Resource recovery support system

Abstract

To provide a resource recovery support system that can effectively utilize marine plants as a resource.SOLUTION: The resource recovery support system according to the present disclosure is a resource recovery support system for a plant that performs a plurality of types of resource recovery processes using marine plants, and comprises: a measurement unit that measures the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant; and a control unit that controls the rate of processing for each of the plurality of types of resource recovery processes performed in the plant according to the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant measured by the measurement unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a resource utilization support system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for effective resource utilization of marine plants. Related techniques are disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a marine plantation that produces methanol from seaweed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-35967 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, when the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant that produces methanol from seaweed is low, the operation of the plant may stop during the production of methanol. Therefore, Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is not possible to effectively utilize marine plants as resources. This problem is particularly serious in plants and the like built in places where it is difficult to replenish energy, such as on the sea.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above background, and has an object to provide a resource recycling support system that can effectively turn marine plants into resources. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The resource recycling support system according to the present disclosure is a resource recycling support system for a plant that performs multiple types of resource recycling processes using marine plants, and includes a measurement unit that measures a remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant, and a control unit that controls a ratio of each of the multiple types of resource recycling processes performed in the plant according to the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant measured by the measurement unit.By controlling the ratio of each of the multiple types of resource recycling processes performed in the plant according to the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant, this resource recycling support system can prevent plant operation from being stopped midway through the resource recycling processes, thereby enabling marine plants to be recycled effectively. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide a resource recycling support system that enables marine plants to be effectively recycled. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a resource utilization support system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the resource utilization support system shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential means for solving the problems. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted as necessary.

[0010] <Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a resource recycling support system 1 according to a first embodiment. The resource recycling support system 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a plant built in a place where it is difficult to replenish energy, such as on the sea. Here, the resource recycling support system 1 according to this embodiment controls the ratio of each of the multiple types of resource recycling processes carried out in the plant according to the remaining energy amount used for the operation of the plant, thereby preventing the operation of the plant from stopping midway through the resource recycling process, and therefore, can effectively recycle marine plants. A specific description will be given below.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the resource utilization support system 1 includes a resource utilization support device 10, n (n is an integer of 2 or more) processing devices 20_1 to 20_n, and a network 50. The resource utilization support device 10 can be referred to as a resource utilization support system by itself. The resource utilization support device 10 and the processing devices 20_1 to 20_n are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the wired or wireless network 50.

[0012] The processing devices 20_1 to 20_n are installed in plants constructed in places where it is difficult to replenish energy, such as on the sea, and each performs a different type of resource recovery process. For example, the processing device 20_1 performs a process of extracting specific nutrients, such as magnesium, lithium, or alginic acid, from marine plants such as seaweed. Furthermore, for example, the processing device 20_2 performs a process of drying marine plants for use as fertilizers such as biochar or livestock feed. Furthermore, for example, the processing device 20_3 performs a process of fermenting marine plants to produce ethanol. Note that the process of fermenting marine plants to produce ethanol consumes more energy for plant operation than other processes.

[0013] The resource recovery support device 10 is a device that controls the ratio of each of a plurality of types of resource recovery processes carried out in a plant, depending on the remaining amount of energy used in the operation of the plant.

[0014] Specifically, the resource utilization support device 10 includes a measurement unit 11 and a control unit 12.

[0015] The measurement unit 11 measures the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant. For example, the measurement unit 11 measures at least one of the remaining amount of fuel such as gasoline or ethanol and the remaining amount of electricity stored in a storage battery as the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant. The storage battery stores, for example, electricity generated by a solar panel or wind power (i.e., electricity obtained from natural energy).

[0016] The control unit 12 controls the ratio of each of the multiple types of recycling processes performed by the processing devices 20_1 to 20_n of the plant according to the remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant measured by the measurement unit 11. For example, when the remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant becomes low, the control unit 12 stops the operation of any of the processing devices 20_1 to 20_n. This makes it possible to prevent the remaining processing devices in operation from unintentionally stopping their operation in the middle of the recycling process.

[0017] In this way, the resource recycling support system 1 of this embodiment can prevent plant operation from being stopped midway through resource recycling processing by controlling the ratio of each of the multiple types of resource recycling processes carried out in the plant depending on the remaining energy used to operate the plant, thereby enabling marine plant recycling to be carried out effectively.

[0018] (Operation of resource recovery support system 1) Next, the operation of the resource utilization support system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the resource utilization support system 1.

[0019] In the resource recovery support system 1, the resource recovery support device 10 first measures the remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant (step S101). After that, the resource recovery support device 10 controls the ratio of each of the multiple types of resource recovery processes performed by the processing devices 20_1 to 20_n installed in the plant according to the remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant (step S102).

[0020] For example, when the remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant becomes low, the resource recovery support device 10 stops the operation of any of the treatment devices 20_1 to 20_n. This prevents the remaining treatment devices in operation from unintentionally stopping their operation in the middle of the resource recovery process. Alternatively, when the remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant becomes low, the resource recovery support device 10 may, for example, reduce the proportion of the ethanol production process that consumes a lot of energy and increase the proportion of another resource recovery process that consumes less energy.

[0021] In this way, the resource recycling support system 1 of this embodiment can prevent plant operation from being stopped midway through resource recycling processing by controlling the ratio of each of the multiple types of resource recycling processes carried out in the plant depending on the remaining energy used to operate the plant, thereby enabling marine plant recycling to be carried out effectively.

[0022] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. The present invention promotes the use of blue carbon (seaweed) and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and carbon neutrality.

[0023] Furthermore, in the present disclosure, a part or all of the processing of the resource utilization support system 1 can be realized by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a computer program.

[0024] The above-mentioned program includes a set of instructions (or software code) for making the computer perform one or more functions described in the embodiment when the program is loaded into the computer. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, the computer-readable medium or the tangible storage medium includes a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, a CD-ROM, a digital versatile disc (DVD), a Blu-ray® disk or other optical disk storage, a magnetic cassette, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or a communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, the transitory computer-readable medium or the communication medium includes an electrical, optical, acoustic, or other form of propagating signal.

[0025] A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but is not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0026] (Appendix 1) A resource recycling support method for a plant that performs a plurality of types of resource recycling processes using marine plants, comprising: Measuring the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant; controlling a rate of each of the plurality of types of resource recovery processes performed in the plant according to the measured remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant; Resource recycling support method.

[0027] (Appendix 2) A control program for causing a computer to execute a resource recycling support process for a plant that performs a plurality of types of resource recycling processes using marine plants, comprising: measuring the remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant; a process of controlling a ratio of each of the plurality of types of recycling processes performed in the plant according to the measured remaining amount of energy used for the operation of the plant; A control program that causes a computer to execute the above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1 Resource recovery support system 10 Resource recovery support equipment 11 Measuring part 12 Control section 50 Network 20_1~20_n Processing equipment

Claims

1. A resource recycling support system for a plant that performs multiple types of resource recycling processes using marine plants, A measurement unit that measures a remaining amount of energy used for operating the plant; a control unit that controls a ratio of each of the plurality of types of recycling processes performed in the plant according to a remaining amount of energy used for operating the plant measured by the measurement unit; Equipped with the control unit reduces a ratio of the recycling processes having a processing time of a predetermined time or more among the plurality of types of recycling processes when a remaining amount of energy used for operation of the plant is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Resource recovery support system.

2. The multiple types of resource recovery processes include at least a process of extracting specific nutrients from the marine plant, a process of drying the marine plant, and a process of fermenting the marine plant to produce ethanol. The resource utilization support system according to claim 1 .

3. The measurement unit measures a remaining amount of energy used for operating the plant based on a stored amount of electricity obtained from natural energy. The resource utilization support system according to claim 1 .

4. The measurement unit measures a remaining amount of energy used to operate the plant based on a remaining amount of fuel including gasoline or ethanol. The resource utilization support system according to claim 1 .

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