JP2014009834A - Cogeneration system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cogeneration system capable of avoiding supply suspension of a fuel gas by a gas meter.SOLUTION: A cogeneration system coupled to a flow channel for a fuel gas includes: a driving section 3 that generates electric energy and/or air conditioning energy and waste heat by the fuel gas; a heat source machine 7 that performs recovery use of the waste heat in the driving section 3 and generates heat by the fuel gas; and a control section 100 that controls to temporarily stop the driving section 3 and the heat source machine 7 before exceeding a predetermined limit period when the fuel gas continuously circulates in the flow channel beyond a predetermined allowable period.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cogeneration system that operates a drive unit with fuel and uses exhaust heat generated in the drive unit.

  A general cogeneration system (also referred to as a cogeneration system or cogeneration) has a drive unit that is driven by fuel and generates electric energy and / or air conditioning energy and exhaust heat. For example, if the drive unit is a generator including an engine, a fuel cell, etc., it can be driven by fuel to generate electrical energy and exhaust heat. Moreover, if a drive part is a gas heat pump, it can drive with a fuel and can generate air-conditioning energy and waste heat. Furthermore, if the drive unit is a gas heat pump with a generator, it can be driven by fuel to generate electric energy, air-conditioning energy, and exhaust heat. In a general cogeneration system, in addition to a drive unit, a heat source device that generates heat by burning fuel is provided. For example, the heat source device includes a water heater that generates heat by burning fuel. The drive unit and the heat source device can be driven separately, and each can consume fuel and generate heat.

  By the way, when using gas as a fuel of a drive part and a heat source machine, the continuous operation time of a cogeneration system may become a problem. For example, when the heat of the heat source machine is mainly used for heating in a cold district or the like, the cogeneration system may be continuously operated for a relatively long period of time in order to continuously heat a residence or the like. In such a case, the gas used as the fuel for the cogeneration system, that is, the fuel for the drive unit and the heat source machine, continues to be supplied for a relatively long period of time. However, a gas meter (also referred to as a microcomputer meter) for preventing gas leakage is generally attached to the gas fuel flow path. A gas meter has a device that operates when it receives gas fuel or is supplied with gas fuel when the flow rate of the gas fuel continues to satisfy a predetermined shut-off condition for a predetermined period. It has a function of cutting off the supply of gas fuel by determining that it is left unattended. Specifically, (I) when the gas fuel continuously flows through the flow path over a predetermined period, or (II) when the change in the flow rate of the gas fuel is within a predetermined range over a predetermined period. The state (I) is referred to as a gas fuel continuous use state. The state (II) is referred to as a gas fuel flow rate constant state. (I) When the continuous use state of gas fuel exceeds a predetermined limit period and / or (II) When the constant flow rate of gas fuel exceeds a predetermined limit period, the gas meter has problems such as gas leakage. The gas fuel supply is cut off. Hereinafter, in the present specification, a predetermined time for determining whether or not the gas meter has failed is referred to as a limit time.

  When the gas meter cuts off the supply of gas fuel, not only the cogeneration system, but all gas equipment becomes unusable. Since the restoration work of the gas meter may take a relatively long time, in this case, there is a possibility that a gas-using device such as a cogeneration system cannot be used for a relatively long time.

  Techniques for avoiding such problems have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). According to the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, by changing the output of the drive unit (generator) and / or the heat source machine at least once within the limit time so that the above (II) does not occur. The flow rate of gas fuel is not constant.

  However, according to such a technique, it is possible to avoid shutting off the gas fuel by the gas meter based on the above (II), but it is not possible to avoid shutting off the gas fuel by the gas meter based on the above (I). There was a problem.

JP 2009-243736 A JP 2004-258767 A JP 2006-19169 A

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above-mentioned actual condition, and makes it a subject to provide the cogeneration system which can avoid supply interruption | blocking of the gas fuel by a gas meter.

A cogeneration system according to the present invention is a cogeneration system connected to a gas fuel flow path,
A drive unit for generating electric energy and / or air conditioning energy and exhaust heat by the gas fuel;
A heat source machine that collects and uses the exhaust heat of the drive unit and generates heat by the gas fuel;
When the gas fuel continuously flows through the flow path exceeding a predetermined allowable period, a control unit that temporarily stops and controls the drive unit and the heat source unit before exceeding a predetermined limit period; It has something.

  According to the present invention, the drive unit and the heat source unit are temporarily stopped before the time during which the gas fuel continuously flows reaches a predetermined limit time. At this time, the continuous flow of gas in the gas flow path is interrupted. For this reason, it is possible to avoid both (I) the continuous use state of the gas fuel exceeding the limit time and (II) the constant flow state of the gas fuel exceeding the limit time. That is, if the distribution of the gas fuel is stopped, the continuous distribution of the gas fuel is stopped and the flow rate of the gas fuel is greatly changed. For this reason, both when the gas meter detects (I) the continuous use state of the gas fuel and (II) detects the constant state of the flow rate of the gas fuel, avoiding the gas fuel shutoff by the gas meter. it can.

  In the present invention, the end of the allowable period serving as a trigger for the stop control may be before the end of the limit period described above, and is not particularly limited. That is, if the drive unit and the heat source unit are temporarily stopped by the control unit within a predetermined allowable period before the limit period is exceeded, the above-described gas fuel cutoff by the gas meter can be avoided.

The cogeneration system according to the present invention preferably includes any of the following (1) to (7), and more preferably includes a plurality.
(1) It has an input unit for manually operating the heat source machine, and the control unit displays a notification for performing the stop control on the input unit before performing the stop control.
(2) The control unit starts the stop control when the gas fuel continuously flows through the flow path beyond the allowable period and reaches a predetermined stop time.
(3) When the heat source device is turned on by the input unit, the stop control is temporarily released.
(4) The predetermined stop time is a predetermined time between 1 am and 3 am.
(5) The predetermined stop time is an arbitrary time input by the user.
(6) After the temporary release of the stop control, the stop control is resumed when the gas fuel continuously flows through the flow path after a predetermined operation period.
(7) The predetermined operation period is 26 to 30 hours.

  According to the cogeneration system of the present invention, whether the gas meter detects (I) the continuous use state of the gas fuel or (II) detects the constant flow rate of the gas fuel, It is possible to avoid gas fuel shutoff by the gas meter.

1 is a system diagram illustrating a cogeneration system according to a first embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining control of the heat source machine in the cogeneration system of Embodiment 1. It is a flowchart explaining control of the heat source machine in the cogeneration system of Embodiment 2. 10 is a flowchart illustrating control of a heat source machine in the cogeneration system according to the third embodiment.

  The cogeneration system of this invention has a drive part and a heat source machine as mentioned above. The drive unit may be any unit that generates electric energy or air-conditioning energy using gas fuel (for example, a gas engine, a fuel cell, a gas heat pump, etc.), and the type thereof is not particularly limited. For example, it may be used mainly for heating applications, may be used mainly for power generation applications, or may be used mainly for cooling applications. In any case, continuous operation may cause (I) continuous use of gas fuel and / or (II) constant flow rate of gas fuel. The heat source device is not particularly limited as long as it generates heat with gas fuel (for example, a water heater, a gas heater, a hot water heater / heat source device, etc.). In any case, the circulation of the gas fuel itself can be temporarily stopped by temporarily stopping the drive unit and the heat source unit before reaching the predetermined limit period. Therefore, the gas meter determines that (I) the continuous use state of the gas fuel has stopped and / or (II) the constant flow state of the gas fuel has stopped. Then, the timer built in the gas meter is reset. Therefore, when the distribution of the gas fuel is resumed, the gas meter starts counting down again from the beginning of the limit period. For this reason, even if the temporary stop is completed and the drive unit and / or the heat source unit is operated again, the gas fuel is not cut off by the gas meter until a new limit period elapses. Therefore, according to the cogeneration system of the present invention, gas fuel cutoff by the gas meter can be avoided.

  By the way, depending on the gas meter, in order to avoid misjudgment, the state in which the continuous use state of the gas fuel is stopped or the state in which the flow rate of the gas fuel is changed is not continued for a predetermined period of time. (II) Some determine that the constant flow rate of gas fuel has stopped. Even when the gas supply is received from such a gas meter, it is preferable that the temporary stop period of the drive unit and the heat source machine is a certain long period in order to avoid interruption of the gas fuel. In addition, if the pause period is too long, the user may be inconvenienced. Therefore, the pause period is preferably a short period. Taking these into account, the temporary suspension period is preferably 30 minutes or longer and 3 hours or shorter, and more preferably 35 minutes or longer and 1 hour or shorter.

  Further, an input unit (for example, a remote controller) for operating / stopping the cogeneration system is generally arranged in a living room such as a building. That is, the drive part and the heat source machine in the cogeneration system can be operated / stopped by the user. For example, when the drive unit and the heat source unit are temporarily stopped and controlled by the control unit of the cogeneration system, the user can operate the input unit to issue a request to restart the operation of the heat source unit (turn on the operation). is there. In this case, the heat source unit may be set to maintain a stopped state in response to an operation request from the user (input unit ON operation), or set to operate in response to an input unit ON operation. You may do it. When maintaining the stopped state of the heat source machine without depending on the ON operation of the input unit, it is possible to reliably avoid gas fuel cutoff by the gas meter. When gas fuel is cut off by the gas meter, it may take a long time to recover. On the other hand, since the time for temporarily stopping and controlling the drive unit and the heat source machine by the control unit is relatively short, the period during which the user is inconvenienced is also short. Further, when restarting the operation of the heat source device in response to the ON operation of the input unit, as will be described later, after the predetermined period has elapsed since the restart of the operation (before the limit period has elapsed), the drive unit again In addition, temporary control of the heat source machine may be performed. In addition, after the pause control by the control unit, when the heat source unit ON operation from the input unit is performed a plurality of times (for example, 5 times or more), priority is given to the pause control by the control unit before the limit period elapses. You may set so that it may carry out, and you may set so that priority may be given to heat source machine ON operation from an input part. In such a case, if priority is given to the heat source unit on operation from the input unit, there is a possibility that the gas fuel is shut off by the gas meter after the limit period elapses without performing the temporary stop control.

  There may be a case where the user does not notice that the drive unit and the heat source device are being temporarily controlled and repeatedly turns on the heat source device. In such a case, there is a risk of inconvenience to the user or discomfort to the user, both when priority is given to temporary stop control by the control unit and when the fuel is cut off by the meter. is there. Therefore, when the suspension control is performed by the control unit, it is preferable to display the fact during the stop and notify the user beforehand. In addition, it is preferable that this prior notification is performed so that the user can easily recognize it. As described above, the input unit of the cogeneration system is often arranged in the room, and the user is highly likely to visually recognize the input unit when turning on the heat source machine. Therefore, it is considered that the user can be notified in advance that the suspension control is performed by displaying a prior notification that the suspension control is performed on such an input unit. Specifically, it is preferable to perform advance notification by at least one method selected from lamp lighting, display of characters and symbols, voice guidance, telop, and the like. This prior notification is preferably performed continuously for a period until the suspension control is completed. In the case of pre-notification using a telop, it is preferable to display the telop every time the user performs button display. This is because it is considered that the above-described gas meter timer reset is not performed until the temporary stop control is completed. For example, if the pause control is not completed by repeating the pause control → resume, the time during which the pause control is performed and the time when the operation is resumed are included in the operation time of the drive unit and the heat source machine (integrated Are preferred). It is preferable to continue the advance notice until the pause control is completed. Furthermore, when the operation is restarted several times by turning on the input unit, the remaining time until the limit period is reached (that is, the control unit performs a preferential stop control or the gas meter shuts off the gas fuel). It is preferable to display at least one selected from the number of times of pause control that the control unit may perform until the limit time and the scheduled date and time when the pause control is performed. Furthermore, it is preferable that the input unit is provided with a switch or the like that allows the user to set the start of the pause control and the date and time for starting the pause control.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the cogeneration system of Embodiment 1 of this invention is demonstrated.

  The cogeneration system according to the first embodiment is a system that includes the power generation unit 1, generates electric power (generates power) by the engine 3 that is operated by fuel, and uses exhaust heat of the engine 3. This system has a power generation unit 1 and a heat source unit 7. The power generation unit 1 corresponds to a drive unit in the cogeneration system of the present invention. The heat source unit 7 serves as a heat source for heating a heat medium (water in the embodiment) used in a heating device 75 such as a floor heating device or an indoor heating device. In the embodiment, water is used as the heat medium, but is not particularly limited. For example, a heating antifreeze may be used.

  The power generation unit 1 includes a housing 2, an engine 3, a generator 39, an engine coolant circulation system 5, an exhaust heat recovery system 6, a heat exchanger 59, and a control device 100. The engine 3 has a drive shaft 3a, and the generator 39 is rotationally driven by the engine drive shaft 3a to generate electric power. The engine coolant circulating in the engine 3 circulates in the engine coolant circulation system 5. The exhaust heat recovery system 6 can exchange heat with the engine coolant circulation system 5 by the heat exchanger 59 and flows to the heat source unit 7. The exhaust heat recovery system 6 assists the heat source device 7 by recovering exhaust heat of the engine cooling water when the engine 3 becomes hot.

  The engine 3 has a hydraulic switch 30 and a rotation sensor 31 that detects the rotation speed of the engine 3. For reference, the generator 39 basically generates power during steady operation where the operation of the engine 3 is stable, and does not generate power during warm-up promotion control where the operation stability of the engine 3 is not necessarily sufficient. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel flow path 8 is introduced into the housing 2 and the heat source unit 7. The fuel flow path 8 is connected to the downstream side of the gas meter 105, and is supplied to the first flow path 8 a that supplies the gas fuel to the engine 3 toward the housing 2 and to the heating unit 7 a that is described later toward the heat source unit 7. Branches to the second flow path 8b. In the gas meter 105, (I) the state in which the gas fuel is continuously flowing through the flow path exceeds a predetermined limit period, and / or (II) the state in which the flow rate of the gas fuel is constant or substantially constant When the gas exceeds the predetermined limit period, the gas supply is stopped.

  The first flow path 8a is provided with electromagnetic valves 80a and 80b, a governor 81, a surge tank 82, a fuel valve 83, and a throttle valve 84. The housing 2 is provided with an air passage 85 for supplying air to the engine 3 separately from the first flow path 8a. The air passage 85 is connected to an intake port of the engine 3 via an air cleaner 86 and a throttle valve 84. An air-fuel mixture of the fuel gas introduced through the first flow path 8a and the air introduced through the air passage 85 is supplied to the combustion chamber of the engine 3 through the throttle valve 84 and the intake port of the engine 3. . The air-fuel mixture burns in the combustion chamber, whereby the piston of the engine 3 operates. An exhaust passage 90 extending to the outside of the housing 2 is connected to the exhaust port of the engine 3. The exhaust passage 90 is a passage for releasing hot exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port of the engine 3 to the outside air. Connected to the exhaust passage 90 is an exhaust heat exchanger 91, an exhaust silencer 92, and a drain trapper 93 for heating the engine coolant flowing through the engine coolant circuit 50 with the heat of the exhaust gas.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the engine coolant circulation system 5 is built in the housing 2 of the power generation unit 1 and has an engine coolant circuit 50 and an engine coolant pump 51. The engine cooling water circuit 50 is a closed circulation type circuit, and the engine cooling water heated by exchanging heat with the engine 3 circulates therethrough. The engine coolant in the engine coolant circuit 50 is circulated by the engine coolant pump 51.

  The engine coolant circuit 50 includes passages 50 a to 50 c, a buffer tank 52, a bypass passage 53 that bypasses the buffer tank 52, and a thermo valve 54. The buffer tank 52 has a capacity capable of storing engine cooling water, and serves as a storage tank for engine cooling water. The thermo valve 54 switches between the bypass passage 53 and the buffer tank 52 by opening and closing the ports 54a to 54c according to the temperature of the engine coolant. By flowing the engine coolant through the bypass passage 53 (switching so as to bypass the buffer tank 52), the engine coolant can be warmed early, for example, when the engine 3 is started. The passage 50 a communicates with the exhaust heat exchanger 91 and is heated by high-temperature exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port of the engine 3 and flowing through the exhaust passage 90. For this reason, the engine coolant flowing through the passage 50 a and the engine coolant circuit 50 is heated by the exhaust heat exchanger 91. An inverter 201 and a control board 202 are provided in the housing 2 of the power generation unit 1.

  The heat source unit 7 in the cogeneration system of the first embodiment is a hot water supply type heat source unit that heats water supplied to the indoor or outdoor heating device 75, and is heated by the combustion type heating unit 7a and the heating unit 7a. A pump 7b for conveying water toward the heating device 75; The heating unit 7a heats the water by burning the fuel gas supplied through the second flow path 8b. Furthermore, the heat source device 7 has a heating discharge header 70 that functions as an intermediate discharge portion having ports 70a and 70b, and a heating return header 72 that functions as an intermediate return portion having ports 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d. The water heated by the heating unit 7a of the heat source unit 7 reaches the heating discharge header 70 from the first hot water supply passage 73 and the port 70a by the pump 7b, is discharged from the port 70b, and is heated via the second hot water supply passage 74. 75 is used for heating. The water returned from the heating device 75 reaches the heating return header 72 via the first return passage 76 and the port 72a, and returns from the return port 7c to the heat source unit 7 via the second return passage 77 from the port 72b. The water returned to the heat source device 7 is heated again by the heating unit 7a of the heat source device 7, and is again supplied to the heating device 75 via the first hot water supply passage 73, the heating discharge header 70, and the second hot water supply passage 74 by the pump 7b. Used for heating. In addition, the heat source machine in the cogeneration system of this invention should just use the waste heat of a drive part (engine 3 in Embodiment 1), and generate | occur | produces heat with gas fuel.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the exhaust heat recovery system 6 is connected to the power generation unit 1 and the heat source unit 7. The exhaust heat recovery system 6 includes an exhaust heat recovery circuit 60 through which water flows, and an exhaust heat pump 62 for circulating the water through the exhaust heat recovery circuit 60. The exhaust heat recovery circuit 60 is a circuit for recovering the exhaust heat of the engine 3 through the engine coolant circuit 50 and the heat exchanger 59 during normal operation. The exhaust heat recovery circuit 60 has a forward path 60 a connected to the port 72 c of the heating return header 72 and a return path 60 c connected to the port 72 d of the heating return header 72. The heat exchanger 59 is built in the power generation unit 1 and exchanges heat between the engine cooling water in the engine cooling water circuit 50 and the water in the exhaust heat recovery circuit 60. The heat exchanger 59 is disposed downstream of the backflow prevention heater 55 in the engine coolant circuit 50 and is disposed upstream of the buffer tank 52 and the bypass passage 53. The reverse tide prevention heater 55 is an electric heater, and generates heat to consume surplus power when the power consumed by the power load rapidly decreases and a part of the power generated by the generator 39 becomes surplus. It is a heater. The backflow prevention heater 55 is connected to the commercial power source 104. For this reason, the backflow prevention heater 55 can also generate heat using electric power obtained from the commercial power source 104. For example, in winter and cold regions, the engine 3 tends to be difficult to start because the outside air temperature is low. In this case, before the engine 3 is started, the backflow prevention heater 55 is energized from the commercial power supply 104, the backflow prevention heater 55 is caused to generate heat, and the engine coolant flowing through the engine coolant circulation system 5 is heated. 3 can be warmed up.

  The control device 100 is connected to the first control unit 101 for controlling the equipment of the power generation unit 1, the second control unit 102 for controlling the heat source unit 7, and the first control unit 101 and the second control unit 102. Input unit 103. The control device 100 operates with power supplied from the commercial power source 104. The second control unit 102 outputs a signal to the first control unit 101. The input unit 103 is disposed outside the power generation unit 1 and the heat source unit 7 (generally, inside a building such as a house), and the first control unit 101 and the second control unit 102 include the power generation unit 1 and the heat source unit 7. An operation signal is output.

  Hereinafter, control of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 in the cogeneration system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  When there is a request to start operation in the cogeneration system, the control device 100 starts a timer and measures the elapsed time from the start of operation (step S10). After the timer is started, it is determined whether or not the cogeneration system (specifically, the engine 3 and / or the heat source device 7) is continuously operated before the operation start request (step S11). If the engine 3 and / or the heat source device 7 is driven, it is determined that the operation is continued, and the operation is continued (YES in step S11). If the engine 3 and the heat source device 7 are stopped, it is determined that the operation is stopped (NO in step S11). When the operation is restarted after the stop (step S20), it is determined whether or not the time during which the engine 3 and the heat source device 7 have been stopped is less than 60 minutes (temporary stop period in the embodiment) (step S21). At this time, if the time during which the engine 3 and the heat source device 7 have been stopped is less than 60 minutes, it is determined that the shut-off by the gas meter is not avoided, and the operation is continued until a predetermined allowable time elapses after the operation starts (step YES in S21). The permissible period is a period before the time when the gas meter 105 stops supplying gas (the end point of the limit period) when the gas using device including the engine 3 and the heat source device 7 is continuously operated. That is, the gas meter 105 does not forcibly stop gas even if the gas-using device is continuously operated during the allowable period. For reference, the limit period and the permissible period are related to the accumulated time during which the gas fuel is continuously supplied, and are not related to the flow rate (total amount) of the gas fuel. In the first embodiment, the allowable period is the integrated value of the operation time that has elapsed since the start of operation of the engine 3 and / or the heat source unit 7 after the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 have been stopped for 60 minutes (temporary stop period) or more. Including a pause time of less than 60 minutes.

  While the engine 3 and / or the heat source device 7 is operating, it is determined at a predetermined timing whether or not the integrated value of the operating time has passed a predetermined time (allowable period) (step S12). If the allowable period has not elapsed (NO in step S12), the process returns to step S11 and continues operation. If the integrated value of the operating time has passed the predetermined time (allowable period) (YES in step S12), it is determined whether or not the time at that time is a predetermined stop time (step S13). If it is not the stop time (NO in step S13), the process returns to step S11 and continues operation. If it is the stop time (YES in step S13), the temporary stop control is started (step S14).

  In the first embodiment, the stop time is set at 2 am. This is because many users are sleeping, and it is difficult for users to require heating and hot water even in winter and cold regions. As described above, since the temporary stop period is 60 minutes, the temporary stop control (step S14) is performed from 2:00 am to 4:00 am unless a stop release operation (an on operation of the heat source unit 7) described later is performed. Done.

  After the pause control is started, it is determined at a predetermined timing whether or not 60 minutes have elapsed after the pause control is started (step S15). If 60 minutes have elapsed (YES in step S15), the suspension control is terminated (step S16), the timer is started (step S10), and the engine 3 and / or the heat source unit 7 is operated according to the latest request. Resume (step S11).

  If 60 minutes have not elapsed since the start of the temporary stop control (step S14) (NO in step S15), whether or not a stop cancellation operation (an on operation for operating the heat source unit 7) has been input to the input unit 103 (Step S30). If this stop cancellation operation has not been performed (NO in step S30), the process returns to step S15 to continue the pause control. When the stop release operation is performed (YES in step S30), the temporary stop control is temporarily ended (step S31), and the heat source unit 7 is continuously operated (heating operation) before the stop release request. If the heating operation of the heat source unit 7 is stopped (NO in step S32), the engine 3 until the operation of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 is restarted (step S40) is determined. And / or it is determined whether the time when the operation of the heat source unit 7 has been stopped is less than 60 minutes (step S41). If the operation stop time of the engine 3 and / or the heat source device 7 is 60 minutes or longer (NO in step S41), it is considered that the temporary stop control has been completed, and the timer is started (step S10). If the operation stop time of the engine 3 and / or the heat source device 7 is less than 60 minutes (YES in Step S41), it is determined whether or not it is the same stop time as Step S13 (2 am in the first embodiment) ( If it is not the stop time (NO in step S33), the process returns to step S32 and the heating operation of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 is continued until the stop time. If it is the stop time (YES in step S33), the process returns to step S14 to start the pause control.

  According to the cogeneration system of the first embodiment, during continuous operation of the drive unit (engine 3) and / or the heat source unit 7, after the allowable period is exceeded and before the limit period is exceeded, the drive unit (engine 3) and the heat source unit 7 are Paused. For this reason, even when the gas meter 105 that supplies power to the cogeneration system according to the first embodiment detects (I) the continuous use state of the gas fuel, (II) detects the constant flow state of the gas fuel. Even in this case, it is possible to avoid gas fuel cutoff by the gas meter 105.

  Further, by performing the pause control of the engine 3 and the heat source machine 7 at midnight (from 2 am to 4 am) where many users are assumed to be sleeping, the burden on the user (for example, the suspension control) , Heating operation and supply of hot water are stopped during the time when heating operation and hot water are required).

  Further, when the user performs an operation of canceling the stop of the input unit 103 (turning on the heat source unit 7), the heating operation is resumed, so that when the heating or hot water is urgently needed, the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 are temporarily stopped. Heating operation can be performed with priority over stop control. This also reduces the user's burden associated with the suspension control.

  In addition, what is necessary is just to set a limit period suitably according to the kind of gas meter 105. FIG. Moreover, what is necessary is just to set an allowable period suitably according to a limit period. For example, the allowable period is preferably about 60 to 90%, more preferably about 70 to 80% when the limit period is 100% (integrated value; time). Even when the user performs a stop release operation (an on operation for operating the heat source unit 7) by the input unit 103 a plurality of times, the control unit (control device 100) performs a temporary stop control before the gas fuel is shut off by the gas meter 105. Is to do.

  Furthermore, the stop time for starting the pause control can be reset by the user. In other words, the initial value of the stop time is 2:00 am, but the user is likely to be active during the period from 2 am to 4 am, that is, heating and / or hot water is required during this period. If you know what you want to do, you can enter the preferred stop time yourself. In this case, it is possible to further reduce the user's burden associated with the suspension control. In addition, it is preferable that resetting of the stop time by the user can be performed at an arbitrary timing.

  In addition, when the operation of the heat source unit 7 is stopped, the backflow prevention heater 55 can be driven to supply heat to the heating terminal. In this case, since the supply stop of the gas fuel continues, it is possible to continue the suspension control, and it is possible to reduce the burden on the user associated with the suspension control.

  In the first embodiment, the temporary stop control of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 and the method of controlling the temporary restart of the operation of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 have been described. However, in some cases, the heat source unit is in the temporary stop control. Only 7 may be restarted. In this case, the heat source unit 7 consumes gas, but the engine 3 remains stopped. For this reason, when the gas meter 105 detects (II) the constant flow rate of the gas fuel, the timer reset of the gas meter 105 can be performed, and the temporary stop control is substantially completed.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, the cogeneration system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The cogeneration system according to the second embodiment is the same as the cogeneration system according to the first embodiment except for a method for temporarily controlling the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 by the control unit (control device 100). Hereinafter, control of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 in the cogeneration system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the cogeneration system according to the second embodiment, a notification (preliminary notification) for performing the pause control is displayed on the input unit 103 before the pause control is performed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the integrated value of the operating time has passed a predetermined time (allowable period) (step S12), and when the allowable period has passed (YES in step S12), the input unit A prior notice is made to 103 (step S50), and step S13 and subsequent steps are performed to determine whether or not the current time is a predetermined stop time. The advance notification can be performed by various methods such as lamp lighting and character display as described above. Further, it is preferable to stop the advance notification (step S51 or step S52) at the end of the suspension control (NO in step S16 or step S41). According to the cogeneration system of the second embodiment, the user can make preparations for the temporary stop control by performing the prior notification. For this reason, it is possible to further reduce the burden on the user accompanying the suspension control.

  In addition to the input unit 103, it is preferable to display the advance notification on an input unit that manually operates the drive unit (the power generation unit 1 in the first embodiment).

(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, the cogeneration system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The cogeneration system according to the third embodiment is the same as the cogeneration system according to the second embodiment, except for a method for temporarily controlling the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 by the control unit (control device 100). Hereinafter, control of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 in the cogeneration system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the cogeneration system of the third embodiment, prior notification is made after the elapse of a predetermined period (first period) before the elapse of the allowable period, and the suspension control is started immediately after the elapse of the allowable period without setting the stop time. When the operation of the heat source unit 7 is stopped, an on operation for operating the heat source unit 7 is input to the input unit 103 and the operation of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 is restarted. . The rest is the same as the control method of the second embodiment.

  Specifically, when it is determined in step S11 that it is determined whether the engine 3 and / or the heat source device 7 is continuously operated before the operation start request is made (YES in step S11). ), The process proceeds to step S17 for determining whether or not the first period has elapsed. If the first period has not elapsed (NO in step S17), the process returns to step S11. If the first period has elapsed (YES in step S17), a prior notice is given to the input unit 103 (step S50). Thereafter, after the elapse of the allowable period (YES in step S18), the temporary stop control is started (step S14). Since the suspension control is started immediately after the elapse of the allowable period, the first period is preferably set shorter than the allowable period, and there is a time difference of about 24 to 168 hours from the elapse of the first period to the end of the allowable period. Preferably there is. In other words, if the allowable period is 100% (time; integrated value), the first period is preferably 72 to 96%. By setting the first period in this way, the possibility that the prior notice is recognized by the user increases, and the burden on the user associated with the suspension control can be further reduced.

  After the suspension control is started, a stop cancellation operation (an on operation for operating the heat source unit 7) is input to the input unit 103, and when the operation of the engine 3 and the heat source unit 7 is resumed (step S40), a predetermined period has elapsed. The step (step S34) which determines whether it is is performed is performed. In the third embodiment, this predetermined period is 28 hours. When the predetermined period has not elapsed (NO in step S34), the process returns to step S32, and it is determined whether the heating operation is continuously performed. If the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in step S34), the process returns to step S14 to start the pause control.

  In the third embodiment, even if the heating operation is resumed after the pause control is started, the pause control is resumed every 28 hours (that is, at a timing 4 hours later than the previous day). In this way, when there is a request for heating operation by the user, the living time for each user is compared with the case where the suspension control is resumed at the same time every day by shifting the time the next day and restarting the suspension control. It becomes easy to perform the pause control at the timing according to the band. In the third embodiment, the predetermined period is 28 hours, but the same effect can be obtained by setting the predetermined period to any of 12 to 36 hours. More preferably, the predetermined time is set to any of 28 to 30 hours.

  The predetermined period may be set to 24 hours. In this case, since the suspension control is started at the same time every day, it is possible to avoid user confusion. In other words, in this case, the user can easily recognize that the suspension control is being performed instead of the failure of the cogeneration system.

  When the predetermined period is set to a relatively short period of about 3 hours, the user can be prompted to stop the heating operation (completion of the pause control) by repeatedly performing the pause control in a short time. . In this case, the predetermined period is preferably set to any one of 2 to 4 hours.

  (Others) The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not departing from the gist. For example, in the embodiment, the heat source unit 7 collects and uses the exhaust heat of the engine 3, but the heat source unit 7 provided separately from the exhaust heat recovery unit of the engine may be similarly operated / stopped.

  1 is a power generation unit, 2 is a housing, 3 is an engine, 39 is a generator, 5 is an engine coolant circulation system, 50 is an engine coolant circuit, 55 is a backflow prevention heater, 6 is an exhaust heat recovery system, and 60 is exhaust heat. A recovery circuit, 7 is a heat source machine, 75 is a heating device, 103 is a gas meter, and 104 is a commercial power source.

Claims (8)

A cogeneration system connected to a gas fuel flow path,
A drive unit for generating electric energy and / or air conditioning energy and exhaust heat by the gas fuel;
A heat source machine that collects and uses the exhaust heat of the drive unit and generates heat by the gas fuel;
When the gas fuel continuously flows through the flow path exceeding a predetermined allowable period, a control unit that temporarily stops and controls the drive unit and the heat source unit before exceeding a predetermined limit period; Cogeneration system with Having an input unit for manual operation of the heat source machine,
The cogeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a notification for performing the stop control on the input unit before performing the stop control.   3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts the stop control when the gas fuel continuously flows through the flow path beyond the allowable period and reaches a predetermined stop time. Cogeneration system.   The cogeneration system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the on operation for operating the heat source unit is input to the input unit, the stop control is temporarily released.   The cogeneration system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the predetermined stop time is a predetermined time between 1 am and 3 am.   The cogeneration system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the predetermined stop time is an arbitrary time input by a user.   5. The cogeneration system according to claim 4, wherein after the stop control is temporarily released, the stop control is resumed when the gas fuel continuously flows through the flow path after a predetermined operation period.   The cogeneration system according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined operation period is 26 to 30 hours.

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