JP7675622B2 - 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, in an internal space of an inner container, a reformer that generates fuel gas by steam reforming the raw fuel after desulfurization by the desulfurizer, a cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units that generate electricity using the fuel gas supplied from the reformer via a fuel gas supply path, a combustion section that combusts off-gas discharged from the cell stack, and a reformer temperature measuring device that measures the temperature of the reformer, 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;
The desulfurizer is provided in the middle of the raw fuel supply path;
an air supplier that supplies air to the internal space through the air supply port;
a reforming water supply device that supplies reforming water to the reformer;
a reflux gas supply passage that branches off from the fuel gas supply passage and joins the raw fuel supply passage upstream of the desulfurizer, and causes a portion of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply passage to flow into the raw fuel supply passage;
a reflux gas temperature measuring device for measuring a reflux gas temperature, which is the temperature of the fuel gas flowing through the reflux gas supply path;
The temperature measurement value of the reformer measured by the reformer temperature measuring device, which is received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, is referred to, and if a first judgment condition is satisfied in which the actual temperature measurement value is higher than a predetermined temperature target value and the deviation of the actual temperature measurement value from the temperature target value is equal to or greater than a first set deviation value, and if the reflux gas temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, it is judged that a poor supply of the reforming water to the reformer has occurred.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when an abnormality occurs in which the reflux gas temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, if a first judgment condition is satisfied in which the actual temperature value of the reformer measured by the reformer temperature measuring device is higher than a predetermined temperature target value and the deviation of the actual temperature value from the temperature target value is equal to or greater than a first set deviation value, the abnormality diagnosis device judges that a supply of reforming water to the reformer is poor. In other words, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically determine the diagnosis result for the abnormality that appears in the measurement result of the reflux gas temperature measuring device.

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 feature of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that when the first judgment condition is satisfied and the reflux gas temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, it is judged that an operational abnormality has occurred in the reforming water supply device.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when an abnormality occurs in which the reflux gas temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, if a first judgment condition is satisfied in which the actual temperature measurement value of the reformer temperature measured by the reformer temperature measurement device is higher than a predetermined temperature target value and the deviation of the actual temperature measurement value from the temperature target value is equal to or greater than a first set deviation value, the abnormality diagnosis device judges that an operational abnormality has occurred in the reforming water supply device. In other words, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose an abnormality that appears in the measurement results of the reflux gas temperature measurement device as an operational abnormality in the reforming water supply device.

Another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that the fuel cell device includes a raw fuel flow rate measuring device that measures a flow rate per unit time of the raw fuel flowing through the raw fuel supply path, and a condensed water recovery device that recovers condensed water generated in the recirculation gas supply path,
The point is that, by referring to the actual flow rate value of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the second judgment condition is satisfied that the recirculation gas temperature is below the set temperature, and the deviation amount of the actual flow rate value from a predetermined flow rate target value is equal to or greater than a second set deviation value, it is judged that an abnormality has occurred in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water recovery device.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when an abnormality occurs in which the recirculation gas temperature is equal to or lower than a set temperature, if the first judgment condition is not satisfied and the second judgment condition is satisfied in which the deviation of the actual flow rate value from the predetermined flow rate target value is equal to or greater than a second set deviation value, the abnormality diagnosis device judges that an abnormality has occurred in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water recovery device. In other words, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose an abnormality that appears in the measurement results of the recirculation gas temperature measuring device as an abnormality in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water recovery device.

Another characteristic configuration of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that the fuel cell device includes a zero governor that adjusts the pressure of the raw fuel flowing through the raw fuel supply path to atmospheric pressure and a raw fuel flow rate measuring device that measures the flow rate of the raw fuel per unit time, the zero governor being located upstream of a junction with the reflux gas supply path in the middle of the raw fuel supply path;
The point is that, by referring to the actual flow rate of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the second judgment condition is satisfied that the recirculation gas temperature is below the set temperature, and the deviation of the actual flow rate value from a predetermined flow rate target value is equal to or greater than a second set deviation value, it is judged that at least one of the zero governor and the raw fuel flow rate measuring device needs to be replaced.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when an abnormality occurs in which the recirculation gas temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, if the first judgment condition is not satisfied and the second judgment condition is satisfied in which the deviation of the actual flow rate value from the predetermined flow rate target value is equal to or greater than the second set deviation value, the abnormality diagnosis device judges that an abnormality has occurred in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water recovery device. In other words, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose that at least one of the zero governor and the raw fuel flow rate measurement device needs to be replaced based on an abnormality that appears in the measurement results of the recirculation gas temperature measurement device.

Another characteristic feature of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that the fuel cell device includes an outside air temperature measuring device for measuring an outside air temperature, and an orifice provided in the recirculation gas supply path,
If the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied and a third judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the recirculated gas temperature is below a set temperature and the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature measuring device is below a set outside air temperature, it is judged that there is an abnormality in the orifice.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when an abnormality occurs in which the recirculated gas temperature is equal to or lower than a set temperature, if the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied, and the third judgment condition is satisfied that the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature measuring device is equal to or lower than a set outside air temperature, the abnormality diagnosis device judges that an abnormality exists in the orifice. In other words, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose an abnormality that appears in the measurement results of the recirculated gas temperature measuring device as an abnormality in the orifice.

Another characteristic feature of the abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention is that the fuel cell device includes an outside air temperature measuring device that measures an outside air temperature, and a temperature adjusting member that is attached to the periphery of at least a portion of the recirculation gas supply passage in order to maintain the temperature of the reformed gas flowing through the recirculation gas supply passage;
If the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied, and the recirculated gas temperature is below the set temperature, and the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature measuring device is below the set outside air temperature, a third judgment condition is not satisfied, and it is judged that the temperature control member is insufficiently attached to the recirculated gas supply path.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when an abnormality occurs in which the recirculation gas temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, if the first and second judgment conditions are not satisfied and the third judgment condition is not satisfied that the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature measuring device is equal to or lower than the set outside air temperature, the abnormality diagnosis device judges that the temperature adjustment member is not sufficiently attached to the recirculation gas supply path. In other words, the abnormality diagnosis device can automatically diagnose an abnormality appearing in the measurement results of the recirculation gas temperature measuring device as an abnormality in which the temperature adjustment member is not sufficiently attached to the recirculation gas supply path.

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 consuming 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 supply from the power grid. In addition, power generated by the fuel cell device 10 can be supplied to the power grid via the power line 8. The gas consuming 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 Figure 1, the number can be changed as appropriate.
The gas, such as city gas, supplied from the gas supply pipe 9 corresponds to the "raw fuel" of the present invention, and may also be referred to as the raw fuel in the following description.

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 and 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 temperature of the recirculation gas supply line L3 measured by the temperature measuring device T4, i.e., the recirculation gas temperature, is preferably maintained at a temperature higher than a set temperature by the temperature adjusting member 32. The condensed water recovery device 36 recovers condensed water generated in the recirculation gas supply line L3. The temperature measuring device T4 measures the temperature of the recirculation gas supply line L3 at the location where the temperature adjusting member 32 is provided. For example, the temperature measuring device T4 is an instrument that measures the temperature of the outer surface of the piping that constitutes the recirculation gas supply line L3, an instrument that measures the internal temperature of the piping that constitutes the recirculation 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 abnormality in the recirculated gas temperature occurs.
The fuel cell control unit 49 of the fuel cell device 10 monitors the temperature of the recirculation gas supply line L3 at the location where the temperature adjustment member 32 is provided, that is, the recirculation gas temperature, which is the temperature of the fuel gas flowing through the recirculation gas supply line L3, as measured by the temperature measuring device T4 serving as a recirculation gas temperature measuring device. If the recirculation gas temperature is equal to or lower than a set temperature, the fuel cell control unit 49 determines that an abnormality, that is, a recirculation gas temperature abnormality, has occurred. The fuel cell control unit 49 then transmits the measurement result, that an abnormality, that is, a recirculation gas temperature abnormality, to the abnormality diagnosis device 4 via 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 has occurred in the return gas temperature, the abnormality diagnosis device 4 refers to the information stored in the memory unit 4a and reads out the corresponding abnormality diagnosis process. The diagnosis processing unit 4b then executes the abnormality diagnosis process.

As shown in FIG. 3, the abnormality diagnosis process executed when an abnormality such as an abnormal reflux gas temperature occurs is composed of a combination of three judgment processes: judgment process #10, judgment process #11, and judgment process #12.

The judgment process of step #10 refers to the actual temperature measurement value of the reformer 15 measured by the temperature measurement device T1 as a reformer temperature measurement device received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information and communication line 2, and judges whether or not the actual temperature measurement value satisfies a first judgment condition that the actual temperature measurement value is higher than the temperature target value stored in the memory unit 4a and the deviation of the actual temperature measurement value from the predetermined temperature target value is equal to or greater than a first set deviation value. In other words, in step #10, it is judged whether or not the measurement result of the temperature measurement device T1 that measures the temperature of the reformer 15 satisfies a predetermined judgment condition. The abnormality diagnosis device 4 may receive the above-mentioned temperature target value from the fuel cell device 10 via the information and communication line 2.

In the judgment process of step #10, if the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines that the condition is satisfied that the actual temperature measured by the temperature measuring device T1 is higher than the temperature target value and the deviation of the actual temperature measured value from the temperature target value is equal to or greater than the first set deviation value, the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines that a supply failure of reforming water to the reformer 15 has occurred, for example, that an operational abnormality of the reforming water supply device 39 has occurred. On the other hand, in the judgment process of step #10, if the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines that the condition is not satisfied that the actual temperature measured by the reformer temperature measuring device is higher than the temperature target value and the deviation of the actual temperature measured value from the temperature target value is equal to or greater than the first set deviation value, the diagnostic processing unit 4b proceeds to the judgment process of step #11. In other words, the judgment result of the judgment process of step #10 includes both a case in which a transition to another judgment process is instructed and a case in which a diagnosis result of an abnormality diagnosis process is determined.

To be more specific, when there is a supply problem of reforming water to the reformer 15, the amount of reforming water supplied to the reformer 15 per unit time is reduced, and the amount of fuel gas generated per unit time in the reformer 15 is reduced. The flow rate per unit time of the fuel gas flowing from the fuel gas supply line L2 to the reflux gas supply line L3 is also reduced. In other words, it is presumed that the flow rate of the high-temperature fuel gas flowing through the reflux gas supply line L3 is reduced, leading to an abnormal reflux gas temperature state in which the reflux gas temperature falls below the set temperature. In addition, when there is a supply problem of reforming water to the reformer 15, the amount of reforming water supplied to the reformer 15 per unit time is reduced, and the amount of heat used by the reformer 15 is reduced, and the temperature of the reformer 15 is presumed to increase. Therefore, when the first judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the actual temperature measured by the reformer temperature measuring device is higher than the target temperature value and the deviation of the actual temperature measured value from the target temperature value is equal to or greater than the first set deviation value, and the reflux gas temperature is equal to or less than the set temperature, the diagnostic processing unit 4b identifies the diagnostic result A1.

As such, as examples of diagnostic result A1, the diagnostic result that there is a problem with the supply of reforming water to the reformer 15 and the diagnostic result that there is an operational anomaly in the reforming water supply device 39 have been described, but these may be used alone or together.

The judgment process of step #11 refers to the actual flow rate of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate measuring device 28, and judges whether or not the second judgment condition is met, that is, the deviation of the actual flow rate from the flow rate target value stored in the memory unit 4a is equal to or greater than a second set deviation value. In other words, in step #11, it is judged whether or not the measurement result measured by the raw fuel flow rate measuring device 28 meets a predetermined judgment condition. The abnormality diagnosis device 4 may receive the above-mentioned flow rate target value from the fuel cell device 10 via the information communication line 2.

In the judgment process of step #11, the diagnostic processing unit 4b refers to the actual flow rate of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate measuring device 28 and its target flow rate value. If the second judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the deviation of the actual flow rate value from the target flow rate value is equal to or greater than the second set deviation value, the diagnostic processing unit 4b determines that an abnormality has occurred in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water recovery device 36, that is, a drain discharge failure, as the diagnostic result A2, and if the second judgment condition is not satisfied, the diagnostic processing unit 4b proceeds to the judgment process of step #12. In other words, the judgment results of the judgment process of step #11 include both cases where a transition to another judgment process is instructed and cases where a diagnosis result of an abnormality diagnosis process is determined.

More specifically, the reflux gas supply line L3 is a flow path that extends from the branch point 24 of the fuel gas supply line L2 to the junction 25 of the raw fuel supply line L1. The fuel gas flowing through the reflux gas supply line L3 contains not only hydrogen but also water vapor. Therefore, as described above, condensed water is generated in the reflux gas supply line L3, and a condensed water recovery device 36 is also provided to recover the condensed water. However, if the flow of condensed water from the condensed water recovery device 36 to the second recovery line L5b is not performed normally, the overflowing condensed water will flow into the junction 25 of the raw fuel supply line L1, and in some cases may even reach the zero governor 29 and the raw fuel flow rate measuring device 28.

If the overflowing condensed water flows into the junction 25 of the raw fuel supply line L1 and blocks a part of the raw fuel supply line L1, the raw fuel will not flow easily through the raw fuel supply line L1 even if the raw fuel supplier 30 is operating, so the actual flow rate of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate meter 28 will be very small compared to the target flow rate. However, since the raw fuel supplier 30 is operating, when the pressure of the raw fuel in the raw fuel supply line L1 increases, the raw fuel will flow out at once toward the vaporizer 14 together with the condensed water blocking the raw fuel supply line L1 at a certain point. In this way, if an abnormality occurs in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water collector 36, that is, if an abnormality such as poor drainage occurs, it is considered that a phenomenon will occur in which the deviation of the actual flow rate value from the target flow rate value of the raw fuel becomes equal to or greater than the second set deviation value.

Incidentally, FIG. 3 shows a diagnosis result A2 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water collection device 36, but the diagnosis result A2 may also indicate that at least one of the zero governor 29 and the raw fuel flow rate measuring device 28 needs to be replaced.
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 a third judgment condition is satisfied, that is, the outside air temperature measured by the temperature measuring device T3 serving as an outside air temperature measuring device is equal to or lower than a set outside air temperature.
As described above, the temperature adjustment member 32 for maintaining the temperature of the reformed gas flowing through the recirculation gas supply passage L3 is provided around at least a part of the recirculation gas supply passage L3. For example, the temperature adjustment member 32 is provided at a portion where the temperature of the recirculation gas is measured by the temperature measuring device T4 . Therefore, the temperature of the recirculation gas measured by the temperature measuring device T4 becomes higher than the above-mentioned set temperature. However, if the temperature adjustment member 32 is not attached to the recirculation gas supply passage L3 insufficiently, an abnormality called a recirculation gas temperature abnormality occurs in which the recirculation gas temperature becomes equal to or lower than the set temperature even when the outside air temperature measured by the temperature measuring device T3 is not equal to or lower than the set outside air temperature. In other words, in the judgment process of step #12, if the third judgment condition that the outside air temperature measured by the temperature measuring device T3 is equal to or lower than the set outside air temperature is not satisfied, the diagnosis processing unit 4b reaches the specification of the diagnosis result A4 that the temperature adjustment member 32 is not attached to the recirculation gas supply passage L3 insufficiently.

On the other hand, in the judgment process of step #12, when a third judgment condition is satisfied that the outside air temperature measured by the temperature measuring device T3 is equal to or lower than the set outside air temperature, the diagnosis processing unit 4b reaches a diagnosis result A3 indicating an abnormality in the orifice 33. In other words, the judgment result of the judgment process of step #12 includes cases where a diagnosis result of the abnormality diagnosis process is reached.

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 "operational abnormality of the reforming water supply device 39 (diagnosis result A1)," "poor drainage (diagnosis result A2)," "abnormality of the orifice 33 (diagnosis result A3)," and "insufficient attachment of the temperature adjustment member 32 to the reflux gas supply path L3 (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 part of the fuel cell device 10. For example, the diagnosis result A1 of the abnormality diagnosis process may be "replacement of the reforming water supply device 39", etc. If an instruction to replace or repair a specific component part of the fuel cell device 10 is included as a measure to deal with the abnormality, it is possible to prepare the component part 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 in the return gas temperature has occurred, and the fuel cell control unit 49 transmits the measurement result that an abnormality in the return gas temperature has occurred 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 return gas temperature received from the fuel cell device 10 via the information and communication line 2 and determine that an abnormality in the return gas temperature 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 occurring in a fuel cell device.

1: Facility 2: Information and communication line 4: Abnormality diagnosis device 10: Fuel cell device 12: Inner vessel 13: Hot module 15: Reformer 17: Fuel cell 18: Cell stack 19: Combustion section 20: Igniter 21: Air supply port 22: Exhaust port 25: Junction section 27: Pressure measuring device (measuring device)
28: Raw fuel flow rate measuring device (measuring device)
29: Zero governor 31: Desulfurizer 32: Temperature control member 33: Orifice 36: Condensed water recovery device 39: Reforming water supply device 41: Air supply device 42: Air flow rate measurement device (measurement device)
43: Gas measuring instrument (measuring instrument)
L1: raw fuel supply line L2: fuel gas supply line L3: reflux gas supply line T1: temperature measuring device (measuring device, reformer temperature measuring device)
T2: Temperature measuring instrument (measuring instrument, combustion part temperature measuring instrument)
T3: Temperature measuring device (measuring device, outside air temperature measuring device)
T4: Temperature measuring instrument (measuring instrument, reflux gas temperature measuring instrument)
T5: Temperature measuring device (measuring device)

Claims (6)

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, in an internal space of an inner container, a reformer that generates fuel gas by steam reforming the raw fuel after desulfurization by the desulfurizer, a cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units that generate electricity using the fuel gas supplied from the reformer via a fuel gas supply path, a combustion section that combusts off-gas discharged from the cell stack, and a reformer temperature measuring device that measures the temperature of the reformer, 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;
The desulfurizer is provided in the middle of the raw fuel supply path;
an air supplier that supplies air to the internal space through the air supply port;
a reforming water supply device that supplies reforming water to the reformer;
a reflux gas supply passage that branches off from the fuel gas supply passage and joins the raw fuel supply passage upstream of the desulfurizer, and causes a portion of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply passage to flow into the raw fuel supply passage;
a reflux gas temperature measuring device for measuring a reflux gas temperature, which is the temperature of the fuel gas flowing through the reflux gas supply path;
an abnormality diagnosis device that, by referring to an actual temperature measurement value of the temperature of the reformer measured by the reformer temperature measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, determines that a poor supply of the reforming water to the reformer has occurred if a first judgment condition is satisfied in which the actual temperature measurement value is higher than a predetermined temperature target value and the deviation of the actual temperature measurement value from the temperature target value is equal to or greater than a first set deviation value, and the return gas temperature is equal to or lower than a set temperature. The abnormality diagnosis device according to claim 1, which determines that an operational abnormality has occurred in the reforming water supply device when the first judgment condition is satisfied and the reflux gas temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature. the fuel cell device includes a raw fuel flow rate measuring device that measures a flow rate per unit time of the raw fuel flowing through the raw fuel supply path, and a condensed water recovery device that recovers condensed water generated in the recirculation gas supply path,
3. The abnormality diagnosis device according to claim 1 or 2, which refers to the actual measured flow rate of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, and judges that an abnormality has occurred in the collection of condensed water by the condensed water recovery device if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the recirculation gas temperature is below the set temperature, and a second judgment condition is satisfied in which the deviation of the actual measured flow rate value from a predetermined flow rate target value is equal to or greater than a second set deviation value. the fuel cell device includes a zero governor that adjusts the pressure of the raw fuel flowing through the raw fuel supply path to atmospheric pressure, and a raw fuel flow rate measuring device that measures the flow rate of the raw fuel per unit time, the zero governor being located in the raw fuel supply path upstream of a junction with the reflux gas supply path;
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, which refers to the actual flow rate of the raw fuel measured by the raw fuel flow rate measuring device received from the fuel cell device via the information and communication line, and determines that at least one of the zero governor and the raw fuel flow rate measuring device needs to be replaced if the first judgment condition is not satisfied, and the recirculation gas temperature is below the set temperature, and a second judgment condition is satisfied in which the deviation of the actual flow rate value from a predetermined flow rate target value is equal to or greater than a second set deviation value. the fuel cell device includes an outside air temperature measuring device for measuring an outside air temperature, and an orifice provided in the middle of the recirculation gas supply passage;
5. An abnormality diagnosis device as described in claim 3 or 4, which judges that there is an abnormality in the orifice when the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied and a third judgment condition is satisfied in which the recirculated gas temperature is below the set temperature and the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature measuring device is below the set outside air temperature. the fuel cell device includes an outside air temperature measuring device for measuring an outside air temperature, and a temperature adjusting member attached to the periphery of at least a portion of the reflux gas supply passage in order to maintain a temperature of the reformed gas flowing through the reflux gas supply passage;
An abnormality diagnosis device as described in any one of claims 3 to 5, which determines that the temperature control member is insufficiently attached to the recirculation gas supply path when the first judgment condition and the second judgment condition are not satisfied, and when the third judgment condition is not satisfied, that is, the recirculation gas temperature is below the set temperature, and the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature measuring device is below the set outside air temperature.

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