JP6912928B2 - Power generators, controls, and control programs - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to power generation devices, control devices, and control programs. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a power generation device including a power generation unit including a fuel cell, a control device for the power generation unit including a fuel cell, and a control program to be executed by such a device.

For example, in a power generation system including a fuel cell such as a solid oxide fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as SOFC), the cell stack of the fuel cell module generally controls the temperature at which power is generated. .. Further, there is also a power generation system having not only one cell stack but also a plurality of cell stacks. As described above, in a power generation system having a plurality of cell stacks, it is desirable to control the temperature so that the temperature difference between the cell stacks does not become large from the viewpoints of power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stacks.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-170999

In the power generation device described in Patent Document 1, a resistance changing portion is connected to each cell stack as a measure for changing the temperature of each cell stack in order to prevent the temperature difference between the plurality of cell stacks from spreading. ing. It is advantageous if the temperature can be controlled so that the temperature difference between the cell stacks does not become large without adding a dedicated member separately.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide advantageous power generation devices, control devices, and control programs that enhance power generation efficiency.

Generator according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a first power generation unit including a plurality of power generating unit including a fuel cell, and a second power generation unit including a plurality of power generating unit including a fuel cell, and a control unit Be prepared.
When the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit are used to generate power, the control unit is located at a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the first power generation unit and is the first power generation unit. The average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the first power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit provided in the unit can be detected , and the second position, which is a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the second power generation unit. The flow rate of gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit based on the difference from the average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the second power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit provided in the power generation unit can be detected. Adjust at least one of the flow rates of the gas supplied to.
Further, the control unit, by the adjustment, the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near does not change, the first power generating unit near The average temperature in the vicinity of the power generation unit on the low temperature side of the vicinity of the second power generation unit is controlled to be close to the average temperature in the vicinity of the power generation unit on the high temperature side.

Controller of the power generation unit including a fuel cell according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the second power generation unit including a plurality of power generating unit including a first power generation unit and the fuel cell comprising a plurality of power generating unit including a fuel cell Control.
When the control device uses the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit to generate power, the control device is located at a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the first power generation unit and the first power generation unit. The average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the first power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit provided in the unit can be detected , and the second position, which is a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the second power generation unit. The flow rate of gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit based on the difference from the average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the second power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit provided in the power generation unit can be detected. by performing at least one of adjustment of the flow rate of gas supplied to the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near does not change, the first controlled so as to approach the average temperature of the power generation section near the low temperature side of the power generation section and near the second power generating section near to the average temperature of the power generation portion near the high temperature side.

Control program according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, the controller controls the second power generating unit including a plurality of power generating unit including a first power generation unit and the fuel cell comprising a plurality of power generating unit including a fuel cell,
A step of generating power using the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit, and
When power is generated using the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit, the first power generation unit is provided at a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the first power generation unit. The average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the first power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected, and the position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the second power generation unit, which are provided in the second power generation unit. The flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the gas supplied to the second power generation unit based on the difference from the average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the second power generation unit, which is the position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected. And the step of adjusting at least one of the flow rates of
By the adjustment, the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near does not change, the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near Of these, the step of controlling the average temperature near the power generation unit on the low temperature side to approach the average temperature near the power generation unit on the high temperature side, and
To execute.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an advantageous power generation device, control device, and control program that enhances power generation efficiency.

It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the power generation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of the power generation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment in more detail. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the power generation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of the power generation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of the power generation apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the power generation apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows typically the modification of the structure of the power generation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the power generation device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a power generation device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Further, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the power generation device according to the first embodiment in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device (power generation unit) 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is connected to a hot water storage tank 60, a load 100, and a commercial power source (grid) 200. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device 1 generates electric power by supplying gas and air from the outside, and supplies the generated electric power to the load 100 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 12, a fuel cell module 20, a supply unit 30, an inverter 40, an exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50, and a circulating water treatment unit 52. And.

The power generation device 1 includes at least one processor as a control unit 10 in order to provide control and processing power for performing various functions, as described in more detail below. According to various embodiments, at least one processor may be run as a single integrated circuit (IC) or as multiple communicably connected integrated circuit ICs and / or discrete circuits. good. At least one processor can be run according to a variety of known techniques.

In certain embodiments, a processor comprises one or more circuits or units configured to perform one or more data computation procedures or processes. For example, the processor may be one or more processors, controllers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processing devices, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, or any of these devices or configurations. The functions described below may be performed by including combinations or combinations of other known devices or configurations.

The control unit 10 is connected to the storage unit 12, the fuel cell module 20, and the supply unit 30, and controls and manages the entire power generation device 1 including each of these functional units. The control unit 10 acquires a program stored in the storage unit 12 and executes this program to realize various functions related to each unit of the power generation device 1. When a control signal or various kinds of information is transmitted from the control unit 10 to another function unit, the control unit and the other function unit may be connected by wire or wirelessly. The control characteristic of the present embodiment performed by the control unit 10 will be further described later. Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 can measure a predetermined time such as measuring the operating time (for example, power generation time) of the cell stack included in the fuel cell module 20.

The storage unit 12 stores the information acquired from the control unit 10. Further, the storage unit 12 stores a program or the like executed by the control unit 10. In addition, the storage unit 12 also stores various data such as calculation results by the control unit 10. Further, the storage unit 12 will be described below assuming that the storage unit 12 can also include a work memory or the like when the control unit 10 operates. The storage unit 12 can be configured by, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, but is not limited to these, and can be any storage device. For example, the storage unit 12 may be an optical storage device such as an optical disc, or a magneto-optical disk or the like.

The fuel cell module 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes a reformer 22 and a cell stack 24, as shown in more detail in FIG. FIG. 2 shows only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, and the gas supply unit 32 in the power generation device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the other functional units are omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 includes two reformers 22A and 22B and two cell stacks 24A and 24B. Hereinafter, when the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the reformer 22. Similarly, hereinafter, when the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the cell stack 24.

The cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20 generates electricity using gas (fuel gas) supplied from the supply unit 30, and outputs the generated DC power to the inverter 40. The fuel cell module 20 is also called a hot module. In the fuel cell module 20, the cell stack 24 generates heat as it generates electricity. In the present disclosure, the cell stack 24 including the fuel cell that actually generates power is appropriately referred to as a “power generation unit”. Further, in the present disclosure, the "power generation unit" may be various functional units that generate power. For example, the "power generation unit" may be a single cell, a fuel cell module, or the like, in addition to the cell stack. In the present embodiment, the cell stack 24A is a first power generation unit, and the cell stack 24B is a second power generation unit. That is, the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) including a fuel cell and a second power generation unit (cell stack 24B) including a fuel cell.

The reformer 22 produces hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide using the gas and reformed water supplied from the supply unit 30. The cell stack 24 generates electricity by reacting hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide generated in the reformer 22 with oxygen in the air. That is, in the present embodiment, the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction. As the reformer, the above-mentioned steam reformer is exemplified, but as another reformer, partial oxidation reforming (Partial) that generates hydrogen using air containing oxygen or the like is used. It may be a reformer or the like that performs Oxidation (POX)).

As shown in FIG. 2, the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B are separately supplied with fuel gas from the gas supply unit 32. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the reformer 22A is connected to the cell stack 24A, and the reformer 22B is connected to the cell stack 24B. These connections allow the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B to supply hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide to the cell stack 24A and cell stack 24B, respectively.

Hereinafter, the cell stack 24 will be described as an SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell). However, the cell stack 24 according to this embodiment is not limited to SOFC. The cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), and a molten carbonate fuel cell (Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC)). It may be composed of a fuel cell such as Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC). As shown in FIG. 2, the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment includes two cell stacks 24A and 24B. However, as will be described later, in another embodiment, the cell stack 24 may include four cell stacks 24 that can generate about 700 W by themselves, for example. In this case, the fuel cell module 20 can output about 3 kW of electric power as a whole.

The fuel cell module 20 and the cell stack 24 according to the present embodiment are not limited to the above-described configurations, and various configurations can be adopted. In the present embodiment, the power generation device 1 may include two or more power generation units that generate power using gas. Further, for example, it can be assumed that the power generation device 1 includes only one cell of the fuel cell as the power generation unit instead of the cell stack 24. Further, the power generation unit according to the present embodiment may be a fuel cell without a module, such as PEFC.

As shown in FIG. 1, the supply unit 30 includes a gas supply unit 32, an air supply unit 34, and a reforming water supply unit 36. That is, the supply unit 30 supplies gas, air, and reforming water to the cell stack 24.

The gas supply unit 32 shown in FIG. 1 includes a flow meter 92 and a gas pump 94, as shown in more detail in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the gas supply unit 32 includes two flow meters 92A and 92B and two gas pumps 94A and 94B. Hereinafter, when the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the flow meter 92. Similarly, hereinafter, when the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the gas pump 94.

The gas supply unit 32 supplies gas to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20. At this time, the gas supply unit 32 controls the amount of gas supplied to the cell stack 24 based on the control signal from the control unit 10. In the present embodiment, the gas supply unit 32 can be configured by, for example, a gas line. Further, the gas supply unit 32 may perform a gas desulfurization treatment or may preheat the gas. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for heating the gas. The gas is, for example, city gas, LPG, and the like, but is not limited thereto. For example, the gas may be natural gas, coal gas, or the like, depending on the fuel cell. In the present embodiment, the gas supply unit 32 supplies the fuel gas used for the electrochemical reaction when the cell stack 24 generates electricity.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gas supplied to the gas supply unit 32 is branched from one supply source into two paths and supplied to the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the flow meter 92A is connected to the gas pump 94A, and the flow meter 92B is connected to the gas pump 94B. Through these connections, the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B can supply the gas that has passed through the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B to the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the gas branched from one supply source into two paths is supplied to the flowmeters 92A and 92B, respectively. However, for example, the flowmeters 92A and 92B may be supplied with gas from separate sources.

The flow meters 92A and 92B measure the flow rate of the gas flowing through them, respectively. Here, the flow rate of the gas measured by the flow meters 92A and 92B can be, for example, the amount of gas moving through the flow meters 92A or 92B per unit time. Any flow meter 92A and 92B can be adopted as long as it can measure the flow rate of gas.

The gas pumps 94A and 94B deliver the gas that has passed through the flow meters 92A and 92B to the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B of the fuel cell module 20, respectively. As the gas pumps 94A and 94B, any one that can deliver gas to the reformers 22A and 22B can be adopted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gas supply unit 32 is communicably connected to the control unit 10 by wire or wirelessly. Information on the gas flow rate measured by the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B is transmitted to the control unit 10. As a result, the control unit 10 can grasp the flow rate of the gas measured by the flow meter 92A and the flow meter 92B, respectively. Further, the control unit 10 can adjust (increase / decrease) the flow rate of the gas delivered to the reformers 22A and 22B by the gas pumps 94A and 94B, respectively, by being communicatively connected to the gas supply unit 32. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 can adjust the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24B.

In the power generation device according to the present embodiment, the gas supply unit 32 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, in the gas supply unit 32 shown in FIG. 2, the flow meter 92 measures the flow rate of the gas before it is delivered by the gas pump 94. However, in the gas supply unit 32, the flow meter 92 may measure the flow rate of the gas after being delivered by the gas pump 94.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air supply unit 34 supplies air to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20. At this time, the air supply unit 34 controls the amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24 based on the control signal from the control unit 10. In the present embodiment, the air supply unit 34 can be configured by, for example, an air line. Further, the air supply unit 34 may preheat the air taken in from the outside and supply it to the cell stack 24. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for heating the air. In the present embodiment, the air supply unit 34 supplies the air used for the electrochemical reaction when the cell stack 24 generates electricity.

The reformed water supply unit 36 generates steam and supplies it to the cell stack 24 of the fuel cell module 20. At this time, the reforming water supply unit 36 controls the amount of steam supplied to the cell stack 24 based on the control signal from the control unit 10. In the present embodiment, the reformed water supply unit 36 can be configured by, for example, a reformed water line. The reformed water supply unit 36 may generate steam from the water recovered from the exhaust gas of the cell stack 24 as a raw material. The exhaust heat of the cell stack 24 may be used as a heat source for generating water vapor.

The inverter 40 is connected to the fuel cell module 20. The inverter 40 converts the DC power generated by the cell stack 24 into AC power. The DC power output from the inverter 40 is supplied to the load 100 via a distribution board or the like. The load 100 receives the electric power output from the inverter 40 via the distribution board or the like. Although the load 100 is shown as only one member in FIG. 1, it can be any number of various electric devices constituting the load. Further, the load 100 can also receive power from the commercial power source 200 via a distribution board or the like. Although the connection between the inverter 40 and the control unit 10 is not shown in FIG. 1, the inverter 40 and the control unit 10 may be connected. With this connection, the control unit 10 can control the output of AC power by the inverter 40.

The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 recovers exhaust heat from the exhaust generated by the power generation of the cell stack 24. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 can be configured by, for example, a heat exchanger or the like. The waste heat recovery processing unit 50 is connected to the circulating water treatment unit 52 and the hot water storage tank 60.

The circulating water treatment unit 52 circulates water from the hot water storage tank 60 to the waste heat recovery treatment unit 50. The water supplied to the waste heat recovery processing unit 50 is heated by the heat recovered by the waste heat recovery processing unit 50 and returns to the hot water storage tank 60. The exhaust heat recovery processing unit 50 discharges the exhaust that has recovered the exhaust heat to the outside. Further, as described above, the heat recovered by the waste heat recovery processing unit 50 can be used for heating gas, air, reformed water, or the like.

The hot water storage tank 60 is connected to the waste heat recovery processing unit 50 and the circulating water treatment unit 52. The hot water storage tank 60 can store hot water generated by utilizing the exhaust heat recovered from the cell stack 24 or the like of the fuel cell module 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation device 1 includes a current sensor 70 that detects the total amount of current generated by the cell stack 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the current sensor 70 can be installed at a position where the direct current output from the fuel cell module 20 toward the inverter 40 is detected. However, the current sensor 70 may be installed at another position as long as it can detect the current generated by the cell stack 24. The current sensor 70 can be configured by, for example, a CT (Current Transformer) or the like. However, the current sensor 70 is not limited to CT, and any member that can measure the current can be adopted. For example, the current sensor 70 may be based on a principle such as a Hall element method, a Rogoski method, or a zero flux method. The current sensor 70 is connected to the control unit 10. The current sensor 70 transmits a signal based on the detected current to the control unit 10. By receiving this signal, the control unit 10 can grasp the current generated by the cell stack 24.

In this embodiment, the control unit 10 controls the temperature of the cell stack 24. Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 may control the temperature of the entire system of the fuel cell module 20 including the reformer 22 and the cell stack 24. By such temperature control of the cell stack 24, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack 24 can be changed. The temperature control of the cell stack 24 by the control unit 10 will be further described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the power generation device 1 includes a temperature sensor 80 that detects a temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 includes two temperature sensors 80A and 80B. As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature sensor 80A is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A, and the temperature sensor 80B is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B. Hereinafter, when the temperature sensor 80A and the temperature sensor 80B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the temperature sensor 80.

As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature sensor 80 can be installed at a position where the temperature near the cell stack 24 is detected. Here, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 in which the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature is a position suitable for measuring the temperature as a reference for controlling the temperature of the cell stack 24 in the power generation device 1, for example, the cell stack 24 is generated. The position can be set so that heat is appropriately conducted. For example, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 in which the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be the temperature at the center of the cell stack 24 that generates electricity. Further, in the present embodiment, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 in which the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be a position where the cell stack 24 itself exists. Further, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 in which the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be, for example, the entire cell stack 24 or a part of the inside of the cell stack 24 (for example, a cell).

The temperature sensor 80 can be configured by, for example, a thermocouple. In this case, for example, the thermocouple may be inserted into the introduction plate that introduces air into the cell stack 24. On the other hand, it is assumed that the temperature sensor 80 may not be able to measure excessively high heat depending on the material constituting the temperature sensor 80. In such a case, the temperature sensor 80 may detect the temperature at a position where the heat generated by the cell stack 24 is conducted, although it is separated from the cell stack 24, for example. When the temperature sensor 80 is separated from the cell stack 24, the vicinity of the cell stack 24 in which the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature may be located, for example, in the combustion portion above the cell stack 24. Further, when the temperature sensor 80 is separated from the cell stack 24, the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 where the temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature is sufficiently maintained even if the temperature sensor 80 is slightly separated from the upper part of the combustion portion. Any position can be measured.

The temperature sensor 80 is not limited to the thermocouple, and any member that can measure the temperature can be adopted. For example, the temperature sensor 80 may be a thermistor or a platinum resistance temperature detector. The temperature sensor 80 is connected to the control unit 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell module 20 is communicably connected to the control unit 10 by wire or wirelessly. The temperature sensor 80 transmits a signal based on the detected temperature to the control unit 10. By receiving this signal, the control unit 10 can grasp the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24.

Next, the operation of the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, when power generation is performed using a plurality of cell stacks such as two cell stacks 24A and 24B, the respective temperatures may differ between the plurality of cell stacks. That is, when power is generated using a plurality of cell stacks, a temperature difference may occur between the cell stacks. When a temperature difference occurs between the cell stacks, the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte in the cell stack having the lower temperature becomes smaller, so that the internal resistance of the cell stack becomes larger. Generally, the smaller the internal resistance of the cell stack, the easier it is for the current inside the cell stack to flow. Therefore, in the cell stack having a small internal resistance, energy is easily released as electricity instead of heat, and power generation efficiency can be improved. Further, by improving the power generation efficiency in this way, the durability of the cell stack is also improved.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the temperature difference between the vicinity of the two cell stacks 24A and the vicinity of 24B becomes a predetermined value or more, control is performed so that the temperature difference becomes small. Such control will be further described below.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

It is assumed that the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B have already started operation in the power generation device 1 at the time when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, and each of them is generating power. Therefore, when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 controls the gas supply unit 32 to supply fuel gas to the cell stacks 24A and 24B, respectively. Similarly, at the time when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 controls the air supply unit 34 to supply air to the cell stacks 24A and 24B, respectively. Further, when the operation shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 controls the reforming water supply unit 36 to supply the reforming water to the cell stacks 24A and 24B, respectively. In the power generation device 1, the operation of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B to start operation and generate power can be performed in the same manner as a general SOFC power generation unit. Therefore, a more detailed description of the operation in which the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B start operation to generate electric power will be omitted.

When the process shown in FIG. 3 starts, the control unit 10 controls to acquire the temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit) (step S11). Specifically, in step S11, the temperature sensor 80A detects the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A. Further, the temperature sensor 80B detects the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B. Therefore, the control unit 10 can acquire the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B from the temperature sensor 80A and the temperature sensor 80B, respectively.

After acquiring the temperature in step S11, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the difference between the acquired temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the acquired cell stack 24B is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature difference (for example, 25 ° C.). Determine (step S12). In order to execute the process of step S12, a predetermined temperature difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B is set in advance in consideration of various conditions such as the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24. It is preferable to keep it. That is, the control unit 10 sets the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B within a range in which the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24 can be maintained in a good state. In the example shown in FIG. 3, if the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B is less than 25 ° C., the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are in good condition. It is supposed to be kept to some extent. In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned temperature difference will be described below as 25 ° C. as an example, but it can be a desired temperature difference depending on the characteristics or specifications of the cell stack. The predetermined temperature difference set in this way can be stored in, for example, the storage unit 12.

If it is determined in step S12 that the temperature difference in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is not 25 ° C. or higher, the control unit 10 returns to step S11 and continues the process. In step S11, the control unit 10 controls to acquire the temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the temperature difference in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is 25 ° C. or higher, the control unit 10 adjusts the flow rate of the fuel gas (step S13). The adjustment of the fuel gas flow rate performed in step S13 means that the control unit 10 controls the gas supply unit 32 to supply the fuel gas flow rate to the cell stack 24A and the fuel gas flow rate to be supplied to the cell stack 24B. To adjust at least one of them. Specifically, in step S13, the control unit 10 controls at least one of the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B to adjust the flow rate of the fuel gas delivered by the gas pump 94A and / or the gas pump 94B. The gas pump 94A supplies fuel gas to the cell stack 24A, and the gas pump 94B supplies fuel gas to the cell stack 24B. Therefore, the control unit 10 can adjust at least one of the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24B.

By adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas in this way, the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment changes at least one of the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B. For example, the control unit 10 can control the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack on the low temperature side of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B so as to approach the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack on the high temperature side.

Here, the principle of changing the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas performed in step S13 will be further described.

In the power generation device 1, the ratio of the fuel gas used for power generation of the cell stack 24 to the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell (cell stack 24) is hereinafter appropriately referred to as “fuel utilization rate”. In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 can adjust the flow rate of the fuel gas, for example, by changing the fuel utilization rate. Among the fuel gases supplied to the cell stack 24, the fuel gas not used for power generation of the cell stack 24 includes, for example, the fuel gas burned in the cell stack 24. Here, for example, assuming that the electric power generated by the cell stack 24 is constant, lowering the fuel utilization rate increases the gas used for combustion without changing the amount of fuel gas used for power generation in the cell stack 24. Means that. In this case, the temperature near the cell stack 24 will rise. Therefore, when the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B is 25 ° C. or more, the power generation device 1 lowers the fuel utilization rate on the low temperature side of the cell stack 24, thereby causing the cell stack 24. The temperature in the vicinity can be raised.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the temperature difference between the two cell stacks 24 in the vicinity of the two cell stacks 24 is 25 ° C. or more in step S12, the control unit 10 reduces the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side by, for example, 1%. To control. Specifically, when the cell stack 24A is lower than the cell stack 25B by 25 ° C. or more in step S11, the control unit 10 controls the cell stack 24A to reduce the fuel utilization rate by 1% in step S13. do. On the other hand, when the cell stack 24B is lower than the cell stack 24A by 25 ° C. or more in step S11, the control unit 10 controls the cell stack 24B so as to reduce the fuel utilization rate by 1% in step S13. As a result, with the passage of time, the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side gradually approaches the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side.

After adjusting the gas flow rate in step S13, the control unit 10 controls to acquire the temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit) (step S14). The process performed by the control unit 10 in step S14 can be the same as in step S11 described above.

After acquiring the temperature in step S14, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the difference between the acquired temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the acquired cell stack 24B is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature difference (for example, 5 ° C.). Determine (step S15). Since the flow rate of the fuel gas is adjusted in step S13, the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side gradually approaches the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side.

In order to execute the process of step S15, the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B are determined in consideration of various conditions such as the power generation efficiency and durability of the cell stack 24, as in the case of step S12. It is preferable to set a predetermined temperature difference in advance. In the example shown in FIG. 3, if the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B is 5 ° C. or less, the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B are almost the same. There is. In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned temperature difference will be described below as 5 ° C. as an example, but it can be a desired temperature difference depending on the characteristics or specifications of the cell stack. The predetermined temperature difference set in this way can be stored in, for example, the storage unit 12.

If it is determined in step S15 that the temperature difference in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is not 5 ° C. or less, the control unit 10 returns to step S14 and continues the process. In step S14, the control unit 10 controls to acquire the temperatures in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the vicinity of the cell stack 24B (near each power generation unit).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that the temperature difference in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is 5 ° C. or less, the control unit 10 returns the flow rate of the fuel gas to the state before the adjustment in step S13 (step S16). In step S13, the control unit 10 controls the gas supply unit 32 to adjust at least one of the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24B. Therefore, in step S16, the control unit 10 returns the cell stack 24 whose gas flow rate has been adjusted to the state before the adjustment. Specifically, in step S16, the control unit 10 controls at least one of the gas pump 94A and the gas pump 94B to return the flow rate of the fuel gas delivered by the gas pump 94A and / or the gas pump 94B to the state before adjustment. In this way, when the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) and the temperature near the second power generation unit (cell stack 24B) becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 5 ° C.) , The state before starting the adjustment of the gas flow rate may be returned.

For example, when the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side is decreased by 1% in step S13, the control unit 10 increases the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24 by 1%. Assuming that the electric power generated by the cell stack 24 is constant, increasing the fuel utilization rate means reducing the gas used for combustion without changing the amount of fuel gas used for power generation in the cell stack 24.

When the gas flow rate is returned to the state before the adjustment in step S16, the control unit 10 ends the operation shown in FIG. After that, when the power generation device 1 continues to operate, it is preferable that the control unit 10 repeats the operation shown in FIG.

As described above, in the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 10 is supplied to the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) and to the second power generation unit (cell stack 24B). Adjust at least one of the gas flow rates. Here, the control unit 10 adjusts the above-mentioned gas flow rate based on the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B. In the present embodiment, the gas for adjusting the flow rate can be a fuel gas such as hydrogen. Further, the control unit 10 may start adjusting the gas flow rate when the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B becomes a predetermined threshold value (for example, 25 ° C.) or more. On the other hand, when the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 5 ° C.), the control unit 10 returns to the state before starting the adjustment of the gas flow rate. You may.

As described above, according to the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24, the temperature difference in the vicinity of the two cell stacks 24 is opened more than a predetermined value. Suppress. Therefore, according to the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress an increase in the internal resistance of any of the cell stacks 24. Further, according to the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the durability of the cell stack 24 can be improved. Further, according to the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, since the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 is changed by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas, it is not necessary to add a functional unit for controlling the temperature. Therefore, the power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment can advantageously improve the power generation efficiency.

In the above-described embodiment, as an example, the control unit 10 controls the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack on the low temperature side of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B so as to be close to the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack on the high temperature side. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such control.

For example, the control unit 10 may control the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack on the high temperature side of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B so as to approach the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side. In this case, in order to lower the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side, the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side is increased. Increasing the fuel utilization rate of the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side means reducing the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24 that is not used for power generation but used for combustion, that is, reducing the supply of the entire fuel gas. Means. It should be noted that when reducing the supply of fuel gas, failure to supply the required amount of fuel gas can cause the stack to generate electricity to deteriorate.

Further, for example, the control unit 10 brings the temperature near the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side close to the temperature of the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side, and sets the temperature near the cell stack 24 on the high temperature side to the temperature near the cell stack 24 on the low temperature side. It may be controlled so as to approach.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration including the two power generation units of the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B has been described. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such control, and may include three or more power generation units. In this case, each power generation unit (cell stack 24) may be configured to supply fuel gas from the corresponding gas pump 94. Further, in this case, when the difference between the vicinity of the hottest one and the vicinity of the coldest one among the vicinity of each cell stack 24 becomes equal to or more than a predetermined temperature difference such as 25 ° C., the gas flow rate is adjusted. You may. Further, when the difference between the hottest one and the coldest one in the vicinity of each cell stack 24 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined temperature difference such as 5 ° C., the state before starting the adjustment of the gas flow rate is reached. You may put it back.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the power generation device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

The power generation device according to the second embodiment can adopt a partially the same configuration as the power generation device 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, with respect to the configuration of the power generation device according to the second embodiment, the description of the same contents as that of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

The power generation device according to the second embodiment changes the configuration of the fuel cell module 20 in the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 20 includes two cell stacks 24A and 24B as shown in FIG. In the power generation device according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the fuel cell module 20'includes four cell stacks (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D). Similar to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20', and the gas supply unit 32 in the power generation device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the other functional units are omitted. Hereinafter, when the cell stacks 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the cell stack 24. When each cell stack 24 can generate about 700 W by itself, for example, the fuel cell module 20'can output about 3 kW of electric power as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the fuel cell module 20', the reformer 22A is connected to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B, and the reformer 22B is connected to the cell stack 24C and the cell stack 24D. Through these connections, the reformer 22A and the reformer 22B can supply hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide to the cell stacks 24A and 24B and the cell stacks 24C and 24D, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the fuel cell module 20'also includes a temperature sensor 80 that detects the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the fuel cell module 20'includes four temperature sensors 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D. As shown in FIG. 4, the temperature sensor 80A is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A, and the temperature sensor 80B is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B. Further, the temperature sensor 80C is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24C, and the temperature sensor 80D is installed in the vicinity of the cell stack 24D. Also in the second embodiment, the meaning of “near the cell stack 24” and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Even when the four cell stacks 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are provided as in the fuel cell module 20'shown in FIG. 4, it can be operated in the same manner as the electronic device 1 according to the first embodiment. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the gas line for supplying fuel gas from the gas supply unit 32 to the fuel cell module 20'has two paths. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B can be adjusted by the gas pump 94A. Further, in the present embodiment, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24C and the cell stack 24D can be adjusted by the gas pump 94B.

In the present embodiment, the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are used as the first power generation unit, and the cell stack 24B and the cell stack 24D are used as the second power generation unit, and are operated in the same manner as the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment. Can be done. In this case, the average of the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B can be set as the temperature in the vicinity of the first power generation unit. Similarly, the average of the temperature near the cell stack 24C and the temperature near the cell stack 24D can be set as the temperature near the second power generation unit. Then, the control unit 10 determines the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the gas supplied to the second power generation unit based on the difference between the temperature near the first power generation unit and the temperature near the second power generation unit. Adjust at least one of the flow rates of. Other operations can be performed in the same manner as in the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the power generation device according to the present embodiment, by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24, it is possible to prevent the temperature difference in the vicinity of the four cell stacks 24 from opening more than a predetermined value. do. Therefore, the power generation device according to the present embodiment can advantageously increase the power generation efficiency as in the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B are used as the first power generation unit, and the cell stack 24B and the cell stack 24D are used as the second power generation unit. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such control.

For example, only one of the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit may have two cell stacks 24, and the other may have only one cell stack 24. Further, at least one of the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit may include two or more cell stacks 24.

As described above, in the power generation apparatus according to the present embodiment, at least one of the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit may include a plurality of power generation units (for example, cell stack 24A and cell stack 24B). In this case, the control unit 10 may process the average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the plurality of power generation units as the temperature in the vicinity of the first power generation unit and / or the temperature in the vicinity of the second power generation unit.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, the power generation device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

The power generation device according to the third embodiment can adopt a partially the same configuration as the power generation device 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, with respect to the configuration of the power generation device according to the second embodiment, the description of the same contents as that of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

The power generation device according to the third embodiment changes the configurations of the fuel cell module 20 and the air supply unit 34 in the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment, when controlling the temperature of the cell stack 24, the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied from the gas supply unit 32 to the cell stack 24 was adjusted. Specifically, the control unit 10 controls the gas pump 94 to adjust the flow rate of the fuel gas sent by the gas pump 94 toward the cell stack 24. In the power generation device according to the third embodiment, the flow rate of the air supplied from the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24 is adjusted instead of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing only the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, and the air supply unit 34 in the power generation device according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, functional units other than the control unit 10, the fuel cell module 20, and the air supply unit 34 are not shown. The functional unit (not shown) can be configured in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Although the gas pump and the flow meter as shown in FIG. 2 and the like are not described in FIG. 5, the power generation device according to the third embodiment may be provided with the gas pump and the flow meter.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the air supply unit 34 includes two air blowers 96A and 96B and two flow meters 98A and 98B. Hereinafter, when the air blower 96A and the air blower 96B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the air blower 96. Similarly, hereinafter, when the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply collectively referred to as the flow meter 98.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the air supplied to the air supply unit 34 is branched from one supply source into two paths and supplied to the air blower 96A and the air blower 96B, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the air blower 96A is connected to the flow meter 98A, and the air blower 96B is connected to the flow meter 98B. With these connections, the air blower 96A and the air blower 96B can supply air to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B, respectively, via the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 5, air branched from one supply source into two paths is supplied to the air blowers 96A and 96B, respectively. However, for example, the air blowers 96A and 96B may be supplied with air from separate sources.

The air blowers 96A and 96B send the air supplied to the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24A and the cell stack 24B of the fuel cell module 20 via the flow meters 98A and 98B, respectively. As the air blowers 96A and 96B, any one that can send air to the cell stacks 24A and 24B can be adopted.

The flow meters 98A and 98B measure the flow rate of the air flowing through them, respectively. Here, the flow rate of air measured by the flow meters 98A and 98B can be, for example, the amount of air moving through the flow meters 98A or 98B per unit time. As the flow meters 98A and 98B, any flow meter can be adopted as long as it can measure the flow rate of air.

As shown in FIG. 5, the air supply unit 34 is communicably connected to the control unit 10 by wire or wirelessly. Information on the flow rate of air measured by the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B is transmitted to the control unit 10. As a result, the control unit 10 can grasp the flow rate of the air measured by the flow meter 98A and the flow meter 98B, respectively. Further, the control unit 10 can adjust (increase / decrease) the flow rate of the air sent out to the cell stacks 24A and 24B by the air blowers 96A and 96B, respectively, by being communicably connected to the air supply unit 34. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 can adjust the flow rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24B.

In the power generation device according to the present embodiment, the air supply unit 34 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, in the air supply unit 34 shown in FIG. 5, the flow meter 98 measures the flow rate of air after being delivered by the air blower 96. However, in the air supply unit 34, the flow meter 98 may measure the flow rate of air before it is delivered by the air blower 96.

Next, the operation of the power generation device according to the third embodiment will be described.

The power generation device according to the third embodiment can be operated in substantially the same manner as the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the operation of the power generation device according to the third embodiment, which is different from that of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment, will be mainly described below.

In the third embodiment, when adjusting the gas flow rate in step S13, the air flow rate is adjusted instead of the fuel gas flow rate.

Hereinafter, as an example, a case where the control unit 10 controls the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side to be close to the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side in step S13 will be described as an example. In step S13, when raising the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side, the control unit 10 raises the air utilization rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24A. Here, the air utilization rate is the ratio of the air actually used for power generation to the air supplied to the cell stack 24A. The amount of air actually used for power generation in the cell stack 24A generally does not change very rapidly. Therefore, increasing the air utilization rate in the cell stack 24A means reducing the total amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24. When the total amount of air supplied to the cell stack 24A decreases, the excess air decreases, so that the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A rises. As described above, in step S13, the control unit 10 can control the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24 by adjusting the air supplied by the air supply unit 34 to the cell stack 24.

Further, in the third embodiment, when returning to the state before the adjustment of the gas flow rate performed in step S16, the air flow rate is returned to the state before the adjustment instead of the fuel gas flow rate. For example, as described above, when the air utilization rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24A is increased in step S13, the control unit 10 decreases the increased air utilization rate in step S16.

As described above, in the power generation device according to the present embodiment, the control unit 10 may adjust at least one of the flow rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24B. In this case, the control unit 10 may adjust the flow rate of the air by changing the ratio of the air used for power generation to the air supplied to the cell stack 24A or the cell stack 24B.

As described above, according to the power generation device according to the present embodiment, by adjusting the flow rate of the air supplied to the cell stack 24, it is possible to prevent the temperature difference between the two cell stacks 24 from opening more than a predetermined value. .. Therefore, the power generation device according to the present embodiment can advantageously increase the power generation efficiency as in the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

(Fourth Embodiment)
Next, the power generation device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

The power generation device according to the fourth embodiment can adopt the same configuration as the power generation device 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the configuration of the power generation device according to the fourth embodiment will be omitted. Hereinafter, the description of the same contents as in the first embodiment will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

The power generation device according to the fourth embodiment changes a part of the control of the power generation device 1 described in the first embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, in the operation of the electronic device 1 in the first embodiment, the conditions for returning to the state before adjusting the gas flow rate after adjusting the gas flow rate are changed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the power generation device according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 6, the same processing as described as the processing of the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is shown as the same step.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, after acquiring the temperature in the vicinity of each power generation unit in step S11, does the control unit 10 have a temperature difference of 25 ° C. or more in the vicinity of the two power generation units? It was determined whether or not (step S12). Then, if the temperature difference is 25 ° C. or higher in step S12, the control unit 10 adjusts the gas flow rate (step S13).

Also in the fourth embodiment, the condition for adjusting the gas flow rate can be a case where the temperature difference in the vicinity of each of the two power generation units is 25 ° C. or more, or more than a predetermined temperature difference. In the fourth embodiment, instead of step S12, as shown in step S21 in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the vicinity of the two power generation units has a predetermined temperature difference or more (step S21). ). If it is determined in step S21 that the temperature difference between the two power generation units is not greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature difference, the control unit 10 returns to step S11 to acquire the temperature in the vicinity of each power generation unit. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that the temperature difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, the control unit 10 adjusts the gas flow rate (step S13). In step S21, as in step S12, the predetermined temperature difference may be 25 ° C., or any other temperature difference may be set.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, after acquiring the temperature in the vicinity of each power generation unit in step S14, the control unit 10 has a temperature difference of 5 ° C. or less in the vicinity of the two power generation units. It was determined whether or not there was (step S15). Then, if the temperature difference is 5 ° C. or less in step S15, the control unit 10 returns the gas flow rate to the state before the adjustment (step S16).

In the fourth embodiment, the condition for returning the gas flow rate to the state before the adjustment is a case where the high and low temperatures in the vicinity of the two power generation units are reversed. In FIG. 6, instead of step S15, as shown in step S22 in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the high and low temperatures in the vicinity of the two power generation units are reversed.

If it is determined in step S22 that the high and low temperatures in the vicinity of the two power generation units are not reversed, the control unit 10 returns to step S14 to acquire the temperature in the vicinity of each power generation unit. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that the high and low temperatures in the vicinity of the two power generation units have been reversed, the control unit 10 returns the gas flow rate to the state before adjustment (step S16).

For example, in step S13, a case where the control unit 10 controls the temperature near the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side to be close to the temperature near the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side will be described as an example. In this case, in step S22, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side exceeds the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side. If it is determined in step S22 that the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side does not exceed the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side, the control unit 10 returns to step S14 and the cell stack 24 Get the temperature of. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A on the low temperature side exceeds the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B on the high temperature side, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S16 and the flow rate of the gas. To return to the state before adjustment.

As described above, in the power generation device according to the present embodiment, when the high and low of the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B are reversed, the control unit 10 returns to the state before starting the adjustment of the gas flow rate. You may.

As described above, according to the power generation device according to the present embodiment, by adjusting the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the cell stack 24, it is possible to prevent the temperature difference in the vicinity of the two cell stacks 24 from opening more than a predetermined value. do. Therefore, the power generation device according to the present embodiment can advantageously increase the power generation efficiency as in the power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and modifications based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and modifications are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each functional unit, each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and a plurality of functional units and steps can be combined or divided into one. It is possible. Further, each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention is not limited to faithful implementation of each of the embodiments described above, and each of the features may be combined or a part thereof may be omitted as appropriate. You can also do it.

For example, in the above disclosure, as the first embodiment, the power generation device 1 including the fuel cell has been described. However, each embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the power generation device including the fuel cell.

For example, the embodiment of the present disclosure can be realized as a fuel cell control device that controls the fuel cell from the outside without providing the fuel cell. An example of such an embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the fuel cell control device 2 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a control unit 10 and a storage unit 12. The control device 2 controls the external fuel cell 1. That is, in the fuel cell control device 2 according to the present embodiment, at least the flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit (cell stack 24A) and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the second power generation unit (cell stack 24B). Make one adjustment. Here, the control device 2 adjusts the above-mentioned gas flow rate based on the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24A and the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 24B.

Further, the embodiment of the present disclosure can also be realized as, for example, a control program to be executed by the fuel cell control device 2 as described above. That is, the fuel cell control program according to the present embodiment executes a step of adjusting at least one of the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24A and the flow rate of the gas supplied to the cell stack 24B in the control device 2. Let me. Here, the control program causes the control device 2 to execute the above step based on the difference between the temperature near the cell stack 24A and the temperature near the cell stack 24B.

1 Power generation device 2 Control device 10 Control unit 12 Storage unit 20 Fuel cell module 22 Reformer 24 Cell stack 30 Supply unit 32 Gas supply unit 34 Air supply unit 36 Remodeling water supply unit 40 Inverter 50 Exhaust heat recovery processing unit 52 Circulation Water treatment unit 60 Hot water storage tank 70 Current sensor 80 Temperature sensor 92 Flow meter 94 Gas pump 96 Air blower 98 Flow meter 100 Load 200 Commercial power supply

Claims (10)

The first power generation unit, which has a plurality of power generation units including a fuel cell,
A second power generation unit that has multiple power generation units including a fuel cell,
When power is generated using the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit, the first power generation unit is provided at a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the first power generation unit. The average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the first power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected, and the position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the second power generation unit, which are provided in the second power generation unit. The flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the gas supplied to the second power generation unit based on the difference from the average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the second power generation unit, which is the position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected. A control unit that adjusts at least one of the flow rates of
It is a power generation device equipped with
Wherein, by the adjustment, the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near does not change, the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the controlled so as to approach the average temperature of the power generation section near the low temperature side to the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the second power generating unit near the power generation device. The adjustment according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts the adjustment when the difference between the average temperature in the vicinity of the first power generation unit and the average temperature in the vicinity of the second power generation unit becomes equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value. Power generator. When the difference between the average temperature in the vicinity of the first power generation unit and the average temperature in the vicinity of the second power generation unit becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit returns to the state before starting the adjustment. Item 2. The power generation device according to item 1 or 2. Wherein the controller, when the height of the average temperature of the mean and the second power generating section near the temperature of the first power generating unit near reversed, returning to the state before starting the adjustment, to claim 1 or 2 The power generator described. The control unit adjusts at least one of the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the second power generation unit, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Power generator. The fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit makes the adjustment by changing the ratio of the fuel gas used for power generation to the fuel gas supplied to the first power generation unit or the second power generation unit. Power generator. The power generation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit adjusts at least one of the flow rate of air supplied to the first power generation unit and the flow rate of air supplied to the second power generation unit. Device. The power generation device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit makes the adjustment by changing the ratio of air used for power generation to the air supplied to the first power generation unit or the second power generation unit. .. A controller for controlling the second power generating unit including a plurality of power generating unit including a first power generation unit and the fuel cell comprising a plurality of power generating unit including a fuel cell,
When power is generated using the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit, the first power generation unit is provided at a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the first power generation unit. The average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the first power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected, and the position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the second power generation unit, which are provided in the second power generation unit. The flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the gas supplied to the second power generation unit based on the difference from the average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the second power generation unit, which is the position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected. by performing at least one of adjustment of the flow rate, the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near does not change, the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the controlled so as to approach the average temperature of the power generation section near the low temperature side to the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the second power generating unit near the controller. A control device for controlling the second power generating unit including a plurality of power generating unit including a first power generation unit and the fuel cell comprising a plurality of power generating unit including a fuel cell,
A step of generating power using the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit, and
When power is generated using the first power generation unit and the second power generation unit, the first power generation unit is provided at a position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the first power generation unit. The average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the first power generation unit, which is a position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected, and the position away from the plurality of power generation units provided in the second power generation unit, which are provided in the second power generation unit. The flow rate of the gas supplied to the first power generation unit and the gas supplied to the second power generation unit based on the difference from the average of the temperatures in the vicinity of the second power generation unit, which is the position where the temperature of the power generation unit can be detected. And the step of adjusting at least one of the flow rates of
By the adjustment, the average temperature of the power generation portion near the hot side of the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near does not change, the first power generating unit and in the vicinity of the second power generating section near Of these, the step of controlling the average temperature near the power generation unit on the low temperature side to approach the average temperature near the power generation unit on the high temperature side, and
A control program that executes.

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