Co-firing control management device, co-firing control management method, and co-firing control management system

Abstract

The present invention provides a co-combustion control and management device, a co-combustion control and management method, and a co-combustion control and management system that can determine whether or not a mixed gas can be used in a combustion engine. [Solution] A mixed-combustion control management device 22 is equipped with a usability determination unit 205 that determines whether or not a mixed gas is usable for a combustion engine based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel, for a mixed gas containing two or more gases.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a co-firing control management device, a co-firing control management method, and a co-firing control management system. In particular, the present invention relates to a co-firing control management device or the like that determines whether a mixed gas is available for a combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel.

Background Art

[0002] For example, a mixed gas containing hydrogen or the like is discharged from factories such as carburizing treatment plants and chemical treatment plants. The mixed gas contains hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and the like. Currently, various types of mixed gases are often exhausted by a decontamination device without being utilized. Therefore, by burning the unused mixed gas in a combustion engine and thereby generating electricity or the like, the effective utilization of unused resources can be achieved.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that a power generation system controls the methane concentration or the carbon dioxide concentration of a mixed gas containing methane and carbon dioxide within a set range with respect to the concentration in the fuel gas of a gas engine, and supplies the fuel gas to the gas engine as fuel gas. The fuel gas supply device includes a carbon dioxide removal device that removes carbon dioxide in the mixed gas, and an operating condition control device that controls operating conditions that affect an increase or decrease in the carbon dioxide removal rate of the carbon dioxide removal device. The operating condition control device controls the operating conditions of the carbon dioxide removal device based on the measurement result of the gas concentration sensor, thereby controlling the concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide in the mixed gas.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the types and concentrations of gases in a gas mixture vary depending on the product being manufactured and the manufacturing process. For example, if the gas mixture contains a large amount of fast-burning gases, abnormal combustion such as premature ignition and backfire is more likely to occur. On the other hand, if the gas mixture contains a large amount of non-combustible inert gases, misfires or delayed combustion timing may occur, reducing efficiency. Therefore, it is desirable to know in advance whether the gas mixture can be used in a combustion engine. The present invention aims to provide a co-combustion control management device, a co-combustion control management method, and a co-combustion control management system that can determine whether or not a mixed gas can be used in a combustion engine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a co-firing control management device that includes a usability determination unit that determines whether a mixed gas containing two or more gases is usable for a combustion engine based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel. In this case, the present invention provides a co-firing control management device that can determine whether the mixed gas is usable for a combustion engine.

[0007] Here, for example, the usability determination unit includes a combustion characteristics calculation unit that determines the combustion characteristics of the mixed gas based on the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas, and a usability determination unit that determines whether or not the mixed gas is usable based on the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics. In this case, it is possible to determine whether or not the mixed gas is usable for a combustion engine based on the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics. Furthermore, for example, the combustion characteristics calculation unit uses a learning model that has learned the relationship between the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas and its combustion characteristics to determine the combustion characteristics. In this case, the combustion characteristics of the mixed gas can be calculated by taking the type and concentration range of the mixed gas as input. Furthermore, for example, a learning model might use laminar combustion velocity as a combustion characteristic for training. In this case, it becomes possible to use parameters that are more suitable for understanding the combustion characteristics. Furthermore, for example, the availability determination unit further includes an operating performance calculation unit that determines the combustion state based on values ​​detected from sensors installed in the combustion engine. In this case, the combustion state can be determined in real time. For example, the combustion state is defined by at least one of the combustion duration, combustion timing, and air-fuel ratio. In this case, a more suitable parameter can be used to understand the combustion state. Furthermore, for example, the usability determination unit determines that the mixed gas is usable if the combustion state falls within a range corresponding to a predetermined range of combustion characteristics, which is determined from the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics. In this case, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the mixed gas is combustible. Furthermore, the system includes, for example, a usage method calculation unit that determines the adjustment of the gas mixture's components based on the results of the usability determination unit. In this case, it becomes possible to determine the gas mixture's components that are more suitable for combustion. Furthermore, for example, the utilization method calculation unit includes an operating condition calculation unit that determines the range of control conditions for a combustion engine in which the mixed gas can be used, and determines the adjustment of the mixed gas components based on the control conditions. In this case, the mixed gas can be adjusted to a composition more suitable for combustion. For example, the operability condition calculation unit determines the range of combustion states of the combustion engine as a control condition, calculates the adjustment amount for combustion characteristics corresponding to the range of combustion states, and further determines the adjustment of the components of the mixed gas using a learning model that has learned the relationship between the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas and the combustion characteristics from the range of combustion characteristics. In this case, the accuracy of the determined components is improved. Furthermore, for example, the usage method calculation unit further includes an operating condition determination unit that determines the optimal conditions for operating the combustion engine within the range of control conditions determined by the operating condition calculation unit. In this case, the mixed gas can be adjusted to the optimal composition for combustion. Furthermore, for example, a combustion engine operates a generator, and the operating condition determination unit considers the optimal condition to be when the sum of the values ​​obtained by multiplying both the power generation cost and the greenhouse gas emissions by coefficients is small. In this case, the sum of the weighted values ​​(values ​​multiplied by coefficients) for both the power generation cost and the greenhouse gas emissions can be minimized. Furthermore, for example, the usability determination unit adds information on the specifications of the combustion engine to determine whether the mixed gas is usable for the combustion engine. In this case, it is possible to determine whether the mixed gas is usable for various combustion engines.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention provides a co-firing control management method in which a processor executes a program stored in memory to determine whether a mixed gas containing two or more gases is usable by a combustion engine, based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel. In this case, the present invention provides a co-firing control management method that can determine whether a mixed gas is usable by a combustion engine.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention provides a co-firing control management system comprising a combustion engine that operates a generator and uses a mixed gas as fuel, and a co-firing control management device that manages the mixed gas supplied to the combustion engine, wherein the co-firing control management device includes a usability determination unit that determines whether or not the mixed gas is usable for the combustion engine based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine, for a mixed gas containing two or more gases. In this case, a co-firing control management system that can determine whether or not the mixed gas is usable for the combustion engine can be provided.

[0010] Here, for example, the usability determination unit of the co-firing control management device includes a combustion characteristics calculation unit that determines the combustion characteristics of the mixed gas based on the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas, and a usability determination unit that determines whether the mixed gas is usable or not based on the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics. The co-firing control management device further includes a usage method calculation unit that determines the adjustment of the components of the mixed gas based on the determination result of the usability determination unit. In this case, it is possible to determine whether the mixed gas is usable or not based on the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics of the combustion engine, and to understand the components that are more suitable for burning the mixed gas. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a co-combustion control management device, a co-combustion control management method, and a co-combustion control management system that can determine whether or not a mixed gas can be used in a combustion engine. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the co-firing control management system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the overall layout of the co-firing control and management system. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the co-firing control and management device. [Figure 4] This figure shows the combustion characteristics data of a gas mixture. [Figure 5] This figure illustrates how to determine the laminar combustion velocity as a combustion characteristic using a combustion characteristic calculation model, given the type and concentration range of the mixed gas as input. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the determination method performed by the availability determination unit. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the calculation method performed by the drivability condition calculation unit. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates a method for adjusting the composition of the gas mixture to control the ΔY component. [Figure 9] This diagram shows another example of the processing performed by the operating condition determination unit. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing an example of a method for determining optimal conditions by the operation condition determination unit. [Figure 11] This is a diagram showing the determination method performed by the availability determination unit when the air excess ratio is used instead of the combustion period (CA50) as the combustion state. [Figure 12] This is a diagram showing the calculation method performed by the operation condition determination unit when the air excess ratio is used as the combustion state. [Figure 13] This is a diagram showing the processing when the engine specifications are different.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same function or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0014] <Overall Description of the Co - firing Control Management System S> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the co - firing control management system S according to this embodiment. The illustrated co - firing control management system S is composed of a co - firing control management device 22, a co - firing control device 12, an engine controller 11, and an engine system 18. Note that the co - firing control device 12 and the engine controller 11 may be integrated. Also, the co - firing control management device 22 and the co - firing control device 12 may be integrated, or the co - firing control management device 22, the co - firing control device 12, and the engine controller 11 may be integrated. The description of each device will be given in order below.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall view of the co - firing control management system S. In FIG. 2, the specific configurations of the co - firing control management device 22, the co - firing control device 12, the engine controller 11, and the engine system 18 are illustrated. The engine system 18 is an example of a combustion engine that uses a mixed gas as fuel and generates electricity by operating a generator 14. The engine system 18 can be supplied with two different types of fuel from two locations. Here, these fuels are referred to as the first fuel and the second fuel. The first fuel is the base fuel of the engine system 18, and the flow rate supplied from the first fuel storage device 5 to the combustion chamber 2 is controlled by the first fuel flow rate adjustment device 6. The first fuel is a standardized fuel such as hydrogen, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), city gas, methane, or natural gas. The second fuel is a mixed gas. The mixed gas is supplied to the combustion chamber 2 from the mixed gas tank 17, with the flow rate adjusted by the mixed gas flow rate adjustment device 8. A mixed gas pressure sensor 7 is connected to the mixed gas tank 17, and the mixed gas is supplied to the mixed gas tank 17 from the outside so that it is within a predetermined pressure range. At this time, the concentration of the gases contained in the mixed gas is measured by the mixed gas concentration sensor 21.

[0016] A mixed gas is a mixture of two or more gases, such as hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen (N2). These gases are emitted from industrial furnaces, chemical plants, and product manufacturing processes. For example, gas carburizing processes emit mixed gases of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen. Chemical plants also emit off-gases containing hydrogen. Furthermore, when hydrogen or ammonia are used in product manufacturing, mixed gases containing these substances are emitted.

[0017] The amount of air supplied to the engine system 18 is adjusted by the throttle valve 3. The first fuel, mixed gas, and intake air supplied to the combustion chamber 2 are introduced into the combustion chamber 2 through the intake manifold 16A. These are ignited by the spark plug 4, initiating combustion in the combustion chamber 2. The pressure increase due to combustion causes the piston 1 in the cylinder 15 to move linearly, and the crankshaft, which is connected to the piston 1 via a linkage mechanism, rotates, generating electricity in the generator 14. A crank angle sensor 9 is connected to the crankshaft, allowing the rotational position of the crankshaft to be sensed. A cam sensor 10 is attached to the camshaft. Since the camshaft rotates once when the crankshaft rotates twice, the signal from the cam sensor 10 can be used to determine the reference position of rotation for the 4-stroke engine. Based on the signals from the crank angle sensor 9 and the cam sensor 10, the rotational position of the crankshaft and the reference position are determined, and the ignition timing is controlled. Furthermore, the signal from the crank angle sensor 9 is connected to the co-combustion control device 12, which can grasp the change in angular velocity of the crank rotation shaft. Since the change in angular velocity is affected by the combustion pressure in the combustion chamber 2, the combustion timing can be calculated from the timing of the extreme values ​​of the angular velocity within one cycle (720 degrees = 2 rotations). Alternatively, a combustion pressure sensor (not shown) may be connected to measure the pressure in the combustion chamber 2, and the combustion timing may be calculated by inputting its signal to the co-combustion control device 12.

[0018] The engine controller 11 controls the operation when using only the first fuel and is capable of controlling the opening degree of the throttle valve 3 to operate the generator 14 at a constant rotation speed. The co-firing control device 12 controls the operation when using the second fuel, a mixed gas. When supplying the mixed gas, the co-firing control device 12 is used in addition to control the supply of the first fuel and the mixed gas, or the mixed gas alone. The first fuel is used during engine startup, trial run adjustments, maintenance, and when operation with only the mixed gas is difficult. Furthermore, the engine system 18 has a controller switching device 20 that can switch between the engine controller 11 and the co-firing control device 12 as the controller that controls the first fuel flow rate adjustment device 6. When the engine system 18 is operated using only the first fuel (for example, during startup or in an emergency), the engine controller 11 controls the flow rate of the first fuel, and when a mixed gas is used, the co-firing control device 12 controls the flow rate of the first fuel.

[0019] An O2 (oxygen) sensor 13 is installed in the exhaust pipe 16B of the engine system 18 to determine the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas. The O2 sensor 13 is connected to the engine controller 11 and the mixed combustion control device 12. This allows the engine controller 11 and the mixed combustion control device 12 to detect the air-fuel ratio or excess air ratio in real time, and to control the first fuel flow rate adjuster 6, the mixed gas flow rate adjuster 8, and the ignition timing according to the value of the air-fuel ratio or excess air ratio. If the O2 sensor 13 is connected to either the engine controller 11 or the mixed combustion control device 12, the value of the O2 sensor 13 is communicated between the engine controller 11 and the mixed combustion control device 12 and transmitted in real time.

[0020] The throttle valve 3 is opened by the engine controller 11 so that the rotational speed of the engine system 18 is within a predetermined range. An intake pressure sensor 19 or an airflow meter is connected to the intake manifold 16A, and the signal is connected to the engine controller 11 and the mixed combustion control device 12. This makes it possible to control the flow rate of the first fuel, the flow rate of the mixed gas, and the ignition timing according to the amount of air.

[0021] This configuration allows for real-time control of combustion timing during mixed combustion without significantly modifying the software of the engine controller 11, which controls standardized fuels. Therefore, combustion using mixed gases becomes possible for various engine systems without significant modifications to existing controllers. Because this method can be used with various engines, it enables the use of various mixed gases as fuel in all types of engines, including automotive engines, industrial engines, and marine engines. Furthermore, it can be applied to used or discarded engines, contributing to recycling.

[0022] The co-firing control and management device 22 manages the mixed gas supplied to the engine system 18. The following provides a detailed explanation of the co-firing control and management device 22.

[0023] <Detailed explanation of the co-firing control and management device 22> Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the co-firing control management device 22. The co-firing control management device 22 consists of an availability determination unit 205, a usage method calculation unit 209, and a measurement / storage unit 212, and is capable of communicating with the co-firing control device 12.

[0024] The measurement and storage unit 212 stores information such as the combustion characteristics calculation model 213, environmental conditions 214, operating conditions 215, combustion characteristics 216, control parameters 217, history information 218, and specifications information 219. The measurement and storage unit 212 can update information from an external data center such as the cloud.

[0025] The combustion characteristics calculation model 213, as will be described in more detail later, is a learning model used by the usability determination unit 205 to determine whether or not the mixed gas is usable. Environmental conditions 214 represent the environment in which the engine system 18 operates, such as ambient temperature and humidity. Operating conditions 215 are the operating conditions of the engine system 18, such as the power output of the generator 14, the frequency of power generation, the type of fuel including the mixed gas, and the amount supplied. Combustion characteristics 216, as will be explained in more detail later, are the combustion characteristics of the mixed gas, for example, the laminar flow combustion rate of the mixed gas under predetermined conditions (such as room temperature and atmospheric pressure). The control parameters 217 are control conditions for operating the engine system 18, such as the ignition timing and the excess air ratio of the engine system 18. The history information 218 is information about the history of operation of the engine system 18, such as the date, time, and total operating time of the operation. The specifications information 219 is information about the specifications of the engine system 18, such as total displacement, bore x stroke, number of cylinders, compression ratio, maximum output, maximum torque, manufacturer, and date of manufacture. The combustion characteristics calculation model 213, environmental conditions 214, operating conditions 215, combustion characteristics 216, control parameters 217, and specifications information 219 are linked by the history information 218.

[0026] As shown in the figure, the usability determination unit 205 receives input for the type of mixed gas, concentration range 201, engine specifications 202, real-time information 203, and operating status 204. The mixed gas type and concentration range 201 refers to the types and concentrations of gases contained in the mixed gas. These can be entered as set values, and the data can also be updated in real time. When updating the data in real time, the signal from the mixed gas concentration sensor 21 is input.

[0027] Engine specifications 202 are information about the specifications of the engine system 18, and can be obtained, for example, from specification information 219. This is used as input because the determination of whether or not a mixed gas can be used differs for each engine specification 202, and therefore the determination of whether or not a mixed gas can be used is made by taking the engine specifications 202 into consideration.

[0028] The real-time information 203 is one or more of the following indicators during operation of the engine system 18: combustion timing, combustion duration, combustion stability, power output, and engine speed. The real-time information 203 is input from the co-combustion control device 12. Alternatively, sensors for detecting these indicators may be provided in the engine system 18, and the information may be acquired from these sensors.

[0029] Operating status 204 refers to the operating status of the engine system 18 and is information regarding either trial operation, periodic inspection, or actual operation. During trial operation or periodic inspection, the system operates with preset power output, rotational speed, and control parameters, allowing for confirmation of the judgment formula of the mixed gas usability determination unit when supplying mixed gas to a new engine system 18, and the need to change the judgment formula during periodic maintenance. During actual operation, power output, rotational speed, and control parameters change, so the usability determination unit 205 makes a determination for each similar condition.

[0030] The usability determination unit 205 determines whether the mixed gas is usable for the engine system 18 based on the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel. The availability determination unit 205 consists of a combustion characteristics calculation unit 206, an operating performance calculation unit 207, and a availability determination unit 208. In this case, by including the combustion characteristics calculation unit 206 and the availability determination unit 208, it is possible to determine whether the mixed gas is available for use in the engine system 18 based on the relationship between the combustion state and combustion characteristics.

[0031] The combustion characteristics calculation unit 206 determines the combustion characteristics of the mixed gas based on the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas. In doing so, the combustion characteristics calculation unit 206 uses the combustion characteristics calculation model 213 in the measurement and storage unit 212 and calculates the combustion characteristics by taking the type and concentration range 201 of the mixed gas as input. The combustion characteristics calculation model 213 is a learned model that has been trained using combustion characteristics data of the mixed gas.

[0032] Figure 4 shows the combustion characteristics data of the gas mixture. The combustion characteristics data of the gas mixture shown in the figure illustrates the relationship between the type of gas mixture, the concentration range 201, and the combustion characteristics. The combustion characteristics are determined using laminar combustion velocity under predetermined conditions (e.g., room temperature and atmospheric pressure). By using laminar combustion velocity, it is possible to use parameters that are more suitable for understanding the combustion characteristics. In other words, the combustion characteristics calculation model 213 is a learning model that has learned the relationship between the type and concentration of each gas contained in the gas mixture and the laminar combustion velocity. Here, the type of gas mixture is shown to be methane (CH4), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO), and propane (C3H8). For example, the combustion characteristics data in the first row shows that the model has learned the case where the concentration of each gas is Xn11 to Xn16 and the laminar combustion velocity is Y1.

[0033] Figure 5 shows the case where the laminar combustion velocity is determined as the combustion characteristic when the type of mixed gas and the concentration range 201 are inputs, using the combustion characteristic calculation model 213. By using the combustion characteristics calculation model 213, it is possible to calculate the laminar combustion velocity Yn as a combustion characteristic when the proportions of each component Xn1 to Xn6 of the mixed gas are in any proportion. However, the combustion characteristics that can be used are not limited to laminar combustion velocity. For example, one or more physical quantities related to combustion, such as turbulent combustion velocity, Lewis number, and quenching distance, can be used. When combining these physical quantities, coefficients are assigned to the values ​​of laminar combustion velocity, turbulent combustion velocity, Lewis number, and quenching distance in the calculation. Using this method, it is possible to calculate the combustion characteristics of a mixed gas using the type of mixed gas and concentration range 201 as input.

[0034] The operating performance calculation unit 207 determines the combustion state based on the values ​​detected from sensors provided in the engine system 18. The operating performance calculation unit 207 takes real-time information 203 as input and performs calculations on the combustion state during operation. In this case, the combustion state can be determined in real time. The sensors provided in the engine system 18 include, for example, one or more of the following: a pressure sensor in the combustion chamber 2, a crank angle sensor 9 for determining the rotation timing and angular velocity of the crankshaft, a cam sensor 10 for determining the reference point of engine rotation, a sensor for measuring the voltage and current of the spark plug 4, and a sensor for measuring the generated current and voltage connected to the crankshaft. By using these sensors, it is possible to grasp the combustion state of the supplied mixed gas in real time. Combustion state refers to parameters such as the timing when 50% of the supplied fuel mixture is combusted (based on crank angle, hereinafter referred to as CA50 timing), the combustion period from the ignition timing (based on crank angle) to the timing when 50% of the supplied fuel mixture is combusted (based on crank angle) (based on crank angle, hereinafter sometimes referred to as CA50), and the stability of combustion (rate of fluctuation of combustion timing, rate of fluctuation of generated current, voltage). In this case, more suitable parameters can be used to understand the combustion state.

[0035] The usability determination unit 208 determines whether the mixed gas is usable based on the relationship between the combustion state (in this case, the combustion period (CA50)) and the combustion characteristics (in this case, the laminar combustion rate). Figure 6 shows the determination method performed by the availability determination unit 208. The usability determination unit 208 determines whether the mixed gas is usable or not by plotting the combustion period (CA50) on the horizontal axis and the laminar combustion rate on the vertical axis under predetermined operating conditions, and using the characteristic Y=f(X) that shows the relationship between these two. When a gas with a high laminar combustion rate, such as hydrogen, is supplied, the combustion period (CA50) becomes shorter. On the other hand, when a mixed gas containing a large amount of inert gas is supplied, the laminar combustion rate is lower and the combustion period (CA50) becomes longer. Combustion is established when the combustion period falls within a predetermined range. Combustion is defined as being able to burn without misfires or abnormal combustion, and even when combustion is established, the power generation efficiency does not decrease significantly.

[0036] For example, if the combustion period (CA50) exceeds a predetermined value, the power generation efficiency will decrease significantly, or misfires will occur. On the other hand, if the combustion period (CA50) is below a predetermined value, combustion will become abrupt, causing the engine system 18 to malfunction, or increasing the risk of abnormal combustion such as pre-ignition, pre-ignition, or backfire. By setting these ranges, it can be determined that a mixed gas with a laminar combustion velocity Y within the combustible range of combustion period (CA50) is usable as fuel.

[0037] The relationship between the laminar combustion velocity Y of the mixed gas and the combustion period (CA50) depends on the engine specifications 202. Therefore, by operating with the mixed gas under predetermined operating conditions, data is acquired from the operation performance calculation unit 207, and the performance points are plotted on the axis plane in Figure 6. By setting two or more of these plotted points, the equation Y=f(X) can be obtained. In Figure 6, the performance points are shown as performance 1 and performance 2. This makes it possible to calculate the combustion period (CA50) X by pre-calculating the laminar combustion velocity Y of the mixed gas when using a mixed gas for which there is no prior experience, and to determine whether combustion is possible. In this case, the usability determination unit 208 determines that the mixed gas is usable if the combustion state (in this case, the combustion period (CA50)) falls within a range corresponding to a predetermined range of the combustion characteristics (in this case, the laminar combustion rate) determined from the relationship between the combustion state (in this case, the combustion period (CA50)) and the combustion characteristics (in this case, the laminar combustion rate) (in this case, the range shown as combustible). This allows for an accurate determination of whether or not the mixed gas is combustible. In this explanation, the combustion state was described in terms of the combustion period (CA50), but if the ignition timing is the same, the determination may also be made using the combustion timing (CA50 timing). In that case, a long combustion period (CA50) and a late combustion timing (CA50 timing), and a short combustion period (CA50) and an early combustion timing (CA50 timing) are equivalent.

[0038] The availability determination unit 208 makes a determination based on the information in real time information 203. The real time information 203 consists of the power output, rotational speed, and control parameters of the engine system 18, and this information is plotted as actual points on the axis plane of Figure 6 under similar conditions.

[0039] The usage method calculation unit 209 determines the adjustment of the mixed gas components based on the determination result of the usability determination unit 205. By providing the usage method calculation unit 209, it is possible to determine the components of the mixed gas that are more suitable for combustion. The usage method calculation unit 209 consists of an operation feasibility condition calculation unit 210 and an operation condition determination unit 211.

[0040] Of these, the operable condition calculation unit 210 determines the range of control conditions under which the mixed gas can be used and determines the adjustment of the mixed gas components based on the control conditions. By providing the operable condition calculation unit 210, the mixed gas can be adjusted to a composition more suitable for combustion.

[0041] Figure 7 shows the calculation method performed by the operability condition calculation unit 210. If the usability determination unit 208 determines result 1 (combustion period X1, laminar combustion velocity Y1), the risk of abnormal combustion such as premature ignition, backfire, and pre-ignition increases. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the combustion period (CA50) X1 to a threshold of Xa or higher. To achieve this, the laminar combustion velocity must be reduced by ΔY or more. ΔY can be expressed as follows.

[0042] ΔY = f(X1) - f(Xa)

[0043] Figure 8 shows a method for adjusting the composition of the gas mixture to control the ΔY component. As shown in the figure, the adjustment of the mixed gas components to adjust the ΔY component is performed by inversely calculating the combustion characteristics calculation model 213 of the mixed gas. As a result, the usage method calculation unit 209 outputs combinations for adjusting the mixed gas. At this time, the types of gases that can be supplied are adjusted based on the information of the mixed gas type and concentration range 201.

[0044] Furthermore, if the usability determination unit 208 determines result 2 (combustion period X2, laminar flow combustion rate Y2), the power generation efficiency will decrease significantly, or the risk of misfire will increase. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the combustion period (CA50) X2 to below the threshold Xb.

[0045] In other words, first the drivability condition calculation unit 210 determines the range of the combustion state of the engine system 18 (in this case, the combustion period (CA50)) as a control condition. In this case, the drivability condition calculation unit 210 assumes that the combustion period (CA50) must be within the range of Xa or more and Xb or less. Next, the operability condition calculation unit 210 determines the adjustment amount for the combustion characteristics (in this case, laminar flow combustion velocity) corresponding to the range of combustion states. In this case, the operability condition calculation unit 210 determines that, in the case of laminar flow combustion velocity Y1, it is necessary to reduce this by ΔY or more as an adjustment amount. Furthermore, the operability condition calculation unit 210 determines the adjustment of the mixed gas components based on the range of combustion characteristics (in this case, laminar combustion velocity) using the combustion characteristics calculation model 213. In this case, as explained in Figure 8, the operability condition calculation unit 210 adjusts the types of gases that can be supplied by performing an inverse calculation of the combustion characteristics calculation model 213. This method improves the accuracy of identifying the desired components.

[0046] The operating condition determination unit 211 determines the optimal conditions for operating the engine system 18 within the range of control conditions determined by the operating condition calculation unit 210, based on the adjustment conditions for the mixed gas calculated by the operating condition calculation unit 210. By providing the operating condition determination unit 211, the mixed gas can be adjusted to the optimal composition for combustion. For example, in the case of result 1 (X1, Y1) in Figure 7, the operating condition determination unit 211 reduces the hydrogen mixing ratio by ΔX1%. This results in result 1' (X1', Y1'). Also, for example, in the case of result 2 (X2, Y2) in Figure 7, the operating condition determination unit 211 increases the hydrogen mixing ratio by ΔX2%. This results in result 2' (X2', Y2').

[0047] Figure 9 shows another example of the processing performed by the operating condition determination unit 211. In the case of result 3(X3,Y3) in Figure 9, the operable condition calculation unit 210 calculates the combustible conditions (X3',Y3') and (X3'',Y3''), and the operating condition determination unit 211 determines the optimal conditions.

[0048] Figure 10 shows an example of how the operating condition determination unit 211 determines the optimal conditions. As shown in Figure 10, the optimal conditions are determined by calculating the power generation cost (C / P) and greenhouse gas emissions (G / P) per kWh of power generation, and selecting from the Pareto solutions with the minimum values. Here, C is the cost [yen], P is the amount of electricity generated [kWh], and G is the greenhouse gas emissions [kg]. Greenhouse gas emissions are calculated by determining the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emitted based on the supply amount, component ratio, air surplus rate, and presence or absence of exhaust gas purification catalysts, and taking into account the global warming potential (GWP). The selection point from the Pareto solutions with the minimum values ​​is determined based on pre-set weightings for power generation cost (C / P) and greenhouse gas emissions (G / P). In this way, the operating condition determination unit 211 can minimize the sum of weighted values ​​(values ​​multiplied by coefficients) for both power generation cost (C / P) and greenhouse gas emissions (G / P).

[0049] After these calculations are performed by the usage method calculation unit 209, the operating condition determination unit 211 outputs the operating conditions to the co-firing control device 12. If the operating condition calculation unit 210 determines that there are no conditions within the combustible range, it outputs information to the co-firing control device 12 that operation with this mixed gas is not possible.

[0050] Threshold Xa and threshold Xb are determined based on environmental conditions 214 such as ambient temperature and humidity in the measurement and storage unit 212, past operating conditions 215 such as power output, fuel type including the supplied mixed gas, and supply amount, past combustion characteristics 216, past control parameters 217 such as ignition timing and excess air ratio, historical information 218 such as the date and time of operation, and specifications 219 of engines that have been operated in the past.

[0051] Figure 11 shows the determination method performed by the usability determination unit 208 when the excess air ratio is used as the combustion state instead of the combustion period (CA50). In this case, the operating performance calculation unit 207 controls the excess air ratio and ignition timing set within a predetermined operating range to determine the range of operable excess air ratios. The usability determination unit 208 then determines that an excess air ratio within which combustion stability and combustion timing are within a predetermined range is operable. If the controlled range of the excess air ratio exceeds the threshold Xb, the risk of abnormal combustion such as pre-ignition, pre-ignition, and backfire increases. Conversely, if the controlled range of the excess air ratio is less than the threshold Xa, power generation efficiency decreases significantly, or misfires occur. When the combustion period (CA50) is used as the combustion characteristic, the risk of misfires can be further reduced. On the other hand, when the excess air ratio is used as the combustion characteristic, the accuracy of the determination result of the usability determination unit 208 can be expected to improve because the excess air ratio is a parameter that more directly represents the combustion characteristics.

[0052] Figure 12 shows the calculation method performed by the operating condition determination unit 211 when an excess air ratio is used as the combustion state. In the case of result 1 (X1, Y1) in Figure 12, combustion conditions can be achieved by reducing the hydrogen mixing ratio by ΔX1%. In the case of result 2 (X2, Y2), combustion conditions can be achieved by increasing the hydrogen mixing ratio by ΔX2%. In this way, the operating condition determination unit 211 determines the optimal conditions and outputs the operating conditions to the co-firing control device 12.

[0053] Figure 13 shows the processing when the engine specifications 202 (see Figure 3) are different. The relationship between the combustion performance X of the mixed gas and the combustion characteristics (theoretical value) of the mixed gas differs depending on the engine specifications 202. This is because the flow of the mixture in the combustion chamber 2 (see Figure 2) and the ignition energy differ depending on the engine specifications 202, and the history of the crank angular velocity differs depending on the size and ratio of the bore and stroke. Therefore, two or more points of mixed gas conditions are acquired for each engine specification 202, and the relationship is stored in the past combustion characteristics 216 of the measurement and storage unit 212. As the amount of data in the past combustion characteristics 216 increases, the judgment accuracy of the usability determination unit 208 and the calculation accuracy of the operation condition calculation unit 210 improve, making it possible to determine the optimal operating conditions for various mixed gases.

[0054] In Figure 13, similar to Figure 6, actual results A1 and A2 are plotted for engine A with the combustion period (CA50) on the horizontal axis and the laminar combustion velocity on the vertical axis under predetermined operating conditions. Actual results B1 and B2, and actual results C1 and C2, are also plotted for engines B and C, respectively. For each of engines A through C, Y=f(X) is defined as Y=f(X), representing the relationship between the combustion period (CA50) and the laminar combustion velocity, and Y=f1(X), Y=f2(X), and Y=f3(X) are calculated. The usability determination unit 208 can determine whether the mixed gas is usable for each of engines A through C based on the characteristics of Y=f1(X), Y=f2(X), and Y=f3(X). In this case, the usability determination unit 208 can also determine whether the mixed gas is usable for engine system 18 by adding the engine specifications 202 of engine system 18. This allows for the determination of whether the mixed gas is usable for various engine systems 18.

[0055] Furthermore, some or all of the above configurations and functions may be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Alternatively, the above configurations and functions may be implemented in software by a processor (microcontroller) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) interpreting and executing programs that implement each function. Information such as programs, tables, and files that implement each function can be stored in memory, on recording devices such as hard disks and SSDs (Solid State Drives), or on recording media such as IC (Integrated Circuit) cards, SD cards, and DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs). It can also be provided by means of communication.

[0056] <Explanation of effects> As mentioned above, the types and concentrations of gas components in a gas mixture vary depending on the product being manufactured and the manufacturing process. When hydrogen is present in the gas mixture, its combustion characteristics differ significantly from those of hydrocarbon fuels because its combustion rate is approximately seven times faster. Furthermore, when inert gas components such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen are present in the gas mixture, the higher the proportion of inert gas components, the slower the combustion rate of the gas mixture becomes, making it more prone to misfires. Therefore, while a gas mixture can be used as fuel if its components are within a specified range, combustion may not occur if the gas composition changes significantly or if a large amount of inert gas is present. For this reason, gas mixtures have traditionally been excluded from use as fuel. On the other hand, the co-firing control and management device 22 described above can determine whether or not the mixed gas can be used in the engine system 18. Furthermore, it can adjust the composition of the mixed gas for combustion and determine the optimal conditions for combustion. As a result, the mixed gas, which was previously unused, can be effectively utilized as a resource.

[0057] <Explanation of Co-firing Control Management Method> The processing performed by the co-firing control management device 22 is realized through the cooperation of software and hardware resources. Specifically, the processor provided in the co-firing control management device 22 loads programs that realize each function of the co-firing control management device 22 into the main memory and executes them to realize each of these functions. Therefore, the process performed by the aforementioned co-firing control management device 22 can be understood as a co-firing control management method in which the processor executes a program stored in memory to determine whether or not a mixed gas containing two or more gases is usable by a combustion engine, based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel. This provides a co-firing control management method that can determine whether or not a mixed gas is usable by a combustion engine.

[0058] Although this embodiment has been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiment. It is clear from the claims that various modifications or improvements made to the above embodiment are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 11…Engine controller, 12…Co-firing control device, 18…Engine system, 22…Co-firing control management device, 202…Engine specifications, 205…Availability determination unit, 206…Combustion characteristics calculation unit, 207…Operation performance calculation unit, 208…Availability determination unit, 209…Usage method calculation unit, 210…Operation possible conditions calculation unit, 211…Operation condition determination unit, 212…Measurement / storage unit, 213…Combustion characteristics calculation model, S…Co-firing control management system

Claims

1. A co-combustion control management device comprising a usability determination unit that determines whether a mixed gas containing two or more gases is usable for a combustion engine based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel.

2. The aforementioned availability determination unit, A combustion characteristics calculation unit that determines the combustion characteristics of a mixed gas based on the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas, A usability determination unit that determines whether or not the mixed gas is usable based on the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics, The co-firing control management device according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The co-firing control management device according to claim 2, wherein the combustion characteristic calculation unit determines the combustion characteristics using a learning model that has learned the relationship between the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas and the combustion characteristics.

4. The co-firing control management device according to claim 3, wherein the learning model uses laminar flow combustion velocity as the combustion characteristic for learning.

5. The co-combustion control management device according to claim 2, further comprising an operating performance calculation unit that determines the combustion state based on values ​​detected from a sensor provided in the combustion engine, wherein the availability determination unit is further provided with an operating performance calculation unit.

6. The co-firing control device according to claim 5, wherein the combustion state is at least one of the combustion period, combustion timing, and excess air ratio.

7. The co-firing control management device according to claim 2, wherein the usability determination unit determines that the mixed gas is usable when the combustion state falls within a range corresponding to a predetermined range of the combustion characteristics, which is determined from the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics.

8. The co-firing control management device according to claim 1, further comprising a utilization method calculation unit that determines the component adjustment of the mixed gas based on the determination result of the usability determination unit.

9. The mixed combustion control management device according to claim 8, further comprising: a usage method calculation unit that determines the range of control conditions for the combustion engine in which the mixed gas can be used, and an operation condition calculation unit that determines the adjustment of the components of the mixed gas from the control conditions.

10. The co-firing control management device according to claim 9, wherein the operating condition calculation unit determines the range of the combustion state of the combustion engine as the control condition, determines the adjustment amount of the combustion characteristics corresponding to the range of the combustion state, and further determines the adjustment of the components of the mixed gas using a learning model that has learned the relationship between the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas and the combustion characteristics from the range of combustion characteristics.

11. The co-firing control management device according to claim 9, further comprising an operating condition determination unit that determines the optimal conditions for operating the combustion engine within the range of control conditions determined by the operating condition calculation unit.

12. The aforementioned combustion engine is used to operate a generator. The co-firing control management device according to claim 11, wherein the operating condition determination unit determines the optimal condition when the sum of the values ​​obtained by multiplying both the power generation cost and the greenhouse gas emissions by a coefficient becomes small.

13. The co-firing control management device according to claim 1, wherein the usability determination unit determines whether or not the mixed gas is usable for the combustion engine by adding information on the specifications of the combustion engine.

14. The processor executes the program stored in memory, For a mixed gas containing two or more types of gases, the system determines whether the mixed gas is usable for a combustion engine based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine that uses the mixed gas as fuel. Co-firing control management method.

15. A generator is operated, and a combustion engine using a gas mixture as fuel, A co-firing control and management device that manages the mixed gas supplied to the combustion engine, Equipped with, The aforementioned co-firing control management device is: The system includes a usability determination unit that determines whether a mixed gas containing two or more gases is usable for the combustion engine, based on the type and concentration of each gas and the combustion state of the combustion engine. Co-firing control and management system.

16. The usability determination unit of the aforementioned co-firing control management device includes a combustion characteristics calculation unit that determines the combustion characteristics of the mixed gas based on the type and concentration of each gas contained in the mixed gas, A usability determination unit that determines whether or not the mixed gas is usable based on the relationship between the combustion state and the combustion characteristics, Equipped with, The co-firing control management device according to claim 15, further comprising a utilization method calculation unit that determines the adjustment of the components of the mixed gas based on the determination result of the usability determination unit.

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