JP7706314B2 - Power supply management system, fuel cell device and charging/discharging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power supply management system that includes a power supply device that is installed in each of a number of facilities and is capable of outputting electric power, and a management device that can communicate with the multiple power supply devices from a remote location outside the facilities, as well as a fuel cell device and a charge/discharge device that serve as power supplies used in the power supply management system.

In addition to traditional large-scale power plants, power supply devices such as generators and charge/discharge devices installed in facilities such as homes and offices are also connected to the power system. Power load devices installed in the facilities are also connected to the power system. Using the power supply devices and power load devices to increase or decrease the facility's receiving point power can contribute to adjusting the balance of power supply and demand in the power system. In recent years, under the concept of a virtual power plant (VPP), attempts have been made to provide functions equivalent to those of a power plant by controlling the operation of consumer-side energy resources such as the above-mentioned power supply devices and power load devices installed in consumer facilities. Note that the receiving point power of a facility includes both the power received from the power system to the facility and the reverse flow power from the facility to the power system.

Patent document 1 (JP 2018-125907 A) describes a power management system that includes power supply devices (power resources 101) installed in each of a number of facilities, and a management device (virtual power generation central device 103) that can communicate with the multiple power supply devices. The management device selects the power supply device to be the target of an operation command based on evaluation criteria such as economic efficiency, the impact on consumers of reducing the power load, reliability in activating the power supply device, the possibility of failure and extended operating life of the power supply device, the speed at which the power supply device responds to control commands, and the communication performance of the power supply device.

JP 2018-125907 A

Even if the management device sends an output control command to several power supplies, if communication between the power supplies and the management device is not occurring normally, the output control command will not be transmitted to the power supplies. As a result, the power supplies will not operate in accordance with the output control command, and the adjustment power expected by the management device will not be obtained. This can have a particularly large impact if information communication between multiple power supplies is not occurring normally.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a power management system that can reliably obtain the necessary adjustment power even if there is a power supply device that cannot properly communicate information with the management device, and a fuel cell device and a charge/discharge device as power supplies used in the power management system.

A characteristic configuration of a power supply management system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a power supply management system including power supply devices installed in each of a plurality of facilities and capable of outputting electric power, and a management device capable of communicating with the plurality of power supply devices from a remote location outside the facilities,
The power supply device includes a power supply unit connected to a power grid,
a power load device installed in the facility can receive power supply from at least one of the power supply device and the power system installed in the facility;
The management device performs a candidate determination process to identify, among the plurality of power supplies, the power supplies capable of communicating with the management device and capable of normally communicating with the management device, and the power supplies not capable of normally communicating with the management device, based on the status of information communication between the management device and the power supplies, and to set the power supplies capable of communicating as transmission candidates that transmit an output control command that determines the output power of the power supplies, and to set the power supplies not capable of communicating as non-transmission candidates that do not transmit the output control command;
the management device performs a command transmission process of transmitting the output control command to at least one of the communicable power supply devices set as the transmission candidate in the candidate determination process;
When the power supply device receives the output control command from the management device, the power supply device operates to supply an output power determined based on the output control command during a control period that is the subject of the output control command;
The power supply device is
When it is determined that the power supply from the power grid is normal and that information communication with the management device can be performed normally based on the state of information communication between the management device and the power supply device, the power supply device operates in a communication-enabled operation mode;
If the power supply device is capable of outputting power, and power is being supplied normally from the power grid, and if it is determined based on the status of information communication between the management device and the power supply device that information communication with the management device cannot be performed normally, the power supply device operates in an operation mode when communication is unavailable .
Here, if the power supply device is unable to output power, it may notify the management device that it is unable to output power, and the management device may set the power supply device that is unable to output power as a non-transmission candidate in the candidate determination process.

According to the above characteristic configuration, in the candidate determination process, the management device sets a communicable power supply device that can normally communicate with the management device as a transmission candidate to transmit an output control command that determines the output of the power supply device, and sets an incommunicable power supply device that cannot normally communicate with the management device as a non-transmission candidate to which the output control command is not transmitted. Then, the management device performs a command transmission process to transmit an output control command to at least one of the communicable power supply devices set as the transmission candidate in the candidate determination process. In other words, the management device excludes power supply devices to which the output control command is not transmitted from the transmission targets of the output control command, and transmits the output control command to at least one power supply device to which the output control command is reliably transmitted. Then, the power supply device that receives the output control command from the management device operates with the goal of supplying output power determined based on the output control command during the control target period that is the target of the output control command.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a power supply management system that can reliably obtain the necessary adjustment power even if there is a power supply device that cannot normally communicate information with the management device.
Furthermore, the power supply device operates in a communication-enabled operation mode when it can normally communicate information with the management device, and operates in a communication-disabled operation mode when it cannot normally communicate information with the management device. In other words, even if it becomes impossible to normally communicate information with the management device, the power supply device does not stop its operation, but operates in the communication-disabled operation mode. As a result, the operation of the power supply device is not stopped every time it becomes impossible to normally communicate information with the management device.

Another characteristic feature of the power management system according to the present invention is that, in the communication failure operation mode, the power supply device operates to make the output power follow the load power of the power load device installed in the facility, or to maintain the output power at a predetermined value, or to make the output power be a power determined based on the latest output control command received from the management device while information communication with the management device was normal.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the power supply device can operate without problems even if it is unable to communicate with the management device as the communication failure operation mode, i.e., it can operate in such a way that the output power follows the load power of the power load device installed in the facility, or it can maintain the output power at a predetermined value, or it can operate in such a way that the output power is determined based on the latest output control command received from the management device while the information communication with the management device was normal.

Another characteristic feature of the power supply management system according to the present invention is that the management device stores the operation details that the power supply device performs in the communication failure operation mode.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the management device stores the details of operation in the communication unavailable operation mode performed by a power supply device that cannot normally communicate with the management device, i.e., a power supply device that is excluded from the transmission target of the output control command. As a result, the management device can determine what kind of output control command should be sent to the power supply device that is the transmission target of the output control command, depending on the operation during the control target period by the power supply device that is excluded from the transmission target of the output control command.

Another characteristic feature of the power management system according to the present invention is that, in the communication-enabled operation mode, the power supply device operates in a first operation mode in which the output power is set to a power determined based on the output control command during the controlled period determined by the output control command received from the management device, and operates in a second operation mode during a non-controlled period outside the controlled period.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the power supply device can operate in accordance with the output control command during the control period.

A characteristic feature of the fuel cell device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is that it includes a fuel cell section as the power supply section of the power supply device used in the power supply management system.

According to the above characteristic configuration, a fuel cell device can be provided that has a fuel cell unit as a power supply unit of a power supply device used in a power management system that can provide both adjustment power to increase the power receiving point and adjustment power to decrease the power receiving point.

A characteristic configuration of the charge/discharge device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is that it includes a charge/discharge unit as the power supply unit of the power supply device used in the power management system.

According to the above characteristic configuration, a charging/discharging device can be provided that has a charging/discharging unit as a power supply unit of a power supply device used in a power management system that can provide both an adjustment power to increase the receiving point power and an adjustment power to decrease the receiving point power.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between facilities, a management device, and an aggregation coordinator. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a facility configuration. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a fuel cell device transmitting information indicating that the device is in a power output stopped state to a management device via a communication relay device. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a management device transmitting control information to a fuel cell device via a communication relay device. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a fuel cell device transmitting power information and the like to a management device via a communication relay device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation mode determination process for determining an operation mode of a fuel cell device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control period and a non-control period. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation mode determination process for determining an operation mode of a fuel cell device.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between a facility 20 in which a fuel cell device 10 and a power load device 4 are provided, a management device 30, and an aggregation coordinator 40. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example configuration of the facility 20. The power management system comprises a fuel cell device 10 that is installed in each of a plurality of facilities 20 and capable of outputting power, and a management device 30 that is capable of communicating with the plurality of fuel cell devices 10 from a remote location outside the facility 20. In addition, the power management system of this embodiment comprises a router 6 and a remote control 7 as communication relay devices that relay communication between the fuel cell device 10 and the management device 30.
The fuel cell device 10 corresponds to the "power supply device" of the present invention. In this embodiment, the number of power supply devices managed by one management device 30 can be set appropriately.

The management device 30 is also called a resource aggregator, and is an operator that controls the consumer-side energy resources by transmitting control information to the fuel cell device 10 and the power load device 4 as consumer-side energy resources to the facility 20 that has concluded a VPP (Virtual Power Plant) service contract. The aggregation coordinator 40 is an operator that bundles the amount of power controlled by each management device 30 and trades power with general electricity transmission and distribution operators and retail electricity operators in the electricity trading market, etc.

The management device 30 sequentially collects and stores power information such as the output power of the fuel cell device 10, the load power of the power load device 4, and the power receiving point power at the facility 20 from multiple facilities 20. In this embodiment, the term "load power of the power load device 4" refers to the total load power of all the power load devices 4 installed in the facility 20. The management device 30 predicts the power that can be supplied from each facility 20 in a specified future time period and transmits it to the aggregation coordinator 40. This supplyable power is an adjustment margin such as the ability to increase or decrease the power receiving point power of the facility 20. In this embodiment, "increasing the power receiving point power" means increasing the power received from the power system 1 to the power line 2, or decreasing the reverse flow power from the power line 2 to the power system 1, and "reducing the power receiving point power" means decreasing the power received from the power system 1 to the power line 2, or increasing the reverse flow power from the power line 2 to the power system 1.

For example, in order to increase the receiving point power of the facility 20, it is sufficient to at least either reduce the output power of the fuel cell device 10 or increase the load power of the power load device 4. Therefore, the increase-side adjustment margin when increasing the receiving point power of the facility 20 indicates how much margin there is for reducing the output power of the fuel cell device 10 and how much margin there is for increasing the load power of the power load device 4. Also, in order to decrease the receiving point power of the facility 20, it is sufficient to at least either increase the output power of the fuel cell device 10 or reduce the load power of the power load device 4. Therefore, the decrease-side adjustment margin when decreasing the receiving point power of the facility 20 indicates how much margin there is for increasing the output power of the fuel cell device 10 and how much margin there is for decreasing the load power of the power load device 4.

The management device 30 also determines the baseline power receiving point power for the multiple facilities 20 that it manages. This baseline power receiving point power corresponds to the total power receiving point power of each facility 20 predicted when each facility 20 is not allowed to provide adjustment capacity, etc. (i.e., adjustment capacity provided to the electricity transmission and distribution company and supply capacity provided to retailers, etc.).

The aggregation coordinator 40 aggregates the available electricity received from each management device 30 and trades electricity with general electricity transmission and distribution companies and retail electricity suppliers by bidding on electricity trading markets such as the supply and demand adjustment market, the wholesale electricity market, and the capacity market. When the aggregation coordinator 40 receives a supply command for adjustment capacity, etc. for a specified future control period from the general electricity transmission and distribution company or retail electricity supplier with which it has traded, it distributes and transmits the adjustment capacity, etc. specified in the supply command to each management device 30.

When the management device 30 receives a supply command from the aggregation coordinator 40, it distributes and transmits the adjustment power, etc. specified in the supply command to each facility 20. For example, the management device 30 can transmit output control commands to multiple fuel cell devices 10 that determine the output power of the fuel cell devices 10 during a specified control period. As a result, in each facility 20, by controlling the fuel cell devices 10 and power load devices 4 as consumer-side energy resources during a specified future control period, adjustment power, etc. is provided such that the receiving point power of the facility 20 increases or decreases compared to the case where the control is not performed.

The facility 20 is provided with a fuel cell device 10 as a power supply device, and a power load device 4. The fuel cell device 10 and the power load device 4 are connected to a power line 2 that is linked to the power system 1. A power meter 3 that measures the power at the receiving point of the facility 20 is installed on the power line 2. Note that while Figures 1 and 2 show an example in which one fuel cell device 10 is installed as a power supply device, the number of fuel cell devices 10 installed can be changed as appropriate.

Information about the receiving point power measured by the power meter 3 is transmitted to the management device 30 via the gateway 5 and the router 6. For example, information about the receiving point power is transmitted to the management device 30 at a predetermined timing, such as every 10 seconds.

The power load device 4 is a variety of devices, such as lighting devices and air conditioning devices, and can receive power supply from at least one of the fuel cell device 10 and the power system 1 installed in the facility 20.

The fuel cell device 10 includes a fuel cell unit 12 as a power source unit connected to the power grid 1, a power conversion unit 11 that converts the power generated by the fuel cell unit 12 to a predetermined voltage, frequency, and phase and supplies it to the power line 2, a fuel cell control unit 13 that controls the operation of the fuel cell unit 12 and the power conversion unit 11, and a memory unit 14 that stores information handled by the fuel cell device 10. The fuel cell device 10 may also include a fuel reformer that generates hydrogen, which is the fuel gas for the fuel cell unit 12.

In this way, a fuel cell device 10 can be realized that has the functions of a power supply device used in a power supply management system and has a power supply unit equipped with a fuel cell unit 12.

The fuel cell control unit 13 can adjust the output power from the fuel cell device 10 to the power line 2 between a predetermined upper limit output power and a predetermined lower limit output power. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can maintain the output power of the fuel cell device 10 at the upper limit output power and operate it continuously. The fuel cell control unit 13 can also operate the fuel cell device 10 so that its output power follows the load power of the power load device 4. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) becomes zero or close to zero, thereby operating the fuel cell device 10 so that its output power follows the load power of the power load device 4. In addition, if a failure or the like occurs in the fuel cell device 10, the fuel cell control unit 13 may stop the operation of the fuel cell unit 12 to stop the power output from the fuel cell device 10.

The fuel cell control unit 13 has information about the output power supplied from the power conversion unit 11 to the power line 2 and information about the power measured by the power measurement unit 8, so it can derive the load power (= output power + measured power) of the power load device 4. When the sign of the measured power by the power measurement unit 8 is positive, it means that the load power is greater than the output power of the fuel cell device 10, and when the sign of the measured power by the power measurement unit 8 is negative, it means that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 is greater than the load power.

The fuel cell device 10 is connected to a remote control 7 that is operated by a user of the facility 20 when issuing commands to the fuel cell device 10. Information about the output power and load power of the fuel cell device 10 is transmitted to the management device 30 via the remote control 7 and router 6. For example, information about the output power and load power of the fuel cell device 10 is transmitted to the management device 30 at a predetermined timing, such as every minute.
The remote control 7 and the router 6 correspond to the "communication relay device" of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the management device 30 will be described.
When transmitting an output control command that determines the output power of the fuel cell device 10 to the fuel cell device 10, the management device 30 performs a candidate determination process and a command transmission process.
Specifically, in the candidate determination process, the management device 30 sets the fuel cell device 10 that can normally communicate information with the management device 30 as a transmission candidate to which an output control command that determines the output power of the fuel cell device 10 is transmitted, and sets the fuel cell device 10 that cannot normally communicate information with the management device 30 as a non-transmission candidate to which an output control command is not transmitted. In addition, the management device 30 performs a command transmission process to transmit an output control command to at least one of the fuel cell devices 10 set as a transmission candidate in the candidate determination process. In this way, even if an output control command is transmitted to a fuel cell device 10 to which information cannot be normally transmitted, there is no possibility that the output control command will be executed, but by the management device 30 performing these processes, it is ensured that the output control command is transmitted to a fuel cell device 10 to which information can be normally transmitted, i.e., a fuel cell device 10 to which the output control command can be executed.

When the fuel cell device 10 receives an output control command from the management device 30, it operates with the goal of supplying the output power determined based on the output control command during the control period covered by the output control command.

Next, an example of information communication between the fuel cell device 10 and the management device 30 will be described.

[Example of operation when the fuel cell device 10 transmits information indicating that the power output is stopped to the management device 30]
3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the fuel cell device 10 transmitting information indicating that the power output is stopped to the management device 30 via a communication relay device. For example, the fuel cell device 10 judges whether or not it can output power. Then, when the fuel cell device 10 stops the power output due to a reason such as a malfunction, it transmits information indicating that the power output is stopped to the management device 30 via the remote control 7 as a communication relay device (information communication A1). Then, the remote control 7 responds (information communication A2) to the fuel cell device 10 in response to the reception of the information indicating that the power output is stopped (information communication A1). Note that, if there is no response (information communication A2) from the remote control 7 in response to the reception of the information indicating that the power output is stopped (information communication A1), the fuel cell device 10 can determine that the remote control 7 is the cause of the inability to normally communicate information with the management device 30.

3, the remote control 7 transmits information to the management device 30 indicating that the fuel cell device 10 is in a state where power output is stopped (information communication A3). The management device 30 then transmits a reply (information communication A4) to the remote control 7 in response to the receipt of the information (information communication A3) indicating that the fuel cell device 10 is in a state where power output is stopped. If the remote control 7 does not receive a reply (information communication A4) from the management device 30 in response to the receipt of the information (information communication A3) indicating that the fuel cell device 10 is in a state where power output is stopped, the remote control 7 determines that the management device 30 or the router 6 is causing a state in which information communication with the management device 30 cannot be performed normally, and transmits information (information communication A5) to the fuel cell device 10 indicating that communication with the management device 30 is not possible. Therefore, if the fuel cell device 10 receives information (information communication A5) indicating that it is unable to communicate with the management device 30, it determines that it is unable to communicate with the management device 30 normally, and if it does not receive information (information communication A5) indicating that it is unable to communicate with the management device 30, it determines that it is able to communicate with the management device 30 normally.

In this way, if the fuel cell device 10 is unable to output power, it notifies the management device 30 that it cannot output power, and the management device 30 sets the fuel cell device 10 that is unable to output power as a non-transmission candidate in the candidate determination process.

[Example of operation when the management device 30 transmits control information to the fuel cell device 10]
4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the management device 30 to transmit control information to the fuel cell device 10 via a communication relay device. For example, the management device 30 transmits control information (information communication B1) such as an output control command described below to the fuel cell device 10 via the remote control 7 serving as a communication relay device. The remote control 7 then sends a reply (information communication B2) to the management device 30 in response to the receipt of the control information (information communication B1). If there is no reply (information communication B2) from the remote control 7 in response to the receipt of the control information (information communication B1), the management device 30 can determine that the remote control 7 or the router 6 is causing a state in which information communication with the fuel cell device 10 cannot be performed normally.

Also, in FIG. 4, the remote control 7 transmits the control information received from the management device 30 to the fuel cell device 10 (information communication B3). Then, the fuel cell device 10 responds to the remote control 7 with the control information (information communication B4). If the remote control 7 does not receive a response from the fuel cell device 10 with the control information (information communication B4), it determines that the fuel cell device 10 is causing a state in which information communication between the fuel cell device 10 and the management device 30 cannot be performed normally, and transmits information (information communication B5) indicating that communication with the fuel cell device 10 is not possible to the management device 30. Therefore, when the management device 30 receives information (information communication B5) indicating that communication with the fuel cell device 10 is not possible, it determines that information communication with the fuel cell device 10 cannot be performed normally, and when it does not receive information (information communication B5) indicating that communication with the fuel cell device 10 is not possible, it determines that information communication with the fuel cell device 10 can be performed normally.

In this way, in the candidate determination process, the management device 30 sets the fuel cell device 10 that can normally communicate information with the management device 30 as a transmission candidate that transmits an output control command that determines the output power of the fuel cell device 10, and sets the fuel cell device 10 that cannot normally communicate information with the management device 30 as a non-transmission candidate that does not transmit an output control command.

[Example of operation when the fuel cell device 10 transmits power information to the management device 30]
5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the fuel cell device 10 transmitting power information to the management device 30 via a communication relay device. For example, the fuel cell device 10 transmits power information such as the above-mentioned power receiving point power to the management device 30 via the remote control 7 serving as a communication relay device (information communication C1). The remote control 7 then sends a reply (information communication C2) to the fuel cell device 10 in response to the receipt of the power information, etc. (information communication C1). If there is no reply (information communication C2) from the remote control 7 in response to the receipt of the power information, etc. (information communication C1), the fuel cell device 10 can determine that the remote control 7 is causing the fuel cell device 10 to be unable to normally communicate information with the management device 30.

Also, in FIG. 5, the remote control 7 transmits power information and the like to the management device 30 (information communication C3). Then, the management device 30 responds (information communication C4) to the remote control 7 in response to the reception of the power information and the like (information communication C3). If the remote control 7 does not receive a response (information communication C4) from the management device 30 in response to the reception of the power information (information communication C3), it determines that the management device 30 or the router 6 is causing a state in which information communication with the management device 30 cannot be performed normally, and transmits information (information communication C5) indicating that communication with the management device 30 is not possible to the fuel cell device 10. Therefore, when the fuel cell device 10 receives information (information communication C5) indicating that communication with the management device 30 is not possible, it determines that information communication with the management device 30 cannot be performed normally, and when it does not receive information (information communication C5) indicating that communication with the management device 30 is not possible, it determines that information communication with the management device 30 can be performed normally.

Using the above-described method, the management device 30 determines the fuel cell devices 10 included in the transmission candidates that will transmit an output control command that determines the output power, and the fuel cell devices 10 included in the non-transmission candidates that will not transmit an output control command.
To explain this with a specific example, the management device 30 determines a target value for the total adjustment capacity, etc., to be provided from the multiple facilities 20 with which the VPP service contract has been concluded during the control period. The management device 30 then preselects, for example, 100 fuel cell devices 10 from among the fuel cell devices 10 in the multiple facilities 20 with which the VPP service contract has been concluded, and attempts to use the 100 fuel cell devices 10 to provide the adjustment capacity, etc. However, since there may be fuel cell devices 10 that cannot normally perform information communication (i.e., cannot transmit an output control command), the management device 30 uses the above-mentioned method to identify, among the 100 fuel cell devices 10, those that can communicate and can normally communicate information with the management device 30, and those that cannot communicate and cannot normally communicate. The management device 30 then performs a candidate determination process to set the fuel cell devices 10 that can communicate among the 100 fuel cell devices 10 as transmission candidates, and set the fuel cell devices 10 that cannot communicate and the fuel cell devices 10 that cannot output power as non-transmission candidates. In other words, of the 100 fuel cell devices 10, there may be cases where the number of candidate fuel cell devices 10 for transmission is 90, or 50, etc. The management device 30 then transmits an output control command to at least one of the fuel cell devices 10 set as the candidate fuel cell devices 10 for transmission.

In addition, if the number of fuel cell devices 10 capable of communication set as transmission candidates is small, the total adjustment power, etc. provided from the facility 20 in which those fuel cell devices 10 are installed may not reach the target value. Therefore, if the number of fuel cell devices 10 set as non-transmission candidates is equal to or exceeds the set number, the management device 30 may exclude fuel cell devices 10 that cannot communicate and fuel cell devices 10 that cannot output power from the fuel cell devices 10 that were originally planned to be used to provide adjustment power, etc., and add another fuel cell device 10 that was not originally planned to be used to provide adjustment power, etc., to prepare 100 new fuel cell devices 10 to be used to provide adjustment power, etc. For example, if 100 fuel cell devices 10 were originally planned to be used to provide adjustment power, etc., but 50 fuel cell devices 10 unable to communicate, as in the above example, were included, then those 50 unable to communicate fuel cell devices 10 could be removed from the original 100, and another 50 could be added from the fuel cell devices 10 in multiple facilities 20 that have signed VPP service contracts, to provide a total of 100 fuel cell devices 10 to be used to provide adjustment power, etc.

Next, an operation mode determination process for determining the operation mode of the fuel cell device 10 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an operation mode determination process for determining the operation mode of the fuel cell device 10. As shown in FIG.
In step #10, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether or not it can output electric power. If the fuel cell device 10 is unable to output electric power due to an error, for example, it proceeds to step #15 and stops operation, and if it is able to output electric power, it proceeds to step #11.

In step #11, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether or not power is being supplied normally from the power grid 1. If power is not being supplied normally from the power grid 1, the fuel cell device 10 proceeds to step #16 and operates autonomously, and if power is being supplied normally from the power grid 1, the fuel cell device 10 proceeds to step #12. For example, in step #16, if power is not being supplied normally from the power grid 1, the fuel cell device 10 operates autonomously by making the output power follow the load power of the power load device 4 installed in the facility 20.

In step #12, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether or not it is in a control period of the received output control command. If it is in a control period, the process proceeds to step #13 and the device operates in a first operation mode as a communication-enabled operation mode. If it is not in a control period, the process proceeds to step #14 and the device operates in a second operation mode as a communication-enabled operation mode. In other words, when the fuel cell device 10 can output power, the power supply from the power system 1 is performed normally, and information communication with the management device 30 can be performed normally, the device operates in a communication-enabled operation mode (first operation mode or second operation mode). Specifically, in the communication-enabled operation mode, the fuel cell device 10 operates in a first operation mode in which the output power is determined based on the output control command during a control period determined by the output control command received from the management device 30, and operates in a second operation mode during a non-control period outside the control period. Alternatively, if the fuel cell device 10 does not receive an output control command from the management device 30, i.e., if a control target period has not been specified, the fuel cell device 10 operates in the second operating mode as it is in a non-control target period.

Figure 7 is a diagram that shows a schematic diagram of a controlled period and a non-controlled period. In the example shown in Figure 7, the control information (output control command) specifies the period from 12:00 to 15:00 as the controlled period. Therefore, this fuel cell device 10 operates in the first operating mode during the controlled period from 12:00 to 15:00, and operates in the second operating mode during the other non-controlled periods.

The second operating mode is an operating mode that is preset in the multiple fuel cell devices 10. Alternatively, the management device 30 can transmit an operating mode control command that determines the second operating mode to the multiple fuel cell devices 10, and the fuel cell devices 10 determine the second operating mode according to the operating mode control command received from the management device 30.

For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 continuously by maintaining the output power of the fuel cell device 10 at the upper limit output power as the second operating mode. The fuel cell control unit 13 can also operate the fuel cell device 10 in the second operating mode so that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follows the load power of the power load device 4. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 so that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follows the load power of the power load device 4 by adjusting the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) becomes zero or close to zero. Alternatively, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 so that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follows the load power of the power load device 4 by adjusting the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) becomes a set value such as +100W or -100W.

As described above, in the candidate determination process, the management device 30 sets the fuel cell device 10 capable of communicating normally with the management device 30 as a transmission candidate for transmitting an output control command that determines the output power of the fuel cell device 10, and sets the fuel cell device 10 that cannot communicate normally as a non-transmission candidate for not transmitting an output control command. Then, the management device 30 performs a command transmission process to transmit an output control command to at least one of the fuel cell devices 10 capable of communicating and set as a transmission candidate in the candidate determination process. In other words, the management device 30 excludes the fuel cell device 10 to which the output control command is not transmitted from the transmission targets of the output control command, and transmits the output control command to at least one of the fuel cell devices 10 to which the output control command is reliably transmitted. Then, the fuel cell device 10 that receives the output control command from the management device 30 operates with the goal of supplying the output power determined based on the output control command during the control target period that is the target of the output control command. Therefore, even if there is a fuel cell device 10 that cannot normally communicate with the management device 30, a power management system can be provided that can reliably obtain the necessary adjustment power, etc.

Second Embodiment
The power management system of the second embodiment differs from the above-mentioned embodiment in that both the management device 30 and the fuel cell device 10 determine whether or not information communication is normally performed between the management device 30 and the fuel cell device 10. The power management system of the second embodiment will be described below, but a description of the same configuration as the above-mentioned embodiment will be omitted.

As explained in the first embodiment above, in the candidate determination process, the management device 30 sets the communicable fuel cell devices 10 that can normally communicate with the management device 30 as transmission candidates that transmit output control commands that determine the output power of the fuel cell devices 10, and sets the incommunicable fuel cell devices 10 that cannot normally communicate with the management device 30 as non-transmission candidates that do not transmit output control commands. The management device 30 then performs a command transmission process to transmit an output control command to at least one of the communicable fuel cell devices 10 that were set as transmission candidates in the candidate determination process.

In addition, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether information communication between the management device 30 and the fuel cell device 10 is normal, and determines the operating mode based on the result of the determination.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an operation mode determination process for determining the operation mode of the fuel cell device 10. As shown in FIG.
In step #20, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether or not it can output electric power. If the fuel cell device 10 is unable to output electric power due to an error, for example, it proceeds to step #27 and stops operation, and if it is able to output electric power, it proceeds to step #21.

In step #21, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether or not power is being supplied normally from the power grid 1. If power is not being supplied normally from the power grid 1, the fuel cell device 10 proceeds to step #28 and operates autonomously, and if power is being supplied normally from the power grid 1, the fuel cell device 10 proceeds to step #22. For example, in step #28, if power is not being supplied normally from the power grid 1, the fuel cell device 10 operates autonomously by making the output power follow the load power of the power load device 4 installed in the facility 20.

In step #22, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether or not it can normally communicate information with the management device 30, using the method described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. If the fuel cell device 10 can normally communicate information with the management device 30, it proceeds to step #23, and if it cannot normally communicate information with the management device 30, it proceeds to step #26 and operates in the communication unavailable operation mode. In other words, if the fuel cell device 10 can output power, power is being supplied normally from the power system 1, and it cannot normally communicate information with the management device 30, it operates in the communication unavailable operation mode.

In the communication unavailable operation mode, the fuel cell device 10 operates to make the output power follow the load power of a specified power load device 4 installed in the facility 20, or to maintain the output power at a specified value, or to make the output power be a power determined based on the latest output control command received from the management device 30 while information communication with the management device 30 was normal.

Here, the fuel cell control unit 13 may determine which of the above-mentioned examples of communication failure operation modes to perform depending on the time period. For example, in the case of a time period in which the number of times that the fuel cell control unit 13 has received an output control command from the management device 30 in the past during a specified period in the direction of lowering the power receiving point power is greater than the number of times that the fuel cell control unit 13 has received an output control command in the direction of raising the power receiving point power, that is, in the case of a time period in which it is preferable to increase the output power of the fuel cell device 10, the fuel cell control unit 13 can perform an operation in which the output power of the fuel cell device 10 is maintained at the upper limit output power and continuously operated, or the output power of the fuel cell device 10 is adjusted so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) is a set value such as -100 W (i.e., so that there is always a reverse flow of 100 W) to follow the load power of the power load device 4.

In response to this, the fuel cell control unit 13 can perform operation to track the load power of the power load device 4 when the number of times it has received an output control command from the management device 30 in the past specified period in a direction to increase the power receiving point power is greater than the number of times it has received an output control command in the direction to decrease the power receiving point power. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can perform operation to track the load power of the power load device 4 by adjusting the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) is zero or close to zero, and by adjusting the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) is a set value such as +100 W (i.e., always receiving 100 W).

In step #23, the fuel cell device 10 determines whether or not it is in a control period of the received output control command. If it is in a control period, the process proceeds to step #24 and the device operates in a first operation mode as a communication-enabled operation mode. If it is not in a control period, the process proceeds to step #25 and the device operates in a second operation mode as a communication-enabled operation mode. In other words, when the fuel cell device 10 can output power, the power supply from the power system 1 is performed normally, and information communication with the management device 30 can be performed normally, the device operates in a communication-enabled operation mode (first operation mode or second operation mode). Specifically, in the communication-enabled operation mode, the fuel cell device 10 operates in a first operation mode in which the output power is determined based on the output control command during a control period determined by the output control command received from the management device 30, and operates in a second operation mode during a non-control period outside the control period. Alternatively, if the fuel cell device 10 does not receive an output control command from the management device 30, i.e., if a control target period has not been specified, the fuel cell device 10 operates in the second operating mode as it is in a non-control target period.

As described above, in this embodiment, both the management device 30 and the fuel cell device 10 determine whether information communication between the management device 30 and the fuel cell device 10 is performed normally. In addition, in this embodiment, the management device 30 stores the contents of the operation performed by the fuel cell device 10 in the communication failure operation mode. For example, the management device 30 stores which operation the fuel cell device 10 will perform in the communication failure operation mode: an operation to make the output power follow the load power of a specified power load device 4 installed in the facility 20, an operation to maintain the output power at a specified value, or an operation to make the output power be the power determined based on the latest output control command received from the management device 30 while information communication with the management device 30 was performed normally. Therefore, the management device 30 cannot make the facility 20 provide adjustment power, etc. using the communication failure fuel cell device 10, but can predict the adjustment power, etc. that the facility 20 in which the fuel cell device 10 operating in the communication failure operation mode is provided with will provide.

To explain this with a specific example, the management device 30 determines the total adjustment capacity, etc. to be provided by the multiple facilities 20 that have concluded VPP service contracts during the control period. The management device 30 then preselects, for example, 100 fuel cell devices 10 from among the fuel cell devices 10 of the multiple facilities 20 that have concluded VPP service contracts, and intends to use the 100 fuel cell devices 10 to provide the above adjustment capacity, etc. Then, the management device 30 uses the above-mentioned method to identify, among the 100 fuel cell devices 10, those that can communicate normally with the management device 30 (i.e., those that operate in accordance with the received output control command) and those that cannot communicate normally (i.e., those that operate in a communication unavailable operation mode). In addition, the management device 30 predicts, based on the stored information, the adjustment capacity, etc. that the facility 20 in which the fuel cell device 10 that operates in the communication unavailable operation mode is provided to provide during the control period.

As an example, consider a case where the fuel cell device 10 operates in a communication unavailable operation mode to make the output power follow the load power of a specific power load device 4 installed in the facility 20, for example, making the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follow the load power of the power load device 4 +100W (i.e., output power = load power +100W). In this case, the management device 30 predicts that an adjustment capacity of 100Wh per hour will be provided using the fuel cell device 10 in that facility 20.

In addition, consider a case where the fuel cell device 10 operates in a communication unavailable operation mode to maintain the output power at a predetermined value, for example, to maintain the output power of the fuel cell device 10 at an upper limit output power (e.g., 700 W, etc.). In this case, the management device 30 sequentially collects and stores the load power of the power load device 4 as power information while information communication is normal from the facility 20, and predicts the value obtained by subtracting the latest value of the collected load power from the upper limit output power of the fuel cell device 10 as the adjustment power, etc., provided by the fuel cell device 10 of the facility 20.

Furthermore, consider a case where the fuel cell device 10 operates in a communication failure operation mode such that the output power is determined based on the latest output control command received from the management device 30 while information communication with the management device 30 was normal. In this case, the management device 30 sequentially collects and stores the load power of the power load device 4 as power information from the facility 20, and also stores the latest output control command that the management device 30 sent to the fuel cell device 10 while information communication was normal. Therefore, the value obtained by subtracting the latest value of the collected load power from the predicted output power of the fuel cell device 10 (i.e., the power determined based on the latest output control command that the management device 30 sent while information communication was normal) is predicted as the adjustment power, etc., to be provided by the fuel cell device 10 of the facility 20.

Then, the management device 30 can determine, as the adjustment power, etc. to be provided by the communication-capable fuel cell device 10 set as the transmission candidate, i.e., the fuel cell device 10 operating in the communication-capable operation mode during the control period, a value obtained by subtracting the adjustment power, etc. that is predicted to be provided by the facility 20 in which the fuel cell device 10 operating in the communication-capable operation mode as described in the above example is installed, from the total adjustment power, etc. that needs to be provided by the fuel cell devices 10 of the multiple facilities 20 that have concluded VPP service contracts during the control period.The management device 30 then transmits an output control command to at least one of the communication-capable fuel cell devices 10 set as the transmission candidate so as to provide that adjustment power, etc.

In this way, the management device 30 stores the details of operation in the communication unavailable operation mode performed by a fuel cell device 10 that is unable to normally communicate with the management device 30, i.e., a fuel cell device 10 that is excluded from the targets for sending output control commands. As a result, the management device 30 can determine what kind of output control command should be sent to the fuel cell device 10 that is the target for sending the output control command, depending on the operation during the control target period by the fuel cell device 10 that is excluded from the targets for sending the output control command.

<Another embodiment>
＜1＞
In the above embodiment, a specific example of the configuration of the power management system of the present invention has been given and explained, but the configuration can be modified as appropriate.
For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the power supply unit of the power supply device includes the fuel cell unit 12, but the power supply unit may be another device capable of outputting electric power. For example, the power supply unit may be a device including a charge/discharge unit such as a storage battery. In that case, a charge/discharge device is realized that has the functions of a power supply device used in a power management system and the power supply unit includes a charge/discharge unit.
Alternatively, the power supply unit may be a device including an engine and a generator driven by the engine.

＜2＞
In the above embodiment, specific numerical values for the output power, load power, power receiving point power, length of the control target period, etc. are given as examples and explained, but these numerical values are given for illustrative purposes only and can be changed as appropriate.

＜3＞
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the fuel cell device 10 communicates with the management device 30 via the remote control 7 and the router 6 as communication relay devices, but communication with the management device 30 may also be performed via other devices. For example, information communication between the fuel cell device 10 and the management device 30 may be performed using a communication relay device that utilizes a mobile phone communication standard such as LTE.

＜4＞
In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the fuel cell control unit 13 determines the specific operating content in the operating mode when communication is unavailable based on the results of comparing the number of times it received an output control command to decrease the power receiving point power within a specified period in the past with the number of times it received an output control command to increase the power receiving point power. However, the specific operating content in the operating mode when communication is unavailable may also be determined according to other judgment criteria.

For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 receives information on the total load power of the power load devices 4 of the multiple facilities 20 and information on the total output potential power of the fuel cell devices 10 of the multiple facilities 20 in each time period of a day in a predetermined past period from, for example, the management device 30 and stores it in advance. Then, the fuel cell control unit 13 refers to the stored information, and when the total load power of the power load devices 4 of the multiple facilities 20 in the same past time period as the current time is equal to or greater than a set percentage (e.g., 2/3 or more) of the total output potential power of the fuel cell devices 10 of the multiple facilities 20, that is, when it is a time period when it is preferable to increase the output power of its own fuel cell device 10, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 by maintaining the output power of the fuel cell device 10 at the upper limit output power and continuously operating it, or by adjusting the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) is a set value such as -100 W (i.e., always a reverse flow of 100 W), so that the operation follows the load power of the power load device 4.

On the other hand, when the total load power of the power load devices 4 of the multiple facilities 20 during the same past time period as the current time is less than a set percentage (e.g., less than 2/3) of the total output possible power of the fuel cell devices 10 of the multiple facilities 20, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 to follow the load power of the power load device 4. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can adjust the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) is zero or close to zero, and adjust the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) is a set value such as +100 W (i.e., always receiving 100 W). This allows the fuel cell control unit 13 to operate the fuel cell device 10 to follow the load power of the power load device 4.

＜5＞
In the above embodiment, examples of information communication between the fuel cell device 10 and the management device 30 are not limited to those described using Figures 3 to 5. For example, information such as the current time is transmitted and received at a predetermined timing between the fuel cell device 10 and the remote control 7, and during the information communication process, it may be determined whether or not the information communication can be performed normally.

＜6＞
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 a power management system that can reliably obtain the necessary adjustment power even if there is a power supply device that cannot properly communicate information with a management device, and in a fuel cell device and a charge/discharge device that serve as the power supply device used in the power management system.

1: Power system 2: Power line 3: Power meter 4: Power load device 5: Gateway 6: Router (communication relay device)
7: Remote control (communication relay device)
8: Power measurement unit 10: Fuel cell device (power supply device)
11: Power conversion unit 12: Fuel cell unit (power supply unit)
13: Fuel cell control unit 14: Memory unit 20: Facility 30: Management device 40: Aggregation coordinator

Claims (7)

A power supply management system including: a power supply device installed in each of a plurality of facilities and capable of outputting electric power; and a management device capable of communicating with the plurality of power supply devices from a remote location outside the facilities,
The power supply device includes a power supply unit connected to a power grid,
a power load device installed in the facility can receive power supply from at least one of the power supply device and the power system installed in the facility;
The management device performs a candidate determination process to identify, among the plurality of power supplies, the power supplies capable of communicating with the management device and capable of normally communicating with the management device, and the power supplies not capable of normally communicating with the management device, based on the status of information communication between the management device and the power supplies, and to set the power supplies capable of communicating as transmission candidates that transmit an output control command that determines the output power of the power supplies, and to set the power supplies not capable of communicating as non-transmission candidates that do not transmit the output control command;
the management device performs a command transmission process of transmitting the output control command to at least one of the communicable power supply devices set as the transmission candidate in the candidate determination process;
When the power supply device receives the output control command from the management device, the power supply device operates to supply an output power determined based on the output control command during a control period that is the subject of the output control command;
The power supply device is
When it is determined that the power supply from the power grid is normal and that information communication with the management device can be performed normally based on the state of information communication between the management device and the power supply device, the power supply device operates in a communication-enabled operation mode;
A power supply management system that operates in an operation mode when communication is unavailable when the system is capable of outputting power, power supply from the power system is being performed normally, and when it is determined that information communication with the management device cannot be performed normally based on the status of information communication between the management device and the power supply device . When the power supply device is unable to output power, the power supply device notifies the management device that the power supply device is unable to output power;
The power management system according to claim 1 , wherein the management device sets the power supply devices that cannot output power as the non-transmission candidates in the candidate determination process. 3. The power supply management system of claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the operation mode when communication is unavailable, the power supply device operates to make the output power follow the load power of the power load device installed in the facility, or to maintain the output power at a predetermined value, or to make the output power a power determined based on the latest output control command received from the management device while information communication with the management device was being performed normally . The power management system according to claim 3 , wherein the management device stores details of operation that the power supply device performs in the communication unavailable operation mode. The power supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, in the communication-enabled operation mode, the power supply device operates in a first operation mode during the control period determined by the output control command received from the management device so that the output power is determined based on the output control command, and operates in a second operation mode during a non- control period outside the control period. A fuel cell device comprising a fuel cell section as the power supply section of the power supply device used in the power supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . A charge/discharge device comprising a charge/discharge unit as the power supply unit of the power supply device used in the power management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 .

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