JP2013186941A - Fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a fuel cell system which, when there occurs a gap between the power generation time and the energization time of a fuel cell system, can promptly detect the gap.SOLUTION: The fuel cell system comprises: energization time storage means 13 which stores therein an energization time Tb of a fuel cell system S; operation time storage means 12 which stores therein an operation time Ta of the fuel cell system S; over-energization time calculation means 22 which calculates an over-energization time Tx representing a time during which electricity was turned on while the fuel cell system S was not generating electricity; and alarm means 2 which issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system S. The over-energization time calculation means 22 calculates a time by which amount the energization time Tb exceeded the operation time Ta as the over-energization time Tx, and the alarm means 2 issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system S when the over-energization time Tx exceeds a predetermined first set value.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell system including a first device that deteriorates according to an energization time and a second device that deteriorates according to an operation time.

  As a technique related to maintenance of the fuel cell system, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, the replacement timing of the desulfurization agent provided in the fuel cell system is appropriately set based on system information such as the amount of power generation, the amount of exhaust heat recovery, and the amount of fuel used. Displaying is disclosed.

  However, Patent Document 1 focuses only on a desulfurization agent that deteriorates according to the power generation time (operation time) of the fuel cell system. For example, as in a gas sensor provided in the fuel cell system, according to the energization time. No information is given on the maintenance of deteriorating equipment. Therefore, of course, when a fuel cell system including a plurality of devices having different conditions for deterioration, such as a device that deteriorates depending on the operating time or a device that deteriorates depending on the energization time, appropriate maintenance is performed. It can be said that there is no disclosure regarding.

JP 2004-362856 A

  Here, a normal maintenance time in a fuel cell system including a plurality of devices having different conditions for deterioration will be described. Normally, a fuel cell system including a plurality of devices is designed so that the replacement times of the devices overlap as much as possible, assuming that the devices start to operate at the same time as energizing at the time of installation.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a maintenance time of a fuel cell system provided with a filter that deteriorates according to the power generation time and a sensor that deteriorates according to the energization time as a plurality of devices having different deterioration conditions. The horizontal axis of FIG. 5 shows the elapsed time since the fuel cell system was installed. The uppermost circle indicates the maintenance time of the fuel cell system, the second triangle indicates the filter replacement time, and the third triangle indicates the gas sensor replacement time. (Here, since the power generation time of the filter is not directly known, the system operation time is regarded as the power generation time, and the filter replacement time is determined based on the operation time). As shown in the figure, by designing the fuel cell system so that the filter and sensor replacement times overlap, an increase in the number of maintenances of the fuel cell system can be suppressed. In this example, the maintenance frequency of the fuel cell system is not increased more than the replacement frequency (four times) of the filter that is more frequently replaced than the sensor.

  However, even in a fuel cell system that is designed to substantially suppress the increase in the number of maintenance times in this way, if there is a divergence between the power generation time and the energization time, the replacement time of the device is shifted. The number of maintenance increases.

  For example, when a fuel cell system is installed in an apartment house, there is generally a blank period between the completion of the house and the tenant moving in. Therefore, the fuel cell system installed with the completion of the house It will continue to energize only until it is generated in time. FIG. 6 shows the maintenance time when using the same fuel cell system as in FIG. 5 in such a case. As shown in the figure, the replacement time of the filter and the gas sensor is different, so that the number of times the maintenance of the fuel cell system is normally four times increases to six times.

  In addition to this example, even when the system is stopped for some reason during maintenance, a divergence may occur between the power generation time and the energization time. In this case, the user cannot receive the profits obtained by the power generation by the fuel cell system.

  Therefore, it is desired to realize a fuel cell system capable of quickly detecting the deviation when a deviation occurs between the power generation time and the energization time of the fuel cell system.

  A characteristic configuration of a fuel cell system according to the present invention is a fuel cell system including a first device that deteriorates according to an energization time and a second device that deteriorates according to an operation time. An energization time storage means for storing an energization time; an operation time storage means for storing an operation time of the fuel cell system; and an over-energization time that is an energization time while the fuel cell system is not generating electricity. An energization time calculation means; and an alarm means for issuing an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system, and the over-energization time calculation means sets, as the over-energization time, a time when the energization time exceeds the operating time. In other words, the alarm means issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system when the over-energization time exceeds a predetermined first set value.

  According to this configuration, the over-energization time calculation means obtains the over-energization time based on the energization time and the operating time, and determines whether or not a deviation has occurred between the generation time and the energization time based on the over-energization time. Further, when the deviation exceeds the first set value, an alarm is issued to the outside of the fuel cell system by the alarm means, so that a fuel cell system capable of quickly detecting the deviation can be realized.

  Here, an over-energization amount storage means for storing an over-energization amount that is an integrated value of the over-energization time is provided, and the alarm means determines that the over-energization amount is equal to or less than a margin of an operation guarantee period of the first device. When the second set value is exceeded, it is preferable to issue an alarm outside the fuel cell system.

  According to this configuration, since the alarm is issued when the overcurrent amount obtained by integrating the overcurrent time exceeds the second set value that is equal to or less than the margin of the operation guarantee period, for example, a short period less than the first set value. Even when the over-energization time is repeated, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not a deviation has occurred between the power generation time and the energization time.

  The power generation amount storage means for storing the generated power amount that is an integrated value of the generated power; and the generated power amount monitoring means for monitoring the change in the generated power amount. It is preferable that the time when the generated power amount is determined not to change by the generated power amount monitoring means is obtained as the over-energization time.

  According to this configuration, even if the system is operating for some reason, but no power is generated, the over-energization time calculation means obtains the energized time while not generating power. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not there is a difference between the power generation time and the energization time.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an operation stop means for stopping the operation of the fuel cell system when the over-energization amount exceeds a margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device.

  Since the operation of the fuel cell system is forcibly stopped when the over-energization amount exceeds the margin of the operation guarantee period, the divergence between the power generation time and the energization time becomes large, and the first deteriorates according to the energization time. It can be suppressed that only the device reaches the end of its product life and the fuel cell system cannot be normally operated.

Block diagram of a fuel cell system according to the present invention The figure which shows the maintenance time of the fuel cell system which concerns on this invention The figure which shows the maintenance time of the fuel cell system which concerns on this invention The flowchart figure regarding control of the fuel cell system concerning this invention The figure which shows the maintenance time in the conventional fuel cell system The figure which shows the maintenance time in the conventional fuel cell system

1. System Overview Hereinafter, the fuel cell system S according to the present invention will be described. The fuel cell system S includes a first device I1 that deteriorates according to the energization time Tb and a second device I2 that deteriorates according to the operating time Ta. In the present embodiment, the fuel cell system S includes a gas sensor as the first device I1 and a filter as the second device I2. For this reason, the fuel cell system S is configured to determine the replacement timing of the first device I1 and the second device I2 based on the operation time Ta and the energization time Tb.

  The fuel cell system S includes a control unit 1 that controls the operation of each device provided in the fuel cell system S. The control means 1 is constructed with a microcomputer including a microprocessor and a semiconductor memory as main devices. In addition, the fuel cell system S includes an alarm unit 2 that issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system S under specific conditions, and an operation stop unit 3 that forcibly stops the operation of the fuel cell system S. Yes.

2. Control means 2-1. Calculation of Over-energization Time Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the control means 1 provided in the fuel cell system S will be described in detail. The control unit 1 includes an energization time storage unit 13 that stores the energization time Tb of the fuel cell system S, and an operation time storage unit 12 that stores the operation time Ta of the fuel cell system S. Here, the operation means a state where various devices of the fuel cell system S are operated, and the energization means a state where only various devices are operated but not operated. In addition, when it is operating, it is accompanied by power generation when it is normal, but even when it is operating, there may be a case where it does not generate power due to some abnormality, so the operating time Ta and the power generation time do not necessarily correspond.

  Further, the control means 1 includes a generated power amount storage means 11 for storing a generated power amount that is an integrated value of the power generated by the fuel cell system S, and a generated power that is an integrated value stored in the generated power amount storage means 11. And a generated power amount monitoring means 21 for monitoring a change in the amount. The generated power amount monitoring means 21 is configured to monitor the increase in the generated power amount stored in the generated power amount storage means 11 and determine whether or not the fuel cell system S is normally generating power. . Specifically, a change amount per unit time of the generated power amount stored in the generated power amount storage means 11 is obtained, and it is determined whether or not the change amount is larger than a predetermined set value. ing. Here, as the set value, if the amount of change is larger than the set value, the fuel cell system S can be regarded as generating electricity normally, and conversely, if it is less than the set value, the generated power has not changed. The fuel cell system S may be set to a value that is small enough to be regarded as not generating electricity normally.

  Further, the control means 1 includes an over-energization time calculation means 22 for obtaining an over-energization time Tx that is a time during which the fuel cell system S is energized while not generating power. The over-energization time calculation means 22 in the embodiment is configured to obtain the over-energization time Tx by the following two methods.

In the first calculation method, the over-energization time calculation unit 22 obtains the time when the energization time Tb exceeds the operating time Ta as the over-energization time Tx. That is, the over-energization time calculation unit 22 sets the difference between the energization time Tb stored in the energization time storage unit 13 and the operation time Ta stored in the operation time storage unit 12 as the over-energization time Tx. Specifically, the over-energization time Tx is Tx = | Tb−Ta |
Asking. However, when the operating time Ta is longer than the energization time Tb, it is considered that some trouble has occurred in the fuel cell system S, and thus the over-energization time Tx is not obtained.

  In the second calculation method, the over-energization time calculation unit 22 obtains an elapsed time after the generated power amount monitoring unit 21 determines that there is no change in the generated power amount as the over-energization time Tx. In the present embodiment, the over-energization time calculation unit 22 includes a counter that measures an elapsed time since the start of receiving a determination that the generated power amount does not change from the generated power amount monitoring unit 21. The over-energization time is Tx.

  As for the second calculation method, the above-described counter may be provided in the generated power amount monitoring means 21 and the counter value may be output to the over-energization time calculation means 22. In this case, the overpowering time calculation unit 22 uses the value of the counter output by the generated power amount monitoring unit 21 as it is as the overpowering time Tx.

2-2. Utilization of Over-energization Time After obtaining the over-energization time Tx by the over-energization time calculation unit 22 as described above, the control unit 1 uses the alarm unit 2, the over-energization amount storage unit 14, The reset means 23 and the operation stop means 3 are operated. Below, each means which operate | moves based on these overenergization time Tx is demonstrated.

  The fuel cell system S includes alarm means 2 that issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system S in order to notify the outside of the fuel cell system S when the fuel cell system S is not operating normally. The alarm means 2 is not limited to whether or not the user or administrator of the fuel cell system S can directly confirm the abnormality as long as it can notify the user or administrator of the fuel cell system S of the abnormality. Various means may be used. Specifically, a means for notifying by sound or light (for example, a light or a siren) or a means for transmitting an abnormality to an external device via a network may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the alarm unit 2 is configured to issue an alarm based on the over-energization time Tx obtained by the over-energization time calculation unit 22. More specifically, the alarm means 2 issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system S when the over-energization time Tx exceeds a predetermined first set value Th1. Here, the first set value Th1 is a threshold value for allowing the user or administrator of the fuel cell system S to early detect that the energization time Tb of the first device I1 in the fuel cell system S is increasing. It is preferable to set the first device I1 to be less than the margin of the operation guarantee period. For example, the first set value Th1 can be set to half the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1.

  An example of the operation method when the fuel cell system S has such a configuration is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows the maintenance timing when the installation time and the operation time of the fuel cell system S are different from each other using the fuel cell system S including the filter and the gas sensor having the same specifications as those in FIGS. Show. As in FIG. 6, the energization time Tb of the gas sensor increases at the same time as the installation, but the alarm means 2 issues an alarm when the over-energization time Tx becomes greater than the first set value Th1. For this reason, the user or administrator of the fuel cell system S can notice that the energization time Tb of the fuel cell system S is excessively increased. Here, in the example of the figure, the power supply of the fuel cell system S is temporarily stopped until the operation time of the fuel cell system S. By taking such measures, it is possible to suppress an increase in the energization time Tb.

Further, the control means 1 includes a reset means 23 for executing energization time reset processing for subtracting the over-energization time Tx obtained by the over-energization time calculation means 22 from the energization time Tb stored in the energization time storage means 13. I have. That is, the reset unit 23 is configured to rewrite the value of the energization time Tb stored in the energization time storage unit 13. Specifically, the reset means 23 uses the previously determined over-energization time Tx, Tb = Tb−Tx
A new energization time Tb is obtained. By this energization time reset process, it is possible to suppress the difference between the replacement timing of the first device I1 and the replacement timing of the second device I2. The reset means 23 executes energization time reset processing when the over-energization time Tx exceeds a predetermined set value X. Here, the set value X used by the reset means 23 is preferably a value smaller than the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1.

  With the above configuration, an alarm is issued by the alarm unit 2, and the reset unit 23 executes the energization time reset process, thereby suppressing an increase in the energization time Tb and suppressing an increase in the number of maintenance after operation. be able to. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, the setting value X is set to the same value as the first setting value Th1, thereby replacing the first device I1 and the second device I2 after operation as shown in FIG. It can be done at ideal timing.

  In addition, the control unit 1 includes an overcurrent amount storage unit 14 that stores an overcurrent amount ΣTx that is an integrated value of the overcurrent time Tx. That is, the over-energization amount storage unit 14 is configured so that the total energization time Tb subtracted by the reset unit 23 so far in the fuel cell system S can be known. In the present embodiment, the over-energization amount storage means 14 stores the integrated value of the over-energization time Tx obtained by the over-energization time calculation means 22 and used for the energization time reset process by the reset means 23 as the over-energization amount ΣTx. Is configured to do.

  In this way, it is possible to obtain the over-energization amount ΣTx, which is an integrated value of the time during which the first device I1 of the fuel cell system S has been energized beyond the value of the operating time Ta. The warning means 2 is configured to issue a warning based on this over-energization amount ΣTx. Specifically, the alarm unit 2 issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system S when the over-energization amount ΣTx exceeds a second set value Th2 that is set below the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1. . Here, the second set value Th2 can detect an abnormality in the fuel cell system S even when the fuel cell system S repeats a situation where the operation temporarily stops at an interval that does not reach the over-energization time Tx. It is a threshold for making it so that it can be set independently of the first set value Th1.

  Further, as a safety measure when the fuel cell system S is not stopped and energization is continued even when the alarm unit 2 issues an alarm as described above, the control unit 1 sets the overcurrent amount ΣTx to the first device I1. An operation stop means 3 for forcibly stopping the operation of the fuel cell system S is provided when the margin of the operation guarantee period is exceeded. That is, the operation stop means 3 is configured to prevent the over-energization amount ΣTx from being used beyond the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which the alarm unit 2 and the operation stop unit 3 operate based on the over-energization amount ΣTx. In the example of FIG. 3, the fuel cell system S assumes a case where the energization timing and the operation start timing of the fuel cell system S coincide with each other as shown in FIG.

  Here, in the example of FIG. 3, the filter is replaced during the first maintenance in the drawing, and the fuel cell system S is stopped for some reason. For this reason, at the timing of (a), the over-energization time Tx1 in the figure exceeds the first set value Th1, and the alarm means 2 issues an alarm. In this example, the fuel cell system S is restarted at the timing (a).

  Furthermore, the example of FIG. 3 shows a situation in which the fuel cell system S has stopped operating for some reason at the timing (a2). For this reason, at the timing of (b), the over-energization amount ΣTx (over-energization time Tx1 + over-energization time Tx2 in the figure) exceeds the second set value Th2, and the alarm means 2 issues an alarm.

  In this example, the fuel cell system S remains in operation even after an alarm is issued. For this reason, at the timing of (c), the over-energization amount ΣTx (over-energization time Tx1 + over-energization time Tx2 ++ over-energization time Tx3 in the figure) exceeds the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1, and the operation stop means 3 The fuel cell system S is forcibly stopped. As described above, the operation stopping unit 3 can prevent the first device I1 from operating beyond the margin of the operation guarantee period, and can prevent the operation of the fuel cell system S from causing inconvenience.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, when the over-energization amount ΣTx exceeds the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1, the reset unit 23 stops the energization time reset process. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the first device I1 from being used beyond the operation guarantee period.

2-3. Control Flow Finally, a control flow regarding the alarm unit 2 of the control unit 1 in the present embodiment is shown. First, the control means 1 checks system information necessary for obtaining the over-energization amount ΣTx (step # 1). Specifically, the generated power amount change state is checked by the generated power amount storage unit 11 and the generated power amount monitoring unit 21. That is, it is determined whether or not the amount of change in the amount of generated power per unit time is larger than the set value, and it is determined whether the fuel cell system S is generating power normally. Further, the operating time Ta stored in the operating time storage unit 12 and the energization time Tb stored in the energization time storage unit 13 are checked.

  Next, when the fuel cell system S is not normally generating power by the over-energization time calculating unit 22, the control unit 1 sets the elapsed time since it is determined that no power is generated as the over-energization time Tx. Ask. Alternatively, when the energization time Tb is greater than the operating time Ta, a value obtained by subtracting the energizing time Tb from the operating time Ta is obtained as the over-energization time Tx (step # 2).

  Here, the control means 1 determines whether or not the over-energization time Tx is greater than the first set value Th1 (step # 3). When the over-energization time Tx is larger than the first set value Th1 (step # 3: Yes), for example, the alarm means 2 may indicate, “The over-energization time Tx is long, the replacement timing of the first device I1 and the replacement of the second device I2. An alarm ("alarm 1" in the figure) is issued (step # 4). If the over-energization time Tx is shorter than the first set value Th1 (step # 3: No), step # 4 is not executed.

  Next, the control means 1 obtains the over-energization amount ΣTx by the over-energization time calculation means 22 (step # 5). Subsequently, the control means 1 determines whether or not the over-energization amount ΣTx is larger than the second set value Th2 (step # 6). When the over-energization amount ΣTx is smaller than the second set value Th2 (step # 6: No), the process returns to step # 1.

  On the other hand, if the over-energization amount ΣTx is greater than the second set value Th2 (step # 6: Yes), then the control means 1 causes the over-energization amount ΣTx to exceed the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1. (Step # 7). Here, when the over-energization amount ΣTx is smaller than the margin of the operation guarantee period of the first device I1 (step # 7: No), for example, “the over-energization time Tx is large and the operation guarantee period of the first device I1 is A warning that “there is a possibility that the margin may be lost” (“alarm 2” in the figure) is issued (step # 8), while the over-energization amount ΣTx is greater than the second set value Th2 (step # 7: Yes). The operation stop means 3 forcibly stops the fuel cell system S (step # 9).

  With the configuration as described above, the fuel cell system S according to the present invention includes a plurality of devices having different deterioration conditions such as the first device I1 and the second device I2, but the power generation time and the energization time of the fuel cell system are When a divergence occurs, the divergence can be detected quickly and the fuel cell system S can be operated more safely.

3. Other Embodiments (1) In the above embodiment, an example of the configuration in which the fuel cell system S includes the reset means 23 has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, the fuel cell system S may not be provided with the reset unit 23 and may be configured to operate only the alarm unit 2 or the operation stop unit 3 based on the over-energization time Tx.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the fuel cell system S includes the overcurrent amount storage unit 14, and the alarm unit 2 is connected to the outside of the fuel cell system S when the overcurrent amount ΣTx exceeds the second set value Th2. An example of a configuration for issuing an alarm is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, the fuel cell system S may be configured not to include the overcurrent amount storage unit 14.

(3) In the above embodiment, an example of the configuration in which the fuel cell system S includes the generated power amount storage unit 11 and the generated power amount monitoring unit 21 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, the fuel cell system S may be configured not to include the generated power amount storage unit 11 and the generated power amount monitoring unit 21.

(4) In the above embodiment, an example of the configuration in which the fuel cell system S includes the operation stopping unit 3 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, the fuel cell system S may not have the operation stop means 3.

  It can be used as a fuel cell system including a first device that deteriorates according to the energization time and a second device that deteriorates according to the operating time.

1: Control means 2: Alarm means 3: Operation stop means 11: Generated power amount storage means 12: Operating time storage means 13: Energization time storage means 14: Overcurrent supply amount storage means 21: Generated power amount monitoring means 22: Overcurrent supply Time calculation means I1: first device I2: second device S: fuel cell system Ta: operating time Tb: energization time Th1: first set value Th2: second set value Tx: over-energization time

Claims (4)

A fuel cell system including a first device that deteriorates according to an energization time and a second device that deteriorates according to an operation time,
Energization time storage means for storing the energization time of the fuel cell system;
An operation time storage means for storing an operation time of the fuel cell system;
An over-energization time calculating means for obtaining an over-energization time which is a period of time during which the fuel cell system is not generating electricity;
An alarm means for issuing an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system, and the over-energization time calculating means obtains, as the over-energization time, a time when the energization time exceeds the operating time,
A fuel cell system in which the alarm means issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system when the over-energization time exceeds a predetermined first set value. Overcurrent amount storage means for storing an overcurrent amount that is an integrated value of the overcurrent time,
2. The alarm unit according to claim 1, wherein the alarm unit issues an alarm to the outside of the fuel cell system when the over-energization amount exceeds a second set value determined to be equal to or less than a margin of an operation guarantee period of the first device. Fuel cell system. Generated power amount storage means for storing the generated power amount which is an integrated value of the generated power;
A generated power amount monitoring means for monitoring the change in the generated power amount,
3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the over-energization time calculating unit obtains, as the over-energization time, a time when the generated power amount monitoring unit determines that the generated power amount does not change.   3. The fuel cell system according to claim 2, further comprising an operation stop unit that stops the operation of the fuel cell system when the overcurrent amount exceeds a margin of an operation guarantee period of the first device.

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