Valve device, tank, fuel cell system, and hydrogen combustion engine system

Abstract

Provided is a tank valve device in which, when a tank is filled with hydrogen via the valve device, moisture mixed in the incoming hydrogen does not flow into a control valve provided in the valve device. A valve device provided in a tank for storing hydrogen is provided with: a control valve for controlling the supply of hydrogen stored in a tank body of the tank to the outside; a supply passage provided with the control valve; a tank passage communicating with the tank body; a three-way valve connecting the tank passage and the supply passage; a filling passage for introducing hydrogen into the three-way valve; when the tank is filled with hydrogen, the valve body of the three-way valve is operated by the pressing force of hydrogen introduced from the filling passage, the filling passage and the tank passage communicate with each other, and the filling passage and the supply passage are closed from each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device for a tank constituting a fuel cell system or a hydrogen combustion engine system, a tank provided with the valve device, and a fuel cell system or a hydrogen combustion engine system including the tank. Background Art

[0002] In a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, power generation based on the fuel cell is performed using hydrogen as a fuel gas stored in a mounted tank and oxygen as an oxidizing gas contained in the air. For example, at a hydrogen station, a hydrogen supply nozzle extending from a hydrogen filling device is fitted and installed to an interface on the fuel cell vehicle side for receiving hydrogen supply, and hydrogen is supplied to the tank of the fuel cell vehicle to fill the tank with hydrogen. One or more valves are provided in the hydrogen filling path.

[0003] On the other hand, the supply of hydrogen from the tank toward the fuel cell is controlled by a control valve having an opening / closing mechanism or the like. It is advantageous from the viewpoints of mountability, cost, etc. to integrate the control valve and the valve in the filling path as a valve device that serves as a connection port connecting the tank and the outside. (For example, refer to the valve unit of Patent Document 1)

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-116929.

[0005] However, when filling the tank with hydrogen at a hydrogen station or the like, a small amount of moisture may be mixed into the hydrogen. For example, water sometimes adheres to the fitting portion when fitting the nozzle, and moisture contained in the outside air is mixed into the filled hydrogen. When filling hydrogen, if this moisture invades the control valve provided in the valve device, particularly if it stays in its opening / closing mechanism, problems such as freezing due to a drop in ambient temperature and the fixing of the opening / closing mechanism may occur. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a valve device for a tank in which moisture mixed into hydrogen does not flow into a control valve provided in the valve device when filling the tank with hydrogen at a hydrogen station or the like.

[0007] The valve device for a tank of the present invention is a valve device provided in a tank for storing hydrogen, and includes: a control valve that controls the supply of hydrogen stored in a tank main body of the tank to the outside; a supply passage provided with the control valve; a tank passage communicating with the tank main body; a three-way valve connecting the tank passage and the supply passage; a filling passage for introducing hydrogen into the three-way valve; when filling the tank with hydrogen, the valve body of the three-way valve operates by the pushing pressure of hydrogen introduced from the filling passage, the filling passage is communicated with the tank passage, and the filling passage is closed with respect to the supply passage.

[0008] Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a valve device for a tank, in which when hydrogen is filled into the tank via the valve device at a hydrogen station or the like, the moisture mixed into the hydrogen does not flow into a control valve provided in the valve device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a fuel cell system using the valve device for a tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the valve device for a tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of a three-way valve used in the valve device for a tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the valve device for a tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the valve device for a tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 6 It is a specific example of the three-way valve used in the valve device for a tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 7 It is a diagram for explaining the operation of the specific example of the three-way valve.

[0017] Figure 8 It is a diagram for explaining the operation of the specific example of the three-way valve.

[0018] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a hydrogen combustion engine system using the valve device for a tank according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, with appropriate reference to the drawings, the valve device for a tank according to the present invention and a fuel cell system using the valve device will be specifically described. In addition, in each drawing, components denoted by the same reference numerals represent the same components unless otherwise specified, and the description will be appropriately omitted.

[0020] <Overall Structure of Fuel Cell System>

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the overall structure of the fuel cell system 1. The fuel cell system 1 is configured to include a tank 21, a fuel cell 10, an air compressor 30, auxiliary equipment 40, a consumption device 50, and the like. The fuel cell system 1 is, for example, a fuel cell system for a fuel cell vehicle.

[0022] The fuel cell 10 is, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which is formed by stacking a plurality of single cells, and each single cell sandwiches an MEA (membrane electrode assembly) with a pair of conductive separators.

[0023] The tank 21 is a reservoir for storing hydrogen in a compressed state. The tank 21 is configured to include a tank main body 20 and a valve device 60. Hydrogen in the tank 21 flows out from the valve device 60, passes through the pipe 70, the branch point 70A, and the pipe 72, and is supplied to the fuel cell 10 via the auxiliary equipment 40. Additionally, Figure 1 only one tank 21 is described herein, but a plurality of tanks may also be provided.

[0024] An interface 73 for filling hydrogen into the tank 21 is provided on another pipe 71 extending from the branch point 70A. The interface 73 is, for example, a connector that is fitted and installed with the nozzle of the hydrogen filling device when filling hydrogen into the tank 21 at a hydrogen station.

[0025] The air compressor 30 sucks in external air and compresses it, and supplies it to the fuel cell 10 via the pipe 80 and the auxiliary equipment 40.

[0026] The auxiliary equipment 40 includes a pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure of hydrogen, an ejector for adjusting the amount of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell 10, and the like. In addition, the auxiliary equipment 40 also includes a humidifier for humidifying the air supplied from the air compressor 30, a back pressure valve for controlling the pressure, and the like. The types of equipment included in the auxiliary equipment 40 are not limited to these. In addition, the equipment included in the auxiliary equipment 40 may also be installed in individual parts instead of being integrated into the auxiliary equipment 40.

[0027] The consuming equipment 50 is, for example, equipment that operates using electricity, such as an electric motor, an electronic control device, a sensor, and an actuator. The electric motor is, for example, a motor for driving wheels. The consuming equipment 50 is powered directly or indirectly by the fuel cell 10.

[0028] <Valve Device>

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the valve device 60 for the tank 21 of the present invention. The valve device 60 is provided with a filling passage 61, a supply passage 62, a tank passage 63, a common passage 64, an overcurrent prevention valve 65, a three-way valve 90, a control valve 67, a check valve 68, and the like. The three-way valve 90 has a first connection portion 91, a second connection portion 92, and a third connection portion 93 that are respectively connected to each part of the three-way valve 90.

[0030] A sealing portion (not shown) for sealing the inside and outside of the tank body 20 is provided between the valve device 60 and the tank body 20. In addition, the valve device 60 has an external connection portion 60A and a tank connection portion 60C. The tank connection portion 60C is provided at a position opening into the tank body 20. That is, the tank connection portion 60C is formed at a position opposite to the hydrogen storage area on the inside of the tank body 20 relative to the sealing portion. On the other hand, the external connection portion 60A is provided to open to the outside of the tank 21 across the sealing portion. On the outside of the tank 21, the piping 70 is connected to the external connection portion 60A.

[0031] One end of the tank passage 63 is connected to the tank connection portion 60C, and the other end is connected to the third connection portion 93 of the three-way valve 90. An overflow prevention valve 65 is provided in the middle of the tank passage 63. The overflow prevention valve 65 operates to limit the flow rate when the flow rate of hydrogen flowing from the tank connection portion 60C to the third connection portion 93 exceeds a predetermined amount. On the other hand, the overflow prevention valve 65 does not limit the flow rate when hydrogen flows in the opposite direction.

[0032] The common passage 64 has one end connected to the external connection portion 60A and the other end connected to the branch point 60B. In addition to the common passage 64, the filling passage 61 and the supply passage 62 are also connected to the branch point 60B.

[0033] One end of the supply passage 62 is connected to the branch point 60B, and the other end is connected to the second connection portion 92 of the three-way valve 90. In the middle of the supply passage 62, a check valve 68 and a control valve 67 are provided in sequence from the branch point 60B. The check valve 68 is a valve that operates in a manner that allows only flow from the control valve 67 to the branch point 60B. The control valve 67 is a solenoid valve configured to switch between opening and closing by turning on and off the power. The control valve 67 cooperates with the pressure reducing valve and the injector in the auxiliary equipment 40 to adjust the hydrogen supplied from the tank 21 to the fuel cell 10.

[0034] The filling passage 61 has one end connected to the branch point 60B, and the other end connected to the first connection portion 91 of the three-way valve 90 .

[0035] <Three-way valve>

[0036] use Figure 3 The three-way valve 90 is described. The three-way valve 90 is composed of a first connection portion 91, a second connection portion 92, a third connection portion 93, a first valve 96 composed of a first valve seat 94 and a first valve body 95, a second valve 99 composed of a second valve seat 97 and a second valve body 98, and an elastic body 100. Preferably, the elastic body 100 may also be a spring.

[0037] Here, the first valve body 95 and the second valve body 98 are integrally formed. For example, when the first valve 96 is closed by the first valve body 95, the second valve body 98 moves away from the second valve seat 97, and the second valve 99 opens. On the other hand, when the second valve 99 is closed by the second valve body 98, the first valve body 95 moves away from the first valve seat 94, and the first valve 96 opens.

[0038] The first connection portion 91 is formed to communicate with the first valve 96, and when the first valve 96 opens, the first connection portion 91 communicates with the third connection portion 93. In this case, the second valve 99 is closed, and the connection between the second connection portion 92 and the third connection portion 93 is cut off. On the other hand, the second connection portion 92 is formed to communicate with the second valve 99, and when the second valve 99 opens, the second connection portion 92 communicates with the third connection portion 93. In this case, the first valve 96 is closed, and the connection between the first connection portion 91 and the third connection portion 93 is cut off.

[0039] The spring 100 pushes the first valve body 95 in the direction of closing the first valve 96. Therefore, when there is no external force, the first valve 96 is closed and the second valve 99 is open. For example, at a fuel station, when the nozzle of the hydrogen filling device is fitted into the interface 73, hydrogen flows into the first connection portion of the three-way valve 90 through the filling passage 61 and pushes the first valve body 95. The elastic force of the spring 100 is set so that the first valve 96 opens by the pushing force of hydrogen during this filling.

[0040] <Actions of the valve device 60 during hydrogen supply and filling>

[0041] Use Figure 4 Describe the actions of the valve device 60 when supplying hydrogen from the tank 21 to the fuel cell 10. By controlling to open the control valve 67 which is an electromagnetic valve, hydrogen in the tank 21 is sent out through the overcurrent prevention valve 65, the open second valve 99 of the three-way valve 90, the control valve 67, the check valve 68, the external connection portion 60A, the pipe 70, and the pipe 72. This hydrogen is regulated by the pressure reducing valve and injector provided in the auxiliary equipment 40, and a necessary amount is supplied to the fuel cell 10. The arrow P in the figure indicates the hydrogen supply path. For example, when the control valve 67, the pressure reducing valve, or the injector fails and a flow rate exceeding a certain amount flows, the overcurrent prevention valve 65 operates to limit the flow rate of hydrogen. In addition, since the check valve is provided so that hydrogen does not flow in the direction from the branch point 70A to the interface 73, hydrogen does not flow out from the interface 73 when supplying hydrogen.

[0042] Use Figure 5Describe the operation of the valve device 60 when filling the tank 21 with hydrogen from the hydrogen filling device. When the nozzle N of the hydrogen filling device H is fitted into the interface 73, the hydrogen in the hydrogen filling device flows into the first connection portion 91 of the three-way valve 90 through the pipe 71, the pipe 70, the external connection portion 60A, and the filling passage 61, and pushes the first valve body 95. As described above, since the elastic force of the spring 100 is set such that the first valve 96 is opened by the pushing force of the inflowing hydrogen, the first valve 96 is opened, and the hydrogen is filled into the tank main body 20 through the tank passage 63 and the tank connection portion 60C. On the other hand, since the first valve 96 is opened and the second valve 99 is closed, hydrogen does not reach the control valve 67 through the supply passage 62 during the hydrogen filling process. Therefore, problems such as the inflow of moisture mixed in the hydrogen into the control valve 67 provided in the valve device and the freezing due to a decrease in the ambient temperature or the like, which causes the opening and closing mechanism of the control valve 67 to be fixed, do not occur. The arrow Q in the figure indicates the hydrogen filling path.

[0043] <Specific example of the three-way valve>

[0044] Figure 6 A specific example of the three-way valve 90 is described. The three-way valve 90 includes a housing 110 having a cylindrical space, i.e., an inner chamber 111, a cylindrical body 120 provided in the inner chamber 111, and a compression spring 100 that pushes the cylindrical body 120. A first connection portion 91, a second connection portion 92, and a third connection portion 93 that communicate with the inner chamber 111 are provided on the upper surface, the lower surface, and the side surface of the inner chamber 111, respectively. In addition, a first valve seat 94 that annularly surrounds the opening of the first connection portion 91 is provided on the upper surface of the inner chamber 111, and a second valve seat 97 that annularly surrounds the opening of the second connection portion 92 is provided on the lower surface of the inner chamber 111. In addition, the housing 110 may be formed as a part of the housing of the valve device 60.

[0045] The cylindrical body 120 includes an upper cylindrical portion 121, a lower cylindrical portion 122 having a diameter smaller than that of the upper cylindrical portion 121 and formed coaxially with the upper cylindrical portion 121, and a stepped portion 123 between the upper cylindrical portion 121 and the lower cylindrical portion 122.

[0046] A gap serving as a hydrogen flow path is provided between the side surface of the upper cylindrical portion 121 and the side surface of the lower cylindrical portion 122 and the inner surface of the inner chamber 111. In addition, the side surface of the upper cylindrical portion 121 may be formed with an axial groove serving as a sliding surface with the inner surface of the inner chamber 111 and a hydrogen flow path. In this case, the groove is formed to penetrate from the upper surface of the upper cylindrical portion 121 to the stepped portion 123. The number of grooves may be one or more.

[0047] The upper cylindrical portion 121 functions as the first valve body 95, and its upper surface is provided with a first sealing portion 951 disposed in a circular ring convex shape corresponding to the first valve seat 94. When the first valve seat 94 contacts the first sealing portion 951, the first valve 96 closes, and when the first valve seat 94 separates from the first sealing portion 951, the first valve 96 opens. In addition, the sealing structure between the first valve seat 94 and the first sealing portion 951 is not limited to this example. Various known sealing structures can be applied to this sealing structure.

[0048] The lower cylindrical portion 122 functions as the second valve body 98, and its lower surface is provided with a second sealing portion 981 disposed in a circular ring convex shape corresponding to the second valve seat 97. When the second valve seat 97 contacts the second sealing portion 981, the second valve 99 closes, and when the second valve seat 97 separates from the second sealing portion 981, the second valve 99 opens. In addition, the sealing structure between the second valve seat 97 and the second sealing portion 981 is not limited to this example. Various known sealing structures can be applied to this sealing structure.

[0049] A compression spring 100 is disposed between the stepped portion 123 and the lower surface of the inner chamber 111. The compression spring 100 pushes the cylindrical body 120 upward. The elastic force of the spring 100 is set such that when hydrogen is filled into the tank 21, the cylindrical body 120 moves downward by the pushing force of the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen filling device, and the first valve 96 opens.

[0050] <Operation of a Specific Example of the Three-Way Valve>

[0051] When supplying hydrogen, the control valve 67 is opened by control, and hydrogen moves in such a way that it flows out from the second connection portion to the supply passage 62 through the opened second valve 99. (Refer to Figure 7 ) In the figure, the arrow R indicates the movement path of hydrogen.

[0052] When filling hydrogen, hydrogen flows in from the first connection portion 91 and pushes the cylindrical body 120. As described above, since the elastic force of the spring 100 is set such that the cylindrical body 120 moves downward by the pushing force of the hydrogen during filling, the first valve 96 opens, and hydrogen flows out from the third connection portion 93 to the tank passage 63 through the inner chamber 111. (Refer to Figure 8 ) In the figure, the arrow S indicates the movement path of hydrogen.

[0053] On the other hand, as the cylindrical body 120 moves downward, the second sealing portion 981 of the second valve body 98 contacts the second valve seat 97, so that the second valve 99 closes, and the filled hydrogen does not reach the control valve 67 through the supply passage 62 from the second connection portion 92. Therefore, problems such as moisture mixed in the hydrogen flowing into the control valve 67 provided in the valve device 60 and freezing due to a decrease in ambient temperature or the like, causing the opening and closing mechanism to be fixed, will not occur.

[0054] As described above, when the valve device 60 of the present invention is used for the tank 21 in a fuel cell system, when hydrogen is filled into the tank 21 via the valve device 60 at a hydrogen station or the like, there will be no problem that the moisture mixed into the hydrogen flows into the control valve 67 provided in the valve device 60 and freezes due to a decrease in ambient temperature or the like, causing the opening and closing mechanism to be fixed.

[0055] The tank 21 having the valve device 60 can also be applied to the hydrogen combustion engine system 200. Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of the hydrogen combustion engine system 200 to which the tank 21 is applied. The hydrogen combustion engine 201 is an internal combustion engine that generates a driving force F by burning hydrogen in a pressure cylinder. The hydrogen in the tank 21 is supplied to the hydrogen combustion engine 201 via the pipes 270 and 272 through the hydrogen supply device 240 (including an injector, etc.). In addition, when filling hydrogen, the hydrogen in the hydrogen filling device connected to the interface 273 is filled into the tank 21 via the pipe 271 and the pipe 270. When supplying hydrogen to the hydrogen combustion engine 201, the operation of the valve device 60 when filling hydrogen into the tank 21 is as described above for the valve device 60 in the fuel cell system 1. In addition, Figure 9 Only one tank 21 is described in, but multiple tanks can also be provided.

[0056] As described above, when the valve device 60 of the present invention is used for the tank 21 in the hydrogen combustion engine system 200, when filling hydrogen into the tank 21 via the valve device 60 at a hydrogen station or the like, there will be no problem that the moisture mixed into the hydrogen flows into the control valve 67 provided in the valve device 60 and freezes due to a decrease in ambient temperature or the like, causing the opening and closing mechanism to be fixed.

[0057] Description of reference numerals

[0058] 1 Fuel cell system, 10 Fuel cell, 20 Tank main body, 21 Tank, 30 Air compressor, 40 Auxiliary equipment, 50 Consumption equipment, 60 Valve device, 60A External connection part, 60B Branch, 60C Tank connection part, 61 Filling passage, 62 Supply passage, 63 Tank passage, 64 Common passage, 65 Overflow prevention valve, 67 Control valve, 68 Check valve, 70 Pipe, 70A Branch, 71 Pipe, 72 Pipe, 73 Interface, 80 Pipe, 90 Three-way valve, 91 First connection part, 92 Second connection part, 93 Third connection part, 94 First valve seat, 95 First valve body, 96 First valve, 97 Second valve seat, 98 Second valve body, 99 Second valve, 100 Elastomer (spring, compression spring), 110 Housing, 111 Inner chamber, 120 Cylindrical body, 121 Upper cylindrical part, 122 Lower cylindrical part, 123 Step part, 200 Hydrogen combustion engine system, 201 Hydrogen combustion engine, 240 Hydrogen supply device, 270 Pipe, 271 Pipe, 272 Pipe, 273 Interface, 951 First sealing part, 981 Second sealing part.

Claims

1. A valve device (60) is provided in a hydrogen storage tank (21). The valve device (60) is characterized in that it includes: a control valve (67) that controls the supply of hydrogen stored in the tank main body (20) of the tank (21) to the outside; a supply passage (62) provided with the control valve (67); a tank passage (63) communicating with the tank main body (20); a three-way valve (90) connecting the tank passage (63) and the supply passage (62); a filling passage (61) for introducing hydrogen into the three-way valve (90), when filling hydrogen into the tank (21), the valve bodies (95, 98) of the three-way valve (90) are actuated by the pushing pressure of the hydrogen introduced from the filling passage (61), the filling passage (61) communicates with the tank passage (63), and the filling passage (61) is closed from the supply passage (62).

2. A tank (21), characterized in that Comprises the valve device (60) according to claim 1.

3. A fuel cell system (1), characterized in that Comprises the tank (21) according to claim 2.

4. A hydrogen combustion engine system (200), characterized in that Comprises the tank (21) according to claim 2.

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