce the amount of heat supplied to the heat load 40c with less heat demand. Note that the amount of heat Q3 produced by the fuel cell 42b at time t1 is substantially the same as the predicted future heat demand of the thermal load 40c, and therefore the amount of power generated by the fuel cell 42b is not changed. In this way, the control unit 46 redistributes the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42 according to the heat demand of the heat load 40 when an excess or deficiency state of the amount of heat occurs due to fluctuations in power consumption. FIG. 7C shows a state at time t <b> 2 immediately after the control unit 46 redistributes the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42.

  By the control as described above, in the fuel cell system 30 of the present embodiment, the fuel cell 42 in the vicinity of the heat load 40 having a large heat demand is operated with a larger output, so that the surplus power is generated from the fuel cell 42 to the power network. In addition to supplying power to the power load 48 using 44, when the power consumption of the power load 48 fluctuates, the response speed of the power is increased by the plurality of fuel cells 42 corresponding to the fluctuation. This improves the energy efficiency of the entire system.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of a computer 500 that causes the fuel cell system to function. In this example, the computer 500 stores a program that causes the fuel cell system to function as the fuel cell system 30 described with reference to FIGS. The computer 500 may further function as the control unit 46 of the fuel cell system 30.

  The computer 500 includes a CPU 700, a ROM 702, a RAM 704, a communication interface 706, a hard disk drive 710, a flexible disk drive 712, and a CD-ROM drive 714. The CPU 700 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 702, the RAM 704, the hard disk drive 710, the flexible disk 720, and / or the CD-ROM 722.

  For example, a program that causes the fuel cell system 30 to function causes the computer 500 to function as the control unit 46 described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 7, and causes the fuel cell 42 and the power network 44 to relate to FIGS. 1 to 7. By controlling as described above, the fuel cell system 30 is caused to function.

  The communication interface 706 communicates with, for example, the fuel cell 42, the power load 48, the heat load 40, and the power network 44, receives information regarding each state and the like, and transmits a control signal for controlling each. The hard disk drive 710, the ROM 702, or the RAM 704 as an example of a storage device stores setting information, a program for operating the CPU 700, and the like. The program may be stored in a recording medium such as the flexible disk 720 and the CD-ROM 722.

  When the flexible disk 722 stores a program, the flexible disk drive 712 reads the program from the flexible disk 722 and provides it to the CPU 700. When the CD-ROM 722 stores a program, the CD-ROM drive 714 reads the program from the CD-ROM 722 and provides it to the CPU 700.

  Further, the program may be read directly from the recording medium into the RAM and executed, or once installed in the hard disk drive 710, the program may be read into the RAM 704 and executed. Further, the program may be stored in a single recording medium or a plurality of recording media. The program stored in the recording medium may provide each function in cooperation with the operating system. For example, the program may request the operating system to perform a part or all of the function and provide the function based on a response from the operating system.

  As a recording medium for storing the program, in addition to a flexible disk and a CD-ROM, an optical recording medium such as DVD and PD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as MD, a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, a flash memory, an IC card, A semiconductor memory such as a miniature card can be used. A storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a recording medium.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 46 operates the fuel cell 42 in the vicinity of the heat load 40 having a large heat demand with a larger output, and the fuel cell 42 generates surplus power. When power is supplied to the thermal load 40 using the power network 44 and the power consumption of the power load 48 fluctuates, the response speed of the power is increased by responding to the fluctuation by the plurality of fuel cells 42. , The energy efficiency of the whole system is improved.

  When the power consumption of the power load 48 fluctuates faster, the control unit 46 changes the output of more fuel cells 42 than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently. Therefore, the time required for the power value generated by the fuel cell 42 to reach the power value required by the power load 48 can be shortened, and the loss of energy generated during that time can be reduced.

  After the fuel cell 42 generates sufficient power for the power consumption, the control unit 46 adjusts the power generation amount of each of the plurality of fuel cells 42 again, so that the plurality of fuel cells can be output with the output in accordance with the heat demand. Since each of 42 is operated, even if the amount of heat produced by the fuel cell 42 is excessive or insufficient when the power consumption of the power load 48 fluctuates, the excessive or insufficient state can be eliminated in a short time. Since each of the fuel cells 42 supplies heat only to the nearby heat load 40, heat loss during the transfer of heat to the heat load 40 can be reduced. Moreover, the equipment for supplying the amount of heat can be reduced in size.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 shows an exemplary configuration of a fuel cell system 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The time response of the electric power which the fuel cell 42 generates is shown. Details of the operation of the control unit 46 will be described. An example of the history of heat consumption and electric power consumption which the control part 46 manages is shown. An example of the time evolution of the electric power generated by the fuel cell 42 is shown. The amount of heat produced by the fuel cell 42 with respect to the power generated by the fuel cell 42 is shown. An example of the electric power demand and heat demand in each house 50 is shown. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a computer 500 that causes a fuel cell system to function.

Explanation of symbols

  30 ... Fuel cell system, 40 ... Thermal load, 42 ... Fuel cell, 44 ... Power network, 48 ... Power load, 50 ... Housing, 500 ... Computer, 700 ..CPU, 702 ... ROM, 704 ... RAM, 706 ... communication interface, 710 ... hard disk drive, 712 ... flexible disk drive, 714 ... CD-ROM drive, 720 ...・ Flexible disk, 722 ... CD-ROM

Claims (12)

A plurality of fuel cells provided in the vicinity of a thermal load and a power load, which are present in a distributed manner;
An electric power network for transmitting electric power generated by the fuel cell to the electric power load in the vicinity of the other fuel cell;
The fuel cell in the vicinity of the heat load having a large heat demand is operated at a larger output, and power is supplied from the fuel cell in which surplus power is generated to the power load using the power network, and the power load A fuel cell system comprising: a control unit that increases the response speed of power by causing the plurality of fuel cells to respond to fluctuations when the power consumption of the fuel cell fluctuates.   When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the control unit changes the output of the fuel cell more than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently, The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the response speed of electric power is increased.   The control unit adjusts the power generation amount of each of the plurality of fuel cells again after the fuel cell generates sufficient power with respect to power consumption, and thereby outputs a plurality of the outputs with the output in accordance with the heat demand. The fuel cell system according to claim 2, wherein each of the fuel cells is operated.   4. The fuel cell system according to claim 3, wherein each of the fuel cells supplies heat only to the nearby thermal load. Power generation using a plurality of fuel cells provided in the vicinity of a thermal load and a power load that exist in a distributed manner; and
Transmitting the power generated using the fuel cell to the power load in the vicinity of the other fuel cell using a power network;
The fuel cell in the vicinity of the heat load having a large heat demand is operated at a larger output, and power is supplied from the fuel cell in which surplus power is generated to the power load using the power network, and the power load A control step of increasing the response speed of the power by causing the plurality of fuel cells to respond to the fluctuation when the power consumption of the fuel cell fluctuates.   In the control step, when the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the output of the fuel cell is changed more than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently, The fuel cell system control method according to claim 5, wherein the response speed of electric power is increased.   In the control step, after the fuel cell generates sufficient power with respect to power consumption, the power generation amount of each of the plurality of fuel cells is adjusted again, so that the plurality of the output with the output corresponding to the heat demand is achieved. The fuel cell system control method according to claim 6, wherein each of the fuel cells is operated.   The fuel cell system control method according to claim 7, wherein each of the fuel cells supplies heat only to the nearby thermal load. A plurality of houses each having a heat load and a power load;
A plurality of fuel cells provided in the vicinity of the thermal load and the power load, which are present in a distributed manner;
An electric power network for transmitting electric power generated by the fuel cell to the electric power load in the vicinity of the other fuel cell;
The fuel cell in the vicinity of the heat load having a large heat demand is operated at a larger output, and power is supplied from the fuel cell in which surplus power is generated to the power load using the power network, and the power load When the power consumption of the housing fluctuates, the housing includes a control unit that increases the response speed of the power by responding to the variation by the plurality of fuel cells.   When the power consumption of the power load fluctuates faster, the control unit changes the output of the fuel cell more than when the power consumption fluctuates more gently, The apartment house according to claim 9, wherein the response speed of electric power is increased.   The control unit adjusts the power generation amount of each of the plurality of fuel cells again after the fuel cell generates sufficient power with respect to power consumption, and thereby outputs a plurality of the outputs with the output in accordance with the heat demand. The housing complex according to claim 10, wherein each of the fuel cells is operated.   The apartment house according to claim 11, wherein each of the fuel cells supplies heat only to the nearby thermal load.

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