JP7260352B2 - energy supply system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to energy supply systems.

In recent years, an energy supply system including a power generation unit such as a fuel cell has been used in general households. In the energy supply system, in addition to generating electric power in the power generation unit, heat generated along with the electric power is recovered and used.

In the energy supply system described above, the speed at which the power generating unit starts output following load fluctuations (hereinafter referred to as "load following speed") may not keep up with load fluctuations. In this case, power is purchased from a commercial power source, so the power cost increases accordingly.

On the other hand, in order to suppress the purchase of electric power from commercial power sources, there have been conventionally proposed means for suppressively controlling the load so as not to cause sudden fluctuations (see Patent Document 1, etc.).

JP 2010-17076 A

According to the above means, while the power cost can be suppressed, the operation on the load side is restricted.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to propose an energy supply system capable of suppressing the purchase of electric power from a commercial power source while avoiding restriction of operation on the load side.

An energy supply system according to a first aspect of the present invention utilizes a power generation unit that generates heat and electric power, hot water heated by the heat, and circulates the hot water for a predetermined heat application. and a control section for controlling the power generation section and the heat supply facility, wherein the heat supply facility consumes power supplied from at least one of the power generation section and a commercial power supply. The control unit is configured to increase the output of the power generation unit from a timing before the heat supply facility starts operation for the predetermined heat application. there is

An energy supply system according to a second aspect of the present invention utilizes a power generation unit that generates heat and electric power, and hot water heated by the heat, and circulates the hot water for a predetermined heat application. and a control section for controlling the power generation section and the heat supply facility, wherein the heat supply facility consumes power supplied from at least one of the power generation section and a commercial power supply. In a stage before the heat supply facility starts operation for the predetermined heat application, the control unit controls the power generation unit even if the load power of the entire system decreases. It is configured so as not to reduce the output over time.

In the energy supply system according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the predetermined heat application is at least one of a time-reserved heating operation and an intermittent heating operation. including.

In the energy supply system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the predetermined heat application is at least one of a time-reserved hot water filling operation and a reheating operation. Includes thermal applications.

In the energy supply system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the predetermined heat usage includes heat usage for freeze prevention operation of the heat supply equipment.

An energy supply system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the power generating unit is a fuel cell.

In the energy supply system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the load power increases at the start of operation of the heat supply facility, but even if the load following speed of the power generation unit is relatively slow, Purchasing power from the commercial power supply can be curtailed, thereby avoiding limiting operation on the load side.

In the energy supply system according to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the load following speed of the power generation unit is relatively slow while the load power increases when the heat supply facility starts operating, Purchasing power from the commercial power supply can be suppressed, thus avoiding limiting operation on the load side.

In the energy supply system according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the energy supply system according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, heating operation (time-reserved heating operation, intermittent heating operation), it is possible to reduce the purchase of electric power from the commercial power supply.

In the energy supply system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the energy supply system according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, automatic operation of the bath (hot water filling operation , reheating operation), it is possible to suppress the purchase of electric power from a commercial power supply.

In the energy supply system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the energy supply system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, freeze prevention operation of the heat supply equipment is performed. When you do, you can save yourself from purchasing power from the mains.

In the energy supply system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the energy supply system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, Even if the load following speed of the fuel cell is relatively slow as the power increases, it is possible to reduce power purchases from the mains supply and therefore limit the operation of the load side. can avoid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a whole block diagram of the energy supply system of one Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a graph diagram schematically showing power transition in heating operation of the same energy supply system. FIG. 4 is a graph diagram schematically showing another power transition in heating operation same as the above. FIG. 4 is a graph diagram schematically showing power transition in hot water filling operation of the same energy supply system. FIG. 10 is a graph diagram schematically showing another electric power transition in the hot water filling operation same as the above. It is a graph diagram which shows typically the electric power transition in the reheating operation during heat retention of the energy supply system same as the above. It is a graph diagram which shows typically another electric power transition in reheating operation same as the above. FIG. 4 is a graph diagram schematically showing power transition in anti-freezing operation of the energy supply system same as above. FIG. 10 is a graph diagram schematically showing another power transition in antifreeze operation same as above.

An energy supply system of one embodiment will be described based on the attached drawings.

As shown in its entirety in FIG. 1, the energy supply system of one embodiment is a domestic cogeneration system comprising a first unit Ua having a power generation section 1 and a second unit Ub having a heat supply facility 9. be. The power generation unit 1 is a fuel cell 11 . The heat supply equipment 9 is configured to circulate the hot water, which has recovered the exhaust heat of the first unit Ua, in various forms. The operation of the first unit Ua and the second unit Ub is controlled by the controller 2 . The control unit 2 has a first control unit 21 that controls the power generation unit 1 and a second control unit 22 that controls the heat supply equipment 9 .

The first unit Ua includes a reformer 12 that reforms the raw material gas to generate hydrogen gas (hydrogen-containing gas), and a hydrogen gas supply line 13 that supplies the hydrogen gas generated here to the fuel cell 11. . Further, the first unit Ua includes a cooling water circulation path 14 for recovering the heat generated by the fuel cell 11 with cooling water, and a heating medium circulation path for circulating a heating medium (hot water) between the first unit Ua and the second unit Ub. and a heat exchange section 16 for exchanging heat between the cooling water circulating in the cooling water circulation path 14 and the heat medium circulating in the heat medium circulation path 15 .

A cooling water circulation pump 141 and a cooling water storage tank 143 are provided in the cooling water circulation path 14 . A heat medium circulation pump 151 and a surplus power heater 153 are provided in the heat medium circulation path 15 . The surplus power heater 153 is a heater for converting the surplus power of the power generated by the fuel cell 11 into heat and recovering it.

A distribution board 102 connected to a commercial power supply 100 is electrically connected to an electrical load 108 of a dwelling unit and a second unit Ub via a power supply line 104. can be supplied to the electric load 108 and the second unit Ub. The electric load 108 is, for example, a television, refrigerator, washing machine, or the like.

Also, the first unit Ua is electrically connected to the distribution board 102, and the electric power generated by the fuel cell 11 can be supplied to the electric load 108 of the dwelling unit and the second unit Ub. In the energy supply system of one embodiment, basically, the power generated from the fuel cell 11 is used to generate power for the electric load 108 of the dwelling unit and power for the operation of the second unit Ub. Covers the load power (household power demand). When the load power of the entire system exceeds the rated power of the fuel cell 11, the shortfall is purchased from the commercial power source 100. - 特許庁

The first control section 21 provided in the first unit Ua is configured to be able to freely communicate various information with the second control section 22 provided in the second unit Ub. An external remote controller (not shown) can issue various information such as an operation start command and an operation stop command to the first control unit 21 and the second control unit 22 .

Next, a specific configuration of the heat supply equipment 9 included in the second unit Ub will be described.

The heat supply equipment 9 includes a hot water storage tank 3, an auxiliary heat source device 4, a circulation pump 50, a heating circulation pump 51, a reheating circulation pump 52, an exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 53, a heating heat exchanger 54, and a reheating A heat exchanger 55 for

Further, the heat supply equipment 9 includes a hot water mixing valve 56 , a hot water filling valve 57 , a heating circuit supply valve 58 , a heat storage switching valve 59 , a circulation opening/closing valve 60 , a three-way valve 61 and a circulation amount adjustment valve 62 .

The hot water storage tank 3 is a tank that stores hot water from which the exhaust heat of the first unit Ua is recovered. A tank upper passage 63 is connected to the upper portion of the hot water storage tank 3 , and a tank lower passage 64 is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 3 . The tank upper passage 63 is connected to the hot water supply mixing valve 56 , and the tank lower passage 64 is connected to the three-way valve 61 .

The heat supply facility 9 further includes a water supply path 65 , a circulation path 66 , a heat storage path 67 , a heating circulation path 68 , an expansion tank 69 , a supply path 70 , a bath circulation path 71 and a hot water supply path 72 .

The auxiliary heat source device 4 is a device that uses fuel gas such as city gas to cause combustion. The auxiliary heat source device 4 includes a fin-tube heat exchange section 41 through which hot water flows, a burner 42 that heats the heat exchange section 41 , and a blower fan 43 that supplies combustion air to the burner 42 .

The water supply channel 65 is a channel for supplying hot water from a water supply source such as a water pipe. It is branched into two water supply channels 652 .

The circulation path 66 is a circulation path in which the circulation pump 50 is arranged. A heat exchanger 54 for heating, a heat exchanger 55 for reheating, and a three-way valve 61 are arranged in this order. The hot water circulating in the circulation path 66 is heated by exhaust heat from the first unit Ua transmitted through the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 53 .

The heating heat exchanger 54 and the reheating heat exchanger 55 are arranged in series in the circulation path 66, and the opening and closing of the circulation on-off valve 60 causes the heating heat exchanger 54 and the reheating heat exchanger 55 to open and close. The intermittent flow of hot water in is switched.

The heat storage path 67 is a flow path that connects a portion of the circulation path 66 on the downstream side of the auxiliary heat source device 4 and the tank upper path 63 . A heat storage switching valve 59 is provided in the heat storage path 67 .

The heating circulation path 68 is a circulation path for circulating a heating heat medium (hot water) to a heating terminal 106 such as a floor heating device. A vessel 54 is provided. The heating circulation path 68 is provided with a short-circuit path 681 for short-circuiting the heating medium.

The expansion tank 69 is provided in the heating circuit 68 . The supply passage 70 is a passage for supplying hot water from the water supply passage 65 to the expansion tank 69 . A heating circuit supply valve 58 is provided in the supply path 70 .

Bath circulation path 71 is a circulation path connected to bathtub 107 . A reheating circulation pump 52 and a reheating heat exchanger 55 are provided in the bath circulation path 71 .

The hot water supply path 72 is a flow path extending from the hot water supply mixing valve 56, and is used while being connected to a general hot water supply valve (not shown). The hot water supply path 73 is a flow path that connects a midpoint of the hot water supply path 72 and the bath circulation path 71 . A hot water filling valve 57 is provided in the hot water filling path 73 .

Next, various operational controls of the heat supply equipment 9 in the second unit Ub will be described.

Each device included in the heat supply facility 9 is configured to operate by consuming power supplied from at least one of the power generation unit 1 and the commercial power supply 100 , and is controlled by the second control unit 22 .

The second unit Ub can perform hot water storage operation, heating operation, reheating operation, general hot water supply operation, hot water filling operation, and freeze prevention operation.

The hot water storage operation is an operation in which the hot water heated using the exhaust heat of the power generation unit 1 is stored in the hot water storage tank 3 . In order to perform the hot water storage operation, the second control unit 22 opens the heat storage switching valve 59, closes the circulation opening/closing valve 60, and switches the three-way valve 61 so that the tank lower passage 64 and the circulation passage 66 are communicated. The circulation pump 50 is driven.

As a result, hot water taken out from the tank lower passage 64 is passed through the three-way valve 61 to the circulation passage 66 and heated by the heat exchanger 53 for exhaust heat recovery. It can be returned to the hot water storage tank 3 via.

The heating operation is an operation for supplying heating medium to the terminal 106 for heating. In order to perform the heating operation, the second control unit 22 closes the heat storage switching valve 59, opens the circulation on-off valve 60, and switches the three-way valve 61 so that the tank lower passage 64 and the circulation passage 66 are not communicated. The circulation pump 50 is driven. As a result, hot water is circulated through the circulation path 66 and the circulating hot water is heated by the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 53 . Further, the second control unit 22 drives the heating circulation pump 51 to circulate the heating heat medium (hot water) in the heating circulation path 68, and circulates the circulating heating heat medium in the heating heat exchanger 54. heat up. The heated heating medium is supplied to the heating terminal 106 through the heating circuit 68 .

The reheating operation is an operation in which bathtub water stored in the bathtub 107 is heated while being circulated through the bath circulation path 71 . In order to perform the reheating operation, the second control unit 22 closes the heat storage switching valve 59, opens the circulation opening/closing valve 60, and opens the three-way valve so that the tank lower passage 64 and the circulation passage 66 are not communicated, as in the case of the heating operation. With the valve 61 switched, the circulation pump 50 is driven. As a result, hot water is circulated through the circulation path 66 and the circulating hot water is heated by the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 53 . Further, the second control unit 22 drives the reheating circulation pump 52 to circulate the bathtub water in the bath circulation path 71 and heats the bathtub water with the reheating heat exchanger 55 .

The general hot water supply operation is an operation in which the hot water stored in the tank 3 is mixed with low-temperature hot water from the water supply source to obtain an appropriate temperature, and then supplied to the general hot water tap. When the general hot water tap is opened, hot water from the water supply source is supplied to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3 through the second water supply channel 652, and high-temperature hot water stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 flows through the tank upper channel 63 to supply hot water. In the water mixing valve 56 , the hot water is mixed with low-temperature hot water supplied from the water supply source through the first water supply passage 651 , and then supplied through the hot water supply passage 72 to the general hot water tap.

When hot water of a predetermined temperature is not stored in the hot water storage tank 3, the second control unit 22 detects this and drives the auxiliary heat source device 4 and the circulation pump 50 to supply hot water. In other words, by driving the circulation pump 50, hot water is caused to flow from the tank lower passage 64 to the circulation passage 66 via the three-way valve 61, and the hot water is heated by the auxiliary heat source device 4 and then passed through the heat storage passage 67. Then, the hot water is supplied to the tank upper passage 63 and the hot water supply passage 72 .

The hot water filling operation is an operation in which the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 3 is mixed with low-temperature hot water from the water supply source to obtain an appropriate temperature and then supplied to the bathtub 107 . Until the hot water stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 is adjusted to the appropriate temperature and sent to the hot water supply passage 72, the operation is the same as the general hot water supply operation. Hot water at a suitable temperature is supplied to the bathtub 107 through the hot water filling path 73 and the bath circulation path 71 .

When hot water of a predetermined temperature is not stored in the hot water storage tank 3, the second control unit 22 detects this and drives the auxiliary heat source device 4 and the circulation pump 50 in the same manner as in the general hot water supply operation. That is, by driving the circulation pump 50, hot water flowing from the tank lower passage 64 to the circulation passage 66 is heated by the auxiliary heat source device 4, and the heated hot water is sent to the tank upper passage 63 via the heat storage passage 67. It is supplied to the bathtub 107 through the hot water supply path 72, the hot water filling path 73 and the circulation path 71 for bath.

In the hot water filling operation, when the hot water supplied to the bathtub 107 reaches the set water level, the second control unit 22 detects this and closes the hot water filling valve 57 to shift to the reheating operation. In the reheating operation, as described above, the second control unit 22 drives the reheating circulation pump 52 to circulate the bathtub water in the bath circulation path 71 while the bathtub water is supplied to the reheating heat exchanger 55. heat up.

The anti-freezing operation is an operation in which at least one of heating the piping and circulating hot water is performed so that freezing does not occur in the piping in a low-temperature environment such as in winter.

In order to perform the antifreeze operation, the second control unit 22 performs at least one of heating of the pipes by the plurality of heaters 75 and circulation of hot water in the pipes. A plurality of heaters 75 are arranged to heat each of the water supply path 65 , the first water supply path 651 , the second water supply path 652 , the circulation path 66 , the supply path 70 and the hot water supply path 72 .

When heating the pipe, the second control unit 22 energizes at least one of the plurality of heaters 75 to heat. When circulating hot water, the second control unit 22 drives at least one of the circulation pump 50 , the heating circulation pump 51 , and the reheating circulation pump 52 .

Next, in the energy supply system of one embodiment, control for suppressing power purchase from commercial power source 100 will be described.

As described above, various types of information are communicated between the first control section 21 provided in the first unit Ua and the second control section 22 provided in the second unit Ub. Various types of information communicated from the second control unit 22 to the first control unit 21 include information on the timing at which the second unit Ub starts operating.

As described above, the heat supply facility 9 of the second unit Ub is a facility for circulating hot water heated by the heat generated by the power generation section 1 for a plurality of heat uses. The plurality of heat applications includes, for example, hot water storage operation, heating operation, reheating operation, general hot water supply operation, hot water filling operation, and freeze prevention operation. For some of these thermal applications (hereinafter referred to as "predetermined thermal applications"), it is possible to know the operation start time in advance.

In the energy supply system of one embodiment, the predetermined heat usage for which the operation start time can be grasped in advance includes time-reserved heating operation and intermittent heating operation.

When the heat supply equipment 9 starts heating operation, as described above, the second control unit 22 provided in the second unit Ub operates the heat storage switching valve 59, the circulation on-off valve 60, and the three-way valve 61, and the circulation pump 50 and the three-way valve 61 are operated. The heating circulation pump 51 is driven. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the power consumption of the heat supply equipment 9 sharply increases at the start of the heating operation. On the other hand, the load following speed of the power generation unit 1 (fuel cell 11) is relatively slow.

On the other hand, the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua acquires in advance the operation start timing (the operation start time reserved by the user) from the second control unit 22 of the second unit Ub. At a timing before the supply equipment 9 starts heating operation (for example, at a timing earlier than the start of operation by a predetermined time t1), the output of the power generation unit 1 is adjusted so that the power required for the start of the operation of the heat supply equipment 9 can be secured. is controlled to increase within the range of the rated power (hereinafter, this control is referred to as "output increase control"). The predetermined time t1 is, for example, a time set within a range of 3.3 to 16.7 minutes. The output increase control suppresses the purchase of electric power from the commercial power source 100 in order to make up for the shortfall when starting the heating operation whose start time is reserved by the heating remote controller or the like.

The target value by which the first control unit 21 increases the output of the power generation unit 1 in the output increase control may be determined based on records such as the power consumption of the past heating operation, or may be set for each type of operation. It may be determined based on default values. The predetermined time t<b>1 can be back calculated from the target value of output increase and the load following speed of the power generation unit 1 . It is also preferable to cause the heat supply equipment 9 to start the heating operation after the output of the power generation unit 1 has increased by the target value. The surplus power generated by the power generation unit 1 is consumed by the surplus power heater 153 .

The first controller 21 of the first unit Ua also performs similar output increase control when intermittent heating operation is performed. In other words, the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua learns the respective timings for automatically starting the intermittent heating operation from the second control unit 22 of the second unit Ub. In addition, at the timing before each start of the intermittent heating operation of the heat supply equipment 9 (for example, the timing earlier than the start of operation by a predetermined time t2), the power required for the start of operation of the heat supply equipment 9 can be secured. Thus, the output of the power generation unit 1 is increased within the range of the rated power.

When the interval of the intermittent heating operation is changed based on various conditions such as the set temperature of the heating, the first control unit 21 changes the interval based on the set temperature learned from the second control unit 22. Alternatively, the second control unit 22 may transmit the interval information to the first control unit 21 .

The predetermined time t2 is, for example, a time set within a range of 3.3 to 16.7 minutes. The output increase control suppresses the purchase of electric power from the commercial power source 100 to cover the shortfall even in the intermittent heating operation.

The target value by which the first control unit 21 increases the output of the power generation unit 1 in the output increase control may be determined based on records such as the power consumption of intermittent heating operation in the past, or may be determined for each type of operation. It may be defined based on a set default value. The predetermined time t<b>2 can be back calculated from the target value of output increase and the load following speed of the power generation unit 1 . It is also preferable to cause the heat supply equipment 9 to start the heating operation after the output of the power generation unit 1 has increased by the target value. The surplus power generated by the power generation unit 1 is consumed by the surplus power heater 153 .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3 , the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua controls the entire system by reducing the electric load 108 of the dwelling unit before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the heating operation. Even when the load power is reduced, it is preferable to perform control to maintain the output of the power generation unit 1 without reducing it until the heating operation starts (hereinafter, this control is referred to as "output maintenance control"). .

In the output maintenance control, the stage before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the heating operation is, for example, the range from the timing earlier than the start of the operation by the predetermined time t3 to the start of the operation.

According to the output maintenance control, power can be maintained in preparation for an increase in output at the start of operation, so that power is supplied from the commercial power supply 100 to make up for the shortfall when starting up the heating operation with a time reservation. Purchasing can be effectively suppressed.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, both the output increase control and the output maintenance control are performed in the heating operation, but it is also preferable to perform only the output maintenance control. In this case, the predetermined time t3 is set within a range of 3.3 to 16.7 minutes, for example.

The first control unit 21 preferably performs similar output maintenance control also when intermittent heating operation is performed. In other words, the first control unit 21 controls the load power of the entire system due to a decrease in the electric load 108 of the dwelling unit at the stage before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the intermittent heating operation. However, it is preferable to control the power generation unit 1 so as not to reduce the output until the heating operation starts. Here, the stage before the start of the heating operation is, for example, the range from the timing earlier than the start of the operation by a predetermined time t4 (not shown) to the start of the operation.

Even in intermittent heating operation, power can be maintained in preparation for an output increase at the start of operation by output maintenance control, and power is supplied from the commercial power supply 100 to cover the shortage at the start of operation. Purchasing can be effectively suppressed.

In the intermittent heating operation, when only output maintenance control is performed, the predetermined time t4 is set within a range of 3.3 to 16.7 minutes, for example.

In the energy supply system of one embodiment, the predetermined heat usage for which the operation start time can be grasped in advance further includes time-reserved hot water filling operation and reheating operation.

When the heat supply equipment 9 starts the hot water filling operation, as described above, the second control section 22 provided in the second unit Ub electrically operates the hot water filling valve 57 so that hot water of a predetermined temperature is stored in the hot water storage tank 3. When it is not running (so-called running out of hot water), the auxiliary heat source device 4 and the circulation pump 50 are driven to supply hot water. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the power consumption of the heat supply equipment 9 increases at the start of operation.

On the other hand, the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua acquires the timing of operation start (the hot water filling time reserved by the user) from the second control unit 22 of the second unit Ub, and supplies heat. At the timing before the equipment 9 automatically starts the hot water filling operation (for example, the timing earlier than the operation start by a predetermined time t5), the power generation unit 1 is controlled to increase the output within the range of the rated power. The predetermined time t5 is, for example, a time set within a range of 1.7 to 8.3 minutes. The output increase control suppresses the purchase of electric power from the commercial power source 100 in order to make up for the shortfall at the start of the hot water filling operation.

The target value by which the first control unit 21 increases the output of the power generation unit 1 in the output increase control may be determined based on a record of the power consumption of the past hot water filling operation, etc., or may be set for each type of operation. may be defined based on the default value. Also, if information on the amount of hot water remaining in the hot water storage tank 3 can be obtained, it is possible to determine a target value corresponding to the lack of hot water. The predetermined time t<b>5 can be back calculated from the target value of output increase and the load following speed of the power generation unit 1 . It is also preferable to cause the heat supply equipment 9 to start the hot water filling operation after the output of the power generation unit 1 has increased by the target value. The surplus power generated by the power generation unit 1 is consumed by the surplus power heater 153 .

The first control section 21 of the first unit Ua performs similar output increase control also in the reheating operation performed in the second half of the hot water filling operation. When starting the reheating operation, the second control unit 22 drives the reheating circulation pump 52 and also drives the auxiliary heat source device 4 and the circulation pump 50 . Therefore, the power consumption of the heat supply equipment 9 is further increased at the start of operation. On the other hand, the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua learns the timing to start the reheating operation from the second control unit 22 of the second unit Ub, and the heat supply equipment 9 starts the reheating operation. Before the start (for example, at a timing earlier than the start of operation by a predetermined time t6), the output of the power generation unit 1 is set within the range of the rated power so that the heat supply equipment 9 can secure the power required to start the operation. let it rise further. The predetermined time t6 is, for example, a time set within a range of 1.7 to 8.3 minutes. Due to the output increase control, it is possible to suppress the purchase of electric power from the commercial power supply 100 in order to cover the shortfall in the reheating operation.

The target value by which the first control unit 21 increases the output of the power generation unit 1 in the output increase control may be determined based on records such as the power consumption of the past reheating operation, or may be set for each type of operation. may be defined based on the default value. The predetermined time t<b>6 can be back calculated from the target value of output increase and the load following speed of the power generation unit 1 . It is also preferable to cause the heat supply equipment 9 to start the reheating operation after the output of the power generation unit 1 has increased by the target value. The surplus power generated by the power generation unit 1 is consumed by the surplus power heater 153 . The timing of starting the reheating operation in the latter half of the hot water filling operation can be determined based on the water level information of the bathtub 107 .

The above reheating operation is an operation performed in the second half of the hot water filling operation, but it is preferable to perform the same output increase control in the reheating operation that is automatically performed for heat retention (see FIG. 6). . In this case, the timing to start the reheating operation can be determined based on the temperature information of the hot water in the bathtub 107, and based on the information on the interval of the reheating operation performed a plurality of times in the past. judgment is also possible.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua controls the entire system by reducing the electric load 108 of the dwelling unit before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the hot water filling operation. Even if the load power is reduced, it is preferable to perform output maintenance control so that the output of the power generation unit 1 is not reduced until the hot water filling operation is started. Here, the stage before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the hot water filling operation is, for example, the range from the timing earlier than the start of operation by a predetermined time t7 to the start of operation.

Even in the hot water filling operation, the power can be maintained in preparation for the output increase at the start of the operation by the output maintenance control, and the power is purchased from the commercial power source 100 to cover the shortage at the start of the operation. can be effectively suppressed.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, both the output increase control and the output maintenance control are performed in the hot water filling operation, but it is also preferable to perform only the output maintenance control. In this case, the predetermined time t7 is set within a range of 1.7 to 8.3 minutes, for example.

The first control unit 21 preferably performs similar output maintenance control when performing the reheating operation (see FIG. 7). That is, in the stage before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the reheating operation, even if the load power of the entire system decreases due to the decrease in the electrical load 108 of the dwelling unit, the first control unit 21 It is preferable to perform output maintenance control that does not reduce the output of the power generation unit 1 until the heating operation starts. Here, the stage before starting the reheating operation is, for example, the range from the timing earlier than the start of the operation by the predetermined time t8 to the start of the operation.

Even in the reheating operation, the power can be maintained in preparation for the output increase at the start of the operation by the output maintenance control, and the power is purchased from the commercial power source 100 to cover the shortage at the start of the operation. can be effectively suppressed.

In the reheating operation, when only the output maintenance control is performed, the predetermined time t8 is set within a range of 1.7 to 8.3 minutes, for example.

In the energy supply system of one embodiment, the predetermined heat application for which the operation start time can be grasped in advance further includes the freeze prevention operation of the heat supply equipment 9 .

When the heat supply equipment 9 starts the antifreeze operation, as described above, the second control unit 22 provided in the second unit Ub controls the plurality of heaters 75, the circulation pump 50, the heating circulation pump 51, and the reheating circulation. Part or all of the pump 52 is driven. Therefore, the power consumption of the heat supply equipment 9 increases at the start of operation.

On the other hand, the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua learns the operation start timing from the second control unit 22 of the second unit Ub, and the heat supply equipment 9 starts the anti-freezing operation. (for example, a timing earlier than the start of operation by a predetermined time t9), the output of the power generation unit 1 is increased within the range of the rated power so that the heat supply equipment 9 can secure the amount of power required to start the operation. After that, the output increase control is performed (see FIG. 8). The predetermined time t9 is, for example, a time set within a range of 5 to 25 minutes. The output increase control suppresses the purchase of electric power from the commercial power source 100 in order to make up for the shortage at the time of starting the freeze prevention operation. The target value by which the first control unit 21 increases the output of the power generation unit 1 in the output increase control may be determined based on records such as the power consumption of the past freeze prevention operation, or may be set for each type of operation. may be defined based on the default value. The predetermined time t<b>9 can be back calculated from the target value of output increase and the load following speed of the power generation unit 1 . It is also preferable to cause the heat supply equipment 9 to start the freeze prevention operation after the output of the power generation unit 1 has increased by the target value. At this time, the surplus power generated by the power generation unit 1 is consumed by the surplus power heater 153 . The timing to start the anti-freezing operation can be determined based on temperature information such as the outside air temperature.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the first control unit 21 of the first unit Ua controls the entire system as the electric load 108 of the dwelling unit decreases before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the anti-freezing operation. Even when the load power is reduced, it is preferable to perform output maintenance control so that the output of the power generation unit 1 is not reduced until the freeze prevention operation is started. Here, the stage before the heat supply equipment 9 starts the anti-freezing operation is, for example, the range from the timing earlier than the start of the operation by the predetermined time t10 to the start of the operation.

Even in freeze prevention operation, power can be maintained in preparation for an output increase at the start of operation by output maintenance control, and power is purchased from the commercial power supply 100 to cover the shortage at the start of operation. can be effectively suppressed.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, both the output increase control and the output maintenance control are performed in the freeze prevention operation, but it is also preferable to perform only the output maintenance control. In this case, the predetermined time t10 is set within a range of 5 to 25 minutes, for example.

Although the energy supply system has been described above based on the embodiments, the energy supply system is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate design changes can be made within the scope of achieving the same effects.

1 power generation unit 11 fuel cell 100 commercial power supply 2 control unit 9 heat supply equipment

Claims (5)

a power generation unit that generates heat and power;
a heat supply facility configured to use the hot water heated by the heat and circulate the hot water for a predetermined heat application;
A control unit that controls the power generation unit and the heat supply equipment,
The heat supply equipment is configured to operate by consuming power supplied from at least one of the power generation unit and a commercial power source,
The control unit performs output increase control for increasing the output of the power generation unit within the range of the rated power from a timing before the heat supply equipment starts operation for the predetermined heat application , and the predetermined In the stage before the heat supply equipment starts the operation for the heat application, even if the load power of the entire system decreases, the output maintenance control that does not decrease the output of the power generation unit is also performed. configured energy supply system. The predetermined heat use includes at least one heat use of a time-reserved heating operation and an intermittent heating operation.
2. The energy supply system of claim 1. The predetermined heat use includes at least one heat use of time-reserved hot water filling operation and reheating operation.
3. The energy supply system according to claim 1 or 2. The predetermined heat use includes heat use for freeze prevention operation of the heat supply equipment.
The energy supply system according to any one of claims 1-3. The power generation unit is a fuel cell
5. The energy supply system according to any one of claims 1-4.

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