JP2018186010A - Power generator, control device, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power generator, a control device and a control program which are advantageous for enhancing power generation efficiency.SOLUTION: A power generator 1 includes: a first power generation part 24A including a fuel cell; a second power generation part 24B including a fuel cell; and a control part 10. Based on the difference between a temperature in the vicinity of the first power generation part 24A and a temperature in the vicinity of the second power generation part 24B, the control part 10 performs at least one of adjustment of a flow rate of gas supplied to the first power generation part 24A and a flow rate of gas supplied to the second power generation part 24B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a power generation device, a control device, and a control program. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a power generation device including a power generation unit including a fuel cell, a control device for the power generation unit including a fuel cell, and a control program executed by such a device.

  For example, in a power generation system including a fuel cell such as a solid oxide fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as SOFC), a temperature at which a cell stack of a fuel cell module generates power is generally controlled. . Some power generation systems include not only one cell stack but also a plurality of cell stacks. Thus, in a power generation system including a plurality of cell stacks, it is desirable to control the temperature so that the temperature difference between the cell stacks does not increase from the viewpoint of power generation efficiency, durability of the cell stack, and the like.

JP 2006-170999 A

  In the power generation device described in Patent Document 1, in order to make it difficult for a temperature difference between a plurality of cell stacks to spread, a resistance change unit is connected to each cell stack as a measure for changing the temperature of each cell stack. ing. Thus, it is advantageous if the temperature can be controlled so that the temperature difference between the cell stacks does not increase without adding a dedicated member separately.

  An object of the present disclosure is to provide an advantageous power generation device, control device, and control program that increase power generation efficiency.

A power generation device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a first power generation unit including a fuel cell, a second power generation unit including a fuel cell, and a control unit.
The control unit is supplied to the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit. Adjust at least one of the gas flow rates.

A control device for a power generation unit including a fuel cell according to a second aspect of the present disclosure controls a first power generation unit including a fuel cell and a second power generation unit including a fuel cell.
The control device is supplied to the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit. Adjust at least one of the gas flow rates.

A control program according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is executed by a control device that controls a first power generation unit including a fuel cell and a second power generation unit including a fuel cell.
The control program causes the control device to determine the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the second based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit. The step of adjusting at least one of the flow rates of the gas supplied to the power generation unit is executed.

  According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an advantageous power generation device, control device, and control program that increase power generation efficiency.

It is a functional block diagram showing roughly the composition of the power generator concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment in detail. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram showing roughly the modification of the composition of the power generator concerning a 1st embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a configuration of a power generation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the power generation device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the power generation device according to the first embodiment in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device (power generation unit) 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is connected to a hot water storage tank 60, a load 100, and a commercial power supply (grid) 200. As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation apparatus 1 generates power by supplying gas and air from the outside, and supplies the generated power to a load 100 and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 12, a fuel cell module 20, a supply unit 30, an inverter 40, an exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50, and a circulating water processing unit 52. And comprising.

  The power generator 1 includes at least one processor as the controller 10 to provide control and processing capabilities for performing various functions, as will be described in further detail below. According to various embodiments, at least one processor may be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC) or as a plurality of communicatively connected integrated circuits ICs and / or discrete circuits. Good. The at least one processor can be implemented according to various known techniques.

  In certain embodiments, the processor includes one or more circuits or units configured to perform one or more data computation procedures or processes. For example, a processor may be one or more processors, controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, or any of these devices or configurations The functions described below may be performed by including combinations or combinations of other known devices or configurations.

  The control unit 10 is connected to the storage unit 12, the fuel cell module 20, and the supply unit 30, and controls and manages the entire power generation apparatus 1 including these functional units. The control unit 10 obtains a program stored in the storage unit 12 and executes this program, thereby realizing various functions related to each unit of the power generation device 1. When transmitting a control signal or various types of information from the control unit 10 to other functional units, the control unit and the other functional units may be connected by wire or wirelessly. Control characteristic of this embodiment performed by the control unit 10 will be further described later. In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 is capable of measuring a predetermined time such as measuring the operating time (for example, power generation time) of the cell stack included in the fuel cell module 20.

  The storage unit 12 stores information acquired from the control unit 10. The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 10. In addition, the memory | storage part 12 memorize | stores various data, such as a calculation result by the control part 10, for example. Further, the storage unit 12 will be described below as including a work memory when the control unit 10 operates. The storage unit 12 can be configured by, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk, but is not limited thereto, and can be any storage device. For example, the storage unit 12 may be an optical storage device such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.

  The fuel cell module 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes a reformer 22 and a cell stack 24, as shown in more detail in FIG. FIG. 2 shows only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, and the gas supply unit 32 in the power generation device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and other functional units are omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 includes two reformers 22A and 22B and two cell stacks 24A and 24B. Hereinafter, when there is no particular distinction between the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B, they are simply named as the reformer 22. Similarly, hereinafter, the cell stack 24 </ b> A and the cell stack 24 </ b> B are collectively referred to simply as the cell stack 24 unless particularly distinguished from each other.

  The cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20 generates power using gas (fuel gas) supplied from the supply unit 30 and outputs the generated DC power to the inverter 40. The fuel cell module 20 is also called a hot module. In the fuel cell module 20, the cell stack 24 generates heat with power generation. In the present disclosure, the cell stack 24 including a fuel cell that actually generates power is appropriately referred to as a “power generation unit”. In the present disclosure, the “power generation unit” may be various functional units that generate power. For example, the “power generation unit” may be a single cell or a fuel cell module in addition to the cell stack. In the present embodiment, the cell stack 24A is a first power generation unit, and the cell stack 24B is a second power generation unit. That is, the power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) including a fuel cell and a second power generation unit (cell stack 24B) including a fuel cell.

  The reformer 22 generates hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide using the gas and reformed water supplied from the supply unit 30. The cell stack 24 generates electricity by reacting hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide generated in the reformer 22 with oxygen in the air. That is, in the present embodiment, the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell generates power by an electrochemical reaction. As the reformer, the reformer that performs the above-described steam reforming is illustrated, but as another reformer, partial oxidation reforming (partial reforming) that generates hydrogen using air containing oxygen or the like. A reformer or the like that performs Oxidation (POX) may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reformer 22 </ b> A and the reformer 22 </ b> B are separately supplied with fuel gas from the gas supply unit 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the reformer 22A is connected to the cell stack 24A, and the reformer 22B is connected to the cell stack 24B. With these connections, the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B can supply hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B, respectively.

  Hereinafter, the cell stack 24 will be described as an SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell). However, the cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the SOFC. The cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), and a molten carbonate fuel cell (PAFC). A fuel cell such as Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) may be used. The power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment includes two cell stacks 24A and 24B as shown in FIG. However, as will be described later, in other embodiments, the cell stack 24 may include, for example, four cells that can generate power of about 700 W alone. In this case, the fuel cell module 20 can output about 3 kW of electric power as a whole.

  The fuel cell module 20 and the cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment are not limited to the above-described configuration, and various configurations can be employed. In this embodiment, the electric power generating apparatus 1 should just be provided with two or more electric power generation parts which generate electric power using gas. In addition, for example, the power generation apparatus 1 can be assumed to have only one fuel cell instead of the cell stack 24 as a power generation unit. Further, the power generation unit according to the present embodiment may be a fuel cell without a module, such as PEFC.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the supply unit 30 includes a gas supply unit 32, an air supply unit 34, and a reforming water supply unit 36. That is, the supply unit 30 supplies gas, air, and reformed water to the cell stack 24.

  The gas supply unit 32 shown in FIG. 1 includes a flow meter 92 and a gas pump 94, as shown in more detail in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the gas supply unit 32 includes two flow meters 92A and 92B and two gas pumps 94A and 94B. Hereinafter, when the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply named as the flow meter 92. Similarly, hereinafter, when the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply named as the gas pump 94.

  The gas supply unit 32 supplies gas to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20. At this time, the gas supply unit 32 controls the amount of gas supplied to the cell stack 24 based on a control signal from the control unit 10. In this embodiment, the gas supply part 32 can be comprised by a gas line, for example. Moreover, the gas supply part 32 may perform the desulfurization process of gas, and may heat gas preliminarily. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for heating the gas. The gas is, for example, city gas or LPG, but is not limited thereto. For example, the gas may be natural gas or coal gas depending on the fuel cell. In the present embodiment, the gas supply unit 32 supplies a fuel gas used for an electrochemical reaction when the cell stack 24 generates power.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gas supplied to the gas supply unit 32 is branched from one supply source into two paths and supplied to the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the flow meter 92A is connected to the gas pump 94A, and the flow meter 92B is connected to the gas pump 94B. With these connections, the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B can supply the gas having passed through the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B, respectively, to the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B. In the example shown in FIG. 2, gas branched into two paths from one supply source is supplied to the flow meters 92A and 92B, respectively. However, for example, the flow meters 92A and 92B may be supplied with gas from separate sources.

  Flow meters 92A and 92B measure the flow rate of the gas flowing through each. Here, the flow rate of the gas measured by the flow meters 92A and 92B can be, for example, the amount that the gas moves through the flow meters 92A or 92B per unit time. As the flow meters 92A and 92B, any one can be adopted as long as it can measure the gas flow rate.

  The gas pumps 94A and 94B send the gas having passed through the flow meters 92A and 92B to the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B of the fuel cell module 20, respectively. As the gas pumps 94A and 94B, any one can be adopted as long as it can send gas to the reformers 22A and 22B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gas supply unit 32 is connected to the control unit 10 so as to be communicable by wire or wirelessly. Information on the gas flow rates measured by the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B is transmitted to the control unit 10. Thereby, the control part 10 can grasp | ascertain the flow volume of the gas which the flowmeter 92A and the flowmeter 92B each measured. Further, the control unit 10 can adjust (increase / decrease) the flow rate of the gas sent from the gas pumps 94A and 94B to the reformers 22A and 22B, respectively, by being communicably connected to the gas supply unit 32. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 can adjust the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24B.

  In the power generator according to the present embodiment, the gas supply unit 32 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, in the gas supply unit 32 shown in FIG. 2, the flow meter 92 measures the flow rate of the gas before being sent out by the gas pump 94. However, in the gas supply unit 32, the flow meter 92 may measure the flow rate of the gas after being sent out by the gas pump 94.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air supply unit 34 supplies air to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20. At this time, the air supply unit 34 controls the amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24 based on a control signal from the control unit 10. In this embodiment, the air supply part 34 can be comprised by an air line, for example. The air supply unit 34 may preliminarily heat the air taken from the outside and supply the air to the cell stack 24. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for heating the air. In the present embodiment, the air supply unit 34 supplies air used for an electrochemical reaction when the cell stack 24 generates power.

  The reforming water supply unit 36 generates water vapor and supplies it to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20. At this time, the reforming water supply unit 36 controls the amount of water vapor supplied to the cell stack 24 based on a control signal from the control unit 10. In the present embodiment, the reforming water supply unit 36 can be configured by, for example, a reforming water line. The reforming water supply unit 36 may generate water vapor using water recovered from the exhaust gas of the cell stack 24 as a raw material. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for generating water vapor.

  The inverter 40 is connected to the fuel cell module 20. The inverter 40 converts the DC power generated by the cell stack 24 into AC power. The DC power output from the inverter 40 is supplied to the load 100 via a distribution board or the like. The load 100 receives the power output from the inverter 40 via a distribution board or the like. In FIG. 1, the load 100 is illustrated as a single member, but can be an arbitrary number of various electrical devices constituting the load. The load 100 can also receive power from the commercial power supply 200 via a distribution board or the like. In FIG. 1, the connection between the inverter 40 and the control unit 10 is not shown, but the inverter 40 and the control unit 10 may be connected. With this connection, the control unit 10 can control the output of AC power by the inverter 40.

  The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 recovers exhaust heat from the exhaust generated by the power generation of the cell stack 24. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 can be configured with, for example, a heat exchanger. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 is connected to the circulating water processing unit 52 and the hot water storage tank 60.

  The circulating water processing unit 52 circulates water from the hot water storage tank 60 to the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50. The water supplied to the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 is heated by the heat recovered by the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 and returns to the hot water storage tank 60. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 exhausts the exhaust from which the exhaust heat has been recovered to the outside. Further, as described above, the heat recovered by the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 can be used for heating gas, air, or reformed water.

  The hot water storage tank 60 is connected to the exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 and the circulating water processing unit 52. The hot water storage tank 60 can store hot water generated using the exhaust heat recovered from the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20 or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device 1 includes a current sensor 70 that detects the total amount of current generated by the cell stack 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the current sensor 70 can be installed at a position for detecting a direct current output from the fuel cell module 20 toward the inverter 40. However, the current sensor 70 may be installed at other positions as long as the current generated by the cell stack 24 can be detected. The current sensor 70 can be configured by, for example, a CT (Current Transformer). However, the current sensor 70 is not limited to CT, and any member can be employed as long as it is a member that can measure current. For example, the current sensor 70 may be based on a principle such as a Hall element method, a Rogowski method, or a zero flux method. The current sensor 70 is connected to the control unit 10. The current sensor 70 transmits a signal based on the detected current to the control unit 10. By receiving this signal, the control unit 10 can grasp the current generated by the cell stack 24.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 controls the temperature of the cell stack 24. In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 may control the temperature of the entire system of the fuel cell module 20 including the reformer 22 and the cell stack 24. Such power control of the cell stack 24 can change the power generation efficiency of the cell stack 24. The temperature control of the cell stack 24 by the control unit 10 will be further described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the power generation device 1 includes a temperature sensor 80 that detects the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 includes two temperature sensors 80A and 80B. As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature sensor 80A is installed near the cell stack 24A, and the temperature sensor 80B is installed near the cell stack 24B. Hereinafter, when the temperature sensor 80A and the temperature sensor 80B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply named as the temperature sensor 80.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature sensor 80 can be installed at a position for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24. Here, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 where the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature is a position suitable for measuring a temperature serving as a reference for controlling the temperature of the cell stack 24 in the power generation apparatus 1, for example, the cell stack 24 is generated. It can be a position where heat is conducted appropriately. For example, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 where the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be the temperature at the center of the cell stack 24 that generates power. In the present embodiment, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 where the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be a position where the cell stack 24 itself exists. Further, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 where the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be, for example, the entire cell stack 24 or a part of the cell stack 24 (for example, a cell).

  The temperature sensor 80 can be constituted by, for example, a thermocouple. In this case, for example, a thermocouple may be inserted into an introduction plate that introduces air into the cell stack 24. On the other hand, the temperature sensor 80 is assumed to be unable to measure excessively high heat depending on the material constituting the temperature sensor 80. In such a case, the temperature sensor 80 is separated from the cell stack 24, for example, but may detect the temperature at a position where the heat generated by the cell stack 24 is conducted. When the temperature sensor 80 is away from the cell stack 24, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 where the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be located, for example, in the combustion section above the cell stack 24. Further, when the temperature sensor 80 is away from the cell stack 24, the temperature near the cell stack 24 where the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature is sufficiently high even if the temperature sensor 80 is slightly away from above the combustion part. Any position that can be measured is acceptable.

  The temperature sensor 80 is not limited to a thermocouple, and any member can be adopted as long as it is a member capable of measuring temperature. For example, the temperature sensor 80 may be a thermistor or a platinum resistance temperature detector. The temperature sensor 80 is connected to the control unit 10. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell module 20 is connected to the control unit 10 so as to be communicable by wire or wirelessly. The temperature sensor 80 transmits a signal based on the detected temperature to the control unit 10. By receiving this signal, the control unit 10 can grasp the temperature near the cell stack 24.

  Next, operation | movement of the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, for example, when power generation is performed using a plurality of cell stacks such as the two cell stacks 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> B, the temperatures may be different among the plurality of cell stacks. That is, when power generation is performed using a plurality of cell stacks, a temperature difference may occur between the cell stacks. When a temperature difference is generated between the cell stacks, the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte is reduced in the cell stack having the lower temperature, so that the internal resistance of the cell stack is increased. In general, the smaller the internal resistance of the cell stack, the easier the current in the cell stack flows. For this reason, in the cell stack having a small internal resistance, energy is easily released as electricity instead of heat, and power generation efficiency can be improved. Further, by improving the power generation efficiency in this way, the durability of the cell stack is also improved.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the temperature difference between the vicinity of the two cell stacks 24A and 24B is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, control is performed so that the temperature difference is reduced. Such control will be further described below.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  At the time when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, it is assumed that in the power generation device 1, the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B have already started operation and are generating power. Therefore, when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 controls the gas supply unit 32 to supply the fuel gas to the cell stacks 24A and 24B, respectively. Similarly, when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 controls the air supply unit 34 to supply air to the cell stacks 24A and 24B, respectively. Further, when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 controls the reforming water supply unit 36 to supply the reforming water to the cell stacks 24A and 24B, respectively. In the power generation apparatus 1, the operation of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B to start operation and generate power can be performed in the same manner as a general SOFC power generation unit. Therefore, a more detailed description of the operation in which the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B start operation and generate electric power will be omitted.

  When the process shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 performs control so as to obtain temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit) (step S11). Specifically, in step S11, the temperature sensor 80A detects the temperature near the cell stack 24A. Further, the temperature sensor 80B detects the temperature near the cell stack 24B. Therefore, the control unit 10 can acquire the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B from the temperature sensor 80A and the temperature sensor 80B, respectively.

  If the temperature is acquired in step S11, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the difference between the acquired temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the acquired temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature difference (for example, 25 ° C.). Determination is made (step S12). In order to execute the process of step S12, in consideration of various conditions such as the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24, the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B are set in advance. It is preferable to keep it. That is, the control unit 10 sets the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B as long as the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24 can be maintained in a good state. In the example shown in FIG. 3, if the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B is less than 25 ° C., the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are good. It can be kept to some extent. In the present embodiment, the temperature difference described above will be described below as an example of 25 ° C., but can be a desired temperature difference according to the characteristics or specifications of the cell stack. The predetermined temperature difference set in advance in this way can be stored in, for example, the storage unit 12.

  When it determines with the temperature difference of the cell stack 24 vicinity not being 25 degreeC or more in step S12, the control part 10 returns to step S11 and continues a process. In step S11, the control unit 10 performs control so as to obtain temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S12 that the temperature difference in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is 25 ° C. or more, the control unit 10 adjusts the flow rate of the fuel gas (step S13). The adjustment of the flow rate of the fuel gas performed in step S13 means that the control unit 10 controls the gas supply unit 32 to flow the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24B. Adjusting at least one of the above. Specifically, in step S13, the control unit 10 controls at least one of the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B to adjust the flow rate of the fuel gas sent from the gas pump 94A and / or the gas pump 94B. The gas pump 94A supplies fuel gas to the cell stack 24A, and the gas pump 94B supplies fuel gas to the cell stack 24B. For this reason, the control unit 10 can adjust at least one of the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24B.

  By adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas as described above, the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment changes at least one of the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B. For example, the control unit 10 can control the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack on the low temperature side of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B so as to approach the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack on the high temperature side.

  Here, the principle of changing the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas performed in step S13 will be further described.

  In the power generation apparatus 1, the ratio of the fuel gas used for power generation of the cell stack 24 among the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell (cell stack 24) is hereinafter referred to as “fuel utilization rate” as appropriate. In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 can adjust the flow rate of the fuel gas, for example, by changing the fuel utilization rate. Of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24, the fuel gas that is not used for the power generation of the cell stack 24 includes, for example, the fuel gas burned in the cell stack 24. Here, for example, assuming that the power generated by the cell stack 24 is constant, reducing the fuel utilization rate increases the gas used for combustion without changing the amount of fuel gas used for power generation in the cell stack 24. Means that. In this case, the temperature near the cell stack 24 increases. Therefore, when the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B is 25 ° C. or more, the power generation device 1 reduces the fuel utilization rate on the low temperature side of the cell stack 24 to thereby reduce the cell stack 24 The temperature in the vicinity can be raised.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the temperature difference between the two cell stacks 24 is 25 ° C. or more in step S <b> 12, the control unit 10 decreases the fuel utilization rate of the low temperature side cell stack 24 by 1%, for example. Control. Specifically, when the cell stack 24A is at a temperature 25 ° C. or more lower than the cell stack 25B in step S11, in step S13, the control unit 10 controls to reduce the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24A by 1%. To do. On the other hand, when the cell stack 24B is at a temperature lower by 25 ° C. or more than the cell stack 24A in step S11, the control unit 10 controls the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24B to be reduced by 1% in step S13. Thereby, the temperature near the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side gradually approaches the temperature near the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side as time passes.

  After adjusting the gas flow rate in step S13, the control unit 10 performs control so as to obtain temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit) (step S14). The processing performed by the control unit 10 in step S14 can be the same as step S11 described above.

  If the temperature is acquired in step S14, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the difference between the acquired temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the acquired temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature difference (for example, 5 ° C.). Determination is made (step S15). Since the flow rate of the fuel gas is adjusted in step S13, the temperature in the vicinity of the low temperature side cell stack 24 gradually approaches the temperature in the vicinity of the high temperature side cell stack 24.

  In order to execute the process of step S15, similarly to the case of step S12, the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B are considered in consideration of various conditions such as the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24. It is preferable to set a predetermined temperature difference in advance. In the example shown in FIG. 3, if the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B is 5 ° C. or less, the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B are almost the same. Yes. In the present embodiment, the temperature difference described above is described below as an example of 5 ° C., but can be set to a desired temperature difference according to the characteristics or specifications of the cell stack. The predetermined temperature difference set in advance in this way can be stored in, for example, the storage unit 12.

  When it is determined in step S15 that the temperature difference in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is not 5 ° C. or less, the control unit 10 returns to step S14 and continues the process. In step S14, the control unit 10 performs control so as to obtain temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that the temperature difference in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is 5 ° C. or less, the control unit 10 returns the flow rate of the fuel gas to the state before the adjustment in step S13 (step S16). In step S13, the control unit 10 controls the gas supply unit 32 to adjust at least one of the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24B. Therefore, in step S <b> 16, the control unit 10 returns the cell stack 24 whose gas flow rate has been adjusted to the state before adjustment. Specifically, in step S16, the control unit 10 controls at least one of the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B to return the flow rate of the fuel gas sent from the gas pump 94A and / or the gas pump 94B to the state before adjustment. As described above, the control unit 10 determines that the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) and the temperature in the vicinity of the second power generation unit (cell stack 24B) is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 5 ° C.). The state before starting the adjustment of the gas flow rate may be restored.

  For example, when the fuel usage rate of the low temperature side cell stack 24 is decreased by 1% in step S13, the control unit 10 increases the fuel usage rate of the cell stack 24 by 1%. Increasing the fuel utilization rate while the power generated by the cell stack 24 is constant means that the gas used for combustion is reduced without changing the amount of fuel gas used for power generation in the cell stack 24.

  When the gas flow rate is returned to before adjustment in step S16, the control unit 10 ends the operation shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the power generation apparatus 1 continues to operate, it is preferable that the control unit 10 repeatedly performs the operation illustrated in FIG.

  Thus, in the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 10 is supplied to the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) and to the second power generation unit (cell stack 24B). At least one of the gas flow rates is adjusted. Here, the control unit 10 adjusts the gas flow rate described above based on the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B. In the present embodiment, the gas for adjusting the flow rate can be a fuel gas such as hydrogen. Further, the control unit 10 may start adjusting the gas flow rate when the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, 25 ° C.). On the other hand, when the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 5 ° C.), the control unit 10 returns to the state before starting the adjustment of the gas flow rate. May be.

  As described above, according to the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24, the temperature difference in the vicinity of the two cell stacks 24 opens more than a predetermined value. Suppress. For this reason, according to the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment, it is suppressed that the internal resistance of any cell stack 24 becomes large. Moreover, according to the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment, durability of the cell stack 24 can be improved. Furthermore, according to the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, since the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is changed by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas, it is not necessary to add a functional unit for performing temperature control. Therefore, the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment can advantageously increase the power generation efficiency.

  In the embodiment described above, as an example, the control unit 10 controls the temperature in the vicinity of the low-temperature side cell stack in the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B to approach the temperature in the vicinity of the high-temperature side cell stack. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such control.

  For example, the control unit 10 may control the temperature in the vicinity of the high temperature side cell stack of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B so as to approach the temperature in the vicinity of the low temperature side cell stack 24. In this case, in order to lower the temperature in the vicinity of the high temperature side cell stack 24, the fuel utilization rate of the high temperature side cell stack 24 is increased. To increase the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side is to reduce the fuel gas used for combustion that is not used for power generation among the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24, that is, to reduce the supply of the entire fuel gas. Means. When reducing the supply of fuel gas, it should be noted that failure to supply the required amount of fuel gas can cause the stack to generate power to deteriorate.

  Further, for example, the control unit 10 brings the temperature in the vicinity of the low temperature side cell stack 24 close to the temperature of the high temperature side cell stack 24, and sets the temperature in the vicinity of the high temperature side cell stack 24 to the temperature in the vicinity of the low temperature side cell stack 24. You may control so that it may approach.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration including the two power generation units of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B has been described. However, this embodiment is not limited to such control, and may include three or more power generation units. In this case, each power generation unit (cell stack 24) may be configured to be supplied with fuel gas from the corresponding gas pump 94. Further, in this case, when the difference between the vicinity of the highest temperature and the vicinity of the lowest temperature in the vicinity of each cell stack 24 is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature difference such as 25 ° C., the gas flow rate is adjusted. May be. Further, when the difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature in the vicinity of each cell stack 24 is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature difference such as 5 ° C., the state before the gas flow rate adjustment is started. You may return.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the power generation device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

  The power generator according to the second embodiment can partially adopt the same configuration as the power generator 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, about the structure of the electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, description of the content similar to the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The power generation apparatus according to the second embodiment is a modification of the configuration of the fuel cell module 20 in the power generation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 includes two cell stacks 24A and 24B as shown in FIG. In the power generation apparatus according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the fuel cell module 20 'includes four cell stacks (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D). 4 shows only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20 ', and the gas supply unit 32 in the power generation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as in FIG. 2, and other functional units are omitted. Hereinafter, when the cell stacks 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are not particularly distinguished, they are simply named as the cell stack 24. For example, when each cell stack 24 can generate a power of about 700 W alone, the fuel cell module 20 ′ can output a power of about 3 kW as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the fuel cell module 20 ', the reformer 22A is connected to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B, and the reformer 22B is connected to the cell stack 24C and the cell stack 24D. With these connections, the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B can supply hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide to the cell stacks 24A and 24B and the cell stacks 24C and 24D, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the fuel cell module 20 ′ also includes a temperature sensor 80 that detects the temperature near the cell stack 24. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 'includes four temperature sensors 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80D. As shown in FIG. 4, the temperature sensor 80A is installed near the cell stack 24A, and the temperature sensor 80B is installed near the cell stack 24B. The temperature sensor 80C is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24C, and the temperature sensor 80D is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24D. Also in the second embodiment, the meaning of “near cell stack 24” is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Even when the four cell stacks 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are provided as in the fuel cell module 20 'illustrated in FIG. 4, the operation can be performed in the same manner as the electronic device 1 according to the first embodiment. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the gas line that supplies the fuel gas from the gas supply unit 32 to the fuel cell module 20 ′ has two paths. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B can be adjusted by the gas pump 94A. In the present embodiment, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24C and the cell stack 24D can be adjusted by the gas pump 94B.

  In the present embodiment, the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are used as the first power generation unit, and the cell stack 24B and the cell stack 24D are used as the second power generation unit to operate in the same manner as the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment. Can do. In this case, the average of the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B can be set as the temperature near the first power generation unit. Similarly, the average of the temperature near the cell stack 24C and the temperature near the cell stack 24D can be set as the temperature near the second power generation unit. Then, the control unit 10 determines the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the gas supplied to the second power generation unit based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit. Adjustment of at least one of the flow rates is performed. Other operations can be performed in the same manner as the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the power generation device according to the present embodiment, by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24, the temperature difference in the vicinity of the four cell stacks 24 is prevented from opening more than a predetermined value. To do. Therefore, the power generation device according to the present embodiment can advantageously increase the power generation efficiency, similarly to the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In the embodiment described above, the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are used as the first power generation unit, and the cell stack 24B and the cell stack 24D are used as the second power generation unit. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such control.

  For example, only one of the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit may include two cell stacks 24, and the other may include only one cell stack 24. In addition, at least one of the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit may include more than two cell stacks 24.

  As described above, in the power generation device according to the present embodiment, at least one of the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit may include a plurality of power generation units (for example, the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B). In this case, the control unit 10 may process the average of the temperatures near the plurality of power generation units as the temperature near the first power generation unit and / or the temperature near the second power generation unit.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a power generation device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

  The power generator according to the third embodiment can partially adopt the same configuration as that of the power generator 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, about the structure of the electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, description of the content similar to the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The power generator according to the third embodiment is configured to change the configuration of the fuel cell module 20 and the air supply unit 34 in the power generator 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the power generator 1 according to the first embodiment, when the temperature of the cell stack 24 is controlled, the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied from the gas supply unit 32 to the cell stack 24 is adjusted. Specifically, the control unit 10 controls the gas pump 94 to adjust the flow rate of the fuel gas that the gas pump 94 sends toward the cell stack 24. In the power generator according to the third embodiment, the flow rate of air supplied from the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24 is adjusted instead of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, and the air supply unit 34 in the power generation device according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, functional units other than the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, and the air supply unit 34 are not shown. Functional units not shown can be configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 5, the gas pump and the flow meter as shown in FIG. 2 and the like are not described, but the power generation device according to the third embodiment may be provided with a gas pump and a flow meter.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the air supply unit 34 includes two air blowers 96A and 96B and two flow meters 98A and 98B. Hereinafter, when the air blower 96A and the air blower 96B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply named as the air blower 96. Similarly, hereinafter, the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B are collectively referred to simply as the flow meter 98 unless particularly distinguished.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the air supplied to the air supply unit 34 is branched from one supply source into two paths and supplied to the air blower 96A and the air blower 96B, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the air blower 96A is connected to the flow meter 98A, and the air blower 96B is connected to the flow meter 98B. With these connections, the air blower 96A and the air blower 96B can supply air to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B via the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the air branched into two paths from one supply source is supplied to the air blowers 96A and 96B, respectively. However, for example, the air blowers 96A and 96B may be supplied with air from separate sources.

  The air blowers 96A and 96B send the air supplied to the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B of the fuel cell module 20 via the flow meters 98A and 98B, respectively. As the air blowers 96A and 96B, any air blowers can be adopted as long as they can send air to the cell stacks 24A and 24B.

  Flow meters 98A and 98B measure the flow rate of air flowing through each. Here, the flow rate of air measured by the flow meters 98A and 98B can be, for example, the amount of air moving through the flow meters 98A or 98B per unit time. As the flow meters 98A and 98B, any one can be adopted as long as it can measure the flow rate of air.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the air supply unit 34 is connected to the control unit 10 so as to be communicable by wire or wirelessly. Information on the air flow rate measured by the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B is transmitted to the control unit 10. Thereby, the control part 10 can grasp | ascertain the flow volume of the air which the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B each measured. Further, the control unit 10 can adjust (increase / decrease) the flow rate of air sent from the air blowers 96A and 96B to the cell stacks 24A and 24B, respectively, by being communicably connected to the air supply unit 34. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 can adjust the flow rate of air supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of air supplied to the cell stack 24B.

  In the power generator according to this embodiment, the air supply unit 34 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, in the air supply unit 34 shown in FIG. 5, the flow meter 98 measures the flow rate of air after being sent out by the air blower 96. However, in the air supply unit 34, the flow meter 98 may measure the flow rate of air before being sent out by the air blower 96.

  Next, the operation of the power generator according to the third embodiment will be described.

  The power generation apparatus according to the third embodiment can be operated in substantially the same manner as the power generation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment described in FIG. Therefore, hereinafter, operations different from those of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment in the power generation device according to the third embodiment will be mainly described.

  In the third embodiment, the flow rate of air is adjusted instead of the flow rate of the fuel gas when the gas flow rate is adjusted in step S13.

  Hereinafter, as an example, a case will be described as an example in which the control unit 10 controls the temperature near the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side to approach the temperature near the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side in step S13. In step S13, when the temperature near the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side is increased, the control unit 10 increases the air utilization rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24A. Here, the air utilization rate is the ratio of the air actually used for power generation out of the air supplied to the cell stack 24A. In general, the amount of air actually used for power generation in the cell stack 24A does not change so rapidly. For this reason, increasing the air utilization rate in the cell stack 24 </ b> A means reducing the total amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24. When the total amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24A decreases, excess air decreases, and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A increases. Thus, in step S <b> 13, the control unit 10 can control the temperature near the cell stack 24 by adjusting the air supplied from the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24.

  In the third embodiment, when returning to the state before adjustment of the gas flow rate performed in step S16, the air flow rate is returned to the state before adjustment instead of the flow rate of the fuel gas. For example, as described above, when the air utilization rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24A is increased in step S13, the control unit 10 decreases the increased air utilization rate in step S16.

  As described above, in the power generation apparatus according to the present embodiment, the control unit 10 may adjust at least one of the flow rate of air supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of air supplied to the cell stack 24B. In this case, the control unit 10 may adjust the flow rate of air by changing the ratio of air used for power generation in the air supplied to the cell stack 24A or the cell stack 24B.

  As described above, according to the power generation device according to the present embodiment, the temperature difference between the two cell stacks 24 is prevented from opening more than a predetermined level by adjusting the flow rate of the air supplied to the cell stacks 24. . Therefore, the power generation device according to the present embodiment can advantageously increase the power generation efficiency, similarly to the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a power generation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

  The power generator according to the fourth embodiment can employ the same configuration as the power generator 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description about the structure of the electric power generating apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment is abbreviate | omitted. Hereinafter, the description of the same content as that of the first embodiment is appropriately simplified or omitted.

  In the power generation apparatus 1 described in the first embodiment, a part of the control of the power generation apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is changed. In 4th Embodiment, in operation | movement of the electronic device 1 in 1st Embodiment, after adjusting the flow rate of gas, the conditions for returning to the state before adjusting the flow rate of gas are changed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the power generation device according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 6, the process of the same content as having demonstrated as a process of the electric power generating apparatus 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is shown as the same step.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, after acquiring the temperature near each power generation unit in step S11, the control unit 10 determines whether the temperature difference between the two power generation units is 25 ° C. or more. It was determined whether or not (step S12). And if the temperature difference is 25 degreeC or more in step S12, the control part 10 adjusted the flow volume of gas (step S13).

  Also in the fourth embodiment, the condition for adjusting the gas flow rate can be a case where the temperature difference in the vicinity of each of the two power generation units is a predetermined temperature difference or more, such as 25 ° C. or more. In 4th Embodiment, instead of step S12, as shown as step S21 in FIG. 6, the control part 10 determines whether two electric power generation part vicinity became more than predetermined | prescribed temperature difference (step S21). ). When it is determined in step S21 that the vicinity of the two power generation units is not equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature difference, the control unit 10 returns to step S11 and acquires the temperature in the vicinity of each power generation unit. On the other hand, if it determines with having become more than a predetermined temperature difference in step S21, the control part 10 will adjust the flow volume of gas (step S13). In step S21, as in step S12, the predetermined temperature difference may be 25 ° C., or any other temperature difference.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, after acquiring the temperature in the vicinity of each power generation unit in step S <b> 14, the control unit 10 determines that the temperature difference between the two power generation units is 5 ° C. or less. It was determined whether or not there is (step S15). And if the temperature difference is 5 degrees C or less in step S15, the control part 10 will return the flow volume of gas to the state before adjustment (step S16).

  In 4th Embodiment, the conditions which return the flow volume of gas to the state before adjustment are taken as the case where the high and low temperature of two power generation part vicinity reverses. In FIG. 6, instead of step S <b> 15, as shown as step S <b> 22 in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the temperature levels near the two power generation units are reversed.

  If it is determined in step S22 that the temperature levels near the two power generation units are not reversed, the control unit 10 returns to step S14 and acquires the temperatures near each power generation unit. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S22 that the temperature levels in the vicinity of the two power generation units are reversed, the control unit 10 returns the gas flow rate to the state before adjustment (step S16).

  For example, a case will be described as an example where the control unit 10 controls the temperature in the vicinity of the low temperature side cell stack 24A to approach the temperature in the vicinity of the high temperature side cell stack 24B in step S13. In this case, in step S22, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the temperature near the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side exceeds the temperature near the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side. If it is determined in step S22 that the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side does not exceed the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side, the control unit 10 returns to step S14 and returns to the cell stack 24. Get the temperature. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side has exceeded the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S16, Return to the state before adjustment.

  As described above, in the power generation device according to the present embodiment, the control unit 10 returns to the state before starting the adjustment of the gas flow rate when the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B are reversed. May be.

  As described above, according to the power generation device according to the present embodiment, the temperature difference between the two cell stacks 24 is prevented from opening more than a predetermined value by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24. To do. Therefore, the power generation device according to the present embodiment can advantageously increase the power generation efficiency, similarly to the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various variations and modifications based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each functional unit, each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so that there is no logical contradiction, and a plurality of functional units, steps, etc. are combined or divided into one. It is possible. In addition, each of the embodiments of the present invention described above is not limited to being performed faithfully to each of the embodiments described above, and is implemented by appropriately combining the features or omitting some of the features. You can also.

  For example, in the above disclosure, the power generation apparatus 1 including a fuel cell has been described as the first embodiment. However, each embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to a power generation device including a fuel cell.

  For example, the embodiment of the present disclosure can be realized as a fuel cell control device that controls a fuel cell from the outside without including the fuel cell. An example of such an embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the fuel cell control device 2 according to this embodiment includes, for example, a control unit 10 and a storage unit 12. The control device 2 controls the external fuel cell 1. That is, the fuel cell control device 2 according to the present embodiment has at least the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the second power generation unit (cell stack 24B). Make one adjustment. Here, the control device 2 adjusts the gas flow rate described above based on the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B.

  Furthermore, the embodiment of the present disclosure can also be realized as a control program to be executed by the fuel cell control device 2 as described above, for example. That is, the fuel cell control program according to the present embodiment executes the step of adjusting at least one of the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24B to the control device 2. Let Here, the control program causes the control device 2 to execute the above steps based on the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power generator 2 Control apparatus 10 Control part 12 Memory | storage part 20 Fuel cell module 22 Reformer 24 Cell stack 30 Supply part 32 Gas supply part 34 Air supply part 36 Reformed water supply part 40 Inverter 50 Waste heat recovery process part 52 Circulation Water treatment section 60 Hot water storage tank 70 Current sensor 80 Temperature sensor 92 Flow meter 94 Gas pump 96 Air blower 98 Flow meter 100 Load 200 Commercial power supply

Claims (11)

A first power generation unit including a fuel cell;
A second power generation unit including a fuel cell;
Based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the second power generation unit A control unit that performs at least one adjustment;
A power generator comprising:   The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts the adjustment when a difference between a temperature in the vicinity of the first power generation unit and a temperature in the vicinity of the second power generation unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.   The said control part returns to the state before starting the said adjustment, when the difference of the temperature of the said 1st electric power generation part vicinity and the temperature of the said 2nd electric power generation part becomes below a predetermined threshold value. The power generator described in 1.   3. The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit returns to a state before the adjustment is started when the temperature between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit are reversed. .   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts at least one of a flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the first power generation unit and a flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the second power generation unit. Power generator.   The said control part performs the said adjustment by changing the ratio of the fuel gas utilized for electric power generation among the fuel gas supplied to the said 1st electric power generation part or the said 2nd electric power generation part. Power generation device.   The power generation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit adjusts at least one of a flow rate of air supplied to the first power generation unit and a flow rate of air supplied to the second power generation unit. apparatus.   The power generation device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit performs the adjustment by changing a ratio of air used for power generation in air supplied to the first power generation unit or the second power generation unit. . At least one of the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit includes a plurality of power generation units,
The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit processes an average of temperatures near the plurality of power generation units as a temperature near the first power generation unit and / or a temperature near the second power generation unit. . A control device for controlling a first power generation unit including a fuel cell and a second power generation unit including a fuel cell,
Based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the second power generation unit A control device that performs at least one of the adjustments. In a control device for controlling a first power generation unit including a fuel cell and a second power generation unit including a fuel cell,
Based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the second power generation unit A control program for executing a step of performing at least one adjustment.

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