JP2007194142A - Desulfurizer replacement management system, desulfurizer replacement management method and desulfurizer replacement management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a desulfurizer replacement system for enabling long-term stable operation of a fuel cell by controlling quality of supplying LPG and judging replacement timing of a desulfurizer appropriately. <P>SOLUTION: Based on a process to receive container individual information, filling count information, fuel quality information and filling quantity information from a first measurement machine 10, a process to receive container individual information, filling count information, measurement consumption quantity information from the fuel cell 30a, a process to receive container individual information, filling count information, after-use weight information from a second measurement machine 20, and the container individual information, the filling count information, the fuel quality information, the filling quantity information, the measurement consumption quantity information and the after-use weight information, a management device 40a calculates sulfur content adsorbed by the desulfurizer and judges the replacement timing of the desulfurizer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a desulfurizer replacement management system, a desulfurizer replacement management method, and a desulfurizer replacement management program for determining the replacement timing of a desulfurizer attached to a fuel cell, and in particular, a fuel with a clear feature (manufacturer, composition, etc.). The present invention relates to a desulfurizer replacement management system, a desulfurizer replacement management method, and a desulfurizer replacement management program that more accurately determine when to replace a desulfurizer by calculating the replacement timing based on the information regarding the desulfurizer.

In recent years, fuel cells have attracted attention as a clean power generation system that does not discharge air pollutants from the viewpoint of environmental problems.
A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy by electrochemically reacting hydrogen and oxygen, and is characterized by high energy use efficiency. Various proposals have been made as a system (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Here, fuel cells can be used in various fields, and as part of them, products that are installed in units of buildings, such as ordinary houses, condominiums, office buildings, stores, etc., have been developed for consumer and business use. It has become.
In addition, when a cylinder is filled with LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) used in a fuel cell, it is delivered to each customer who has the fuel cell by a dealer.

The flow of LPG delivery will be further described with reference to FIG.
First, at the LP gas filling station (fuel filling station), LPG is brought in by each company (A company, B company, C company...) Handling LPG using a lorry vehicle. The brought-in LPG is stored in a gas tank and then filled into a cylinder. The cylinder filled with the LPG is delivered to each customer by the store (or a maintenance company designated by the store) and replaced with a used cylinder.
The fuel cell installed at the customer consumes LPG supplied from the cylinder and generates power, and sends this electric power or hot water into the building. The cylinder that has been emptied as a result of consuming LPG (used cylinder) is collected by the dealer and returned to the LP gas filling station. The returned cylinder is again filled with LPG and delivered to each customer as a delivery cylinder.

By the way, a fuel cell, for example, reforms a fuel (raw material for hydrogen production) such as LPG, takes out hydrogen, and generates electricity by chemically reacting this hydrogen and oxygen in the air. In reforming, it is necessary to remove sulfur in advance.
That is, a fuel such as LPG contains a slight amount of sulfur, and an organic sulfur compound such as mercaptan is added to the odorant. When reforming and power generation are carried out with these sulfur compounds contained, the sulfur compounds adhere to the hydrogen production catalyst and the production efficiency of hydrogen gradually decreases. Since it also adheres to the catalyst, the power generation efficiency gradually decreases.

For this reason, in order to remove sulfur compounds contained in the fuel and prevent deterioration of the reforming performance of the fuel cell, the fuel cell first removes the sulfur content by the desulfurizer before sending the fuel to the reformer. To be done.
This desulfurizer is configured to absorb sulfur compounds contained in fuel by a desulfurizing agent (adsorbent) and remove them from the fuel. When a predetermined amount of sulfur compounds are absorbed by the desulfurizing agent, Need to be replaced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-069919

However, the sulfur concentration of the LPG filled in the cylinder was different for each cylinder for the following reason.
The reason will be described with reference to FIG. The figure is a graph showing the change in the sulfur concentration of LPG relative to the amount of LPG used in the cylinder.
As shown in the figure, for example, until the LPG filled in the cylinder is used from FULL until a predetermined amount is used, the sulfur concentration tends to increase slightly. However, if the remaining amount in the cylinder becomes very small after being used over the predetermined amount, the sulfur concentration rapidly increases.

  Here, when filling the used cylinders returned to the LP gas filling station with LPG, if there are cylinders with a very small LPG remaining amount and cylinders with a large amount, the sulfur concentration remaining in these cylinders is different. Even if the sulfur concentration of the LPG to be filled is the same, the sulfur concentration in the cylinder after filling will be different. In particular, in a cylinder where the remaining amount was very small before filling, there was a case where LPG having a high concentration as a whole after filling.

As described above, the sulfur concentration in the cylinder filled with LPG differs for each cylinder. When LPG is supplied from the cylinder to the fuel cell in such a situation, the fuel cell has a relationship with the replacement timing of the desulfurizer. It was thought that this would hinder long-term stable operation.
As described above, the desulfurizer removes the sulfur content from the LPG by adsorbing the sulfur content to the desulfurizing agent. For this reason, when the adsorbed sulfur content exceeds a certain amount, the performance of the desulfurizer decreases. Here, when LPG having a high sulfur concentration is passed through a desulfurizer as it is to desulfurize, the time when the performance decreases due to the adsorption of the high concentration sulfur component is advanced. That is, the lifetime of the desulfurizer is shortened. On the other hand, in a situation where the frequency of use of the fuel cell is low or only LPG with a low sulfur concentration is passed, the timing of performance degradation is delayed. That is, the lifetime of the desulfurizer is increased.

Here, if the replacement time of the desulfurizer due to the performance drop is set, for example, in a period (every ten months or the like), the replacement / recovery is performed regardless of the actual performance of the desulfurizer. Specifically, for example, when a large amount of LPG with a high sulfur concentration is passed, the performance of the desulfurizer has deteriorated early, but the replacement time has not come and it is not easy to replace it, or the use of a fuel cell There may be a case where the replacement is due to the replacement time coming even though the performance is still sufficiently exhibited because the frequency has decreased.
As a result, in the former case, the desulfurizer is used with low performance, resulting in a reduction in reforming performance and power generation efficiency. On the other hand, in the latter case, it is frequently exchanged against the desulfurization performance, so that the dealer is forced to use unnecessary labor and the customer pays an exchange fee more than necessary. For this reason, in any case, there has been a problem that the fuel cell cannot be stably operated for a long time.

  The present invention has been considered in view of the above circumstances, and manages the quality of LPG to be supplied, appropriately determines the replacement timing of the desulfurizer, and enables desulfurizer replacement management that enables long-term stable operation of the fuel cell. An object is to provide a system, a desulfurizer replacement management method, and a desulfurizer replacement management program.

  In order to achieve this object, the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention is installed in a fuel filling station, a filling container weighing machine for weighing the weight of a container filled with fuel, and a customer's premises. And a desulfurizer replacement management system comprising a fuel cell equipped with a desulfurizer for removing the sulfur content of the fuel, comprising a management device for judging the replacement timing of the desulfurizer based on predetermined information, The filling container weighing machine includes means for acquiring fuel quality information indicating the quality of the fuel (fuel quality information acquisition means), storage means for storing the fuel quality information, and transmission means for transmitting the fuel quality information to the management device. The fuel cell has a means for acquiring consumption information of the fuel supplied from the container (consumption information acquisition means), a storage means for storing the consumption information, and a transmission for transmitting the consumption information to the management device. Means and And a management device for receiving fuel quality information from the filling container weighing machine, receiving means for receiving consumption information from the fuel cell, storage means for storing fuel quality information and consumption information, fuel The system has a replacement time determining means for determining the replacement time of the desulfurizer based on the quality information and the consumption information.

When the desulfurizer replacement management system is configured as described above, the replacement timing of the desulfurizer is determined based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information, so that a more appropriate replacement timing can be obtained.
That is, if the fuel quality information (information indicating the fuel sulfur concentration) and the consumption information (information indicating the fuel consumption in the fuel cell) are used, the sulfur content adsorbed on the desulfurizing agent can be estimated. For this reason, it is possible to know the degree of performance of the desulfurizer (whether sufficient performance can still be obtained or whether the performance degradation time is near). Thereby, the replacement | exchange time of a desulfurizer can be judged more appropriately.

And this invention can solve the problem which may generate | occur | produce when only setting a period and replacing | exchanging a desulfurizer. The problem is, for example, that the desulfurizer is not replaced even though the performance of the desulfurizer is lowered, or is replaced even though the performance is still sufficiently exhibited.
On the other hand, this invention grasps | ascertains the performance grade of a desulfurizer, and makes this the judgment factor of replacement | exchange time. For this reason, the above-mentioned problem that occurs because the degree of performance of the desulfurizer is not used as a judgment factor hardly occurs in the present invention.
In addition, problems relating to the fuel cell caused by the occurrence of the above problem, for example, a reduction in reforming performance and power generation efficiency, or frequent replacement against the desulfurization performance, can be avoided by implementing the present invention. Therefore, long-term stable operation of the fuel cell can be realized.

  Furthermore, since the fuel quality information is managed by the filling weight measuring device or the fuel cell, it is possible to prevent the mixing of the fuel for which the fuel quality information is not obtained, that is, the fuel whose characteristics (manufacturer, composition, etc.) are unknown. As a result, it is possible to prevent the contamination of the fuel whose characteristics are known by the fuel whose characteristics are unknown.

In addition, since the replacement time of the desulfurizer can be properly grasped, the customer's fuel cell can be managed safely.
In addition, since it is possible to supply fuel whose characteristics are known, the supply of fuel depends on the dealer / agent, and it is possible to acquire customers as fixed fuel sales destinations.

  In the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention, the filling container weighing machine has means (container individual information obtaining means) for obtaining container individual information for specifying the container, and the storage means of the filling container weighing machine is a container. The individual information is stored, the transmission means of the filling container weighing machine transmits the container individual information to the management device, the fuel cell has means for acquiring the container individual information, and the storage means of the fuel cell is the container individual information. The fuel cell transmitting means transmits the container individual information to the management device, and the receiving means of the management device receives the container individual information from the filling container weighing machine, and the container individual information from the fuel cell. The storage means of the management device stores the container individual information from the filling container weighing machine and the container individual information from the fuel cell, and the management device replacement time judgment means stores the container individual information, fuel quality information, consumption Based on quantity information It is constituted to determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer.

  If the desulfurizer replacement management system has such a configuration, the management apparatus stores and manages fuel quality information from the filling container weighing machine and consumption information from the fuel cell in association with the individual container information as a key. can do. Thereby, about one container, the fuel quality information acquired with the filling container measuring machine and the consumption information acquired with the fuel cell can be associated. For this reason, the weight of the sulfur content adsorbed by the desulfurizer of the fuel cell can be obtained, and the replacement timing of the desulfurizer can be accurately determined.

  In addition, since the fuel quality information is transmitted from the filling weight measuring device together with the container individual information, quality control for each container becomes possible. For this reason, even when different quality fuel is filled in each container, the quality of each fuel is reflected and the replacement timing of the desulfurizer can be determined. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately know the replacement timing of the desulfurizer based on the operation history (consumption) of the fuel cell and the sulfur content (fuel quality) of the supplied fuel.

  In the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention, the filling container weighing machine has means (filling quantity information obtaining means) for obtaining the filling amount information of the fuel filled in the container, and the storage means of the filling container weighing machine. Stores the filling amount information, the transmitting means of the filling container weighing machine transmits the filling amount information to the management device, the receiving means of the management device receives the filling amount information from the filling container weighing machine, and the management device. The storage means stores the charge amount information, and the management device replacement time determination means determines the replacement time of the desulfurizer based on the charge amount information, the fuel quality information, and the consumption amount information.

When the desulfurizer replacement management system has such a configuration, it is possible to determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer using the filling amount information in addition to the fuel quality information and the consumption amount information.
For example, from the filling amount information and the fuel quality information (sulfur concentration), the weight of the sulfur content of the filled fuel can be calculated. Further, from the consumption information, the weight of fuel remaining in the container after use (remaining amount information) can be obtained. From the remaining amount information, the sulfur concentration (residual sulfur concentration information) of the fuel remaining in the container can be obtained. For this reason, it is possible to accurately grasp the sulfur concentration of the fuel in the container after filling from these calculation results, and thereby it is possible to determine an appropriate replacement time of the desulfurizer.

  In addition, the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention includes an after-use container weighing machine that measures the weight of the container after the fuel is consumed, and is installed in the fuel filling station. Means for acquiring the weight of the container as post-use weight information (post-use weight information acquisition means), storage means for storing post-use weight information, and transmission means for transmitting post-use weight information to the management device; The receiving means of the management device receives the post-use weight information from the used container weighing machine, the storage means of the management device stores the post-use weight information, and the replacement time determination means of the management device is the post-use weight information. The desulfurizer replacement time is determined based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information.

  When the desulfurizer replacement management system has such a configuration, the consumption of fuel remaining in the container can be calculated by obtaining the difference between the post-use weight information and the weight of the container itself. Since the sulfur concentration of the remaining fuel can be estimated based on the remaining amount of the fuel, the replacement timing of the desulfurizer can be appropriately determined.

  In the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention, the fuel quality information and / or the container individual information is encoded and attached to the container, the filling container weighing machine has a code reading means, and the code reading means However, the encoded fuel quality information and / or container individual information is read, and the storage means of the filling container weighing machine stores the fuel quality information and / or container individual information.

  When the desulfurizer replacement management system is configured as described above, fuel quality information and container individual information can be encoded and managed. As a result, the fuel quality information and the like can be managed easily and at a low cost.

  Further, in the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention, the fuel quality information and / or container individual information is encoded and attached to the container, the fuel cell has code reading means, and the code reading means is The encoded fuel quality information and / or container individual information is read, and the storage means of the fuel cell stores the fuel quality information and / or container individual information.

  When the desulfurizer replacement management system is configured as described above, the fuel quality information and the container individual information can be managed in the form of barcodes. As a result, even if the container is delivered, returned, etc., a barcode unique to the container can be easily obtained at the fuel filling station or the customer by using the barcode reader.

In the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention, the code is composed of a barcode, and the code reading means is composed of a barcode reading means.
When the desulfurizer replacement management system has such a configuration, the fuel quality information and the container individual information can be stored and managed in the IC chip. As a result, the fuel quality information and the like can be managed easily and at a low cost.

  Further, in the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention, the fuel quality information and / or the container individual information is stored in the IC chip, the IC chip is attached to the container, and the code reading means is connected to the IC reader. The configuration is as follows.

  When the desulfurizer replacement management system has such a configuration, the fuel quality information and the container individual information can be stored and managed in the IC chip. As a result, the fuel quality information and the like can be managed easily and at a low cost.

  Further, the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present invention is a desulfurizer replacement management method in which the management device determines the replacement timing of the desulfurizer attached to the fuel cell based on predetermined information. Fuel quality information indicating the quality of the fuel and container individual information for identifying the container filled with the fuel are received as the weighing machine related information from the installed filled container weighing machine (the weighing machine related information receiving process), and from the fuel cell. , Receiving the consumption information of the fuel used in the fuel cell and the container individual information specifying the container that supplied the fuel to the fuel cell as fuel cell related information (fuel cell related information acquisition process), Based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information, the fuel quality information and the consumption information are stored in association with each other (storage process), and the desulfurizer replacement time is determined based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information (desulfurizer replacement time determination process). ) There is a way.

When the desulfurizer replacement management method is such a method, the replacement timing of the desulfurizer is determined based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information, so that a more appropriate replacement timing can be obtained.
For example, when the replacement timing of the desulfurizer is judged based on the duration of use of the desulfurizer, it may be replaced even if the number of times of use is small and the desulfurization effect is still sufficiently obtained, or fuel of poor quality However, it is assumed that it is difficult to replace it even though its performance deteriorates sharply due to the large number of used.
On the other hand, if the replacement time is judged using the fuel quality information and the consumption information, the sulfur content adsorbed on the desulfurizer can be estimated, so it is possible to know how far the desulfurizer performance has deteriorated. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer.

In addition, since the fuel quality information is transmitted from the filling weight measuring device together with the container individual information, quality control for each container is possible. For this reason, even when different quality fuel is filled in each container, the quality of each fuel is reflected and the replacement timing of the desulfurizer can be determined. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately know the replacement timing of the desulfurizer based on the operation history (consumption) of the fuel cell and the sulfur content (fuel quality) of the supplied fuel.
Furthermore, since the fuel quality information is managed by the filling weight measuring machine and the management device, it is possible to prevent the mixing of the fuel for which the fuel quality information is not obtained, that is, the fuel whose feature is unknown. As a result, it is possible to prevent the contamination of the fuel whose characteristics are known by the fuel whose characteristics are unknown.

In addition, since the replacement time of the desulfurizer can be properly grasped, the customer's fuel cell can be managed safely.
In addition, since it is possible to supply fuel whose characteristics are known, the supply of fuel depends on the dealer / agent, and it is possible to acquire customers as fixed fuel sales destinations.

  In the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present invention, the process of receiving the weighing machine related information includes a process in which the management device receives the sulfur concentration of the fuel as fuel quality information from the filling container weighing machine.

When the desulfurizer replacement management method is such a method, the replacement timing of the desulfurizer can be determined based on the sulfur concentration of the fuel and the fuel consumption.
The desulfurizer removes the sulfur content by adsorbing the sulfur content from the fuel. That is, if the adsorbed sulfur content exceeds a predetermined amount, the performance of the desulfurizer decreases. Therefore, by managing the sulfur concentration of the fuel and the consumption of the fuel with a management device and calculating the weight of the adsorbed sulfur from these information, it is possible to know the progress of the performance reduction of the desulfurizer. Therefore, it is possible to determine an appropriate replacement time for the desulfurizer.

In the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present invention, in the process of receiving the fuel cell related information, the management device receives the gas usage measured by the gas meter of the fuel cell from the fuel cell as consumption information. As a method including processing.
When the desulfurizer replacement management method is such a method, the management device can use the amount of fuel used measured by the gas meter of the fuel cell to determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer.
The gas usage metered by the gas meter directly measures the flow rate of the gas discharged from the container, and all the fuel that has passed through the gas meter is sent to the desulfurizer. For this reason, the measured value in the gas meter corresponds to the flow rate of the fuel that has passed through the desulfurizer. For this reason, the management apparatus can appropriately determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer using the gas usage (consumption) obtained with the accurate value.

  Further, according to the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present invention, the management device receives the total weight of the fuel-filled container from the filling container weighing machine as the weight information after filling, and from the container weighing machine after use with the fuel cell. In this method, the total weight of the container after the fuel is used is received as post-use weight information, and a difference obtained by subtracting the post-use weight information from the post-fill weight information is calculated as consumption information.

  If the desulfurizer replacement management method is such a method, the management device calculates the difference between the weight information after filling and the weight information after use as consumption information, and uses this to determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer. Can do.

  Further, in the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present invention, the management device estimates the weight of sulfur adsorbed on the desulfurizer based on the fuel quality information and consumption information, and desulfurizes based on the estimated weight of sulfur. This is a method for determining when to replace a vessel.

  If the desulfurizer replacement management method is such a method, the weight of sulfur adsorbed on the desulfurizer is estimated based on the fuel quality information and consumption information, so know the degree of degradation of the desulfurizer performance. Can do. Thereby, the replacement time of the desulfurizer can be determined.

  Further, according to the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present invention, the management device receives the filling amount information indicating the weight of the fuel filled in the container from the filling container measuring machine, and the inside of the container after use based on the consumption amount information. The weight of the remaining fuel is calculated, the sulfur concentration of the fuel remaining in the container is estimated based on the calculated remaining fuel amount, and the estimated remaining fuel sulfur concentration, filling amount information, fuel quality information, Based on this, the sulfur concentration of the fuel in the container after filling is calculated, and the weight of sulfur adsorbed in the desulfurizer is estimated based on the calculated sulfur concentration of the fuel in the container after filling and consumption information. This is a method for judging the replacement timing of the desulfurizer based on the estimated weight of sulfur.

If the desulfurizer replacement management method is such a method, in addition to the fuel quality information and consumption information, filling amount information and remaining amount information, sulfur concentration of fuel remaining in the container (residual sulfur concentration information), etc. It can be used to determine when to replace the desulfurizer.
The sulfur concentration of the fuel filled in the container affects not only the sulfur concentration of the filled fuel but also the sulfur concentration of the fuel remaining in the container before filling. For this reason, the sulfur concentration of the fuel in the container after filling can be accurately calculated by reflecting the remaining amount information and the remaining sulfur concentration information. Therefore, since the weight of the sulfur content adsorbed on the desulfurizer can be obtained more accurately, it is possible to determine an appropriate replacement time for the desulfurizer.

  The desulfurizer replacement management program of the present invention is a desulfurizer replacement management program for causing a management device to execute a procedure for determining the replacement timing of a desulfurizer attached to a fuel cell based on predetermined information, A procedure for receiving fuel quality information indicating the quality of fuel and container individual information for identifying a container filled with fuel from a filling container weighing machine installed at a fuel filling station, and from the fuel cell, the fuel cell A procedure for receiving consumption information indicating consumption of the used fuel, container individual information for identifying a container that has supplied fuel to the fuel cell, fuel quality information and consumption information based on the container individual information, Are stored in association with each other and a replacement timing determination procedure for determining the replacement timing of the desulfurizer based on the fuel quality information and the consumption amount information is executed by the management device.

  When the management device executes the desulfurizer replacement management program having such a configuration, the fuel quality information and the consumption information are used to determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer. For this reason, the weight of the sulfur content adsorbed on the desulfurizer can be determined. Therefore, it is possible to know how much the performance of the desulfurizer has deteriorated, and therefore it is possible to appropriately determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the fuel quality information and the consumption information are used for determining the replacement timing of the desulfurizer, the weight of the sulfur component adsorbed on the desulfurizer can be obtained. Thereby, the appropriate replacement | exchange time of a desulfurizer can be judged.
Further, since the fuel quality information is grasped, it is possible to prevent the contamination of the fuel with known features by the fuel with unknown features.
Moreover, since the quality-controlled fuel is supplied, it is possible to appropriately know the replacement timing of the desulfurizer from the operation history of the fuel cell and the sulfur content of the supplied fuel.

In addition, since it is possible to properly grasp the replacement time of the desulfurizer, the customer's fuel cell can be managed safely.
Then, by making it possible to supply fuel whose characteristics are known, the supply of fuel depends on the dealer / agent and it is possible to acquire customers as fixed fuel sales destinations.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a desulfurizer replacement management system, a desulfurizer replacement management method, and a desulfurizer replacement management program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment of desulfurizer replacement management system and desulfurizer replacement management method]
First, a first embodiment of the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a desulfurizer replacement management system of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a state diagram showing a state when the desulfurizer replacement management system shown in FIG. 1 is provided in an LP gas filling station or the like. It is.

As shown in FIG. 1, the desulfurizer replacement management system 1 a-1 includes a first metering machine 10, a second metering machine 20, fuel cells 30 a-1 to 30 a-n (hereinafter abbreviated as “fuel cell 30 a”). And a management device 40a.
Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the first weighing machine (filling container weighing machine) 10 is provided in the LP gas filling station, and as shown in FIG. 3, the code reading means 11, the receiving means 12, , Weighing means 13, storage means 14, calculation means 15, transmission means 16, and control means 17.

The code reading unit 11 reads a code (sign) attached to a cylinder (container) and sends information (code information) indicated by the read code to the receiving unit 12.
A code is attached to each cylinder. The method of attaching is not particularly limited. For example, it can be directly written on the surface of the cylinder, or can be printed on a sticker and pasted. It is also possible to print on a card and tie this card to a cylinder with a wire or the like.
This code includes a bar code, a data code (a code that can be stored in an IC chip or the like), and the like. The barcode includes a two-dimensional barcode.

The code information (information expressed by coding) includes, for example, information for identifying the cylinder (container individual information), information indicating the quality of the filled LPG (fuel quality information), and the cylinder filled with LPG. Information indicating the number of times of filling (filling number information).
Among them, the container individual information is information for specifying the cylinder by assigning one or more characters, numbers, symbols, etc. using different ones for each cylinder.
The fuel quality information includes at least information indicating the sulfur concentration as the quality of the LPG. The fuel quality information can include, for example, propane concentration, butane concentration, methanol concentration, and the like.
The filling number information is information indicating the number of times the cylinder is filled with LPG, and is incremented by 1 each time the cylinder is filled.

Specific examples of the code reading unit 11 include, for example, a bar code reader (not shown) that reads a bar code, an IC reader (not shown) that reads data from an IC chip, and the like.
Here, the barcode reader is used when container individual information or the like is represented by a barcode. The barcode reader reads a barcode attached to a cylinder, and indicates information (barcode information) indicated by the read barcode. ) To the receiving means 12.

The IC reader reads various information stored in the IC chip.
An IC chip is a packaged semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) and, when used, is embedded in, for example, an IC tag.

The IC tag has, for example, an IC chip and an antenna inside a card-like main body, and various information is stored in the IC chip. The IC tag is kept from being removed from the cylinder by, for example, tying it to the cylinder using a thin metal wire or the like.
When the code information is stored using the IC tag as described above, the IC reader reads various information stored in the IC chip via the antenna.

Further, an IC reader / writer (not shown) may be provided instead of the IC reader. As a result, it is possible not only to read information from the IC chip of the IC tag but also to write information to the IC chip.
Further, the barcode reader, the IC reader, and the IC reader / writer can be externally connected from the main body of the first weighing machine 10. And like the main body of the 1st weighing machine 10, it is prepared in the place where the filling operation to the cylinder is performed in the LP gas filling station.

Further, instead of the barcode or the IC tag, the container individual information or the like can be represented by, for example, marking.
The engraving represents numbers, letters, symbols, etc. by cutting or engraving the surface of the cylinder.
When the container individual information or the like is represented by a stamp, the person in charge of the LP gas filling station inputs information represented by the stamp from a filling station terminal 50 (described later).

The receiving means 12 receives the code information sent from the code reading means 11. The received code information is sent to and stored in the storage means 14.
The weighing means 13 measures the weight of the entire cylinder before filling with LPG (weight before filling) and the weight of the whole cylinder after filling with LPG (weight after filling). The pre-fill weight and post-fill weight obtained by these measurements are sent to and stored in the storage means 14 as pre-fill weight information and post-fill weight information, respectively.

  The storage means 14 includes code information (container information, fuel quality information, filling number information, etc.) read by the code reading means 11, weight information before filling from the weighing means 13, weight information after filling, and information from the computing means 15. The filling amount information is stored.

The storage unit 14 stores a first weighing machine management table.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first weighing machine management table includes container individual information (a1), filling number information (b1), fuel quality information (c1), weight information before filling (d1), and after filling. It has weight information (e1) and filling amount information (f1) as data items.
Since the individual container information, filling number information, fuel quality information, pre-filling weight information, and post-filling weight information have already been described, the description thereof is omitted here.

  The filling amount information is information indicating the filling weight of the LPG filled in the cylinder at the LP gas filling station. That is, the filling amount information can be calculated as a difference obtained by subtracting the weight information before filling from the weight information after filling. The calculation of the filling amount information is executed by the calculation means 15. These calculations can be executed by the calculation means 43a of the management device 40a instead of the calculation means 15.

The calculating means 15 calculates filling amount information. As a calculation method, for example, the weight information before filling and the weight information after filling are taken out from the storage means 14, the weight information before filling is subtracted from the taken weight information after filling, and the difference obtained by this subtraction is used as the filling amount. Information. This filling amount information is sent to the storage means 14 and stored therein.
Thus, since the calculation means 15 obtains the filling amount information, it has a function as a “filling amount acquisition means”.

  The transmission means 16 transmits code information (container individual information, fuel quality information, filling number information, etc.), pre-filling weight information, post-filling weight information, and filling amount information to the management device 40a. At this time, the weight information before filling, the weight information after filling, and the filling amount information are transmitted in association with the container individual information and the filling number information.

In the present embodiment, three pieces of information, that is, weight information before filling, weight information after filling, and filling amount information are transmitted from the first weighing machine 10 to the management device 40a, but all three are transmitted. For example, only the weight information before filling and the weight information after filling may be transmitted, or only one filling amount information may be transmitted. When two pieces of weight information before filling and weight information after filling are transmitted, filling amount information is calculated by the management device 40a based on the weight information before filling and the weight information after filling.
The control means 17 controls various functions of the first weighing machine 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second weighing machine (container weighing machine) 20 is provided in the LP gas filling station, and the used cylinder after the LPG is supplied by the fuel cell 30a is used for the entire cylinder. Installed for weighing.
As shown in FIG. 5, the second weighing machine 20 includes a code reading unit 21, a receiving unit 22, a weighing unit 23, a storage unit 24, a transmission unit 25, and a control unit 26. .

The code reading means 21 reads the code attached to the cylinder and sends information (code information) indicated by the read code to the receiving means 22.
The code includes a barcode and a data code.
The code information includes, for example, container individual information and filling number information.

Specific examples of the code reading means 21 include, for example, a barcode reader (not shown) that reads a barcode, an IC reader (not shown) that reads data from an IC chip, and the like. Note that an IC reader / writer (not shown) may be provided instead of the IC reader.
The code reading means 21 can be connected externally from the main body of the second weighing machine 20. And like the main body of the 2nd weighing machine 20, it is prepared in the place where the measurement work of the cylinder returned to the LP gas filling place is performed.

The receiving unit 22 receives the code information sent from the code reading unit 21. The received code information is sent to the storage means 24 and stored therein.
The measuring means 23 measures the total weight (post-use weight) of the cylinder after the fuel is used in the fuel cell 30a (the cylinder that has been returned). The post-use weight obtained by this weighing is sent to and stored in the storage means 24 as post-use weight information.
Thus, the weighing means 23 has a function as “post-use weight information acquisition means” because it obtains post-use weight information.

The storage unit 24 stores the code information read by the code reading unit 21 and the post-use weight information from the weighing unit 23.
The storage unit 24 stores a second weighing machine management table.
As shown in FIG. 6, the second weighing machine management table includes container individual information (a2), filling count information (b2), fuel quality information (c2), and post-use weight information (g2) as data items. Have as.
Note that the container individual information, filling number information, fuel quality information, and post-use weight information have already been described, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

The transmission means 25 transmits container individual information, filling count information, fuel quality information, post-use weight information, and the like to the management device 40a. At this time, fuel quality information and post-use weight information are transmitted in association with container individual information and filling number information.
Since the fuel quality information has already been transmitted from the first weighing machine 10, it may be transmitted from the second weighing machine 20 or may not be transmitted.
The control unit 26 controls various functions of the second weighing machine 20.

  The fuel cell 30a is installed in the premises for each customer. As shown in FIG. 7, a gas meter 31, a desulfurizer 32, a reformer 33, a stack 34, a code reading means 35, NCU (Network Control Unit) 36a.

The gas meter 31 is for detecting the supply amount (use amount, consumption amount (meter reading value)) of LPG supplied from the cylinder, and has a function of detecting and integrating the LP gas use amount. The amount of LP gas used (measured consumption) is output to the NCU 36a.
The measurement consumption is output when the cylinder is switched to return the used cylinder. Thereby, the output measurement consumption amount becomes the LPG consumption amount for the used cylinder.
The gas meter 31 has a function as a “consumption amount acquisition unit” because the supply amount of LPG is acquired as a consumption amount.

The desulfurizer 32 removes sulfur from the LPG supplied from the cylinder.
The reformer 33 reforms LPG and takes out hydrogen.
The stack 34 generates electricity by electrochemically reacting hydrogen from the reformer 33 and oxygen in the air.

The code reading means 35 is connected to the NCU 36a. When the code attached to the cylinder is read, information (code information) indicated by the read code is sent to the NCU 36a.
The code information includes, for example, container individual information, filling number information, fuel quality information, and the like.
The code reading unit 35 functions as an “information acquisition unit” because it acquires encoded container individual information and the like.
Specific examples of the code reading means 35 include a bar code reader (not shown), an IC reader (not shown), an IC reader / writer (not shown), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 7, the NCU 36a includes a reception unit 36a-1, a storage unit 36a-2, a control unit 36a-3, and a transmission unit 36a-4.
The receiving unit 36 a-1 receives code information from the code reading unit 35. The received code information is sent to and stored in the storage means 36a-2.

The storage unit 36a-2 stores the code information from the reception unit 36a-1.
In addition, the storage unit 36a-2 stores the LP gas usage amount from the control unit 36a-3 as measurement consumption information.
And the memory | storage means 36a-2 memorize | stores these code information and measurement consumption information as a fuel cell management table, as shown in FIG.
Further, the storage unit 36a-2 stores information (fuel cell individual information) for specifying the fuel cell 30a.
The individual fuel cell information is composed of one or more characters, numbers, symbols, etc., and is information for identifying the fuel cell by assigning different information for each fuel cell.

When the metering consumption is received from the gas meter 31, the control unit 36a-3 sends the metering consumption information to the storage unit 36a-2 for storage.
Further, the control means 36a-3 receives code information (including container individual information, filling number information, fuel quality information), fuel cell individual information from the storage means 36a-2 based on an operation with an input means (not shown). Then, each of the metered consumption information is taken out and sent to the transmission means 36a-4.

  The transmission unit 36a-4 transmits each piece of information sent from the control unit 36a-3 to the management device 40a via a communication line (not shown). At this time, the fuel cell individual information and the metered consumption information are transmitted in association with the container individual information and the filling number information.

Note that the NCU 36a can include input means (not shown) as described above. The input means is composed of a plurality of keys, and can be operated by a store worker to execute a predetermined process.
The predetermined process includes, for example, a process of transmitting container individual information and the like to the management device 40a, a process of inputting container individual information and the like.

The management device 40a is a computer that operates under program control, and is connected to the first weighing machine 10, the second weighing machine 20, and the fuel cell 30a by any suitable communication method. ing.
The installation place of the management device 40a may be, for example, in an LP gas filling station, or in another facility or building. It can also be provided inside the first weighing machine 10, inside the second weighing machine 20, and inside the fuel cell 30a. That is, it can be installed in any place.

As shown in FIG. 9, the management device 40a includes a storage unit 41a, a communication unit 42a, a calculation unit 43a, a control unit 44a, an input unit 45a, and a display unit 46a.
The storage means 41a stores a collection information table, a container total table, and a fuel cell total table.

As shown in FIG. 10, the collection information table includes container individual information (a), filling number information (b), fuel quality information (c), weight information before filling (d), weight information after filling ( e), filling amount information (f), post-charging sulfur concentration information (g), fuel cell individual information (h), metered consumption information (i), post-use weight information (j), and calculation Consumption information (k), remaining amount information (l), and residual sulfur concentration information (m) are included as data items.
The fuel quality information, the pre-filling weight information, the post-filling weight information, the fuel cell individual information, the metered consumption information, and the post-use weight information have already been described, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

The container individual information and the filling number information are key information for associating data groups in the same cycle in the collection information table (data groups collected in one line in the collection information table).
For example, container individual information and filling number information in the information group (container individual information, filling number information, fuel quality information, weight information before filling, weight information after filling) sent from the first weighing machine 10; When the container individual information and the filling number information in the information group (container individual information, filling number information, post-use weight information) sent from the two measuring machines 20 are the same, the data group in the same cycle The information is collected and collected in the collection information table.

Note that one cycle refers to the work of delivering an LPG-filled cylinder to a customer, starting from the work of filling the cylinder with LPG (including weighing of the weight before filling) for one cylinder. This refers to a series of operations from returning the cylinder after the LPG is used in the battery 30a to the LP gas filling station and measuring the weight of the returned cylinder after use.
In one cycle, various information is transmitted from the first weighing machine 10 to the management device 40a, and various information is transmitted from the fuel cell 30a to the management device 40a. Various information is transmitted to 40a. Thereafter, in the management device 40a, in order to collect the information sent from each of the first measuring device 10, the fuel cell 30a, and the second measuring device 20 as information in one cycle for one cylinder, Information and filling count information are stored and managed as an association collection information table using keys.

The filling amount information is information indicating the weight of the LPG filled in the cylinder at the LP gas filling station. The filling amount information transmitted from the first weighing machine 10 can be used as the filling amount information. Or the filling amount information calculated by the calculating means 43a of the management apparatus 40a can also be used.
The post-filling sulfur concentration information is information indicating the sulfur concentration of LPG in the cylinder for the cylinder filled with LPG.
The calculated consumption information is information indicating the weight of the LPG consumed by the fuel cell 30a.
Note that the calculated consumption information and the measured consumption information are the same in terms of LPG consumption, and therefore are the same or approximate values. For this reason, one of the calculated consumption information and the measured consumption information can be omitted.

The remaining amount information is information indicating the weight of LPG remaining in the used cylinder.
The residual sulfur concentration information is information indicating the sulfur concentration of LPG remaining in the cylinder after use.
Among the information listed in these collection information tables, the filling amount information, the post-charging sulfur concentration information, the calculated consumption amount information, the remaining amount information, and the remaining sulfur concentration information are calculated by the calculation means 43a. The calculation method of the information will be described in detail in the description of the calculation means 43a.

As shown in FIG. 11, the container total table is a table that collectively represents a data group having the same container individual information. That is, the container total table is a table obtained by rearranging (sorting) the information shown in FIG. 10 using the container individual information as a key.
By creating this total table for each container, it is possible to calculate post-filling sulfur concentration information. That is, the remaining amount information and the remaining sulfur concentration information in the previous cycle necessary for calculating the post-charging sulfur concentration information can be obtained.
In addition, the data item which a container total table has can also be made the same as the data item which the collection information table shown in FIG. 10 has, and can also differ. For example, only information necessary for calculating post-filling sulfur concentration information can be configured as a container-by-container totaling table.

As shown in FIG. 12, the fuel cell-by-fuel cell aggregation table is a table that collectively represents data groups having the same fuel cell individual information. That is, the fuel cell total table is a table obtained by rearranging (sorting) the information shown in FIG. 10 using the fuel cell individual information as a key.
However, the fuel cell-by-fuel cell table has sulfur content removal estimation amount information in addition to the data items shown in FIG.
The sulfur content removal estimated amount information is information indicating the weight of the sulfur content adsorbed by the desulfurizer 32 of the fuel cell 30a by the LPG supplied from one cylinder.
This estimated sulfur content removal amount information is calculated by the calculation means 43a of the management device 40a. The method for calculating the sulfur content removal estimated amount information will be described in detail in the description of the calculation means 43a.

Further, the fuel cell-by-fuel cell aggregation table can represent the accumulated sulfur content information.
The adsorbed sulfur content cumulative information is information indicating the cumulative sulfur content removal estimated amount information.
The accumulated sulfur content information is compared with an adsorbed sulfur content upper limit value indicating a limit value of the weight of the sulfur content that can be adsorbed by the desulfurizer 32. Thereby, the replacement time of the desulfurizer 32 can be predicted and determined.
This adsorbed sulfur content cumulative information is calculated by the calculation means 43a of the management device 40a.

The communication means 42a receives container individual information, filling count information, fuel quality information, pre-filling weight information, post-filling weight information, and filling amount information from the first weighing machine 10. Further, the communication means 42a receives container individual information, filling count information, fuel quality information, and post-use weight information from the second weighing machine 20. Further, the communication means 42a receives container individual information, filling count information, fuel quality information, fuel cell individual information, and metered consumption information from the fuel cell 30a. The received information is sent to and stored in the storage means 41a.
The communication means 42a receives container individual information, fuel quality information, filling amount information, and the like from the first weighing machine 10, receives container individual information, weighing consumption information, and the like from the fuel cell 30a, and receives the second weighing machine 20 Since it receives post-use weight information and the like, it has a function as a “reception means”.

The calculating means 43a calculates filling amount information, post-charging sulfur concentration information, calculated consumption amount information, remaining amount information, residual sulfur concentration information, sulfur content removal estimated amount information, and adsorbed sulfur content accumulated information.
The filling amount information is a difference obtained by subtracting the weight information before filling from the weight information after filling.
The post-filling sulfur concentration information is obtained by multiplying the remaining amount of LPG in the previous cycle by the residual sulfur concentration information, and the product obtained by multiplying the fuel quality information in the current cycle by the filling amount information. Is the sum obtained by adding
The calculated consumption information is a difference obtained by subtracting post-use weight information from post-fill weight information.

As the remaining amount information, a difference obtained by subtracting the weight indicated by the metered consumption information (or the weight indicated by the calculated consumption information) from the internal capacity of the cylinder can be used.
Generally, the internal capacity of the cylinder is 50 kg, 20 kg, 10 kg, etc., and the cylinder has a fixed value.
Here, for example, when the internal capacity of the cylinder is 50 kg and the weight indicated by the measurement consumption information is 45 kg, the remaining amount is 5 kg.

The residual sulfur concentration information can be obtained based on the relationship of the graph shown in FIG.
For example, when the sulfur concentration at the time of filling (initial sulfur concentration) is 4 ppm and the amount of LPG used is 70% (remaining amount is 30%), the sulfur concentration is about 3 ppm. On the other hand, when the initial sulfur concentration is 4 ppm and the amount of LPG used is 95% (remaining amount is 5%), the sulfur concentration is about 30 ppm.

The sulfur content removal estimated amount information is a product obtained by multiplying the post-charging sulfur concentration information by the metered consumption information (or calculated consumption information).
The adsorbed sulfur content cumulative information is a cumulative value of the sulfur content removal estimated amount information for one fuel cell 30a.

  The control unit 44a can be configured by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and by reading and executing the program stored in the storage unit 41a, the control unit 44a sends a command to each component of the management device 40a, or by itself Operates and executes and controls various functions of the management device 40a.

Furthermore, the control means 44a compares the adsorption sulfur content accumulated information with the adsorption sulfur content upper limit value. Thereby, the replacement time of the desulfurizer 32 is predicted and determined.
Specifically, the upper limit value of the adsorbed sulfur content can be about 3% of the weight of the desulfurizing agent. For example, when the weight of the desulfurizing agent is 100 g, the adsorbed sulfur content upper limit is 3 g.
The calculation means 43a and the control means 44a function as “replacement time determination means” because they determine the replacement time of the desulfurizer 32 and perform calculation processing of information for this determination.

The management device 40a can include an input unit 45a configured with a plurality of keys, a display unit 46a configured with a liquid crystal display, for example.
As a result, various information can be displayed on the screen of the display means 46a by operating the input means 45a.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, the desulfurizer replacement management system 1a can be provided with a filling station terminal 50.
The filling station terminal 50 is provided in the LP gas filling station and is operated by an operator of the LP gas filling station.
The filling station terminal 50 is used when the worker inputs the container individual information represented by the stamp when the container individual information is represented by a stamp, for example.

However, even if it is other than the stamp, the container individual information can be input from the filling station terminal 50 when the container individual information is expressed in a readable manner by the worker or is available.
Further, information other than the container individual information, for example, filling number information, fuel quality information, pre-filling weight information, post-filling weight information, filling amount information, post-use weight information, calculated consumption amount information, and the like can be input.

Next, a processing procedure of the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the management apparatus related to the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present embodiment.

  When the LPG is filled with LPG at the place where the first weighing machine 10 is installed in the LP gas filling station, the barcode attached to the cylinder is read by the filling operator using the barcode reader 11. Various information (including individual container information, filling number information, and fuel quality information) indicated by the read barcode is sent from the barcode reader 11 to the receiving means 12 of the first weighing machine 10 and stored in the storage means 13. Is done.

Next, the weight of the cylinder before being filled with LPG is measured by the weighing means 14 of the first weighing machine 10, and this measured value is stored in the storage means 13 as weight information before filling.
Subsequently, when the cylinder is filled with LPG, the weight of the filled cylinder is measured by the weighing means 14 and the measured value is stored in the storage means 13 as post-filling weight information.

Each piece of information stored in the storage unit 13 is transmitted to the management device 40a by the transmission unit 16.
Container means information, filling count information, fuel quality information, pre-filling weight information, and post-filling weight information are received (acquired) by the communication means 42a of the management device 40a (weigher-related information acquisition process, step 10). Each received information is stored in the storage means 41 as a collection information table (storage processing).
When the filling amount information is calculated by the calculation means 15 of the first weighing machine 10, the management device 40a receives (acquires) the filling amount information (filling amount information acquisition process), and stores the collection information table. It can memorize | store in the memory | storage means 41a as information to comprise.

The cylinder filled with LPG is delivered by an employee of a store and attached to a fuel cell 30a of a customer. During operation of the fuel cell 30a, LPG is supplied from the cylinder.
When a predetermined amount of LPG is consumed, a used cylinder is collected by a store employee. Here, when the cylinder is switched, the amount of gas used is sent from the gas meter 31 to the NCU 36a. This amount of gas used is sent to the storage means 36a-2 via the control means 36a-3 of the NCU 36a and stored as metered consumption information.

Further, the bar code attached to the used cylinder is read by the employee of the store using the bar code reader 35. The read barcode information (including container individual information and filling count information) is sent to and stored in the storage means 36a-2 via the receiving means 36a-1 of the NCU 36a.
Then, by the operation of the input means, the container means information, the filling frequency information, the fuel cell individual information, and the metered consumption information are taken out from the storage means 36a-2 by the control means 36a-3, and sent via the transmission means 36a-4. And transmitted to the management device 40a.
As a result, the container individual information, the filling frequency information, the fuel cell individual information, and the metered consumption information are received (acquired) by the communication means 42a of the management device 40a (fuel cell related information acquisition process, step 11). Each received information (fuel cell related information) is the weighing machine related information (container individual information, filling number information, fuel quality information, pre-filling weight information, post-filling weight information) already received from the first weighing machine 10. The container individual information and the filling number information are associated with each other as a key and stored in the storage means 41a as a collection information table (storage process).

Used cylinders collected from each customer are returned to the LP gas filling station.
The code attached to the returned cylinder is read by the operator using the code reading means 21 at the installation site of the second weighing machine 20 in the LP gas filling station. Various information (including container individual information and filling number information) indicated by the read code is sent from the code reading means 21 to the receiving means 22 of the second weighing machine 20 and stored in the storage means 23.

Next, the weighing unit 24 of the second weighing machine 20 weighs the returned cylinder, and the measured value is stored in the storage unit 23 as post-use weight information.
The information stored in the storage unit 23 of the second weighing machine 20 is transmitted to the management device 40a by the transmission unit 25.
Thereby, the container individual information, the filling number information, and the post-use weight information are received (acquired) by the communication means 42a of the management device 40a (post-use weight information acquisition process, step 12). The received container individual information, filling count information, and post-use weight information are stored in the storage means 41a as information constituting the collection information table.

  The cylinder whose post-use weight is weighed by the second weighing machine 20 is then filled with LPG at the setting location of the first weighing machine 10. At this time, the filling number information is updated (1 is added to the filling number information of the previous cycle). Further, the fuel quality information is updated according to the quality of the filled LPG.

Subsequently, the calculation means 43a of the management device 40a refers to the collection information table, and calculates filling amount information, post-charging sulfur concentration information, calculated consumption amount information, remaining amount information, and remaining sulfur concentration information (step). 13).
Here, when calculating post-filling sulfur concentration information, a container-by-container totaling table shown in FIG. 11 is created and referred to.
The calculated consumption information can be obtained as a difference obtained by subtracting the post-use weight information from the post-fill weight information (consumption calculation processing), but when the measured consumption information is acquired from the fuel cell 30a. The execution of this consumption calculation process is not required.
Moreover, when the filling amount information is transmitted from the first weighing machine 10, no calculation is required.

Furthermore, each piece of information in the collection information table shown in FIG. 10 is sorted using the fuel cell individual information as a key, and a total table for each fuel cell as shown in FIG. 12 is created (step 14).
Based on the total table for each fuel cell, the sulfur content removal estimated amount information is calculated by the computing means 43a (step 15).
Then, the accumulated sulfur content information obtained by accumulating the estimated sulfur content removal amount information is calculated (step 16) and compared with the upper limit value of the adsorbed sulfur content by the control means 44 to determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer 32. (Step 17).

  In the present embodiment, since the processing from step 13 to step 17 is an arithmetic processing of the acquired and stored information, and the replacement result of the desulfurizer is determined using the processing result. This is called “exchange time determination processing”.

  As described above, according to the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present embodiment, since the replacement time is determined using the fuel quality information and the consumption information, the sulfur content adsorbed on the desulfurizer can be estimated, It is possible to know how far the desulfurizer performance decline has progressed. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately determine the replacement timing of the desulfurizer.

[Second embodiment of desulfurizer replacement management system and desulfurizer replacement management method]
Next, a second embodiment of the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of the desulfurizer replacement management system of the present embodiment.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that only the fuel consumption is used as a method for determining the replacement timing of the desulfurizer. That is, in the first embodiment, the sulfur concentration of the fuel is calculated from the fuel consumption, and the weight of sulfur adsorbed by the desulfurizer is estimated from this sulfur concentration, while the replacement time of the desulfurizer is determined. In this embodiment, the sulfur concentration of the fuel, the amount of sulfur adsorbed, etc. are not calculated, but the replacement timing of the desulfurizer is determined from the fuel consumption. Other components are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Therefore, in FIG. 15, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 15, the desulfurizer replacement management system 1b includes a fuel cell 30b and a management device 40b.
Here, as shown in FIG. 16, the fuel cell 30b has a gas meter 31, a desulfurizer 32, a reformer 33, a stack 34, and an NCU 36b.
The gas meter 31 detects the supply amount (use amount, consumption amount (meter reading value)) of the LPG supplied from the cylinder and sends it to the NCU 36b.

As shown in the figure, the NCU 36b includes a storage unit 36b-2, a control unit 36b-3, and a communication unit 36b-4.
The storage unit 36b-2 stores the LP gas usage amount from the control unit 36b-3 as metering consumption information.

When the metering consumption is received from the gas meter 31, the control unit 36b-3 sends the metering consumption information to the storage unit 36b-2 and stores it as the metering consumption information.
Further, the control means 36b-3 takes out the metered consumption information from the storage means 36b-2 based on the operation with the input means (not shown) and sends it to the communication means 36b-4.
The communication unit 36b-4 transmits the measurement consumption information sent from the control unit 36b-3 to the management device 40b via a communication line (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 17, the management device 40b includes a storage unit 41b, a communication unit 42b, a calculation unit 43b, a control unit 44b, an input unit 45b, and a display unit 46b.
The memory | storage means 41b memorize | stores the measurement consumption information transmitted from the fuel cell 30b, and a fuel consumption-adsorption sulfur content accumulation amount corresponding | compatible graph.

As shown in FIG. 18, the fuel consumption-adsorbed sulfur cumulative amount correspondence graph shows the LPG consumption (that is, the weight of LPG passing through the desulfurizer 32) and the adsorption when the LPG passes through the desulfurizer 32. It is a graph which shows the relationship with the weight of the sulfur content to be performed.
The slope of this graph varies depending on the sulfur concentration of LPG. For example, when the sulfur concentration is high, the slope becomes steep, and when it is thin, it becomes gentle.
The fuel consumption-adsorbed sulfur cumulative amount correspondence graph shows the upper limit value of the adsorbed sulfur content. Thereby, it can be known how much LPG is consumed and the desulfurizer 32 must be replaced. Therefore, the replacement time of the desulfurizer 32 can be determined.
Note that the fuel consumption-adsorbed sulfur cumulative amount correspondence graph shown in FIG. 18 is calculated assuming that the sulfur concentration of LPG is 4 ppm, the weight of the desulfurizing agent is 100 g, and the upper limit value of the adsorbed sulfur content is 3 g.

The communication means 42b receives the metered consumption information from the fuel cell 30b. The received measurement consumption information is sent to and stored in the storage means 41b.
When the calculation means 43b retrieves the metered consumption information from the storage means 41b, the calculation means 43b refers to the fuel consumption-adsorbed sulfur cumulative amount correspondence graph to determine the adsorbed sulfur cumulative amount.
The control means 43b compares the accumulated amount of adsorbed sulfur with the adsorbed sulfur upper limit. Thereby, the replacement time of the desulfurizer 32 is predicted and determined.

Next, a processing procedure of the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the management apparatus related to the desulfurizer replacement management method.
As shown in the figure, the metered consumption information is received (acquired) from the fuel cell 30b by the communication means 42b of the management device 40b (step 20). The received measurement consumption information is sent to and stored in the storage means 41b.

Thereafter, the metering consumption amount information is extracted from the storage unit 41b by the calculation unit 43b, and the accumulated adsorption amount is calculated with reference to the fuel consumption-adsorbed sulfur accumulation amount correspondence graph (step 21).
Subsequently, the control unit 43b compares the accumulated amount of adsorbed sulfur and the upper limit of adsorbed sulfur, and predicts / determines the replacement time of the desulfurizer 32 (step 22).

  As described above, according to the desulfurizer replacement management method of the present embodiment, the sulfur content adsorbed in the desulfurizer is roughly calculated by using the LPG consumption measured by the gas meter of the fuel cell. Can do. Thereby, the replacement | exchange time of a desulfurizer can be judged.

[Desulfurizer replacement management program]
Next, the desulfurizer replacement management program will be described.
The desulfurizer replacement management function (function for executing the desulfurizer replacement management method) of the computer (first weighing machine, second weighing machine, management device, NCU (fuel cell)) in the above embodiment is a storage unit ( For example, it is realized by a desulfurizer replacement management program stored in a ROM or a hard disk.

The desulfurizer replacement management program is read by a computer control means (such as a CPU) to send instructions to each component of the computer and perform predetermined processing such as information acquisition processing, information storage processing, and information processing of the first weighing machine. Transmission / reception process, information acquisition process of second weighing machine, information storage process, information transmission / reception process, information transmission / reception process of management device, information storage process, information calculation process, information sort process, desulfurizer replacement time determination process, NCU information acquisition Processing, information storage processing, information transmission / reception processing, etc. are performed.
As a result, the desulfurizer replacement management function is a software desulfurizer replacement management program and hardware resources of a computer (first metering machine, second metering machine, management device, NCU (fuel cell)). Is realized through collaboration.

Note that the desulfurizer replacement management program for realizing the desulfurizer replacement management function is stored in a computer ROM, hard disk, etc., as well as in a computer-readable recording medium such as an external storage device and a portable recording medium. Can be stored.
The external storage device refers to a memory expansion device that incorporates a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and is externally connected to each device (for example, a management device). On the other hand, the portable recording medium is a recording medium that can be mounted on a recording medium driving device (drive device) and is portable, and refers to, for example, a flexible disk, a memory card, a magneto-optical disk, and the like.

The program recorded on the recording medium is loaded into the RAM of the computer and executed by the CPU (control means). By this execution, each function of the above-described computer (first weighing machine, second weighing machine, management device, NCU (fuel cell)) of the present embodiment is realized.
Furthermore, when the desulfurizer replacement management program is loaded by a computer, the desulfurizer replacement management program held by another computer can be downloaded to its own RAM or external storage device using a communication line. The downloaded desulfurizer replacement management program is also executed by the CPU to realize the desulfurizer replacement management function of the computer (first metering machine, second metering machine, management device, NCU (fuel cell)) of this embodiment. .

The preferred embodiments of the desulfurizer replacement management method and desulfurizer replacement management program of the present invention have been described above. However, the desulfurizer replacement management method and desulfurizer replacement management program according to the present invention are limited only to the above-described embodiments. It goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the first embodiment described above, the desulfurizer replacement management system is configured to include only one each of the first metering machine, the second metering machine, the fuel cell, and the management device. Is not limited to one each, and can be provided with two or more.
Similarly, in the second embodiment described above, the desulfurizer replacement management system is configured to include only one fuel cell and one management device, but these fuel cells and the like are not limited to one each. Two or more can be provided.

Further, the management device is configured to be independent from the first weighing machine and the second weighing machine, but is not limited to this. For example, the first weighing machine and the second weighing machine have the functions of the management device. It can also be.
Furthermore, in 1st embodiment mentioned above, it is set as the structure each provided with the 1st measuring machine for measuring the weight of the cylinder after filling, and the 2nd measuring machine for measuring the weight of the cylinder after use. However, the first weighing machine and the second weighing machine are not limited to the configuration separately provided, and the weight of the cylinder after filling and the weight of the cylinder after use are measured by one weighing machine. You can also.
In the above-described embodiment, LPG is described as an example of fuel (raw material for hydrogen production). However, the fuel is not limited to LPG, and may be natural gas, petroleum, methanol, coal, or the like. Can do.

  Since the present invention relates to a method and a program for determining the replacement timing of a desulfurizer, the present invention can be used for an apparatus and equipment for managing the replacement timing of a desulfurizer.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the desulfurizer replacement | exchange management system in 1st embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a state diagram showing a state in which the desulfurizer replacement management system shown in FIG. 1 is installed in an LP gas filling station or the like. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a 1st weighing machine. It is a graph which shows the structure of a 1st weighing machine management table. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a 2nd weighing machine. It is a graph which shows the structure of a 2nd weighing machine management table. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fuel cell in 1st embodiment. It is a chart which shows the composition of a fuel cell management table. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a management apparatus. It is a graph which shows the structure of a collection information table. It is a graph which shows the structure of the total table according to container. It is a graph which shows the structure of the total table according to fuel cell. It is a block diagram which shows the other structure of the desulfurizer replacement | exchange management system in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the management apparatus in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the desulfurizer replacement | exchange management system in 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fuel cell in 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the management apparatus in 2nd embodiment. It is a graph which shows the relationship between LPG consumption and adsorption | suction sulfur weight. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the management apparatus in 2nd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of the filling of fuel to a cylinder, delivery, exchange, and return. It is a transition graph which shows the relationship between cylinder usage-amount and sulfur concentration.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a, 1b Desulfurizer exchange management system 10 1st weighing machine 11 Code reading means 12 Receiving means 13 Weighing means 14 Storage means 15 Calculation means 16 Transmission means 17 Control means 20 Second weighing machine 21 Code reading means 22 Receiving means 23 Measuring means 24 storage means 25 transmission means 26 control means 30a, 30b fuel cell 31 gas meter 35 code reading means 36a, 36b NCU
36a-1 Receiving means 36a-2, 36b-2 Storage means 36a-3, 36b-3 Control means 36a-4, 36b-4 Communication means 40a, 40b Management device 41a, 41b Storage means 42a, 42b Communication means 43a, 43b Calculation means 44a, 44b Control means 50 Filling station terminal

Claims (15)

A fuel installed in a fuel filling station, a filling container weighing machine that weighs the weight of a container filled with fuel, and a desulfurizer that is installed on the customer's premises and that removes sulfur from the fuel. A desulfurizer replacement management system comprising a battery,
A management device for judging the replacement time of the desulfurizer based on predetermined information;
The filling container weighing machine is
Means for obtaining fuel quality information indicating the quality of the fuel;
Storage means for storing the fuel quality information;
Transmission means for transmitting the fuel quality information to the management device,
The fuel cell is
Means for obtaining consumption information of fuel supplied from the container;
Storage means for storing the consumption information;
Transmission means for transmitting the consumption information to the management device,
The management device is
Receiving means for receiving the fuel quality information from the filling container weighing machine and receiving the consumption information from the fuel cell;
Storage means for storing the fuel quality information and the consumption information;
A desulfurizer replacement management system, comprising: a replacement timing determination means for determining a replacement timing of the desulfurizer based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information. The filling container weighing machine has means for acquiring container individual information for identifying the container;
The storage means of the filling container weighing machine stores the container individual information,
The transmitting means of the filling container weighing machine transmits the container individual information to the management device,
The fuel cell has means for acquiring the container individual information;
The storage means of the fuel cell stores the container individual information,
The fuel cell transmission means transmits the container individual information to the management device,
The receiving means of the management device receives the container individual information from the filling container weighing machine, and receives the container individual information from the fuel cell,
The storage means of the management device stores the container individual information from the filling container weighing machine and the container individual information from the fuel cell,
2. The desulfurizer replacement according to claim 1, wherein the replacement time determination unit of the management device determines a replacement time of the desulfurizer based on the container individual information, the fuel quality information, and the consumption information. Management system. The filling container weighing machine has means for acquiring filling amount information of the fuel filled in the container;
The storage means of the filling container weighing machine stores the filling amount information,
The transmission means of the filling container weighing machine transmits the filling amount information to the management device,
The receiving means of the management device receives the filling amount information from the filling container weighing machine,
The storage means of the management device stores the filling amount information;
3. The desulfurization according to claim 1, wherein the replacement time determination unit of the management device determines a replacement time of the desulfurizer based on the filling amount information, the fuel quality information, and the consumption amount information. Instrument exchange management system. A post-use container weighing machine is installed in the fuel filling station and measures the weight of the container after the fuel is consumed.
After this use, the container weighing machine
Means for obtaining the weight of the container as post-use weight information;
Storage means for storing the post-use weight information;
Transmission means for transmitting the post-use weight information to the management device,
The receiving means of the management device receives the post-use weight information from the post-use container weighing machine,
The storage means of the management device stores the post-use weight information;
The replacement time determination means of the management device determines the replacement time of the desulfurizer based on the weight information after use, the fuel quality information, and the consumption information. The desulfurizer replacement management system according to the above. The fuel quality information and / or the container individual information is encoded and attached to the container,
The filling container weighing machine has a code reading means;
The code reading means reads the encoded fuel quality information and / or container individual information;
The desulfurizer replacement management system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the storage means of the filling container weighing machine stores the fuel quality information and / or the container individual information. The fuel quality information and / or the container individual information is encoded and attached to the container,
The fuel cell has code reading means,
The code reading means reads the encoded fuel quality information and / or the container individual information;
The desulfurizer replacement management system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the storage means of the fuel cell stores the fuel quality information and / or the container individual information. The code consists of a barcode,
The desulfurizer replacement management system according to claim 5, wherein the code reading unit is a bar code reading unit. The fuel quality information and / or the container individual information is stored in an IC chip,
The IC chip is attached to the container;
The desulfurizer replacement management system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the code reading means comprises an IC reader. A desulfurizer replacement management method in which a management device determines a replacement time of a desulfurizer attached to a fuel cell based on predetermined information,
Receives fuel quality information indicating the quality of the fuel and container individual information for identifying the container filled with the fuel from the filling container weighing machine installed in the fuel filling station as weighing machine related information,
From the fuel cell, the consumption information of the fuel used in the fuel cell and the container individual information specifying the container that supplied the fuel to the fuel cell are received as fuel cell related information,
Based on the container individual information, the fuel quality information and the consumption information are stored in association with each other,
A desulfurizer replacement management method, wherein the replacement timing of the desulfurizer is determined based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information. The process of receiving the weighing machine related information includes:
The desulfurizer replacement management method according to claim 9, wherein the management device includes a process of receiving a sulfur concentration of the fuel as the fuel quality information from the filling container weighing machine. The process of receiving the fuel cell related information includes:
The desulfurizer replacement management according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the management device includes a process of receiving, from the fuel cell, a gas usage measured by a gas meter of the fuel cell as the consumption information. Method. The management device is
From the filling container weighing machine, the total weight of the fuel-filled container is received as weight information after filling,
From the post-use container weighing machine, the total weight of the container after the fuel has been used in the fuel cell is received as post-use weight information,
The desulfurizer replacement management method according to claim 9, wherein a difference obtained by subtracting the post-use weight information from the post-fill weight information is calculated as the consumption information. The management device is
Estimating the weight of sulfur adsorbed on the desulfurizer based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information,
The desulfurizer replacement management method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the replacement timing of the desulfurizer is determined based on the estimated weight of sulfur. The management device is
Receiving filling amount information indicating the weight of fuel filled in the container from the filling container weighing machine;
Calculate the weight of the fuel remaining in the container after use based on the consumption information,
Based on the calculated remaining amount of fuel, the sulfur concentration of the fuel remaining in the container is estimated,
Based on the estimated residual fuel sulfur concentration, the filling amount information, and the fuel quality information, the sulfur concentration of the fuel in the container after filling is calculated,
Based on the calculated sulfur concentration of the fuel in the container after filling and the consumption information, the weight of sulfur adsorbed on the desulfurizer is estimated,
The desulfurizer replacement management method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the replacement timing of the desulfurizer is determined based on the estimated weight of sulfur. A desulfurizer replacement management program for causing a management device to execute a procedure for judging the replacement timing of a desulfurizer attached to a fuel cell based on predetermined information,
A procedure for receiving fuel quality information indicating the quality of the fuel and container individual information for identifying a container filled with the fuel from a filling container weighing machine installed in a fuel filling station;
A procedure for receiving from the fuel cell consumption information indicating consumption of fuel used in the fuel cell, and container individual information identifying a container that has supplied the fuel to the fuel cell;
A storage procedure for storing the fuel quality information and the consumption information in association with each other based on the container individual information;
A desulfurizer replacement management program that causes the management device to execute a replacement timing determination procedure for determining the replacement timing of the desulfurizer based on the fuel quality information and the consumption information.

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