JP6023978B2 - Power generation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generation system that generates power and supplies power.

  There existed what was shown in patent document 1 regarding the conventional electric power generation system. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example described in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

  In FIG. 3, a remote controller 301 is an input device for inputting settings for controlling the fuel cell unit, and an output device for displaying the output of the fuel cell unit.

  Hereinafter, a flow from when the fuel cell unit (not shown) generates power and notifies the output display 303 and the LED display 304 of the remote controller 301 that power is generated will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the user operates the program switch 302 to instruct the fuel cell unit to start power generation (step 401). When receiving the power generation start instruction, the fuel cell unit is activated (step 402). When power generation is started (step 403, YES), the output display 303 of the remote control is turned on (step 404), and the power generation amount is output to the LED display 304 as “numerical value” (step 405). When power is being generated during startup (step 403, NO), the output display 303 remains off, and the LED display 304 displays nothing. At this time, “0” may be displayed as the power generation amount to indicate that no power is generated.

  The user can know that the fuel cell is generating power by visually confirming that the output display 303 is lit and / or visually confirming the current generated power by “numerical value”.

  When the user operates the program switch 302 to transmit a stop instruction to the fuel cell unit (step 408), the fuel cell unit receives this and immediately stops. At this time, the output display 303 of the remote controller is turned off (step 409), and nothing is output to the LED display (step 410). By visually recognizing these outputs, the user can confirm that power generation has been stopped as instructed.

JP 2002-175827 A

  However, the conventional configuration has the following problems.

  That is, the output of the power generation system is electric power, and even if the power generation system is not operating, electric power is supplied from the electric power company, and the user cannot use electricity. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to notice that the power generation system is not operating because there is no output from the power generation system. In addition, since the power generation system is usually installed outdoors, the operating portion thereof is not easily noticeable to users who are indoors. Furthermore, when the power generation system is configured by a fuel cell, the operation sound is also quiet, so the user does not notice whether the fuel cell unit is operating based on the five senses.

  The power generation system does not always generate power for 24 hours. Therefore, even if the remote control displays that it is actively generating electricity as in the previous example, the user often sees that it is not generating power on a daily basis, so the power generation system has been generating power for a long time. Without it, the user may not recognize that there is a problem.

  For example, in the case of a fuel cell system having a fuel cell as a power generation system, in summer when heat demand is low, power generation time may be shorter than in winter and power generation may be stopped for most of the day. . For this reason, the user feels that the power generation system is stopped (not generating power) as normal.

  Unlike general home appliances, the power generation system is not a device that actively acts on the user, such as sending wind or outputting video, so normally the user is not aware of its existence. And using the output power.

  As a result, if the power generation system does not actively notify that the power generation system is not generating power, it will not be recognized that the power generation system has not generated power over a long period of time, and there will be a problem that it will be left as it is. The inventors have found.

In order to solve the above problems, the power generation system of the present invention is:
A power generation system that generates power and supplies power,
A controller for controlling at least start and stop of the power generation system;
A notification device for notifying the operation status of the power generation system;
With
Wherein the controller, the no power generation system has failed, and, if the period in which the power generation system is not generating power is equal to or greater than the first period is predetermined, the power generation system is generated by the warning device Notification information including at least one of the operation information indicating that the operation is not performed and the setting information for confirming the operation setting of the power generation system is notified.

  With such a configuration, the notification information is notified to the notification device when the power generation system has not failed but the state in which power generation is not occurring continues for the first period or longer.

  Therefore, it alerts the user and confirms the operating state or setting of the power generation system and eliminates the factors that do not generate power. A decrease in the merit of the system can be avoided.

  According to the present invention, if the power generation system has not failed but has not been operated for a certain period of time, the user is actively notified. As a result, the user can be aware that the setting is different from the intention of generating power. And if the setting is different from the intention, it will lead to a change to a state where power generation is possible, so the user can operate the power generation system and reliably enjoy the benefits of the power generation system such as CO2 reduction, primary energy reduction, and electricity cost reduction. can do.

Block diagram of the power generation system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Flowchart of the power generation system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Block diagram of conventional example Flowchart when performing power generation output and LED display in the conventional example

The first invention is
A power generation system that generates power and supplies power,
A controller for controlling at least start and stop of the power generation system;
A notification device for notifying the operation status of the power generation system;
With
Wherein the controller, the no power generation system has failed, and, if the period in which the power generation system is not generating power is equal to or greater than the first period is predetermined, the power generation system is generated by the warning device This is a power generation system that notifies the notification information including at least one of the operation information indicating that the operation is not performed and the setting information for confirming the operation setting of the power generation system.

  With this configuration, the power generation system actively notifies the user when the power generation system does not generate power for a period longer than the first period for reasons other than failure. As a result, the user can be aware that the setting is different from the intention of generating power.

  Further, the notification device may notify the notification information including at least one of the operation information indicating that the power generation system is not generating power and the setting information for confirming the setting of the operation of the power generation system.

  With this configuration, the user can notice that the power generation system has stopped generating power for the first period or more by looking at the notification information, and can work to remove the cause other than the failure.

  The power generation system further includes an operation unit configured to prevent power generation, and the setting information is information indicating that the power generation system is set not to generate power, and the controller indicates that the power generation system has failed. In addition, the setting information may be notified when a period in which power generation is not performed for the first period or more is detected.

  With this configuration, the user can notice that the setting is made so as not to generate power even though the user intends to set to generate power by watching the notification of the setting information.

  The controller may be configured not to notify the notification information by the notification device when the power generation system is set not to generate power by the operation device after the notification information is notified by the notification device.

  With this configuration, it is possible to take in the intention of the user to make settings so as not to generate power, and not to notify the notification information again according to the intention.

  Further, the controller may cause the notification device to notify the notification information when the operation device is operated after the period during which power generation is not performed exceeds the first period.

  With this configuration, the notification information is displayed when the user is paying attention to the operation device and the display device in order to operate the operation device, so that the notification information can be more reliably notified to the user.

  Further, the alarm device includes a display unit configured to display the notification information, and the controller displays the notification information when the operation device is operated when the notification information is displayed on the display unit. May be interrupted.

  With this configuration, when the user operates the operation device, the display of the notification information on the display unit is temporarily interrupted, which may hinder other operations using the operation device and the display device. It can be avoided.

  Further, the controller may display the notification information again when a predetermined second time has elapsed after the display of the notification information is interrupted.

  With this configuration, by displaying the display of the notification information again, it is possible to confirm whether or not the user wants to generate power again with the power generation system.

  Moreover, you may provide the fuel cell which generates electric power by making a fuel and oxidant gas react electrochemically. With this configuration, it is possible to avoid a non-power generation state for a long period of time even in a fuel cell in which it is difficult to recognize that no power is generated by the five senses such as sound and movement.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the power generation system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Further, in all the drawings, only components necessary for explaining the present invention are extracted and illustrated, and other components are not illustrated. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power generation system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an algorithm until notification information is notified in the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation system 100 according to the first embodiment includes a power generation unit 101, a controller 102, and a notification device 103.

  The controller 102 controls start and stop of the power generation system 100. Specifically, the controller 102 transmits a power generation start instruction or a power generation stop instruction to the power generation unit. The power generation unit 101 starts power generation when receiving the power generation instruction, and stops power generation when receiving the power generation stop instruction. Further, the controller 102 monitors a cell stack, a fuel reformer, an inverter, and an auxiliary machine (not shown) included in the power generation unit 101, and the controller 102 detects a failure that detects these failures. Equipped with a bowl.

  Hereinafter, the flow until the notification information is output to the notification device 103 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  First, after the end of power generation, the controller 102 starts counting the time during which power generation is not performed (step 201). The controller 102 does not detect the failure of the power generation system 100 with the failure detector, and continues counting if the period during which the power generation system 100 does not generate power continues (step 204). When the power generation system 100 does not break down and the counted time exceeds a predetermined first period (step 202), notification information is notified (step 203).

  The notification information includes at least one of operation information indicating that power generation is not being performed or setting information for confirming power generation settings.

  Here, the failure of the power generation system 100 is a malfunction of the equipment constituting the power generation unit 101, a break in the harness connecting the equipment and the board, a malfunction of the electronic circuit / electronic component mounted on the board, and a connection between the boards. There is a disconnection of the communication line. When one or more failures occur, the power generation unit 101 is in a state where it cannot generate power, and as a result, the state where power generation is not continued is natural. However, there is a state in which the above failure has not occurred and power generation is possible even though power generation is possible, and the controller 102 outputs notification information to the notification device 103 in this state.

  If the alarm 103 is configured so that the alarm information becomes driving information, “the power generation system 100 has not been generated beyond the“ first period ”. Check the state of the power generation system 100 with reference to the instruction manual. "If the neglected information is configured to be the setting information," No power is generated beyond the "first period. Please check the operation settings" is output. The message output to the alarm device 103 is an example, and is not limited to the present embodiment.

  As described above, when the time during which power is not generated exceeds the first period even though there is no failure, the alarm 103 outputs that it has not generated power for a long time. , The user can be alerted.

  Usually, the fact that the power generation unit 101 does not generate power means that it is impossible to enjoy the merits of the power generation system 100 such as reducing primary energy, CO2 emission, and electricity bill. If there is a failure in the power generation unit 101 and an error code is displayed on the alarm 103, the user can see it and repair it immediately to eliminate the state where power generation is not possible.

  However, if there is no failure, the error code is not displayed on the alarm 103, and the user is unaware of any problem with the power generation system 100. In particular, when the power generation unit 101 is a fuel cell, the power generation time per day is shorter in summer when heat consumption is smaller than in winter. At this time, since the user frequently sees a state where no power is generated, if the user recognizes that there is no particular problem, the power generation system 100 may have a problem even if the period during which power generation is not continued continues beyond the first period. There is a case where you do not realize that there is, and leave it alone.

  In general, when the power generation system 100 provided with a fuel cell is left with the power on and does not generate power at all, only the energization period is counted, and power is only consumed by an actuator as an auxiliary device during standby. For this reason, merits such as CO2 (carbon dioxide) reduction, primary energy reduction, and electricity cost reduction within the lifetime of the equipment are reduced, leading to the inability to enjoy the value of the power generation system.

  In the present embodiment, when the power generation system 100 is not broken and the state where no power generation is continued for the first period or longer, notification information is output to the notification device 103, and a message is output to the notification device 103. I can do it. The user can see this and check the operation state of the power generation system 100 or check the operation setting, so that the period during which the power generation is not performed can be shortened and the advantages of the power generation system 100 can be enjoyed. The period that cannot be shortened.

  Further, when the operation device 104 that can be set not to generate power is provided, the setting information is information indicating that the setting is set not to generate power, and a display requesting the alarm device 103 to confirm the setting information is output. .

  For example, if the user has set to enable power generation, but the service person changes to a setting that does not generate power during maintenance and returns after the maintenance is complete, leave the setting to not generate power unless the user pays special attention. Will be. Since the output of the power generation system 100 is electricity and electricity is supplied from the power company without generating power, it is difficult to recognize whether the power generation system 100 is generating power.

  However, if the user is asked to confirm the power generation setting by displaying the setting information, the user is prompted to confirm that the power generation setting is not set by operating the operation unit, and the period during which power generation is not performed is limited to the first period. Can do. As a result, it is obvious that the period during which the advantages of the power generation system 100 as described above cannot be enjoyed can be reduced.

  On the other hand, there may be a case where the user does not really want to generate power for the convenience of the user. After the notification information is output to the notification device 103, when the user again sets to not generate power with the operation device 104, the controller 102 recognizes that the user has set “not to generate power” at the intention of the user, Stop output. That is, when the user is set not to generate power again, it is possible to avoid bothering the user by outputting the notification information many times.

  Further, when the notification information is not notified by the notification device 103, the controller 102 outputs the notification information to the notification device 103 when the user operates the operation device 104. Since it can be expected to be in the vicinity, it is obvious that the user can be notified of the output of the notification information more reliably.

  It is desirable to output the notification information to be output to the notification device 103 using most of the screen for the purpose. In this case, since the operation of the function of the power generation system 100 is hindered by the output of the notification information, if the operation device 104 is operated while the notification information is output, the output of the notification information is temporarily performed. You can avoid it by stopping it.

  In addition, after stopping the output of the notification information, when the predetermined second period has elapsed, the notification information is output to the notification device 103 again, thereby notifying that the power generation is not performed again. . As a result, even after the output of the power generation system 100 is once canceled, it can be repeatedly output until the user confirms the driving information or the setting information.

  When the power generation unit 101 includes a fuel cell that generates electricity by electrochemically reacting a fuel and an oxidant gas, the number of drive devices is small, and the drive sound is low. Since the power generation system 100 is also installed outdoors, it is difficult to recognize whether or not it is operating by the five senses of a user who is indoors. Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the alarm 103 outputs that the power generation has not been performed for a long time, the fuel cell having such characteristics is particularly effective for notifying the user that the power generation has not been performed for a long time. It is.

  Although the description has been given of the mode in which the power generation unit 101 includes the fuel cell, the power generation unit 101 may include a power generator that supplies power and heat by burning fuel instead of the fuel cell.

  The alarm of the power generation system according to the present invention is effective in a system having a power generation unit that is difficult for the user to notice that power generation is not being performed. In the case of a power generation system composed of fuel cells, the drive part is difficult to see and the drive sound is low, so it is difficult to tell that power is being generated, so it is particularly useful for various fuel cell systems and generators for home and business use. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Power generation system 101 Power generation unit 102 Controller 103 Alarm 104 Operation device

Claims (7)

A power generation system that generates power and supplies power,
A controller for controlling at least start and stop of the power generation system;
A notification device for notifying the operation status of the power generation system;
With
Wherein the controller, the no power generation system has failed, and, if the period in which the power generation system is not generating power is equal to or greater than the first period is predetermined, the power generation system is generated by the warning device Notifying information including at least one of the operation information and the setting information for confirming the setting of operation of the power generation system is not ,
Power generation system. An operating device for setting the power generation system not to generate power;
The setting information is information indicating that the power generation system is set not to generate power,
The controller causes the setting information to be notified when the power generation system has not failed and has not generated power for the first period or longer.
The power generation system according to claim 1 . Wherein the controller, after notifying the notification information in the notification unit, when the power generation system by the operation unit is set not to the power generation, not notifying the notification information in the notification unit, according to claim 2 The power generation system described in 1. An operating device for setting the power generation system not to generate power;
The controller causes the notification device to notify the notification information when the operation device is operated after the period during which power is not generated exceeds the first period.
The power generation system according to claim 1 or 2 . An operating device for setting the power generation system not to generate power;
The notification device includes a display unit configured to display the notification information,
The controller is configured to interrupt the display of the notification information when the operation device is operated when the notification information is displayed on the display unit.
The power generation system according to claim 1 or 2 . The controller causes the notification information to be displayed again when a predetermined second period has elapsed after interrupting the display of the notification information.
The power generation system according to claim 5 . It is equipped with a fuel cell that generates electricity by electrochemically reacting fuel and oxidant gas.
The power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .