CO2 EMISSION CALCULATION DEVICE

Abstract

A CO2 emission calculation device includes a processor configured to calculate a CO2 emission factor of a moving body based on a CO2 emission factor of an energy source supplied to the moving body, and calculate a CO2 emission at a time of a movement of the moving body based on the CO2 emission factor of the moving body.

Description

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-147150 filed in Japan on Sep. 9, 2021.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a CO₂ emission calculation device and a computer readable recording medium storing a CO₂ emission calculation program.

JP 2010-127690 A discloses a technique of calculating a CO₂ emission emitted from an internal combustion of a vehicle, for each section from a departure place to a destination, and searching for a CO₂ minimum path through which a total CO₂ emission from the departure place to the destination becomes the minimum.

SUMMARY

There is a need for a technique that enables calculation of a CO₂ emission considering a difference in energy resource and “Well to Wheel”.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a CO₂ emission calculation device including a processor configured to calculate a CO₂ emission factor of a moving body based on a CO₂ emission factor of an energy source supplied to the moving body, and calculate a CO₂ emission at a time of a movement of the moving body based on the CO₂ emission factor of the moving body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a CO₂ emission calculation device according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a CO₂ emission calculation method executed by a CO₂ emission calculation device according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A CO₂ emission calculation device and a computer readable recording medium storing a CO₂ emission calculation program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, components in the following embodiments include components that may be easily replaced by the one skilled in the art, or components that are substantially the same.

CO₂ Emission Calculation Device

A CO₂ emission calculation device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. A CO₂ emission calculation device is a device for calculating a CO₂ emission emitted from a moving body when the moving body moves (runs), considering “Well to Wheel”. Note that the “Well to Wheel” is an index indicating an emission degree of CO₂ emitted from when oil is extracted from a well (oilfield), until the oil generates a revolving movement of wheels (vehicle wheels) of a vehicle (moving body) through refining and transportation, for example.

Examples of moving bodies to which the CO₂ emission calculation device according to an embodiment is applied include a member that is movable by energy obtained from an energy source, such as vehicles, railroads, airplanes, and ships. In addition, vehicles among moving bodies include, for example, an engine vehicle, a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), and the like. In the present embodiment, the description will be given assuming a case where a moving body is a vehicle.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a CO₂ emission calculation device 1 includes a control unit 10, a communication unit 20, and a storage unit 30. Note that the CO₂ emission calculation device 1 may be mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, or may be mounted on a server device or the like that may communicate with a moving body.

Specifically, the control unit 10 includes a processor including a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and the like, and a memory (main storage unit) including a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like.

By executing various programs, the control unit 10 comprehensively controls operations of various components mounted on the CO₂ emission calculation device 1. In addition, through the execution of various programs, the control unit 10 functions as a held energy amount detection unit 11, a held energy emission factor reading unit 12, a supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13, a supplied energy amount detection unit 14, an energy amount update unit 15, an emission factor update unit 16, and an emission calculation unit 17.

The held energy amount detection unit 11 detects an energy amount (V base) of an energy source held by a moving body. In the present embodiment, an energy amount of an energy source held by a moving body is defined as a “held energy amount”.

Here, an “energy source” refers to a generation source of energy for operating a moving body, and examples include liquid fuel such as gasoline and light oil, electrical power, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas, gas fuel such as natural gas, and the like. In addition, among energy sources, while some energy sources emit CO₂ when generating energy, such as thermal electric generation, for example, other energy sources do not emit CO₂ when generating energy, such as solar energy generation.

For example, in a case where an energy source held by a moving body is liquid fuel, the held energy amount detection unit 11 may detect, as a held energy amount, a fuel amount [L] corresponding to an indicated value of a fluid level sensor or the like that is mounted on the moving body.

In addition, in a case where an energy source held by a moving body is electrical power, the held energy amount detection unit 11 may detect, as a held energy amount, electrical energy [kWL] corresponding to an indicated value of a voltage sensor or the like that is mounted on the moving body.

In addition, in a case where an energy source held by a moving body is gas fuel, the held energy amount detection unit 11 may detect, as a held energy amount, a fuel amount [kg] corresponding to an indicated value of a pressure sensor or the like that is mounted on the moving body. Note that the held energy amount detection unit 11 may store held energy amounts detected using these methods, into the storage unit 30.

The held energy emission factor reading unit 12 reads out a CO₂ emission factor (K base) of an energy source held by a moving body. In the present embodiment, a CO₂ emission factor of an energy source held by a moving body is defined as a “held energy emission factor”. Note that the held energy emission factor refers to a CO₂ emission factor of an energy source already held by a moving body when an energy source is supplied to the moving body from external supply equipment or the like.

The held energy emission factor reading unit 12 reads out, as a held energy emission factor, a previous value of a CO₂ emission factor per unit energy that has been calculated and updated by the emission factor update unit 16 to be described later, for example, and stored in the storage unit 30.

Note that the held energy emission factor is calculated by the emission factor update unit 16 to be described later, each time a moving body performs resupply of an energy source such as fueling and charging, and is accordingly updated to a latest value. Thus, the held energy emission factor is not a fixed value, and varies depending on the timing at which the held energy emission factor reading unit 12 reads out the held energy emission factor. In addition, a value of the held energy emission factor becomes lower in a case where the energy source is generated using natural energy (for example, sunlight, wind power, tidal power, geothermal heat, etc.), and a value of the held energy emission factor becomes higher in other cases, for example.

Here, in a case where a CO₂ emission factor has not been calculated by the emission factor update unit 16 yet (in a case where a previous value of a CO₂ emission factor does not exist), for example, a CO₂ emission factor of general “Tank To Wheel” may be used as a held energy emission factor. Note that the “Tank To Wheel” is an index indicating an emission degree of CO₂ emitted from a state in which fuel is already stored in a fuel tank, until the fuel generates a revolving movement of wheels (vehicle wheels) of a vehicle, for example.

The supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 detects a CO₂ emission factor (K add) of an energy source supplied to a moving body. In the present embodiment, a CO₂ emission factor of an energy source supplied to a moving body is defined as a “supplied energy emission factor”. The supplied energy emission factor is predefined for each supply equipment (for example, gas station, charging station, hydrogen filling station, etc.) or business operator (for example, power company, oil distributor, etc.) that supplies an energy source.

The supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 detects a supplied energy emission factor by acquiring a CO₂ emission factor from a server device or the like that is provided in supply equipment or a business operator (hereinafter, referred to as “supply equipment or the like”), via a wired or wireless network, for example.

In addition, for example, in a case where supply equipment or the like is a gas station, the supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 may detect a supplied energy emission factor by reading out a CO₂ emission factor per liter that is described on a fueling nozzle of gasoline, using a camera, a sensor, or the like. Note that, in a case where supply equipment or the like is a gas station, in a case where a CO₂ emission factor may not be acquired from a fueling nozzle of gasoline, the supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 may identify the position of the gas station from GPS information or the like of the moving body, and acquire a CO₂ emission factor per liter of the identified gas station, from a database or the like on a network.

Here, an energy source is sometimes supplied from equipment or energy other than supply equipment or the like. For example, in a case where a moving body is a BEV, electrical power generated by regeneration at the time of deceleration sometimes serves as an energy source. In addition, in some cases, a moving body is provided with a solar panel or the like, and electrical power generated by sunlight (natural energy) serves as an energy source. In this manner, in a case where an energy source obtained by a moving body itself or natural energy is used, the supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 sets 0 as a supplied energy emission factor of the energy source.

The supplied energy amount detection unit 14 detects an energy amount (V add) of an energy source supplied to a moving body. In the present embodiment, an energy amount of an energy source supplied to a moving body is defined as a “supplied energy amount”.

The supplied energy amount detection unit 14 detects a supplied energy amount by acquiring a supplied amount of an energy source (for example, a supplied amount or the like of gasoline) from a server device or the like that is provided in supply equipment or the like, via a wired or wireless network, for example. In addition, the supplied energy amount detection unit 14 may detect an increase in energy source using a sensor or the like (for example, a fluid level sensor or the like) mounted on a moving body, when an energy source is supplied from supply equipment or the like, for example, and regard the increase as a supplied energy amount.

The energy amount update unit 15 calculates an energy amount (V base′) of a moving body based on a held energy amount and a supplied energy amount, and updates a previously-calculated energy amount. Here, an “energy amount of a moving body” refers to an energy amount of the entire moving body that considers an energy amount of an energy source (i.e., held energy amount (V base)) already held by the moving body before an energy source is supplied from supply equipment or the like, and an energy amount of an energy source (i.e., supplied energy amount V add)) supplied from supply equipment or the like to the moving body. The energy amount update unit 15 calculates an energy amount (V base′) of a moving body by the following formula (1), for example. Then, a previous value of an energy amount that is stored in the storage unit 30 is updated to a value calculated this time.

V_base′=V_base+V_add  (1)

The emission factor update unit 16 calculates a CO₂ emission factor (K base′) of a moving body based on a held energy amount, a supplied energy amount, a held energy emission factor, and a supplied energy emission factor, and updates a previously-calculated CO₂ emission factor. Here, a “CO₂ emission factor of a moving body” refers to a CO₂ emission factor of the entire moving body that considers a held energy emission factor and a supplied energy emission factor. The emission factor update unit 16 calculates a CO₂ emission factor (K base′) of a moving body by the following formula (2), for example. Then, a previous value of a CO₂ emission factor that is stored in the storage unit 30 is updated to a value calculated this time.

K_base′=(V_base×K_base+×K_add)/(V_base+V_add)  (2)

The emission calculation unit 17 calculates a CO₂ emission at the time of the movement of a moving body based on a CO₂ emission factor of the moving body that has been calculated by the emission factor update unit 16.

Here, the emission factor update unit 16 calculates a CO₂ emission factor of a moving body after setting a CO₂ emission factor of an energy source generated using natural energy, to a smaller CO₂ emission factor than a CO₂ emission factor of an energy source generated not using natural energy.

For example, as described above, in a case where electrical power is obtained by the regeneration of a moving body, or in a case where electrical power is obtained using natural energy, the supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 calculates a CO₂ emission factor of the moving body by setting a supplied energy emission factor of the electrical power to 0.

In addition, for example, in a case where a moving body is a vehicle (for example, series HEV) including an engine and an electric generator, a CO₂ emission factor of the moving body may be calculated by calculating fuel amount×CO₂ emission factor at the stage of fuel consumption caused by electric generation, and setting a CO₂ emission factor on a side of electrical power that is accordingly charged, to 0.

In addition, for example, in a case where a moving body is a PHEV including a plurality of energy supply means, a CO₂ emission factor of the moving body may be calculated after identifying the respective capacities of fuel and a battery.

The emission calculation unit 17 calculates a CO₂ emission at the time of the movement of a moving body. The emission calculation unit 17 calculates a CO₂ emission per unit time or unit distance by multiplying a change amount of a consumption of an energy source of a moving body (for example, consumption of fuel, consumption of electrical power, or the like) by the CO₂ emission factor calculated by the emission factor update unit 16, for example. Then, by integrating CO₂ emissions per unit time or unit distance, a CO₂ emission at the time of the movement of a moving body is calculated.

The communication unit 20 includes, for example, a local area network (LAN) interface board, a radio communication circuit for radio communication, and the like. The communication unit 20 communicates with a server device or the like that is provided in supply equipment or the like by connecting to a wired or wireless network when the supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 detects a supplied energy emission factor or when the supplied energy amount detection unit 14 detects a supplied energy amount, for example.

The storage unit 30 includes an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), removable media, and the like. Examples of removable media include a universal serial bus (USB) memory and disc recording media such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD). The storage unit 30 may store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like.

A held energy amount detected by the held energy amount detection unit 11, a held energy emission factor read out by the held energy emission factor reading unit 12, a supplied energy CO₂ emission factor detected by the supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13, a supplied energy amount detected by the supplied energy amount detection unit 14, an energy amount calculated and updated by the energy amount update unit 15, a CO₂ emission factor calculated and updated by the emission factor update unit 16, a CO₂ emission calculated by the emission calculation unit 17, and the like are stored into the storage unit 30 as necessary.

CO₂ Emission Calculation Method

An example of a processing procedure of a CO₂ emission calculation method executed by the CO₂ emission calculation device 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Note that, among processes in Steps S1 to S7 illustrated in the drawing, an order of the processes in Steps S1 to S4 is not specifically limited. In other words, the processes in Steps S1 to S4 may be executed in any order.

First of all, the held energy amount detection unit 11 detects a held energy amount of a moving body (Step S1). Subsequently, the held energy emission factor reading unit 12 reads out a held energy CO₂ emission factor of the moving body (Step S2). Subsequently, the supplied energy emission factor detection unit 13 detects a supplied energy CO₂ emission factor of the moving body (Step S3). Subsequently, the supplied energy amount detection unit 14 detects a supplied energy amount of the moving body (Step S4).

Subsequently, the energy amount update unit 15 calculates an energy amount of the moving body using the above-described formula (1), and updates a previously-calculated energy amount (Step S5). Subsequently, the emission factor update unit 16 calculates a CO₂ emission factor of the moving body using the held energy amount, the supplied energy amount, and the above-described formula (2), and updates a previously-calculated CO₂ emission factor (Step S6). Subsequently, the emission calculation unit 17 calculates a CO₂ emission at the time of the movement of the moving body based on the CO₂ emission factor of the moving body that has been calculated by the emission factor update unit 16 (Step S7). As described above, the processing of the CO₂ emission calculation method is completed.

According to the CO₂ emission calculation device and the CO₂ emission calculation program according to the above-described embodiment, a CO₂ emission emitted from a moving body may be calculated considering a difference in energy resource and “Well to Wheel”.

More specifically, in technologies proposed so far, calculation accuracy of a CO₂ emission has been insufficient because a difference between general light oil and biodiesel, or a difference between electricity generated by thermal electric generation and electricity generated by solar electric generation, in BEV running, or a difference among grey hydrogen, green hydrogen, and blue hydrogen may not be discriminated, for example. On the other hand, according to the CO₂ emission calculation device and the CO₂ emission calculation program according to an embodiment, a CO₂ emission in total may be calculated including a generation process of an energy source, considering a difference in energy resource and “Well to Wheel”.

According to the present disclosure, a CO₂ emission emitted from a moving body may be calculated considering a difference in energy resource and “Well to Wheel”.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.

Claims

1. A CO2 emission calculation device comprising a processor configured to: calculate a CO2 emission factor of a moving body based on a CO2 emission factor of an energy source supplied to the moving body; andcalculate a CO2 emission at a time of a movement of the moving body based on the CO2 emission factor of the moving body.

2. The CO2 emission calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the CO2 emission factor of the moving body based on, in addition to the CO2 emission factor of an energy source supplied to the moving body, a CO2 emission factor of an energy source already held by the moving body when the energy source is supplied.

3. The CO2 emission calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to set a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated using natural energy, to a smaller CO2 emission factor than a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated not using the natural energy.

4. The CO2 emission calculation device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to set a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated using natural energy, to a smaller CO2 emission factor than a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated not using the natural energy.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which an executable program is recorded, the program causing a processor of a computer to execute: calculating a CO2 emission factor of a moving body based on a CO2 emission factor of an energy source supplied to the moving body; andcalculating a CO2 emission at a time of a movement of the moving body based on the CO2 emission factor of the moving body.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the program causes the processor to execute: calculating the CO2 emission factor of the moving body based on, in addition to the CO2 emission factor of an energy source supplied to the moving body, a CO2 emission factor of an energy source already held by the moving body when the energy source is supplied.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the program causes the processor to execute: setting a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated using natural energy, to a smaller CO2 emission factor than a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated not using the natural energy.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the program causes the processor to execute: setting a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated using natural energy, to a smaller CO2 emission factor than a CO2 emission factor of an energy source generated not using the natural energy.