Control device for hydrogen production apparatus, hydrogen production facility, method for controlling hydrogen production apparatus, and control program for hydrogen production apparatus

Abstract

This control device for a hydrogen production apparatus is intended to be used for a hydrogen production apparatus including an electrolyzer for electrolyzing water and a rectifier for supplying a direct-current electric power to the electrolyzer, the control device being provided with: a voltage control unit which is configured so as to adjust an output voltage output from the rectifier to the electrolyzer in such a manner that the output voltage of the rectifier is coincident with a set voltage; and a voltage set unit which is configured so as to set the set voltage to a first voltage that is larger than a rated voltage for the electrolyzer in at least a portion of the period during the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus.

1 . A control device for a hydrogen production apparatus including an electrolyzer configured to electrolyze water and a rectifier configured to supply DC power to the electrolyzer, the control device comprising:
 a voltage control unit configured to adjust an output voltage output from the rectifier to the electrolyzer in such a manner that the output voltage of the rectifier is coincident with a set voltage; and   a voltage set unit configured to set the set voltage to a first voltage larger than a rated voltage of the electrolyzer in at least a portion of a period during start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The control device for a hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 1 . wherein
 the first voltage is a maximum operating voltage of the electrolyzer.   
     
     
         3 . The control device for a hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a current control unit configured to adjust the output voltage of the rectifier based on a current flowing through a circuit including the electrolyzer; and   a control mode selection unit configured to select a control mode of the rectifier from a voltage control mode in which the rectifier is controlled by the voltage control unit and a current control mode in which the rectifier is controlled by the current control unit, wherein   the control mode selection unit is configured to switch control of the rectifier from the voltage control mode to the current control mode when power in the circuit has reached a limiting value while the rectifier being controlled in the voltage control mode during the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus, and   the current control unit is configured to adjust the output voltage of the rectifier in such a manner that the current increases within a range in which the power does not exceed the limiting value during the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The control device for a hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a current control unit configured to adjust the output voltage of the rectifier based on a current flowing through a circuit including the electrolyzer;   a control mode selection unit configured to select a control mode of the rectifier from a voltage control mode in which the rectifier is controlled by the voltage control unit and a current control mode in which the rectifier is controlled by the current control unit; and   a current target value acquisition unit configured to acquire a current target value indicating a current in the circuit corresponding to a target production amount of hydrogen in the electrolyzer, wherein   the control mode selection unit selects the current control mode as the control mode of the rectifier when the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus is completed, and   the current control unit is configured to adjust the output voltage of the rectifier in such a manner that the current flowing through the circuit approaches the current target value after the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus is completed.   
     
     
         5 . The control device for a hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the control mode selection unit is configured to determine that the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus is completed when a temperature of water in the electrolyzer has reached a specified temperature during the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus.   
     
     
         6 . The control device for a hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the current control unit is configured to adjust the output voltage of the rectifier in such a manner that the current approaches the current target value within a range in which power in the circuit does not exceed a limiting value after the start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus is completed.   
     
     
         7 . A hydrogen production facility, comprising:
 a hydrogen production apparatus including an electrolyzer configured to electrolyze water and a rectifier configured to supply DC power to the electrolyzer; and   the control device according to  claim 1  configured to control the hydrogen production apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling a hydrogen production apparatus including an electrolyzer configured to electrolyze water and a rectifier configured to supply DC power to the electrolyzer, the method comprising:
 adjusting an output voltage output from the rectifier to the electrolyzer in such a manner that the output voltage of the rectifier approaches a set voltage; and   setting the set voltage to a first voltage larger than a rated voltage of the electrolyzer in at least a portion of a period during start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . A control program for a hydrogen production apparatus including an electrolyzer configured to electrolyze water and a rectifier configured to supply DC power to the electrolyzer, the program causing a computer to execute:
 a procedure in which an output voltage output from the rectifier to the electrolyzer is adjusted in such a manner that the output voltage of the rectifier approaches a set voltage; and   a procedure in which the set voltage is set to a first voltage larger than a rated voltage of the electrolyzer in at least a portion of a period during start-up of the hydrogen production apparatus.