JP2016192269A - Fuel cell system and operation method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to make maintenance be effective, and improve user's convenience.SOLUTION: A fuel cell system 100 comprises: a fuel cell 1; an auxiliary apparatus; a sensor for detecting an operation state of the fuel cell system 100; abnormality detection means 44 for detecting abnormality of the auxiliary apparatus and the operation state of the fuel cell system 100; use result detection means 45 for acquiring a use result value of a consumable component; a controller 47; and a display device 48. The controller 47, when the abnormality detection means 44 detects abnormality and a use result value acquired by the use result detection means 45 is equal to or smaller than a first threshold requiring replacement and equal to or larger than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold, makes the display device 48 perform display prompting replacement together with display showing an abnormal state; and, when the abnormality detection means 44 detects abnormality and the use result value is smaller than the second threshold, makes the display device 48 perform display showing an abnormal state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell system having a fuel cell, an auxiliary device, and a sensor, and an operation method thereof.

  In recent years, a wide demand is expected for a fuel cell system which is a household power generation system using a fuel cell. In addition, various technical developments have been carried out for the practical use and popularization of household fuel cell systems.

  In general, a fuel cell system uses a number of auxiliary devices such as valves, fans, pumps and heaters, and sensors such as a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor or a water level sensor. It is configured to detect whether or not the battery system is operating normally and to stop or start the operation of the fuel cell system if there is an abnormality.

  Further, the fuel cell system has a path for passing water through the fuel cell so as to cool the fuel cell that generates power, and the fuel is generated using water whose electrical conductivity is reduced through an ion exchange resin. Cool the battery.

  This ion exchange resin is generally replaced when the water purification performance is reduced. For example, the integrated flow rate of water flowing through the ion exchange resin is measured, and the integrated flow rate exceeds a predetermined threshold value. There is known a fuel cell system that displays a warning prompting replacement of an ion exchange resin in a warning section (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the fuel cell system, it is common to form a portion that needs to be replaced when the performance deteriorates, such as the above-described ion exchange resin, which becomes a raw material of the reformed gas necessary for power generation of the fuel cell. A desulfurization section that removes sulfur-based substances from city gas, an air filter that removes dust in the air, and the like are generally consumable parts that require periodic replacement.

JP 2007-141857 A

  However, in the above prior art, a warning is urged only when the integrated flow rate of water that has flowed through the ion exchange resin exceeds a predetermined threshold value and replacement is necessary, so there is still room for improvement from the viewpoint of reducing the number of maintenance. there were.

  In other words, if a fuel cell system auxiliary device or sensor breaks down just before a warning prompting the replacement of consumable parts, a maintenance person visits the user's home for maintenance of the auxiliary device or sensor and confirms the failure site. For example, a warning that prompts the user to replace the consumable parts by operating the fuel cell system may be displayed in the warning section, and the maintenance staff must visit the user's home again to replace the consumable parts. was there.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and when notifying the user of an abnormality of an auxiliary machine or a sensor, it is possible to improve maintenance efficiency by prompting replacement of consumable parts. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system that can improve user convenience.

  In order to achieve the above object, a fuel cell system of the present invention is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell that generates power using fuel gas and oxidant gas, and controls a fluid related to the operation of the fuel cell system. An auxiliary machine that is at least one of an actuator and a heater, a sensor that detects the operating state of the fuel cell system, an abnormality of the auxiliary machine, and an operating value of the fuel cell system based on an output value of the sensor An abnormality detection means for detecting at least one of the abnormalities, a usage record detection means for acquiring a use record value of a consumable part, and a controller that controls the operation of the fuel cell system and communicates with a display that displays the operation state And the controller detects the abnormality and the usage record value acquired by the usage record detection unit must be replaced with a consumable part product. If the threshold value is less than the first threshold value and greater than or equal to the second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value, a display indicating an abnormal state and a message that prompts the user to replace the consumable part product is displayed, and the abnormality detection means detects the abnormality. However, when the use record value is smaller than the second threshold value, a display indicating an abnormal state is displayed on the display.

  As a result, if the actual usage value acquired by the actual usage detection means is equal to or less than the first threshold that requires replacement of consumable parts and is equal to or greater than the second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold, an abnormality in the auxiliary machine or the fuel cell system Is detected by the abnormality detection means, the display unit displays an abnormal state and prompts the user to replace the consumable parts. By displaying the abnormal state and the replacement of the consumable parts on the display, the consumable parts can be replaced in conjunction with the maintenance for eliminating the abnormal state.

  According to the fuel cell system and its operation method of the present invention, when an abnormal state is displayed on the display, it is possible to improve the maintenance efficiency by performing a display that prompts replacement of consumable parts. Convenience can be improved.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The flowchart which shows an example of the display determination operation | movement of the fuel cell system of the embodiment The flowchart which shows an example of the display determination operation | movement of the fuel cell system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. In all the drawings, components necessary for explaining the present invention are extracted and illustrated, and other components are not illustrated. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
The fuel cell system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell that generates power using fuel gas and oxidant gas, and that controls a fluid related to the operation of the fuel cell system. And an auxiliary machine that is at least one of the heater, a sensor that detects the operating state of the fuel cell system, an abnormality of the auxiliary machine, and an abnormality in the operating state of the fuel cell system based on the output value of the sensor An abnormality detection means for detecting at least one of them, a usage record detection means for acquiring a use record value of a consumable part, a controller for controlling the operation of the fuel cell system and communicating with a display for displaying the operation state; Is provided.

  In the controller, the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality, and the use result value acquired by the use result detection means is equal to or less than a first threshold that requires replacement of a consumable part, and is smaller than the first threshold. When the value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, an indication of an abnormal state is displayed, and a message that prompts replacement is displayed on the display. When the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality and the actual use value is smaller than the second threshold value, the abnormal state It is controlled to display a display indicating the above on the display.

  Here, the “sensor for detecting the operating state in the fuel cell system” includes a flow sensor for detecting the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the fuel cell system, a temperature sensor for detecting temperature, a pressure sensor for detecting pressure, and a water level detection. At least one of a water level sensor that detects the combustion state in the burner.

  The abnormality detection means may be included in the controller or provided separately from the controller. However, when an abnormality is detected, a signal indicating that the abnormality has been detected is sent to the controller. It is configured.

  Hereinafter, an example of the fuel cell system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell system 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes at least one of a fuel cell 1, an actuator that controls a fluid related to the operation of the fuel cell system 100, and a heater. A certain auxiliary machine, a sensor for detecting the operating state of the fuel cell system 100, an abnormality detecting means 44 for detecting an abnormality of the auxiliary machine, a usage record detecting means 45 for acquiring a use record value of a consumable part, and a fuel cell system And a controller 47 for controlling 100 operations.

  In the normal operation of the fuel cell system 100, the controller 47 is configured such that when the abnormality detection unit 44 detects an abnormality, and the use result value of the consumable part detected by the use result detection unit 45 is determined in advance. When the first threshold value stored in 47 is reached, the operation of the fuel cell system 100 is stopped.

  Examples of the actuator that controls the fluid related to the operation of the fuel cell system 100 include fans such as the combustion fan 21 or a pump such as the cooling water pump 37. In addition, as the heater, when the fuel cell system 100 is started up, the heater 16 that heats the hydrogen generator 2, the heater that heats the cooling water (not shown), or hot water that exchanges heat with the cooling water is energized. The heater (not shown) etc. which heats are illustrated.

  Further, the sensors for detecting the operation state in the fuel cell system 100 include a flow sensor such as the combustion air flow meter 22, a temperature sensor such as the first temperature detector 3, and a downstream of the on-off valve 25 of the fuel gas passage 24. Pressure sensor (not shown) for detecting the pressure of the flow path on the side, water level sensor (not shown) for detecting the water level in a tank such as a cooling water tank (not shown) for storing cooling water, and flame detection A container 19 is illustrated.

  Here, the hydrogen generator 2 includes a reformer, a transformer, and a selective oxidizer (all not shown). The hydrogen generator 2 is provided with a burner 17 to which a residual fuel gas passage 26, a combustion air passage 20, and a combustion exhaust gas discharge passage 23, which will be described later, are connected.

The burner 17 has an igniter 18 and a flame detector 19. The igniter 18 is a burner 1
7 is configured to perform ignition operation of the combustion fuel and fuel air supplied to the fuel cell 7. In addition, the flame detector 19 is configured to detect a flame generated by combustion in the burner 17 and output to the controller 47 that the flame has been detected. As the flame detector 19, a flame rod or a thermocouple may be used, or a flame rod and a thermocouple may be used in combination.

  The combustion air flow path 20 is provided with a combustion fan 21 and a combustion air flow meter 22. The combustion fan 21 may be a fan such as a sirocco fan, and is configured to supply combustion air to the burner 17 via the combustion air flow path 20. The combustion air flow meter 22 is configured to detect the flow rate of combustion air flowing through the combustion air flow path 20 and output the detected flow rate of combustion air to the controller 47.

  The burner 17 is supplied with fuel gas (hereinafter referred to as residual fuel gas) or raw material that has not been used in the fuel cell 1 from the residual fuel gas passage 26 as a combustion fuel. In the burner 17, the combustion fuel and the combustion air are combusted to generate combustion exhaust gas. The generated combustion exhaust gas is heated out of the fuel cell system 100 through the combustion exhaust gas discharge passage 23 after heating the reformer and the like of the hydrogen generator 2.

  The hydrogen generator 2 is provided with a first temperature detector 3 and a heater 16. The first temperature detector 3 is configured to detect the temperature of a catalyst provided in a reformer or the like of the hydrogen generator 2 described later and output the detected temperature to the controller 47. The heater 16 is an electric heater such as a sheathed heater, and is configured to heat the hydrogen generator 2 when the fuel cell system 100 is activated.

  The reformer of the hydrogen generator 2 is connected to the downstream end of the raw material flow path 4, and the upstream end of the raw material flow path 4 is connected to a natural gas infrastructure or a raw material supply source such as an LPG cylinder. . In the middle of the raw material flow path 4, an on-off valve 6, a raw material pump 5, a raw material flow meter 8, and an on-off valve 7 are provided in this order.

  Various pumps such as a booster pump can be used as the raw material pump 5, and the raw material pump 5 is configured to supply the raw material from the raw material supply source to the reformer of the hydrogen generator 2. As the raw material supply source, a cylinder filled with the raw material and a gas infrastructure line can be used.

  Moreover, as a raw material, what contains the organic compound which uses carbon and hydrogen as a structural element, such as hydrocarbons, such as methane, ethane, and propane, can be used, for example. Moreover, what remove | eliminated the odor component from the natural gas which is the mixed gas of the above-mentioned organic compound, and LP gas can also be used.

  As the on-off valve 6 and the on-off valve 7, various valves such as an electromagnetic valve can be used, and the on-off valve 6 and on-off valve 7 are configured to flow / shut off the raw material in the raw material flow path 4. The raw material flow meter 8 is configured to detect the flow rate of the raw material flowing through the raw material flow path 4 and output the detected flow rate of the raw material to the controller 47.

  Further, the reformer of the hydrogen generator 2 is connected to the upstream end of the reforming water passage 9, and the downstream end of the reforming water passage 9 is connected to a water supply source. As a water supply source, it is possible to use a purifier that generates water purified by ion exchange resin or the like from water supplied from outside such as water supply or recovered water obtained by collecting water generated inside the fuel cell system. it can.

In the middle of the reforming water flow path 9, a reforming water pump 10 and an on-off valve 11 are provided. The reforming water pump 10 is configured to supply reforming water from a water supply source to the reformer of the hydrogen generator 2. As the on-off valve 11, various valves such as a solenoid valve can be used, and the on-off valve 11 is configured to flow / shut off water in the reformed water flow path 9.

  The reformer of the hydrogen generator 2 has a reforming catalyst. In this reformer, a hydrogen-containing gas (reformed gas) is generated by a reforming reaction between the raw material supplied from the raw material supply source and the reforming water supplied from the water supply source. The generated reformed gas is supplied to the transformer.

  The shifter of the hydrogen generator 2 has a shift catalyst. In the converter, carbon monoxide in the reformed gas supplied from the reformer is removed by a shift reaction. Then, the reformed gas from which carbon monoxide has been removed is supplied to the selective oxidizer.

  The selective oxidizer of the hydrogen generator 2 has a selective oxidation catalyst, and a selective oxidation air flow path 12 is connected to the selective oxidizer. In the middle of the selective oxidation air flow path 12, an air pump 13, a selective oxidation air flow meter 15, and an on-off valve 14 are provided in this order.

  The air pump 13 is configured to supply oxygen (air) for selective oxidation to the selective oxidizer of the hydrogen generator 2 via the selective oxidation air flow path 12. A fan such as a sirocco fan may be used as the air pump 13.

  The selective oxidation air flow meter 15 is configured to detect the flow rate of air flowing through the selective oxidation air flow path 12 and output the detected flow rate of air to the controller 47. As the on-off valve 14, various valves such as an electromagnetic valve can be used, and the on-off valve 14 is configured to flow / shut off air in the selective oxidation air channel 12.

  In the selective oxidizer of the hydrogen generator 2, carbon monoxide remaining in the reformed gas supplied from the shift converter is removed by a selective oxidation reaction. The reformed gas from which carbon monoxide has been further removed is supplied as fuel gas (reducing agent gas) to the anode flow path 1A of the fuel cell 1 through the fuel gas flow path 24.

  An upstream end of the fuel gas bypass channel 28 is connected to the middle of the fuel gas channel 24. The downstream end of the fuel gas bypass passage 28 is connected to the middle of the remaining fuel gas passage 26. The fuel gas bypass passage 28 bypasses the fuel cell 1 with the fuel gas generated by the hydrogen generator 2 or the fuel gas whose carbon monoxide has not been sufficiently reduced when the fuel cell system 100 is started up, so that the burner 17 is a flow path for supplying to 17.

  An on-off valve 29 is provided in the middle of the fuel gas bypass passage 28. As the on-off valve 29, various valves such as an electromagnetic valve can be used, and the on-off valve 29 is configured to flow / shut off gas such as fuel gas in the fuel gas bypass passage 28.

  An on-off valve 25 is provided in the flow path downstream of the connection portion of the fuel gas flow path 28 in the fuel gas flow path 24. As the on-off valve 25, various valves such as an electromagnetic valve can be used, and the on-off valve 25 is configured to flow / shut off a gas such as a fuel gas in the fuel gas passage 24.

  The remaining fuel gas channel 26 is a channel for connecting the anode channel 1 </ b> A of the fuel cell 1 and the burner 17 and supplying the fuel gas that has not been used in the fuel cell 1 to the burner 17. An open / close valve 27 is provided in the flow path upstream of the connecting portion of the fuel gas bypass flow path 28 in the remaining fuel gas flow path 26. As the on-off valve 27, various valves such as an electromagnetic valve can be used, and the on-off valve 27 is configured to flow / shut off a gas such as the residual fuel gas in the residual fuel gas passage 26.

A blower 30 is connected to the cathode channel 1 </ b> B of the fuel cell 1 via an air channel 31. The blower 30 can be a fan such as a blower or a sirocco fan, and is configured to supply an oxidant gas (air) to the cathode channel 1B.

  In the middle of the air flow path 31, an on-off valve 32 and an air flow meter 35 are provided. As the on-off valve 32, various valves such as an electromagnetic valve can be used, and the oxidant gas in the air flow path 31 is configured to flow / shut off. The air flow meter 35 is configured to detect the flow rate of the oxidant gas flowing through the air flow path 31 and output the detected flow rate of the oxidant gas to the controller 47.

  A residual air channel 33 is connected to the downstream end of the cathode channel 1B of the fuel cell 1. The residual air flow path 33 is a flow path for discharging an oxidant gas that has not been used in the fuel cell 1 (hereinafter referred to as a residual oxidant gas) to the outside of the fuel cell system 100, and includes an on-off valve in the middle thereof. 34 is provided. As the on-off valve 34, various valves such as an electromagnetic valve can be used, and the on-off valve 34 is configured to flow / shut off a gas such as a residual oxidant gas in the residual air flow path 33.

  The fuel cell 1 has an anode and a cathode (both not shown), fuel gas is supplied from the anode flow path 1A to the anode, and oxidant gas is supplied from the cathode flow path 1B to the cathode. . In the fuel cell 1, the fuel gas supplied to the anode and the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode react electrochemically to generate electricity and heat.

  The power generated by the fuel cell 1 is converted from direct current power to alternating current power by a power conversion device (not shown), and the voltage is adjusted, and is supplied to a power load such as an electric lamp or various electric devices. As the fuel cell 1, various fuel cells such as a solid polymer fuel cell, a phosphoric acid fuel cell, and a solid oxide fuel cell can be used. Moreover, since the structure of the fuel cell 1 is comprised similarly to a general fuel cell, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In addition, the fuel cell 1 is provided with a cooling water path 1 </ b> C through which cooling water for recovering the generated heat and cooling the fuel cell 1 flows. A cooling water flow path 36 is connected to the cooling water path 1C. The cooling water channel 36 is connected to the primary channel of the heat exchanger 40. A cooling water pump 37 and a cooling water tank 50 are provided in the middle of the cooling water flow path 36.

  The cooling water pump 37 is configured to circulate cooling water in the cooling water path 1C, the cooling water flow path 36, and the primary flow path of the heat exchanger 40, and the cooling water is consumable component 49 from the water supply path. Thus, the water whose electric conductivity is lowered is stored in the cooling water tank 50 and used.

  Further, in the middle of the cooling water flow path 36, a second temperature detector 38 for detecting the temperature of the cooling water supplied to the fuel cell 1 and a temperature of the cooling water discharged from the fuel cell 1 are detected. The third temperature detector 39 is provided. The second temperature detector 38 and the third temperature detector 39 are configured to output the detected temperature of the cooling water to the controller 47.

  An exhaust heat recovery water channel 41 is connected to the secondary channel of the heat exchanger 40. In the heat exchanger 40, heat exchange is performed between the high-temperature cooling water that has recovered the heat generated in the fuel cell 1 and the hot water that flows through the exhaust heat recovery water passage 41. The high-temperature cooling water is cooled by the heat exchanger 40 and supplied again to the cooling water path 1C.

  A hot water pump 42 is provided in the middle of the exhaust heat recovery water channel 41. The hot water pump 42 is configured to flow hot water in the exhaust heat recovery water channel 41. A fourth temperature detector 43 for detecting the temperature of hot water that has been heat-exchanged (heated) by the heat exchanger 40 is provided in the middle of the exhaust heat recovery water passage 41. The fourth temperature detector 43 is configured to output the detected temperature to the controller 47.

In addition, you may store the warm water which collect | recovered heat | fever by exchanging heat with cooling water via the heat exchanger 40 in a hot water storage tank (not shown) etc. By setting it as such a structure, it can utilize as hot water from a hot water storage tank as needed.

  The controller 47 includes an abnormality detection unit 44 and a usage record detection unit 45. Further, the controller 47 may be in any form as long as it is a device that controls each device constituting the fuel cell system 100. The controller 47 includes an arithmetic processing unit exemplified by a microprocessor, a CPU, and the like, a storage unit including a memory or the like that stores a program for executing each control operation, and a clock unit. .

  Then, in the controller 47, the arithmetic processing unit reads out a predetermined control program stored in the storage unit and executes it to perform various controls relating to the fuel cell system 100. Further, the controller 47 executes a predetermined program stored in the storage unit, thereby realizing the abnormality detection unit 44 and the usage record detection unit 45.

  Specifically, the controller 47 (abnormality detection means 44) receives the respective rotational speed signals transmitted from the combustion fan 21, the cooling water pump 37, the hot water pump 42, etc., and whether each actuator is abnormal. It is monitoring whether or not. Further, the controller 47 (abnormality detection means 44) receives a feedback pulse fed back from a heater control board (not shown) when the heater 16 is energized, and monitors whether the heater 16 is abnormal. .

  The controller 47 (use record detection means 45) monitors the use record of the consumable part 49. As the usage record of the consumable part 49, the usage record detecting means 45 takes in the water amount signal measured by the water amount sensor 52 that measures the amount of water stored in the cooling water tank 50 from the water supply source via the consumable part 49, The use result detection means 45 stores the integrated value of the water amount as the use result value (cumulative use amount) of the consumable part 49.

  It should be noted that it is desirable that the usage record value of the consumable component 49 is obtained by using a factor having a correlation with the deterioration characteristic of the consumable component 49 as the use track record value, and the accumulation of the fuel cell system 100 is performed using the clock unit provided in the controller 47. The energization time, the cumulative usage time of the consumable part 49, or the cumulative power generation time of the fuel cell 1 may be used.

  Further, the cumulative usage amount of the fuel gas measured by the raw material flow meter 8, the cumulative power generation amount of the fuel cell 1, or the number of times the on-off valve 51 is opened and closed is used as the usage count of the consumable component 49. It doesn't matter.

  The controller 47 is not limited to a single controller, but may be a controller group in which a plurality of controllers cooperate to execute control of the fuel cell system 100. .

  The controller 47 may be configured by a micro control, or may be configured by an MPU, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), a logic circuit, or the like.

  The display 48 may take any form as long as it can display information (character data, image data, etc.) output from the controller 47. As the display device 48, for example, a remote controller, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or the like can be used. The display device 48 may include an operation unit such as a switch and a display unit such as an LCD screen. The indicator 48 can communicate with the controller 47 of the fuel cell system in a wired or wireless manner.

  The indicator 48 displays the operating state of the fuel cell system (for example, when stopped, starting, during power generation, etc.), and when the abnormality detecting unit 44 detects an abnormality of the fuel cell system 100, an indication of the abnormal state is displayed. It is comprised so that it may perform.

  Next, the display operation of the fuel cell system 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the display determination operation of the fuel cell system 100 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, first, when the abnormality detection unit 44 detects at least one of abnormalities in the operating state of the auxiliary machine or the fuel cell system 100 (step S100), the controller 47 detects an abnormality from the abnormality detection unit 44. Is acquired (step S101). Further, the controller 47 obtains the use result value of the consumable part 49 from the use result detection means 45 (step S102).

  Next, the controller 47 compares the use record value acquired from the use record detecting means 45 with a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value that requires replacement of the consumable part 49 stored in the controller 47 in advance. (Step S103). At this time, if the use record value acquired from the use record detecting means 45 is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the controller 47 displays an abnormal state on the display unit 48 and prompts the display unit 48 to prompt the user to replace the consumable part 49. It is displayed (step S104).

  On the other hand, if the usage record value acquired from the usage record detection unit 45 is less than the second threshold value, the controller 47 displays the abnormality information acquired from the abnormality detection unit 44 on the display unit 48 (step S105).

  In the fuel cell system 100 according to the first embodiment configured as described above, when the abnormality detecting unit 44 detects an abnormality, the actual use value of the consumable part 49 is equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold value. In addition, the display unit 48 displays that the consumable part 49 is urged to be replaced together with the abnormality information, and displays the abnormality information on the display unit 48 if it is less than the second threshold value.

  For this reason, in the fuel cell system 100 according to the first embodiment, the replacement of the consumable part 49 is urged during maintenance due to an abnormality, and the number of maintenance correspondences can be reduced.

  Therefore, the fuel cell system 100 according to Embodiment 1 can improve user convenience.

  Note that the first threshold value is a value that requires replacement of the consumable part 49 according to the deterioration characteristics of the consumable part 49 (for example, cumulative water flow amount, cumulative energization time, cumulative use time, cumulative power generation time, cumulative use amount, An arbitrary value can be set in advance according to the design. The second threshold value may be a value smaller than the first threshold value, and an arbitrary value can be set in advance.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the display determination operation of the fuel cell system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The configuration of the fuel cell system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is the same as that of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 and is operated in the same manner as in Embodiment 1. Is different from the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the fuel cell system 100 according to the second embodiment, first, whether or not at least one of the abnormality in the operating state of the auxiliary machine or the fuel cell system 100 is detected by the abnormality detection unit 44. Is determined (step S100).

  If no abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection unit 44, the controller 47 acquires the use result value of the consumable part 49 from the use result detection unit 45 (step S106).

  Next, the controller 47 compares the actual usage value with a third threshold value greater than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value that requires replacement of the consumable part 49 stored in the controller 47 in advance (step). S107).

  At this time, if the usage record value acquired from the usage record detection unit 45 is equal to or greater than the third threshold value, the controller 47 displays on the display unit 48 a prompt to replace the consumable part 49, and the use record detection unit 45. If the usage record value acquired from the above is less than the third threshold value, a display for prompting replacement of the consumable part 49 is not displayed.

  In the fuel cell system 100 according to the second embodiment configured as described above, even if the abnormality detecting unit 44 has not detected an abnormality, the usage result value of the consumable part 49 is determined in advance. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the display device 48 is displayed to prompt the user to replace the consumable part 49 (step S108).

  Therefore, in the fuel cell system 100 according to the second embodiment, when the consumable part 49 is deteriorated and needs to be replaced, the display 48 prompts the user to replace the consumable part 49 and the deterioration of the consumable part 49 occurs. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of malfunctions and abnormalities in the fuel cell system 100.

  Therefore, the fuel cell system 100 according to Embodiment 2 can improve user convenience.

  The third threshold only needs to be a value smaller than the first threshold and larger than the second threshold, and an arbitrary value can be set in advance.

  From the foregoing description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention are apparent to persons skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention.

  And the detail of the structure and / or function can be changed substantially, without deviating from the summary of this invention. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments.

  The fuel cell system and its operation method of the present invention can reduce the number of maintenance operations, and are particularly useful in, for example, a household fuel cell system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel cell 1A Anode flow path 1B Cathode flow path 1C Cooling water path 2 Hydrogen generator 3 1st temperature detector 4 Raw material flow path 5 Raw material pump 6 Open / close valve 7 Open / close valve 8 Raw material flow meter 9 Reformed water flow path 10 Reformation Water pump 11 On-off valve 12 Selective oxidation air flow path 13 Air pump 14 On-off valve 15 Selective oxidation air flow meter 16 Heater 17 Burner 18 Igniter 19 Flame detector 20 Combustion air flow path 21 Combustion fan 22 Combustion air flow meter 23 Combustion exhaust gas Discharge flow path 24 Fuel gas flow path 25 Open / close valve 26 Residual fuel gas flow path 27 Open / close valve 28 Fuel gas bypass flow path 29 Open / close valve 30 Blower 31 Air flow path 32 Open / close valve 33 Residual air flow path 34 Open / close valve 35 Air flow meter 36 Cooling water flow path 37 Cooling water pump 38 Second temperature detector 39 Third temperature detector 40 Heat exchanger 41 Waste heat recovery water flow 42 hot water pump 43 fourth temperature detector 44 abnormality detection means 45 use record detector 47 controller 48 display 49 consumable component 50 the cooling water tank 51 on-off valve 52 water sensor 100 fuel cell system

Claims (5)

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell that generates power using a fuel gas and an oxidant gas,
An auxiliary machine that is at least one of an actuator and a heater that control a fluid related to the operation of the fuel cell system;
A sensor for detecting an operating state of the fuel cell system;
An abnormality detecting means for detecting at least one of an abnormality of the auxiliary machine and an abnormality of an operation state in the fuel cell system based on an output value of the sensor;
A usage record detection means for acquiring a usage record value of a consumable part;
A controller that controls the operation of the fuel cell system and communicates with a display that displays the operating state;
With
In the controller, the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality, and the usage record value acquired by the usage record detection unit is equal to or less than a first threshold value that needs to be replaced, and is equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value. If it is, together with a display indicating an abnormal state, display on the display to prompt the replacement,
The fuel cell system, wherein when the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality and the use result value is smaller than the second threshold value, a display indicating an abnormal state is displayed on the display.   The controller prompts the replacement when the abnormality detecting means does not detect an abnormality and the actual use value is equal to or greater than a third threshold value smaller than the first threshold value and larger than a second threshold value. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell system is displayed on the indicator.   The actual usage value is the cumulative usage amount of fuel gas, the cumulative power generation amount of the fuel cell, the cumulative power generation time of the fuel cell, the cumulative energization time of the fuel cell system, the cumulative usage time of the consumable parts, The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell system is a cumulative usage amount or a usage count of the consumable part. An operation method of a fuel cell system including a fuel cell that generates power using a fuel gas and an oxidant gas,
According to an abnormality of an auxiliary machine that is at least one of an actuator and a heater that control a fluid related to the operation of the fuel cell system, and an output value of a sensor sensor that detects an operation state of the fuel cell system An abnormality detecting step for detecting at least one of abnormalities in the operating state of the fuel cell system;
Use result detection step for obtaining the use result value of consumable parts,
When an abnormality is detected in the abnormality detection step, and the use result value detected in the use result detection step is equal to or less than a first threshold that needs to be replaced and is equal to or more than a second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold, A display that indicates that the replacement is urged together with a display indicating the abnormal state;
When the abnormality is detected in the abnormality detection step, and the use result value detected in the use result detection step is smaller than the second threshold, the display unit displays a display indicating an abnormal state;
A method for operating a fuel cell system.   If no abnormality is detected in the abnormality detection step and the use result value detected in the use result detection step is equal to or greater than a third threshold value smaller than the first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value, the replacement is performed. The operation method of the fuel cell system according to claim 4, further comprising the step of the display displaying an urging effect.

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