Mixed gas generation system

Abstract

The present invention provides a mixed gas generation system that can reduce the cost of producing a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen compared to conventional systems. [Solution] The water electrolysis apparatus comprises a water electrolysis device including multiple water electrolysis units, a mixing unit for generating a mixed gas, a power cost input unit, a hydrogen cost input unit, an oxygen cost input unit, a set gas amount input unit, a cost calculation unit that calculates the total cost of power, hydrogen, and oxygen for generating the mixed gas from the amount of power used corresponding to the number of operating water electrolysis units, the amount of hydrogen gas used by industrial hydrogen gas, and the amount of oxygen gas used by industrial oxygen gas, using the relationship between the number of operating water electrolysis units in the past and the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas and the required amount of oxygen gas needed to satisfy the set amount of hydrogen gas and set amount of oxygen gas in the mixed gas, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units, the amount of industrial hydrogen gas used, and the amount of industrial oxygen gas used so as to minimize the total cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mixed gas generation system that generates a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, biodegradable plastics produced by culturing microorganisms such as hydrogen bacteria using carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to achieve a carbon-neutral society are known (e.g., Patent Document 1). For this biodegradable plastic, the balance between carbon dioxide used during production and carbon dioxide discharged when combusted for disposal or the like is 0 or less, and it is considered that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere does not increase overall.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen are required for culturing microorganisms such as hydrogen bacteria. Therefore, in order to reduce unnecessary gas as much as possible and improve production efficiency, the present inventor has conventionally purchased high-purity hydrogen gas and high-purity oxygen gas separately from the market, and cultured microorganisms using the purchased hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. However, hydrogen gas and oxygen gas distributed in the market become more expensive as their purity increases, which causes a problem that the culture cost of microorganisms increases.

[0005] Accordingly, the present inventor considered that in order to suppress the culture cost of microorganisms, hydrogen gas is generated using a water electrolysis unit capable of generating hydrogen gas through water electrolysis, thereby suppressing the cost of purchasing hydrogen gas from the market.

[0006] However, generating hydrogen gas using a water electrolysis unit consumes a lot of electricity, and the generation cost depends on electricity costs that fluctuate depending on the time of year. Therefore, at certain times, the cost of purchasing industrial hydrogen gas was sometimes cheaper than the cost of generating hydrogen gas using a water electrolysis unit.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a mixed gas generation system that can reduce the cost of producing a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas compared to conventional systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a water electrolysis apparatus comprising a plurality of water electrolysis units capable of generating at least hydrogen gas and whose power consumption during operation is known; a mixing unit that generates a mixed gas by mixing industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas with at least the hydrogen gas generated by the water electrolysis apparatus; a power cost input unit for inputting the power cost per unit amount of energy; a hydrogen cost input unit for inputting the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas; an oxygen cost input unit for inputting the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas; a set gas amount input unit for inputting the set hydrogen gas amount and set oxygen gas amount of the mixed gas; and the number of operations of the water electrolysis units of the water electrolysis apparatus in the past. The mixed gas generation system comprises: a cost calculation unit that uses the relationship between the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas necessary to satisfy the set amount of hydrogen gas and set amount of oxygen gas of the mixed gas to calculate the total cost of the electricity cost, the hydrogen cost, and the oxygen cost for generating the mixed gas, based on the amount of electricity used corresponding to the number of operating water electrolysis units, the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas, and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas; and an adjustment unit that adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units of the water electrolysis apparatus, the amount of industrial hydrogen gas used, and the amount of industrial oxygen gas used in the mixing unit so as to minimize the total cost calculated by the cost calculation unit.

[0009] According to this method, the number of water electrolysis units in operation and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used are adjusted to minimize the total cost of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen used to produce the mixed gas, thereby reducing the cost of producing the mixed gas compared to conventional methods.

[0010] A preferred configuration is one in which the water electrolysis unit has a cathode section that generates hydrogen gas and an anode section that generates oxygen gas, and the water electrolysis device supplies the hydrogen gas generated in the cathode section and the oxygen gas generated in the anode section of each water electrolysis unit to the mixing section.

[0011] According to this configuration, since all of the hydrogen and oxygen gases generated in each water electrolysis unit can be used, the hydrogen and oxygen costs per unit of electricity used to generate the mixed gas can be reduced, and the mixed gas can be produced at a lower cost.

[0012] A preferred configuration is one in which at least one of the costs—the electricity cost, the hydrogen cost, and the oxygen cost—fluctues over time, and the adjustment unit adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units of the water electrolysis apparatus, and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used in the mixing unit, in accordance with the fluctuation of the one cost.

[0013] According to this approach, the number of water electrolysis units in the water electrolysis apparatus and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used are adjusted based on fluctuations in costs over time, thereby enabling the production of mixed gases at a lower cost.

[0014] The aspects described above can be dependent on each other, refer to some of their components, or substitute for some of their components, as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, the cost of producing a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas can be reduced compared to conventional methods. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the culture system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the mixed gas generation operation of the mixed gas generation system in FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, a culture system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a mixed gas generation system 2, a carbon dioxide supply unit 3, and a culture unit 4. The culture system 1 of the present embodiment performs a mixed gas generation operation of generating a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas in the mixed gas generation system 2, and cultures microorganisms in the culture unit 4 using the generated mixed gas and carbon dioxide supplied from the carbon dioxide supply unit 3. The culture system 1 of the present embodiment is mainly characterized by the mixed gas generation operation of the mixed gas generation system 2. Based on this premise, each component and each constituent part of the culture system 1 will be described below.

[0018] <Mixed Gas Generation System 2> As shown in FIG. 1, the mixed gas generation system 2 includes a management device 10, a water electrolysis device 11, an industrial hydrogen gas supply unit 12, an industrial oxygen gas supply unit 13, and a mixing unit 14.

[0019] (Management Device 10) As for the hardware configuration, the management device 10 is a computer including: a central processing unit constituted by a control device that controls each device and an arithmetic device that performs arithmetic operations on data; a storage device that stores data; an input device that inputs data from the outside; and an output device that outputs data to the outside. As shown in FIG. 1, the management device 10 includes a data storage unit 20, a power cost input unit 21, a hydrogen cost input unit 22, an oxygen cost input unit 23, a set gas amount input unit 24, a cost calculation unit 25, and an adjustment unit 26.

[0020] The data storage unit 20 is a section that stores data relating to the relationship between the number of operating water electrolysis units 30 of the water electrolysis device 11 in the past, and the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas that are necessary to satisfy the set hydrogen gas amount and set oxygen gas amount of the mixed gas. In addition to the above, the data storage unit 20 can store data such as the number of operating water electrolysis units 30 of the current and past water electrolysis devices 11, the supply amount of industrial hydrogen gas from the industrial hydrogen gas supply unit 12, the supply amount of industrial oxygen gas from the industrial oxygen gas supply unit 13, various costs input to each of the cost input units 21 to 23, the set hydrogen gas amount and set oxygen gas amount input to the set gas amount input unit 24, and the total cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 25.

[0021] The power cost input unit 21 is a section where an operator inputs a power cost per unit power amount directly or via a network such as the Internet, and / or a section that acquires and inputs the power cost per unit power amount from an external organization such as an electric power company or an electric power price research company.

[0022] The hydrogen cost input unit 22 is a section where an operator inputs a hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas directly or via a network such as the Internet, and / or a section that acquires and inputs the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas from an external organization such as a hydrogen gas production company or a hydrogen price research company via a network such as the Internet.

[0023] The oxygen cost input unit 23 is a section where an operator inputs an oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas directly or via a network such as the Internet, and / or a section that acquires and inputs the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas from an external organization such as an oxygen gas production company or an oxygen price research company via a network such as the Internet.

[0024] The gas setting input unit 24 is where the operator inputs the set amount of hydrogen gas and set amount of oxygen gas for the mixed gas mixed in the mixing unit 14, either directly or via a network such as the Internet. In other words, the gas setting input unit 24 is where the amount of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas in the mixed gas to be generated, and their ratio, are set.

[0025] The cost calculation unit 25 calculates the total cost of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen required to produce the mixed gas, based on the amount of electricity used corresponding to the number of operating water electrolysis units 30, the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas, and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas.

[0026] The adjustment unit 26 is connected to the water electrolysis device 11, the industrial hydrogen gas supply unit 12, and the industrial oxygen gas supply unit 13, and is a part that adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units 30 of the water electrolysis device 11, the amount of industrial hydrogen gas used in the mixing unit 14 (amount of industrial hydrogen gas supplied by the industrial hydrogen gas supply unit 12), and the amount of industrial oxygen gas used (amount of industrial oxygen gas supplied by the industrial oxygen gas supply unit 13).

[0027] (Water electrolysis device 11) The water electrolysis device 11 is a device that generates hydrogen gas and oxygen gas using water electrolysis. As shown in Figure 1, the water electrolysis apparatus 11 has multiple water electrolysis units 30 with known power consumption during operation, and is capable of supplying the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generated by each water electrolysis unit 30 to the mixing unit 14. The water electrolysis unit 30 includes a cathode section and an anode section. By applying a voltage between the cathode section and the anode section, an electrolyte solution containing water is electrolyzed, and a predetermined amount of hydrogen gas is mainly generated in the cathode section, while a predetermined amount of oxygen gas is generated in the anode section. The water electrolysis unit 30 of this embodiment is capable of supplying both hydrogen gas generated in the cathode section and oxygen gas generated in the anode section to the mixing section 14.

[0028] (Industrial Hydrogen Gas Supply Department 12) The industrial hydrogen gas supply unit 12 is a part that can supply industrial hydrogen gas purchased and acquired from external sources, and the amount supplied to the mixing unit 14 can be adjusted. In this context, "industrial hydrogen gas" refers to hydrogen gas of grade 4 or higher, in accordance with JIS K 0512-1995.

[0029] (Industrial Oxygen Gas Supply Department 13) The industrial oxygen gas supply unit 13 is a part that can supply industrial oxygen gas purchased and acquired from an external source, and the amount supplied to the mixing unit 14 can be adjusted. In this context, "industrial oxygen gas" refers to oxygen gas conforming to JIS K 1101:2017.

[0030] (Mixing section 14) The mixing unit 14 mixes the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas supplied from the water electrolysis device 11 with the industrial hydrogen gas supplied from the industrial hydrogen gas supply unit 12 and the industrial oxygen gas supplied from the industrial oxygen gas supply unit 13 to produce a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, which is then supplied to the culture unit 4.

[0031] <Carbon Dioxide Supply Unit 3> The carbon dioxide supply unit 3 is the part that supplies carbon dioxide to the culture unit 4. The carbon dioxide supply unit 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can supply carbon dioxide; a carbon dioxide concentration device that concentrates carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or exhaust gas can be used.

[0032] <Cultivation Department 4> The culture section 4 is the part where microorganisms are cultured using the mixed gas supplied from the mixing section 14 of the mixed gas generation system 2 and the carbon dioxide supplied from the carbon dioxide supply section 3. Specifically, culture section 4 is a part where chemoautotrophic bacteria that fix carbon dioxide using a mixed gas and carbon dioxide are cultured. Examples of chemoautotrophic bacteria that can be used include hydrogen bacteria, methanogens, methanogens, methane-oxidizing bacteria, nitrate bacteria, nitrite bacteria, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, iron-oxidizing bacteria, and Anammox bacteria. In this embodiment, hydrogen bacteria are used as chemoautotrophic bacteria.

[0033] Next, the mixed gas generation operation of the mixed gas generation system 2 in the culture system 1 of this embodiment will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 2.

[0034] The mixed gas generation operation of the mixed gas generation system 2 is performed in response to requests for a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from operators, the culture unit 4, etc. As shown in Figure 2, the mixed gas generation operation first checks whether there is a request for a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from the operator or the culture unit 4, etc. (step S1-1). If there is a request for a mixed gas (Yes in step S1-1), it checks whether the power cost per unit of energy, the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, and the set hydrogen gas amount and set oxygen gas amount corresponding to the power cost input unit 21, hydrogen cost input unit 22, oxygen cost input unit 23, and set gas amount input unit 24 have been input (step S1-2).

[0035] In this case, it is preferable that the set hydrogen gas amount is greater than the amount of hydrogen gas produced by the water electrolysis unit 30, and is a value different from a positive integer multiple of the amount of hydrogen gas produced by the water electrolysis unit 30. Similarly, it is preferable that the set oxygen gas amount is greater than the amount of oxygen gas produced by the water electrolysis unit 30, and is a value different from a positive integer multiple of the amount of oxygen gas produced by the water electrolysis unit 30.

[0036] If the power cost per unit of power, the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, the set hydrogen gas amount, and the set oxygen gas amount are input (Yes in step S1-2), the cost calculation unit 25 uses the past number of operations of the water electrolysis unit 30 of the water electrolysis apparatus 11 and the relationship between the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas needed to satisfy the set hydrogen gas amount and set oxygen gas amount of the mixed gas to calculate the amount of power used corresponding to the number of operations of the water electrolysis unit 30, the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas, and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas, and then calculates the total cost of the power cost per unit of power used to generate the mixed gas, the hydrogen cost per required amount of hydrogen gas, and the oxygen cost per required amount of oxygen gas (step S1-3).

[0037] In this case, the required amount of hydrogen gas can be calculated by subtracting (number of operating water electrolysis units 30) × (amount of hydrogen gas produced by water electrolysis units 30) from the set amount of hydrogen gas, and the required amount of oxygen gas can be calculated by subtracting (number of operating water electrolysis units 30) × (amount of oxygen gas produced by water electrolysis units 30) from the set amount of oxygen gas. Furthermore, the cost calculation unit 25 calculates multiple total costs.

[0038] Then, the adjustment unit 26 adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units 30, the amount of industrial hydrogen gas used in the mixing unit 14, and the amount of industrial oxygen gas used so that the total cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 25 is minimized (step S1-4).

[0039] The system checks if there are any fluctuations in the power cost per unit of energy, the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, the set hydrogen gas amount, or the set oxygen gas amount (Step S1-5). If there are no fluctuations (Yes in Step S1-5), the system checks if the request for mixed gas has been stopped or terminated (Step S1-6). If the request for mixed gas has been stopped or terminated (Yes in Step S1-6), the mixed gas generation operation is terminated.

[0040] On the other hand, if there is no request for a mixed gas in step S1-1 (No in step S1-1), the system waits until a request for a mixed gas is made.

[0041] Furthermore, if the power cost per unit of power, the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, the set hydrogen gas amount, and the set oxygen gas amount are not entered in step S1-2, the process proceeds to step S1-1.

[0042] In step S1-5, if there is a change in any of the following (No in step S1-5): the power cost per unit energy, the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, the set hydrogen gas amount, or the set oxygen gas amount, proceed to step S1-3, where the total cost of the power cost per unit energy used to produce the mixed gas, the hydrogen cost per required hydrogen gas amount, and the oxygen cost per required oxygen gas amount is calculated using the changed power cost per unit energy, the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, the set hydrogen gas amount, and the set oxygen gas amount.

[0043] If the request for the mixed gas has not been canceled or terminated in step S1-6 (No in step S1-6), proceed to step S1-5.

[0044] According to the culture system 1 of this embodiment, the mixed gas generation system 2 includes a water electrolysis device 11 that includes a plurality of water electrolysis units 30 capable of generating at least hydrogen gas and whose power consumption during operation is known, a mixing unit 14 that generates a mixed gas by mixing industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas with at least the hydrogen gas generated by the water electrolysis device 11, a power cost input unit 21 for inputting the power cost per unit amount of energy, a hydrogen cost input unit 22 for inputting the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, an oxygen cost input unit 23 for inputting the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, a set gas amount input unit 24 for inputting the set hydrogen gas amount and set oxygen gas amount of the mixed gas, and past water electrolysis The system includes a cost calculation unit 25 that calculates the total cost of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen for generating a mixed gas, based on the number of operating water electrolysis units 30 of the apparatus 11 and the relationship between the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas needed to satisfy the set amount of hydrogen gas and set amount of oxygen gas in the mixed gas, using the amount of electricity used corresponding to the number of operating water electrolysis units 30, the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas, and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas. The system also includes an adjustment unit 26 that adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units 30 of the water electrolysis apparatus 11, the amount of industrial hydrogen gas used, and the amount of industrial oxygen gas used in the mixing unit 14 so as to minimize the total cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 25. In other words, according to the culture system 1 of this embodiment, the mixed gas generation system 2 adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units 30 and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used so that the total cost of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen for generating the mixed gas is minimized, thereby reducing the cost of generating the mixed gas compared to conventional methods.

[0045] According to the culture system 1 of this embodiment, the water electrolysis unit 30 of the mixed gas generation system 2 has a cathode section that generates hydrogen gas and an anode section that generates oxygen gas, and the water electrolysis device 11 supplies the hydrogen gas generated in the cathode section and the oxygen gas generated in the anode section of each water electrolysis unit 30 to the mixing section 14. In other words, according to the culture system 1 of this embodiment, all of the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generated in each water electrolysis unit 30 can be used, so the hydrogen cost and oxygen cost per unit amount of electricity required to generate the mixed gas can be suppressed, and the mixed gas can be generated at a lower cost.

[0046] According to the culture system 1 of this embodiment, at least one of the costs—electricity cost, hydrogen cost, and oxygen cost—fluctuates from time to time. The adjustment unit 26 adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units 30 of the water electrolysis apparatus 11, and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used in the mixing unit 14, in accordance with the fluctuation of the fluctuating cost. In other words, by adjusting the number of water electrolysis units 30 in the water electrolysis apparatus 11 and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used, taking into account cost fluctuations depending on the time of year, mixed gas can be produced at a lower cost.

[0047] In the embodiment described above, the water electrolysis apparatus 11 supplied both hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to the mixing unit 14 from each water electrolysis unit 30, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The water electrolysis apparatus 11 may supply only hydrogen gas to the mixing unit 14 from each water electrolysis unit 30.

[0048] In the embodiment described above, the mixed gas generation system 2 supplied a mixed gas to the culture section 4, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas is used, it may be used for other purposes other than the culture section 4.

[0049] In the embodiment described above, the cost calculation unit 25 calculates the total cost, and the adjustment unit 26 adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units 30, the amount of industrial hydrogen gas used in the mixing unit 14, and the amount of industrial oxygen gas used to minimize the total cost. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The adjustment unit 26 may calculate and adjust the number of operating water electrolysis units 30, which are the objective variables, and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used in the mixing unit 14, by solving an optimization problem whose objective function is to minimize the sum of the power cost per unit of power used to generate the mixed gas, the hydrogen cost per required amount of hydrogen gas, and the oxygen cost per required amount of oxygen gas, while satisfying the constraints, using the explanatory variable data (power cost per unit of power, hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas), which are the objective variables, from the explanatory variable data (power cost per unit of power, hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas) input to each input unit 21 to 24. There are no particular limitations to the optimization methods used to solve optimization problems; mathematical optimization, metaheuristic optimization, quantum computing, and deep reinforcement learning can all be employed. The constraints are not particularly limited; for example, the number of water electrolysis units 30, the supply capacity of industrial hydrogen gas from the industrial hydrogen gas supply unit 12, and the supply capacity of industrial oxygen gas from the industrial oxygen gas supply unit 13 can be used.

[0050] In the embodiments described above, the components can be freely substituted or added between each embodiment, as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 2. Mixed Gas Generation System 11 Water electrolysis equipment 14 Mixing section 21 Power cost input section 22 Hydrogen cost input section 23 Oxygen cost input section 24. Input section for set gas volume 25. Cost Calculation Section 26 Adjustment part 30 Water Electrolysis Units

Claims

1. A water electrolysis apparatus comprising multiple water electrolysis units capable of generating at least hydrogen gas and with known power consumption during operation, A mixing unit that mixes industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas with at least the hydrogen gas produced by the water electrolysis apparatus to produce a mixed gas, A power cost input unit for inputting the power cost per unit of energy, A hydrogen cost input unit for inputting the hydrogen cost per unit flow rate of industrial hydrogen gas, An oxygen cost input unit for inputting the oxygen cost per unit flow rate of industrial oxygen gas, A set gas amount input unit for inputting the set hydrogen gas amount and set oxygen gas amount of the mixed gas, A cost calculation unit calculates the total cost of electricity, hydrogen, and oxygen for generating the mixed gas, based on the number of operating water electrolysis units of past water electrolysis equipment and the relationship between the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas needed to satisfy the set hydrogen gas and oxygen gas amounts of the mixed gas, using the amount of electricity used corresponding to the number of operating water electrolysis units, the required amount of industrial hydrogen gas, and the required amount of industrial oxygen gas. A mixed gas generation system comprising an adjustment unit that adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units of the water electrolysis apparatus and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used in the mixing unit so that the total cost calculated by the cost calculation unit is minimized.

2. The water electrolysis unit has a cathode section that generates hydrogen gas and an anode section that generates oxygen gas. The mixed gas generation system according to claim 1, wherein the water electrolysis apparatus supplies hydrogen gas generated in the cathode section and oxygen gas generated in the anode section of each water electrolysis unit to the mixing section.

3. At least one of the aforementioned costs—electricity cost, hydrogen cost, and oxygen cost—varies over time. The adjustment unit adjusts the number of operating water electrolysis units of the water electrolysis apparatus, and the amount of industrial hydrogen gas and industrial oxygen gas used in the mixing unit, in accordance with the fluctuation of the one cost. A mixed gas generation system according to claim 1 or 2.

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