Control method, control device and power generation system

Abstract

A control method according to the present disclosure comprises: a step for executing an electric power generation plan of an electric power generation group having a plurality of electric power generation units including a fuel cell; and a step for, when communication from a controller that controls the electric power generation units on the basis of the electric power generation plan is lost, transmitting an instruction for stopping all the electric power generation units of the electric power generation group to the controller.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control method, a control device, and a power generation system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a controlled device that is capable of executing predetermined operations and instruction operations based on messages from a control device that performs power control, and is characterized by having a communication unit that can acquire messages from the control device, and a control unit that executes the predetermined operation when it becomes unable to acquire the message and the elapsed time since acquiring the message reaches a predetermined time.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a power monitoring and control device for a distributed power source that acquires power information directly from a smart meter connected to a power inlet line that brings commercial power indoors, or via a home energy management system that manages energy consumed indoors.The power monitoring and control device has a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the smart meter at intervals that allow indoor power consumption transitions to be recognized within a certain error range, a judgment unit that judges whether the communication is good or bad based on the communication status of the communication unit, and a notification unit that, if the judgment result of the communication by the judgment unit is bad, reports the judgment result and situation information that is the cause of the bad judgment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-195774 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-164199 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As an example, an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a control method, a control device, and a power generation system that can control a power generation unit more appropriately than conventional methods when communication from a controller that controls multiple power generation units is interrupted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of: creating a power generation plan for a power generation group having a plurality of power generation units, including a fuel cell; and, when communication from a controller that controls the plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan is interrupted, sending an instruction to the controller to stop all power generation units of the power generation group.

[0007] In addition, a control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first controller that performs a power generation plan for a power generation group having a plurality of power generation units, including a fuel cell, and a communicator that receives communication from a second controller that controls the plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan, and when communication from the second controller via the communicator is interrupted, the first controller transmits an instruction to the second controller via the communicator to stop all power generation units of the power generation group.

[0008] A power generation system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of power generation units including fuel cells and the above-described control device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The control method, control device, and power generation system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure have the advantage of being able to control the power generation units more appropriately than conventional methods when communication from a controller that controls multiple power generation units is interrupted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power generation system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the third modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the second example of the first embodiment. [Figure 6C] FIG. 6C is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the third example of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power generation system according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In Patent Document 1, for example, paragraph

[0067] describes power control during a communication failure in which the power control device 12 cannot obtain control instructions from the network 70, but does not consider how to respond when communication from the network 70 to the power control device 12 is normal but a failure has occurred in communication from the power control device 12 to the network 70.

[0012] In particular, in a configuration in which the distributed power source is a fuel cell, a power generation plan is received from a network 70, and the power control device 12 controls the power generation of the fuel cell in accordance with this power generation plan, no consideration has been given to how to respond when a communication failure occurs from the power control device 12 to the network 70.

[0013] A control method of a first aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of: creating a power generation plan for a power generation group having a plurality of power generation units, including a fuel cell; and, when communication from a controller that controls the plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan is interrupted, sending an instruction to the controller to stop all power generation units of the power generation group.

[0014] According to the above, the control method of this aspect can control a plurality of power generation units more appropriately than conventional methods when communication from a controller that controls the power generation units is interrupted.

[0015] For example, if a failure occurs only in communication from the controller, the controller may not be able to recognize the occurrence of the communication failure because it is able to receive information indicating the power generation plan normally. In this case, even if it is necessary to stop power generation from all power generation units in the power generation group when the communication failure occurs, it may not be possible to stop the power generation appropriately using control from the controller alone.

[0016] Therefore, in the control method of this embodiment, when communication from the controller is interrupted, an instruction to stop all power generation units in the power generation group is sent to the controller, thereby reducing the occurrence of situations in which power generation by all power generation units in the power generation group cannot be properly stopped compared to conventional methods.

[0017] The control method of the second aspect of the present disclosure may be the control method of the first aspect, in which the instruction is transmitted to the controller even after communication from the controller is restored.

[0018] According to the above, the control method of this aspect can appropriately control the power generation units after communication from the controller is restored by transmitting the above instruction to the controller, even after communication from the controller is restored. For example, the control method of this aspect appropriately controls so that power generation of the power generation group does not automatically resume based on the power generation plan before the communication failure occurred when communication from the controller is restored.

[0019] A third aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a control method according to the second aspect, wherein when a cancellation signal for the instruction is received from an external device, the control method stops sending the instruction to the controller.

[0020] According to the above, the control method of this aspect can appropriately resume power generation of the power generation group by stopping the transmission of the instruction to the controller when a cancellation signal for the instruction is received from the outside. For example, the control method of this aspect can smoothly resume power generation of the power generation group during timely maintenance work after communication from the controller is restored.

[0021] In the control method of any one of the first to third aspects, the control device of a fourth aspect of the present disclosure may stop the signal for requesting communication when communication from the controller is interrupted.

[0022] According to the above, in the control method of this aspect, when communication from the controller is interrupted, the signal requesting communication is stopped, thereby enabling the controller to recognize the occurrence of a communication failure. This allows the controller to shut down all the power generation units in the power generation group at its own discretion. In other words, the control method of this aspect, by combining the instruction to the controller to shut down all the power generation units in the power generation group with the controller's own discretion in shutting down all the power generation units in the power generation group, can more effectively reduce the occurrence of a situation in which power generation by all the power generation units in the power generation group cannot be properly shut down.

[0023] A control method of a fifth aspect of the present disclosure may be the control method of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the instruction is a power generation plan that sets the output of the power generation group to zero.

[0024] According to the above, in this control method, when communication from a controller that controls multiple power generation units based on the power generation plan of the power generation group is interrupted, a power generation plan that sets the output of the power generation group to 0 is sent to the controller, so that power generation of all power generation units in the power generation group can be appropriately stopped compared to when such a power generation plan is not sent.

[0025] A control method of a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the control method of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the instruction may be an instruction to stop all power generation units in a power generation group.

[0026] According to the above, in the control method of this embodiment, when communication from a controller that controls multiple power generation units based on the power generation plan of the power generation group is interrupted, a stop instruction for all power generation units of the power generation group is sent to the controller, so that power generation of all power generation units of the power generation group can be appropriately stopped compared to when such a stop instruction is not sent to the controller.

[0027] A seventh aspect of the control method of the present disclosure is the control method of the second or third aspect, wherein before communication from the controller is restored, the instruction may be a power generation plan that sets the output of the power generation group to 0, and after communication from the controller is restored, the instruction may be an instruction to stop all power generation units in the power generation group.

[0028] The control device of an eighth aspect of the present disclosure includes a first controller that performs a power generation plan for a power generation group having a plurality of power generation units, including a fuel cell, and a communicator that receives communication from a second controller that controls the plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan, and when communication from the second controller via the communicator is interrupted, the first controller transmits an instruction to the second controller via the communicator to stop all power generation units in the power generation group.

[0029] With this configuration, the control device of this embodiment can more appropriately control the power generation units than conventional devices when communication from the second controller, which controls multiple power generation units, to the first controller, which sets the power generation plan for the power generation group, is interrupted. For example, if a communication failure occurs only in communication from the second controller to the first controller, the second controller may not be able to recognize the communication failure because it is able to receive information indicating the power generation plan normally. In this case, even if the communication failure requires that all power generation units in the power generation group be stopped, the power generation may not be stopped appropriately by control only by the second controller.

[0030] Therefore, the control device of this embodiment can reduce the occurrence of situations in which power generation by all power generation units in the power generation group cannot be properly stopped compared to conventional methods by sending an instruction to the second controller to stop all power generation units in the power generation group when communication from the second controller to the first controller is interrupted.

[0031] A power generation system according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure may include a plurality of power generation units including fuel cells, and the control device according to the eighth aspect.

[0032] With this configuration, the power generation system of this aspect can control the power generation units more appropriately than before when communication from the second controller that controls the multiple power generation units to the first controller that performs power generation planning for the power generation group is interrupted. Note that the details of the effects and advantages achieved by the power generation system of this aspect are similar to those achieved by the control device of the eighth aspect, and therefore will not be described here.

[0033] Specific examples of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Each of the specific examples described below is an example of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, unless otherwise stated in the claims, the shapes, numerical values, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of the components shown below do not limit the scope of the claims.

[0034] Furthermore, among the components described below, components that are not described in the independent claims that represent the highest concept of the present disclosure are described as optional components. Furthermore, in the drawings, components with the same reference numerals may not be described in detail. The drawings are schematic illustrations of each component for ease of understanding, and the shapes, dimensional ratios, and the like may not be accurately depicted.

[0035] Furthermore, in the operation of the apparatus, the order of steps may be changed or known steps may be added as necessary.

[0036] (First embodiment) [Device configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power generation system according to a first embodiment.

[0037] 1, the power generation system 10 of this embodiment includes a control device 20, a controller 30, and a power generation group 40. The control device 20 includes a communicator 21 and a controller 23, as shown in FIG.

[0038] Here, the power generation group 40 includes a plurality of power generation units including fuel cells. Therefore, the power generation system 10 can be configured as a system that supplies large amounts of power to a power grid, for example. In this case, the power generation system 10 may include a power generation unit group including a plurality of power generation units, and the power generation group 40 may correspond to each power generation group obtained by dividing the power generation unit group. A detailed configuration of such a power generation system 10 will be described in the second embodiment.

[0039] The communicator 21 is a receiver that receives communications from the controller 30 that controls a plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan of the power generation group 40. For example, the communicator 21 may receive various data related to the operating status of each of the power generation units at predetermined time intervals, which data is transmitted from the controller 30 via a communication network.

[0040] The "predetermined time" may be, for example, about 30 seconds, but is not limited to this.

[0041] The communicator 21 may transmit information indicating the power generation plan of the power generation group 40 to the controller 30. This power generation plan may be determined by the controller 23. The communicator 21 may also receive information indicating the power generation plan of the power generation group 40 from an "external system" (not shown) at appropriate times. For example, the communicator 21 may receive the power generation plan transmitted from a terminal or a server via a communication network at predetermined time intervals.

[0042] The "predetermined time" may be, for example, about 30 minutes, but is not limited to this.

[0043] At this time, the controller 23 may determine the power generation plan of the power generation group 40 based on information indicating the power generation plan received from the "external system". When determining the power generation plan, the power generation plan indicated by the information received from the "external system" may be determined as the power generation plan of the power generation group 40 as is, or a modified version may be determined as the power generation plan of the power generation group 40.

[0044] The users of the terminal or server include direct or indirect users of the control device 20. A direct user of the control device 20 is, for example, an administrator of the control device 20. An indirect user of the control device 20 can be, for example, the owner of the power generation system 10. Such an owner may be a consumer who receives the service of supplying power generated by the power generation system 10, or may be a power generation company that supplies power to consumers using the power generation system 10.

[0045] The controller 23 performs power generation planning for the power generation group 40, which has a plurality of power generation units including fuel cells, and when communication from the controller 30 via the communicator 21 is interrupted, sends an instruction to the controller 30 via the communicator 21 to stop all power generation units of the power generation group 40.

[0046] Here, "when communication from the controller 30 via the communicator 21 is interrupted" may be, but is not limited to, when a communication failure occurs in the communication network between the control device 20 and the controller 30, when the communicator 21 breaks down, etc. For example, when the control device 20 and the controller 30 are connected by wire, if there is a poor connection between the cable and connector between them, communication from the controller 30 via the communicator 21 may be interrupted.

[0047] The controller 23 may be any device having a control function, and includes an arithmetic processing unit (not shown) and a storage unit that stores a control program. The arithmetic processing unit reads and executes the control program stored in the storage unit, thereby performing predetermined control in the controller 23. An example of the arithmetic processing unit is a microprocessor. An example of the storage unit is a memory.

[0048] [Operation] 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the first embodiment. The following operation may be performed, for example, by the arithmetic processing unit of the controller 23 of the control device 20 reading out a control program from the storage unit of the controller 23. However, it is not necessarily required that the following operation be performed by the control device 20. An operator may perform some of the operations. In the following example, a case where the operation is controlled by the control device 20 will be described.

[0049] First, during power generation by the power generation system 10, in step S1, the controller 23 performs a power generation plan for the power generation group 40, which includes a plurality of power generation units including fuel cells.

[0050] Next, in step S2, it is determined whether communication from the controller 30, which controls the multiple power generation units based on the power generation plan of step S1, has been interrupted. This determination may be made by the control device 20 attempting to request the controller 30 to transmit data on the operating status of the power generation units a predetermined number of times at predetermined time intervals. For example, if the control device 20 does not receive data on the operating status of the power generation units from the controller 30 consecutively a predetermined number of times at predetermined time intervals, it may determine that communication from the controller 30 has been interrupted. The "predetermined time" may be, for example, approximately 30 seconds, but is not limited to this. The "predetermined number of times" may be, for example, approximately six times, but is not limited to this.

[0051] If it is determined that communication from the controller 30 is not interrupted ("No" in step S2), the operation of step S2 is executed again at an appropriate time.

[0052] If it is determined that communication from the controller 30 has been interrupted (if "Yes" in step S2), in step S3, an instruction to stop all power generation units of the power generation group 40 is sent from the control device 20 to the controller 30. At this time, an error message that communication from the controller 30 has been interrupted may be sent to an appropriate terminal or server via the communication network. Such an error message may be sent by email notification indicating the occurrence of the communication failure.

[0053] According to the present embodiment described above, when communication from the controller 30 that controls a plurality of power generation units is interrupted, the power generation units can be controlled more appropriately than in the past. For example, if a failure occurs only in communication from the controller 30 and no failure occurs in communication from the control device 20 to the controller 30, the information indicating the power generation plan can be received normally, so the controller 30 may not be able to recognize the occurrence of the communication failure. In this case, even if it is necessary to stop power generation of all power generation units in the power generation group 40 when the communication failure occurs, it may not be possible to stop the power generation appropriately by control of the controller 30 alone.

[0054] Therefore, according to this embodiment, when communication from the controller 30 is interrupted, an instruction to stop all power generation units of the power generation group 40 is sent from the control device 20 to the controller 30, thereby reducing the occurrence of situations in which power generation by all power generation units of the power generation group 40 cannot be properly stopped compared to conventional cases.

[0055] (First Modification) 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the first modified example of the first embodiment. The following operation may be performed, for example, by the arithmetic processing unit of the controller 23 of the control device 20 reading out a control program from the storage unit of the controller 23. However, it is not necessarily required that the following operation be performed by the control device 20. An operator may perform some of the operations. In the following example, a case where the operation is controlled by the control device 20 will be described.

[0056] The operations of steps S1, S2 and S3 in FIG. 3 are respectively similar to the operations of steps S1, S2 and S3 in FIG. 2, and therefore a description of these operations will be omitted.

[0057] 3, in step S4, even after communication from the controller 30 to the control device 20 is restored, the controller 20 transmits an "instruction to stop all power generation units of the power generation group 40" to the controller 30. Note that the "determination of whether communication from the controller 30 has been restored" may be performed, for example, by the control device 20 attempting to request the controller 30 to transmit data on the operating status of the power generation units a predetermined number of times at predetermined time intervals, as in step S2 in FIG.

[0058] According to the present modified example described above, by transmitting the above instruction to the controller 30, even after communication from the controller 30 is restored, it is possible to appropriately control the power generation units after communication from the controller 30 is restored, compared to the case where such instruction is not transmitted. For example, according to the present modified example, when communication from the controller 30 is restored, appropriate control is performed so that power generation of the power generation group 40 does not automatically resume based on the power generation plan before the occurrence of the communication failure.

[0059] The control method of the control device 20 of this modified example may be the same as that of the first embodiment, except for the above-mentioned features.

[0060] (Second Modification) 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the second modified example of the first embodiment. The following operation may be performed, for example, by the arithmetic processing unit of the controller 23 of the control device 20 reading out a control program from the storage unit of the controller 23. However, it is not necessarily required that the following operation be performed by the control device 20. An operator may perform some of the operations. In the following example, a case where the operation is controlled by the control device 20 will be described.

[0061] The operations of steps S1, S2 and S3 in FIG. 4 are respectively the same as the operations of steps S1, S2 and S3 in FIG. 2, and therefore a description of these operations will be omitted.

[0062] 4, in step S5, it is determined whether the control device 20 has received from the outside a cancellation signal for the "instruction to stop all power generation units of the power generation group 40" in step S3. Here, "outside" may refer to an "external device" not shown. Examples of the "external device" include, but are not limited to, an information terminal carried by a maintenance worker, a computer at a maintenance company, etc.

[0063] If a cancellation signal for the above instruction is not received from the outside ("No" in step S5), the operation of step S5 is executed again at an appropriate time.

[0064] If a cancellation signal for the instruction is received from outside ("Yes" in step S5), the control device 20 stops sending the instruction to the controller 30 in step S6.

[0065] According to the present modified example described above, when a cancellation signal for the instruction is received from outside, the transmission of the instruction to the controller 30 is stopped, thereby making it possible to appropriately resume power generation in the power generation group 40. For example, according to the present modified example, power generation in the power generation group 40 can be smoothly resumed during timely maintenance work after communication from the controller 30 is restored.

[0066] Other than the above-mentioned features, the control method of the control device 20 of this modified example may be the same as that of the first embodiment or the first modified example of the first embodiment.

[0067] (Third Modification) 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the third modified example of the first embodiment. The following operation may be performed, for example, by the arithmetic processing unit of the controller 23 of the control device 20 reading out a control program from the storage unit of the controller 23. However, it is not necessarily required that the following operation be performed by the control device 20. An operator may perform some of the operations. In the following example, a case where the operation is controlled by the control device 20 will be described.

[0068] The operations of steps S1, S2 and S3 in FIG. 5 are respectively the same as the operations of steps S1, S2 and S3 in FIG. 2, and therefore a description of these operations will be omitted.

[0069] After the operation of step S3 in Fig. 5 is performed, in step S7, the signal requesting communication from the controller 30 is stopped. Specifically, the signal from the control device 20 to the controller 30 requesting data transmission of the operating status of the power generation unit is stopped for a predetermined time. The "predetermined time" may be, for example, about four minutes, but is not limited to this. After this "predetermined time" has elapsed, the control device 20 may resume transmitting the signal to the controller 30 requesting data transmission of the operating status of the power generation unit.

[0070] According to the present modification described above, when communication from the controller 30 is interrupted, the signal requesting communication is stopped, thereby enabling the controller 30 to recognize the occurrence of a communication failure. This allows the controller 30 to shut down all of the power generation units in the power generation group 40 at its own discretion. In other words, according to the present modification, the instruction to the controller 30 to shut down all of the power generation units in the power generation group and the controller 30's own decision to shut down all of the power generation units in the power generation group 40 work together to more effectively reduce the occurrence of a situation in which power generation by all of the power generation units in the power generation group 40 cannot be properly shut down.

[0071] Other than the above-mentioned features, the control method of the control device 20 of this modification may be the same as that of either the first embodiment or the first or second modification of the first embodiment.

[0072] (First Example) 6A is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the first example of the first embodiment. The following operation may be performed, for example, by the arithmetic processing unit of the controller 23 of the control device 20 reading out a control program from the storage unit of the controller 23. However, it is not necessarily required that the following operation be performed by the control device 20. An operator may perform some of the operations. In the following example, a case where the operation is controlled by the control device 20 will be described.

[0073] The operations of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 6A are similar to those of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 2, respectively, and therefore a description of these operations will be omitted.

[0074] If it is determined that communication from the controller 30 has been interrupted ("Yes" in step S2), a power generation plan in which the output of the power generation group 40 is set to 0 is transmitted from the control device 20 to the controller 30 in step S3A.

[0075] According to the present embodiment described above, when communication from the controller 30, which controls a plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan of the power generation group 40, is interrupted, a power generation plan in which the output of the power generation group 40 is set to 0 is transmitted from the control device 20 to the controller 30. This makes it possible to appropriately stop power generation of all power generation units of the power generation group 40 compared to when such a power generation plan is not transmitted.

[0076] Other than the above-mentioned features, the control method of the control device 20 of this embodiment may be the same as that of any one of the first embodiment and the first to third modified examples of the first embodiment.

[0077] (Second Example) 6B is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the second example of the first embodiment. The following operation may be performed, for example, by the arithmetic processing unit of the controller 23 of the control device 20 reading out a control program from the storage unit of the controller 23. However, it is not necessarily required that the following operation be performed by the control device 20. An operator may perform some of the operations. In the following example, a case where the operation is controlled by the control device 20 will be described.

[0078] The operations of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 6B are similar to those of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 2, respectively, and therefore a description of these operations will be omitted.

[0079] If it is determined that communication from the controller 30 has been interrupted ("Yes" in step S2), an instruction to stop all power generation units in the power generation group 40 is sent from the control device 20 to the controller 30 in step S3B.

[0080] According to the present embodiment described above, when communication from the controller 30, which controls a plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan of the power generation group 40, is interrupted, a stop instruction for all power generation units of the power generation group 40 is sent from the control device 20 to the controller 30, so that the power generation of all power generation units of the power generation group 40 can be stopped appropriately compared to when such a stop instruction is not sent to the controller 30.

[0081] Other than the above features, the control method of the control device 20 of this embodiment may be the same as any of the first embodiment, the first to third modifications of the first embodiment, and the first example of the first embodiment.

[0082] (Third Example) 6C is a flowchart showing an example of the operation (control method) of the control device in the power generation system of the third example of the first embodiment. The following operation may be performed, for example, by the arithmetic processing unit of the controller 23 of the control device 20 reading out a control program from the storage unit of the controller 23. However, it is not necessarily required that the following operation be performed by the control device 20. An operator may perform some of the operations. In the following example, a case where the operation is controlled by the control device 20 will be described.

[0083] The operations of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 6C are similar to those of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 2, respectively, and therefore a description of these operations will be omitted.

[0084] If it is determined that communication from the controller 30 has been interrupted ("Yes" in step S2), it is determined in step S8 whether communication from the controller 30 has been restored. Note that the "determination of whether communication from the controller 30 has been restored" may be performed, for example, by the control device 20 attempting to request the controller 30 to transmit data on the operating status of the power generation unit a predetermined number of times at predetermined time intervals, similar to step S2 in Fig. 2.

[0085] Before communication from the controller 30 is restored (if "No" in step S8), the control device 20 transmits to the controller 30 a power generation plan in which the output of the power generation group 40 is set to 0 in step S3A.

[0086] After communication from the controller 30 is restored (if "Yes" in step S8), in step S3B, an instruction to stop all power generation units in the power generation group 40 is transmitted from the control device 20 to the controller 30. At this time, the operation of step S3A may be canceled. In other words, the operation of transmitting the power generation plan in which the output of the power generation group is set to 0 from the control device 20 to the controller 30 may be terminated.

[0087] The effects of the control method of the control device 20 of this embodiment can be easily understood from the effects explained in the first and second embodiments, and therefore a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0088] Other than the above-mentioned features, the control method of the control device 20 of this embodiment may be the same as any of the first embodiment, the first to third variants of the first embodiment, and the first to second examples of the first embodiment.

[0089] (Second embodiment) FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power generation system according to the second embodiment.

[0090] 7, the power generation system 10 of this embodiment includes a control device 20, controllers 30A to 30E, and power generation groups 40A to 40E. The internal configuration of the control device 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0091] Here, controllers 30A to 30E correspond to controller 30 in FIG. 1. Power generation groups 40A to 40E correspond to power generation group 40 in FIG. 1. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 7, power generation system 10 includes a power generation unit group consisting of a plurality of power generation units, including fuel cells. The power generation unit group is divided according to an appropriate rule, and a plurality of power generation units are grouped. Although not shown, each of these power generation units is composed of a fuel cell stack, an AC-to-AC converter for converting DC power generated by the fuel cell stack into AC power and outputting it to the power grid, and a controller for controlling the operation of these devices.

[0092] In this example, the power generation units are grouped into power generation units a1 to an belonging to power generation group 40A, power generation units b1 to bn belonging to power generation group 40B, power generation units c1 to cn belonging to power generation group 40C, power generation units d1 to dn belonging to power generation group 40D, and power generation units e1 to en belonging to power generation group 40E. All power generation units belonging to one power generation group are also simply referred to as "all power generation units of the power generation group."

[0093] However, the above configuration of the power generation unit group is merely an example and is not limited to this example. For example, the power generation unit group may be formed by grouping a plurality of power generation units of a single power generation group.

[0094] Controllers 30A to 30E are provided for power generation units a1 to an of power generation group 40A, power generation units b1 to bn of power generation group 40B, power generation units c1 to cn of power generation group 40C, power generation units d1 to dn of power generation group 40D, and power generation units e1 to en of power generation group 40E, respectively, and control the operation of all the power generation units in the power generation groups.

[0095] For example, the controller 30A controls the output of each of the power generation units a1-an belonging to the power generation group 40A via a communication network so as to enable efficient operation (for example, optimization of life span) of these power generation units. Note that the power generation units may not be provided with control devices, and the operation of the power generation units belonging to each power generation group may be directly controlled by the controllers 30A-30E.

[0096] The controllers 30A to 30E may be any device having a control function, and include a processing unit (not shown), a storage unit for storing a control program, and a communication device. The processing unit reads and executes the control program stored in the storage unit, thereby performing predetermined control in the controllers 30A to 30E. An example of the processing unit is a microprocessor. An example of the storage unit is a memory.

[0097] The effects achieved by the power generation system 10 of this embodiment are similar to those described in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0098] Other than the above features, the power generation system 10 of this embodiment may be similar to any of the first embodiment, the first to third modifications of the first embodiment, and the first to third examples of the first embodiment.

[0099] The first embodiment, the first to third variations of the first embodiment, the first to third examples of the first embodiment, and the second embodiment may be combined with one another as long as they do not exclude one another. From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present disclosure. Details of the structure and / or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0100] One aspect of the present disclosure can be used in a control method, a control device, and a power generation system that can control a power generation unit more appropriately than conventional methods when communication from a controller that controls multiple power generation units is interrupted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10: Power generation system 20: Control device 21:Communication device 23: Controller 30: Controller 30A: Controller 30B: Controller 30C:Controller 30D: Controller 30E: Controller 40: Power Generation Group 40A: Power Generation Group 40B: Power Generation Group 40C: Power Generation Group 40D: Power Generation Group 40E: Power Generation Group a1~an: power generation unit b1~bn: Power generation units c1~cn: power generation units d1~dn: Power generation units e1~en: Power generation unit

Claims

1. A step of performing a power generation plan for a power generation group including a plurality of power generation units, each including a fuel cell and a first controller, by a second controller; when communication from a third controller that controls the plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan to the second controller is interrupted, transmitting an instruction from the second controller to the third controller to stop all power generation units of the power generation group; A control method comprising:

2. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the instruction is transmitted from the second controller to the third controller even after communication from the third controller to the second controller is restored.

3. The control method according to claim 2 , wherein the second controller stops transmitting the instruction to the third controller when the second controller receives a cancellation signal for the instruction from an external device.

4. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when communication from the third controller to the second controller is interrupted, the second controller stops sending a signal to the third controller to request the communication.

5. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the instruction is a power generation plan that sets the output of the power generation group to zero.

6. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the instruction is an instruction to stop all power generation units of the power generation group.

7. before the communication from the third controller to the second controller is restored, the instruction is a power generation plan that sets the output of the power generation group to 0; The control method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein after communication from the third controller to the second controller is restored, the instruction is an instruction to stop all power generation units of the power generation group.

8. a second controller for performing a power generation plan for a power generation group including a plurality of power generation units, the power generation group including a fuel cell and a first controller; a communication device that receives communication from a third controller that controls the plurality of power generation units based on the power generation plan, When communication from the third controller to the second controller via the communicator is lost, the second controller transmits an instruction to the third controller via the communicator to shut down all power generation units of the power generation group.

9. a power generation group including a plurality of power generation units, each including a fuel cell and a first controller; The control device according to claim 8 ; A power generation system comprising:

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