JP5001749B2 - Cogeneration equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cogeneration apparatus, and more specifically, to a cogeneration apparatus that copes with a case where power supply is required when there is no heat demand.

In recent years, a generator driven by an internal combustion engine is connected to an AC power supply path from a commercial power system to an electric load to supply power to the electric load in conjunction with the commercial power system, and exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine. A so-called cogeneration apparatus has been proposed in which warm water or the like warmed by using a heat source is supplied to a heat load, and a technique described in Patent Document 1 can be given as an example.
JP-A-8-4586

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, when surplus power is generated, the heater disposed in the hot water tank is energized to warm the hot water, that is, the surplus electricity generated by the generator is stored as thermal energy. In addition to improving energy efficiency, the stored heat energy can be used when the heat load increases, thereby improving the ability to cope with load fluctuations.

  The above prior art relates to a cogeneration device that generates hot water using exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine, but in a cogeneration device that generates hot air instead of hot water, there is a need for power supply when there is no heat demand Can also occur.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a cogeneration system that generates warm air using exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine, when power supply is required when there is no heat demand, It is to provide a cogeneration apparatus that supplies electric power.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in claim 1, a power generation unit comprising a generator connectable to a power supply path of AC power from a commercial power system to an electric load, and an internal combustion engine that drives the generator The first heat exchanger connected to the cooling water circulation path of the internal combustion engine, the second heat exchanger connected to the combustion gas intake / exhaust path of the burner, and the intake air A blower for sending heat to at least the first heat exchanger of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to exchange heat, and supplying the generated hot air into the room from the hot air passage; The control means includes a switching means for selectively connecting the hot air passage to either the indoor or the outdoor, and a control means for controlling the operation of the switching means in accordance with an operating state, and the control means has no heat demand. Sometimes power supply is required When done, or when the temperature of the chamber is higher than the target temperature, said switching means is operated to as configured for connecting said warm air passage to the outside.

  In the cogeneration apparatus according to a second aspect, the switching means is constituted by a damper provided in the hot air passage.

In the cogeneration system according to claim 3, wherein, when the temperature of the chamber is lower with respect to the target temperature, was constructed as the combustion of the burner.

In the cogeneration apparatus according to claim 1, the first heat exchanger connected to the cooling water circulation path of the internal combustion engine and the second heat exchanger connected to the combustion gas intake / exhaust path of the burner are provided. A blower for supplying at least the first heat exchanger to exchange heat and supplying the generated hot air into the room from the hot air passage; and switching means for selectively connecting the hot air passage to either the indoor or the outdoor And a control means for controlling the operation of the switching means according to the operating state, and when the power supply is required when there is no heat demand, or when the indoor temperature is higher than the target temperature, the switching means is provided. since the warm air path is operated and as configured to connect to the outside, in the cogeneration system for generating and utilizing the exhaust heat of the internal combustion engine warm air, when the power supply is required when there is no heat demand, temperature By controlling the operation of the switching means to connect the passageway to the outdoor, it is possible to supply power on demand.

  In the cogeneration apparatus according to claim 2, since the switching means is configured to be composed of a damper provided in the hot air passage, in addition to the above-described effect, the connection of the hot air passage to the room or the outside can be easily performed. It can be carried out.

  In the cogeneration apparatus according to claim 3, since the control means is configured to burn the burner when the indoor temperature is lower than the target temperature, in addition to the above-described effects, the burner is set according to the heat demand. By making it burn, a shortage of heat supply can be avoided.

  The best mode for carrying out a cogeneration apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing a cogeneration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the cogeneration apparatus (denoted by reference numeral 10) is a generator that can be connected to an AC power supply path (power line) 16 from a commercial power source (commercial power system) 12 to a domestic electrical load (electric load) 14. 20 (shown as “GEN”), an internal combustion engine (shown as “ENG”, hereinafter referred to as “engine”) 22 that drives the generator 20, and a power generation unit 26 including a power generation control unit 24.

  The commercial power supply 12 outputs AC power of 50 Hz (or 60 Hz) at 100/200 V AC from a single-phase three-wire. The power generation unit 26 is integrated and accommodated in a power generation unit case (housing) 30.

  More specifically, as shown in the figure, the power generation unit case 30 is divided into two chambers by a partition 30a. In the figure, the generator 20 and the engine 22 are arranged vertically in the right chamber, and the left chamber The power generation control unit 24 is accommodated in the. The power generation control unit 24 is isolated from the engine 22 and is housed in a separate room from the engine 22 so as to block heat dissipation from the engine 22 as much as possible.

  The engine 22 is a water-cooled four-cycle single-cylinder OHV type spark ignition engine that uses city gas (or LP gas) as fuel, and has a displacement of, for example, 163 cc. Although illustration is omitted, in the power generation unit case 30, the cylinder head and the cylinder block of the engine 22 are arranged in a horizontal (horizontal) direction, and one piston is arranged in a reciprocating manner in the inside.

  The intake air supplied from the intake duct 22a is mixed with the gas supplied from the gas supply source by the mixer, and the generated air-fuel mixture flows into the combustion chamber and burns when ignited to drive the piston. The crankshaft connected to the piston is rotated in the vertical (vertical) direction. Thus, the generated exhaust gas flows through the exhaust duct 32 connected to the power generation unit case 30 from the exhaust pipe and is discharged outdoors.

  A cooling water circulation path 34 is formed in the vicinity of a heat generating part such as a cylinder block, and the cooling water made of antifreeze flowing inside the heat exchanger heats up the heat generating part to cool the engine 22 and raises the temperature in the exhaust pipe. The temperature is further raised by passing through an exhaust heat exchanger (first heat exchanger) 36 provided along.

  A flywheel is attached to the upper end of the crankshaft, and a generator 20 composed of a multipolar coil is disposed inside the flywheel. When the generator 20 rotates relative to the flywheel, it generates AC power. The output of the generator 20 is sent to the power generation control unit 24.

  Although not shown, the power generation control unit 24 includes an electronic control unit (Electronic Control Unit; hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) composed of a microcomputer, an inverter, and a DC / DC converter. An inverter converts the output of the generator 20 into AC100 / 200V (single phase) through a DC / DC converter.

  The power generation output of the power generation unit 26 is about 1.0 kW. The output of the inverter is connected to the power supply path 16 via the breaker 38. Conversely, the generator 20 also functions as a starter motor for cranking the engine 22 when energized from the commercial power supply 12 via the inverter.

  The ECU of the power generation control unit 24 switches the function of the generator 20 between the starter and the generator and controls the operation of the engine 22 and the like.

  The cogeneration apparatus 10 includes a hot air heating unit 40 in addition to the power generation unit 26.

  The hot air heating unit 40 is connected to an exhaust heat exchanger (first heat exchanger) 42 connected to the coolant circulation path 34 of the engine 22, a burner 44, and a combustion gas intake / exhaust path 44 a of the burner 44. Sensible heat exchanger (second heat exchanger) 44b and latent heat exchanger (second heat exchanger) 44c, exhaust air heat exhaust heat exchanger 42, and sensible heat exchanger 44b and latent heat A blower 46 that sends heat to the room through at least one of the heat exchangers 44c, more specifically, both of them to exchange heat, and a hot air passage, and a hot air heating unit controller (control) Means) 50.

  The hot air heating unit 40 is accommodated in the hot air heating unit case 52 and is connected to each room via a hot air passage.

  2 and 3 are explanatory views showing the warm air passage (indicated by reference numeral 54) and the like. The warm air passage 54 is provided with a damper (switching means) 56 that selectively connects the hot air passage 54 to either the room (each room) or the outdoors (outdoor). The damper 56 is a door that can be opened and closed by an electric motor 56a.

  The electric motor 56a is connected to the power supply path 16 to be supplied with power, and its operation, more specifically, the opening / closing operation of the damper 56 is controlled by the hot air heating unit controller 50. 2 shows a case where the damper 56 connects the hot air passage 54 outdoors (outdoors), and FIG. 3 shows a case where the damper 56 connects the hot air passage 54 indoors.

  Hereinafter, the above-described configuration will be described individually.

  The power generation unit 26 and the hot air heating unit 40 are connected by the cooling water circulation path 34 described above. That is, the cooling water circulation path 34 extends from the engine 22 toward the hot air heating unit 40 and is connected to the exhaust heat exchanger 42 disposed in the vicinity of the blower 46, where the cold air in each room sucked by the blower 46 is connected. After the heat exchange, the engine 22 is returned.

  The cold air is heated by heat exchange in the exhaust heat exchanger 42 to become hot air, and is supplied from a blower duct (not shown) to the hot air passage 54 by the blower 46. As shown in FIG. It is supplied to each room through 54 and heats each room.

  The burner 44 is a combustion fan that sucks air from outside through the intake / exhaust passage 44a, mixes it with the supply gas, and burns it. The combustion gas generated thereby passes through the sensible heat exchanger 44b and the latent heat exchanger 44c and is discharged to the outside from the intake / exhaust passage 44a.

  The sensible heat exchanger 44b and the latent heat exchanger 44c raise the temperature by exchanging heat with air passing through a blower duct (not shown) of the blower 46. Specifically, the sensible heat exchanger 44b radiates heat up to the dew point of the combustion gas, and the latent heat exchanger 44c radiates heat below the dew point. The condensed water generated in the latent heat exchanger 44c is discharged outdoors through a drain pipe (not shown).

  While the blower 46 draws in cold air from each room, the temperature is raised by heat exchange in the exhaust heat exchanger 42, and hot air heated further by combustion of the burner 44 is blown from the air duct to each room. Heat each room.

  Similarly to the ECU of the power generation control unit 24, the hot air heating unit control unit (hereinafter referred to as “hot air control unit”) 50 also includes an ECU (electronic control unit) formed of a microcomputer. The ECU of the hot air control unit 50 is communicably connected to the ECU of the power generation control unit 24 and is also communicably connected to a remote controller 60 (shown as “remote control” in the drawing). The remote controller 60 is operated by a user and used for setting a target room temperature and the like.

  In FIG. 1, T is a temperature sensor, V is a valve, P is a pump, and signal lines are partially omitted, but they are electrically connected to the hot air control unit 50. The hot air control unit 50 controls the operation of the valve V and the pump P based on the outputs of the temperature sensors 62, 64, 66 to control the exhaust heat recovery of the engine 22 and the operation of the blower 46 and the burner 44.

  That is, the hot air controller 50 drives the exhaust heat pump 70 to pump the cooling water flowing through the cooling water circulation path 34 to the exhaust heat heat exchanger 42, and is sucked by the circulating water flowing through the cooling water circulation path 34 and the blower 46. Heat exchange with cold air in each room.

  In consideration of corrosion prevention due to accumulation of condensed water inside the exhaust heat exchanger 36 and durability of engine oil, the hot air control unit 50 sets the inlet temperature of the engine 22 of cooling water to, for example, 70 ° C. To control.

  The operation of the hot air control unit 50 will be further described.

  First, the case where the cogeneration apparatus 10 is operated in conjunction with the commercial power supply 12 will be described.

(A) Heating operation The warm air control unit 50 outputs the output of a temperature sensor 62 (collectively indicated by reference numeral 62) in each room and a remote controller 60 (reference numeral 60 indicates a remote controller in each room). When the detected temperature falls below the set temperature, the power generation control unit 24 is instructed to operate the power generation unit 26 and the detected temperature is When the set temperature is reached, operation is stopped. Then repeat it.

(B) Operation of burner When the detected room temperature does not reach the set temperature even after the specified time has elapsed, or when the difference between the detected room temperature and the set temperature exceeds a predetermined value, It is determined that only the operation of the power generation unit 26 is insufficient, the burner 44 is operated (combusted) until the set temperature is reached, and the warm air heated by the burner 44 is supplied to each room by the blower 46. When the detected temperature reaches the set temperature, the operation of the burner 44 is stopped.

  As described above, when the indoor temperature (room temperature) is lower than the target temperature, the hot air control unit 50 burns the burner 44 and thereby raises the temperature of the hot air.

(C) When heating is not required As described above, there may be a case where power supply is required when heating is not required, that is, when there is no heat demand. For example, it is a case where there is no heating request when the main power operation is not performed, such as supplying power when the power of the commercial power system (commercial power source) 12 is insufficient. In this case, when the electric load 14 is operated and electric power is supplied, thermal energy including hot air is also supplied. The same applies when the detected room temperature is higher than the set temperature.

  In that case, the hot air control unit 50 energizes the electric motor 56a of the damper 56, drives the damper 56 to the state shown in FIGS. 3 to 2, and the damper so that the hot air passage 54 is connected to the outside (outdoor). 56 operations are controlled.

  Thereby, the electric power generation unit 26 can be driven and electric power can be supplied with the electric load 14 as required. The hot air control unit 50 returns the damper 56 to the state shown in FIGS. 2 to 3 when the power supply operation is completed.

  Next, a case where the cogeneration apparatus 10 is operated independently without being connected to the commercial power source 12 such as when a power failure occurs in the commercial power source 12 will be described.

  In that case, the power generation control unit 24 activates the power generation unit 26 simultaneously with the occurrence of a power failure. The ECU of the power generation control unit 24 operates the power generation unit 26 according to the electric load 14 to generate power. The ECU decreases the voltage when the electric load increases, while the voltage increases when the electric load decreases. Therefore, the ECU adjusts the power generation output so that the voltage is constant.

  When the power generation unit 26 operates, a heat output is generated including an idle operation in which no power generation is output, but the hot air control unit 50 performs a heating operation similar to that in the connection with the commercial power supply 12 according to the heat demand. Burner drive is performed. The same applies to controlling the operation of the damper 56 as described above when there is no heat demand.

As described above, in this embodiment, the generator 20 that can be connected to the AC power supply path (power line) 16 from the commercial power source (commercial power system) 12 to the home electrical load (electric load) 14, the power generation An exhaust heat exchanger (first heat exchanger) 36 connected to a cooling water circulation path 34 of the engine 22 in the cogeneration apparatus 10 including at least a power generation unit 26 composed of an engine (internal combustion engine) 22 for driving the machine; An exhaust heat exchanger (first heat exchanger) 42, a sensible heat exchanger (second heat exchanger) 44b connected to the combustion gas intake / exhaust passage 44a of the burner 44, and a latent heat exchanger ( (Second heat exchanger) 44c, exhaust air at the exhaust heat exchanger 36 and exhaust heat exchanger 42, sensible heat exchanger 44b and latent heat exchanger 44c, and at least exhaust heat exchanger 36 and exhaust heat. In the heat heat exchanger 42 More specifically, the heat is sent to the exhaust heat exchanger 36, the exhaust heat exchanger 42, the sensible heat exchanger 44b, and the latent heat exchanger 44c to exchange heat, and the generated hot air is passed through the hot air passage 54 to the room. When there is no demand for heat, more specifically, depending on the operating state, a blower 46 to be supplied, a damper (switching means) 56 that selectively connects the hot air passage 54 to either the indoor or the outdoor When a power supply is required, a hot air control unit (control means) 50 for controlling the operation of the switching means is provided , and the control means 50 is requested to supply power when there is no heat demand. Alternatively, when the indoor temperature is higher than a set temperature (target temperature), the damper (switching means) 56 is operated to connect the hot air passage 54 to the outside of the room .

  Thus, when power supply is required when there is no heat demand, the operation of the damper (switching means) 56 is controlled so as to connect the hot air passage 54 to the outside of the room, thereby supplying power as required. It becomes possible to do. The same applies when the room temperature is higher than the set temperature.

  Further, since the switching means is constituted by the damper 56 provided in the hot air passage 54, in addition to the above-described effects, the hot air passage 54 can be easily connected to the room or outdoors (outdoors). it can.

Further, when the control means the temperature of the chamber is lower with respect to the (set temperature) the target temperature, since it is configured as to burn the burner 44, in addition to the effects mentioned above, the combustion burner 44 in response to the heat demand By doing so, it is possible to avoid a shortage of heat supply.

  In the above description, the gas engine using city gas / LP gas as fuel is used as a drive source of the generator 20, but an engine using gasoline fuel or the like may be used.

  Moreover, although the output of the generator 20, the displacement of the engine 22 and the like are shown as specific values, it goes without saying that these are merely examples and are not limited.

1 is a block diagram generally showing a cogeneration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the warm air path of the warm air heating unit shown in FIG. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the warm air path of the warm air heating unit shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cogeneration apparatus, 12 Commercial power supply (commercial power system), 14 Domestic electric load (electric load), 16 Feeding path (power line), 20 Generator, 22 Engine (internal combustion engine), 24 Power generation control part, 26 Power generation unit , 34 Cooling water circulation path, 36 Exhaust heat exchanger (first heat exchanger), 40 Warm air heating unit, 42 Exhaust heat exchanger (first heat exchanger), 44 Burner, 44a Intake / exhaust path, 44b Sensible heat exchanger (second heat exchanger), 44c latent heat exchanger (second heat exchanger), 50 hot air heating unit control section (hot air control section, control means), 54 hot air passage, 56 Damper (switching means)

Claims (3)

In a cogeneration apparatus comprising at least a generator that can be connected to a power supply path of AC power from a commercial power system to an electrical load, and a power generation unit composed of an internal combustion engine that drives the generator,
a. A first heat exchanger connected to the cooling water circuit of the internal combustion engine;
b. A second heat exchanger connected to the combustion gas intake and exhaust passage of the burner;
c. A blower that sends intake air to at least the first heat exchanger of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to exchange heat, and supplies the generated hot air into the room from the hot air passage. When,
d. Switching means for selectively connecting the warm air passage to either the room or the outside;
e. Control means for controlling the operation of the switching means according to the operating state;
The provided Rutotomoni, wherein, when the power supply is required when there is no heat demand, or when the temperature of the chamber is higher than the target temperature, the outdoor said hot air passage by operating the switching means A cogeneration device characterized by being connected to .   2. The cogeneration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching means includes a damper provided in the hot air passage. Wherein, when the temperature of the chamber is lower with respect to the target temperature, the cogeneration system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the combusting said burner.