Power generation module management device

Abstract

To supply generated power using a renewable energy derived fuel at a proper amount and at low cost by matching a power supply situation of a power consumer.SOLUTION: A generated power module management device is a generated power module management device which is used by a power consumer and manages the configuration of a power generation source including at least one generated power module in accordance with a power amount requested by the power consumer. The generated power module has an engine for generating power by the combustion of a fuel, and the generated power module management device has a storage part for recording power demand information related to a power amount requested by the power consumer and an available generated power module list recording available generated power modules, and selects a generated power module which can output the power amount requested by the power consumer from the available generated power module list on the basis of the power demand information, and a type of a fuel that can be used by the power consumer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for managing a power generating module having an engine. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the international initiative RE (Renewable Energy) 100 has been proposed, which aims for companies to cover 100% of the electricity used in their operations with renewable energy (hereafter referred to as "renewable energy"). To achieve this, the large-scale introduction of fluctuating renewable energy requires an adjustable power generation system that uses renewable energy-derived fuels (hereafter referred to as "RE fuels") such as hydrogen. Large-scale gas-fired power generation is one option, but the payback period for capital investment is long.

[0003] Furthermore, the response range to fluctuations in power output using existing large-scale thermal power plants is limited to 30-100%, assuming the facility's rated operating output is 100%, meaning it has little ability to respond to fluctuations in renewable energy. Furthermore, because the facility's installation location is fixed, it must be considered in conjunction with the reinforcement of power lines, which incurs the cost of additional assets. Furthermore, because large-scale thermal power plants are limited in the range of fuels they can use, it is difficult to flexibly respond to existing fuels or locally available RE fuels. Therefore, in order to shorten the payback period for capital investment, a power generation system that can respond to fluctuations in RE fuels through minor improvements to existing assets is required.

[0004] In other words, there is a need to provide asset services that enable flexible power generation using local RE fuels by adapting existing mass-produced engines such as automobile engines and industrial engines to use renewable energy-derived fuels, and by combining multiple of these engines to create low-cost, variable-energy-capable engine generators. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-206302 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When using automotive or industrial engines as stationary power generation systems compatible with RE fuel, the way the engines are used (operating points and operating times) and how they are compatible with RE fuel differ, so issues arise such as increased operating costs due to failure responses and shorter maintenance cycles. Therefore, it is important to operate with an appropriate combination of engine types and to develop replacement methods in the event of a failure.

[0007] Patent Document 1 describes an invention relating to a power generation system in which a plurality of vehicle engines are converted for use as stationary engine generators and combined together. Specifically, the invention describes an engine-type power generation system that includes a plurality of vehicle engine generators, a fuel supply unit, an operation control unit, and a status measuring instrument that measures operating state data for each engine, and a management system that includes a database unit that stores device information related to the user and installation location of the engine-type power generation system, operating state data, and engine information including the specifications or model of the vehicle engine, a data receiving unit that receives operating state data from the engine-type power generation system via a data communication line and stores it in the database, and an engine replacement need detection unit that detects and identifies, based on the operating state data, whether the engine-type power generation system includes a vehicle engine in a faulty state or the like.

[0008] Patent Document 1 describes failure diagnosis after the installation of an engine-type power generation system, but does not describe consideration of the type of power generation system at the time of installation. Furthermore, there is no description of the type of fuel to be used, such as compatibility with RE fuel. Therefore, it is difficult to address the risk of failure after the installation of a stationary power generation system compatible with RE fuel, as well as maintenance and shortening of the maintenance lead time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the power generation module management device of the present invention is a power generation module management device that is used by an electricity consumer and manages the configuration of a power generation source that includes at least one power generation module in accordance with the amount of electricity requested by the electricity consumer, and has a memory unit that stores electricity demand information regarding the amount of electricity requested by the electricity consumer and a list of available power generation modules that records available power generation modules, and selects a power generation module from the list of available power generation modules that can output the amount of electricity requested by the electricity consumer based on the electricity demand information and the type of fuel available to the electricity consumer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] This invention selects engine generators that can be supplied based on the energy demand situation of power consumers and the types of available RE fuel, and also selects them based on the health status of the engine generators, thereby reducing the risk of failure, improving ease of maintenance, and shortening lead times.In addition, because it is possible to select the optimal number and type of equipment based on the energy consumption of power consumers and the types of available fuel, it is possible to supply optimal power to power consumers, effectively utilize energy resources, and reduce CO2 emissions at low cost. Further features related to the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the relationship between a power generation module management device and power consumers according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration in which a diesel engine is equipped with a RE-compatible device. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration in which a spark ignition engine is based and an RE compatible device is installed. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel supply device for an RE compatible device. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an RE-enabled device. [Figure 6] 10 is an example of a graph for explaining a process performed by a health evaluation unit. [Figure 7] 10 is another example of a graph for explaining the processing performed by the health assessment unit. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a process performed when planning the introduction of a power generation module to a customer using the power generation module management device. [Figure 9] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a list of available power generation modules. [Figure 10] A diagram showing the power generation module configuration at the time of power generation module introduction. [Figure 11] A diagram showing the power generation module configuration during the mid-term introduction of power generation modules. [Figure 12] A diagram showing the configuration of power generation modules in the later stages of their introduction. [Figure 13] 10 is a graph showing an example of costs calculated when introducing a power generation module. [Figure 14] Graph showing an example of CO2 emissions calculated when a power generation module is installed. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing an operation method performed by the power generation module management device after the power generation module is installed. [Figure 16] A diagram showing the situation where the power generation module configuration was changed during operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the relationship between a power generation module management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and power consumers.

[0014] The power generation module management device 1 has a memory unit 100, and determines the configuration of the power generation modules required based on power demand information 103 regarding the amount of power required by power consumers such as factories and operational information 102, and selects them by referring to a list of available power generation modules 101.

[0015] The power generation module management device 1 includes a power supply information evaluation unit 16, an engine performance information calculation unit 15, an engine selection unit 14, a power generation module selection unit 13, a cost and CO2 emission calculation unit 12, and a communication unit 11. The power generation module management device 1 also includes a memory unit 100. The memory unit 100 stores power demand information 103 of power consumers, operational information 102, and a list of available power generation modules 101. The power generation module management device 1 selects and determines the configuration of power generation modules to be provided to the power consumer based on the power demand information 103 from the list of available power generation modules 101. The configuration of the power generation module includes the rated output of the power generation module, the type of fuel that can be used, and the required number of power generation modules. The module configuration determined at the time of installation can be changed based on the operational information 102. Because the power generation module is a small module, it can be easily replaced, making it possible to provide an optimal power generation module configuration based on the power consumer's actual power demand. This enables power consumers to reduce CO2 emissions at low cost. In this embodiment, the energy demand is described as an example of electricity demand, but it also includes heat demand. Furthermore, the operational information is information on what devices and energy sources the customer uses for operation, and how the energy is used.

[0016] The power generation module management device may be hardware such as a PC equipped with a CPU and memory, or may be software implemented on the cloud.

[0017] The following describes each functional unit of the power generation module management device 1. The power supply information evaluation unit 16 acquires power demand information received from power consumers and generates information about the power supply capacity required to meet that power demand. Since the required power supply information changes depending on the daily weather and the customer's operational status, the power demand information includes information about the short-term and long-term range of change, the time of change, maximum power supply, minimum power supply, etc. A short-term period refers to a change in seconds, and a long-term period refers to a change in months.

[0018] The engine performance information calculation unit 15 calculates required engine performance information, which is required engine performance information, from the power supply information, and calculates the required performance and number of engines required to configure the power generation module.

[0019] The engine selection unit 14 collects engine performance information available and selects an engine based on engine required performance information. The engine selection criteria are, for example, the engine model and health (E-SOH (Engine-State Of Health)). Here, E-SOH (hereinafter referred to as E s ) is an index that indicates the health of a power generation module, and is calculated based on the health and deterioration state of the engine installed in the power generation module. Specifically, health can be evaluated using one or more of the timing of the center of combustion and combustion stability indexes. Es at the time of engine procurement is obtained by evaluating the operating conditions, such as rotation speed and torque, when installed in the power generation module. In addition, the engine to be installed in the power generation module may be selected by combining multiple types of engines with different displacements and combustion types.

[0020] The power generation module selection unit 13 selects a power generation module to be equipped with the engine selected by the engine selection unit 14 from the available power generation module list 101. If a corresponding power generation module does not exist in the list, a new power generation module of this type may be manufactured, or the engine selection unit 14 may select an engine again.

[0021] The cost and CO2 emission calculation unit 12 calculates the costs to be imposed on the power consumer when the selected power generation module is provided to the power consumer, as well as a forecast of the trend in CO2 emissions due to the operation of the power generation module. The engine to be incorporated into the power generation module can be an engine from a used vehicle, a used industrial engine, or a new automotive or industrial engine currently in circulation, and its performance, price, etc. are known. When calculating the cost, the current price of the engine is calculated based on the E-SOH, and the price of the power generation module is determined. When combining multiple power generation modules, the total price of the power generation modules is calculated. The fuel cost and maintenance cost during operation are also calculated. Based on this, the OPEX (Operating Expense: running costs for running a business) and CAPEX (Capital Expenditure: investment costs and equipment investment, etc.) during the installation period of the power generation module to be introduced to the power consumer can be calculated, and the installation cost (sales price / lease price) can be presented to the customer.

[0022] The communication unit 11 of the power generation module management device 1 is connected to the communication unit 33 of the power consumer 3 via the network 2, and transmits and receives information such as power demand information 103 and operation information 102.

[0023] The power generation module 30 possessed by the power consumer 3 has an engine 31, a generator / converter 32, and a communication unit 33 for communicating with the power generation module management device 1. The engine 31 is a used or new vehicle engine or a used or new industrial engine. A RE compatible device 300 is incorporated into the power generation module 30 so that the engine can use RE fuel. The engine 31 can also use fuels other than renewable energy. It is also possible to supply multiple of these fuels simultaneously.

[0024] The engine 31 can be selected from diesel engines, spark ignition engines, and HCCI (Homogeneous-Charge Compression Ignition) engines, depending on the type of RE fuel available. Each engine also monitors the health of the power generation module (E) through an RE compatible device. s ) can be evaluated, and it is possible to evaluate the engine durability, maintenance lead time, etc. The soundness of the generator may also be included in the evaluation. E s A plurality of power generation modules 30 can be combined, and the electric power generated by the generators is combined as DC or AC and supplied to the electric power consumer.

[0025] The RE compatible device 300 mounted on the power generation module 30 is a device for generating electricity in the power generation module using RE fuel. The RE compatible device 300 has an RE fuel tank 301, an RE fuel supply device 302, an RE fuel supply controller 303, and a memory unit 304. The RE compatible device 300 is connected to the engine 31 by piping, and RE fuel is supplied to the engine 31. Data is also transmitted bidirectionally between the RE compatible device 300 and the engine 31. The RE compatible device 300 is also connected to the communication unit 33 by a signal line, and data can be transmitted bidirectionally.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a system 4 equipped with an RE-compatible device based on a diesel engine. Examples of RE fuel include hydrogen, biogas, ethanol, methanol, and ammonia. In this embodiment, an RE fuel supply device 302 and an RE fuel tank 301 are connected to an intake pipe 44 of an engine combustion chamber 42. An RE fuel supply controller 303 is connected to the RE fuel tank 301 and the RE fuel supply device 302, and the RE fuel supply controller 303 outputs control signals to the RE fuel tank 301 and the RE fuel supply device 302 to control the amount and timing of RE fuel supplied to the engine. The amount of RE fuel supplied to the engine is controlled based on the engine combustion state and engine operating conditions (rotation speed, torque). The amount of RE fuel supplied to the engine may also be controlled while monitoring the air-fuel ratio with an air flow sensor 50 and an oxygen concentration sensor 51. Air and RE fuel are mixed in the intake pipe 44 and supplied to the engine combustion chamber 42. The supplied air and RE fuel are heated and pressurized by compression by a piston 41. Thereafter, diesel fuel is supplied from a fuel tank 47 to the engine combustion chamber 42 by an injector 46, and combustion is initiated by ignition of the diesel fuel, resulting in combustion of the RE fuel.

[0027] The rotation signal of the rotation sensor 49 of the crankshaft 48 is taken in by the RE fuel supply control controller 303, and the soundness E s In addition, the signal from the camshaft rotation sensor 53 is input to the RE fuel supply controller 303, and the engine cylinder is identified, thereby calculating the E of each engine cylinder in the power generation module. s can be separated and calculated. s Based on this, the signal output to the RE fuel supply device 302 is controlled, and the amount of RE fuel supplied to the engine combustion chamber 42 is controlled, thereby enabling highly efficient combustion.

[0028] Also, soundness E sThe amount and timing of diesel fuel injection may be controlled by the injector 46 based on the above. The EGR rate, turbo pressure, engine speed, and torque may also be controlled. Diesel fuel may be diesel, heavy oil, biodiesel fuel, synthetic fuel, or the like. Synthetic fuel is a hydrocarbon fuel synthesized from CO2 and hydrogen, and one example is polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether.

[0029] In this embodiment, the components corresponding to the RE compatible device are the RE fuel supply control controller 303, the RE fuel tank 301, the RE fuel supply device 302, and the memory unit 304. Also, reference numerals 52 and 54 respectively denote an intake valve and an exhaust valve, reference numeral 56 denotes various ECUs mounted on the vehicle, and the memory unit 304 has a function of storing values ​​calculated by the RE fuel supply control controller 303.

[0030] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system 4' that is based on a spark ignition engine and has an RE compatible device mounted thereon. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

[0031] 3 shows a configuration in which multiple fuels are supplied to engine combustion chamber 42 via separate systems. RE fuel supply device 302 and RE fuel tank 301 are connected to intake pipe 44 of engine combustion chamber 42, and the flow rate of a mixed gas of air and RE fuel is controlled by throttle 57. Spark ignition fuel is supplied by injector 46. Spark ignition fuel includes gasoline, LPG, natural gas, ethanol-blended gasoline, ethanol, etc. When the RE fuel and spark ignition fuel are one type or a mixed fuel, only one of injector 46 or RE fuel supply device 302 is required. The supplied fuel-air mixture is supplied to engine combustion chamber 42, and then, after piston compression, combustion is initiated by ignition by ignition device 58.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the RE fuel supply device 302. As shown in FIG. 4, the RE fuel supply device 302 can adjust and mix the supply amounts of multiple fuels. For example, the injection amounts of fuels 1 and 2 are controlled by injectors, and the two injected fuels are mixed and supplied to the intake pipe of the engine. Instead of fuels 1 and 2, one type of fuel and one type of inert medium may be supplied. Examples of the inert medium include EGR gas, water, and water vapor. Mixing the inert medium with the RE fuel and supplying it to the engine makes it possible to control the combustion timing and combustion stability, which leads to a wider supply range of the RE fuel. Furthermore, the RE fuel supply device 302 may use only one injector and be used to control the supply amount of one type of fuel.

[0033] 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the RE fuel supply controller 303. As shown in FIG. 5, input values ​​from various sensors are acquired from a sensor input unit 3031. The sensors referred to here include a crankshaft rotation sensor, a camshaft rotation sensor, an air flow sensor 50, an oxygen concentration sensor 51, a current sensor for the generator / converter 32, an engine in-cylinder pressure sensor, and the like. The input values ​​acquired by the sensor input unit 3031 are sent to a soundness evaluation unit 3032, and a soundness E is calculated using a mathematical formula described later. s is calculated. The calculated E s is further transmitted to the control unit 3033, and the health E s The RE fuel supply device 302, the injector 46, the ignition device 58, the throttle 57, the EGR valve (omitted from FIGS. 2 and 3), and the generator / converter are controlled based on the above. In the generator / converter, the operating point of power generation (power, voltage, current) is controlled. The health evaluation unit 3032 communicates data with the memory unit 304.

[0034] The process performed by the engine health evaluation unit 3032 mounted on the RE fuel supply controller 303 will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is a graph for explaining the combustion timing (MFB: Mass Fraction Burnt), which shows the ratio of combustion to the rotation timing of the engine. Health E sThe combustion stability can be evaluated based on the combustion timing and stability. The combustion ratio is the ratio of heat generated by combustion to the calorific value of the fuel supplied. The timing at which this ratio reaches 50% is defined as the combustion center timing (MFB50T). For example, if impurities accumulate in the engine's combustion chamber or if engine oil is easily mixed in, combustion occurs early (abnormal combustion on the left side of Figure 6). On the other hand, if ignition is poor or if ignition and flame propagation after ignition are slow, combustion occurs late (abnormal combustion on the right side of Figure 6). Combustion stability is expressed by the coefficient of variation of indicated mean effective pressure (COV of IMEP); the lower the coefficient of variation, the higher the combustion stability. COV is calculated by dividing the standard deviation of IMEP (work per cycle divided by the engine's swept volume) for each cycle by the average IMEP. MFB50T and COV of IMEP are calculated based on data from at least 10 engine cycles.

[0035] Figure 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the type of fuel (H2 mixture ratio), excess air ratio, EGR rate, and combustion timing and combustion variation rate. As shown in Figure 7, COV of IMEP and MFB50T vary depending on the type of fuel supplied to the engine and conditions (engine speed, torque, excess air ratio, EGR rate, etc.). Therefore, a reference point for operation is determined, and COV of IMEP and MFB50T under the reference conditions are periodically calculated to determine the health E. s Here, the EGR rate is an index showing the degree of exhaust gas recirculation, and is expressed as (intake CO2 concentration - atmospheric CO2 concentration) / (exhaust CO2 concentration - atmospheric CO2 concentration) x 100. Health E s is the soundness of the combustion center timing (MFB50T) E s1 and combustion coefficient of variation (COV of IMEP) soundness E s2 Calculate using E s1 , E s2 is calculated using Equation 1.

[0036]

number

[0037] Regarding the above formula 1, the soundness E of MFB50T s1 is the MFB50T (M i ) and the standard value of MFB50T (M t ) and the standard deviation (σ1) of MFB50T for all engines. s2 is the COV of IMEP (C i ) and the average COV of IMEP for all engines (C a ) and the standard deviation (σ2) of the COV of IMEP for all engines under consideration. s1 The closer the value is to the reference timing, the larger it becomes, and it can be used to relatively express the normality of the combustion timing. s2 E can express the combustion stability relatively. s1 and E s2 are the coefficients of influence a 1、 The degree of impact can be adjusted by a2, and the degree of impact is set according to the impact on operations, etc.

[0038] The COV of IMEP and MFB50T is measured using a combustion pressure sensor mounted on the engine. For engines without a pressure sensor, it can be estimated using a rotation sensor connected to the engine's crankshaft or the generated current of a generator connected to the crankshaft.

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart for planning system introduction to a customer using the power generation module management device 1. Note that, although an example in which each step is executed by one of the functional units of the power generation module management device 1 will be described below, each step may also be executed by another functional unit. In step S801, information about an electric power consumer who is considering introducing a power generation module is obtained from the communication unit 33 of the electric power consumer via the communication unit 11 of the power generation module management device 1. The information about the electric power consumer includes the type and output of assets owned or managed by the consumer. It also includes information about short-term (second-by-second) and long-term (month-by-month) changes in electric power demand and changes in power generation by private power generation facilities.

[0040] The assets are private power generation equipment systems such as photovoltaic power generation systems, wind power generation systems, mono-generation systems, and co-generation systems. In step S802, the power supply information evaluation unit 16 determines the necessity of a power generation module that utilizes RE fuel. For example, if the customer's CO2 reduction and introduction cost targets can be met by introducing an energy storage facility such as a battery, it is determined that a power generation module that utilizes RE fuel is not necessary. Specifically, in many cases, a battery system can handle power fluctuations on a scale of seconds to days. If it is determined that a power generation module is necessary, in step S803, the engine performance information calculation unit 15 calculates the required output scale for the power demanded by the power consumer 3. In this calculation, the output scale is calculated on a scale of seconds to months.

[0041] In step S804, the engine selection unit 14 selects available engines. As an example of this selection method, engines in circulation are divided into RE fuel engines and non-RE fuel engines, and the ratio of the output of RE fuel-compatible engines to the output of non-RE fuel-compatible engines is calculated based on the information on renewable energy available to power consumers at each time period acquired in step S801, and a combination of engines that satisfies each output is selected. There may be multiple combinations.

[0042] In step S805, the power generation module selection unit 13 refers to the available power generation module list 101 to determine the number and type of power generation modules to be used, each equipped with the engine selected in step S804.

[0043] An example of a list of available power generation modules is shown in the chart in Figure 9. The characteristics of each power generation module are listed. The characteristic items are the types of fuel that can be used to generate power (supported fuel types), for example, the above diesel fuel, the above spark ignition fuel, and RE fuel. It is desirable to support multiple types of supported fuel types, but a single type is also acceptable. Other items include the rated output and power generation efficiency at rated output, the range of output change (power generation efficiency is above a certain level), and the soundness of the power generation module (E s ), engine model, manufacturing year, and aging information. The aging information is, for example, information on changes in E-SOH for each operating hour. It may also include changes in power generation efficiency and output for each operating hour.

[0044] In step S805, multiple power generation modules are selected from the list and combined to be considered for provision. In this embodiment, power generation modules that can accommodate a variety of fuels are selected. This makes it possible to update modules in accordance with the customer's RE fuel introduction plan. Furthermore, solar power generation and wind power generation fluctuate significantly from seconds to months. Therefore, short-term fluctuations, such as those on a second-by-second basis, are handled by controlling the operation of the modules, and long-term fluctuations, such as those on a daily to monthly basis, are handled by changing the combination and number of modules.

[0045] The above-mentioned update of the power generation module configuration will be explained using Figures 10 to 12. Figures 10 to 12 show example module usage plans from the early to late stages of implementation, as well as examples of how to respond to monthly fluctuations. Specifically, Figure 10 shows an example configuration for the early stage of implementation, Figure 11 shows that for the mid-stage of implementation, and Figure 12 shows that for the late stage of implementation. For example, in the early stages of implementation, there is little introduction of renewable energy, and in many cases the amount of available renewable fuel is small, so operations are primarily carried out using natural gas. Also, in Figure 10, the proportion of hydrogen among available fuels is higher from May to August compared to other months. This is because the balance of supply and demand for electricity results in an excess supply of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar power generation, leading to active procurement of hydrogen supply using surplus electricity.

[0046] Additionally, the amount of biofuel that can be produced from agricultural waste and plants such as wood varies greatly with the seasons. If agricultural crops or plants are harvested or grown from spring to summer, they can then be used as biofuel in the fall (September to November in Figure 10). Also, in the early stages of implementation, there will be periods when the balance of supply and demand for renewable electricity will result in a shortage of renewable electricity, but in those cases it will be possible to operate using only natural gas (January to February and December in Figure 10).

[0047] In addition, customer electricity demand changes throughout the year. Therefore, the number of modules is adjusted monthly (Figure 10 shows an example of a fluctuation range of 15 to 30 modules). This makes it possible to improve the utilization rate of the power generation modules. Furthermore, unused power generation modules can be deployed to other power consumers or to other locations for the same power consumer, enabling efficient operation of power generation module assets.

[0048] After that, as the amount of renewable fuel procured increases from the mid- to late-stage implementation, the types and quantities of available fuels change. Figure 11 shows an example of the number and types of power generation modules in use in the mid-stage implementation (5 to 10 years after implementation). Compared to the early stage implementation in Figure 10, operation will shift from being dominated by natural gas to being dominated by renewable fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels. Natural gas will be used during periods of renewable energy shortages (January to March and December).

[0049] Figure 12 shows an example of the number and type of power generation modules used in the later stages of implementation (10 years or more after implementation). In this case, operation will be on RE fuel only. In this explanation, the RE fuels have been described as hydrogen and biofuel, but ammonia and synthetic fuel eFuel can also be used. In this way, by gradually changing and operating the power generation modules in accordance with the availability of RE fuel, it will be possible to seamlessly transition to carbon neutrality and reasonably achieve RE100.

[0050] Returning to the flowchart in Figure 8, after determining the number and type of power generation modules to be used in step S805, the cost and CO2 emission calculation unit 12 calculates the cost and CO2 emission in step S806. Figures 13 and 14 show examples of the cost and CO2 calculation results. As shown in Figure 13, the cost consists of CAPEX, OPEX, and the profit of the power generation module provider. The customer can decide whether or not to accept the provision of a power generation module from the perspective of whether this cost falls within the allowable cost range.

[0051] FIG. 14 also shows predicted CO2 emissions over the course of the contract. For example, if an electricity consumer sets a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% in five years and 100% in ten years, step S807 considers whether the allowable cost (the cost paid by the electricity consumer) at that time will be met. If not, step S805 selects again the number and type of power generation modules to be used. If the allowable cost and target CO2 emissions are met, the power generation module is introduced to the electricity consumer. Since the information in step S801 differs for each electricity consumer, the flow in FIG. 8 is carried out for each electricity consumer.

[0052] 8 follows a flow in which, after the power generation module configuration is determined in step S805, the cost and CO2 emissions are calculated and presented to the power consumer, who then decides whether or not to install the power generation module. In other words, in step S805, an engine combination that satisfies the power consumer's allowable cost and target CO2 emissions is selected from the multiple engine combinations selected in S804.

[0053] By utilizing the power generation module management device having the above-described functions, the following effects can be obtained. This enables a resilient supply of power to electricity consumers. In other words, even in times when it is difficult for electricity consumers to procure renewable energy power or when it is difficult to supply RE fuel, power can be generated using fossil fuels or other methods depending on the situation, making it possible to supply power without being dependent on fluctuations in renewable energy. Since power generation modules supply power by combining multiple modules, modules can be easily replaced while power is being supplied. Changes can also be made instantly depending on the situation.

[0054] Furthermore, for electricity consumers, this enables them to reduce CO2 emissions while minimizing costs. Renewable energy fluctuations can vary from seconds to months. As a result, the amount of renewable energy generated by consumers and the types of renewable fuel they can procure change. Accordingly, consumers can select and reassemble power generation modules that minimize costs and maximize CO2 reductions. The components of the power generation module—engine, generator, and converter—are mass-produced parts that can be used in automobiles, etc., and are therefore low-cost. Furthermore, because the engine is equipped with a renewable energy-compatible device, it can be used with renewable fuels, fossil fuels, and a combination of these fuels. This means that the low-cost power generation module can generate electricity using available, inexpensive renewable fuels and fossil fuels.

[0055] 15 is a flowchart showing an operation method after a power generation module is introduced to an electric power consumer. After the power generation module is introduced, in step S1501, data on the amount of power generated by the electric power consumer, data on fuel consumption, and the health (E) of the introduced power generation module are transmitted via the communication unit 11. s ) is acquired. In step S1502, the power supply information evaluation unit 16 analyzes the difference between the value of the data and the value predicted at the time of planning. Specifically, if the cost or CO2 emissions shown in Figs. 13 and 14 change by more than a predetermined value, it is determined that operation needs to be modified (step S1503).

[0056] If it is determined that operation needs to be modified, the parts to be modified are clarified in step S1504, and if any of the renewable energy power generation amount, power demand amount, or fuel type of the power consumer needs to be modified in step S1505, the list of available power generation modules 101 is referenced, and the number and type of power generation modules are changed in step S1506. In other words, the process shown in Fig. 8 is performed again. As an example of updating the power generation module configuration during operation as described above, the case shown in Fig. 16 can be considered.

[0057] For example, if the procurement of hydrogen, a renewable fuel, falls short of the plan, the maximum hydrogen blend ratio will be reduced from 60% to 30% (May). Accordingly, the selected module type will be changed to one with a lower hydrogen supply ratio. Furthermore, if the amount of renewable energy power generation owned or managed by an electricity consumer is higher than planned, the maximum and minimum output of the power generation module may be lower than planned (July). In this case, it is possible to address the issue by changing the number of modules.

[0058] If it is determined in step S1507 that the correction is not to the amount of renewable energy generated, the amount of electricity demanded, or the type of fuel owned by the power consumer, then this is due to a change in the performance of the installed power generation module, and so in step S1507 the portion of the power generation module database that needs to be updated is clarified. For example, if the E-SOH decline becomes significant, the maintenance period or the power generation module replacement period due to deterioration in durability will change, so the E-SOH value in Figure 9 is updated. Similarly, if the rated output or power generation efficiency changes, the values ​​in Figure 9 are updated. Then, the aging information for the power generation module of the same model as the updated module number is updated. Note that with regard to the above processing, processing other than step S1506 is executed by, for example, the power supply information evaluation unit 16.

[0059] According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the following advantageous effects are achieved. (1) The power generation module management device of the present invention is a power generation module management device that is used by an electric power consumer and manages the configuration of a power generation source including at least one power generation module according to the amount of power requested by the electric power consumer, and has a memory unit that stores power demand information regarding the amount of power requested by the electric power consumer and a list of available power generation modules that stores available power generation modules, and selects a power generation module from the list of available power generation modules that can output the amount of power requested by the electric power consumer based on the power demand information and the type of fuel available to the electric power consumer.

[0060] With the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the risk of breakdowns, improve ease of maintenance, and shorten lead times by selecting engine generators that can be provided based on the energy demand situation of power consumers and the types of RE fuel that can be used, and by selecting based on the health status of the engine generators (power generation modules).In addition, because it is possible to select the optimal number and type of equipment based on the energy consumption of power consumers and the types of fuel that can be used, it is possible to supply optimal power to power consumers, effectively utilize energy resources, and reduce CO2 emissions at low cost.

[0061] (2) The power demand information is information that fluctuates at each specified time, and the power generation module management device selects the power generation module in accordance with the power demand information that fluctuates at each specified time. This makes it possible to configure the power generation module in accordance with the fuel supply and demand situation that fluctuates with the seasons, and enables the power generation module to be used effectively.

[0062] (3) When selecting a power generation module, the costs imposed on the power consumer due to the introduction of the power generation module and the carbon dioxide emissions reduced by the continued operation of the power generation module are calculated. This makes it possible to present the power consumer with the costs required to achieve the carbon dioxide emissions reduction desired by the consumer, and enables the power consumer to decide whether or not to introduce the power generation module depending on whether the cost is within their acceptable cost range.

[0063] (4) The memory unit further stores operational information related to the operation of the power generation module, and when at least one of the ongoing costs or reduced carbon dioxide emissions deviates from the calculated costs or carbon dioxide emissions by a predetermined value, the power generation module management device determines whether the deviation is due to a change in the operational information. This makes it possible to update the power generation module configuration even after the power generation module is installed, and to appropriately respond to deterioration of the power generation module due to operation, etc.

[0064] (5) If the dissociation is due to a change in operational information, a power generation module is reselected in accordance with the change, and if the dissociation is not due to a change in operational information, the power generation module list is updated based on the change, making it possible to determine whether the power generation module configuration should be updated during operation or whether the list can be updated alone.

[0065] (6) The change in the performance of the power generation module is a change in any of the health, rated output, and power generation efficiency of the power generation module. By storing various information about the power generation module in a list, it becomes possible to efficiently manage the power generation module.

[0066] (7) The engine health is calculated using either the power output of the power generation module, or the type of fuel supplied to the engine of the power generation module, or the combustion timing and combustion stability based on one or more of the engine's EGR rate or excess air ratio. This makes it possible to appropriately determine the engine condition using data that can be easily obtained using sensors, etc.

[0067] (8) The power generation source has multiple power generation modules, and the multiple power generation modules can combine and supply the generated electricity as either DC or AC, and each of the engines of the multiple power generation modules can be supplied with either renewable energy-derived fuel or fossil fuel. This makes it possible to use a variety of power generation modules and engines, thereby providing a wide range of options for power generation module configurations.

[0068] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are included without departing from the main features of the present invention. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be interpreted as limiting. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations, and all of these are within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1, power generation module management device 3, power consumer 30, power generation module 100, memory unit 101, available power generation module list 102, operation information 103, power demand information

Claims

1. A power generation module management device that manages a configuration of a power generation source used by an electric power consumer, the power generation source including at least one power generation module, in accordance with an amount of electric power requested by the electric power consumer, comprising: a storage unit in which power demand information relating to the amount of power required by the power consumer and a list of available power generation modules in which available power generation modules are recorded; selecting, from the list of available power generation modules, the power generation module capable of outputting the amount of power requested by the power consumer, based on the power demand information and the type of fuel available to the power consumer; A power generation module management device characterized by:

2. The power generation module management device according to claim 1, The power demand information is information that changes at each predetermined time, the power generation module management device selects the power generation module in accordance with the power demand information that varies at each predetermined time period; A power generation module management device characterized by:

3. The power generation module management device according to claim 1, When selecting the power generation module, calculate the cost imposed on the power consumer due to the introduction of the power generation module and the carbon dioxide emissions reduced by the continued operation of the power generation module. A power generation module management device characterized by:

4. The power generation module management device according to claim 3, The storage unit further stores operational information related to the operation of the power generation module, the power generation module management device, when at least one of the currently occurring cost or the reduced amount of carbon dioxide emissions deviates from the calculated cost or the calculated amount of carbon dioxide emissions by a predetermined value, determines whether the deviation is due to a change in the operational information; A power generation module management device characterized by:

5. The power generation module management device according to claim 4, If the dissociation is based on a change in the operational information, reselecting the power generation module in accordance with the change; If the separation is not due to a change in the operational information, it is determined that the separation is due to a change in the performance of the power generation module, and the available power generation module list is updated based on the change. A power generation module management device characterized by:

6. The power generation module management device according to claim 5, The change in performance of the power generation module is a change in any one of the health, rated output, and power generation efficiency of the power generation module. A power generation module management device characterized by:

7. The power generation module management device according to claim 6, The soundness is calculated using any one of a type of fuel supplied to an engine of the power generation module, and combustion timing and combustion stability based on one or more of an EGR rate and an excess air ratio of the engine. A power generation module management device characterized by:

8. The power generation module management device according to claim 1, the power generation source has a plurality of the power generation modules, and the plurality of power generation modules are capable of combining and supplying generated electric power as either DC or AC; Each of the engines of the plurality of power generation modules can be supplied with either renewable energy-derived fuel or fossil fuel. A power generation module management device characterized by:

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