Management device

Abstract

To stably generate steam.SOLUTION: A management device 10 comprises: an operation control unit 11 for controlling a hydrogen generation device 6 for generating hydrogen on the basis of electric power from a power generation system 5 for generating the electric power by using renewable energy, a hydrogen boiler 9 for generating steam by burning the hydrogen, and a fossil fuel boiler 16 for generating steam by burning a fossil fuel; a header pressure monitor unit 12 for monitoring the pressure of a steam collecting header 17 to which the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16 are connected; and a hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13 for monitoring the hydrogen storage rate of a storage device 7 capable of storing the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generation device 6 and supplying the hydrogen to the hydrogen boiler 9. The operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate becomes a target value, and controls the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16 so that the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 becomes a target pressure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a management device.

Background Art

[0002] From the perspective of preventing global warming, the use of hydrogen as energy is being studied in various fields. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a fuel cell that generates electricity using hydrogen.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technical field related to boilers, a hydrogen boiler that uses hydrogen as fuel has been proposed. A technology that can stably generate steam is desired.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to stably generate steam.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This specification discloses a management device. The management device includes a hydrogen generation device that generates hydrogen based on power from a power generation system that generates power using renewable energy, a hydrogen boiler that burns hydrogen to generate steam, and an operation control unit that controls a fossil fuel boiler that burns fossil fuel to generate steam, a header pressure monitor unit that monitors the pressure of a steam collection header to which the hydrogen boiler and the fossil fuel boiler are connected, and a hydrogen storage rate monitor unit that monitors the hydrogen storage rate of a storage device that can store the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generation device and supply hydrogen to the hydrogen boiler. The operation control unit controls the hydrogen generation device so that the hydrogen storage rate reaches a target value, and controls the hydrogen boiler and the fossil fuel boiler so that the pressure of the steam collection header reaches a target pressure.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, steam can be stably generated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [Steam Generation System] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a steam generation system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the steam generation system 1 includes a hydrogen generation device 6, a storage device 7, a pressure sensor 8, a hydrogen boiler 9, a fossil fuel boiler 16, a steam collection header 17, a pressure sensor 19, and a management device 10.

[0010] The hydrogen generation device 6 generates hydrogen based on the power from the power generation system 5. Examples of the hydrogen generation device 6 include an alkaline water electrolysis device, a solid polymer type water electrolysis device, or a high temperature water electrolysis device.

[0011] The power generation system 5 generates electricity using renewable energy. Renewable energy refers to the energy that always exists in nature. Renewable energy includes natural energy such as sunlight, wind power, hydraulic power, and geothermal energy. In the embodiment, the power generation system 5 is a solar power generation system that generates electricity using sunlight. Note that the power generation system 5 may be a wind power generation system that generates electricity using wind power, a hydraulic power generation system that generates electricity using hydraulic power, a geothermal power generation system that generates electricity using geothermal energy, or a biomass power generation system that generates electricity using biomass.

[0012] The storage device 7 stores the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generation device 6. The storage device 7 can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen boiler 9. The storage device 7 includes a tank. Note that the storage device 7 may include a storage material that can absorb and release hydrogen gas. The storage material is a material that can reversibly absorb and release hydrogen gas. Examples of the storage material include metals such as Mg or V, hydrogen storage alloys such as LaNi5, TiMn 1.5 , or TiCrV, complex hydrides such as NaAlH4, adsorption-based hydrogen storage materials, and organic hydrides such as toluene.

[0013] The pressure sensor 8 detects the pressure of the storage device 7. The detection data of the pressure sensor 8 is transmitted to the management device 10.

[0014] The hydrogen boiler 9 burns hydrogen to generate steam. The fuel of the hydrogen boiler 9 is hydrogen. At least a part of the hydrogen stored in the storage device 7 is supplied to the hydrogen boiler 9. The hydrogen boiler 9 burns the hydrogen supplied from the storage device 7.

[0015] The fossil fuel boiler 16 burns fossil fuel to generate steam. The fuel of the fossil fuel boiler 16 is fossil fuel. Examples of fossil fuel include petroleum, coal, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

[0016] The steam collecting header 17 is connected to the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16. The steam generated in the hydrogen boiler 9 and the steam generated in the fossil fuel boiler 16 are supplied to the steam collecting header 17. Steam is supplied from the steam collecting header 17 to the steam using device 18. The steam using device 18 uses the steam from the steam collecting header 17.

[0017] The pressure sensor 19 detects the pressure of the steam collecting header 17. The detection data of the pressure sensor 19 is transmitted to the management device 10.

[0018] The management device 10 includes a computer system. The management device 10 has a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main memory including a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage, and an interface including an input / output circuit. The functions of the management device 10 are stored in the storage as a computer program. The processor reads the computer program from the storage and expands it in the main memory, and executes processing according to the computer program. Note that the computer program may be distributed to the management device 10 via a network.

[0019] The management device 10 has an operation control unit 11, a header pressure monitor unit 12, and a hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13.

[0020] The operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6, the hydrogen boiler 9, and the fossil fuel boiler 16.

[0021] The header pressure monitor unit 12 monitors the pressure of the steam collecting header 17. The header pressure monitor unit 12 can monitor the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 by monitoring the detection data of the pressure sensor 19 provided in the steam collecting header 17.

[0022] The hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13 monitors the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7. The hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13 can monitor the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 by monitoring the detection data of the pressure sensor 8 provided in the storage device 7.

[0023] The operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 reaches the target value based on the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 monitored by the hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13. The operation control unit 11 can also control both the hydrogen generation device 6 and the hydrogen boiler 9 so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 reaches the target value. Further, the operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16 so that the pressure of the steam header 17 monitored by the header pressure monitor unit 12 reaches the target pressure.

[0024] The target pressure of the steam header 17 is predetermined. The target pressure of the steam header 17 is a concept including one or both of the target pressure value of the steam header 17 and the pressure range between the upper limit pressure value and the lower limit pressure value.

[0025] Controlling the boilers (the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16) includes controlling the combustion amount of the boilers. The combustion amount [kcal / h] refers to the amount of heat generated per unit time in the combustion chamber of the boiler. The larger the fuel flow rate supplied to the burner of the boiler, the higher the combustion amount. The smaller the fuel flow rate supplied to the burner, the lower the combustion amount. The higher the combustion amount, the larger the amount of steam generated by the boiler, and the larger the amount of steam supplied from the boiler to the steam header 17. The lower the combustion amount, the smaller the amount of steam generated by the boiler, and the smaller the amount of steam supplied from the boiler to the steam header 17.

[0026] Correlation data indicating the relationship between the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 and the required combustion amount of the boiler has been obtained in advance so that the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 becomes the target pressure. The required combustion amount of the boiler refers to the combustion amount required of the boiler to set the steam collecting header 17 to the target pressure. When the combustion amount of the boiler is high, the amount of steam supplied from the boiler to the steam collecting header 17 increases. When the combustion amount of the boiler is low, the amount of steam supplied from the boiler to the steam collecting header 17 decreases.

[0027] When a plurality of boilers (hydrogen boiler 9 and fossil fuel boiler 16) are connected to the steam collecting header 17, the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 is controlled to be at a constant pressure value or within a constant pressure range. When the amount of steam supplied from the boiler to the steam collecting header 17 fluctuates or the amount of steam used by the steam using device 18 fluctuates, the difference between the actual pressure and the target pressure of the steam collecting header 17 may increase. When the difference between the actual pressure and the target pressure of the steam collecting header 17 increases, the operation control unit 11 determines the required combustion amount of the boiler based on the actual pressure of the steam collecting header 17 (detection data of the pressure sensor 19) and the above-described correlation data so that the difference between the actual pressure and the target pressure of the steam collecting header 17 decreases. The operation control unit 11 performs control to change the combustion amount of the boiler based on the determined required combustion amount.

[0028] When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is lower than the target value, the operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 becomes the target value. When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is lower than the target value, the operation control unit 11 increases the amount of hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 becomes the target value.

[0029] The operation control unit 11 operates the hydrogen boiler 9 preferentially to the fossil fuel boiler 16 until the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 drops to a predetermined value lower than the target value. When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the operation control unit 11 operates the hydrogen boiler 9 preferentially to the fossil fuel boiler 16 so that hydrogen is consumed by the hydrogen boiler 9.

[0030] Based on the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7, the priorities of a plurality of boilers (hydrogen boiler 9 and fossil fuel boiler 16) are determined. The priorities are used by the management device 10 to select the boiler for which it outputs a combustion start signal, a combustion stop signal, and a combustion amount change signal. When the amount of steam is large, for boilers with lower priorities, a combustion amount reduction signal or a combustion stop signal is output from the management device 10 earlier than for boilers with higher priorities. Conversely, when the amount of steam is small, for boilers with higher priorities, a combustion amount increase signal or a combustion start signal is output from the management device 10 earlier than for boilers with lower priorities. Operating the second boiler preferentially over the first boiler includes the second boiler having a higher priority than the first boiler.

[0031] When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is below a predetermined value, the operation control unit 11 operates the fossil fuel boiler 16 preferentially over the hydrogen boiler 9. When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is below a predetermined value, the operation control unit 11 operates the fossil fuel boiler 16 preferentially over the hydrogen boiler 9 so that hydrogen is not consumed by the hydrogen boiler 9.

[0032] The target value and the predetermined value related to the hydrogen storage rate are predetermined. The target value is, for example, 90%, and the predetermined value is, for example, 10%.

[0033] [Steam generation method] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the steam generation method according to the embodiment. The hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13 determines whether the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is lower than the target value (step S1).

[0034] In step S1, when it is determined that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is lower than the target value (step S1: Yes), the hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13 determines whether the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is below the predetermined value (step S2).

[0035] In step S2, when it is determined that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is lower than a predetermined value (step S2: Yes), the operation control unit 11 operates the fossil fuel boiler 16 preferentially over the hydrogen boiler 9 so that the pressure of the steam header 17 becomes the target pressure (step S3).

[0036] In step S2, when it is determined that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, that is, when it is determined that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value and lower than the target value (step S2: No), the operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 becomes the target value (step S4). Further, the operation control unit 11 operates the hydrogen boiler 9 preferentially over the fossil fuel boiler 16 so that the pressure of the steam header 17 becomes the target pressure (step S5).

[0037] In step S1, when it is determined that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is equal to or higher than the target value (step S1: No), the operation control unit 11 operates the hydrogen boiler 9 preferentially over the fossil fuel boiler 16 so that the pressure of the steam header 17 becomes the target pressure (step S5).

[0038] [Effect] As described above, in the embodiment, the management device 10 includes an operation control unit 11 that controls a hydrogen generation device 6 that generates hydrogen based on electric power from a power generation system 5 that generates power using renewable energy, a hydrogen boiler 9 that burns hydrogen to generate steam, and a fossil fuel boiler 16 that burns fossil fuel to generate steam, a header pressure monitor unit 12 that monitors the pressure of a steam header 17 to which the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16 are connected, and a hydrogen storage rate monitor unit 13 that monitors the hydrogen storage rate of a storage device 7 that stores hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generation device 6 and can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen boiler 9. The operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate becomes the target value, and controls the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16 so that the pressure of the steam header 17 becomes the target pressure.

[0039] According to the embodiment, the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 is monitored by the header pressure monitoring unit 12, and the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is monitored by the hydrogen storage rate monitoring unit 13. The operation control unit 11 can control the hydrogen boiler 9 and the fossil fuel boiler 16 so that the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 becomes the target pressure based on the pressure of the steam collecting header 17 monitored by the header pressure monitoring unit 12. The management device 10 can stably generate steam in the steam generation system 1. Further, the operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate becomes the target value based on the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 monitored by the hydrogen storage rate monitoring unit 13. By controlling the hydrogen generation device 6 so that the hydrogen storage rate becomes the target value, hydrogen is stably supplied from the storage device 7 to the hydrogen boiler 9. Since hydrogen is stably supplied from the storage device 7 to the hydrogen boiler 9, the hydrogen boiler 9 can burn hydrogen to generate steam. By the hydrogen boiler 9 burning hydrogen to generate steam, the generation of greenhouse gases is suppressed. Further, since the hydrogen generation device 6 is controlled so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 becomes the target value, the control of the entire steam generation system 1 is simplified. That is, since the hydrogen generation device 6 is controlled without controlling the hydrogen boiler 9 so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 becomes the target value, the control for making the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 the target value is simplified.

[0040] In the embodiment, when the hydrogen storage rate is lower than the target value, the operation control unit 11 controls the hydrogen generation device 6 so that it becomes the target value, and preferentially operates the hydrogen boiler 9 over the fossil fuel boiler 16 until it drops to a predetermined value lower than the target value.

[0041] When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is equal to or higher than the target value, the amount of steam generated by the hydrogen generator 6 is decreased, thereby suppressing the power consumption of the hydrogen generator 6. By suppressing the power consumption of the hydrogen generator 6, the power (surplus power) generated by the power generation system 5 can be effectively utilized. The surplus power generated by the power generation system 5 can be supplied to or sold to, for example, another power-consuming device. When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is equal to or higher than the target value, hydrogen is stably supplied from the storage device 7 to the hydrogen boiler 9, so that the hydrogen boiler 9 can burn hydrogen to generate steam.

[0042] When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is lower than the target value, the hydrogen generator 6 is controlled so that the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 reaches the target value, thereby storing sufficient hydrogen in the storage device 7. Since sufficient hydrogen is stored in the storage device 7, a period during which the hydrogen boiler 9 generates steam is ensured. By operating the hydrogen boiler 9 preferentially over the fossil fuel boiler 16, the generation of greenhouse gases is suppressed.

[0043] In the embodiment, when the hydrogen storage rate is below a predetermined value, the operation control unit 11 operates the fossil fuel boiler 16 preferentially over the hydrogen boiler 9. When the hydrogen storage rate of the storage device 7 is low, by operating the fossil fuel boiler 16 preferentially over the hydrogen boiler 9, the steam generation system 1 can stably generate steam.

[0044] [Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations] This disclosure includes matters that contribute to the achievement of Goal 7, "Affordable and Clean Energy," of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

Description of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1... Steam generation system, 5... Power generation system, 6... Hydrogen generation device, 7... Storage device, 8... Pressure sensor, 9... Hydrogen boiler, 10... Management device, 11... Operation control unit, 12... Header pressure monitor unit, 13... Hydrogen storage rate monitor unit, 16... Fossil fuel boiler, 17... Steam collection header, 18... Steam using equipment, 19... Pressure sensor.

Claims

1. An operation control unit that controls a hydrogen generation device that generates hydrogen based on power from a power generation system that generates power using renewable energy, a hydrogen boiler that burns hydrogen to generate steam, and a fossil fuel boiler that burns fossil fuel to generate steam, a header pressure monitor unit that monitors the pressure of a steam collection header to which the hydrogen boiler and the fossil fuel boiler are connected, and a hydrogen storage rate monitor unit that monitors the hydrogen storage rate of a storage device that stores the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generation device and can supply the hydrogen to the hydrogen boiler. The operation control unit controls the hydrogen generation device so that the hydrogen storage rate reaches a target value, and controls the hydrogen boiler and the fossil fuel boiler so that the pressure of the steam collection header reaches a target pressure. Management device.

2. When the hydrogen storage rate is lower than the target value, the operation control unit controls the hydrogen generation device so that the hydrogen storage rate reaches the target value, and preferentially operates the hydrogen boiler over the fossil fuel boiler until the hydrogen storage rate drops to a predetermined value lower than the target value. The management device according to claim 1.

3. When the hydrogen storage rate is below the predetermined value, the operation control unit preferentially operates the fossil fuel boiler over the hydrogen boiler. The management device according to claim 2.

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