U.S. patent application number 16/980440 was filed with the patent office on 2021-01-21 for energy management device, hydrogen utilization system, program, and energy management method.
The applicant listed for this patent is HONDA MOTOR CO.,LTD.. Invention is credited to Shigeaki ESAKA, Jun ISHIKAWA, Yuiko KOGA, Kazuyoshi MIYAJIMA, Yutaka TSUJI, Takayuki YAMADA, Yuji YAMAMOTO.
Application Number | 20210021132 16/980440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005166916 |
Filed Date | 2021-01-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210021132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSUJI; Yutaka ; et
al. |
January 21, 2021 |
ENERGY MANAGEMENT DEVICE, HYDROGEN UTILIZATION SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND
ENERGY MANAGEMENT METHOD
Abstract
An energy management device comprises a first supply/demand
information acquisition unit, a second supply/demand information
acquisition unit, and a supply/demand management unit configured to
determine, based on the first supply/demand information and the
second supply/demand information, at least one of (i) an upper
limit value of a power amount that the hydrogen generation system
can receive from a power grid during a certain period, (ii) a
target value of an amount of hydrogen that the hydrogen generation
system generates during the certain period, (iii) an upper limit
value of a power amount that each of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems can transmit to the power grid during the
certain period, and (iv) a target value of a power amount that each
of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems generates during
the certain period.
Inventors: |
TSUJI; Yutaka; (Tokyo,
JP) ; YAMAMOTO; Yuji; (Tokyo, JP) ; ISHIKAWA;
Jun; (Saitama, JP) ; MIYAJIMA; Kazuyoshi;
(Saitama, JP) ; YAMADA; Takayuki; (Saitama,
JP) ; KOGA; Yuiko; (Tokyo, JP) ; ESAKA;
Shigeaki; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HONDA MOTOR CO.,LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005166916 |
Appl. No.: |
16/980440 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
March 30, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2018/013982 |
371 Date: |
September 14, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 2219/2639 20130101;
H02J 3/381 20130101; H02J 2203/10 20200101; H02J 2300/20 20200101;
G05B 19/042 20130101; H02J 13/00002 20200101 |
International
Class: |
H02J 3/38 20060101
H02J003/38; H02J 13/00 20060101 H02J013/00; G05B 19/042 20060101
G05B019/042 |
Claims
1: An energy management device comprising: a first supply/demand
information acquisition unit configured to acquire first
supply/demand information indicating power supply/demand and
hydrogen supply/demand in a hydrogen generation system configured
to generate hydrogen by utilizing electric power, a second
supply/demand information acquisition unit configured to acquire
second supply/demand information indicating power supply/demand and
hydrogen supply/demand in each of one or plurality of
tri-generation systems, and a supply/demand management unit
configured to determine, based on the first supply/demand
information and the second supply/demand information, at least one
of (i) an upper limit value of a power amount that the hydrogen
generation system can receive from a power grid during a certain
period, (ii) a target value of an amount of hydrogen that the
hydrogen generation system generates during the certain period,
(iii) an upper limit value of a power amount that each of the one
or plurality of tri-generation systems can transmit to the power
grid during the certain period, and (iv) a target value of a power
amount that each of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems
generates during the certain period, wherein each of the one or
plurality of tri-generation systems includes: a carbon dioxide
generation unit configured to generate carbon dioxide, a power
generation unit configured to generate electric power by utilizing
hydrogen, and a heat generation unit configured to generate
heat.
2: The energy management device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a first request acquisition unit configured to acquire
a first request for requesting permission for power transmission
from a first tri-generation system of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems to the power grid, and a first determination
unit configured to determine whether to permit or prohibit the
power transmission based on the first supply/demand information
when the first request acquisition unit received the first
request.
3: The energy management device according to claim 2, wherein the
first determination unit is configured to determine to prohibit the
power transmission when an excessiveness of hydrogen supply in the
hydrogen generation system indicated by the first supply/demand
information satisfies a predetermined first condition.
4: The energy management device according to claim 2, further
comprising: a power transmission and reception amount management
unit configured to manage information indicating at least one of a
power transmission amount and a power reception amount between (i)
each of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems and the
hydrogen generation system and (ii) the power grid, and a power
transmission and reception amount adjustment unit configured to,
when the first determination unit determined to permit the power
transmission, (i) subtract a power transmission amount to the power
grid from the first tri-generation system pertaining to the
permission, from a power reception amount of the hydrogen
generation system from the power grid or (ii) add a power
transmission amount to the power grid from the first tri-generation
system pertaining to the permission, to a power transmission amount
from the hydrogen generation system to the power grid.
5: The energy management device according to claim 1 further
comprising: a movable object management unit configured to manage
information indicating a state of one or plurality of movable
objects, a second request acquisition unit configured to acquire a
second request for requesting to move at least one of the one or
plurality of movable objects to a second tri-generation system of
the one or plurality of tri-generation systems, and a second
determination unit configured to determine, when the second request
acquisition unit received the second request, a movable object to
be moved to the second tri-generation system among the one or
plurality of movable objects based on (i) the second supply/demand
information and (ii) the information indicating a state of the one
or plurality of movable objects, wherein each of the one or
plurality of movable objects can be equipped with at least one of a
hydrogen storage container, a fuel cell and a storage battery,
wherein the information indicating a state of the one or plurality
of movable objects includes information indicating a remaining
amount of hydrogen or a remaining battery level of each movable
object.
6: The energy management device according to claim 5, wherein the
second determination unit is configured to, when an excessiveness
of hydrogen supply in the second tri-generation system indicated by
the second supply/demand information satisfies a predetermined
second condition, determine a movable object whose remaining amount
of hydrogen satisfies a predetermined third condition or a movable
object whose remaining battery level satisfies a predetermined
fourth condition as a movable object to be moved to the second
tri-generation system.
7: A hydrogen utilization system comprising: the energy management
device according to claim 1, the hydrogen generation system, and
the one or plurality of tri-generation systems.
8: A non-transitory computer readable medium having recorded
thereon a program for causing a computer to function as an energy
management device, the energy management device comprising: a first
supply/demand information acquisition unit configured to acquire
first supply/demand information indicating power supply/demand and
hydrogen supply/demand in a hydrogen generation system configured
to generate hydrogen by utilizing electric power, a second
supply/demand information acquisition unit configured to acquire
second supply/demand information indicating power supply/demand and
hydrogen supply/demand in each of one or plurality of
tri-generation systems, and a supply/demand management unit
configured to determine, based on the first supply/demand
information and the second supply/demand information, at least one
of (i) an upper limit value of a power amount that the hydrogen
generation system can receive from a power grid during a certain
period, (ii) a target value of an amount of hydrogen that the
hydrogen generation system generates during the certain period,
(iii) an upper limit value of a power amount that each of the one
or plurality of tri-generation systems can transmit to the power
grid during the certain period, and (iv) a target value of a power
amount that each of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems
generates during the certain period, wherein each of the one or
plurality of tri-generation systems includes: a carbon dioxide
generation unit configured to generate carbon dioxide, a power
generation unit configured to generate electric power by utilizing
hydrogen, and a heat generation unit configured to generate
heat.
9: An energy management method comprising: acquiring, by a
computer, first supply/demand information indicating power
supply/demand and hydrogen supply/demand in a hydrogen generation
system configured to generate hydrogen by utilizing electric power,
acquiring, by the computer, second supply/demand information
indicating power supply/demand and hydrogen supply/demand in each
of one or plurality of tri-generation systems, and managing
supply/demand by the computer, by determining, based on the first
supply/demand information and the second supply/demand information,
at least one of (i) an upper limit value of a power amount that the
hydrogen generation system can receive from a power grid during a
certain period, (ii) a target value of amount of hydrogen that the
hydrogen generation system generates during the certain period,
(iii) an upper limit value of a power amount that each of the one
or plurality of tri-generation systems can transmit to the power
grid during the certain period, and (iv) a target value of a power
amount that each of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems
generates during the certain period, wherein each of the one or
plurality of tri-generation systems includes: a carbon dioxide
generation unit configured to generate carbon dioxide, a power
generation unit configured to generate electric power by utilizing
hydrogen, and a heat generation unit configured to generate
heat.
10: The energy management device according to claim 3, further
comprising: a power transmission and reception amount management
unit configured to manage information indicating at least one of a
power transmission amount and a power reception amount between (i)
each of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems and the
hydrogen generation system and (ii) the power grid, and a power
transmission and reception amount adjustment unit configured to,
when the first determination unit determined to permit the power
transmission, (i) subtract a power transmission amount to the power
grid from the first tri-generation system pertaining to the
permission, from a power reception amount of the hydrogen
generation system from the power grid or (ii) add a power
transmission amount to the power grid from the first tri-generation
system pertaining to the permission, to a power transmission amount
from the hydrogen generation system to the power grid.
11: The energy management device according to claim 2 further
comprising: a movable object management unit configured to manage
information indicating a state of one or plurality of movable
objects, a second request acquisition unit configured to acquire a
second request for requesting to move at least one of the one or
plurality of movable objects to a second tri-generation system of
the one or plurality of tri-generation systems, and a second
determination unit configured to determine, when the second request
acquisition unit received the second request, a movable object to
be moved to the second tri-generation system among the one or
plurality of movable objects based on (i) the second supply/demand
information and (ii) the information indicating a state of the one
or plurality of movable objects, wherein each of the one or
plurality of movable objects can be equipped with at least one of a
hydrogen storage container, a fuel cell and a storage battery,
wherein the information indicating a state of the one or plurality
of movable objects includes information indicating a remaining
amount of hydrogen or a remaining battery level of each movable
object.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an energy management
device, a hydrogen utilization system, a program, and an energy
management method.
2. Related Art
[0002] A technique of generating hydrogen by electric power
generated using renewable energy is known (for example, see Patent
document 1 to 5). Patent document 6 discloses setting hydrogen
supply pipes in town to realize a CEMS. Patent document 7 discloses
that a boiler, a microturbine or the like may be combined with a
system capable of producing hydrogen and co-producing electric
power.
RELATED ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0003] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent No. 6030158 [0004] Patent
document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2017-76611 [0005] Patent document 3: Japanese Patent No. 4775790
[0006] Patent document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2003-257443 [0007] Patent document 5: Japanese
Patent No. 4328069 [0008] Patent document 6: Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No. 2007-265732 [0009] Patent
document 7: Japanese Translation of PCT International Patent
Application Publication No. 2007-523443
Technical Problem
[0010] In recent years, it has been considered to encourage
utilization of hydrogen as an energy source. In order to encourage
utilization of hydrogen, it is desired to lighten economical
burdens on individual users and reduce investment cost for an
infrastructure.
GENERAL DISCLOSURE
[0011] In a first aspect of the present invention, an energy
management device is provided. The energy management device
includes, for example, a first supply/demand information
acquisition unit configured to acquire first supply/demand
information indicating power supply/demand and hydrogen
supply/demand in a hydrogen generation system configured to
generate hydrogen by utilizing electric power. The energy
management device includes, for example, a second supply/demand
information acquisition unit configured to acquire second
supply/demand information indicating power supply/demand and
hydrogen supply/demand in each of one or plurality of
tri-generation systems. The energy management device includes, for
example, a supply/demand management unit configured to determine,
based on the first supply/demand information and the second
supply/demand information, at least one of (i) an upper limit value
of a power amount that the hydrogen generation system can receive
from a power grid during a certain period, (ii) a target value of
an amount of hydrogen that the hydrogen generation system generates
during the certain period, (iii) an upper limit value of a power
amount that each of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems
can transmit to the power grid during the certain period, and (iv)
a target value of a power amount that each of the one or plurality
of tri-generation systems generates during the certain period.
[0012] In the energy management device, each of the one or
plurality of tri-generation systems includes a carbon dioxide
generation unit configured to generate carbon dioxide, for example.
In the energy management device, each of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems includes a power generation unit configured
to generate electric power by utilizing hydrogen, for example. In
the energy management device, each of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems includes a heat generation unit configured
to generate heat, for example.
[0013] The energy management device may include a first request
acquisition unit configured to acquire a first request for
requesting permission for power transmission from a first
tri-generation system of the one or plurality of tri-generation
systems to the power grid. The energy management device may include
a first determination unit configured to determine whether to
permit or prohibit the power transmission based on the first
supply/demand information when the first request acquisition unit
received the first request. In the energy management device, the
first determination unit may determine to prohibit the power
transmission when an excessiveness of hydrogen supply in the
hydrogen generation system indicated by the first supply/demand
information satisfies a predetermined first condition.
[0014] The energy management device may include a power
transmission and reception amount management unit configured to
manage information indicating at least one of a power transmission
amount and a power reception amount between (i) each of the one or
plurality of tri-generation systems and the hydrogen generation
system and (ii) the power grid. The energy management device may
include a power transmission and reception amount adjustment unit
configured to, when the first determination unit determined to
permit the power transmission, (i) subtract a power transmission
amount from the first tri-generation system to the power grid
pertaining to the permission, from a power reception amount of the
hydrogen generation system from the power grid or (ii) add a power
transmission amount from the first tri-generation system to the
power grid pertaining to the permission, to a power transmission
amount from the hydrogen generation system to the power grid.
[0015] The energy management device may include a movable object
management unit configured to manage information indicating a state
of one or plurality of movable objects. The energy management
device may include a second request acquisition unit configured to
acquire a second request for requesting to move at least one of the
one or plurality of movable objects to a second tri-generation
system of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems. The
energy management device may include a second determination unit
configured to determine, when the second request acquisition unit
received the second request, a movable object to be moved to the
second tri-generation system among the one or plurality of movable
objects based on (i) the second supply/demand information and (ii)
the information indicating a state of the one or plurality of
movable objects.
[0016] In the energy management device, each of the one or
plurality of movable objects can be equipped with at least one of a
hydrogen storage container, a fuel cell and a storage battery, for
example. In the energy management device, the information
indicating a state of the one or plurality of movable objects may
include information indicating a remaining amount of hydrogen or a
remaining battery level of each movable object. In the energy
management device, the second determination unit may determine,
when an excessiveness of hydrogen supply in the second
tri-generation system indicated by the second supply/demand
information satisfies a predetermined second condition, a movable
object whose remaining amount of hydrogen satisfies a predetermined
third condition or a movable object whose remaining battery level
satisfies a predetermined fourth condition as a movable object to
be moved to the second tri-generation system.
[0017] In a second aspect of the present invention, a hydrogen
utilization system is provided. The hydrogen utilization system
includes an energy management device, for example. The hydrogen
utilization system may include the energy management device
according to the first aspect. The hydrogen utilization system
includes a hydrogen generation system, for example. The hydrogen
utilization system includes one or plurality of tri-generation
systems, for example.
[0018] In a third aspect of the present invention, a program is
provided. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing the
program may also be provided. The program may be a program for
causing a computer to function as the energy management device
according to the first aspect. The program may be a program for
causing the computer to execute a variety of information processing
sequences in the energy management device.
[0019] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, an energy
management method is provided. The energy management method
includes, for example, acquiring, by a computer, first
supply/demand information indicating power supply/demand and
hydrogen supply/demand in a hydrogen generation system configured
to generate hydrogen by utilizing electric power. The energy
management method includes, for example, acquiring, by the
computer, second supply/demand information indicating power
supply/demand and hydrogen supply/demand in each of one or
plurality of tri-generation systems. The energy management method
includes, for example, managing supply/demand by the computer, by
determining, based on the first supply/demand information and the
second supply/demand information, at least one of (i) an upper
limit value of a power amount that the hydrogen generation system
can receive from a power grid during a certain period, (ii) a
target value of amount of hydrogen that the hydrogen generation
system generates during the certain period, (iii) an upper limit
value of a power amount that each of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems can transmit to the power grid during the
certain period, and (iv) a target value of a power amount that each
of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems generates during
the certain period.
[0020] In the energy management method, each of the one or
plurality of tri-generation systems includes a carbon dioxide
generation unit configured to generate carbon dioxide, for example.
In the energy management method, each of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems includes a power generation unit configured
to generate electric power by utilizing hydrogen, for example. In
the energy management method, each of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems includes a heat generation unit configured
to generate heat, for example.
[0021] The summary clause does not necessarily describe all
necessary features of the embodiments of the present invention. The
present invention may also be a sub-combination of the features
described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 schematically shows one example of a system
configuration of an energy management system 100.
[0023] FIG. 2 schematically shows one example of a system
configuration of an agricultural facility 122.
[0024] FIG. 3 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of a controller 240.
[0025] FIG. 4 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of a flow control unit 272.
[0026] FIG. 5 schematically shows one example of a system
configuration of an energy management facility 124.
[0027] FIG. 6 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of an energy management unit 132.
[0028] FIG. 7 schematically shows one example of information
processing in a settlement unit 632.
[0029] FIG. 8 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of a vehicle allocation management unit 134.
[0030] FIG. 9 schematically shows one example of a data table
900.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The following describes the present invention through
embodiments of the invention, but the below embodiments do not
limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all
the combination of features described in the embodiments is
necessarily required in solutions of the invention. Identical or
similar portions in figures are given identical reference numbers,
and the same explanation is omitted in some cases.
[0032] [Outline of Energy Management System 100]
[0033] FIG. 1 schematically shows one example of a system
configuration of an energy management system 100. In the present
embodiment, the energy management system 100 includes, for example,
one or plurality of (which may be referred to as one or more)
agricultural facilities 122, one or more energy management
facilities 124, one or more supplier/demander facilities 126, and a
management server 130. In the present embodiment, a management
server 130 includes, for example, an energy management unit 132 and
a vehicle allocation management unit 134. The energy management
system 100 may be one example of an energy management device and a
hydrogen utilization system. The agricultural facility 122 may be
one example of an energy generator. The energy management facility
124 may be one example of the energy generator. The
supplier/demander facility 126 may be one example of the energy
generator. The management server 130 may be one example of an
energy management device. The energy management unit 132 may be one
example of the energy management device.
[0034] In the present embodiment, each of the agricultural facility
122, the energy management facility 124, and the supplier/demander
facility 126 is electrically connected to a power grid 12. Each of
the agricultural facility 122, the energy management facility 124,
and the supplier/demander facility 126 can transmit and receive
electric power to and from the power grid 12. In the present
embodiment, each unit of the energy management system 100 can
transmit and receive information to and from each other via a
communication network 14.
[0035] In the present embodiment, the power grid 12 is electrically
connected to a commercial power supply (not shown). The power grid
12 may be a power system provided by a power business operator or a
power transmission business operator. The power grid 12 may include
power systems of a plurality of power business operators or a
plurality of power transmission business operators. The power
system may be a system in which power generation, power
transformation, power transmission, and power distribution are
integrated.
[0036] As used herein, "element A and element B are electrically
connected" is not limited to a case in which the element A and the
element B are physically connected. For example, input windings and
output windings in a transformer are not physically connected, but
they are electrically connected. Moreover, a component for
electrically connecting the element A and the element B may be
interposed between the element A and the element B. Examples of the
component include a conductor, a circuit breaker or a switch, a
transformer, or the like.
[0037] In the present embodiment, the communication network 14 may
be a wired communication transmission path, a wireless
communication transmission path, or a combination of a wireless
communication transmission path and a wired communication
transmission path. The communication network 14 may include a
wireless packet communication network, the Internet, a P2P network,
a dedicated line, a VPN, an electrical power line communication
line, or the like. The communication network 14 may also include
(i) a mobile communication network such as a mobile phone line
network, or may also include (ii) a wireless communication network
such as a wireless MAN (for example, WiMAX (registered trademark)),
a wireless LAN (for example, WiFi (registered trademark)),
Bluetooth (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), or
NFC (Near Field Communication).
[0038] In the present embodiment, each unit of the energy
management system 100 may transmit and receive information to and
from at least one of one or more fuel cell vehicles 22 and one or
more electric vehicles 24 via the communication network 14. In the
present embodiment, each unit of the energy management system 100
may transmit and receive information to and from at least one of
one or more communication terminals 32 via the communication
network 14.
[0039] In the present embodiment, at least one of the agricultural
facility 122 and the energy management facility 124 may transmit
and receive hydrogen to and from the fuel cell vehicle 22. For
example, at least one of the agricultural facility 122 and the
energy management facility 124 is configured to transfer at least
one of hydrogen generated by the facility and hydrogen stored in
the facility to a hydrogen storage container of the fuel cell
vehicle 22. At least one of the agricultural facility 122 and the
energy management facility 124 may receive hydrogen from the
hydrogen storage container of the fuel cell vehicle 22.
[0040] In the present embodiment, at least one of the agricultural
facility 122 and the energy management facility 124 may transmit
and receive electric power to and from the electric vehicle 24. For
example, at least one of the agricultural facility 122 and the
energy management facility 124 is configured to charge a storage
battery of the electric vehicle 24 with electric power generated by
the facility. At least one of the agricultural facility 122 and the
energy management facility 124 may receive electric power from the
storage battery of the electric vehicle 24.
[0041] The fuel cell vehicle 22 and the electric vehicle 24 may be
a property or a possession of a service provider of dispatching a
movable object equipped with a hydrogen storage container or a
storage battery (which may be referred to as an administrator of
the fuel cell vehicle 22 or the electric vehicle 24). For example,
the fuel cell vehicle 22 and the electric vehicle 24 may be a
property or a possession of a business operator that provides a car
rental service.
[0042] The electric vehicle 24 may be one example of a movable
object that can be equipped with a storage battery. The fuel cell
vehicle 22 may be one example of a movable object that can be
equipped with a fuel cell. The fuel cell vehicle 22 may be one
example of a movable object that can be equipped with a hydrogen
storage container. L00271 The hydrogen storage container equipped
on the fuel cell vehicle 22 may be one example of a portable
hydrogen storage container. The portable hydrogen storage container
is configured to be carried by an animal or a movable object. The
portable hydrogen storage container may be mounted on or carried by
an animal, may be equipped on a movable object, or may be tracted
by a movable object. The storage battery equipped on the electric
vehicle 24 may be one example of a portable power storage device.
The portable power storage device is configured to be carried by an
animal or a movable object. The portable power storage device may
be mounted on or carried by an animal, may be equipped on a movable
object, or may be tracted by a movable object.
[0043] The movable object may be equipment configured to run on the
land, equipment configured to fly in the air, or equipment
configured to navigate in or on the water. The movable object may
be moved by user operation or by an autonomous movement function
enabled by a computer equipped on the movable object (which may be
referred to as auto-cruise, cruise control, or the like.) Examples
of the movable object include a wheeled vehicle, a marine vessel, a
flight vehicle, or the like. Examples of the wheeled vehicle
include an automobile, a motorcycle, a train, or the like.
[0044] Examples of the automobile include an engine vehicle, an
electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, a hybrid car, a work
machine, or the like. Examples of the motorcycle include (i) a
motor bike, (ii) a motor trike, (iii) a standing ride motorcycle
with a power unit like a Segway (registered trademark), a Kickboard
(registered trademark) with a power unit, and a skateboard with a
power unit, or the like. Examples of the marine vessel include a
ship, a hovercraft, a water bike, a submarine ship, a submarine
boat, a water scooter, or the like. Examples of the flight vehicle
include an airplane, an airship or a balloon, an aerostat, a
helicopter, a drone, or the like.
[0045] In the present embodiment, the communication terminal 32 is
a communication terminal utilized by a user of the energy
management system 100, and details thereof are not particularly
limited. Examples of the communication terminal 32 include a
personal computer, a mobile terminal, or the like. Examples of the
mobile terminal include a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a
tablet, a notebook computer or a laptop computer, a wearable
computer, or the like. The communication terminal 32 may be used as
a user interface of the energy management system 100.
[0046] In the present embodiment, the energy management system 100
is configured to manage supply/demand of energy in the agricultural
facility 122, the energy management facility 124, and the
supplier/demander facility 126. The energy management system 100
may manage supply/demand of an energy source in the agricultural
facility 122, the energy management facility 124, and the
supplier/demander facility 126. Examples of the energy include
electricity, heat, or the like. Examples of the energy source
include hydrogen, town gas, propane gas, alcohol, petroleum,
kerosene, gasoline, or the like.
[0047] In the present embodiment, the agricultural facility 122 is
configured to receive electric power from the power grid 12 (which
may be referred to as power reception, power purchase, or the
like). The agricultural facility 122 may supply electric power to
the power grid 12 (which may be referred to as power transmission,
power selling, or the like). The agricultural facility 122 is
provided with, for example, at least one of a device configured to
consume electric power, a device configured to supply electric
power, a device configured to consume hydrogen, and a device
configured to supply hydrogen.
[0048] In the present embodiment, the agricultural facility 122
includes a farm field in which plants or agricultural products are
cultivated. In the agricultural facility 122, for example, heat
that occurs upon generation of electric power and hydrogen is
supplied to the farm field. Water or vapor that occur upon
generation of electric power and hydrogen may be supplied to the
farm field. Carbon dioxide that occurs upon generation of hydrogen
may be supplied to the farm field. The agricultural facility 122
may be a facility including a farm field among other
supplier/demander facilities 126. Details of the agricultural
facility 122 will be described below.
[0049] In the present embodiment, the energy management facility
124 is configured to manage a supply amount of energy. Thus, a
balance of demand and supply of the energy is maintained. The
energy management facility 124 may manage a supply amount of an
energy source. Thus, a balance of demand and supply of the energy
source is maintained. For example, the energy management facility
124 is provided with a power generation apparatus, a power storage
apparatus, a hydrogen production apparatus, or the like. Details of
the energy management facility 124 will be described below.
[0050] In the present embodiment, the supplier/demander facility
126 is configured to receive electric power from the power grid 12.
The supplier/demander facility 126 may supply electric power to the
power grid 12. For example, at least one of a device configured to
consume electric power and a device configured to supply electric
power is provided in the supplier/demander facility 126. At least
one of a device configured to consume hydrogen and a device
configured to supply hydrogen may be provided in the
supplier/demander facility 126. The supplier/demander facility 126
may have a similar configuration to the agricultural facility 122,
except that the supplier/demander facility 126 does not include a
farm field.
[0051] In the present embodiment, the energy management unit 132 of
the management server 130 is configured to manage the supply/demand
of energy in the agricultural facility 122, the energy management
facility 124, and the supplier/demander facility 126. The
management server 130 may manage supply/demand of an energy source
in the agricultural facility 122, the energy management facility
124, and the supplier/demander facility 126. Details of the energy
management unit 132 will be described below.
[0052] In the present embodiment, the vehicle allocation management
unit 134 of the management server 130 is configured to manage one
or more fuel cell vehicles 22 and one or more electric vehicles 24.
The vehicle allocation management unit 134 may adjust supply/demand
of the energy or energy source by dispatching a fuel cell vehicle
22 or an electric vehicle 24 to at least one of the energy
management facility 124 and the supplier/demander facility 126.
Details of the vehicle allocation management unit 134 will be
described below.
[0053] For example, the fuel cell vehicle 22 can carry hydrogen
between at least two of the agricultural facility 122, the energy
management facility 124, and the supplier/demander facility 126.
The electric vehicle 24 can carry electricity between at least two
of the agricultural facility 122, the energy management facility
124, and the supplier/demander facility 126.
[0054] The fuel cell vehicle 22 may supply hydrogen to at least one
of the agricultural facility 122, the energy management facility
124, and the supplier/demander facility 126. The fuel cell vehicle
22 may receive hydrogen from at least one of the agricultural
facility 122, the energy management facility 124, and the
supplier/demander facility 126. The fuel cell vehicle 22 and the
electric vehicle 24 may supply electric power to at least one of
the agricultural facility 122, the energy management facility 124,
and the supplier/demander facility 126. The electric vehicle 24 may
receive electric power from at least one of the agricultural
facility 122, the energy management facility 124, and the
supplier/demander facility 126.
[0055] [Specific Configuration of Each Unit of the Energy
Management System 100]
[0056] Each unit of the energy management system 100 may be
implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and
software. At least part of each unit of the energy management
system 100 may be implemented by a single server or a plurality of
servers. At least part of each unit of the energy management system
100 may be implemented on a virtual machine or a cloud system.
[0057] At least part of each unit of the energy management system
100 may be implemented by a personal computer or a mobile terminal.
Examples of the mobile terminal include a mobile phone, a
smartphone, a PDA, a tablet, a notebook computer or a laptop
computer, a wearable computer, or the like. Each unit of the energy
management system 100 may store information by utilizing a
distributed ledger technology or a distributed network such as a
blockchain.
[0058] When at least some components constituting the energy
management system 100 are implemented by software, the components
implemented by software may be implemented in an information
processing device having a common configuration by activating a
program in which operations related to the components are defined.
The information processing device includes, for example, (i) a data
processing device having a processor such as a CPU or a GPU, a ROM,
a RAM, a communication interface, or the like, (ii) a input device
such as a keyboard, a touch panel, a camera, a microphone, various
sensors, a GPS receiver, or the like, (iii) an output device such
as a display device, a speaker, a vibrator, and (iv) a storage
device such as a memory, an HDD (including an external storage
device).
[0059] In the information processing device, the data processing
device or the storage device may store a program. The program may
be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.
The program is configured to be executed by a processor to thereby
cause the information processing device to execute operations
defined by the program.
[0060] The program may be stored on a computer-readable medium such
as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a memory, a hard disk, or may be stored on
a storage device connected to a network. The program may be
installed in a computer constituting at least part of the energy
management system 100 from the computer-readable medium or the
storage device connected to a network. By the program being
executed, the computer may function as at least part of each unit
of the energy management system 100.
[0061] The program causing the computer to function as at least
part of each unit of the energy management system 100 may include a
module configured to regulate the operations of each unit of the
energy management system 100. The program or module act on the data
processing device, the input device, the output device, the storage
device, or the like to cause the computer to function as each unit
of the energy management system 100 and to execute the information
processing method in each unit of the energy management system 100.
When the program is read by the computer, the information
processing described in the program function as a specific means in
which software related to the program and a variety of hardware
resources of the energy management system 100 cooperate. An energy
management system 100 suitable for an intended use is constructed
by the specific means realizing calculations or processings of
information appropriate for the intended use of the computer in the
present embodiment.
[0062] The program may be a program for causing the computer to
execute a variety of information processing methods in the
management server 130. In one embodiment, the information
processing method in the management server 130 includes, for
example, acquiring first supply/demand information indicating power
supply/demand and hydrogen supply/demand in a hydrogen generation
system configured to generate hydrogen by utilizing electric power.
The information processing method include, for example, acquiring
second supply/demand information indicating power supply/demand and
hydrogen supply/demand in each of one or plurality of
tri-generation systems. The information processing method includes,
for example, managing supply/demand by determining, based on the
first supply/demand information and the second supply/demand
information, at least one of (i) an upper limit value of power
amount that the hydrogen generation system can receive from a power
grid during a certain period, (ii) a target value of amount of
hydrogen that the hydrogen generation system generates during the
certain period, (iii) an upper limit value of power amount that
each of the one or plurality of tri-generation systems can transmit
to the power grid during the certain period, and (iv) a target
value of power amount that each of the one or plurality of
tri-generation systems generates during the certain period.
[0063] In another embodiment, the information processing method in
the management server 130 may be a control method for controlling
an energy generator. In the control method, the energy generator
includes, for example, a reformation unit configured to degrade raw
material gas including hydrogen and carbon by utilizing electric
power and generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide, a hydrogen storage
unit configured to store hydrogen, and a power generation unit
configured to generate electric power by utilizing at least one of
hydrogen generated by the reformation unit and hydrogen stored in
the hydrogen storage unit.
[0064] The control method includes, for example, acquiring a supply
request for requesting supply of carbon dioxide. The control method
includes, for example, acquiring power supply/demand information
indicating a power supply/demand situation in the energy generator
or a power grid that can transmit and receive electric power to and
from the energy generator. The control method includes, for
example, acquiring hydrogen supply/demand information indicating a
hydrogen supply/demand situation in the energy generator. The
control method includes, for example, determining whether to
respond to the supply request, based on (i) the power supply/demand
situation indicated by the power supply/demand information and (ii)
the hydrogen supply/demand situation indicated by the hydrogen
supply/demand information.
[0065] FIG. 2 schematically shows one example of a system
configuration of an agricultural facility 122. In the present
embodiment, the agricultural facility 122 includes, for example, a
farm field 210, a power load 220, a power distribution apparatus
230, a controller 240, and a tri-generation system 250. In the
present embodiment, the farm field 210 is provided with a
temperature sensor 212 and a carbon dioxide sensor 214, for
example. In the present embodiment, the tri-generation system 250
includes, for example, a reformer 260, a fuel cell 262, a pipe 263,
a hydrogen storage apparatus 264, a pipe 265, and an automatic
valve 266. The tri-generation system 250 may include a flow control
unit 272 and a pipe 274. The tri-generation system 250 may include
a heat accumulator 282, a heat exchanger 284, and an automatic
valve 286. Note that, at a position indicated by a circle in FIG.
2, a transfer limitation member such as an automatic valve and a
flow regulation valve may be provided.
[0066] The controller 240 may be one example of an energy
management device. The tri-generation system 250 may be one example
of an energy generator, a first tri-generation system, and a second
tri-generation system. The reformer 260 may be one example of a
carbon dioxide generation unit, a heat generation unit, and a
reformation unit. The fuel cell 262 may be one example of a power
generation unit and a heat generation unit. The pipe 263 may be one
example of a first pipe. The hydrogen storage apparatus 264 may be
one example of a hydrogen storage unit. The pipe 265 may be one
example of a second pipe. The automatic valve 266 may be one
example of a transfer limitation unit.
[0067] In the present embodiment, plants or agricultural products
are cultivated in the farm field 210. Examples of agricultural
products can include grains, vegetables, fruits, teas, mushrooms or
mycelia, or the like. One or more temperature sensors 212 may be
provided in the farm field 210. The temperature sensor 212 is
configured to measure an air temperature, a water temperature, a
temperature of the soil, or the like at various locations of the
farm field 210. One or more carbon dioxide sensors 214 may be
provided in the farm field 210. Carbon dioxide sensor 214 is
configured to measure a carbon dioxide concentration in the air at
various locations in the farm field 210. The temperature sensor 212
and the carbon dioxide sensor 214 may output information indicating
the measurement result to the controller 240.
[0068] The temperature sensor 212 and the carbon dioxide sensor 214
may be one example of a sensor provided in the farm field 210. In
addition to the temperature sensor 212 and the carbon dioxide
sensor 214, a variety of sensors may be provided in the farm field
210. For example, a humidity sensor is provided in the farm field
210.
[0069] In the present embodiment, the power load 220 is configured
to use electricity. The power load 220 may be an electrical
appliance configured to consume electric power. At least some
operations of the power load 220 may be controlled by the
controller 240.
[0070] In the present embodiment, the power distribution apparatus
230 is configured to control power distribution between the power
grid 12 and interior wiring of the agricultural facility 122. For
example, the power distribution apparatus 230 is configured to
control power exchange between the power grid 12 and the
tri-generation system 250. The power distribution apparatus 230 may
control power distribution inside the agricultural facility 122.
For example, the power distribution apparatus 230 is configured to
control power supply from the tri-generation system 250 to the
power load 220. The power distribution apparatus 230 may convert
alternate current to direct current or direct current to alternate
current. The power distribution apparatus 230 may adjust at least
one of a voltage and a frequency of electricity. Operations of the
power distribution apparatus 230 may be controlled by the
controller 240.
[0071] The power distribution apparatus 230 may include one or
plurality of electricity meters. The power distribution apparatus
230 may measure at least one of an instantaneous power [kW] and a
power amount [kWh] of electricity supplied to the agricultural
facility 122 from the power grid 12. The power distribution
apparatus 230 may measure at least one of an instantaneous power
[kW] and a power amount [kWh] of electricity supplied to the power
grid 12 from the agricultural facility 122. The power distribution
apparatus 230 may measure at least one of an instantaneous power
[kW] and power amount [kWh] of electricity generated by the
tri-generation system 250. The power distribution apparatus 230 may
measure at least one of an instantaneous power [kW] and power
amount [kWh] of electricity consumed by one or more electrical
appliances provided inside the agricultural facility 122. The power
distribution apparatus 230 may output information indicating at
least one of the measured instantaneous power [kW] and power amount
[kWh] to the controller 240.
[0072] In the present embodiment, the controller 240 is configured
to control operations of the power load 220, the power distribution
apparatus 230, and the tri-generation system 250. The controller
240 is configured to acquire information indicating measurement
results of the temperature sensor 212 and the carbon dioxide sensor
214. The controller 240 may control operations of at least one of
the power load 220, the power distribution apparatus 230 and the
tri-generation system 250 based on the measurement results of at
least one of the temperature sensor 212 and the carbon dioxide
sensor 214.
[0073] In the present embodiment, the controller 240 is configured
to manage supply/demand of the energy and the energy source in the
agricultural facility 122. The controller 240 is configured to
acquire, for example, information indicating at least one of (i) a
power consumption amount in the power load 220, (ii) a power
consumption amount and a power generation amount in the
tri-generation system 250, (iii) a hydrogen consumption amount, a
hydrogen generation amount, and a remaining amount of hydrogen in
the tri-generation system 250, (iv) a carbon dioxide generation
amount in the tri-generation system 250, and (v) a heat consumption
amount, a heat generation amount and a heat storage amount in the
tri-generation system 250. The controller 240 may control
operations of at least one of the power load 220, the power
distribution apparatus 230, and the tri-generation system 250 based
on the above-mentioned information.
[0074] In the present embodiment, the controller 240 is configured
to cooperate with the management server 130 to adjust excess or
deficiency of energy and an energy source in the agricultural
facility 122 or a community to which the agricultural facility 122
belongs. The controller 240 is configured to send, to the
management server 130, information relating to a supply/demand
condition of at least one of the energy and the energy source in
the agricultural facility 122, for example. The controller 240 may
send a request for adjusting excess or deficiency of the energy and
the energy source in the agricultural facility 122 to the
management server 130.
[0075] The controller 240 may acquire information relating to a
supply/demand condition of at least one of the energy and the
energy source in the community from the management server 130. The
controller 240 may manage power transmission and reception between
the agricultural facility 122 and the power grid 12 based on the
information acquired from the management server 130. Details of the
controller 240 will be described below.
[0076] In the present embodiment, the tri-generation system 250 is
configured to generate electricity, heat and carbon dioxide and
supply them to the outside. The tri-generation system 250 may
generate hydrogen and supply the hydrogen to the outside. For
example, the tri-generation system 250 is configured to supply heat
and carbon dioxide to the farm field 210. The tri-generation system
250 is configured to supply electric power to the power load 220 or
the power grid 12.
[0077] In the present embodiment, the reformer 260 is configured to
degrade raw material gas including hydrogen and carbon and generate
hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The reformer 260 may degrade raw
material gas and generate heat. The reformer 260 may degrade raw
material gas by utilizing electric power. The hydrogen generated by
the reformer 260 is transferred, for example, to the fuel cell 262
via the pipe 263. The hydrogen generated by the reformer 260 is
transferred, for example, to the hydrogen storage apparatus 264 via
the pipe 265. The hydrogen generated by the reformer 260 is
transferred, for example, to the farm field 210 via the pipe 274.
The heat generated by the reformer 260 is transferred, for example,
to at least one of the heat accumulator 282 and the heat exchanger
284 via any transfer pipe for a heat medium.
[0078] In the present embodiment, the fuel cell 262 is configured
to generate electric power by utilizing hydrogen. The fuel cell 262
may generate heat by utilizing hydrogen. At least one of the
hydrogen generated by the reformer 260 and the hydrogen stored in
the hydrogen storage apparatus 264 is supplied to the fuel cell
262. The fuel cell 262 may supply electric power to at least one of
the power grid 12 and the farm field 210 via the power distribution
apparatus 230.
[0079] The heat generated by the fuel cell 262 is transferred to,
for example, at least one of the heat accumulator 282 and the heat
exchanger 284 via any transfer pipe for a heat medium. The pipe for
supplying heat to the heat accumulator 282 from the fuel cell 262
may be provided with a member for limiting transfer of a heat
medium. The pipe for supplying heat to the heat exchanger 284 from
the fuel cell 262 may be provided with a member for limiting
transfer of a heat medium. The member for limiting transfer of a
heat medium may be an automatic valve. Operations of the automatic
valve may be controlled by the controller 240 or a control device
(not shown) of the tri-generation system 250.
[0080] In the present embodiment, the hydrogen storage apparatus
264 is configured to store hydrogen supplied from the outside. For
example, the hydrogen storage apparatus 264 is configured to store
hydrogen supplied from the reformer 260 in a hydrogen storage
container (not shown). The hydrogen storage apparatus 264 may store
hydrogen supplied from the fuel cell vehicle 22 in the hydrogen
storage container. A method of storing hydrogen is not particularly
limited. Hydrogen may be stored under relatively high pressure or
under relatively low pressure. Hydrogen may be stored in a gas
state, in a liquid state, or in a state of being absorbed in a
hydrogen-occluding substance.
[0081] The hydrogen storage apparatus 264 may supply hydrogen to
the outside. For example, the hydrogen storage apparatus 264 is
configured to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell 262. The hydrogen
storage apparatus 264 may supply hydrogen to the fuel cell vehicle
22. The pipe for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell 262 from the
hydrogen storage apparatus 264 may be provided with a member for
limiting transfer of hydrogen. The pipe for supplying hydrogen to
the fuel cell vehicle 22 from the hydrogen storage apparatus 264
may be provided with a member for limiting transfer of hydrogen.
The member for limiting transfer of hydrogen may be an automatic
valve. Operations of an automatic valve may be controlled by the
controller 240 or the control device (not shown) of the
tri-generation system 250.
[0082] In the present embodiment, the automatic valve 266 is
configured to limit transfer of hydrogen in at least one of the
pipe 263 and the pipe 265. Thus, a transfer destination and a
transfer amount of hydrogen generated by the reformer 260 are
controlled. Operations of the automatic valve 266 may be controlled
by the controller 240 or the control device (not shown) of the
tri-generation system 250.
[0083] In the present embodiment, the flow control unit 272 is
configured to limit transfer of carbon dioxide to the farm field
210 from the reformer 260. The flow control unit 272 may be
provided in some region of the pipe 274. Thus, a transfer amount of
carbon dioxide to the farm field 210 is controlled. Operations of
the flow control unit 272 may be controlled by the controller 240
or the control device (not shown) of the tri-generation system 250.
Details of the flow control unit 272 will be described below.
[0084] In the present embodiment, the heat accumulator 282 is
configured to accumulate heat generated by at least one of the
reformer 260 and the fuel cell 262. In the present embodiment, the
heat exchanger 284 is configured to convey the heat generated by at
least one of the reformer 260 and the fuel cell 262 or the heat
accumulated in the heat accumulator 282 to a temperature adjustment
device (not shown) of the farm field 210. A heat exchange system in
the heat exchanger 284 is not particularly limited.
[0085] In the present embodiment, the automatic valve 286 is
configured to limit transfer of a heat medium for conveying heat
generated by the reformer 260. The automatic valve 286 is
configured to limit transfer of a heat medium in at least one of a
pipe for transferring a heat medium to the heat accumulator 282
from the reformer 260 and a pipe for transferring a heat medium to
the heat exchanger 284 from the reformer 260. Thus, a transfer
destination and a transfer amount of heat generated by the reformer
260 are controlled. Operations of the automatic valve 286 may be
controlled by the controller 240 or the control device (not shown)
of the tri-generation system 250.
[0086] FIG. 3 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of the controller 240. In the present embodiment, the
controller 240 includes, for example, an air-conditioning
management unit 322, a power supply/demand management unit 324, a
hydrogen supply/demand management unit 326, and a system control
unit 330. In the present embodiment, the system control unit 330
includes a power supply control unit 332, a hydrogen supply control
unit 334, a carbon dioxide supply control unit 336, a heat supply
control unit 338, and a vehicle allocation request unit 342.
[0087] The power supply/demand management unit 324 may be one
example of a power supply/demand acquisition unit. The hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 326 may be one example of a hydrogen
supply/demand acquisition unit. The system control unit 330 may be
one example of an energy management device. The power supply
control unit 332 may be one example of a power generation control
unit. The carbon dioxide supply control unit 336 may be one example
of a supply request acquisition unit and a response determination
unit. The vehicle allocation request unit 342 may be one example of
a dispatch request transmission unit.
[0088] In the present embodiment, the air-conditioning management
unit 322 is configured to manage at least one of a temperature,
humidity and a carbon dioxide concentration in the farm field 210.
The air-conditioning management unit 322 may manage at least one of
a temperature, humidity and a carbon dioxide concentration of the
air in the farm field 210. The air-conditioning management unit 322
may manage at least one of a temperature and humidity in a medium
of the farm field 210.
[0089] The air-conditioning management unit 322 is configured to
acquire information indicating measurement results of a variety of
sensors provided in the farm field 210. The air-conditioning
management unit 322 is configured to output a variety of requests
to the system control unit 330 based on the measurement results of
the sensors. For example, the air-conditioning management unit 322
is configured to output a heat request for requesting supply of
heat based on a measurement result of the temperature sensor 212.
The air-conditioning management unit 322 may output a carbon
dioxide request for requesting supply of carbon dioxide based on a
measurement result of the carbon dioxide sensor 214. The
air-conditioning management unit 322 is configured to output a
humidification request for requesting humidification based on a
measurement result of the humidity sensor. The carbon dioxide
request may be one example of a supply request.
[0090] In the present embodiment, the power supply/demand
management unit 324 is configured to manage power supply/demand in
the agricultural facility 122. For example, the power supply/demand
management unit 324 is configured to acquire information indicating
power supply/demand situation (which may be referred to as power
supply/demand information) in the agricultural facility 122.
[0091] The power supply/demand management unit 324 may acquire,
from the power distribution apparatus 230, information indicating a
power consumption amount in the agricultural facility 122. The
power supply/demand management unit 324 may acquire, from the power
distribution apparatus 230, information indicating a power supply
amount in the agricultural facility 122. The power supply/demand
management unit 324 may acquire, from the power distribution
apparatus 230, information indicating a power generation amount of
the tri-generation system 250. The power supply/demand management
unit 324 may acquire, from the power distribution apparatus 230,
information indicating a power transmission amount to the power
grid 12 from the agricultural facility 122. The power supply/demand
management unit 324 may predict a power consumption amount in the
agricultural facility 122. The power supply/demand management unit
324 may predict a power supply amount in the agricultural facility
122.
[0092] The power supply/demand management unit 324 may acquire,
from the management server 130, information indicating a power
supply/demand situation in a community to which the agricultural
facility 122 belongs. The power supply/demand situation in the
community may be power supply/demand information in the power grid
12. The content indicated by the power supply/demand information of
the community may be similar to that of the power supply/demand
information of the agricultural facility 122. The power
supply/demand situation in the community may be one example of a
power supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility 122.
[0093] In the present embodiment, the hydrogen supply/demand
management unit 326 is configured to manage hydrogen supply/demand
in the agricultural facility 122. For example, the hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 326 is configured to acquire
information indicating a hydrogen supply/demand situation in the
agricultural facility 122 (which may be referred to as hydrogen
supply/demand information).
[0094] The hydrogen supply/demand management unit 326 may acquire,
from the tri-generation system 250, information indicating a
hydrogen consumption amount in the fuel cell 262. The hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 326 may acquire, from the
tri-generation system 250, information indicating a hydrogen supply
amount to the hydrogen storage container equipped on the fuel cell
vehicle 22. The hydrogen supply/demand management unit 326 may
acquire, from the tri-generation system 250, information indicating
a hydrogen production amount in the reformer 260. The hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 326 may acquire, from the
tri-generation system 250, information indicating a remaining
amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage apparatus 264. The
hydrogen supply/demand management unit 326 may predict a hydrogen
consumption amount in the tri-generation system 250. The hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 326 may predict a hydrogen production
amount in the tri-generation system 250. The hydrogen supply/demand
management unit 326 may predict a remaining amount of hydrogen in
the tri-generation system 250.
[0095] The hydrogen supply/demand management unit 326 may acquire,
from the management server 130, information indicating a hydrogen
supply/demand situation in a community to which the agricultural
facility 122 belongs. The content indicated by the hydrogen
supply/demand information of the community may be similar to that
of the hydrogen supply/demand information of the agricultural
facility 122. The hydrogen supply/demand situation in the community
may be one example of a hydrogen supply/demand situation in the
agricultural facility 122.
[0096] The system control unit 330 is configured to control
operations of the power load 220, the power distribution apparatus
230, and the tri-generation system 250. The system control unit 330
may control communication between the controller 240 and the
management server 130. The system control unit 330 may include a
communication interface. The communication interface may be
compatible with a plurality of communication systems.
[0097] In the present embodiment, the power supply control unit 332
is configured to control power supply in the tri-generation system
250. For example, the power supply control unit 332 is configured
to determine whether to start the operation of the fuel cell 262.
The power supply control unit 332 may determine whether to start
operation of the fuel cell 262, based on (i) a power supply/demand
situation in the agricultural facility 122 and (ii) a hydrogen
supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility 122.
[0098] In one embodiment, the power supply control unit 332 is
configured to generate an operation schedule in which information
indicating one or more periods and a power generation amount during
each period are associated with each other, based on (i) a power
supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility 122 and (ii) a
hydrogen supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility 122.
The power supply control unit 332 is configured to start operation
of the fuel cell 262 according to the operation schedule.
[0099] In another embodiment, the power supply control unit 332 may
determine whether to start operation of the fuel cell 262 based on
an excessiveness of power supply in the agricultural facility 122.
For example, the power supply control unit 332 is configured to
determine not to start operation of the fuel cell 262 or to stop
operation of the fuel cell 262 when the excessiveness of power
supply in the agricultural facility 122 satisfies a particular
condition (which may be referred to as a power excess condition).
The power supply control unit 332 may determine to start operation
of the fuel cell 262 when the excessiveness of power supply in the
agricultural facility 122 does not satisfy the above-mentioned
condition.
[0100] The excessiveness of power supply may be a parameter
indicating a degree of excess or tightness of electric power. The
excessiveness of power supply may be represented by continuous
numerical values or by stepwise segments. Each segment may be
distinguished by symbols or characters, or by numbers.
[0101] The excessiveness of power supply/demand may be determined
based on at least one of surplus power and remaining power supply
capability. For example, the excessiveness of power supply/demand
is determined based on (i) a ratio of the surplus power or the
remaining supply capability in the agricultural facility 122 to the
demand power in the agricultural facility 122, (ii) a ratio of the
surplus power or the remaining supply capability in the
agricultural facility 122 to the power supply capability in the
agricultural facility 122, or the like.
[0102] The excessiveness of power supply/demand may be determined
based on the power supply/demand situation in the community to
which the agricultural facility 122 belongs. For example, the
excessiveness of power supply/demand is determined based on (i) a
ratio of the surplus power or the remaining supply capability in
the power grid 12 to the demand power in the community, (ii) a
ratio of the surplus power or the remaining supply capability in
the community to the power supply capability in the power grid 12,
or the like. The power supply/demand situation in the power grid 12
may be one example of a power supply/demand situation in the
community to which the agricultural facility 122 belongs.
[0103] The power supply control unit 332 may control power supply
to at least one of the one or more power loads 220. Thus, the power
supply control unit 332 can adjust power supply/demand of the
agricultural facility 122 by limiting consumption of electric power
in the agricultural facility 122.
[0104] In the present embodiment, the hydrogen supply control unit
334 is configured to control hydrogen supply in the tri-generation
system 250. For example, the hydrogen supply control unit 334 is
configured to determine whether to start operation of the reformer
260. The hydrogen supply control unit 334 may determine whether to
start operation of the reformer 260 based on (i) a power
supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility 122 and (ii) a
hydrogen supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility
122.
[0105] In one embodiment, the hydrogen supply control unit 334 is
configured to generate an operation schedule in which information
indicating one or more periods and a hydrogen generation amount
during each period are associated with each other, based on (i) the
power supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility 122 and
(ii) the hydrogen supply/demand situation in the agricultural
facility 122. The hydrogen supply control unit 334 is configured to
start operation of the reformer 260 according to the operation
schedule.
[0106] In another embodiment, the hydrogen supply control unit 334
may determine whether to start operation of the reformer 260 based
on an excessiveness of hydrogen supply in the agricultural facility
122. For example, the hydrogen supply control unit 334 is
configured to determine not to start operation of the reformer 260
or to stop operation of the reformer 260 when the excessiveness of
hydrogen supply in the agricultural facility 122 satisfies a
particular condition (which may be referred to as a hydrogen excess
condition). The hydrogen supply control unit 334 may determine to
start operation of the reformer 260 when the excessiveness of power
supply in the agricultural facility 122 does not satisfy the
above-mentioned condition.
[0107] The excessiveness of hydrogen supply may be a parameter
indicating a degree of excess or tightness of hydrogen. The
excessiveness of hydrogen supply may be represented by continuous
numerical values or by stepwise segments. Each segment may be
distinguished by symbols or characters, or by numerals.
[0108] The excessiveness of hydrogen supply/demand may be
determined based on at least one of a surplus hydrogen amount and a
remaining hydrogen supply capability. For example, the
excessiveness of hydrogen supply/demand is determined based on (i)
a ratio of the surplus hydrogen amount or the remaining supply
capability in the agricultural facility 122 to the hydrogen demand
amount in the agricultural facility 122, (ii) a ratio of the
surplus hydrogen amount or the remaining supply capability in the
agricultural facility 122 to the hydrogen supply capability in the
agricultural facility 122, or the like.
[0109] The excessiveness of hydrogen supply/demand may be
determined based on the hydrogen supply/demand situation in the
community to which the agricultural facility 122 belongs. For
example, the excessiveness of hydrogen supply/demand is determined
based on (i) a ratio of the surplus hydrogen amount or the
remaining supply capability in the community to the hydrogen demand
amount in the community, (ii) a ratio of the surplus hydrogen
amount or the remaining supply capability in the community to the
hydrogen supply capability in the community, or the like.
[0110] In the present embodiment, the hydrogen supply control unit
334 is configured to control a supply path and a supply amount of
hydrogen generated by the reformer 260. For example, the hydrogen
supply control unit 334 is configured to control operations of the
automatic valve 266. Thus, the hydrogen supply control unit 334 can
control a transfer destination of the hydrogen and a transfer
amount to each transfer destination.
[0111] In the present embodiment, the carbon dioxide supply control
unit 336 is configured to control carbon dioxide supply in the
tri-generation system 250. For example, the carbon dioxide supply
control unit 336 is configured to determine whether to start
operation of the reformer 260. The carbon dioxide supply control
unit 336 may determine whether to start operation of the reformer
260, based on (i) a power supply/demand situation in the
agricultural facility 122 and (ii) a hydrogen supply/demand
situation in the agricultural facility 122.
[0112] For example, the carbon dioxide supply control unit 336 is
configured to acquire a carbon dioxide request outputted from the
air-conditioning management unit 322. The carbon dioxide supply
control unit 336 is configured to acquire power supply/demand
information of the agricultural facility 122 from the power
supply/demand management unit 324. The carbon dioxide supply
control unit 336 is configured to acquire hydrogen supply/demand
information of the agricultural facility 122 from the hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 326. The carbon dioxide supply
control unit 336 is configured to determine whether to respond to
the carbon dioxide request, based on (i) a power supply/demand
situation indicated by the power supply/demand information and (ii)
a hydrogen supply/demand situation indicated by the hydrogen
supply/demand information.
[0113] In one embodiment, when the excessiveness of hydrogen supply
indicated by the hydrogen supply/demand information satisfies a
hydrogen excess condition and the excessiveness of power supply
indicated by the power supply/demand information satisfies a power
excess condition, the carbon dioxide supply control unit 336
determines not to respond to the carbon dioxide request. In another
embodiment, when the excessiveness of hydrogen supply indicated by
the hydrogen supply/demand information does not satisfy the
hydrogen excess condition and the excessiveness of power supply
indicated by the power supply/demand information satisfies the
power excess condition, the carbon dioxide supply control unit 336
may determine to respond to the carbon dioxide request. When it is
determined to respond to the carbon dioxide request, the carbon
dioxide supply control unit 336 may execute at least one of a
processing for starting operation of the reformer 260 and a
processing for controlling the flow control unit 272.
[0114] When a request amount of carbon dioxide is specified in the
carbon dioxide request, the carbon dioxide supply control unit 336
is configured to determine, for example, an excessiveness of
hydrogen supply and an excessiveness of power supply in a condition
in which the request amount of carbon dioxide is generated. When
the determined excessiveness of hydrogen supply satisfies the
hydrogen excess condition and the determined excessiveness of power
supply satisfies the power excess condition, the carbon dioxide
supply control unit 336 may determine not to respond to the carbon
dioxide request.
[0115] In this case, the carbon dioxide supply control unit 336 may
calculate an amount of carbon dioxide that the tri-generation
system 250 can supply based on the supply/demand information of
hydrogen and electric power, and notify the amount of carbon
dioxide to the air-conditioning management unit 322. The
air-conditioning management unit 322 may change the request amount
of carbon dioxide and output a carbon dioxide request again. Note
that the air-conditioning management unit 322 may output a carbon
dioxide request for requesting supply of carbon dioxide within a
range of an amount of carbon dioxide that the tri-generation system
250 can supply without a specified request amount of carbon
dioxide.
[0116] In the present embodiment, the carbon dioxide supply control
unit 336 is configured to control a supply path and a supply amount
of carbon dioxide generated by the reformer 260. For example, the
carbon dioxide supply control unit 336 is configured to control
operations of the flow control unit 272. Thus, the carbon dioxide
supply control unit 336 can control a transfer destination of
carbon dioxide and a transfer amount to each transfer destination.
Specifically, the carbon dioxide supply control unit 336 is
configured to control a supply amount of carbon dioxide to the farm
field 210.
[0117] In the present embodiment, the heat supply control unit 338
is configured to control supply of heat in the tri-generation
system 250. For example, the heat supply control unit 338 is
configured to determine whether to start operation of at least one
of the reformer 260 and the fuel cell 262. The heat supply control
unit 338 may determine whether to start operation of at least one
the reformer 260 and the fuel cell 262 based on an amount of heat
accumulated in the heat accumulator 282. The heat supply control
unit 338 may determine whether to start operation of at least one
of the reformer 260 and the fuel cell 262, based on (i) a power
supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility 122 and (ii) a
hydrogen supply/demand situation in the agricultural facility
122.
[0118] For example, the heat supply control unit 338 is configured
to acquire a heat request outputted from the air-conditioning
management unit 322. The heat supply control unit 338 is configured
to determine whether to respond to the heat request based on an
amount of heat accumulated in the heat accumulator 282. When the
amount of heat requested by the heat request is equal to or less
than the amount of heat accumulated in the heat accumulator 282,
the heat supply control unit 338 may determine not to start
operation of the reformer 260 and the fuel cell 262. Then, the heat
supply control unit 338 is configured to start operation of the
heat accumulator 282 and the heat exchanger 284 and execute a
processing for supplying heat to the farm field 210.
[0119] On the other hand, when the amount of heat requested by the
heat request exceeds the amount of heat accumulated in the heat
accumulator 282, the heat supply control unit 338 is configured to
acquire power supply/demand information of the agricultural
facility 122 from the power supply/demand management unit 324. The
heat supply control unit 338 is configured to acquire hydrogen
supply/demand information of the agricultural facility 122 from the
hydrogen supply/demand management unit 326. Moreover, the heat
supply control unit 338 is configured to determine whether to
respond to the heat request, based on (i) a power supply/demand
situation indicated by the power supply/demand information and (ii)
a hydrogen supply/demand situation indicated by the hydrogen
supply/demand information.
[0120] In one embodiment, when the excessiveness of hydrogen supply
indicated by the hydrogen supply/demand information satisfies a
hydrogen excess condition and the excessiveness of power supply
indicated by the power supply/demand information satisfies a power
excess condition, the heat supply control unit 338 is configured to
determine not to respond to the heat request. In another
embodiment, when the excessiveness of hydrogen supply indicated by
the hydrogen supply/demand information does not satisfy the
hydrogen excess condition and the excessiveness of power supply
indicated by the power supply/demand information satisfies the
power excess condition, the heat supply control unit 338 may
determine to respond to the heat request. The heat supply control
unit 338 may determine which of the reformer 260 or the fuel cell
262 to run, based on the hydrogen supply/demand information and the
power supply/demand information. When it is determined to respond
to the heat request, the heat supply control unit 338 may execute
at least one of a processing for starting operation of at least one
of the reformer 260 and the fuel cell 262 and a processing for
controlling the automatic valve 286.
[0121] When a request amount of heat is specified in the heat
request, the heat supply control unit 338 is configured to
determine, for example, an excessiveness of hydrogen supply and an
excessiveness of power supply in a condition in which the request
amount of heat is generated. When the determined excessiveness of
hydrogen supply satisfies a hydrogen excess condition and the
determined excessiveness of power supply satisfies a power excess
condition, the heat supply control unit 338 may determine not to
respond to the heat request.
[0122] In this case, the heat supply control unit 338 may calculate
an amount of heat that the tri-generation system 250 can supply
based on the supply/demand information of hydrogen and electric
power, and notify the amount of heat to the air-conditioning
management unit 322. The air-conditioning management unit 322 may
change the request amount of heat and output a heat request again.
Note that the air-conditioning management unit 322 may output a
heat request for requesting supply of heat within a range of an
amount of heat that the tri-generation system 250 can supply
without a specified request amount of heat.
[0123] In the present embodiment, the vehicle allocation request
unit 342 is configured to send a vehicle allocation request for
requesting dispatch of at least one of the fuel cell vehicle 22 and
the electric vehicle 24 to the management server 130. The vehicle
allocation request may be a request for an administrator of the
fuel cell vehicle 22 or the electric vehicle 24. For example, the
vehicle allocation request unit 342 may send a vehicle allocation
request when the excessiveness of hydrogen supply indicated by the
hydrogen supply/demand information satisfies a hydrogen excess
condition and the excessiveness of power supply indicated by the
power supply/demand information satisfies a power excess condition.
The vehicle allocation request may be one example of a dispatch
request.
[0124] In one embodiment, when a remaining amount of hydrogen in
the hydrogen storage apparatus 264 exceeds a predetermined
threshold, the vehicle allocation request unit 342 is configured to
send a vehicle allocation request for requesting dispatch of the
fuel cell vehicle 22 to the management server 130. The vehicle
allocation request may include information indicating a hydrogen
discharge amount from the hydrogen storage apparatus 264. In
another embodiment, when a power demand in the agricultural
facility 122 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the vehicle
allocation request unit 342 is configured to send a vehicle
allocation request for requesting dispatch of the fuel cell vehicle
22 or the electric vehicle 24 to the management server 130. The
vehicle allocation request may include information indicating an
insufficient power amount in the agricultural facility 122.
[0125] FIG. 4 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of the flow control unit 272. In the present
embodiment, the flow control unit 272 includes, for example, a pipe
410, an automatic valve 412, and a flow regulation valve 414. The
flow control unit 272 may include a pipe 420 and a relief valve
422.
[0126] The pipe 410 and the pipe 420 is configured to transfer at
least part of carbon dioxide generated by the reformer 260 to the
farm field 210. The automatic valve 412 and the flow regulation
valve 414 are provided in some region of the pipe 410, and are
configured to adjust an amount of carbon dioxide transferred to the
farm field 210. Operations of the automatic valve 412 may be
controlled by the controller 240. The opening of the flow
regulation valve 414 may be adjusted manually or may be controlled
by the controller 240.
[0127] The relief valve 422 is provided in some region of the pipe
420. In the present embodiment, the pipe 420 is configured such
that, when the reformer 260 generates carbon dioxide while the
automatic valve 412 is closed, the pressure in the pipe 420
increases. When the pressure in the pipe 420 exceeds a set value of
the relief valve 422, the relief valve 422 opens, and the carbon
dioxide inside the pipe 420 is discharged into the air.
[0128] FIG. 5 schematically shows one example of a system
configuration of the energy management facility 124. In the present
embodiment, the energy management facility 124 includes, for
example, one or more power generation apparatuses 520, one or more
power storage apparatuses 530, a power distribution apparatus 540,
one or more hydrogen production apparatuses 550, one or more
hydrogen storage apparatuses 552, and a control device 560. In the
present embodiment, the power generation apparatus 520 includes,
for example, one or more fuel cells 522. The power generation
apparatus 520 may include one or more photovoltaic apparatuses
524.
[0129] In the present embodiment, the power generation apparatus
520 is configured to generate electric power. In the present
embodiment, the power storage apparatus 530 is configured to
accumulate electric power. Operations of the power generation
apparatus 520 and the power storage apparatus 530 may be controlled
by the control device 560.
[0130] In the present embodiment, the power distribution apparatus
540 is configured to control power distribution between the power
grid 12 and interior wiring of the energy management facility 124.
The power distribution apparatus 540 may control power distribution
inside the energy management facility 124. The power distribution
apparatus 540 may convert alternate current to direct current or
direct current to alternate current. The power distribution
apparatus 540 may adjust at least one of a voltage and a frequency
of electricity. Operations of the power distribution apparatus 540
may be controlled by the control device 560.
[0131] In the present embodiment, the hydrogen production apparatus
550 is configured to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen production
apparatus 550 may produce hydrogen by utilizing electric power. For
example, the hydrogen production apparatus 550 is configured to
produce hydrogen by utilizing electric power supplied from at least
one of the power grid 12, the power generation apparatuses 520 and
the power storage apparatus 530. Operations of the hydrogen
production apparatus 550 may be controlled by the control device
560.
[0132] Details of the production process of hydrogen in the
hydrogen production apparatus 550 are not particularly limited. The
hydrogen production apparatus 550 is configured to produce hydrogen
by an electrochemical method, for example. The hydrogen production
apparatus 550 may produce hydrogen by a chemical method or by a
biological method. As described above, hydrogen may be one example
of an energy source.
[0133] In the present embodiment, the hydrogen storage apparatus
552 is configured to store hydrogen produced by the hydrogen
production apparatus 550. For example, the hydrogen storage
apparatus 552 is configured to store hydrogen produced by the
hydrogen production apparatus 550 in a hydrogen storage container
(not shown). A method of storing hydrogen is not particularly
limited. Hydrogen may be stored under relatively high pressure or
under relatively low pressure. Hydrogen may be stored in a gas
state, in a liquid state, or in a state being absorbed in a
hydrogen-occluding substance.
[0134] The hydrogen storage apparatus 264 may supply hydrogen to
the outside. The hydrogen storage apparatus 264 may supply hydrogen
to the fuel cell vehicle 22. Operations of the hydrogen production
apparatus 550 may be controlled by the control device 560.
[0135] In the present embodiment, the control device 560 is
configured to control operations of the power generation
apparatuses 520, the power storage apparatus 530, the power
distribution apparatus 540, the hydrogen production apparatus 550,
and the hydrogen storage apparatus 552. The control device 560 is
configured to adjust supply/demand of energy and an energy source
in a community to which the energy management facility 124 belongs.
The control device 560 may control operations of at least one of
the power generation apparatuses 520, the power storage apparatus
530, the power distribution apparatus 540, the hydrogen production
apparatus 550 and the hydrogen storage apparatus 552, based on an
instruction from the management server 130. The control device 560
may have a similar configuration to the controller 240 to the
extent that any technical contradiction does not arise.
[0136] FIG. 6 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of the energy management unit 132. In the present
embodiment, the energy management unit 132 includes, for example, a
power supply/demand management unit 612, a hydrogen supply/demand
management unit 614, a request acquisition unit 622, a request
processing unit 624, and a settlement unit 632.
[0137] The power supply/demand management unit 612 may be one
example of a first supply/demand information acquisition unit, a
second supply/demand information acquisition unit, and a power
transmission and reception amount management unit. The hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 614 may be one example of a first
supply/demand information acquisition unit and a second
supply/demand information acquisition unit. The request acquisition
unit 622 may be one example of a first request acquisition unit.
The request processing unit 624 may be one example of an energy
management device. The settlement unit 632 may be one example of a
power transmission and reception amount adjustment unit.
[0138] In the present embodiment, the power supply/demand
management unit 612 is configured to manage power supply/demand in
a community to be managed by the management server 130. For
example, the power supply/demand management unit 612 is configured
to manage power supply/demand of a community including one or more
agricultural facilities 122, one or more energy management
facilities 124, and one or more supplier/demander facilities
126.
[0139] The power supply/demand management unit 612 may acquire,
from the controller 240 of the agricultural facility 122,
information indicating power supply/demand in the agricultural
facility 122. More specifically, the power supply/demand management
unit 612 may acquire, from the controller 240 of the agricultural
facility 122, information indicating power supply/demand in the
tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural facility 122.
Similarly, the power supply/demand management unit 612 may acquire
information indicating power supply/demand in the supplier/demander
facility 126.
[0140] The power supply/demand management unit 612 may acquire,
from the control device 560 of the energy management facility 124,
information indicating power supply/demand in the energy management
facility 124. More specifically, the power supply/demand management
unit 612 may acquire, from the control device 560 of the energy
management facility 124, information indicating power supply/demand
in the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of the energy management
facility 124.
[0141] The power supply/demand management unit 612 may manage
information indicating at least one of a power transmission amount
and a power reception amount between the agricultural facility 122
and the power grid 12. For example, the power supply/demand
management unit 612 may manage, from the controller 240 of the
agricultural facility 122, information indicating at least one of a
power transmission amount and a power reception amount between the
tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural facility 122 and the
power grid 12. Similarly, the power supply/demand management unit
612 may manage information indicating at least one of the power
transmission amount and the power reception amount between the
supplier/demander facility 126 and the power grid 12.
[0142] The power supply/demand management unit 612 may manage
information indicating at least one of a power transmission amount
and a power reception amount between the energy management facility
124 and the power grid 12. For example, the power supply/demand
management unit 612 may manage, from the control device 560 of the
energy management facility 124, information indicating at least one
of a power transmission amount and a power reception amount between
the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of the energy management
facility 124 and the power grid 12.
[0143] In the present embodiment, the hydrogen supply/demand
management unit 614 may acquire, from the controller 240 of the
agricultural facility 122, information indicating hydrogen
supply/demand in the agricultural facility 122. More specifically,
the hydrogen supply/demand management unit 614 may acquire, from
the controller 240 of the agricultural facility 122, information
indicating hydrogen supply/demand in the tri-generation system 250
of the agricultural facility 122.
[0144] The hydrogen supply/demand management unit 614 may acquire
information indicating hydrogen supply/demand in the energy
management facility 124 from the control device 560 of the energy
management facility 124. More specifically, the hydrogen
supply/demand management unit 614 may acquire, from the control
device 560 of the energy management facility 124, information
indicating hydrogen supply/demand in the hydrogen production
apparatus 550 of the energy management facility 124.
[0145] In the present embodiment, the request acquisition unit 622
is configured to acquire a variety of requests. The request
acquisition unit 622 may acquire a request from at least one of the
agricultural facility 122, the energy management facility 124, the
supplier/demander facility 126, the fuel cell vehicle 22, the
electric vehicle 24, and the communication terminal 32. For
example, the request acquisition unit 622 is configured to acquire,
from the controller 240 of the agricultural facility 122, a
permission request for requesting permission for power transmission
to the power grid 12 from the tri-generation system 250. The
permission request may be one example of a first request.
[0146] In the present embodiment, the request processing unit 624
may generate a variety of requests for adjusting power
supply/demand in a community. For example, the request processing
unit 624 is configured acquire, from the power supply/demand
management unit 612, information indicating power supply/demand in
the tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural facility 122 and
information indicating power supply/demand in the hydrogen
production apparatus 550 of the energy management facility 124.
Moreover, the request processing unit 624 is configured to acquire,
from the hydrogen supply/demand management unit 614, information
indicating hydrogen supply/demand in the tri-generation system 250
of the agricultural facility 122 and information indicating
hydrogen supply/demand in the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of
the energy management facility 124.
[0147] The request processing unit 624 may determine, based on the
information indicating the power supply/demand and hydrogen
supply/demand, at least one of (i) an upper limit value of a power
amount that the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of the energy
management facility 124 can receive from the power grid during a
certain period, (ii) a target value of an amount of hydrogen that
the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of the energy management
facility 124 generates during the certain period, (iii) an upper
limit value of a power amount that the tri-generation system 250 of
the agricultural facility 122 can transmit to the power system
during the certain period, and (iv) a target value of a power
amount that the tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural
facility 122 generates during the certain period. The request
processing unit 624 may send information indicating the determined
upper limit value or target value to at least one of the
agricultural facility 122 and the energy management facility
124.
[0148] The request processing unit 624 may process a variety of
requests acquired by the request acquisition unit 622. For example,
when the request acquisition unit 622 acquired a permission
request, the request processing unit 624 is configured to acquire,
from the power supply/demand management unit 612, information
indicating power supply/demand in the tri-generation system 250 of
the agricultural facility 122 and information indicating power
supply/demand in the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of the
energy management facility 124. Moreover, the request processing
unit 624 is configured to acquire, from the hydrogen supply/demand
management unit 614, information indicating hydrogen supply/demand
in the tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural facility 122
and information indicating hydrogen supply/demand in the hydrogen
production apparatus 550 of the energy management facility 124.
[0149] Next, the request processing unit 624 is configured to
determine to permit or prohibit power transmission to the power
grid 12 from the tri-generation system 250, based on the
information indicating power supply/demand in the tri-generation
system 250 of the agricultural facility 122 and the information
indicating power supply/demand in the hydrogen production apparatus
550 of the energy management facility 124.
[0150] For example, the request processing unit 624 is configured
to determine to prohibit the power transmission when an
excessiveness of the hydrogen supply in the hydrogen production
apparatus 550 of the energy management facility 124 satisfies a
predetermined first condition. The first condition may be a
condition that an excessiveness of hydrogen exceeds a predetermined
degree.
[0151] In the present embodiment, the settlement unit 632 is
configured to generate a report indicating a power supply/demand
situation per unit time period for each of one or more agricultural
facilities 122, one or more energy management facilities 124, and
one or more supplier/demander facilities 126. Examples of the
length of the unit time period include a day, a week, a month, or
the like.
[0152] When the request processing unit 624 determined to permit
power transmission in response to the permission request from the
agricultural facility 122, the settlement unit 632 may execute a
processing for interpreting a power amount supplied to the power
grid 12 from the agricultural facility 122 that sent the permission
request as a power amount that the energy management facility 124
utilized for producing hydrogen. In one embodiment, the request
processing unit 624 is configured to subtract a power transmission
amount to the power grid 12 from the tri-generation system 250 of
the agricultural facility 122 pertaining to the permission, from a
power reception amount of the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of
the energy management facility 124 from the power grid 12. In
another embodiment, the request processing unit 624 is configured
to add a power transmission amount to the power grid 12 from the
tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural facility 122
pertaining to the permission, to a power transmission amount to the
power grid 12 from the hydrogen production apparatus 550 of the
energy management facility 124.
[0153] FIG. 7 schematically shows one example of an information
processing in the settlement unit 632. In FIG. 7, the settlement
unit 632 is configured to deduct a power amount that the
agricultural facility 122 sold to the power grid 12, from a power
amount that the energy management facility 124 purchased from the
power grid 12. Thus, the power amount supplied to the power grid 12
from the agricultural facility 122 can be interpreted as the power
amount that the energy management facility 124 utilized for
producing hydrogen.
[0154] FIG. 8 schematically shows one example of an internal
configuration of the vehicle allocation management unit 134. In the
present embodiment, the vehicle allocation management unit 134
includes, for example, a vehicle management unit 822, a usage
change unit 824, a vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 832,
and a vehicle allocation unit 834.
[0155] The vehicle management unit 822 may be one example of a
movable object management unit. The vehicle allocation request
acquisition unit 832 may be one example of a second request
acquisition unit. The vehicle allocation unit 834 may be one
example of a second determination unit.
[0156] In the present embodiment, the vehicle management unit 822
is configured to manage at least one of a fuel cell vehicle 22 and
an electric vehicle 24. Specifically, the vehicle management unit
822 is configured to manage information indicating a state of at
least one of one or more fuel cell vehicles 22 and one or more
electric vehicles 24. Information indicating a state of the fuel
cell vehicle 22 may include information indicating a remaining
amount of hydrogen in the fuel cell vehicle 22. Information
indicating a state of the electric vehicle 24 may include
information indicating a remaining battery level of the electric
vehicle 24.
[0157] Other examples of the state of the fuel cell vehicle 22 or
the electric vehicle 24 include a location of the vehicle, the
usage of the vehicle, a type of the vehicle, a use status of the
vehicle, or the like. Examples of the usage of the vehicle include
usage for lending to a user of a car rental service, usage for
using as a power supply device, usage for using as a hydrogen
carrying device, or the like. Examples of the type of the vehicle
include a fuel cell vehicle, an electric vehicle, an engine vehicle
configured to carry a portable hydrogen storage container, an
engine vehicle configured to carry a portable power storage device,
or the like.
[0158] Examples of the use status of the vehicle include a status
of the vehicle, a scheduled time at which the status of the vehicle
becomes available for the next time, a location of the vehicle at
the scheduled time, or the like. Examples of the status include a
state of being available, in use, under maintenance, or the
like.
[0159] The usage change unit 824 is configured to change usage of
at least one of one or more fuel cell vehicles 22 and one or more
electric vehicles 24. The usage change unit 824 may change usage of
the vehicle based on at least one of a power supply/demand
situation and a hydrogen supply/demand situation in a community.
For example, the usage change unit 824 is configured to determine
the number of vehicles allocated for each usage, based on at least
one of a power supply/demand situation and a hydrogen supply/demand
situation in the community. The usage change unit 824 may change
usage of each vehicle based on the determined result.
[0160] For example, in the tourist season, the usage change unit
824 is configured to increase the number of vehicles allocated for
usage for lending to a user of a car rental service, compared to
other seasons. On the other hand, in the harvest season of the
farmwork, the usage change unit 824 is configured to increase the
number of vehicles allocated for usage for using as a hydrogen
carrying device, compared to other seasons.
[0161] In the present embodiment, the vehicle allocation request
acquisition unit 832 is configured to acquire a vehicle allocation
request from each facility of the energy management system 100. For
example, the vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 832 is
configured to acquire a vehicle allocation request from the
agricultural facility 122. The vehicle allocation request may be
one example of a second request.
[0162] In the present embodiment, the vehicle allocation unit 834
is configured to manage the use of vehicles that are managed by the
vehicle allocation management unit 134. For example, when the
vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 832 acquired a vehicle
allocation request from the agricultural facility 122, the vehicle
allocation unit 834 is configured to determine a vehicle to be
moved to the agricultural facility 122 among one or more vehicles
that are managed by the vehicle allocation management unit 134. The
vehicle allocation unit 834 is configured to determine a vehicle to
be moved to the agricultural facility 122, based on (i) a situation
of power supply/demand and hydrogen supply/demand in the
agricultural facility 122 or the tri-generation system 250 of the
agricultural facility 122 and (ii) a state of each of one or more
vehicles that are managed by the vehicle allocation management unit
134.
[0163] In one embodiment, when the excessiveness of hydrogen supply
in the tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural facility 122
satisfies a second condition, the vehicle allocation unit 834 is
configured to determine a vehicle whose remaining amount of
hydrogen satisfies a third condition as a vehicle to be moved to
the agricultural facility 122. The second condition may be a
condition that the excessiveness of hydrogen supply exceeds a
predetermined degree. The third condition may be a condition that a
remaining amount of hydrogen is less than a predetermined value.
The third condition may be a condition that a remaining amount of
hydrogen is a sufficient level to reach the agricultural facility
122 and less than a predetermined value.
[0164] Thus, a vehicle that can sufficiently receive hydrogen
stored in the hydrogen storage apparatus 264 of the agricultural
facility 122 is dispatched to the agricultural facility 122. As a
result, the excessiveness of hydrogen in the agricultural facility
122 is relieved.
[0165] In another embodiment, when the excessiveness of hydrogen
supply in the tri-generation system 250 of the agricultural
facility 122 satisfies a second condition, the vehicle allocation
unit 834 is configured to determine a vehicle whose remaining
battery level satisfies a fourth condition as a vehicle to be moved
to the agricultural facility 122. The second condition may be a
condition that the excessiveness of hydrogen supply exceeds a
predetermined degree. The fourth condition may be a condition that
the remaining battery level is less than a predetermined value. The
fourth condition may be a condition that the remaining battery
level is a sufficient level to reach the agricultural facility 122
and less than a predetermined value.
[0166] Thus, a vehicle that can sufficiently receive electric power
generated by the fuel cell 262 of the agricultural facility 122 is
dispatched to the agricultural facility 122. As a result, the
excessiveness of hydrogen in the agricultural facility 122 is
relieved.
[0167] FIG. 9 schematically shows one example of a data table 900.
The data table 900 may be one example of a data structure of a
database managed by the vehicle management unit 822.
[0168] In the present embodiment, the data table 900 is configured
to store, in association with each other, (i) an identification
information 912 of a vehicle and (ii) at least one of information
914 indicating a current location of the vehicle, information 916
indicating usage of the vehicle, information 918 indicating a type
of the vehicle, information 920 indicating a remaining amount of
hydrogen, information 922 indicating a status of the vehicle, and
information 924 indicating a scheduled time at which the status of
the vehicle becomes available for the next time.
[0169] While the embodiments of the present invention have been
described, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to
the above described embodiments. It is apparent to persons skilled
in the art that various alterations and improvements can be added
to the above-described embodiments. Also, matters explained with
reference to a particular embodiment can be applied to other
embodiments as long as such application does not cause a technical
contradiction. It is also apparent from the scope of the claims
that the embodiments added with such alterations or improvements
can be included in the technical scope of the invention.
[0170] The operations, procedures, steps, and stages of each
process performed by an apparatus, system, program, and method
shown in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams can be performed in
any order as long as the order is not indicated by "prior to,"
"before," or the like and as long as the output from a previous
process is not used in a later process. Even if the process flow is
described using phrases such as "first" or "next" in the claims,
embodiments, or diagrams, it does not necessarily mean that the
process must be performed in the order.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES
[0171] 12: power grid, 14: communication network, 22: fuel cell
vehicle, 24: electric vehicle, 32: communication terminal, 100:
energy management system, 122: agricultural facility, 124: energy
management facility, 126: supplier/demander facility, 130:
management server, 132: energy management unit, 134: vehicle
allocation management unit, 210: farm field, 212: temperature
sensor, 214: carbon dioxide sensor, 220: power load, 230: power
distribution apparatus, 240: controller, 250: tri-generation
system, 260: reformer, 262: fuel cell, 263: pipe, 264: hydrogen
storage apparatus, 265: pipe, 266: automatic valve, 272: flow
control unit, 274: pipe, 282: heat accumulator, 284: heat
exchanger, 286: automatic valve, 322: air-conditioning management
unit, 324: power supply/demand management unit, 326: hydrogen
supply/demand management unit, 330: system control unit, 332: power
supply control unit, 334: hydrogen supply control unit, 336: carbon
dioxide supply control unit, 338: heat supply control unit, 342:
vehicle allocation request unit, 410: pipe, 412: automatic valve,
414: flow regulation valve, 420: pipe, 422: relief valve, 520:
power generation apparatus, 522: fuel cell, 524: photovoltaic
apparatus, 530: power storage apparatus, 540: power distribution
apparatus, 550: hydrogen production apparatus, 552: hydrogen
storage apparatus, 560: control device, 612: power supply/demand
management unit, 614: hydrogen supply/demand management unit, 622:
request acquisition unit, 624: request processing unit, 632:
settlement unit, 822: vehicle management unit, 824: usage change
unit, 832: vehicle allocation request acquisition unit, 834:
vehicle allocation unit, 900: data table, 912: identification, 914:
information, 916: information, 918: information, 920: information,
922: information, 924: information
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