JP7664810B2 - Abnormality diagnosis device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an abnormality diagnosis device that diagnoses the contents of abnormalities occurring in a fuel cell device based on information received via an information and communication line from a fuel cell device installed in a facility.

Patent Document 1 (JP 2016-184319 A) describes a system that can diagnose and identify a faulty part of a power generation system and reduce erroneous diagnosis in the event of a fault.
Specifically, in the system described in Patent Document 1, when the power generation system fails, failure data including detection signal history from each of multiple detection means provided at each part of the power generation device is generated. Then, from the past failure data recorded in the database, correlated failure data that is highly correlated with the failure data at the current failure is selected. Furthermore, a failure diagnosis result and a failure response record associated with the selected correlated failure data are output. In this way, the system described in Patent Document 1 identifies past failure data that is highly correlated with failure data including detection signal history detected when the current failure occurs, and considers the current failure to have occurred due to the same failure cause as the past failure data with which it is highly correlated.

JP 2016-184319 A

There is also a need for a method to diagnose the operating state of a fuel cell device without relying on statistical methods such as the strength of correlation.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide an abnormality diagnosis device that can properly diagnose the contents of abnormalities that occur in a fuel cell device.

A characteristic configuration of an abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an abnormality diagnosis device that diagnoses the contents of an abnormality occurring in a fuel cell device installed in a facility based on information received from the fuel cell device via an information communication line, comprising:
The fuel cell device includes:
a hot module including a reformer which generates fuel gas by steam reforming a raw fuel, a cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units which generate power using the fuel gas generated by the reformer, and a combustion section which combusts off-gas discharged from the cell stack in an internal space of an inner container, the inner container being provided with an air inlet port used to supply air from the outside to the internal space and an exhaust port used to exhaust air from the internal space to the outside;
a raw fuel supply passage for supplying raw fuel from the outside of the internal space to the reformer;
an air supplier that supplies air to the internal space through the air supply port;
an air flow rate meter that measures a flow rate per unit time of air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device;
The point is that, by referring to the actual measurement value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if a first judgment condition is satisfied that both a high flow state in which the actual measurement value is larger than a predetermined target value and the deviation of the actual measurement value from the target value is equal to or greater than the set deviation value, and a low flow state in which the actual measurement value is smaller than the target value and the deviation of the actual measurement value from the target value is equal to or greater than the set deviation value, have occurred during a predetermined past judgment period, it is judged that there is a problem with the exhaust of exhaust gas from the internal space through the exhaust port.

According to the above characteristic configuration, if the first judgment condition is satisfied, that is, that both a high flow rate state and a low flow rate state have occurred during a predetermined judgment period in the past, the abnormality diagnosis device judges that a problem has occurred in the exhaust of exhaust gas from the internal space through the exhaust port. In other words, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically determine the diagnosis result for the abnormality that appears in the measurement result of the air flow meter.

For example, if a maintenance person is called out based only on the fact that an abnormality appears in the measurement results of at least one of the multiple measuring devices that the fuel cell device has, the maintenance person needs to diagnose the abnormality on the spot. However, in this characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device automatically identifies the diagnosis results for the abnormality, so that the maintenance person can make preparations in advance according to the diagnosis results before being called out.
Therefore, it is possible to provide an abnormality diagnostic device that can properly diagnose the contents of abnormalities occurring in a fuel cell device.

Another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that the fuel cell device includes a cooler that cools the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the inner container, and an exhaust gas flow path through which the exhaust gas flows after being cooled by the cooler,
When the first judgment condition is satisfied, it is judged that a poor exhaust of the exhaust gas is occurring in the cooler or in the exhaust gas flow path downstream thereof.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when the first judgment condition is satisfied, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that an exhaust gas exhaust problem has occurred in the cooler or in the exhaust gas flow path downstream of the cooler.

In still another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention, the fuel cell device includes a water purifier into which condensed water generated in the cooler flows,
If the first judgment condition is satisfied, it is judged that the water purifier needs to be replaced.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that the water purifier needs to be replaced if the first judgment condition is satisfied.

In still another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention, the fuel cell device includes a gas measuring device capable of measuring a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
The point is that by referring to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if the second judgment condition that the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value is satisfied, and the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state appears continuously during the judgment period, it is judged that a narrowing or blockage has occurred in the flow path of the exhaust gas discharged outside the inner container.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when the second judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state is continuously present during the judgment period, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that a narrowing or blockage has occurred in the flow path of the exhaust gas discharged outside the inner container.

Another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that the fuel cell device includes a cooler that cools the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the inner container, an exhaust gas flow path through which the exhaust gas flows after being cooled by the cooler, and a gas measuring device that can measure a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
The present invention is characterized in that, by referring to the actual value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if the second judgment condition that the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value is satisfied, and if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and if the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period, it is judged that the cooler needs to be replaced.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that the cooler needs to be replaced if the second judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period.

In still another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention, the fuel cell device includes a gas measuring device capable of measuring a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
The present invention is characterized in that, by referring to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if the second judgment condition that the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value is satisfied, and the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state appears continuously during the judgment period, it is judged that the gas measuring instrument needs to be replaced.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that the gas measuring device needs to be replaced if the second judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period.

In still another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention, the fuel cell device includes a gas measuring device capable of measuring a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
The point is that by referring to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if the second judgment condition that the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value is satisfied, and the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period, it is judged that it is necessary to install a gas removal filter for removing the volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when the second judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose the need to install a gas removal filter that removes the volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device.

Another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that, when the deviation amount of the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow rate measuring device from the target value is equal to or larger than the set deviation value, the fuel cell device performs a restart process of at least temporarily stopping the operation of the air supplier and then restarting it,
By referring to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line and the fact that the restart process has been performed in the fuel cell device, if a third judgment condition is satisfied, that the low flow rate state occurs after the restart process is performed, and if the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, it is judged that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the air supply device and the air flow measuring instrument.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the air supply device and the air flow meter if the third judgment condition, that is, a low flow state occurs after the restart process is performed, is satisfied, the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the low flow state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed.

Another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that, when the deviation amount of the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow rate measuring device from the target value is equal to or larger than the set deviation value, the fuel cell device performs a restart process of at least temporarily stopping the operation of the air supplier and then restarting it,
The point is that, by referring to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line and the fact that the restart process has been performed in the fuel cell device, if the third judgment condition, that the low flow rate state occurs after the restart process is performed, is satisfied, and the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the low flow rate state has continuously occurred during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, it is judged that at least one of the replacement or cleaning of the air supply device and the replacement or cleaning of the air flow measuring instrument is necessary.

According to the above characteristic configuration, if the third judgment condition is satisfied, that is, a low flow rate state occurs after the restart process is performed, and the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and a low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that at least one of the replacement or cleaning of the air supply device and the replacement or cleaning of the air flow measuring device is required.

In still another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention, the fuel cell device includes a foreign matter removing filter for removing foreign matter contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier,
The method refers to the foreign matter concentration in the atmosphere at the point where the fuel cell device is installed, and refers to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow meter and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, and the fact that the restart process has been performed by the fuel cell device, and if a fourth judgment condition is met that the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value, and if the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and if the third judgment condition is not satisfied, and if the low flow rate state appears continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, then it is judged that the foreign matter removal performance of the foreign matter removal filter is low.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that the foreign matter removal performance of the foreign matter removal filter is low if the fourth judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the foreign matter concentration at the location where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than the set concentration value, and the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed.

In still another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention, the fuel cell device includes a foreign matter removing filter for removing foreign matter contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier,
The method refers to the foreign matter concentration in the atmosphere at the point where the fuel cell device is installed, and refers to the actual value and the target value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, the measurement results of the gas measuring instrument, and the fact that the restart process has been performed by the fuel cell device, and if a fourth judgment condition is met that the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value, and if the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not met before the restart process is performed, and if the third judgment condition is not met, and if the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, then it is judged that the foreign matter removal filter needs to be replaced.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that the foreign matter removal filter needs to be replaced if the fourth judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the foreign matter concentration at the location where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than the set concentration value, and the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed.

In still another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention, the fuel cell device includes a foreign matter removing filter for removing foreign matter contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier,
The method refers to the concentration of foreign matter in the atmosphere at the point where the fuel cell device is installed, and refers to the actual value and the target value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow meter received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, the measurement results of the gas meter, and the fact that the restart process has been performed by the fuel cell device, and if the fourth judgment condition, that the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value, is not satisfied, and the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, it is determined that the flow of air supplied by the air supplier to the internal space is obstructed.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that the flow of air supplied by the air supplier to the internal space is obstructed if the fourth judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than the set concentration value, and the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a diagnostic system including an abnormality diagnostic device. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel cell device. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an abnormality diagnosis process.

An abnormality diagnosis device 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a diagnostic system including an abnormality diagnosis device 4. As shown in the figure, a fuel cell device 10 is provided in a facility 1 such as a residence or a business. The facility 1 is also provided with a power consumption device 5, a gas consumption device 6, and a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) 7. The HEMS 7 is a device that controls the operation of control target devices such as the power consumption device 5, the fuel cell device 10, and the gas consumption device 6, and can receive information from each device and transmit information to each device by performing information communication with the control target devices via communication lines. The HEMS 7 can also transmit information received from each device to the abnormality diagnosis device 4 and the like via an information communication line 2.

The power consumption device 5 and the fuel cell device 10 are connected to a power line 8 that is linked to the power grid, and can receive power from the power grid. In addition, the power generated by the fuel cell device 10 can be supplied to the power grid via the power line 8. The gas consumption device 6 and the fuel cell device 10 can receive gas, such as city gas, supplied from a gas supply pipe 9. Although two facilities 1 are depicted in FIG. 1, the number of facilities 1 can be changed as appropriate. In the following description, gas, such as city gas, supplied from the gas supply pipe 9 may be referred to as "raw fuel."

The fuel cell device 10 can access the information and communication line 2 either via the HEMS 7 or without the HEMS 7. The fuel cell device 10 can communicate information with the abnormality diagnosis device 4, the information providing server device 3, the maintenance staff terminal device 60, the manufacturing staff terminal device 61, the manager terminal device 62, and the like, which are connected to the information and communication line 2.

Figure 2 shows the configuration of the fuel cell device 10. The fuel cell device 10 has various components inside the outer container 11. Below, the configuration of the fuel cell device 10 will be explained by dividing it into the hot module 13, the raw fuel supply system, the air supply system, the reflux gas supply system, the water recovery system, the reforming water supply system, and the exhaust heat recovery system.

[Hot module 13]
A hot module 13 is provided inside the outer vessel 11, housing devices such as a cell stack 18 that operate in a high-temperature environment. Specifically, a vaporizer 14, a reformer 15, a manifold 16, a cell stack 18, and the like are provided inside the hot module 13. The vaporizer 14 vaporizes reforming water and supplies it to the reformer 15. The reformer 15 generates fuel gas by steam reforming the raw fuel. The reformer 15 is provided with a temperature measuring device T1 as a reformer temperature measuring device that measures the temperature of, for example, a reforming catalyst (not shown) of the reformer 15.

The cell stack 18 has multiple fuel cell cells 17 that generate electricity using fuel gas produced in the reformer 15 and supplied through the fuel gas supply line L2. For example, the fuel gas produced in the reformer 15 passes through the fuel gas supply line L2 and reaches the manifold 16, where the fuel gas is distributed to each of the fuel cell cells 17.

The space above the cell stack 18 becomes the combustion section 19, which burns the off-gas discharged from the cell stack 18. This combustion heat is transferred to the vaporizer 14 and reformer 15 above. The temperature of the combustion section 19 is measured by a temperature measuring device T2, which serves as a combustion section temperature measuring device. The igniter 20 ignites the off-gas.

An air supply line L10 is connected to the air intake port 21 of the hot module 13, and air is supplied to the inside of the hot module 13. Gas present inside the hot module 13 is exhausted to the outside of the hot module 13 from the exhaust port 22 of the hot module 13. The exhaust port 22 is provided with a combustion catalyst section 23 that catalytically combusts hydrogen, carbon monoxide, etc. contained in the exhausted gas using oxygen.

The exhaust gas that has passed through the combustion catalyst section 23 is supplied to the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery. In the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery, heat is exchanged between the exhaust gas and hot water flowing through the hot water circulation path L7 as a heat medium for exhaust heat recovery, i.e., the exhaust gas is cooled, and the moisture contained in the exhaust gas is condensed.

A gas-liquid separator 35 is provided downstream of the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34 to separate condensed water contained in the exhaust gas. The gas phase components in the exhaust gas are discharged to the outside of the outer container 11 through the exhaust gas flow path L4, and the liquid phase components in the exhaust gas are supplied to the water purifier 37 through the water recovery path L5. The outer container 11 is also provided with a ventilation port 55. A temperature measuring device T3 is provided inside the outer container 11 near the ventilation port 55. This temperature measuring device T3 measures, for example, the temperature of the outside air.

[Raw fuel supply system]
The raw fuel supply system is a system that supplies raw fuel to the reformer 15 via a raw fuel supply path L1. Specifically, the raw fuel supply system includes a shutoff valve 26, a pressure measuring device 27, a raw fuel flow rate measuring device 28, a zero governor 29, a raw fuel supplier 30, and a desulfurizer 31.

The shutoff valve 26 switches between a state in which the raw fuel is permitted to flow into the raw fuel supply line L1 and a state in which the raw fuel is blocked. The pressure gauge 27 measures the pressure of the raw fuel flowing into the raw fuel supply line L1. The raw fuel supplier 30 supplies the raw fuel to the reformer 15. Specifically, the raw fuel supplier 30 adjusts the flow rate per unit time of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer 15. The raw fuel flow rate meter 28 measures the flow rate per unit time of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer 15 by the raw fuel supplier 30. For example, the raw fuel supplier 30 operates the raw fuel supplier 30 so that the flow rate of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate meter 28 becomes the target flow rate. The zero governor 29 adjusts the pressure of the raw fuel flowing through the raw fuel supply line L1 to be the same as atmospheric pressure. The desulfurizer 31 removes sulfur compounds and the like contained in the raw fuel.

[Air supply system]
The air supply system is a system that supplies air to the hot module 13 via an air supply path L10. The air supplier 41 supplies air to the inside of the inner container 12. Specifically, the air supplier 41 adjusts the flow rate per unit time of the air supplied to the inside of the inner container 12. The air flow meter 42 measures the flow rate per unit time of the air supplied by the air supplier 41 to the inside of the inner container 12. The foreign matter removal filter 40 captures foreign matter contained in the air supplied by the air supplier 41 to the inside of the inner container 12.

[Reflux gas supply system]
The reflux gas supply system is a system that supplies a part of the fuel gas generated in the reformer 15 to the raw fuel supply line L1 through the reflux gas supply line L3. The reflux gas supply line L3 branches from a branching portion 24 in the middle of the fuel gas supply line L2 and merges with a merging portion 25 in the middle of the raw fuel supply line L1 upstream of the desulfurizer 31, and supplies a part of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply line L2 to the raw fuel supply line L1. This allows hydrogen to be supplied to the desulfurizer 31. The reflux gas supply line L3 is drawn out from the inside to the outside of the hot module 13. The orifice 33 is provided in the middle of the reflux gas supply line L3 and adjusts the flow rate per unit time of the fuel gas flowing through the reflux gas supply line L3. The temperature adjustment member 32 is provided around at least a part of the reflux gas supply line L3 to maintain the temperature of the reformed gas flowing through the reflux gas supply line L3. The condensed water recovery device 36 recovers condensed water generated in the reflux gas supply line L3. The temperature measuring device T4 measures the temperature of the reflux gas supply line L3 at a location where the temperature adjustment member 32 is provided. For example, the temperature measuring device T4 is a device that measures the temperature of the outer surface of the piping that constitutes the reflux gas supply line L3, a device that measures the internal temperature of the piping that constitutes the reflux gas supply line L3, or the like.

[Water recovery system]
The water recovery system is a system that recovers water generated by the fuel cell device 10. The condensed water recovered using the water recovery line L5 is supplied to the reforming water tank 38. In the illustrated example, the water recovery line L5 has a first recovery line L5a that recovers water from the gas-liquid separator 35 and a second recovery line L5b that recovers water from the condensed water recovery device 36. The condensed water recovered by the first recovery line L5a and the second recovery line L5b is supplied to the reforming water tank 38 via the water purifier 37. The water purifier 37 is a device for removing impurities contained in the recovered condensed water. For example, the water purifier 37 is filled with an ion exchange resin or the like, and serves to relatively lower the concentration of electrolytes contained in the recovered condensed water (i.e., to lower the electrical conductivity) by exchanging ions of electrolytes (e.g., ionized and dissolved salts, ammonia, etc.) contained in the recovered condensed water with, for example, H ⁺ or OH ^- .

[Reformed water supply system]
The reforming water supply system is a system that supplies reforming water to the reformer 15 via a reforming water supply passage L6. In this embodiment, the reforming water stored in the reforming water tank 38 is supplied to the vaporizer 14, and then supplied from the vaporizer 14 to the reformer 15. The reforming water supply system includes the reforming water supply passage L6, the reforming water tank 38, and a reforming water supply device 39. The reforming water tank 38 stores reforming water. The reforming water supply device 39 supplies reforming water to the reformer 15. Specifically, the reforming water supply device 39 is provided midway through the reforming water supply passage L6, and adjusts the flow rate per unit time of the reforming water flowing through the reforming water supply passage L6.

[Waste heat recovery system]
The exhaust heat recovery system is a system that recovers heat generated by the fuel cell device 10. The exhaust heat recovery system includes a hot water storage tank 45, a water supply line L8, a hot water outlet line L9, a hot water circulation line L7, a circulation pump 44, and the like. Hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 45. The hot water circulation line L7 circulates hot water between the hot water storage tank 45 and the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery. The hot water storage tank 45 stores hot water such that relatively low-temperature hot water is stored in the lower part and relatively high-temperature hot water is stored in the upper part, that is, in a state in which temperature stratification is formed. To be more specific, the hot water circulation line L7 is composed of an outward path that transfers hot water from the hot water storage tank 45 to the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery, and a return path that transfers hot water from the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery to the hot water storage tank 45, and has a circulation pump 44 provided in the middle of the outward path.

With this configuration, the hot water supplied from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 45 to the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery through the outward path of the hot water circulation path L7 is heated by the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery, and the heated hot water is supplied to the top of the hot water storage tank 45 through the return path of the hot water circulation path L7. A temperature measuring device T5 is provided on the return path to measure the temperature of the hot water transferred from the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery to the hot water storage tank 45. In this embodiment, the fuel cell control unit 49 controls the operation of the circulation pump 44 so that the temperature of the hot water flowing through the return path and into the hot water storage tank 45 (the temperature of the hot water measured by the temperature measuring device T5) becomes a predetermined hot water storage target temperature (for example, 65°C). In this way, the hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 45 in a state where temperature stratification is formed, i.e., heat is stored.

A water supply line L8 is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 45 to supply clean water to the hot water storage tank 45, and a hot water outlet line L9 is connected to the top of the hot water storage tank 45 to discharge the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 45. The hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 45 is subjected to the water supply pressure applied inside the water supply line L8. With this configuration, in the hot water storage tank 45, for example, when a water faucet (not shown) connected to the hot water outlet line L9 is opened, hot water is discharged from the hot water storage tank 45 to the hot water outlet line L9, and clean water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 45 from the water supply line L8.

The cell stack 18 of the fuel cell device 10 is connected to the power line 8 via a power conversion circuit unit 46. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the power conversion circuit unit 46 includes a boost circuit 47 and an inverter 48.

The fuel cell device 10 includes a fuel cell control unit 49, a memory unit 50 that stores information handled by the fuel cell device 10, and a communication unit 51. Measurement results from the measuring instruments included in the fuel cell device 10 are transmitted to the fuel cell control unit 49, and the measurement results are stored in the memory unit 50. For example, the measurement results from the pressure measuring instrument 27, raw fuel flow measuring instrument 28, air flow measuring instrument 42, gas measuring instrument 43, and temperature measuring instruments T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 described above as "measuring instruments" are transmitted to the fuel cell control unit 49. The fuel cell control unit 49 then transmits these measurement results from the communication unit 51 to the abnormality diagnosis device 4 at a predetermined timing. The fuel cell control unit 49 also transmits any abnormalities that appear in these measurement results as part of the measurement results from the communication unit 51 to the abnormality diagnosis device 4.

The fuel cell control unit 49 controls the operation of various devices such as the igniter 20, the shutoff valve 26, the raw fuel supply unit 30, the reforming water supply unit 39, the air supply unit 41, the circulation pump 44, and the power conversion circuit unit 46.

Next, we will explain the method by which the abnormality diagnosis device 4 diagnoses the contents of an abnormality occurring in the fuel cell device 10 based on information received from the fuel cell device 10 installed in the facility 1 via the information communication line 2. The abnormality diagnosis device 4 includes a memory unit 4a and a diagnosis processing unit 4b.

The memory unit 4a of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 associates an abnormality appearing in the measurement results of at least one of the multiple measuring devices possessed by the fuel cell device 10 with an abnormality diagnosis process for identifying one of multiple possible diagnosis results for the abnormality, including at least one of the cause of the abnormality and a method of dealing with the abnormality, and stores the abnormalities for each of the multiple abnormalities. Specifically, the abnormality diagnosis process is composed of a combination of multiple judgment processes that determine whether or not at least one of the measurement results of the measuring devices of the fuel cell device 10 and the operating environment of the fuel cell device 10 satisfies a predetermined judgment condition. The judgment result of the judgment process, which is determined depending on whether or not the judgment condition is satisfied, includes at least one of the following cases: a transition to another judgment process is instructed, and a diagnosis result of the abnormality diagnosis process is identified.

When an abnormality appears in the measurement results received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information and communication line 2, the diagnosis processing unit 4b of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 identifies a diagnosis result for the abnormality that appears in the received measurement results based on the contents of the abnormality diagnosis process corresponding to the abnormality stored in the memory unit 4a and at least one of the measurement results of the measuring instrument of the fuel cell device 10 and the operating environment of the fuel cell device 10.

[Abnormality diagnosis process]
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the contents of the abnormality diagnosis process performed by the diagnosis processor 4b when an abnormality such as an abnormal air flow rate occurs.
The fuel cell control unit 49 of the fuel cell device 10 monitors the measurement results of the air flow meter 42. The fuel cell control unit 49 then refers to the actual value of the air flow measured by the air flow meter 42, and determines that an abnormality called an air flow abnormality has occurred when a high flow state occurs in which the actual value of the air flow measured by the air flow meter 42 is greater than a predetermined target value and the deviation of the actual value from the target value is equal to or greater than a set deviation value, or a low flow state occurs in which the actual value is smaller than the target value and the deviation of the actual value from the target value is equal to or greater than a set deviation value. The fuel cell control unit 49 then transmits the measurement result indicating that an abnormality called an air flow abnormality has occurred to the abnormality diagnosis device 4 from the communication unit 51.

When the abnormality diagnosis device 4 receives a measurement result notification from the fuel cell device 10 indicating that an abnormality in the form of an air flow rate abnormality has occurred, it refers to the information stored in the memory unit 4a and reads out the abnormality diagnosis process corresponding to that air flow rate abnormality. The diagnosis processing unit 4b then executes that abnormality diagnosis process.

As shown in FIG. 3, the abnormality diagnosis process that is executed when an abnormality such as an abnormal air flow rate occurs is composed of a combination of four judgment processes: judgment process #10, judgment process #11, judgment process #12, and judgment process #13.

The judgment process of step #10 refers to the actual air flow measured by the air flow meter 42 received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information and communication line 2, and judges whether or not a first judgment condition is met that both a high flow state in which the actual measurement value is greater than a predetermined target value and the deviation of the actual measurement value from the target value is equal to or greater than a set deviation value, and a low flow state in which the actual measurement value is smaller than the target value and the deviation of the actual measurement value from the target value is equal to or greater than a set deviation value, have occurred during a predetermined past judgment period. In other words, in step #10, it is judged whether or not the measurement result of the air flow meter 42 meets the predetermined judgment condition.

In the judgment process of step #10, if the diagnostic processing unit 4b judges that the first judgment condition is satisfied, it will identify the diagnosis result A1 of a recoverable temporary exhaust failure from the inner container 12. In other words, the diagnostic processing unit 4b judges that a recoverable temporary failure has occurred in the exhaust of exhaust gas from the internal space of the inner container 12 through the exhaust port 22. In contrast, if the diagnostic processing unit 4b judges that the first judgment condition is not satisfied, it will proceed to the judgment process of step #11. Note that it is unlikely that a high flow rate state will occur continuously during a specified judgment period. Therefore, the fact that the first judgment condition is not satisfied means that a low flow rate state has occurred continuously during the judgment period. In this way, the judgment result of the judgment process of step #10 includes a case where a transition to another judgment process is instructed and a case where a diagnosis result is identified.

Specifically, as described above, the fuel cell device 10 includes the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34 as a cooler for cooling the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port 22 to the outside of the inner container 12, and the exhaust gas flow path L4 through which the exhaust gas flows after being cooled by the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34. Since the off-gas is burned in the internal space of the inner container 12, the exhaust gas contains water vapor. Therefore, when the exhaust gas is cooled by the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34, condensed water is generated. This condensed water flows into the water purifier 37 via the gas-liquid separator 35, but if foreign matter or gas accumulates in the water purifier 37, the flow of condensed water in the water purifier 37 is obstructed, and the condensed water may overflow into the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34 upstream of the water purifier 37 or into the exhaust gas flow path L4 downstream of the water purifier 37.

If the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34 or part of the exhaust gas flow path L4 is blocked by condensed water, exhaust gas will not be discharged from the inner space even if the air supply 41 is operating, and the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow meter 42 will be very small. In other words, a low flow rate state occurs. However, since the air supply 41 is operating, the pressure of the exhaust gas gradually increases, and at a certain point, the exhaust gas flows out of the exhaust gas flow path L4 to the outside of the outer container 11 together with the condensed water that is blocking the gas flow path. In other words, a high flow rate state occurs. In this way, if a recoverable temporary defect occurs in the exhaust of exhaust gas from the internal space of the inner container 12 through the exhaust port 22, both a high flow rate state and a low flow rate state are considered to appear during a specified past judgment period.

3 shows the diagnosis result A1 indicating that a recoverable temporary malfunction has occurred in the exhaust of exhaust gas from the internal space of the inner container 12 through the exhaust port 22, but the diagnosis result A1 may also indicate that a recoverable temporary malfunction has occurred in the exhaust of exhaust gas in the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34 or in the exhaust gas flow path L4 downstream of the exhaust heat exchanger 34. Alternatively, the diagnosis result A1 may indicate that the water purifier 37 needs to be replaced.
Thus, several examples of the diagnostic result A1 have been described, which may be used alone or in combination with any of the others.

The judgment process of step #11 is to judge whether or not the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured by the gas measuring device 43 satisfies a second judgment condition that the concentration is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. Because the gas measuring device 43 is provided inside the outer housing, the judgment process of step #11 can also be said to be a judgment process of whether or not VOC gas is detected inside the outer housing. In other words, in step #11, it is judged whether or not the measurement result of the gas measuring device 43 satisfies the predetermined judgment condition.

In the judgment process of step #11, the diagnostic processing unit 4b refers to the measurement result of the gas measuring device 43 received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information communication line 2, and if it determines that the second judgment condition is satisfied, that the concentration of volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring device 43 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, it will identify a diagnostic result A2 indicating that an equipment failure due to VOC gas has occurred. In contrast, if the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines that the second judgment condition is not satisfied, it will proceed to the judgment process of step #12. In this way, the judgment results of the judgment process of step #11 include a case where a transition to another judgment process is instructed and a case where a diagnostic result is identified.

When volatile organic compound gases have flowed into the inside of the outer container 11, there is a high possibility that the air supplied by the air supplier 41 to the inside of the inner container 12 is also contaminated with volatile organic compound gases. In particular, when volatile organic compound gases containing chlorine flow into the inside of the inner container 12 and then mix with the exhaust gas and reach the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34, chlorine ions may be mixed into the condensed water adhering to the inside of the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34, which may become concentrated over time and corrode the inside of the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger 34. Furthermore, the corrosion may cause narrowing or blockage midway along the exhaust gas flow path.

The diagnostic processing unit 4b therefore refers to the actual air flow rate measured by the air flow meter 42 and the measurement result of the gas meter 43 received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information and communication line 2, and if the second judgment condition that the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas meter 43 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is met, and the first judgment condition is not met, and a low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period, it judges that there is an equipment failure due to VOC gas, in particular, that there is a narrowing or blockage occurring midway along the flow path of the exhaust gas discharged outside the inner container 12.

3 shows the diagnosis result A2 indicating that an equipment failure due to VOC gas has occurred, but the diagnosis result A2 may be that the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery needs to be replaced. Alternatively, the diagnosis result A2 may be that the gas measuring device 43 needs to be replaced because the reliability of the measurement result of the gas measuring device 43 becomes low after the volatile organic compound gas adheres to the gas measuring device 43. Furthermore, the diagnosis result A2 may be that a gas removal filter that removes the volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device 41 needs to be installed in order to prevent the volatile organic compound gas from being supplied to the inside of the inner container 12. For example, a gas removal filter such as an activated carbon filter can be additionally installed upstream or downstream of the existing foreign matter removal filter 40.
Thus, several examples of the diagnostic result A2 have been described, which may be used alone or in combination with any of the others.

The judgment process of step #12 judges whether or not the third judgment condition that a low flow state occurs after a restart process in which at least the operation of the air supplier 41 is stopped once and then restarted is satisfied. Specifically, when the fuel cell device 10 judges that an air flow abnormality has occurred in which the deviation amount of the actual measured value from the target value is equal to or greater than the set deviation value, the fuel cell device 10 performs a restart process in which at least the operation of the air supplier 41 is stopped once and then restarted. For example, the fuel cell device 10 performs a restart process in which the operation of the entire device is stopped once and then restarted. In this case, in the fuel cell device 10, the supply of raw fuel and reforming water to the reformer 15 is stopped, the supply of air to the inside of the inner container 12 is stopped, power generation in the cell stack 18 is stopped, and so on, and then the supply of raw fuel and reforming water to the reformer 15 is resumed, the supply of air to the inside of the inner container 12 is resumed, and so on, and power generation in the cell stack 18 is resumed.

The abnormality diagnosis device 4 can also identify whether the measurement result received from the fuel cell device 10 is the measurement result before the restart process or the measurement result after the restart process. For example, the measurement result transmitted from the fuel cell device 10 to the abnormality diagnosis device 4 is accompanied by at least one of information indicating that it is the measurement result before the restart process and information indicating that it is the measurement result after the restart process. Alternatively, if the measurement result transmitted from the fuel cell device 10 to the abnormality diagnosis device 4 is accompanied by information on the time of measurement and also by information on the time of the restart process, the abnormality diagnosis device 4 can identify whether the measurement result received from the fuel cell device 10 is the measurement result before the restart process or the measurement result after the restart process.

If the air supply 41 and the air flow meter 42 only have a temporary malfunction, it is expected that the air supply 41 and the air flow meter 42 will operate normally after the restart process is performed. For example, if dirt is only attached to the air flow path in the air supply 41 and the air flow meter 42, gas containing water vapor present in the internal space of the inner container 12 may flow back from the inner container 12 to the air supply 41 and the air flow meter 42, and the dirt may be removed by the water vapor. In that case, it is considered that the air supply 41 and the air flow meter 42 will operate normally after the restart process is performed. In this way, if the third judgment condition that a low flow state occurs after the restart process is performed is satisfied, the diagnosis result A3 will be that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the air supply 41 and the air flow meter 42.

Therefore, the diagnostic processing unit 4b of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 refers to the actual value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow rate meter 42 received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information communication line 2 and the fact that the restart process has been performed in the fuel cell device 10, and if the third judgment condition that a low flow rate state occurs after the restart process is performed is satisfied, and the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the low flow rate state appears continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, it reaches the determination of the diagnosis result A3 that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the air supply device 41 and the air flow rate meter 42. On the other hand, if the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines that the third judgment condition is not satisfied, it proceeds to the judgment process of step #13. In this way, the judgment result of the judgment process of step #12 includes a case where a transition to another judgment process is instructed and a case where a diagnosis result is specified.

Incidentally, FIG. 3 shows a diagnosis result A3 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the air supply device 41 and the air flow measuring device 42. However, the diagnosis result A3 may also indicate that it is necessary to replace or clean at least one of the air supply device 41 and the air flow measuring device 42.
Thus, several examples of the diagnosis result A3 have been described, which may be used alone or in combination with any of the others.

The judgment process of step #13 is to judge whether or not a fourth judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device 10 is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value. In the judgment process of step #13, the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines diagnostic result A4 if the fourth judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device 10 is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value, and determines diagnostic result A5 if the fourth judgment condition is not satisfied.

For example, the memory unit 4a of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 stores information indicating the concentration of foreign matter in the air at various points, which information is received from an information providing server device 3 that provides weather information, etc., as information about the operating environment of the fuel cell device 10. The memory unit 4a of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 also stores location information such as the address, latitude, and longitude of each facility 1. The diagnosis processing unit 4b of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 can then determine whether the concentration of foreign matter at the point where a particular fuel cell device 10 is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value.

The fuel cell device 10 installed at a location where the concentration of foreign matter in the air is high can operate normally if the foreign matter removal filter 40 has high foreign matter removal performance, but it is expected that it will not operate normally if the foreign matter removal filter 40 has low foreign matter removal performance. For example, if the foreign matter removal filter 40 is torn and its foreign matter removal performance is reduced, foreign matter may adhere to the air supply 41 or air flow meter 42 downstream, obstructing the normal flow of air. Alternatively, if the foreign matter removal filter 40 is clogged with foreign matter and its foreign matter removal performance is reduced, the normal flow of air will also be obstructed.

Therefore, the diagnostic processing unit 4b of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 refers to the foreign matter concentration in the atmosphere at the point where the fuel cell device 10 is installed, and refers to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow meter 42, the measurement result of the gas meter 43, and the fact that the restart process has been performed on the fuel cell device 10, which are received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information communication line 2, and if the fourth judgment condition that the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device 10 is installed is equal to or greater than the set concentration value is satisfied, and the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, and a low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, the diagnostic processing unit 4b of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 determines that the foreign matter removal performance of the foreign matter removal filter 40 is low, that is, the foreign matter removal filter 40 is abnormal, resulting in the identification of a diagnosis result A4. In other words, the judgment result of the judgment process of step #13 includes cases where the diagnosis result of the abnormality diagnosis process is identified.

Although FIG. 3 shows the diagnosis result A4 indicating that the foreign matter removal filter 40 is abnormal, the diagnosis result A4 may also indicate that the foreign matter removal filter 40 needs to be replaced.
Thus, several examples of the diagnosis result A4 have been described, which may be used alone or in combination with any of the others.

If the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines in step #13 that the fourth judgment condition is not satisfied, it determines a diagnostic result A5, which determines that the flow of air supplied by the air supply device 41 to the internal space is obstructed, i.e., that a blockage has occurred in the air supply path L10.

As described above, the abnormality diagnosis device 4 can automatically perform the process from the occurrence of an abnormality to the identification of the diagnosis result for that abnormality according to the procedure of the abnormality diagnosis process created in advance. The identified diagnosis result is stored in the memory unit 4a of the abnormality diagnosis device 4. The memory unit 4a of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 also stores at least one of the contact information of the manager, such as the owner who manages the fuel cell device 10, the contact information of the maintenance person for the fuel cell device 10, and the contact information of the manufacturing related person, such as the assembler or parts manufacturer of the fuel cell device 10, and the diagnosis processing unit 4b outputs the identified diagnosis result to at least one of the contact information of the manager, the contact information of the maintenance person, and the contact information of the manufacturing related person. For example, the diagnosis processing unit 4b transmits the diagnosis result to the email address of the manager of the fuel cell device 10, the email address of the maintenance person for the fuel cell device 10, and the email address of the manufacturing related person of the fuel cell device 10. As a result, the manager of the fuel cell device 10 can check the diagnosis results on the manager terminal device 62, the maintenance staff of the fuel cell device 10 can check the diagnosis results on the maintenance staff terminal device 60, and the manufacturing staff of the fuel cell device 10 can check the diagnosis results on the manufacturing staff terminal device 61. In this way, because the abnormality diagnosis device 4 automatically identifies the diagnosis results for the abnormality, the maintenance staff can make preparations in advance according to the diagnosis results before being dispatched.

For example, before arriving at the site where the fuel cell device 10 is to be repaired, the maintenance staff for the fuel cell device 10 can make preparations for repairs based on the diagnosis results, and the manufacturers of the fuel cell device 10 can prepare the parts necessary for repairs based on the diagnosis results. As a result, problems such as a lack of personnel with the skills to perform repairs at the site where the repairs are actually to be performed, or not having the parts necessary for the repairs brought with them, can be avoided.

In the above example, the diagnosis results of the abnormality diagnosis process include the details of the malfunction occurring in a specific part of the fuel cell device 10, such as "a temporary exhaust failure from the inner container 12 that can be recovered (diagnosis result A1)," "failure of the heat exchanger 34 for exhaust heat recovery due to VOC gas (diagnosis result A2)," "an abnormality occurring in at least one of the air supplier 41 and the air flow meter 42 (diagnosis result A3)," and "an abnormality in the foreign matter removal filter 40 (diagnosis result A4)," as the cause of the malfunction. If the manager, maintenance staff, and manufacturing personnel of the fuel cell device 10 know the details of the malfunction occurring in a specific part of the fuel cell device 10 as the cause of the malfunction, they can determine the necessary work, such as repairing or replacing parts in that part.

The diagnosis results are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, but can be changed as appropriate.
As a specific example, the diagnosis result may include, as a measure to deal with the abnormality, an instruction to replace or repair a specific component of the fuel cell device 10. For example, as described above, the diagnosis result A1 of the abnormality diagnosis process may be "replace the water purifier 37", etc. If an instruction to replace or repair a specific component of the fuel cell device 10 is included as a measure to deal with the abnormality, it is possible to prepare the component to be replaced in advance and to determine in advance the personnel required for the replacement or repair work.

In addition, when issuing an instruction to replace or repair a specific component of the fuel cell device 10, it is preferable to know the degree of difficulty. For this reason, the memory unit 4a stores information indicating the degree of difficulty of the repair or replacement work for the components of the fuel cell device 10 for each of multiple components, and the diagnosis result may include information indicating the degree of difficulty as a method of dealing with the abnormality. If information indicating the degree of difficulty of the repair or replacement work for the components is included as a method of dealing with the abnormality, preparations can be made in advance to dispatch personnel with the skills appropriate to the degree of difficulty.

In addition, when issuing an instruction to replace or repair a specific component of the fuel cell device 10, it is preferable for the maintenance personnel who will actually perform the replacement or repair to be able to view video data explaining the repair or replacement work in advance or on-site. For this reason, the memory unit 4a stores video data explaining the repair or replacement work of the components of the fuel cell device 10 for each of multiple components, and the diagnosis result may include the video data as a way to deal with an abnormality. If video data explaining the repair or replacement work of the components of the fuel cell device 10 is included as a way to deal with an abnormality, the person in charge of repairing or replacing the components can check the video data and reliably perform the repair or replacement work.

<Another embodiment>
＜1＞
In the above embodiment, the configuration of the fuel cell device 10 has been specifically described, but the configuration can be appropriately changed.
Furthermore, the contents of the diagnosis results can also be changed as appropriate.

＜2＞
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the fuel cell control unit 49 determines that an abnormality, such as an air flow rate abnormality, has occurred, and the fuel cell control unit 49 transmits the measurement result that an abnormality, such as an air flow rate abnormality, from the communication unit 51 to the abnormality diagnosis device 4, but other configurations are also possible. For example, the diagnosis processing unit 4b of the abnormality diagnosis device 4 may refer to the actual measurement value of the air flow rate received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information and communication line 2 and determine that an abnormality, such as an air flow rate abnormality, has occurred.

＜3＞
In addition, the configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradiction occurs. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified within the scope that does not deviate from the purpose of the present invention.

The present invention can be used in an abnormality diagnosis device that can properly diagnose the contents of abnormalities that occur in a fuel cell device.

1: Facility 2: Information and communication line 4: Abnormality diagnosis device 10: Fuel cell device 12: Inner container 13: Hot module 15: Reformer 17: Fuel cell 18: Cell stack 19: Combustion section 21: Air supply port 22: Exhaust port 34: Exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger (cooler)
37: Water purifier 40: Foreign matter removal filter 41: Air supply device 42: Air flow rate measuring device 43: Gas measuring device L1: Raw fuel supply path L4: Exhaust gas path

Claims (12)

1. An abnormality diagnosis device for diagnosing the contents of an abnormality occurring in a fuel cell device installed in a facility based on information received from the fuel cell device via an information communication line, comprising:
The fuel cell device includes:
a hot module including a reformer which generates fuel gas by steam reforming a raw fuel, a cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units which generate power using the fuel gas generated by the reformer, and a combustion section which combusts off-gas discharged from the cell stack in an internal space of an inner container, the inner container being provided with an air inlet port used to supply air from the outside to the internal space and an exhaust port used to exhaust air from the internal space to the outside;
a raw fuel supply passage for supplying raw fuel from the outside of the internal space to the reformer;
an air supplier that supplies air to the internal space through the air supply port;
an air flow rate meter that measures a flow rate per unit time of air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device;
An abnormality diagnosis device that, by referring to the actual measurement value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, determines that a problem has occurred in the exhaust of exhaust gas from the internal space through the exhaust port if a first judgment condition is satisfied that, during a specified past judgment period, both a high flow state in which the actual measurement value is greater than a specified target value and the deviation of the actual measurement value from the target value is equal to or greater than a set deviation value, and a low flow state in which the actual measurement value is smaller than the target value and the deviation of the actual measurement value from the target value is equal to or greater than the set deviation value, have occurred. the fuel cell device includes a cooler that cools the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the inner container, and an exhaust gas flow path through which the exhaust gas flows after being cooled by the cooler,
2. The abnormality diagnosis device according to claim 1, wherein, when the first judgment condition is satisfied, it is judged that a discharge failure of the exhaust gas occurs in the cooler or in the exhaust gas flow path downstream of the cooler. the fuel cell device includes a water purifier into which condensed water generated in the cooler flows;
3. The abnormality diagnosis device according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination that replacement of the water purifier is necessary if the first determination condition is satisfied. the fuel cell device includes a gas measuring device capable of measuring a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
The abnormality diagnosis device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which refers to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, and determines that a narrowing or blockage has occurred in the flow path of the exhaust gas discharged outside the inner container if a second judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and if the first judgment condition is not satisfied and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period. the fuel cell device includes a cooler that cools the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the inner container, an exhaust gas flow path through which the exhaust gas flows after being cooled by the cooler, and a gas measuring device that measures a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, which refers to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, and determines that the cooler needs to be replaced if a second judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and if the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period. the fuel cell device includes a gas measuring device capable of measuring a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, which refers to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, and determines that the gas measuring instrument needs to be replaced if a second judgment condition is satisfied that the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and if the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period. the fuel cell device includes a gas measuring device capable of measuring a concentration of a volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supply device,
The abnormality diagnosis device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, by referring to the actual value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if a second judgment condition is satisfied that the concentration of the volatile organic compound gas measured by the gas measuring instrument is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, and if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and if the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period, it is judged that a gas removal filter for removing the volatile organic compound gas contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier needs to be installed. when the deviation amount of the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow rate measuring device from the target value is equal to or larger than the set deviation amount, the fuel cell device performs a restart process of at least temporarily stopping the operation of the air supplier and then restarting it,
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 4 to 7, which refers to the actual value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line and the fact that the restart process has been performed in the fuel cell device, and if a third judgment condition is satisfied that the low flow rate state occurs after the restart process is performed, and if the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and if the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, then it is judged that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the air supply device and the air flow measuring device. when the deviation amount of the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow rate measuring device from the target value is equal to or larger than the set deviation amount, the fuel cell device performs a restart process of at least temporarily stopping the operation of the air supplier and then restarting it,
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 4 to 8, which refers to the actual value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line and the fact that the restart process has been performed in the fuel cell device, and if a third judgment condition is satisfied that the low flow rate state occurs after the restart process is performed, and if the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and if the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, then it is determined that at least one of replacing or cleaning the air supply device and replacing or cleaning the air flow measuring device is necessary. the fuel cell device includes a foreign matter removing filter that removes foreign matter contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier;
10. The abnormality diagnosis device of claim 8 or 9, further comprising: a foreign matter removal filter configured to remove foreign matter from the fuel cell device when a fourth judgment condition is satisfied that the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value, and the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state occurs continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed, by referring to the foreign matter concentration in the atmosphere at the point where the fuel cell device is installed, and by referring to the actual measured value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument and the measurement result of the gas measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, and the restart process has been performed by the fuel cell device; and the fuel cell device includes a foreign matter removing filter that removes foreign matter contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier;
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 8 to 10, which refers to the foreign matter concentration in the atmosphere at a point where the fuel cell device is installed, and refers to the actual measured value and the target value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow measuring instrument received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, the measurement results of the gas measuring instrument, and the fact that the restart process has been performed by the fuel cell device, and determines that the foreign matter removal filter needs to be replaced if a fourth judgment condition is satisfied that the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value, and the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, and the low flow rate state appears continuously during the judgment period before the restart process is performed. the fuel cell device includes a foreign matter removing filter that removes foreign matter contained in the air supplied to the internal space by the air supplier;
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 8 to 11, which refers to the foreign matter concentration in the atmosphere at a point where the fuel cell device is installed, and refers to the actual value and the target value of the air flow rate measured by the air flow meter received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, the measurement results of the gas meter, and the fact that the restart process has been performed by the fuel cell device, and if a fourth judgment condition that the foreign matter concentration at the point where the fuel cell device is installed is equal to or greater than a set concentration value is not satisfied, and the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied before the restart process is performed, and the third judgment condition is not satisfied, it is determined that the flow of air supplied by the air supplier to the internal space is obstructed.

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