JP2006278174A - Fuel cell power generation device for emergency and operation method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell power generation device for emergency capable of evading such a dangerous situation that power is not supplied to an important load, and an operation method of the same. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell power generation device has a control part commanding start/stop of the fuel cell, and an abnormality detection means detecting various kinds of abnormalities. When the control part receives abnormality detection signals from the abnormality detection means, a start denying command is issued and the fuel cell is turned into a start-prohibited state while the fuel cell is stopped, and when the fuel cell is to start, or during operation, a start denying command is issued after stopping the fuel cell, by issuing a power generation stopping command and the fuel cell is turned into a start-prohibited state. After the fuel cell is turned into a start-prohibited state, in case the control part receives the abnormality detection signal again from the abnormality detection means after an elapse of a second prescribed period, after the control part resets the abnormality detection means after an elapse of a first prescribed period, the start-prohibited state is continued. In case the control part does not receive the abnormality detection signal, the start-prohibition state of the fuel cell is reset. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides an emergency use for starting a fuel cell and supplying generated power to the important load when power supply from a commercial power supply to an important power load represented by a traffic signal management system or the like is stopped due to a power failure or the like. The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generator and an operation method thereof.

  For important power loads represented by traffic signal management systems, etc., that is, power loads that are expected to cause serious safety problems due to interruption of power supply, commercial power supply will be interrupted due to its importance. It is desirable to have emergency power supply means for supplying emergency power instead of the above when stopped.

  Until now, as such emergency power supply means, power generation equipment using an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine has been used, but the power generation equipment using an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine emits pollutants during operation. In addition, there were problems such as a large noise level during operation.

  Since a fuel cell is an electrochemical power generation device, it is a power generation device that can maintain a clean environment with only water and heat, and is characterized by low noise during operation. In addition, the power generation efficiency independent of the power generation scale is maintained, and it is advantageous from the viewpoint of power generation efficiency even if the device is small compared to an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine.

With the recent progress of fuel cell development, a power generation device using such a fuel cell as an emergency power generation device as described above has been proposed, and its operation method has been studied. In particular, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a feature that its operating temperature is lower than that of other fuel cells and the start-up time is short. Further, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell using hydrogen gas as a fuel Has been attracting attention as being suitable as an emergency fuel cell power generator.

  The emergency fuel cell power generation device includes a control device that detects the interruption of commercial power, activates the fuel cell power generation device, detects the return of commercial power, and stops the power generation system. The emergency fuel cell power generator includes a combustible gas detection means, a hydrogen gas supply pressure detection means for fuel, a hydrogen gas supply pressure detection means in the room or casing in which the fuel cell is housed, in addition to the abnormality detection means of the fuel cell main body, Supply gas pressure detection means for shutoff valve driving gas for shutting off gas, hydrogen gas pressure detection means for hydrogen gas container, ventilator operation detection means for casing, impact, acceleration or earthquake detection means, etc. It is common to provide various abnormality detection means for monitoring the operating state.

  When these abnormality detection means detect an abnormality, a predetermined value or more, or a predetermined value or less, an abnormality detection signal is transmitted to the control device, the control device identifies the type of abnormality detection, and the fuel cell When the device is stopped, the start prohibition control is selected, and during start-up or operation, the fuel cell power generation is stopped and the fuel cell power generation is stopped. It is configured to report the occurrence and type of abnormality to the outside.

  In order to maintain the fuel cell power generation apparatus, the abnormality detecting means as described above is provided, but it is also conceivable that these detecting means cause a malfunction. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the control device malfunctions due to an electromagnetic wave interference from a peripheral device even though the abnormality detection means does not transmit an abnormality detection signal. In particular, when this emergency fuel cell power generator is used for power supply to a traffic management system, it is predicted that it will often be installed at intersections where traffic signals are laid. There is a concern about interference caused by electromagnetic wave noise caused by illegal transceivers, which has been a problem in recent years.

  Moreover, even if the impact, acceleration or earthquake detection means and the state (for example, tilt) detection means operate once and an abnormal signal is issued to the control unit, it is sufficient that the cause has already been eliminated after a predetermined time has elapsed. Can be assumed.

  Considering that such an emergency fuel cell power generation device has a critical task of supplying power for an important load, it is important to continue the operation as long as it is operable. An abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means, an abnormality signal is issued to the outside, the worker goes to the site in response to the announcement, and the emergency fuel cell power generator is stopped until appropriate measures are taken. Until the critical load is not supplied with power, there is a risk of a dangerous situation. In conventional emergency fuel cell power generators, sufficient measures to cope with such a situation have not been considered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an abnormality signal is issued from the abnormality detection means, and the worker goes to the site in response to the instruction and stops the fuel cell power generation device until appropriate measures are taken. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an emergency fuel cell power generation apparatus capable of avoiding a dangerous situation in which power supply to an important load is not performed as much as possible, and an operation method thereof.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an invention according to claim 1 is an emergency fuel cell power generator that includes a fuel cell and supplies electric power when supply of commercial power to an external load is stopped. A control unit that issues a start / stop command for the fuel cell, and an abnormality detection unit that detects various abnormalities, and when the control unit receives an abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection unit, the fuel cell is stopped When the fuel cell is activated, the fuel cell is prohibited from being activated, and during the activation or operation of the fuel cell, a power generation stop command is issued to stop the fuel cell, and then the fuel cell is deactivated. After the first predetermined time elapses after the fuel cell enters the activation prohibited state, the controller once resets the abnormality detection means and detects the abnormality after the second predetermined time elapses. Again from the means When receiving the detection signal, it continues the start prohibition state, if not receiving the abnormality detection signal, characterized in that it has a function of resetting the start prohibition state of the fuel cell.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 1, wherein the external load is a traffic management system.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

  The invention according to claim 4 is a method of operating an emergency fuel cell power generator that includes a fuel cell and supplies electric power when supply of commercial power to an external load is stopped. When receiving an abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection means to detect, when the fuel cell is stopped, a start disable command is issued to place the fuel cell in a start prohibition state, and power generation is performed during startup or operation of the fuel cell. After the fuel cell is stopped by issuing a stop command, the start-up disable command is issued to place the fuel cell in a start-up prohibited state, and after the first predetermined time has elapsed after the fuel cell enters the start-up prohibited state, the control unit If the abnormality detection means is reset once and an abnormality detection signal is received again from the abnormality detection means after the elapse of a second predetermined time, the start prohibition state is continued, and if no abnormality detection signal is received, the fuel Battery startup prohibition status The characterized by reset.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the operation method of the emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 4, wherein the external load is a traffic management system.

  The invention described in claim 6 is the operation method of the emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the control unit receives the abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection unit, the control unit issues a start prohibition command while the fuel cell is stopped to put the fuel cell into a start prohibition state, During startup or operation of the fuel cell, a power generation stop command is issued to stop the fuel cell, then a startup disable command is issued to place the fuel cell in a startup prohibited state, and after the fuel cell enters a startup prohibited state, When the control unit once resets the abnormality detection means after the elapse of a predetermined time of 1 and receives an abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection means again after the elapse of the second predetermined time, the start prohibition state is continued, Since it has a function of resetting the start prohibition state of the fuel cell when it does not receive a detection signal, it has a function of restarting the fuel cell when commercial power is not supplied at the time of reset. , The part load capable of providing a power line feeding a fuel cell power plant for a very capable avoided as much as possible dangerous situations that not performed.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, since the external load is a traffic management system, an emergency fuel cell power generation that can supply power as much as possible to a traffic signal flashing system that prevents a traffic jam or a dangerous state at an intersection, in particular. Equipment can be provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, particularly a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that uses hydrogen gas as a fuel that can be started up very quickly without the need to improve the fuel. By using it, an emergency fuel cell power generator with a low operating temperature and a short start-up time can be provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when an abnormality detection signal is received from an abnormality detection means for detecting various abnormalities, the fuel cell is issued while the fuel cell is stopped, and the fuel cell is prohibited from starting. When the fuel cell is in operation or during operation, a power generation stop command is issued to stop the fuel cell and then a start disable command is issued to place the fuel cell in a start prohibited state. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit once resets the abnormality detection unit, and when the second predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit once again receives the abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection unit. If the abnormality detection signal is not received and the start prohibition state of the fuel cell is reset, the fuel cell is restarted when commercial power is not supplied at the time of reset. Power line Can provide a method of operating the emergency fuel cell power plant can be minimized avoid dangerous situations that not performed.

  The invention according to claim 5 is an emergency fuel cell power generator that can supply power as much as possible to a traffic signal blinking system that prevents a traffic jam or a dangerous state at an intersection, since the external load is a traffic management system. A driving method can be provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the fuel cell is a solid polymer fuel cell, particularly a solid polymer fuel cell that uses hydrogen gas as a fuel, which does not need to improve the fuel and can be started very quickly. Thus, it is possible to provide an operation method of the emergency fuel cell power generator at a low operating temperature and a short start-up time.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an emergency fuel cell power generator according to the present invention. In this emergency fuel cell power generator, a fuel cell 11, a control unit 12 having a CPU, an inverter control panel 13, and a ventilation fan 14 are housed in a fuel cell housing 10. Further, a combustible gas sensor 15 for detecting leakage of combustible gas, a shock sensor 16 for detecting shock, acceleration and earthquake, and a state sensor 17 for detecting a state (for example, tilt) are installed in the fuel cell casing 10. The detection signal is input to the control unit 12.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a hydrogen cylinder that stores hydrogen gas, and reference numeral 21 denotes a nitrogen cylinder that stores nitrogen gas. The hydrogen gas that has been adjusted in pressure through the piping 24 through the hydrogen cylinder 20 and the shut-off valve 22 and the regulator 23 is used as fuel. The battery 11 is supplied. The shut-off valve 22 is a shut-off valve operated by the nitrogen gas pressure from the nitrogen cylinder 21 and is opened and closed by supplying nitrogen gas whose pressure is adjusted from the nitrogen cylinder 21 through the pipe 25 through the regulator 26. .

  27 is a pressure sensor for detecting the nitrogen gas pressure of the nitrogen cylinder 21 (drive gas pressure of the shut-off valve 22), 28 is a pressure sensor for detecting the hydrogen gas pressure of the hydrogen cylinder 20, and 29 is a hydrogen sensor supplied to the fuel cell 11. It is a pressure sensor that detects gas pressure. Pressure detection signals from the pressure sensor 27, the pressure sensor 28, and the pressure sensor 29 are input to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 detects whether there is an abnormality from various detection signals detected by the pressure sensor 27, the pressure sensor 28, the pressure sensor 29, the combustible gas sensor 15, the seismic sensor 16, and the state sensor 17, and activates / starts the fuel cell 11. Issue a stop command. Further, the control unit 12 activates the ventilation fan 14 to ventilate the fuel cell housing 10. The DC power generated by the fuel cell 11 is converted into AC power of a predetermined frequency by an inverter (not shown) under the control of the inverter control panel 13 and supplied to an external load (important load such as a traffic management system) 30. The

  Electric power is supplied to the external load 30 from a commercial power source (not shown). When power is not supplied from the commercial power source due to a power failure or the like, the control unit 12 activates the fuel cell 11 as described above. The inverter is converted into AC power by an inverter and supplied to the external load 30.

  The control unit 12 includes a nitrogen gas pressure detection signal from the pressure sensor 27, a hydrogen gas pressure detection signal from the pressure sensor 28, a hydrogen gas pressure detection signal supplied to the fuel cell 11 from the pressure sensor 29, and a combustible gas sensor 15. In response to the combustible gas detection signal, the shock / acceleration / earthquake detection signal from the seismic sensor 16, and the state detection signal from the state sensor 17, it is determined whether or not the fuel cell 11 is abnormal. If the fuel cell 11 is in the start-up prohibited state, the fuel cell 11 is stopped if it is in the start-up or in operation, and then the start-up disable command is issued to place the fuel cell in the start-up prohibited state. After the first predetermined time elapses, the abnormality detection is reset, and after the second predetermined time elapses, it is determined whether or not the abnormality is detected again. Shi If no, reset the start prohibition state of the fuel cell 11, to re-start if the commercial power interruption is detected at the time of the reset.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the control processing flow of the control unit 12. As shown in the figure, in order to detect an abnormality, the control unit 12 detects an abnormality of the main body of the fuel cell 11 from various signals (not shown), and combustible gas from the output of the combustible gas sensor 15. A state (tilt) is detected from the output of the state sensor 17 (combustible gas detection means 102 for detecting the leakage of the gas, the impact / acceleration / earthquake detection means 103 for detecting the impact / acceleration / earthquake from the output of the seismic sensor 16) (Inclination) Hydrogen gas pressure low detection means 105 for detecting the hydrogen gas pressure of the hydrogen cylinder from the output of the detection means 104 and pressure sensor 28, and hydrogen supply pressure high and low for detecting the hydrogen supply pressure high / low from the output of the pressure sensor 29 The detection means 106, the valve driving gas pressure low detection means 107 for detecting a decrease in the nitrogen gas pressure for driving the shutoff valve 22 from the output of the pressure sensor 27, and the ventilation fan 14 And a ventilation device operation detecting means 108 for detecting the rotation.

  The detection means detects abnormality detection (step ST1), then recognizes the type of abnormality (step ST2), and issues an external alarm (step ST3). Next, the measurement of the timer I with the first predetermined time set is started (step ST4), and it is determined whether the fuel cell 11 is activated or in operation (step ST5). A power generation stop command for the battery 11 is issued (step ST6), power generation by the fuel cell 11 is stopped (step ST7), and a start disable command for the fuel cell 11 is issued (step ST8). Further, in step ST5, even when the vehicle is not being started or operated (stopped), a start disable command for the fuel cell 11 is issued (step ST8), and the fuel cell 11 is set in a start prohibited state.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time set in the timer I has elapsed (step ST9). When the predetermined time has elapsed, the abnormality detecting means (means 101 to 108) and the timer I are reset, and a second predetermined time is set. Timer II measurement is started (step ST10). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the second predetermined time set in the timer II has elapsed (step ST11), and when it has elapsed, the timer II is reset (step ST12). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has been detected (step ST13). If an abnormality is detected, a command to disable activation of the fuel cell 11 is issued (step ST14). If no abnormality is detected, the activation prohibition state of the fuel cell is reset (step ST15). .

  When the control unit 12 receives an abnormality detection signal while the fuel cell 11 is starting or operating as described above, the control unit 12 issues a power generation stop command to stop the power generation of the fuel cell 11 and cannot start the fuel cell 11. When a (startup prohibition) command is issued and an abnormality detection signal is received while the fuel cell 11 is stopped, a fuel cell 11 startup disable (startup prohibition) command is immediately issued and the first predetermined time set in the timer I When all the abnormality detection means are reset, the timer II starts measuring the second predetermined time, and when the abnormality detection signal is received after the second predetermined time has elapsed, the fuel cell 11 is issued, and when the abnormality detection signal is not received, the activation prohibition state of the fuel cell is reset.

  As described above, the control unit 12 receives an abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection means (means 101 to 108) when the fuel cell 11 is being started, operated or stopped, and is prohibited from starting when the fuel cell 11 is stopped. When the fuel cell 11 is stopped during startup or operation, all the abnormality detection means are reset thereafter, and when the same abnormality signal is detected again, it can be confirmed that these abnormality detection means are not malfunctioning.

  Also, if all abnormality detection means are reset and the same abnormality signal is not detected again, it is a real abnormality, malfunction of the abnormality detection means, electromagnetic interference from peripheral devices, or interference due to electromagnetic noise from illegal transceivers Thus, it can be estimated that the control unit 12 malfunctioned.

  Also, even if the shock / acceleration / earthquake detection means 103 and the state (tilt) detection means are once activated to issue a signal to the control unit 12, they are reset after a predetermined time set in the timer I. If the same abnormality detection signal is not issued again, it can be assumed that the cause has already been eliminated.

  By configuring the emergency fuel cell power generator as described above, an abnormal alarm is issued to the outside, and after receiving the announcement, an operator goes to the site and takes appropriate measures such as a traffic management system. An emergency fuel cell power generator that can avoid the situation where power is not supplied to the external load 30 as much as possible can be realized.

  When the external load 30 is a traffic management system, the traffic light blinking system in particular causes a traffic jam or a dangerous state at an intersection when the stop state continues, and a rapid recovery is desired. Although it is unavoidable that the fuel cell main body abnormality detecting means 101 detects abnormality of the fuel cell 11 main body or the combustible gas detecting means 102 detects a gas leak of the combustible gas and it is dangerous to restore the power generation of the fuel cell 11. In the case of malfunction due to detection means malfunction or electromagnetic stoppage, the abnormality detection means is reset once and re-detection is attempted. As a result, if no abnormality is detected again, the control unit 12 returns to the fuel cell 11 again. By applying the start-up, power can be supplied to the traffic signal blinking system as much as possible.

  By using a polymer electrolyte fuel cell as the fuel cell 11, this polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a feature that its operating temperature is lower than that of other fuel cells and its startup time is short. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell using hydrogen gas as a fuel is suitable as a fuel cell for an emergency fuel cell power generator because it does not need to improve the fuel and can be started very quickly.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims and the specification and drawings. Is possible.

1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an emergency fuel cell power generator according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the control processing flow of the control part of the emergency fuel cell electric power generating apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel cell housing | casing 11 Fuel cell 12 Control part 13 Inverter control board 14 Ventilation fan 15 Combustible gas sensor 16 Shock detector 17 State (tilt) sensor 20 Hydrogen cylinder 21 Nitrogen cylinder 22 Shut-off valve 23 Regulator 24 Piping 25 Piping 26 Regulator 27 Pressure Sensor 28 Pressure sensor 29 Pressure sensor 30 External load

Claims (6)

An emergency fuel cell power generator that includes a fuel cell and supplies power when supply of commercial power to an external load is stopped,
A control unit that issues a start / stop command for the fuel cell, and an abnormality detection means for detecting various abnormalities;
When the control unit receives an abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection means, it issues a start prohibition command while the fuel cell is stopped to place the fuel cell in a start prohibition state, and the fuel cell is starting or operating The power generation stop command is issued to stop the fuel cell, and then the start prohibition command is issued to place the fuel cell in the start prohibition state. After the fuel cell enters the start prohibition state, the first predetermined time elapses. When the control unit once resets the abnormality detection means and receives an abnormality detection signal again from the abnormality detection means after a lapse of a second predetermined time, when the start prohibition state is continued and no abnormality detection signal is received, An emergency fuel cell power generator having a function of resetting a start prohibition state of the fuel cell. The emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 1,
The emergency fuel cell power generator, wherein the external load is a traffic management system. The emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 1 or 2,
An emergency fuel cell power generator, wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. An operation method of an emergency fuel cell power generator that includes a fuel cell and supplies electric power when supply of commercial power to an external load is stopped,
When an abnormality detection signal is received from an abnormality detection means for detecting various abnormalities, the fuel cell is issued while the fuel cell is stopped, and the fuel cell is set in a startup prohibited state. In some cases, a power generation stop command is issued to stop the fuel cell, and then a startup disable command is issued to place the fuel cell in a startup prohibited state. After the fuel cell enters a startup prohibited state, a first predetermined time elapses When the controller once resets the abnormality detection means and receives an abnormality detection signal again from the abnormality detection means after a lapse of a second predetermined time, the start prohibition state is continued and no abnormality detection signal is received. An operation method of an emergency fuel cell power generator, which has a function of resetting a start prohibition state of the fuel cell. The operation method of the emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 4,
The operation method of an emergency fuel cell power generator, wherein the external load is a traffic management system. In the operation method of the emergency fuel cell power generator according to claim 4 or 5,
A method for operating an emergency fuel cell power generator, wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

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