JP5580237B2 - Operation method of power generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generation device that generates power by consuming gas supplied via a gas meter that measures a gas flow rate, and more particularly, to a method for operating the power generation device.

  Recently, small-scale power generation devices such as fuel cell devices and cogeneration systems using gas engines have been installed in places where electricity is demanded such as homes and stores. Such a power generation device can supplement part or all of the power demand with the power generated on the spot, can effectively use the heat generated by the power generation, and can increase the energy efficiency.

  This type of power generation apparatus is configured to generate power by consuming mainly gas supplied to a power demand area by a gas supplier. The gas consumption in this power generation apparatus is measured by a gas meter installed in a power demand area together with the gas consumption in other gas consuming devices.

  On the other hand, as a gas meter provided in each home, there is a microcomputer meter incorporating a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer). This microcomputer functions as a “supply abnormality detection function” that detects a gas supply abnormality such as a gas leak, a gas hose disconnection, a gas pipe breakage, or a gas plug misopening by executing a predetermined program. When a supply abnormality is detected, a shut-off valve that shuts off the gas supply is activated or an alarm is issued.

  The supply abnormality detection function of the microcomputer meter recognizes the gas flow state such as the gas flow rate and the gas flow fluctuation amount from the measured gas flow rate, and the gas flow state did not become the predetermined reset state during the predetermined judgment period. Is detected as a supply abnormality. For example, as a supply abnormality detection function, there is a “leak detection function” for detecting that gas is leaking from an inner pipe connected to the downstream side of the microcomputer meter.

  Such a leak detection function is used when the gas flow rate measured by the gas meter does not become equal to or less than the no-flow state flow rate that is zero or close to zero during a predetermined “leakage determination period” such as 30 days. This is configured to detect this as a gas leak. Specifically, this leak detection function measures the time during which the gas flow rate measured by the gas meter continues to be a flow rate exceeding the no-flow state flow rate, and the measured time corresponds to the leak determination period. Is detected as a gas leak, and an alarm or the like is issued (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

  By the way, in order to efficiently operate the above power generator, it is preferable to make the power load of the power generator as high as possible. In particular, when the power generation device is a fuel cell device, the operating efficiency at the partial load of the fuel cell device is not better than the rating, so the load output is as high as possible without exceeding the power demand (load) of the installation site. It is preferable to operate continuously for a long time.

  However, if the power generation device is continuously operated for a long time in this way, the supply abnormality detection function configured in the microcomputer meter erroneously detects continuous gas consumption in the power generation device as a gas supply abnormality. Sometimes. For example, the leak detection function of a microcomputer meter erroneously detects that a gas leak has occurred if the power generation device is continuously operated and the measured gas flow rate does not become non-flowing during the leak judgment period. It will cause a warning.

  Therefore, in the technology described in Patent Document 3 below, in the configuration in which gas is supplied to the power generation system (power generation device) via the gas meter, the supply abnormality detection function of the gas meter can be effectively functioned without erroneous detection. The power generator is operated. Specifically, during the determination period for detecting a gas supply abnormality, the gas supply amount supplied from the gas meter to the power generation device is temporarily changed according to a predetermined fluctuation pattern, and the supply resulting from the operation of the power generation device It is configured to avoid erroneous detection of gas supply abnormality of the abnormality detection function.

JP-A-8-43154 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-236037 Japanese Patent No. 4274816

  By the way, in the technique described in Patent Document 3, the gas supply amount supplied to the power generation device via the gas meter is temporarily changed according to a predetermined fluctuation pattern. Is assumed to change to about “0 (L / h)” which is less than the flow rate detection capability of the gas meter. For this reason, when the power generation device is a fuel cell device, the operation is temporarily stopped, and there is a concern that start / stop may adversely affect the durability of the fuel cell device, and the energy saving performance of the device may be impaired. is there.

  Here, the microcomputer of the gas meter has a “flame registration function” as another function. This inflammation registration function functions so as not to determine that the situation is a gas leak even if the gas supply amount does not become zero within the registered fixed flow rate range.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned “flame registration function”, and its purpose is to stop the power generation device in a configuration in which gas is supplied to the power generation device via a gas meter. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of operating a power generator that enables a gas meter supply abnormality detection function to function effectively without erroneous detection.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is an operation method of a power generation apparatus that consumes gas supplied via a gas meter for measuring a gas flow rate and generates power, the gas meter measuring The gas meter has a supply abnormality detection function for detecting as a gas supply abnormality that the gas flow state recognized from the gas flow rate is not in a predetermined reset state during a predetermined determination period. The gas flow rate in the fixed flow range has an ignition registration function that does not determine that the gas supply is abnormal, and the power generation device operates in a load following operation mode in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate that follows the power load, consists of a fixed flow rate operation mode for performing operation to perform selectively, power generators, large predetermined small amount from the gas flow rate is fixed flow range during the load following operation modes If have, and purpose to perform the operation at a fixed flow rate range.

  According to the configuration of the invention described above, the power generator is configured to perform a predetermined fixed operation in which the gas flow rate is registered in accordance with the ignition registration function of the gas meter during the execution of the load following operation mode in which the operation is performed at the gas flow rate following the power load. When it is in the vicinity of the flow rate range, the operation is performed in the fixed flow rate range. Therefore, regardless of whether or not the fixed flow rate operation mode is executed, the power generation device is operated when the gas follower operation mode is operated with the gas flow rate in the fixed flow range during the predetermined determination period. The registration function prevents the gas supply abnormality from being determined by the supply abnormality detection function.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 2 is an operation method of a power generator that consumes gas supplied via a gas meter for measuring a gas flow rate and generates power, the gas meter measuring The gas meter has a supply abnormality detection function for detecting, as a gas supply abnormality, that the gas flow state recognized from the gas flow rate is not in a predetermined reset state during a predetermined determination period. The gas flow rate in the fixed flow range has an ignition registration function that does not determine that the gas supply is abnormal, and the power generation device operates in a load following operation mode in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate that follows the power load, configured to perform a fixed flow operation mode for performing operation selectively, the power generation apparatus, but a predetermined small amount from the gas flow rate is fixed flow range during the load following operation modes If it is larger, operate in the fixed flow range, and if the gas flow rate is smaller than the fixed flow range by a certain amount during execution of the load following operation mode, operate in the fixed flow range while using power with the accessory. The purpose is that.

  According to the configuration of the above invention, when the gas flow rate is larger than the fixed flow rate range by a predetermined amount during execution of the load following operation mode, the power generator operates in the fixed flow rate range, and the gas flow rate is fixed flow rate. If it is slightly smaller than the range by a certain amount, it operates in a fixed flow range while using power with the accessory. Thus, when the gas flow rate is in the vicinity of the fixed flow rate range, the operation is performed in the fixed flow rate range.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the power generator operates in a fixed flow rate range for a predetermined reference time for each immediately preceding determination period. In the case where only the operation is not performed, the continuous operation is performed in the fixed flow operation mode until the reference time is reached thereafter.

  According to the configuration of the above invention, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, when the operation in the fixed flow rate range is not performed for a predetermined reference time for each immediately preceding determination period, Since the continuous operation is performed in the fixed flow rate operation mode until the reference time is reached, the operation in the fixed flow rate range satisfies the reference time in this judgment period, and the gas meter detects a gas supply abnormality during the judgment period. Disappears.

  To achieve the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the power generator selects the fixed flow rate operation setting by operating the operating means by the user. In this way, the operation is performed at a predetermined fixed flow rate.

  According to the configuration of the invention described above, in addition to the operation of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, when the user selects the fixed flow rate operation setting by operating the operating means, the power generation device is fixed to a predetermined level. Since the operation is performed based on the flow rate, the gas flow rate can be set to a fixed flow rate range necessary for the gas meter firing registration function.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the power generator is configured to perform continuous operation in the fixed flow rate operation mode cumulatively for each determination period. The purpose is to perform for a certain period of time.

  According to the configuration of the invention, in addition to the operation of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the power generator performs continuous operation in the fixed flow rate operation mode cumulatively for a predetermined time for each determination period. The operation in the fixed flow rate range is performed for a predetermined time every determination period, and the determination condition for the gas supply abnormality by the supply abnormality detection function of the gas meter is satisfied.

  According to the present invention, in the configuration in which the gas is supplied to the power generation device via the gas meter, the supply abnormality detection function of the gas meter can be effectively functioned without erroneous detection without stopping the power generation device.

The schematic block diagram which shows the operation control apparatus of an electric power generating apparatus concerning one Embodiment. The image figure which shows the operation pattern of a fuel cell apparatus according to the same embodiment. The flowchart which shows the content of the 1st automatic selection process according to the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the content of the 2nd automatic selection process according to the embodiment. The graph which shows the relationship between the electric power load and gas flow rate in the load follow-up operation mode according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for operating a power generator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, the operation control apparatus of the electric power generating apparatus in this embodiment is shown with a schematic block diagram. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation control device of this power generator includes a fuel cell device 20 that is a power generator, a conduit 1 and an inner pipe 2 that supply gas as fuel to the fuel cell device 20, and a conduit 1. A gas meter 10 for measuring the flow of gas to the inner pipe 2. This apparatus is installed in a home or a store.

  The gas supplied by the gas supply company to the demand department such as a home or a store through the conduit 1 is first disposed in the demand department after passing through the gas meter 10 installed in the demand department. The fuel cell device 20 and other gas consuming devices 40 installed in the demand section are supplied through the pipe 2.

  The gas meter 10 includes a measuring unit 12 that measures a flow rate of gas flowing from the conduit 1 to the inner tube 2, a microcomputer (abbreviated as a microcomputer) 15 that can execute various processes, and a gas flow to the inner tube 2. And an alarm lamp 18 that can be turned on by an output signal of the microcomputer 15. The gas flow rate measured by the measurement unit 12 is displayed on the display unit 19 provided in the gas meter 10 as an integrated flow rate.

  The microcomputer 15 provided in the gas meter 10 functions as a supply abnormality detection function 16 that detects a gas supply abnormality such as a gas leak, a gas hose disconnection, a gas pipe breakage, or a gas plug misopening by executing a predetermined program. To do. The supply abnormality detection function 16 monitors the gas flow state recognized from the gas flow rate measured by the measuring unit 12, and determines that the gas flow state has not been set to a predetermined reset state during a predetermined determination period. It is configured to detect a supply abnormality. When the gas supply abnormality is detected, the supply abnormality detection function 16 can operate the shut-off valve 13 to shut off the gas flow, turn on the alarm lamp 18, or recognize that a gas supply abnormality has occurred. An alarm signal is transmitted to a management server side operated and managed by a gas supplier via a communication network or the like.

  Specifically, as the supply abnormality detection function 16, the microcomputer 15 detects that the gas flow rate measured by the measurement unit 12 as the gas flow state is zero or close to zero as the reset state during the leak determination period TeJ as the predetermined determination period. It has a “leak detection function” that detects that the value is not less than the “no-flow state flow rate” that is “gas leak” as a gas supply abnormality.

  In this embodiment, a membrane type flow meter that outputs a flow rate pulse signal as the membrane chamber is filled with gas and counts the flow rate pulse signal as the measurement unit 12 can measure the gas flow rate. used. In this case, the leak detection function is reset when no flow rate pulse signal is output, for example, during 1 hour (when the gas flow rate per hour falls below the metered volume of the membrane chamber). Recognize. For example, when this reset state does not occur during “30 days” (the time when the flow rate pulse has occurred for one or more pulses continues for 30 days), it is detected as a gas leak. That is, the leakage determination period TeJ is set to, for example, “30 days” in which the gas consuming device 40 or the like hardly consumes gas continuously during the period, and the non-flow state flow rate is 1 hour. It is set to “1.0 (L / h)” when one pulse of the flow rate pulse is output.

  On the other hand, the microcomputer 15 executes a predetermined program so that the gas meter 10 does not operate the above-described supply abnormality detection function 16 for the gas flow rate (flame registration flow rate) in the registered predetermined fixed flow rate range. That is, it functions as the flaming registration function 17 that does not determine that there is a gas supply abnormality.

  The fuel cell device 20 functions as a power generation device that is supplied with gas from the gas meter 10 that measures the gas flow rate through the inner pipe 2 and consumes the supplied gas to generate power. Specifically, the fuel cell device 20 includes a fuel cell 22 that generates electricity and heat using a gas supplied from the inner pipe 2 with adjustment by the control valve 21. The fuel cell 22 includes a heater 23 as an accessory device.

  The fuel cell device 20 includes an operation control device 30 including a computer capable of controlling the gas supply amount to the fuel cell 22 by operating the control valve 21 for the gas supply amount supplied from the gas meter 10. The operation control device 30 functions as a false detection avoidance processing unit 31 that executes a “false detection avoidance process” described later by executing a predetermined program. An operation panel 32 including a plurality of switches is connected to the operation control device 30 as an operation means operated by a user. A detailed configuration related to the operation of the operation control device 30 will be described below.

  As described above, the fuel cell device 20 is installed so that gas is supplied via the gas meter 10 having the supply abnormality detection function 16 and the flaming registration function 17. Here, for example, when the fuel cell device 20 has been operating at a constant load for a long time, the supply abnormality detection function 16 of the gas meter 10 functions to continuously consume gas in the fuel cell device 20. May be erroneously detected as a gas supply abnormality. In particular, in this embodiment, since the gas meter 10 has a “leakage detection function” as the supply abnormality detection function 16, the leak detection function is such that the fuel cell device 20 is continuously operated, for example, a leak determination period of “30 days”. During TeJ, if the gas flow rate measured by the measurement unit 12 is not less than, for example, “1.0 (L / h)” in the non-flowing state flow rate, it is erroneously detected that a gas leak has occurred. , Warnings, etc.

  Therefore, the erroneous detection avoidance processing means 31 of the operation control device 30 is used for the inner pipe during the leakage determination period TeJ for detecting a gas supply abnormality in the supply abnormality detection function 16 of the gas meter 10, particularly the “leak detection function”. The gas supply amount supplied from 2 to the fuel cell device 20 is adjusted in accordance with the flaming registration function 17 of the microcomputer 15 of the gas meter 10. Thereby, it is comprised so that the misdetection of the gas supply abnormality resulting from the driving | operation of the fuel cell apparatus 20 may be avoided.

  That is, the false detection avoidance processing means 31 adjusts the flow rate of the gas supplied from the inner pipe 2 to the fuel cell 22 by operating the control valve 21 during the leakage determination period TeJ. Here, a “load following operation mode” in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate following the power load and a “fixed flow operation mode” in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate within a predetermined fixed flow range LF are selectively executed. Composed.

  When the gas flow rate is in the vicinity of the fixed flow rate range LF during execution of the “load following operation mode”, the erroneous detection avoidance processing unit 31 operates in the fixed flow rate range LF. Therefore, specifically, the false detection avoidance processing unit 31 has a predetermined small amount of gas flow rate from the fixed flow rate range LF during execution of the “load following operation mode” (for example, “10 (L / h))”) If it is larger than the fixed flow rate range LF, the gas flow rate is smaller than the fixed flow rate range LF by a predetermined amount (for example, “10 (L / h))”. In this case, the heater 23 built in the fuel cell 22 is configured to operate in a fixed flow range LF while using electric power.

  Further, the erroneous detection avoidance processing unit 31 is not operated within the fixed flow rate range LF for a predetermined reference time TiS (for example, “24 hours”) every previous leakage determination period TeJ (for example, “30 days”). In this case, it is configured to continuously operate in the “fixed flow rate operation mode” until the reference time TiS thereafter. By operating in this way, the erroneous detection avoidance processing means 31 avoids erroneous detection of gas leakage due to the leakage detection function of the gas meter 10 due to continuous operation of the fuel cell device 20.

  Next, details of the operation related to the false detection avoidance processing means 31 executed by the operation control device 30 of the fuel cell device 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 2, the driving | running pattern of the fuel cell apparatus 20 is shown with an image figure. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation executed by the operation control device 30 selects any one of the ignition corresponding operation setting 52, the fixed flow operation setting 53, and the load following operation setting 54 by the external setting 51 by the user's operation. It is supposed to be. The user can make the selection using the operation panel 32.

  Here, the operation corresponding to the ignition registration function 17 which the microcomputer 15 of the gas meter 10 has about the fuel cell apparatus 20 can be performed by selecting the operation setting 52 corresponding to the ignition. By selecting the fixed flow rate operation setting 53, the fuel cell device 20 is operated at a predetermined fixed flow rate, and the gas flow rate can be set to a fixed flow rate range LF necessary for the ignition registration function of the gas meter 10. In this embodiment, for example, “50 (L / h) ± 1 (L / h)” can be set as the fixed flow rate range LF. Further, by selecting the load following operation setting 54, the fuel cell device 20 can be operated following the electric power load.

  When the fire-fighting operation setting 52 is selected by the external setting 51, the erroneous detection avoidance processing unit 31 of the operation control device 30 executes the first automatic selection process 61. In this process, for example, the operation is performed based on the operation time in the fixed flow rate range LF of “29 days” immediately before “30 days” of the leakage determination period TeJ. The operation control device 30 is configured to execute the automatic selection operation mode 62, the fixed flow operation mode 63, or the load following operation mode 64 by this processing.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of the first automatic selection process. First, in step 100, the operation control device 30 determines whether or not the operation corresponding to the ignition is set 52. If this determination result is negative, the operation control device 30 returns the process to step 100 as it is. If the determination result is affirmative, the operation control device 30 proceeds to step 101.

  In step 101, the operation control device 30 calculates an integrated operation time TiE in the fixed flow rate range LF in the immediately preceding leakage determination period TeJ.

  Next, in step 102, the accumulated operation time TiE is compared with a predetermined time (T1, T2 (T1 <T2)). Here, for example, “24 hours” can be applied as the predetermined time T1. Further, for example, “30 hours” can be applied as the predetermined time T2.

  If the accumulated operation time TiE is smaller than the predetermined time T1 as a result of the comparison in step 102, the operation control device 30 executes the fixed flow operation mode in step 103 because the operation time in the fixed flow range LF is short. . For example, it is assumed that the operation time in the fixed flow rate range LF is less than “24 hours” in “29 days”.

  If the accumulated operation time TiE is not less than the predetermined time T1 and not more than the predetermined time T2 as a result of the comparison in step 102, the operation control device 30 determines that the operation time in the fixed flow rate range LF is a normal time. Then, the automatic selection operation mode is executed. For example, it is assumed that the operation time in the fixed flow range LF is “25 days” to “30 hours” in “29 days”.

  If the cumulative operation time TiE is greater than the predetermined time T2 as a result of the comparison in step 102, the operation control device 30 executes the load following operation mode in step 105 because the operation time in the fixed flow rate range LF is long. . For example, it is assumed that the operation time in the fixed flow rate range LF is “30 days” or more in “29 days”. Since this mode is an original operation mode of the fuel cell 22, the energy saving property of the fuel cell device 20 is enhanced.

  That is, according to the first automatic selection process described above, the fuel cell device 20 performs the continuous operation in the fixed flow rate operation mode cumulatively for the predetermined times T1 and T2 for each leakage determination period TeJ.

  In addition, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, once entering each operation mode so that switching to each operation mode does not occur frequently in a short time, do not move to another operation mode for a certain period of time. Is also possible.

  Next, returning to the image diagram of FIG. 2, when the automatic selection operation mode 104 is executed by the first automatic selection processing 61, the erroneous detection avoidance processing means 31 of the operation control device 30 executes the second automatic selection processing 71. . This process is performed for the last “29 days” regardless of the operation time in the fixed flow rate range LF. With this process, a fixed flow rate operation or a load following operation is performed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of the second automatic selection process. First, in step 200, the operation control device 30 determines whether or not the automatic selection operation mode 62 is set. If this determination result is negative, the operation control device 30 returns the process to step 200 as it is. If the determination result is affirmative, the operation control device 30 proceeds to step 201.

  In step 201, the operation control device 30 calculates a gas flow rate GF. The operation control device 30 calculates the gas flow rate GF based on a predetermined load following logic.

  Next, in step 202, the operation control device 30 determines whether or not the current operation of the fuel cell 22 is a fixed flow rate operation. The “fixed flow rate operation” is an operation for controlling the control valve 21 so that the gas flow rate GF supplied to the fuel cell 22 falls within a predetermined fixed flow rate range LF. When this determination result is negative, that is, when the fixed flow rate operation is not performed, the operation control device 30 moves the process to step 203.

  In step 203, the operation control device 30 determines whether or not the gas flow rate GF is within the fixed flow rate range LF. If this determination result is negative, the operation control device 30 returns the process to step 200 as it is. If this determination result is affirmative, the operation control device 30 changes the current operation to a fixed flow operation at step 204.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step 202 is affirmative, that is, if the operation is a fixed flow rate operation, the operation control device 30 determines in step 205 whether the gas flow rate GF is within the fixed flow rate range LF. If the determination result is affirmative, the operation control device 30 returns the process to step 200 as it is. If the determination result is negative, the operation control device 30 changes the current operation to load following operation in step 206.

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the power load and the gas flow rate during the load following operation mode. In FIG. 5, between the times t <b> 1 and t <b> 2, the gas flow rate is adjusted so as to follow the power load, and the fuel cell 22 generates power. Then, when the gas flow rate approaches the predetermined fixed flow range LF at time t2, the gas flow rate is adjusted to become the gas flow rate in the fixed flow range LF. In this way, the operation time of the fixed flow rate range LF is ensured.

  According to the operation method of the power generation device of this embodiment described above, the fuel cell device 20 performs the ignition registration function of the gas meter 10 during the execution of the “load following operation mode” in which the operation is performed at the gas flow rate following the power load. If the gas flow rate GF is in the vicinity of the registered predetermined flow rate range LF, the operation is performed in the fixed flow rate range LF. Specifically, the fuel cell device 20 operates in the fixed flow range LF when the gas flow rate GF is larger than the fixed flow range LF by a predetermined amount during execution of the “load following operation mode”. When the flow rate GF is smaller than the fixed flow rate range LF by a predetermined amount, the heater 23 is operated in the fixed flow rate range LF while using electric power.

  Therefore, the fuel cell device 20 does not execute the “fixed flow rate operation mode” or not, and executes the “fixed flow rate operation mode” during the predetermined load determination period TeJ (30 days) during the execution of the “load following operation mode”. When the operation is performed with the gas flow rate GF in the range LF, when the accumulated time TiE of the operation in the fixed flow range LF has reached the reference time TiS (24 hours), the ignition registration function 17 of the gas meter 10 The determination of the gas supply abnormality by the supply abnormality detection function 16 is not performed. However, if the gas flow rate GF cannot be adjusted to the fixed flow rate range LF even when the fuel cell device 20 performs the operation as described above, the abnormality detection function 16 of the gas meter 10 functions to detect a gas supply abnormality. Can do. For this reason, in the structure which supplies gas to the fuel cell apparatus 20 via the gas meter 10, the supply abnormality detection function 16 of the gas meter 10 can be effectively functioned without erroneous detection without stopping the fuel cell apparatus 20. .

  In this embodiment, when the fuel cell device 20 is not operated in the fixed flow rate range LF for a predetermined reference time TiS (24 hours) every immediately preceding leakage determination period TeJ (30 days), Until the reference time TiS is reached, the continuous operation is forcibly performed in the “fixed flow rate operation mode”. Therefore, in the current leakage determination period TeJ, the operation in the fixed flow rate range LF satisfies the reference time TiS, and the gas meter 10 does not detect a gas supply abnormality during the leakage determination period TeJ. Therefore, by forcibly executing the operation in the “fixed flow rate operation mode”, the supply abnormality detection function 16 of the gas meter 10 can be effectively functioned without erroneous detection without stopping the fuel cell device 20. .

  In this embodiment, the fuel cell device 20 performs the continuous operation in the fixed flow rate operation mode cumulatively for a predetermined time T1 and T2 for each leak determination period TeJ, and therefore, in the fixed flow range FL for each leak determination period TeJ. The operation is performed only for a predetermined time T1, T2, and the reference time TiS, which is a determination condition for gas supply abnormality by the supply abnormality detection function 16 of the gas meter 10, is satisfied. For this reason, the flaming registration function 17 can be made to function reliably according to the supply abnormality detection function 16 of the gas meter 10.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A part of structure can also be changed suitably and implemented in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is embodied in the fuel cell device 20 as a power generator, but the present invention may be embodied in a cogeneration system using a gas engine as a power generator.

  The present invention can be used, for example, for operation of a small-scale power generation device such as a fuel cell device used in a home or a store, or a cogeneration system using a gas engine.

10 Gas Meter 16 Supply Abnormality Detection Function 17 Firing Registration Function 20 Fuel Cell Device (Power Generation Device)
22 Fuel cell 23 Heater (attached equipment)
30 Operation control device 31 False detection avoidance processing means

Claims (5)

A method of operating a power generator that consumes gas supplied via a gas meter that measures a gas flow rate and generates power,
The gas meter has a supply abnormality detection function for detecting, as a gas supply abnormality, that the gas flow state recognized from the measured gas flow rate has not become a predetermined reset state during a predetermined determination period;
The gas meter has an igniting registration function that does not determine that the gas supply is abnormal for a gas flow rate in a predetermined fixed flow rate range registered,
The power generation device is configured to selectively execute a load following operation mode in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate following an electric load, and a fixed flow rate operation mode in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate in the fixed flow range,
The power generator operates in the fixed flow range when the gas flow rate is larger by a predetermined amount than the fixed flow range during execution of the load following operation mode. . A method of operating a power generator that consumes gas supplied via a gas meter that measures a gas flow rate and generates power,
The gas meter has a supply abnormality detection function for detecting, as a gas supply abnormality, that the gas flow state recognized from the measured gas flow rate has not become a predetermined reset state during a predetermined determination period;
The gas meter has an igniting registration function that does not determine that the gas supply is abnormal for a gas flow rate in a predetermined fixed flow rate range registered,
The power generation device is configured to selectively execute a load following operation mode in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate following an electric load, and a fixed flow rate operation mode in which operation is performed at a gas flow rate in the fixed flow range,
When the gas flow rate is larger than the fixed flow rate range by a predetermined amount during execution of the load following operation mode, the power generator operates in the fixed flow range and during execution of the load follow operation mode. wherein when the gas flow rate is smaller by a predetermined small amount from the fixed flow range, operating method of the power generation device you and performs operation at the fixed flow range while using power by accessories.   When the operation in the fixed flow rate range is not performed for a predetermined reference time for each immediately preceding determination period, the power generator continuously operates in the fixed flow operation mode until the reference time is reached thereafter. The operating method of the power generator according to claim 1 or 2.   The power generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power generator is operated at a predetermined fixed flow rate by a user operating an operation means to select a fixed flow rate operation setting. Driving method.   The method of operating a power generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the power generator performs a continuous operation in the fixed flow rate operation mode cumulatively for a predetermined time for each determination period.

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