Power supply management system, fuel cell device and charging / discharging device

Abstract

To provide a power supply management system capable of securely procuring a required amount of reverse flow power from a plurality of power supply devices.SOLUTION: A power supply management system comprises a management device 30 for: performing number-of-devices adjustment processing for adjusting the number of following-up operation devices, the number of power supply devices 10 for performing follow-up operation of making output power follow up load power of a power load device 4 installed in the same facility 20, and the number of constant value operation devices, the number of power supply devices 10 for performing constant value operation of making output power have a predetermined value commanded by the management device 30 so that power is supplied from the facility 20 to a power system; and transmitting an output control command for determining output power to a power supply device 10 determined to perform the constant value operation; commanding follow-up operation to a power supply device 10 determined to perform the follow-up operation. In the the-number-of-devices adjustment processing, the number of constant value operation devices is made to be larger as target reverse flow electric energy required to be supplied from a plurality of facilities 20 to the power system is larger.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply management system comprising power supply devices installed in each of a number of facilities and a management device capable of communicating with the multiple power supply devices from a remote location outside the facilities, and a fuel cell device and a charge / discharge device as power supply devices used in the power supply management system. [Background technology]

[0002] In addition to conventional large-scale power plants, power supply devices such as power generation devices and charge / discharge devices installed in facilities such as homes and offices are also connected to the power system. Power load devices installed in the facilities are also connected to the power system. By increasing or decreasing the power at the receiving point of the facility using the power supply devices and power load devices, it is possible to contribute to adjusting the balance of power supply and demand in the power system. In recent years, under the concept of a virtual power plant (VPP), attempts have been made to provide functions equivalent to those of a power plant by controlling the operation of consumer-side energy resources such as the above-mentioned power supply devices and power load devices installed in the consumer's facilities.

[0003] Patent Document 1 (JP 2018-125907 A) describes a power management system that includes power supply devices (power resources 101) installed in each of a plurality of facilities, and a management device (virtual power generation central device 103) that can communicate with the plurality of power supply devices. The management device selects a power supply device to be the target of an operation command based on evaluation criteria such as economic efficiency, the degree of impact on consumers in reducing the power load, reliability in starting up the power supply device, the possibility of failure and the extension of the operating life of the power supply device, the speed at which the power supply device responds to a control command, and the communication performance of the power supply device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-125907 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In some cases, power supply devices such as fuel cell devices are operated at a constant rated output, and surplus power exceeding the load power is reverse-flowed to the power grid, and the power company purchases the power at a feed-in tariff. However, when the market price is lower than the feed-in tariff, the power company can reduce the power procurement cost by purchasing the necessary power on the market and reducing the reverse-flow power by suppressing the output of the power supply device.

[0006] If the unit of power that can be procured on the market is set to, for example, 50 kWh, the power company may not be able to procure from the market the exact amount of power that is required, resulting in a power shortage that cannot be procured from the market. The power shortage that cannot be procured from the market must be covered by reverse flow power from the power supply device. In this case, the management device must transmit an operation command to the power supply device to supply the required reverse flow power, but since the command for output power to the power supply device is issued at a predetermined interval, for example, every minute, there is a possibility that the output change by the power supply device is executed with a time delay.

[0007] In this way, when an operation command is given to a plurality of power supply devices to obtain the required reverse flow power from them, increasing the number of power supply devices that reverse flow power to the power grid in response to a command from a management device has the advantage of being able to procure sufficient reverse flow power. However, increasing the number of power supply devices that reverse flow power has the problem that the error between the actual reverse flow power, which is the surplus power when the actual output power of the power supply device exceeds the actual load power, and the target reverse flow power at the time of the command accumulates for each device.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a power supply management system that can reliably procure the necessary reverse flow power from a plurality of power supply devices, and a fuel cell device and a charge / discharge device as power supply devices used in the power supply management system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A characteristic configuration of a power supply management system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a power supply management system including power supply devices installed in each of a plurality of facilities, and a management device capable of communicating with the plurality of power supply devices from a remote location outside the facilities, The power supply device includes a power supply unit that is connected to a power grid and is configured to adjust an output power between an upper limit output power and a lower limit output power; a power load device installed in the facility is configured to receive power supply from at least one of the power supply device and the power system installed in the facility; the management device is configured to perform a number adjustment process for adjusting the number of power supplies in follow-up operation, which is the number of power supplies that perform follow-up operation to make the output power follow the load power of the power load device installed in the same facility, among the multiple power supplies, and the number of power supplies in constant value operation, which is the number of power supplies that perform constant value operation to make the output power a predetermined value instructed by the management device so that power is supplied from the facility to the power grid, to the power supplies that have been determined to perform the constant value operation, the number of power supplies being adjusted to adjust the number of power supplies in follow-up operation, which is the number of power supplies that perform constant value operation to make the output power of the power supplies, to instruct the power supplies that have been determined to perform the follow-up operation to perform the follow-up operation, The management device, in the unit number adjustment process, increases the number of units in constant-value operation as the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities to the power grid increases.

[0010] According to the above characteristic configuration, the greater the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities to the power grid, the greater the number of power supply devices performing constant value operation, which sets the output power to a predetermined value commanded by the management device, so that power can be supplied from the facilities to the power grid. Therefore, a sufficient amount of reverse flow power can be procured from the power supply devices performing constant value operation. Also, the smaller the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities to the power grid, the smaller the number of power supply devices performing constant value operation. Therefore, even if an error occurs between the actual reverse flow power, which is the surplus power when the actual output power of the power supply device exceeds the actual load power, and the target reverse flow power at the time of command, the number of errors that occur is small because the number of power supply devices performing constant value operation is small. As a result, the necessary amount of reverse flow power can be reliably procured from the multiple power supply devices.

[0011] Another characteristic configuration of the power supply management system of the present invention is that the management device determines, based on the amount of reverse flow potential power that is predicted to be able to be supplied from each of the multiple facilities to the power grid in the future, that among the multiple power supply devices, the power supply device with the largest amount of reverse flow potential power will be given priority as the power supply device to perform the constant value operation. Here, the facility includes a prediction device that predicts the reverse flow available power amount, The management device may be configured to receive information on the amount of available reverse flow power predicted by the prediction device in each of the multiple facilities. The management device may also be configured to predict the amount of reverse flow power available based on the predicted load power of the power load device and the possible output power of the power supply device, which are predicted in the future and received from each of the multiple facilities.

[0012] According to the above characteristic configuration, the power supply device that performs constant-power operation is determined based on the predicted amount of available reverse flow power, thereby increasing the possibility that the required amount of reverse flow power can be procured.

[0013] Another characteristic configuration of the power supply management system of the present invention is that, in the number adjustment process, the management device determines the number of units operating at constant value so that the total of the possible reverse flow power at each of the facilities in which the power supply units performing the constant value operation are installed is more than the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied to the power system from the multiple facilities by a set value.

[0014] According to the above characteristic configuration, it is more likely that the target amount of reverse flow power will be supplied to the power grid from a facility in which a power supply device performing constant-value operation is installed.

[0015] Another characteristic configuration of the power supply management system according to the present invention is that the management device determines, among the multiple power supply devices, the power supply device having the greatest output increase rate as the power supply device that will perform the constant value operation, with priority given to the power supply device.

[0016] According to the above characteristic configuration, even if the reverse flow power decreases as the load power of the facility's power load device increases, a power supply device with a high output increase rate can quickly increase its output power, thereby enabling an appropriate amount of reverse flow power to continue to be supplied.

[0017] A further characteristic configuration of the power supply management system according to the present invention is that the management device repeats the number adjustment process at a plurality of times.

[0018] According to the above characteristic configuration, it is possible to operate an appropriate number of power supply devices in constant-voltage operation at any given time.

[0019] A characteristic feature of a fuel cell device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is that it has the functions of the power supply device used in the above power supply management system, and the power supply section has a fuel cell section.

[0020] According to the above characteristic configuration, it is possible to provide a fuel cell device having the functions of a power supply device used in a power supply management system that can reliably procure the necessary reverse flow power from a plurality of power supply devices.

[0021] A characteristic configuration of a charge / discharge device according to the present invention for achieving the above object resides in that the charge / discharge device has the functions of the power supply device used in the above power supply management system, and the power supply unit includes a charge / discharge unit.

[0022] According to the above characteristic configuration, it is possible to provide a charge / discharge device having the functions of a power supply device used in a power supply management system that can reliably procure the necessary reverse flow power from a plurality of power supply devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between facilities, a management device, and an aggregation coordinator. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a facility configuration. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control period and a non-control period. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between a facility 20 in which a fuel cell device 10 and a power load device 4 are installed, a management device 30, and an aggregation coordinator 40. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example configuration of the facility 20. The power supply management system includes a fuel cell device 10 that is installed in each of the multiple facilities 20 and is capable of outputting power, and a management device 30 that is capable of communicating with the multiple fuel cell devices 10 from a remote location outside the facility 20. The fuel cell device 10 corresponds to the "power supply device" of the present invention. In this embodiment, the number of power supply devices managed by one management device 30 can be set appropriately.

[0025] The management device 30 is also called a resource aggregator, and is an operator that controls consumer-side energy resources by transmitting control information to the fuel cell device 10 and the power load device 4 as consumer-side energy resources to the facility 20 that has concluded a VPP (Virtual Power Plant) service contract. The aggregation coordinator 40 is an operator that bundles the amount of power controlled by each management device 30 and trades power with general electricity transmission and distribution companies and electricity retailers in the electricity trading market, etc.

[0026] The management device 30 sequentially collects and stores power information such as the output power of the fuel cell device 10, the load power of the power load device 4, and the power receiving point power at the facility 20 from a plurality of facilities 20. In this embodiment, the term "load power of the power load device 4" refers to the total load power of all the power load devices 4 installed in the facility 20. The management device 30 predicts the power that can be provided from each facility 20 in a predetermined future time period and transmits it to the aggregation coordinator 40. This available power is an adjustment margin such as the ability to increase or decrease the power receiving point power of the facility 20. In this embodiment, "increasing the power receiving point power" means increasing the power received from the power system 1 to the power line 2, or decreasing the reverse flow power from the power line 2 to the power system 1, and "decreasing the power receiving point power" means decreasing the power received from the power system 1 to the power line 2, or increasing the reverse flow power from the power line 2 to the power system 1.

[0027] For example, in order to increase the power receiving point power of the facility 20, it is sufficient to at least either reduce the output power of the fuel cell device 10 or increase the load power of the power load device 4, so the upward adjustment margin when increasing the power receiving point power of the facility 20 indicates how much margin there is for reducing the output power of the fuel cell device 10, and indicates how much margin there is for increasing the load power of the power load device 4. Also, in order to decrease the power receiving point power of the facility 20, it is sufficient to at least either increase the output power of the fuel cell device 10 or decrease the load power of the power load device 4, so the downward adjustment margin when decreasing the power receiving point power of the facility 20 indicates how much margin there is for increasing the output power of the fuel cell device 10, and indicates how much margin there is for decreasing the load power of the power load device 4.

[0028] The management device 30 also determines baseline power receiving point power in the multiple facilities 20 that it manages. This baseline power receiving point power corresponds to the total of the power receiving point power of each facility 20 predicted in the case where adjustment capacity, etc. (i.e., adjustment capacity provided to the power transmission and distribution company and supply capacity, etc. provided to retailers, etc.) is not provided from each facility 20.

[0029] The aggregation coordinator 40 aggregates the available power received from each management device 30, and trades power with general electricity transmission and distribution companies and electricity retailers by bidding on electricity trading markets such as the supply and demand adjustment market, the wholesale electricity market, and the capacity market. When the aggregation coordinator 40 receives a supply command for adjustment capacity or the like for a future predetermined control period from the general electricity transmission and distribution company or the electricity retailer with which it has traded, it distributes and transmits the adjustment capacity or the like specified in the supply command to each management device 30.

[0030] When the management device 30 receives a supply command from the aggregation coordinator 40, it distributes and transmits the adjustment power and the like specified in the supply command to each facility 20. As a result, in each facility 20, the fuel cell device 10 and the power load device 4 as consumer-side energy resources are controlled during a predetermined future control period, and adjustment power and the like is provided such that the power at the receiving point of the facility 20 increases or decreases compared to the case where the control is not performed.

[0031] The facility 20 is provided with a fuel cell device 10 as a power supply device, and a power load device 4. The fuel cell device 10 and the power load device 4 are connected to a power line 2 that is linked to an electric power system 1. A power meter 3 that measures the power at the receiving point of the facility 20 is installed on the power line 2. Note that while Figs. 1 and 2 show an example in which one fuel cell device 10 is installed as a power supply device, the number of installed power supply devices can be changed as appropriate.

[0032] Information about the power receiving point power measured by the power meter 3 is transmitted to the management device 30 via the gateway 5 and the router 6. For example, the information about the power receiving point power is transmitted to the management device 30 at a predetermined timing, such as every 10 seconds.

[0033] The power load device 4 is various devices such as a lighting device, an air conditioner, etc., and can receive power supply from at least one of the fuel cell device 10 and the power system 1 installed in the facility 20.

[0034] The fuel cell device 10 includes a fuel cell unit 12 as a power source unit connected to the power system 1, a power conversion unit 11 that converts the power generated by the fuel cell unit 12 to a predetermined voltage, frequency, and phase and supplies it to the power line 2, a fuel cell control unit 13 that controls the operation of the fuel cell unit 12 and the power conversion unit 11, and a memory unit 14 that stores information handled by the fuel cell device 10. The fuel cell device 10 may also include a fuel reformer that generates hydrogen as a fuel gas for the fuel cell unit 12.

[0035] In this way, a fuel cell device 10 having the functions of a power supply device used in a power supply management system and a power supply section including the fuel cell section 12 can be realized.

[0036] The fuel cell control unit 13 can adjust the output power from the fuel cell device 10 to the power line 2 between a predetermined upper limit output power and a predetermined lower limit output power. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can maintain the output power of the fuel cell device 10 at the upper limit output power and operate it continuously. The fuel cell control unit 13 can also operate the fuel cell device 10 so that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follows the load power of the power load device 4. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 so that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follows the load power of the power load device 4 by adjusting the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) becomes zero or close to zero.

[0037] The fuel cell control unit 13 has information about the output power supplied from the power conversion unit 11 to the power line 2 and information about the power measured by the power measurement unit 8, and is therefore able to derive the load power (=output power+measured power) of the power load device 4. When the sign of the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 is positive, this means that the load power is greater than the output power of the fuel cell device 10, and when the sign of the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 is negative, this means that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 is greater than the load power.

[0038] The fuel cell device 10 is connected to a remote control 7 that is operated by a user of the facility 20 when issuing commands to the fuel cell device 10. Information about the output power and load power of the fuel cell device 10 is transmitted to the management device 30 via the remote control 7 and router 6. For example, information about the output power and load power of the fuel cell device 10 is transmitted to the management device 30 at a predetermined timing, such as once a minute.

[0039] As described above, the management device 30 can transmit output control commands that determine the output power of the fuel cell devices 10 to the multiple fuel cell devices 10. When the fuel cell devices 10 receive an output control command from the management device 30, they operate in a first operation mode that aims to supply output power determined based on the output control command during a controlled period that is subject to the output control command, and operate in a second operation mode that is different from the first operation mode during a non-controlled period that is outside the controlled period.

[0040] The second operation mode is an operation mode that is preset in the multiple fuel cell devices 10. Alternatively, the management device 30 can transmit an operation mode control command that determines the second operation mode to the multiple fuel cell devices 10, and the fuel cell devices 10 determine the second operation mode according to the operation mode control command received from the management device 30.

[0041] For example, in the second operation mode, the fuel cell control unit 13 can maintain the output power of the fuel cell device 10 at the upper limit output power and operate it continuously. In addition, in the second operation mode, the fuel cell control unit 13 can also operate the fuel cell device 10 so that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follows the load power of the power load device 4. For example, the fuel cell control unit 13 can operate the fuel cell device 10 so that the output power of the fuel cell device 10 follows the load power of the power load device 4 by adjusting the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power system 1) becomes zero or close to zero.

[0042] Fig. 3 is a diagram that illustrates a controlled period and a non-controlled period. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the control information (output control command) specifies the period from 12:00 to 15:00 as the controlled period. Therefore, the fuel cell device 10 operates in the first operation mode during the controlled period from 12:00 to 15:00, and operates in the second operation mode during the other non-controlled periods.

[0043] Next, a case will be described in which the management device 30 transmits output control commands to the multiple fuel cell devices 10 to operate the fuel cell devices 10 in the first operation mode. In this embodiment, the management device 30 performs a number adjustment process to adjust the number of fuel cell devices 10 in follow-up operation, which is the number of fuel cell devices 10 that perform follow-up operation to make their output power follow the load power of a power load device 4 installed in the same facility 20, and the number of fuel cell devices 10 in constant value operation, which is the number of fuel cell devices 10 that perform constant value operation to set their output power to a predetermined value instructed by the management device 30 so that power is supplied from the facility 20 to the power grid 1. The management device 30 then transmits an output control command to the fuel cell devices 10 that it has decided to perform constant value operation, to determine the output power of the fuel cell devices 10. The management device 30 also instructs the fuel cell devices 10 that it has decided to perform follow-up operation to perform follow-up operation.

[0044] In other words, the fuel cell device 10 for which it has been determined by the unit count adjustment process performed by the management device 30 that it will perform constant-value operation will perform operation to output the output power specified in the output control command. In contrast, the fuel cell device 10 for which it has been determined by the unit count adjustment process performed by the management device 30 that it will perform follow-up operation will perform operation in which the fuel cell control unit 13 in the facility 20 adjusts the output power of the fuel cell device 10 so that the power measured by the power measurement unit 8 (i.e., the power supplied from the power grid 1) becomes zero or close to zero, thereby causing the output power to follow the load power of the power load device 4.

[0045] The management device 30 repeats, at multiple timings, the above-mentioned number adjustment process, sending output control commands to the fuel cell devices 10 that have been determined to perform constant value operation to determine their output power, and instructing the fuel cell devices 10 that have been determined to perform follow-up operation to perform the follow-up operation. In other words, the output power of the fuel cell devices 10 performing constant value operation is determined at each of the above timings by the output control commands from the management device 30, and the output power of the fuel cell devices 10 performing follow-up operation is determined by local control in the facility 20 so as to follow the load power of the power load device 4.

[0046] Next, the number adjustment process will be specifically described. In the unit number adjustment process, the management device 30 increases the number of units in constant-value operation as the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities 20 to the power system 1 increases. For example, the management device 30 stores in advance the fuel cell devices 10 installed in the multiple facilities 20 that are the subject of the unit number adjustment process, and stores the relationship between the target amount of reverse flow power and the number of units in constant-value operation in that case. Then, when the target amount of reverse flow power is determined, the management device 30 determines the number of units in constant-value operation based on the above relationship.

[0047] In this way, the more the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities 20 to the power system 1, the more the number of constant-value operation units, which is the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant-value operation that sets the output power to a predetermined value commanded by the management device 30 so that power is supplied from the facilities 20 to the power system 1, becomes. Therefore, it is possible to cause the fuel cell devices 10 performing constant-value operation to supply a sufficient amount of reverse flow power to the power system 1. Also, the less the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities 20 to the power system 1, the less the number of constant-value operation units, which is the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant-value operation. Therefore, even if an error occurs between the actual reverse flow power, which is the surplus power when the actual output power of the fuel cell device 10 exceeds the actual load power, and the target reverse flow power at the time of command, the number of errors that occur is reduced because the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant-value operation is reduced. As a result, the required amount of reverse flow power can be reliably procured from the multiple fuel cell devices 10.

[0048] In addition, based on the amount of reverse flow power that is predicted to be able to be supplied from each of the multiple facilities 20 to the power grid 1 in the future, the management device 30 prioritizes the fuel cell device 10 with the largest amount of reverse flow power among the multiple fuel cell devices 10 that are the subject of the number adjustment process as the fuel cell device 10 to perform constant value operation.

[0049] The amount of available reverse flow power is predicted by each facility 20 or the management device 30. For example, the remote control 7 provided in each facility 20 uses its own arithmetic processing function, information storage function, etc. to determine surplus power derived by subtracting the current load power of the power load device 4 from the upper limit output power of the fuel cell device 10. Then, assuming that the surplus power will be generated continuously, the remote control 7 determines the amount of available reverse flow power predicted to be supplied from the facility 20 to the power grid 1 in the future. Then, the remote control 7 transmits the amount of available reverse flow power of the facility 20 to the management device 30. That is, in this case, the facility 20 is equipped with a prediction device (i.e., the above-mentioned remote control 7) that predicts the amount of available reverse flow power, and the management device 30 is configured to receive information on the amount of available reverse flow power predicted by each prediction device of the multiple facilities 20.

[0050] Alternatively, the management device 30 may receive information about the current load power of the power load device 4 of each facility 20 from the remote control 7 of that facility 20, and determine the amount of reverse flow power that is predicted to be able to be supplied from each facility 20 to the power grid 1 in the future, taking into account the upper limit output power of the fuel cell device 10 of each facility 20. In other words, in this case, the management device 30 is configured to predict the amount of reverse flow power based on the predicted future load power of the power load device 4 and the possible output power of the fuel cell device 10, received from each of the multiple facilities 20.

[0051] [Specific example of the number adjustment process of this embodiment] Consider a configuration in which the management device 30 communicates with each of the fuel cell devices 10 in 200 facilities 20 to manage those fuel cell devices 10, and the target amount of reverse flow power for the 30 minutes from 12:00 to 12:30 is 10 kWh.

[0052] At or before time 12:00, the management device 30 takes into consideration the load power of the power load device 4 of each facility 20 and the upper limit output power of the fuel cell device 10 of each facility 20 to derive the amount of reverse flow power that is predicted to be supplied from each facility 20 to the power system 1 for the next 30 minutes (i.e., the above-mentioned predetermined period). In this example, the amount of reverse flow power that can be supplied from each of the 200 fuel cell devices 10 installed in each of the 200 facilities 20 is all 0.1 kWh for that 30 minutes. In other words, the total amount of reverse flow power that can be supplied from each facility 20 to the power system 1 for the 30 minutes from 12:00 to 12:30 is 20 kWh, which is greater than the target amount of reverse flow power of 10 kWh.

[0053] [Number of vehicles adjustment process performed at or before 12:00] Based on the relationship between the target amount of reverse flow power and the number of units in constant value operation at or before 12:00, the management device 30 sets, for example, the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing follow-up operation to 100, and the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant value operation, each supplying 0.1 kWh of reverse flow power for 30 minutes to the power grid 1, to 100, and transmits such an output control command. As a result, if the 100 facilities 20 equipped with fuel cell devices 10 performing constant value operation supply the expected amount of reverse flow power (i.e., 0.1 kWh for 30 minutes each) to the power grid 1, the target amount of reverse flow power for 30 minutes (10 kWh) should be achieved.

[0054] It is also possible for the management device 30 to set the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant value operation supplying 0.05 kWh of reverse flow power to the power grid 1 for 30 minutes at or before 12:00 to 200, and the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing follow-up operation to 0, and transmit such an output control command. However, this is not done in the number adjustment process of this embodiment.

[0055] [Number of vehicles adjustment process performed at or before 12:15] In this embodiment, the management device 30 repeats the number of vehicles adjustment process multiple times within the 30 minutes from 12:00 to 12:30. For example, the first time is the number of vehicles adjustment process performed at or before 12:00, and the second time is the number of vehicles adjustment process performed at or before 12:15.

[0056] Example of number adjustment process 1 If the actual amount of reverse flow power between 12:00 and 12:15 is 4 kWh at 12:15, or if the amount of reverse flow power between 12:00 and 12:15 is predicted to be 4 kWh at a point before 12:15, the target amount of reverse flow power for the remaining 15 minutes will be 6 kWh. Then, at or before 12:15, based on the relationship between the target amount of reverse flow power and the number of constant-value operating units, the management device 30 sets the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing follow-up operation to 80, and sets the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant-value operation each supplying 0.05 kWh of reverse flow power to the power system 1 for the remaining 15 minutes to 120, and transmits such output control commands. As a result, if the expected amount of reverse flow power (i.e., 0.05 kWh for 15 minutes each) is supplied to the power grid 1 from 120 facilities 20 equipped with fuel cell devices 10 operating at constant values, the target amount of reverse flow power (6 kWh) for 15 minutes should be achieved.

[0057] Example of number adjustment process 2 If the actual amount of reverse flow power between 12:00 and 12:15 is 6 kWh, the target amount of reverse flow power for the remaining 15 minutes will be 4 kWh. Then, at or before 12:15, the management device 30 sets the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing follow-up operation to 120, and sets the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant-value operation, each of which supplies 0.05 kWh of reverse flow power to the power grid 1 for the remaining 15 minutes, to 80, based on the relationship between the target amount of reverse flow power and the number of constant-value operation units, and transmits such an output control command. As a result, if the 80 facilities 20 equipped with fuel cell devices 10 performing constant-value operation supply the expected amount of reverse flow power (i.e., 0.05 kWh for each 15 minutes) to the power grid 1, the target amount of reverse flow power for the 15 minutes (4 kWh) should be achieved.

[0058] <Another embodiment> <1> In the above embodiment, a specific example of the configuration of the power management system of the present invention has been given and explained, but the configuration can be modified as appropriate. For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the power supply unit of the power supply device includes the fuel cell unit 12, but the power supply unit may be another device capable of outputting electric power. For example, the power supply unit may be a device including a charge / discharge unit such as a storage battery. In that case, a charge / discharge device is realized that has the functions of a power supply device used in a power management system and in which the power supply unit includes a charge / discharge unit. Alternatively, the power supply unit may be a device including an engine and a generator driven by the engine.

[0059] <2> In the above embodiment, the management device 30 may determine the number of units operating at constant value in the unit number adjustment process so that the total amount of reverse flow power available at each of the facilities 20 in which the fuel cell devices 10 performing constant value operation are installed is greater than the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied to the power system 1 from the multiple facilities 20 by a set value.

[0060] For example, at or before 12:00 in the above example, the management device 30 may set the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing follow-up operation to 80, and the number of fuel cell devices 10 performing constant value operation, each supplying 0.1 kWh of reverse flow power for 30 minutes to the power grid 1, to 120, and transmit such output control commands. In this case, the total amount of reverse flow possible power in each of the facilities 20 in which the fuel cell devices 10 performing constant value operation are installed is 12 kWh, and the number of constant value operation units is determined so that this is 2 kWh (an example of a set value) more than the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities 20 to the power grid 1, which is 10 kWh.

[0061] <3> In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a fuel cell device 10 with a large amount of possible reverse flow power is given priority and selected as the fuel cell device 10 to perform constant value operation, but other decision rules may be used to determine the fuel cell device 10 to perform constant value operation. For example, the management device 30 may give priority to a fuel cell device 10 with a high output increase rate among multiple fuel cell devices 10 and select the fuel cell device 10 to perform constant value operation. In this case, the power supply device with a high output increase rate can quickly increase its output power, allowing an appropriate reverse flow power to be continuously supplied.

[0062] <4> In the above embodiment, specific numerical values ​​for the output power, load power, power receiving point power, length of the control target period, etc. are given as examples and explained, but these numerical values ​​are given for illustrative purposes only and can be changed as appropriate.

[0063] <5> The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, provided that no contradiction arises. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified within the scope that does not deviate from the purpose of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0064] The present invention can be used in a power supply management system that can reliably procure the necessary reverse flow power from a plurality of power supply devices, and in a fuel cell device and a charge / discharge device that serve as power supply devices used in the power supply management system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Power system 2. Power Lines 3. Power Meter 4 Power load device 5. Gateway 6. Router 7. Remote Control 8 Power measurement section 10 Fuel cell device (power supply device) 11 Power conversion section 12 Fuel cell section (power supply section) 13 Fuel cell control unit 14 Storage section 20 Facilities 30 Management device 40 Aggregation Coordinator

Claims

1. A power supply management system including a power supply device installed in each of a plurality of facilities, and a management device capable of communicating with the plurality of power supply devices from a remote location outside the facilities, The power supply device includes a power supply unit that is connected to a power grid and is configured to adjust an output power between an upper limit output power and a lower limit output power; a power load device installed in the facility is configured to receive power supply from at least one of the power supply device and the power system installed in the facility; the management device is configured to perform a number adjustment process for adjusting the number of power supplies in follow-up operation, which is the number of power supplies that perform follow-up operation to make the output power follow the load power of the power load device installed in the same facility, among the multiple power supplies, and the number of power supplies in constant value operation, which is the number of power supplies that perform constant value operation to make the output power a predetermined value instructed by the management device so that power is supplied from the facility to the power grid, to the power supplies that have been determined to perform the constant value operation, the number of power supplies being adjusted to adjust the number of power supplies in follow-up operation, which is the number of power supplies that perform constant value operation to make the output power of the power supplies, to instruct the power supplies that have been determined to perform the follow-up operation to perform the follow-up operation, The management device is a power supply management system that, in the unit number adjustment process, increases the number of constant-value operating units as the target amount of reverse flow power that needs to be supplied from the multiple facilities to the power grid increases.

2. 2. The power supply management system according to claim 1, wherein the management device determines, based on the amount of reverse flow power that is predicted to be able to be supplied from each of the plurality of facilities to the power grid in the future, that a power supply device having a large amount of reverse flow power among the plurality of power supply devices is to be prioritized as the power supply device that will perform the constant value operation.

3. The facility includes a prediction device for predicting the amount of reverse flow available power, The power supply management system according to claim 2 , wherein the management device is configured to receive information on the amount of available reverse flow power predicted by the prediction device in each of the plurality of facilities.

4. 3. The power management system of claim 2, wherein the management device is configured to predict the amount of reverse flow power available based on the predicted load power of the power load device and the possible output power of the power supply device, which are predicted in the future and received from each of the multiple facilities.

5. A power supply management system as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the management device, in the number adjustment process, determines the number of constant-value operating units so that the total of the possible reverse flow power amounts in each of the facilities in which the power supply devices performing the constant-value operation are installed is greater than the target reverse flow power amount by a set value.

6. The power management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the management device determines, among the plurality of power supply devices, the power supply device having the greatest output increase rate as the power supply device that performs the constant value operation, with priority given to the power supply device.

7. 7. The power management system according to claim 1, wherein the management device repeatedly performs the number adjustment process at a plurality of times.

8. 8. A fuel cell device comprising the functions of the power supply device used in the power supply management system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises a fuel cell unit.

9. A charge / discharge device having the functions of the power supply device used in the power supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the power supply unit includes a charge / discharge unit.

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