Patent Description:
As fuel for vehicles, in addition to conventional fuel oils such as gasoline, recently, hydrogen fuel has attracted attention as a clean energy source. As a result, fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) powered by the hydrogen fuel have been developed. Hydrogen stations for the FCV include a hydrogen shipping center or an on-site hydrogen station (hereinafter, referred to as the on-site ST) that is a hydrogen production base, and an off-site hydrogen station (hereinafter, referred to as the off-site ST) that receives and sells hydrogen from the hydrogen production base (the hydrogen shipping center or the on-site ST). In the hydrogen station, to rapidly fill the FCV with hydrogen gas, a compressor for compressing the hydrogen gas to a high pressure and a plurality of accumulators (a multi-stage accumulator) for accumulating the hydrogen gas compressed to the high pressure by the compressor are disposed. By performing filling of the hydrogen gas while appropriately switching the accumulator to be used so as to greatly maintain a differential pressure between a pressure inside the accumulator and a pressure of a fuel tank of the FCV, the hydrogen station rapidly performs filling of the hydrogen gas from the accumulator into the fuel tank of the FCV.

In a hydrogen production apparatus (HPU: Hydrogen Product Unit) that produces the hydrogen gas, it is difficult to rapidly increase an operation load (or a hydrogen production amount). Therefore, at the on-site ST, generally, during business hours, the hydrogen production apparatus is continuously operated in a state of a load <NUM>% (rated value). However, excess hydrogen gas that cannot be accumulated in the accumulator is discharged to the atmosphere (discarded). Such an operation is continued from the start to the end of business. As described above, there is a problem that a large amount of hydrogen gas is discarded even though the hydrogen gas is produced.

To deal with the above problem, many accumulators are prepared in the on-site ST, the hydrogen production apparatus is operated at the rated value, and, for example, one week's worth of hydrogen gas is produced and stored. Then, the amount of hydrogen gas to be discarded is reduced by stopping the hydrogen production apparatus until the hydrogen gas is insufficient. However, in the above method, there is a problem that it is necessary to prepare many accumulators and a facility at the on-site ST becomes excessive. Therefore, there is a demand for a method for producing hydrogen with less waste without increasing a size of the facility.

Here, a method for predicting a load by averaging past results and creating an operation pattern of the hydrogen production apparatus is disclosed (for example, see Patent Literature <NUM>). However, there is a problem that the prediction is just a prediction and is not always matched with an actual situation. In this context, Patent Literature <NUM> relates to a high-pressure hydrogen production system and an operation method of the high-pressure hydrogen production system.

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention provides a method and an apparatus capable of producing hydrogen with less waste in accordance with an actual situation, without increasing a size of a facility.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an operation method for a hydrogen production apparatus that is disposed in a hydrogen station and produces hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) arriving at the hydrogen station, the operation method includes:.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a control device for a hydrogen production apparatus that is disposed in a hydrogen station and produces hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) arriving at the hydrogen station, the control device includes:.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to produce hydrogen with less waste in accordance with an actual situation, without increasing a size of a facility.

<FIG> is an example of a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a hydrogen gas supply system of a hydrogen station in an embodiment <NUM>. In <FIG>, a hydrogen gas supply system <NUM> is disposed in a hydrogen station <NUM>. The hydrogen gas supply system <NUM> includes a hydrogen production apparatus <NUM>, a multi-stage accumulator <NUM>, a dispenser <NUM> (measuring machine), a compressor <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, and a control circuit <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, since the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is disposed in the hydrogen station <NUM> and becomes a hydrogen production base, an example of an on-site ST is shown.

The multi-stage accumulator <NUM> includes a plurality of accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the three accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> configure the multi-stage accumulator <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, for example, the accumulator <NUM> functions as a 1st bank having a low use lower limit pressure. The accumulator <NUM> functions as a 2nd bank having an intermediate use lower limit pressure, for example. The accumulator <NUM> functions as a 3rd bank having a high use lower limit pressure, for example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The accumulators used in the 1st bank to the 3rd bank are replaced as necessary. In the hydrogen station <NUM>, a curdle and/or an intermediate accumulator (not shown) may also be disposed.

Further, in <FIG>, the suction side of the compressor <NUM> is connected to the discharge side of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe.

The discharge side of the compressor <NUM> is connected to the accumulator <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe. Similarly, the discharge side of the compressor <NUM> is connected to the accumulator <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe. Similarly, the discharge side of the compressor <NUM> is connected to the accumulator <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe. Similarly, the discharge side of the compressor <NUM> is connected to the dispenser <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe.

Further, the accumulator <NUM> is connected to the dispenser <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe. Further, the accumulator <NUM> is connected to the dispenser <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe. Further, the accumulator <NUM> is connected to the dispenser <NUM> via a valve <NUM> by a pipe.

Further, a discharge pressure of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is measured by a pressure gauge <NUM>. Further, a pressure in the accumulator <NUM> is measured by a pressure gauge <NUM>. A pressure in the accumulator <NUM> is measured by a pressure gauge <NUM>. A pressure in the accumulator <NUM> is measured by a pressure gauge <NUM>.

Further, a flow rate adjustment valve <NUM>, a flowmeter <NUM>, a cooler <NUM> (precooler), and a pressure gauge <NUM> are disposed in the dispenser <NUM>. A flow rate of the hydrogen gas supplied from the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> or the compressor <NUM> is measured by the flowmeter <NUM>, and the flow rate is adjusted by the flow rate adjustment valve <NUM>. Then, the hydrogen gas is cooled to a predetermined temperature (for example, -<NUM>) by the cooler <NUM>. Therefore, the dispenser <NUM> fills a fuel tank <NUM> mounted on an FCV <NUM> with the cooled hydrogen gas by using, for example, a differential pressure. Further, an outlet pressure (fuel filling outlet pressure) of a filling outlet of the hydrogen gas filled from the dispenser <NUM> into the FCV is measured by the pressure gauge <NUM>. Further, a control circuit <NUM> is disposed in or near the dispenser <NUM> so as to be able to communicate with an on-board device <NUM> in the FCV <NUM> (fuel cell vehicle (FCV) powered by the hydrogen gas) that has arrived at the hydrogen station <NUM>. For example, the control circuit <NUM> is configured to be able to perform wireless communication using infrared rays.

In the FCV <NUM>, the hydrogen gas to be fuel supplied from the dispenser <NUM> is injected from a reception port (receptacle) into the fuel tank <NUM> via a fuel passage. The pressure and the temperature in the fuel tank <NUM> are measured by a pressure gauge <NUM> and a thermometer <NUM> provided in the fuel tank <NUM> or the fuel passage.

Further, if the FCV <NUM> arrives at the hydrogen station <NUM>, the arrival is detected by the sensor <NUM>, and for example, detected information is output to the control circuit <NUM> via the control circuit <NUM> in the dispenser <NUM>. As the sensor <NUM>, for example, a sensor that detects an object (FCV <NUM>) entering the hydrogen station <NUM> with a laser such as infrared rays can be used. Alternatively, a camera may be used as the sensor <NUM>. By taking an image with the camera, it is possible to more reliably determine that the entrance object is the FCV <NUM>.

The hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is supplied to the suction side of the compressor <NUM> in a state of a low pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa). Therefore, a primary-side pressure PIN of the suction side of the compressor <NUM> is normally low. Under the control of the control circuit <NUM>, the compressor <NUM> supplies the hydrogen gas supplied at a low pressure from the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> to each of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> while compressing the hydrogen gas. In a case of supplying the hydrogen gas from the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> to the FCV <NUM>, when an amount of hydrogen gas supplied is insufficient or when the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> is recovering a pressure, under the control of the control circuit <NUM>, the compressor <NUM> may directly supply the hydrogen gas supplied at a low pressure from the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> to the FCV <NUM> via the dispenser <NUM> while compressing the hydrogen gas.

The compressor <NUM> performs compression until an internal pressure of each of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> becomes a predetermined high pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa). In other words, the compressor <NUM> performs compression until a secondary-side pressure POUT of the discharge side becomes the predetermined high pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa or more). Whether a partner to which the compressor <NUM> supplies the hydrogen gas is the accumulator <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> or the dispenser <NUM> may be determined by controlling opening/closing of the corresponding valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> disposed on the respective pipes by the control circuit <NUM>. Alternatively, control may be performed so that the hydrogen gas is supplied to two or more accumulators at the same time.

In the example described above, the case where control is performed so that the pressure PIN for supplying the hydrogen gas to the suction side of the compressor <NUM> is reduced to the predetermined low pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa) has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The hydrogen gas may be applied to the suction side of the compressor <NUM> in a state of a pressure higher than the predetermined low pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa) and may be compressed. In the above case, instead of a reciprocating compressor used with the pressure PIN (primary-side pressure) of the suction side fixed to a constant pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa), a high-pressure compressor of the type capable of varying the pressure PIN (primary-side pressure) of the suction side is adopted as the compressor <NUM>. For example, it is preferable to use a booster multi-stage step-up compressor in which the pressure PIN (primary-side pressure) of the suction side is, for example, <NUM> MPa or less.

The hydrogen gas accumulated in the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> is cooled by the cooler <NUM> in the dispenser <NUM> and is supplied from the dispenser <NUM> to the FCV <NUM> having arrived at the inside of the hydrogen station <NUM>.

<FIG> is a configuration diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of the control circuit <NUM> in the embodiment <NUM>. In <FIG>, a communication control circuit <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a reception unit <NUM>, an end pressure calculation unit <NUM>, a flow planning unit <NUM>, a system control unit <NUM>, a pressure recovery control unit <NUM>, a supply control unit <NUM>, a pressure reception unit <NUM>, a hydrogen production apparatus control unit <NUM> (control circuit of the hydrogen production apparatus), and storage devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> such as magnetic disk devices are disposed in the control circuit <NUM>. The pressure recovery control unit <NUM> has a valve control unit <NUM> and a compressor control unit <NUM>. The supply control unit <NUM> has a dispenser control unit <NUM> and a valve control unit <NUM>. A load setting unit <NUM>, a standby operation processing unit <NUM>, a load increase processing unit <NUM>, a load decrease processing unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, a velocity calculation unit <NUM>, and a storage device <NUM> such as a magnetic disk device are disposed in the hydrogen production apparatus control unit <NUM>. Each unit such as the reception unit <NUM>, the end pressure calculation unit <NUM>, the flow planning unit <NUM>, the system control unit <NUM>, the pressure recovery control unit <NUM> (the valve control unit <NUM> and the compressor control unit <NUM>), the supply control unit <NUM> (the dispenser control unit <NUM> and the valve control unit <NUM>), the pressure reception unit <NUM>, and the hydrogen production apparatus control unit <NUM> (the load setting unit <NUM>, the standby operation processing unit <NUM>, the load increase processing unit <NUM>, the load decrease processing unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, and the velocity calculation unit <NUM>) includes a processing circuit, and an electric circuit, a computer, a processor, a circuit board, or a semiconductor device is included in the processing circuit. Further, a common processing circuit (same processing circuit) may be used for each unit. Alternatively, a different processing circuit (separate processing circuit) may be used for each unit. Input data required in the reception unit <NUM>, the end pressure calculation unit <NUM>, the flow planning unit <NUM>, the system control unit <NUM>, the pressure recovery control unit <NUM> (the valve control unit <NUM> and the compressor control unit <NUM>), the supply control unit <NUM> (the dispenser control unit <NUM> and the valve control unit <NUM>), the pressure reception unit <NUM>, and the hydrogen production apparatus control unit <NUM> (the load setting unit <NUM>, the standby operation processing unit <NUM>, the load increase processing unit <NUM>, the load decrease processing unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, and the velocity calculation unit <NUM>), or calculated results are stored in the memory <NUM> each time.

Further, a conversion table <NUM> showing a correlation between FCV information such as the pressure, the temperature, and the volume of the fuel tank <NUM> mounted on the FCV <NUM>, a remaining amount of the hydrogen gas calculated from the FCV information, and filling information such as a final pressure and a final temperature for filling the fuel tank <NUM> with the hydrogen gas is stored in the storage device <NUM>. Further, a correction table <NUM> for correcting a result obtained from the conversion table <NUM> is stored in the storage device <NUM>.

Here, the pressure of each of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> is preferably maintained as high as possible for rapid filling, because the differential pressure between the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> having arrived for filling and the accumulator can be increased. Therefore, it is desired to increase a hydrogen production amount of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> so as to prevent insufficiency in the hydrogen gas for pressure recovering of the accumulator used once. On the other hand, it is difficult for the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> to undergo a sudden load fluctuation. When the load is increased, for example, the load can fluctuate at a velocity of load several%/min. For this reason, conventionally, during the business hours of the on-site ST, the operation is continued at the rated value. Further, generally, hydrogen production efficiency is high at the time of the operation at the rated value. However, the total number and filling amount of FCVs <NUM> arriving for hydrogen gas filling are not uniform among on-site STs disposed in various places. For example, some on-site STs may require <NUM>% of a daily amount of hydrogen gas produced when the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the rated value, while others may require <NUM>%. Further, the filling amount varies depending on the time of day even during the day. Therefore, when the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is continuously operated at the rated value during the business hours of the on-site ST, there is a limit in the amount of hydrogen gas that can be accumulated in the multi-stage accumulator <NUM>, so that a large amount of hydrogen gas exceeding the limit is left over. Then, the large amount of hydrogen gas left over is discarded. Further, a method for disposing a large number of accumulators in the on-site ST and storing one week's worth of hydrogen gas, due to the fact that it is wasteful to discard the excess hydrogen gas, is not realistic because the facility becomes excessive. Furthermore, in a method for predicting the required production amount of hydrogen gas on the basis of past results and producing the hydrogen gas in the predicted production amount, when the prediction is wrong and more FCVs <NUM> than the prediction arrive, hydrogen loss (supply disability state) occurs. Therefore, in the embodiment <NUM>, the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is variably controlled according to the actual arrival of the FCV <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing main steps of an operation method for the hydrogen production apparatus in the embodiment <NUM>. In <FIG>, the operation method for the hydrogen production apparatus in the embodiment <NUM> executes a series of steps such as a load setting step (S102), a start-up step (S104), a load increase switching determination step (S106), a load increase processing step (S108), a load decrease switching determination step (S110), a load arrival determination step (S112), a load increase stop processing step (S114), a load decrease processing step (S116), a load arrival determination step (S118), a load decrease stop processing process (S120), and a business end determination step (S122).

As the load setting step (S102), the load setting unit <NUM> sets values of a plurality of operation loads to be used under a plurality of conditions. Specifically, an operation load <NUM> (L1) (first operation load ratio) when the stopped hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is started up and is in a standby operation state, an operation load <NUM> (L2) (second operation load ratio) to be a maximum load when the load needs to be increased, and an operation load <NUM> (L3) (third operation load ratio) to be a minimum load when the load needs to be decreased are set. A case where the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the rated value is defined as a load <NUM>%. Further, an amount of hydrogen gas produced is proportional to a load ratio. As the operation load <NUM>, for example, it is preferable to set a predicted value of a hydrogen production amount on the basis of past results and set a load according to the predicted value. For example, it is preferable to use an average value of a previous month or an average value of each day of the week. For example, it is preferable to set a load required for producing an average amount of hydrogen gas required per day. For example, the operation load <NUM> is set to a load <NUM> to <NUM>%. As a result, a minimum amount of hydrogen gas required for one day can be produced. As the operation load <NUM>, a value larger than the operation load <NUM> is set. For example, the operation load <NUM> is set to the load <NUM>% (rated value). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. When it is clear from the past results that the number of FCVs <NUM> arriving in a short period is small, the load may be set accordingly. As the operation load <NUM>, a value smaller than the operation load <NUM> is set. For example, the operation load <NUM> is set to the same value as the operation load <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as a value is smaller than the operation load <NUM>, the value may be larger than the operation load <NUM>. In this way, each of the operation loads <NUM> to <NUM> is preset. Information of each of the set operation loads <NUM> to <NUM> is stored in the storage device <NUM>.

As the start-up step (S104), the standby operation processing unit <NUM> starts up the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> up to the operation load <NUM> (first operation load ratio) preset for the rated operation, from the stopped state. Specifically, the following operation is performed. The standby operation processing unit <NUM> reads the information of the operation load <NUM> from the storage device <NUM>, and outputs a start command to the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM> so that the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the operation load <NUM>. The hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> receives the start command and starts the operation from the stopped state. The hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> increases the load at a velocity V1 of load several%/min until the load becomes the operation load <NUM>. For example, the load is increased at the velocity V1 of load <NUM>%/min. Then, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> outputs information of a current operation state to the standby operation processing unit <NUM>. The standby operation processing unit <NUM> manages whether or not the operation according to the start command is executed, outputs a control command as necessary, and controls the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM>. Therefore, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> produces hydrogen gas corresponding to the gradually increasing load. Then, after the load increases to the state of the operation load <NUM>, the standby operation is continued at the operation load <NUM>, and the hydrogen gas in the amount corresponding to the operation load <NUM> is continuously produced. Further, the valve control unit <NUM> opens the valve <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM>. As a result, the hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is supplied to the compressor <NUM>.

From a state where the valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are closed, the valve control unit <NUM> opens the valve <NUM>, for example.

Then, the compressor control unit <NUM> drives the compressor <NUM>, sends the hydrogen gas of the low pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa) while compressing the hydrogen gas, fills the accumulator <NUM> with the hydrogen gas until the pressure of the accumulator <NUM> becomes a predetermined pressure P0 (for example, <NUM> MPa), and performs accumulation of the accumulator <NUM> (recovers the pressure thereof).

Next, the valve control unit <NUM> closes the valve <NUM>, and opens the valve <NUM> instead.

Then, the compressor control unit <NUM> drives the compressor <NUM>, sends the hydrogen gas of the low pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa) while compressing the hydrogen gas, fills the accumulator <NUM> with the hydrogen gas until the pressure of the accumulator <NUM> becomes the predetermined pressure P0 (for example, <NUM> MPa), and performs accumulation of the accumulator <NUM> (recovers the pressure thereof).

As described above, accumulation of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> can be performed until the pressure becomes the predetermined pressure P0 (for example, <NUM> MPa). As a result, the differential pressure filling into the FCV <NUM> by the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> is prepared. If the FCV <NUM> does not arrive until the accumulation of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is completed, the valve control unit <NUM> closes the valve <NUM> and opens an opening valve <NUM>, and hydrogen gas produced after the accumulation is completed is discharged (discarded) to the atmosphere. However, since the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the operation load <NUM>, an amount of hydrogen gas discarded can be significantly reduced as compared with a case of being operated at the load <NUM>%. The start-up step (S104) is executed at the start of business of the hydrogen station <NUM>, or shortly before the start of business so that the operation state becomes the standby operation state at the start of business. For example, when the operation load <NUM> is <NUM>% and the operation load can be increased at the velocity of load <NUM>%/min, the start-up work ends in about <NUM> minutes.

In the above state or during the accumulation of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the first FCV <NUM> arrives at the hydrogen station <NUM>. When the FCV <NUM> arrives at the hydrogen station <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> detects the FCV <NUM>, and for example, detected information is output to the control circuit <NUM> via the control circuit <NUM> in the dispenser <NUM>. In the control circuit <NUM>, for example, the dispenser control unit <NUM> receives the detected information via the communication control circuit <NUM>. As a result, the control circuit <NUM> can grasp that the FCV <NUM> has arrived at the hydrogen station <NUM>.

When the FCV <NUM> arrives at the hydrogen station <NUM>, a worker of the hydrogen station <NUM> or a user of the FCV <NUM> connects (fits) a nozzle <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM> to the reception port (receptacle) of the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM>, and fixes the nozzle <NUM>. When the FCV <NUM> arrives at the inside of the hydrogen station <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM> is connected and fixed to the reception port (receptacle) of the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> by the user or the worker of the hydrogen station <NUM>, communication between the on-board device <NUM> and the control circuit <NUM> (relay device) is established.

Next, when the communication between the on-board device <NUM> and the control circuit <NUM> (relay device) is established, FCV information such as the current pressure and temperature of the fuel tank <NUM> and the volume of the fuel tank <NUM> is output (transmitted) in real time from the on-board device <NUM>. The FCV information is relayed by the control circuit <NUM> and transmitted to the control circuit <NUM>. In the control circuit <NUM>, the reception unit <NUM> receives the FCV information via the communication control circuit <NUM>. The FCV information is monitored at all times or at predetermined sampling intervals (for example, <NUM> msec to several seconds) while the communication between the on-board device <NUM> and the control circuit <NUM> is established. The received FCV information is stored in the storage device <NUM> together with reception time information.

The end pressure calculation unit <NUM> reads the conversion table <NUM> from the storage device <NUM>, and calculates and predicts a final pressure PF corresponding to the pressure Pa, temperature Ti, and volume V of the fuel tank <NUM> at the time of initial reception and the outside air temperature T', which have been received. Further, the end pressure calculation unit <NUM> reads the correction table <NUM> from the storage device <NUM>, and corrects a numerical value obtained by the conversion table <NUM> as necessary. When only data of the conversion table <NUM> has a large error in an obtained result, the correction table <NUM> may be provided on the basis of a result obtained by an experiment or a simulation. The calculated final pressure PF is output to the system control unit <NUM>.

Next, the flow planning unit <NUM> creates a filling control flow plan for supplying (filling) the hydrogen gas to the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> by the differential pressure using the multi-stage accumulator <NUM>. The flow planning unit <NUM> creates a plan for the filling control flow including selection of the accumulator (selection of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) and switching timing of the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> so that the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> becomes the final pressure PF. Control data of the created filling control flow plan is temporarily stored in the storage device <NUM>. When the filling control flow is planned, the flow planning unit <NUM> sets a pressure increase rate according to the external temperature, and calculates a filling speed corresponding to the pressure increase rate. Further, to suppress a sudden temperature rise, the filling speed corresponding to the pressure increase rate determined according to the external temperature applied during filling is calculated. The pressure increase rate determined according to the external temperature is previously included in the data of the conversion table <NUM>. The filling control flow is planned under these conditions, and a time t (end time <NUM>) (reaching time) from the start of filling at which the pressure reaches the final pressure PF is obtained.

Then, according to the created filling control flow, filling of the hydrogen gas from the dispenser <NUM> (measuring machine) into the fuel tank <NUM> mounted on the FCV <NUM> powered by the hydrogen gas is performed. Specifically, the following operation is performed.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a filling method in a case of performing differential pressure filling of the hydrogen fuel by using the multi-stage accumulator in the embodiment <NUM>. In <FIG>, a vertical axis indicates a pressure and a horizontal axis indicates a time. In the case of performing the differential pressure filling of the hydrogen fuel on the FCV <NUM>, generally, accumulation of each of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> is previously performed at the same pressure P0 (for example, <NUM> MPa). On the other hand, the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> that has arrived at the hydrogen station <NUM> becomes the pressure Pa. A case where filling starts for the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> from the above state will be described.

First, the filling starts from the 1st bank, for example, the accumulator <NUM> to the fuel tank <NUM>. Specifically, the following operation is performed. Under the control of the system control unit <NUM>, the supply control unit <NUM> controls the supply unit <NUM>, and supplies the hydrogen fuel from the accumulator <NUM> to the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM>. Specifically, the system control unit <NUM> controls the dispenser control unit <NUM> and the valve control unit <NUM>. The dispenser control unit <NUM> communicates with the control circuit <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM>, and controls the operation of the dispenser <NUM>. Specifically, first, the control circuit <NUM> adjusts the opening of the flow rate adjustment valve <NUM> in the dispenser <NUM> so that a filling speed becomes the calculated filling speed M. Then, the valve control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal to the valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM>, and controls opening/closing of each valve. Specifically, the valve <NUM> is opened and the valves <NUM> and <NUM> are kept closed. As a result, the hydrogen fuel is supplied from the accumulator <NUM> to the fuel tank <NUM>. The hydrogen fuel accumulated in the accumulator <NUM> by the differential pressure between the accumulator <NUM> and the fuel tank <NUM> moves to the side of the fuel tank <NUM> at the adjusted filling speed, and the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> gradually increases as indicated by a dotted line Pt. Accordingly, the pressure (graph indicated by "1st") of the accumulator <NUM> gradually decreases. Then, at a point of time when the pressure reaches the use lower limit pressure of the 1st bank and the time T1 elapses from the start of filling, an accumulator to be used is switched from the accumulator <NUM> to the 2nd bank, for example, the accumulator <NUM>. Specifically, the valve control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal to the valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM>, and controls opening/closing of each valve. Specifically, the valve <NUM> is opened, the valve <NUM> is closed, and the valve <NUM> is kept closed. As a result, since the differential pressure between the accumulator <NUM> and the fuel tank <NUM> increases, the filling speed can be kept high.

Then, the hydrogen fuel accumulated in the accumulator <NUM> by the differential pressure between the 2nd bank, for example, the accumulator <NUM> and the fuel tank <NUM> moves to the side of the fuel tank <NUM> at the same adjusted filling speed, and the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> gradually increases as indicated by the dotted line Pt. Accordingly, the pressure (graph indicated by "2nd") of the accumulator <NUM> gradually decreases. Then, at a point of time when the pressure reaches the use lower limit pressure of the 2nd bank and a time T2 elapses from the start of filling, an accumulator to be used is switched from the accumulator <NUM> to the 3rd bank, for example, the accumulator <NUM>. Specifically, the valve control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal to the valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM>, and controls opening/closing of each valve. Specifically, the valve <NUM> is opened, the valve <NUM> is closed, and the valve <NUM> is kept closed. As a result, since the differential pressure between the accumulator <NUM> and the fuel tank <NUM> increases, the filling speed can be kept high.

Then, the hydrogen fuel accumulated in the accumulator <NUM> by the differential pressure between the 3rd bank, for example, the accumulator <NUM> and the fuel tank <NUM> moves to the side of the fuel tank <NUM> at the adjusted filling speed, and the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> gradually increases as indicated by the dotted line Pt. Accordingly, the pressure (graph indicated by "3rd") of the accumulator <NUM> gradually decreases. Then, filling is performed until the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> becomes the calculated final pressure PF (for example, <NUM> to <NUM> MPa) by the accumulator <NUM> to be the 3rd bank.

As described above, the fuel tank <NUM> is filled with the hydrogen gas in order from the 1st bank. In the example described above, the case where the pressure P1 of the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> arriving at the hydrogen station <NUM> is sufficiently lower than the use lower limit pressure of the accumulator <NUM> to be the preset low pressure bank is shown. As an example, a case of a sufficiently low pressure state such as <NUM>/<NUM> or less of a pressure at the time of full filling (full tank) is shown. In this case, for example, the three accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are required to perform rapid filling so that the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> becomes the final pressure PF. However, the FCV <NUM> arriving at the hydrogen station <NUM> is not limited to the case where the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> is sufficiently low. When the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> is higher than, for example, <NUM>/<NUM> of the pressure at the time of full filling, for example, the two accumulators <NUM> and <NUM> may be required. Furthermore, when the pressure of the fuel tank <NUM> is high, for example, one accumulator <NUM> may be required. In any case, the accumulator to be used is switched between the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

If filling (supplying) of the hydrogen gas into the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM> ends, the nozzle <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM> is removed from the reception port (receptacle) of the fuel tank <NUM> of the FCV <NUM>, and the user leaves the hydrogen station <NUM> after paying cost according to the filling amount, for example.

On the other hand, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is as follows.

As the load increase switching determination step (S106), the determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not an increase condition to be timing of load increase switching has occurred. For example, it is preferable to use that the sensor <NUM> detects the arrival of the FCV <NUM> at the hydrogen station <NUM> as the increase condition. Alternatively, it is preferable to use the start of filling the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas as the increase condition. Alternatively, predetermined timing during filling of the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas may be used as the increase condition. For example, timing several tens of seconds after the start of filling the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas is used as the increase condition. When the increase condition occurs, the process proceeds to the load increase processing step (S108). When the increase condition does not occur, the process returns to the load increase switching determination step (S106), and the load increase switching determination step (S106) is repeated until the increase condition occurs. Further, it is preferable to add a case where a residual pressure of the accumulator (any one or all of the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) accumulating the hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is a threshold or less, to the increase condition described above.

As the load increase processing step (S108), at determination (detection) timing (first timing) where the occurrence of the increase condition associated with the arrival of the FCV <NUM> has been determined (detected), the load increase processing unit <NUM> increases the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> to the operation load <NUM> (second operation load ratio) larger than the operation load <NUM> (first operation load ratio). In other words, for example, at one of timing where the arrival of the FCV <NUM> at the hydrogen station <NUM> has been detected, timing where the start of filling the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas has been detected, and predetermined timing during the filling of the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas, the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is increased to the operation load <NUM>. Specifically, the following operation is performed. At the determination (detection) timing where the occurrence of the increase condition has been determined (detected), the load increase processing unit <NUM> reads the information of the operation load <NUM> from the storage device <NUM>, and outputs a load increase command to the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM> so that the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the operation load <NUM>. The hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> receives the load increase command and increases the load from the operation state at the operation load <NUM>. Unless load decrease processing to be described below is started, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> increases the load at the velocity V1 of load several%/min until the load becomes the operation load <NUM>. For example, the load is increased at the velocity V1 of load <NUM>%/min. Then, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> outputs information of the current operation state to the load increase processing unit <NUM>. The load increase processing unit <NUM> manages whether or not the operation according to the load increase command is executed, outputs a control command as necessary, and controls the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM>. Therefore, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> produces hydrogen gas corresponding to the gradually increasing load. Then, after the load decrease processing is not started and the load increases to the state of the operation load <NUM>, the operation is continued at the operation load <NUM> and the hydrogen gas in the amount corresponding to the operation load <NUM> is continuously produced. At that time, the valve control unit <NUM> closes the open valve <NUM> and opens the valve <NUM>, via the communication control circuit <NUM>. As a result, the hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is supplied to the compressor <NUM>.

From a state where the valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are closed, the valve control unit <NUM> opens the valve <NUM>, for example. The valve of the accumulator whose pressure has decreased due to use as much as possible is opened.

Then, the compressor control unit <NUM> drives the compressor <NUM>, sends the hydrogen gas of the low pressure (for example, <NUM> MPa) while compressing the hydrogen gas, fills the accumulator <NUM> with the hydrogen gas until the pressure of the accumulator <NUM> to be the 1st bank becomes the predetermined pressure P0 (for example, <NUM> MPa), and recovers the pressure of the accumulator <NUM>. If filling of the hydrogen gas from the accumulator <NUM> into the FCV <NUM> is being performed, the accumulator <NUM> fills the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas while recovering the pressure. When the accumulator filling the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas is switched from the accumulator <NUM> to the accumulator <NUM> or the accumulator <NUM>, similarly, the pressure of the accumulator <NUM> or the accumulator <NUM> is sequentially recovered.

As described above, the hydrogen gas is sequentially supplied to the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> whose pressure decreases by filling the FCV <NUM> with the hydrogen gas. When the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is capable of producing hydrogen gas of <NUM>/h at the load <NUM>% and the filling amount to the FCV <NUM> is <NUM>/unit, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> can produce the hydrogen gas of <NUM> units/h. Therefore, a required amount of hydrogen gas can be produced in <NUM> minutes per unit. For example, if the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the load <NUM>%, it is possible to produce the hydrogen gas of <NUM> units/h. Therefore, the required amount of hydrogen gas can be produced in <NUM> minutes per unit. For example, if the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the load <NUM>%, it is possible to produce the hydrogen gas of <NUM> units/h. Therefore, the required amount of hydrogen gas can be produced in <NUM> minutes per unit. It is assumed that a time of filling of the hydrogen gas into the FCV <NUM> per unit is, for example, about <NUM> minutes. If the load increase velocity is <NUM>%/min, the operation load can be increased from <NUM>% to <NUM>% in about <NUM> minutes. Therefore, even if the second FCV <NUM> arrives at the hydrogen station <NUM> during the filling of the first FCV <NUM> or immediately after the filling of the first FCV <NUM>, about <NUM> to <NUM> minutes elapse from the start of filling of the first FCV <NUM>, including a time for attaching and detaching the nozzle <NUM>, until the filling of the second FCV <NUM> starts. Further, since the accumulators <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are not emptied by the filling of the first FCV <NUM>, the amount of hydrogen gas required for the second FCV <NUM> can be sufficiently secured until the filling of the second FCV <NUM> starts. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the filling amount from being insufficient.

On the other hand, when the load is continuously increased until the load becomes the operation load <NUM>, even though the second FCV <NUM> does not arrive, the hydrogen gas produced after the filling of the first FCV <NUM> and after the pressure recovery of the multi-stage accumulator <NUM> is completed is left over, so that the hydrogen gas is discarded. Therefore, in the embodiment <NUM>, the load is switched as follows.

As the load decrease switching determination step (S110), the determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not a decrease condition to be timing of load decrease switching has occurred. For example, it is preferable to use the completion of hydrogen filling into the FCV <NUM> as the decrease condition. Alternatively, it is preferable to use the elapse of a predetermined period after the completion of the hydrogen filling into the FCV <NUM> as the decrease condition. Alternatively, it is preferable to use that the pressure of the accumulator <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>) accumulating the hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is the threshold or more as the decrease condition. When the decrease condition occurs, the process proceeds to the load decrease processing step (S116). When the decrease condition does not occur, the process proceeds to the load arrival determination step (S112).

As the load arrival determination step (S112), the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> determines whether or not the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> has reached the operation load <NUM>. Alternatively, the determination unit <NUM> may determine whether or not the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> has reached the operation load <NUM>. When the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, the process proceeds to the load increase stop processing step (S114). When the operation load does not reach the operation load <NUM>, the process returns to the load decrease switching determination step (S110) while the load increase is continued.

As the load increase stop processing step (S114), the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> stops the load increase when the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, and continues the operation in the state of the operation load <NUM>. As described above, when the hydrogen filling into the FCV <NUM> is not completed until the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, the load increase is stopped when the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>. Further, at timing where it is determined (detected) that the operation load has reached the operation load <NUM>, the load increase processing unit <NUM> may output a load maintenance command to the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM> so that the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> performs the operation maintained at the operation load <NUM>. Then, the process returns to the load decrease switching determination step (S110).

As the load decrease processing step (S116), at determination (detection) timing (second timing) where the occurrence of the decrease condition associated with the completion of hydrogen filling into the FCV <NUM> has been determined (detected), the load decrease processing unit <NUM> decreases the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> to the operation load <NUM> (third operation load ratio) smaller than the operation load <NUM> (second operation load ratio). In other words, for example, at one of timing where the completion of hydrogen filling into the FCV <NUM> has been detected, timing where a predetermined period has elapsed from the completion of hydrogen filling into the FCV <NUM>, and timing where the pressure of the accumulator <NUM> (<NUM>, and <NUM>) accumulating the hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> has become the threshold or more, the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is decreased to the operation load <NUM>. Specifically, the following operation is performed. At the determination (detection) timing where the occurrence of the decrease condition has been determined (detected), the load decrease processing unit <NUM> reads the information of the operation load <NUM> from the storage device <NUM>, and outputs a load decrease command to the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM> so that the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the operation load <NUM>. The hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> receives the load decrease command and decreases the load during increasing of the operation load to the operation load <NUM> or from the operation state at the operation load <NUM>. The hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> decreases the load at a velocity V2 of load several%/min until the operation load becomes the operation load <NUM>. For example, the load is decreased at the velocity V2 of load <NUM>%/min. Then, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> outputs information of the current operation state to the load decrease processing unit <NUM>. The load decrease processing unit <NUM> manages whether or not the operation according to the load decrease command is executed, outputs a control command as necessary, and controls the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM>. Therefore, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> will produce hydrogen gas corresponding to the gradually decreasing load. Then, in order to wait for the arrival of the next FCV <NUM>, the process returns to the load increase switching determination step (S106) and proceeds to the load arrival determination step (S118).

As the load arrival determination step (S118), the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> determines whether or not the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> has reached the operation load <NUM>. Alternatively, the determination unit <NUM> may determine whether or not the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> has reached the operation load <NUM>. When the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, the process proceeds to the load decrease stop processing step (S120). When the operation load does not reach the operation load <NUM>, the load arrival determination step (S118) is repeated.

As the load decrease stop processing step (S120), the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> stops the load decrease when the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, and continues the operation in the state of the operation load <NUM>. As described above, when the next FCV <NUM> does not arrive until the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, the load decrease is stopped when the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>. Further, at timing where it is determined (detected) that the operation load has reached the operation load <NUM>, the load decrease processing unit <NUM> may output a load maintenance command to the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> via the communication control circuit <NUM> so that the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> performs the operation maintained at the operation load <NUM>. Then, the process proceeds to a business hour determination step (S122).

As a business end determination step (S122), the determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not the business has ended. When the business does not end, the process returns to the load increase switching determination step (S106) in order to wait for the arrival of the next FCV <NUM>. When the business ends, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is continued at the operation load <NUM> until the business starts the next day.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an example of a relation between an operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus and an FCV filling situation in the embodiment <NUM>. In <FIG>, a vertical axis indicates the operation load (%) of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM>, and a horizontal axis indicates a filling situation of the FCV <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, first, the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is started up from a state where the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is stopped up to the operation load <NUM> (load L1) at the velocity V1. In this state, the business of the hydrogen station <NUM> starts. When the filling of the first FCV <NUM> is started, the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is increased to the operation load <NUM> (load L2) at the velocity V1. In the example of <FIG>, the filling of the first FCV <NUM> is completed during the increase. Therefore, when the filling of the first FCV <NUM> is completed, the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is decreased to the operation load <NUM> (load L3) at the velocity V2. In the example of <FIG>, the filling of the second FCV <NUM> starts during the decrease. According to the present invention, in the embodiment <NUM>, the increase in the operating load due to the determination (detection) timing (first timing) of the occurrence of the increase condition for the subsequent FCV (second unit) that arrives at the hydrogen station <NUM> next to the previous FCV <NUM> (first unit) takes precedence over the decrease in the operation load due to the determination (detection) timing (second timing) of the occurrence of the decrease condition for the previous FCV <NUM> (first unit). Therefore, when the filling of the second FCV <NUM> is started, the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is increased to the operation load <NUM> (load L2) at the velocity V1. As a result, even when the third FCV <NUM> continues to arrive at the hydrogen station <NUM> during the filling of the second FCV <NUM> or immediately after the filling is completed, it is possible to prevent the hydrogen gas from being insufficient. In the example of <FIG>, the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM> during the filling of the second FCV <NUM>. After the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is continued at the operation load <NUM>. When the filling of the second FCV <NUM> is completed, the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is decreased to the operation load <NUM> (load L3) at the velocity V2. In the example of <FIG>, a case where the third and subsequent FCVs <NUM> do not arrive until the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM> is shown. After the operation load reaches the operation load <NUM>, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is continued at the operation load <NUM>. After the end of business hours, the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is continued at the operation load <NUM> until the business starts the next day. In the example of <FIG>, the case where the operation loads <NUM> and <NUM> have the same value is shown. However, when the operation loads <NUM> and <NUM> are different, after the end of business hours, the operation (standby operation: idling operation) of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> may be continued at the operation load <NUM> until the business starts the next day, and a warm-up operation (a reformer is kept warm but hydrogen is not produced) may be performed, or the operation of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> may be stopped. Further, after the business ends, the setting of the operation loads <NUM> to <NUM> may be changed for the next day's business. Of course, the setting of the operation loads <NUM> to <NUM> may be changed during business hours. Needless to say, after changing the setting, the operation is controlled according to the latest setting value.

By the above operation method, in <FIG>, waste of the production amount of hydrogen gas corresponding to an area indicated by a shaded portion can be eliminated as compared with the case where the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is operated at the load <NUM>% from the start of business to the end of business.

Further, the velocity V1 that increases the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> is calculated by the velocity calculation unit <NUM>. The hydrogen production apparatus <NUM> can variably adjust the increase velocity V1 and the decrease velocity V2 as long as the velocity is slower than the performance limit of the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM>. Therefore, preferably, the velocity calculation unit <NUM> variably adjusts the increase velocity V1 in accordance with the residual pressure of the accumulator <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>) accumulating the hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen production apparatus <NUM>. The pressure of the accumulator <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>) is received by the pressure reception unit <NUM> from each pressure gauge <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>). The received pressure data is stored in the storage device <NUM>. For example, when the residual pressure is high, the increase velocity V1 is decreased, and when the residual pressure is low, the increase velocity V1 is increased. As a result, the amount of hydrogen gas to be discarded can be further reduced.

As described above, according to the embodiment <NUM>, it is possible to produce hydrogen with less waste in accordance with an actual situation, without increasing a size of a facility.

The embodiments have been described with reference to the specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific examples. The present invention can also be applied to, for example, a hydrogen production apparatus by electrolysis.

Further, descriptions of parts and the like that are not directly necessary for explanation of the present invention, such as the apparatus configuration and the control method, have been omitted. However, the necessary apparatus configuration and control method can be appropriately selected and used.

Claim 1:
An operation method for a hydrogen production apparatus (<NUM>) that is disposed in a hydrogen station (<NUM>) and produces hydrogen gas to be supplied to a fuel cell vehicle (FCV, <NUM>) arriving at the hydrogen station (<NUM>), the operation method comprising:
starting up a hydrogen production apparatus (<NUM>) up to a first operation load ratio (L1) preset for a rated operation;
increasing an operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus (<NUM>) to a second load ratio (L2) larger than the first operation load ratio (L1) at first timing associated with an arrival of the FCV (<NUM>); and
decreasing the operation load of the hydrogen production apparatus (<NUM>) to a third operation load ratio (L3) smaller than the second operation load ratio (L2) at second timing associated with a completion of hydrogen filling into the FCV (<NUM>), wherein
an increase in the operation load due to the first timing with respect to a subsequent FCV (<NUM>) arriving at the hydrogen station (<NUM>) next to a previous FCV (<NUM>) takes precedence over a decrease in the operation load due to the second timing with respect to the previous FCV (<NUM>).