JP2020107558A - Power generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a power generation system in which a power generation section can generate electricity even if a supply of city gas stops, in a form that is advantageous in terms of space and installation cost.SOLUTION: A power generation system is provided with: a city gas supply section Q for supplying city gas as fuel gas; a power generation section M for generating electricity using the fuel gas; and an operation control section H for controlling the operation of the power generation section M. The power generation system is also provided with: a cassette gas cylinder type gas supply section P for supplying cylinder gas from a cassette gas cylinder B, as the fuel gas; and a gas supply switching section F for switching between a city gas supply state where the city gas is supplied to the power generation section M and a cylinder gas supply state where the cylinder gas is supplied to the power generation section M.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention is a city gas supply unit that supplies city gas as fuel gas,
A power generation unit that generates power using the fuel gas,
And an operation control unit that controls the operation of the power generation unit.

Such a power generation system is used as a distributed power source in general homes, medical facilities, etc. by supplying city gas supplied from a city gas supply section such as a city gas supply pipe to the power generation section as fuel gas to generate power. In addition, it is often configured as a combined heat and power facility including a heat supply unit that uses the waste heat of the power generation unit.

Further, such a power generation system is desired to be used as an emergency power source when a power failure of the commercial power system occurs, and when the supply of city gas is stopped along with the power failure of the commercial power system. Is also desired to be used as an emergency power source.

As a conventional example of such a power generation system, an LP gas cylinder for supplying LP gas as a fuel gas is provided, and configured to switch between a state of supplying city gas to the power generation unit and a state of supplying LP gas to the power generation unit. In some cases, LP gas is supplied to the power generation section instead of city gas so that the power generation section can generate power (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

That is, in the power generation system of Patent Document 1, when the supply of the city gas is stopped, the LP gas is supplied to the power generation unit instead of the city gas so that the power generation unit can perform power generation. It is designed to be used as a power source.

JP, 2017-188216, A

In the conventional power generation system, LP gas supplied from the LP gas cylinder is used as fuel gas instead of city gas. However, installing the LP gas cylinder at the installation location of the power generation system requires space and installation cost. In terms of aspects, it was difficult to realize.

That is, for example, in order to install LP gas in a general household, an LP gas cylinder is installed in a garden or a veranda, but it is difficult to install a large LP gas cylinder in a garden or a veranda in terms of space. In some cases, the installation cost of the LP gas cylinder may be high due to having to ask a specialist to install it, and it is difficult to realize the installation cost. Therefore, it is difficult to install the LP gas cylinder at the installation location of the power generation system in terms of space and installation cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to perform power generation in a power generation unit even when supply of city gas is stopped in an advantageous form in terms of space and installation cost. The point is to provide a power generation system that can

The power generation system of the present invention includes a city gas supply unit that supplies city gas as fuel gas,
A power generation unit that generates power using the fuel gas,
An operation control unit for controlling the operation of the power generation unit is provided, and its characteristic configuration is
A cassette cylinder type gas supply unit for supplying cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder as the fuel gas is provided.
A gas supply switching unit that switches between a city gas supply state in which the city gas is supplied to the power generation unit and a cylinder gas supply state in which the cylinder gas is supplied to the power generation unit is provided.

That is, when the supply of city gas is stopped, by switching the gas supply switching unit from the city gas supply state to the cylinder gas supply state, the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder is supplied as fuel gas to the power generation unit, It can generate electricity.
That is, when the supply of city gas is stopped, the power generation unit can generate power as an emergency power source.

Since the cassette cylinder is small and lightweight, the cassette cylinder can be installed without requiring a large space, for example, by installing the cassette cylinder inside the housing accommodating the power generation unit in a state of being aligned with the power generation unit.
Moreover, the cassette cylinder can be purchased at a low price at a retail store that handles cassette stoves, and the cassette cylinder can be installed in the cassette cylinder type gas supply unit by a general user.
That is, the cassette cylinder can be installed in an advantageous form in terms of space and installation cost.

In short, according to the characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention, it is possible to generate power in the power generation unit even in the case where the supply of city gas is stopped in an advantageous form in terms of space and installation cost.

In a further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention, the power generation unit reforms the fuel gas into a reformed gas containing a large amount of hydrogen component, and a fuel cell power generation in which the reformed gas is supplied to generate power. And a part.

That is, the fuel gas is reformed into a reformed gas containing a large amount of hydrogen in the reforming unit, the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell power generation unit, and the fuel cell power generation unit generates power.
Since the power generation unit including the reforming unit and the fuel cell power generation unit can generate power efficiently, it emits a relatively small amount of carbon dioxide and operates without generating a large noise. It can generate electricity in excellent condition.

In short, according to the further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention, it is possible to generate power in an environmentally excellent state.

A further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention is provided with an operation unit that issues a selection command for selecting the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state,
The operation control unit is configured to perform a switching operation of the gas supply switching unit based on the selection command of the operation unit, and, according to the type of the fuel gas supplied with the operating condition of the power generation unit. It is configured to be set.

That is, if the operation unit issues a selection command for selecting either the city gas supply state or the cylinder gas supply state, the operation control unit switches the gas supply switching unit to use city gas as fuel gas. The power generation section switches to a state in which power is generated and the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder is used as fuel gas to generate power in the power generation section.

Therefore, by a simple operation of issuing a selection command from the operation unit, the power generation unit can generate power using the city gas as the fuel gas and the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder can be used as the fuel gas in the power generation unit. Since it can be switched, the operation can be simplified.

Further, the operation control unit sets the operating condition of the power generation unit according to the type of the fuel gas supplied, in addition to the switching operation of the gas supply switching unit based on the selection command of the operation unit. In any of the city gas supply state in which city gas is supplied to the power generation unit as fuel gas and the cylinder gas supply state in which cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder is supplied to the power generation unit as fuel gas, the power generation unit can be operated well.

That is, since the cylinder gas containing a large amount of butane as a main component has a higher calorific value (calorific value) than the city gas containing a large amount of methane as a main component, the operation control unit may, for example, By setting the operating conditions of the power generation unit according to the type of fuel gas supplied, such as lowering the supply amount (flow rate) per hour in the cylinder gas supply state compared to the city gas supply state, the city gas supply state In any of the gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state, the power generation section can be operated well.

In short, according to the further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention, the power generation unit can be favorably operated in both the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state while simplifying the operation.

A further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention is such that the cassette cylinder type gas supply unit has a configuration in which a plurality of cylinder connection units connecting the cassette cylinders are connected in parallel to a gas supply path, and It is configured to include a plurality of open/close valves that separately open and close the communication between each of the cylinder connecting portions and the gas supply path,
The operation control unit selectively communicates the plurality of cylinder connection parts with the gas supply path, and the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder connected to the cylinder connection part that communicates with the gas supply path. Each time the gas supply time for supplying the gas reaches a set continuation time, the other cylinder connection part is configured to switch to a state of communicating with the gas supply path, and the plurality of on-off valves are configured to be opened and closed. There is a point.

That is, a plurality of cassette cylinders are separately connected to each of the plurality of cylinder connection parts provided in the cassette cylinder type gas supply section, and the cylinder gas from one of the plurality of cassette cylinders is supplied to the gas supply path. Is supplied to the power generation section from the gas supply path.

The operation control unit connects the other cylinder connection units to the gas supply path every time the gas supply time for supplying the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder connected to the cylinder connection unit communicating with the gas supply path reaches the set duration. A plurality of on-off valves are controlled to be opened and closed by switching to a state in which they are turned on.

Therefore, although the amount of cylinder gas stored in one cassette cylinder is small, it is possible to continuously generate power for a long time by using the cylinder gas stored in a plurality of cassette cylinders.

In short, according to the further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention, power can be continuously generated for a long time even in the cylinder gas supply state.

A further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention is such that the operation control unit is configured to display used information of the plurality of cassette cylinders connected to the plurality of cylinder connection units on a display unit. It is in.

In other words, since the used information of the plurality of cassette cylinders connected to the plurality of cylinder cylinders is displayed on the display unit, the user can check the number of used cassette cylinders among the plurality of cassette cylinders. Can replace the used cassette cylinder with a new cassette cylinder that has not been used, and can favorably continue power generation in the cylinder gas supply state.

In short, according to the further characteristic configuration of the power generation system of the present invention, it is possible to favorably continue power generation in the cylinder gas supply state.

Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the combined heat and power system Flowchart showing the control operation of the operation control unit

[Embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Overall structure of combined heat and power supply system)
As shown in FIG. 1, the combined heat and power system includes a fuel cell type power generation module M as a power generation unit for generating power using fuel gas, a hot water storage tank T for storing hot water, and exhaust heat of the fuel cell power generation module M. Exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N for recovery, hot water circulation pump J for circulating hot water between hot water storage tank T and exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N, and condensed water generated in exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N are recovered. The recovery tank D and the operation control unit H are configured to be provided inside the casing (casing) K.

(Details of fuel cell power generation module)
The fuel cell power generation module M includes a desulfurizer 1 for desulfurizing a fuel gas, an evaporator 2 for generating steam mixed with the fuel gas from the desulfurizer 1, and a steam-reformed fuel gas for steam reforming. It has a reforming section 3 that produces a quality gas, a manifold 4 to which the reformed gas produced in the reforming section 3 is supplied, and a plurality of fuel battery cells 5 that are supplied with the reformed gas from the manifold 4 to generate electricity. The cell stack 6 and the combustor 7 that combusts the off gas from the cell stack 6 are provided.
The evaporation unit 2, the reforming unit 3, the manifold 4, the cell stack 6, and the combustion unit 7 are housed inside a high temperature container 8.

The desulfurizer 1 will remove the sulfur component contained in the fuel gas (for example, the odorant contained in the city gas), and the fuel gas is supplied to the desulfurizer 1 through the fuel gas supply passage L1. Has been done.

The reforming water used for steam reforming is supplied to the evaporation unit 2 through the reforming water supply passage L2. The reforming water supplied to the evaporation unit 2 through the reforming water supply passage L2 is the water stored in the recovery tank D.
The combustion heat generated in the combustion unit 7 is transferred to the evaporation unit 2, and the reforming water is evaporated by the heat, and the generated steam and the fuel gas are mixed inside the evaporation unit 2. The mixed gas is supplied to the reforming section 3 through the mixed gas supply path L3.

The reforming unit 3 performs a steam reforming process on the fuel gas to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component. The combustion heat generated in the combustion unit 7 is also transmitted to the reforming unit 3, and the heat accelerates the reforming reaction.
The reformed gas generated in the reforming unit 3 is supplied to the manifold 4 through the reformed gas supply path L4, and the reformed gas supplied to the manifold 4 is supplied to the plurality of fuel battery cells 5 (fuel cell power generation unit One example).

The fuel battery cell 5 is formed in a solid oxide type having a solid electrolyte layer between the fuel electrode and the air electrode. That is, the fuel cell 5 includes a fuel passage (not shown) through which the reformed gas generated in the reformer 3 flows and an air passage (see FIG. (Not shown), the reformed gas flows upward through the fuel flow section to supply the reformed gas to the entire fuel electrode, and the air flows upward through the air flow section to generate air. Air is supplied to the entire pole, and the reformed gas and the air are used in a power generation reaction to generate power.

The cell stack 6 is configured to include a plurality of fuel cells 5 electrically connected in series.
Then, the exhaust fuel gas that has been used for the power generation reaction in the fuel cell 5 is discharged from the exhaust port at the upper end of the fuel flow section, and the exhaust air that has been used for the power generation reaction in the fuel cell 5 is It is discharged from the discharge port at the upper end of the air flow section.

Above the cell stack 6, a combustion space for burning off-gas (that is, exhausted fuel gas discharged from the fuel flow section of each fuel cell 5 and exhaust air discharged from the air flow section) is formed in the combustion section. It is formed as 7. In other words, the cell stack 6 functions as a constituent member forming the combustion section 7.
As a result of the evaporation part 2 and the reforming part 3 being provided adjacent to the combustion part 7, as described above, the evaporation part 2 and the reforming part 3 are heated by the combustion heat generated in the combustion part 7. Also, the cell stack 6 is heated.

Air (oxygen) is supplied to the inside of the high temperature container 8 through the air supply unit 9. That is, the air supply blower 10 for supplying air (outside air) is connected to the air supply unit 9.
The air (oxygen) supplied to the inside of the high temperature container 8 is used for the power generation reaction in the fuel cell 5 and also used for the combustion of the exhaust fuel gas in the combustion section 7.

Further, the high temperature container 8 is formed with an exhaust part 11 for discharging the combustion exhaust gas generated in the combustion part 7 to the outside, and the exhaust part 11 has a combustion exhaust gas passage through which the combustion exhaust gas generated in the combustion part 7 flows. L5 is connected.

(Details of electricity supply configuration)
A power conversion unit 12 such as an inverter that converts DC power from the cell stack 6 into AC power is provided in a state of being electrically connected to the cell stack 6. Then, the AC power converted by the power converter 12 is supplied to the power load device, the power system, and the like via the power line 13.

Further, a storage battery 14 that stores DC power from the cell stack 6 is provided, and the power of the storage battery 14 is the operating power of the operation control unit H, the startup operation power when the combined heat and power system is started up, and the like. Is configured to be used.

(Details of exhaust heat recovery configuration)
The exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N is connected to a combustion exhaust gas passage L5 through which the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the high temperature container 8 flows, and the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N is connected to a hot water circulation connected to a hot water storage tank T. A forward path 15A connected to the tank bottom side of the path 15 and a return path 15B connected to the tank upper side are connected.

That is, the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N is configured to be supplied with the combustion exhaust gas and the hot and cold water stored in the hot water storage tank T to exchange heat between them.
Then, the combustion exhaust gas is cooled by heat exchange in the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N, the water vapor contained in the combustion exhaust gas is condensed into water, and the condensed water is caused to flow by its own weight through the recovery water passage L6. In addition, the combustion exhaust gas after heat exchange is discharged to the outside through the exhaust gas discharge path L7.

A hot water circulation pump J that circulates the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank T through the hot water circulation passage 15 is provided in a state of being arranged in the outward passage 15A.
A hot water cooling radiator 16 that cools the hot water before being supplied to the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N is provided in the forward path 15A of the hot water circulation path 15, and the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank T is high. Even in the state where the hot exhaust water is cooled, the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N exchanges heat to appropriately cool the combustion exhaust gas.

Further, a water purifier 17 for purifying the condensed water flowing through the recovery water passage L6 into pure water is provided, and the refined water is recovered in the recovery tank D as reformed water, and then is recovered in the recovery tank D. A reforming water pump 18 for supplying quality water to the evaporation unit 2 through the reforming water supply passage L2 is provided.

(About hot water storage tank)
The hot and cold water stored in the hot water storage tank T is circulated through the hot and cold water circulation passage 15 via the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger N in such a form that it is taken out from the tank bottom side and returned to the tank top side. The hot water storage tank T is configured to store hot water having a higher temperature in an upper portion and a lower temperature in a lower portion, that is, in a state of forming a temperature stratification.

A hot water supply path 19 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank T, and hot water stored in the hot water storage tank T is supplied to the hot water consumption section through the hot water supply path 19. A water supply path 20 for supplying tap water or the like is connected to a lower portion of the hot water storage tank T, and the hot water storage tank T is replenished with the amount of water supplied to the hot water consuming portion.

(About fuel gas supply structure)
The inlet side end of the fuel gas supply path L1 is connected to a city gas supply path L8 and a cassette cylinder type gas supply section P, which are connected to a gas conduit Q as a city gas supply section for supplying city gas as fuel gas. A cylinder gas supply path L9 is connected.
The cassette cylinder type gas supply unit P is configured to supply the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder B as fuel gas.
By the way, an opening/closing lid Kh is provided at a portion of the casing (casing) K corresponding to the installation location of the cassette cylinder type gas supply unit P, and with the opening/closing lid Kh opened, the mounting work of the cassette cylinder B is performed. It is also configured so that replacement work can be performed.

The city gas supply passage L8 is provided with a city gas side opening/closing valve 21, and the cylinder gas supply passage L9 is provided with a cylinder gas side opening/closing valve 22. The city gas side opening/closing valve 21 and the cylinder gas side opening/closing valve 22 are controlled to be opened/closed by the operation control unit H as described later.
Then, when the city gas side opening/closing valve 21 is opened and the cylinder gas side opening/closing valve 22 is closed, the city gas is supplied to the fuel cell power generation module M, and the cylinder gas side opening/closing valve 22 is opened and the city gas side opening/closing is performed. When the valve 21 is closed, the cylinder gas is supplied from the cassette cylinder gas supply unit P to the fuel cell power generation module M.

That is, the city gas side opening/closing valve 21 and the cylinder gas side opening/closing valve 22 are configured to function as a gas supply switching unit F that switches between the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state.

The operation control unit H is connected to a remote control R for driving commands (an example of an operation unit). Then, by operating the command operation unit Rs provided in the remote controller R, the remote controller R is configured to issue a selection command for selecting the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state to the operation control unit H.
Based on the selection command, the operation control unit H is configured to open/close the city gas side opening/closing valve 21 and the cylinder gas side opening/closing valve 22 so as to switch between the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state.

That is, at the time of initial installation, the city gas supply state is set, but when the supply of city gas is stopped, the remote control R can issue a command to select the cylinder gas supply state.
Further, when the supply of the city gas is restored, the remote control R can issue a command for selecting the city gas supply state.
The remote control R is provided with a display screen Rh that displays various information.

The city gas supply passage L8 is provided with a city gas side pressure sensor 23 for detecting the supply pressure of city gas, and the cylinder gas supply passage L9 is provided with a cylinder gas side pressure sensor 24 for detecting the supply pressure of cylinder gas. The detection information is input to the operation control unit H.

In the fuel gas supply path L1, from the upstream side to the downstream side, a source gas valve 25 that opens and closes the fuel gas supply path L1 and a flow rate control valve that adjusts the flow rate of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply path L1. 26, a flow rate sensor 27 that detects the flow rate of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply passage L1, and a governor 28 that adjusts the supply pressure of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply passage L1 to a set pressure.

(Details of cassette cylinder type gas supply section)
The cassette cylinder type gas supply part P is provided with a plurality of cylinder connection parts A for connecting the cassette cylinder B connected in parallel to a cylinder gas supply path L9 as a gas supply path.
By the way, although not shown, a cylinder support frame for mounting and supporting the cassette cylinder B is provided corresponding to each of the four cylinder connection portions A.
Further, it is configured to include a plurality of open/close valves 29 for individually opening/closing the communication between each of the plurality of cylinder connecting portions A and the cylinder gas supply passage L9.

In this embodiment, four cylinder connection parts A are provided, and four cassette cylinders B are configured to be attachable to the cassette cylinder gas supply part P.
Further, presence/absence detection sensors S for detecting the presence/absence of the cassette cylinders B are provided corresponding to the respective mounting positions of the four cassette cylinders B.
The presence/absence detection sensor S can be configured using, for example, a push-operation switch that is pressed by the cassette cylinder B connected to the cylinder connection portion A.

(About operation control)
When the selection command for selecting the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state is commanded from the remote controller R as described above, the operation control unit H switches the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state based on the selection command. The city gas side opening/closing valve 21 and the cylinder gas side opening/closing valve 22 are configured to be opened/closed so as to be switched.

When the operation start command is issued from the remote controller R in the city gas supply state, the operation control unit H sets the detection value of the city gas side pressure sensor 23 to indicate that the city gas is normally supplied. When the pressure is equal to or higher than the supply pressure, the process for opening the original gas valve 25 is executed.
When the operation start command is issued from the remote controller R in the city gas supply state, the operation controller H raises the temperature of each part of the fuel cell power generation module M in addition to the process of opening the original gas valve 25. The start-up operation is performed, and then the power-generating operation in which the fuel cell power generation module M generates power is performed.

When the operation start command is issued from the remote controller R in the cylinder gas supply state, the operation control unit H detects that the value detected by the cylinder gas side pressure sensor 24 is equal to or higher than the set supply pressure indicating that the cylinder gas is normally supplied. When it is, the processing for opening the original gas valve 25 is executed.
When the operation start command is issued from the remote controller R in the cylinder gas supply state, the operation control unit H raises the temperature of each part of the fuel cell power generation module M in addition to the process of opening the original gas valve 25. The start-up operation is executed, and thereafter, the power generation operation for generating power in the fuel cell type power generation module M is executed.

In the city gas supply state, the operation control unit H causes the detection value of the city gas side pressure sensor 23 to become lower than the set supply pressure indicating that the city gas is normally supplied, or the remote control R issues a stop command. Is executed to satisfy the stop condition, and the process for closing the original gas valve 25 is executed.
Similarly, in the cylinder gas supply state, the operation control unit H causes the detection value of the cylinder gas side pressure sensor 24 to become lower than the set supply pressure indicating that the cylinder gas is normally supplied, or a stop command from the remote controller R. When the stop condition is satisfied by issuing the command, the processing for closing the original gas valve 25 is executed.

When the detected value of the city gas side pressure sensor 23 is equal to or higher than the set supply pressure during execution of power generation operation in the cylinder gas supply state, the operation control unit H displays the normality of city gas on the display screen Rh of the remote controller R. Is configured to display the city gas normal information indicating that the gas is being supplied to.
Therefore, the user can instruct the selection command of the city gas supply state by the city gas normal information displayed on the display screen Rh of the remote controller R during the execution of the cylinder gas supply state.

(About operating conditions)
The operation control unit H sets the operating conditions of the fuel cell power generation module M in accordance with the type of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell power generation module M in the power generation operation in the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state. Is configured.
As the operating condition of the fuel cell power generation module M, in the present embodiment, the supply amount of the fuel gas and the supply amount of the reforming water to be supplied to the evaporation unit 2 are set according to the type of the fuel gas. There is.

That is, since the cylinder gas containing a large amount of butane as a main component has about three times as much heat (heat generation amount) as the city gas containing a large amount of methane as a main component, the supply amount of the fuel gas is changed to the city gas supply state. In comparison, in the cylinder gas supply state, it is set to about 1/3. The amount of fuel gas supplied is finely adjusted based on the temperature detected by each part, such as the temperature of the cell stack 6 of the fuel cell power generation module M.
Incidentally, the drive speed of the air supply blower 10 is adjusted in order to adjust the air supply amount from the air supply unit 9 to an appropriate amount according to the supply amount of the fuel gas.

Further, since the cylinder gas containing a large amount of butane as a main component has more carbon per molecule than the city gas containing a large amount of methane as a main component, the steam carbon ratio (S/C) is set to the city gas supply state in the cylinder gas supply state. It will be set higher than the state.

That is, the operation control unit H sets the fuel gas supply amount setting process for setting the supply amount of the fuel gas according to the type of the fuel gas, and the reforming process for setting the supply amount of the reforming water according to the type of the fuel gas. It is configured to execute a water supply amount setting process.
In addition, in the fuel gas supply amount setting process, the operation control unit H controls the opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 26 so that the flow rate of the fuel gas detected by the flow rate sensor 27 becomes the target flow rate. Will be executed.

The operation control unit H controls the drive speed of the reforming water pump 18 in the reforming water supply amount setting process so as to supply the target supply amount of the reforming water that is the target steam carbon ratio (S/C). become. That is, for example, the drive speed of the reforming water pump 18 is controlled so that the reforming water flow rate detected by the reforming water flow rate sensor 30 provided in the reforming water supply passage L2 becomes the target supply rate. become.

(Cassette cylinder switching)
The operation control unit H is configured to execute a process of sequentially switching the new cassette cylinder B to the state of connecting to the cylinder gas supply path L9 during the power generation operation in the cylinder gas supply state.
That is, the operation control unit H selectively communicates the plurality of cylinder connecting portions A with the cylinder gas supply passage L9, and from the cassette cylinder B connected with the cylinder connecting portion A communicating with the cylinder gas supply passage L9. Every time the gas supply time for supplying the cylinder gas reaches the set continuation time, the process for controlling the opening/closing of the plurality of on-off valves 29 is executed by switching the other cylinder connection part A to the state of communicating with the cylinder gas supply passage L9. Is configured.

Further, the operation control unit H displays a plurality of cassette cylinders B connected to the plurality of cylinder connection units A on the display screen Rh (an example of the display unit) of the remote controller R during the power generation operation in the cylinder gas supply state. It is configured to execute a used information display process for displaying used information.
That is, for example, on the display screen Rh, the juxtaposed state of the plurality of cassette cylinders B is schematically displayed, and the display form of the plurality of cassette cylinders B to be displayed is changed depending on whether or not the cassette cylinders B have been used. Is configured to.

Incidentally, the operation control unit H confirms the presence/absence of the cassette cylinder B attached to each of the plurality of cylinder connection units A based on the detection information of the presence/absence detection sensor S for detecting the presence/absence of the cassette cylinder B. Further, when each presence/absence detection sensor S changes from the presence/absence detection state to the presence detection state, it is determined that the cassette cylinder B in the full state is attached.

In addition, the operation control unit H executes the process of switching the cassette cylinders B in such a form that the cylinder gas stored in the cassette cylinder B that is mounted first among the plurality of cassette cylinders B is consumed first. It is configured.

(About cylinder gas supply processing)
Next, the cylinder gas supply process executed by the operation control unit H for supplying the cylinder gas in the cylinder gas supply state will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not the operation start command is issued (#1). If the operation start command is issued, then the detected value of the cylinder gas side pressure sensor 24 is equal to or higher than the set supply pressure. It is determined whether or not (#2).

When it is determined in the process of #2 that the detected value of the cylinder gas side pressure sensor 24 is equal to or higher than the set supply pressure, the cylinder gas supply start process of opening the original gas valve 25 is executed (#3).
Further, in the process of #2, when it is determined that the detection value of the cylinder gas side pressure sensor 24 is less than the set supply pressure, the process of supplying the cylinder gas is ended.

After performing the process of #3, next, the gas supply time counting process of counting the gas supply time for supplying the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder B connected to the cylinder connection portion A communicating with the cylinder gas supply passage L9 is executed. (#4) Then, it is determined whether or not it is the cassette cylinder switching timing when the gas supply time has reached the set continuation time (#5).

In the process of #5, when it is determined that it is the cassette cylinder switching timing, the cassette that controls the opening/closing of the plurality of opening/closing valves 29 so as to switch the other cylinder connecting portion A to the state of communicating with the cylinder gas supply path L9. The cylinder switching process is executed (#6), and then the used information display process for displaying the used information of the cassette cylinder B on the display screen Rh is executed (#7).

In the process of #5, when it is determined that it is not the cassette cylinder switching timing, or when the process of #7 is executed, subsequently, the detected value of the cylinder gas side pressure sensor 24 becomes less than the set supply pressure, or the remote control When a stop command is issued from R, it is determined whether or not the stop condition is satisfied (#8). If the stop condition is satisfied, the cylinder gas supply stop process of closing the original gas valve 25 (#9). To finish supplying the cylinder gas.

Further, when it is determined in the process of #8 that the stop condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to the process of #4 and the supply of the cylinder gas is continued.

<Other embodiment>
Other other embodiments will be listed below.
(1) In the above embodiment, the fuel cell power generation module M is provided as the power generation unit, but the power generation unit may be provided with a generator driven by a gas engine.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the solid oxide fuel cell unit 5 is provided as the fuel cell power generation unit, but the solid polymer fuel cell is provided as the fuel cell power generation unit. You may implement.
In this case, as the operating conditions of the power generation unit, in addition to the adjustment of the flow rate of the fuel gas, the adjustment of the steam carbon ratio (S/C), the adjustment of the fuel supply amount to the burner that heats the reforming unit 3, The heating temperature of the reforming section 3 may be adjusted.

(3) In the above embodiment, the case where four cassette cylinders B are mounted in the cassette cylinder type gas supply unit P is illustrated, but the number of cassette cylinders B mounted in the cassette cylinder type gas supply unit P is two. Various changes can be made, such as three or five or more.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, when the selection command for the city gas supply state is issued in the cylinder gas supply state, the city gas supply state is switched to. However, in the cylinder gas supply state, the city gas side pressure sensor 23 The operation control unit H may be configured to automatically switch to the city gas supply state when the detected value becomes equal to or higher than the set supply pressure indicating that the city gas is normally supplied.

(5) In carrying out the present invention, a fuel gas type discriminating unit for discriminating the heat quantity, composition, etc. of the fuel gas is provided, and the operating condition of the power generation unit is set based on the discrimination result of the fuel gas type discriminating unit. You may implement by a form.

Note that the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments (including other embodiments) can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments as long as no contradiction arises, and are also described in this specification. The embodiment disclosed in 1 is an exemplification, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be appropriately modified within a range not departing from the object of the present invention.

3 reforming section 5 fuel cell power generation section 29 on-off valve A cylinder connection section B cassette cylinder F gas supply switching section H operation control section L9 cylinder gas supply path M power generation section P cassette cylinder type gas supply section Q city gas supply section R operation section Rh display

Claims (5)

A city gas supply unit that supplies city gas as fuel gas,
A power generation unit that generates power using the fuel gas,
An operation control unit that controls the operation of the power generation unit, and a power generation system including:
A cassette cylinder type gas supply unit for supplying cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder as the fuel gas is provided.
A power generation system provided with a gas supply switching unit for switching between a city gas supply state for supplying the city gas to the power generation unit and a cylinder gas supply state for supplying the cylinder gas to the power generation unit. The power generation unit is configured to include a reforming unit that reforms the fuel gas into a reformed gas containing a large amount of hydrogen, and a fuel cell power generation unit that is supplied with the reformed gas to generate power. The power generation system according to 1. An operation unit for instructing a selection command for selecting the city gas supply state and the cylinder gas supply state is provided,
The operation control unit is configured to perform a switching operation of the gas supply switching unit based on the selection command of the operation unit, and, according to the type of the fuel gas supplied with the operating condition of the power generation unit. The power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the power generation system is configured to be set. The cassette cylinder type gas supply unit is provided with a plurality of cylinder connection units connecting the cassette cylinders in parallel to the gas supply passage, and each of the plurality of cylinder connection units and the gas supply passage. It is configured to have a plurality of on-off valves that open and close the communication separately,
The operation control unit selectively communicates the plurality of cylinder connection parts with the gas supply path, and the cylinder gas from the cassette cylinder connected to the cylinder connection part that communicates with the gas supply path. Each time the gas supply time for supplying the gas reaches a set continuation time, the other cylinder connection part is configured to switch to a state of communicating with the gas supply path, and the plurality of on-off valves are configured to be opened and closed. The power generation system according to claim 1. The power generation system according to claim 4, wherein the operation control unit is configured to display, on a display unit, used information of the plurality of cassette cylinders connected to the plurality of cylinder connection units.

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