Gas tank replacement method

Abstract

A method for replacing a gas tank according to the present invention comprises: a first step of supplying a gas in a first tank body to a gas consumption device through a first gas supply pipe by changing a first gas tank to a first state; a second step of changing the first gas tank from the first state to a second state after the amount of gas in the first tank main body is reduced to less than a predetermined reference amount after the first step; and a third step of changing the first gas tank from the second state to a third state after the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe is reduced to less than a predetermined reference pressure by consuming the gas in the first gas supply pipe by the gas consumption device after the second step.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a method for replacing a gas cylinder. Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-056952 discloses a gas tank connected to a gas supply pipe. The gas tank of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-056952 is configured to supply gas to a gas consuming device through the gas supply pipe.

[0003] In the structure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-056952, when a gas cylinder connected to the gas supply pipe is removed from the gas supply pipe, the pressure of the gas remaining in the gas supply pipe may cause a noise. This specification provides a technology that can suppress the noise generated when removing the gas cylinder from the gas supply pipe. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The first technical solution of the present technology is a method for replacing a gas cylinder.

[0005] The gas supply device includes a plurality of gas tanks connected to the plurality of gas supply pipes, respectively, and can supply gas from the gas tanks to the gas consuming device through the gas supply pipes.

[0006] A first gas tank, which is one of the plurality of gas tanks, can supply gas to the gas consuming device through a first gas supply pipe, which is one of the plurality of gas supply pipes.

[0007] The first gas tank includes a first tank body storing gas supplied to the gas consuming device under high pressure, and a first opening and closing valve opening and closing a gas supply port of the first tank body and connected to the first gas supply pipe.

[0008] The first gas tank can be changed into:

[0009] In a first state, when the first on-off valve is connected to the first gas supply pipe, the first on-off valve is opened, thereby supplying the gas in the first tank body to the gas consuming device through the first gas supply pipe;

[0010] a second state in which the first on-off valve is connected to the first gas supply pipe and the first on-off valve is closed, thereby not supplying the gas in the first tank body to the gas consuming device; and

[0011] In the third state, the first on-off valve is in a closed state, and the first on-off valve is separated from the first gas supply pipe.

[0012] The method for replacing the gas cylinder in the gas supply device may also include:

[0013] The first step is to change the first gas tank into the first state, thereby supplying the gas in the first tank body to the gas consuming device through the first gas supply pipe;

[0014] a second step of changing the first gas tank from the first state to the second state when the amount of gas in the first tank body decreases to less than a predetermined reference amount after the first step; and

[0015] In the third step, after the gas consumption device consumes the gas in the first gas supply pipe after the second step, causing the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe to drop to less than the specified reference pressure, the first gas tank is changed from the second state to the third state.

[0016] According to this structure, when the first gas tank is removed from the first gas supply pipe, the pressure of the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe can be reduced before the first gas tank is removed. This can suppress the noise generated by the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe when the first gas tank is removed.

[0017] In the second technical solution, based on the above-mentioned first technical solution,

[0018] The gas consuming device may be a fuel cell that consumes gas to generate electricity, and the gas consuming device may be configured to be able to supply the generated electricity to the electricity consuming device.

[0019] The power consuming device may be configured to consume the power supplied from the fuel cell and the power supplied from a battery separate from the fuel cell.

[0020] The method may further include the step of supplying power from the battery to the power consuming device instead of supplying power from the fuel cell when the first gas tank is in the second state after the second step.

[0021] In the third technical solution, based on the first or second technical solution,

[0022] The gas supply device may include a moving device for moving the first gas tank.

[0023] The moving device may be configured to change the first gas tank between the first state, the second state, and the third state by moving the first gas tank.

[0024] In the fourth technical solution, based on any one of the above-mentioned first to third technical solutions,

[0025] The gas consumption device may be configured such that a second gas tank, which is one of the plurality of gas tanks, can supply gas to the gas consumption device through a second gas supply pipe, which is one of the plurality of gas supply pipes.

[0026] The second gas tank may include: a second tank body storing gas supplied to the gas consuming device under high pressure; and a second opening and closing valve opening and closing the gas supply port of the second tank body and connected to the second gas supply pipe.

[0027] It can also be constructed as follows: the above-mentioned second gas tank can be changed to the first state. In the above-mentioned first state, the above-mentioned second on-off valve is opened when the above-mentioned second on-off valve is connected to the above-mentioned second gas supply pipe, thereby supplying the gas in the above-mentioned second tank body to the above-mentioned gas consumption device through the above-mentioned second gas supply pipe.

[0028] The above method may further include a fourth step,

[0029] In the above-mentioned step 4, after the gas in the above-mentioned first gas supply pipe is consumed by the above-mentioned gas consumption device after the above-mentioned step 2, the pressure of the gas in the above-mentioned first gas supply pipe is reduced to less than the above-mentioned reference pressure, and the above-mentioned second gas tank is changed to the above-mentioned first state.

[0030] In the fifth technical solution, based on the fourth technical solution,

[0031] The first gas supply pipe may be provided with a first check valve.

[0032] A second check valve may be provided in the second gas supply pipe.

[0033] The first gas supply pipe on the downstream side of the first check valve merges with the second gas supply pipe on the downstream side of the second check valve.

[0034] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 It is a diagram schematically showing a gas supply device according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a flowchart (1) illustrating a method for replacing a gas cylinder according to an embodiment.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a flow chart (2) illustrating the method for replacing the gas cylinder of the embodiment.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a sequence diagram for explaining a method for replacing a gas cylinder according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The gas supply device 2 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 As shown, the gas supply device 2 of the embodiment includes a plurality of tank units (in this embodiment, a first tank unit 100a and a second tank unit 100b) and a control device 90. The gas supply device 2 supplies gas to the gas consumption device 4 via a gas supply pipe 5. The gas supplied to the gas consumption device 4 is, for example, hydrogen or oxygen. Alternatively, the gas supply device 2 may include three or more tank units.

[0040] The gas consumption device 4 is, for example, a fuel cell that consumes gas to generate electricity. The gas consumption device 4 is connected to a gas supply pipe 5. Alternatively, the gas consumption device 4 (fuel cell) may be electrically connected to a power consumption device 6. The gas consumption device 4 (fuel cell) is configured to supply power consumption device 6 with electricity generated by consuming the gas. The type of gas consumption device 4 and the type of gas are not particularly limited.

[0041] Power consuming device 6 is, for example, a motor of an electric vehicle (electrified vehicle) that consumes electricity to operate. Power consuming device 6 consumes electricity supplied from gas consuming device 4 (fuel cell). Alternatively, power consuming device 6 may be electrically connected to a battery 8 separate from gas consuming device 4 (fuel cell). Battery 8 is configured to supply stored electricity to power consuming device 6. Power consuming device 6 consumes the electricity supplied by battery 8. Battery 8 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery.

[0042] The gas supply pipe 5 includes a first gas supply pipe 50a, a second gas supply pipe 50b, and a common gas supply pipe 60. The gas supply device 2 introduces gas into the first gas supply pipe 50a through the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a. Similarly, the gas supply device 2 introduces gas into the second gas supply pipe 50b through the inlet 51b of the second gas supply pipe 50b. The inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a is connected to the outside when not connected to the first gas tank 10a (described later). Similarly, the inlet 51b of the second gas supply pipe 50b is connected to the outside when not connected to the second gas tank 10b (described later).

[0043] The first gas supply pipe 50a is provided with a first check valve 52a and a first pressure sensor 54a. The first check valve 52a allows gas to flow from the upstream side (the first gas tank 10a side) of the first gas supply pipe 50a to the downstream side (the gas consuming device 4 side) and prohibits gas from flowing from the downstream side to the upstream side.

[0044] The first pressure sensor 54a is located upstream of the first check valve 52a (on the first gas tank 10a side). The first pressure sensor 54a detects the pressure of the gas within the first gas supply pipe 50a upstream of the first check valve 52a. Information on the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 54a is transmitted to the control device 90.

[0045] The second gas supply pipe 50b is provided with a second check valve 52b and a second pressure sensor 54b. The second check valve 52b and the second pressure sensor 54b have the same structures as the first check valve 52a and the first pressure sensor 54a, respectively, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0046] The first gas supply pipe 50a and the second gas supply pipe 50b merge at their downstream ends. The first gas supply pipe 50a, located downstream of the first check valve 52a, merges with the second gas supply pipe 50b, located downstream of the second check valve 52b. The first and second gas supply pipes 50a, 50b are connected to a common gas supply pipe 60 at their downstream ends. The downstream end of the common gas supply pipe 60 is connected to the gas consumption device 4. The common gas supply pipe 60 supplies gas delivered from the first gas supply pipe 50a or the second gas supply pipe 50b to the gas consumption device 4.

[0047] Next, the first tank unit 100a will be described. The second tank unit 100b has the same structure as the first tank unit 100a. Therefore, the following description will primarily focus on the first tank unit 100a. The second tank unit 100b will sometimes be labeled with the same reference numerals as the first tank unit 100a, and detailed descriptions will be omitted. The structure of the first tank unit 100a will be denoted by "a" in the reference numerals, while the structure of the second tank unit 100b will be denoted by "b" in the reference numerals.

[0048] The first tank unit 100a includes a first gas tank 10a and a first moving device 30a for moving the first gas tank 10a. The first gas tank 10a includes a first tank body 12a and a first on-off valve 14a. The first tank body 12a stores high-pressure gas (e.g., hydrogen) to be supplied to the gas consuming device 4. The first tank body 12a is connected to a first gas supply pipe 50a via the first on-off valve 14a.

[0049] The first on-off valve 14a is provided at the gas supply port 13a of the first tank body 12a. The first on-off valve 14a opens and closes the gas supply port 13a of the first tank body 12a. The first on-off valve 14a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a when supplying gas from the first gas tank 10a to the gas consuming device 4.

[0050] When the first on-off valve 14a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a, it closes the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a. When the first on-off valve 14a is opened in this state, the gas within the first tank body 12a is supplied to the gas consuming device 4 through the first gas supply pipe 50a. When the first on-off valve 14a is not connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a (i.e., disconnected from the first gas supply pipe 50a), the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a is opened.

[0051] When the first gas cylinder 10a is in a first position (i.e., in a first state), which will be described later, the first on-off valve 14a is open. On the other hand, when the first gas cylinder 10a is in a second position (i.e., in a second state), which will be described later, the first on-off valve 14a is closed. Furthermore, when the first gas cylinder 10a is in a third position (i.e., in a third state), which will be described later, the first on-off valve 14a is closed.

[0052] In the first gas cylinder 10a, when the first on-off valve 14a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a (i.e., when the first on-off valve 14a closes the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a), the first on-off valve 14a is open. This allows the gas within the first cylinder body 12a to be supplied to the gas consuming device 4 via the first gas supply pipe 50a. On the other hand, when the first on-off valve 14a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a, the first on-off valve 14a is closed, preventing the gas within the first cylinder body 12a from being supplied to the gas consuming device 4.

[0053] The structure for opening and closing the first on-off valve 14a is not particularly limited. For example, the first on-off valve 14a may be opened by pressing against a component inside the valve via the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a. In this case, the first on-off valve 14a may be closed unless the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a presses against the component inside the valve.

[0054] The first gas tank 10a having the above-described structure can be changed between a first state, a second state, and a third state. In the first state, gas is supplied from the first gas tank 10a to the gas consumption device 4. When the first on-off valve 14a of the first gas tank 10a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a, the first on-off valve 14a is opened. The first state is the state in which the gas within the first tank body 12a is supplied to the gas consumption device 4 via the first gas supply pipe 50a. In the first state, the gas supplied from the first gas tank 10a is consumed by the gas consumption device 4. In the first state, the first on-off valve 14a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a, thereby closing the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a. In the first state, gas is supplied from the first gas tank 10a to the first gas supply pipe 50a, resulting in a high pressure state within the first gas supply pipe 50a.

[0055] In the second state, gas is not supplied from the first gas tank 10a to the gas consumption device 4. The second state is a state in which the first on-off valve 14a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a and the first on-off valve 14a is closed, thereby preventing the gas in the first tank body 12a from being supplied to the gas consumption device 4. In the second state, the gas consumption device 4 consumes the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a. In the second state, the first on-off valve 14a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a, thereby closing the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a. In the second state, the gas consumption device 4 consumes the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a, thereby gradually reducing the pressure in the first gas supply pipe 50a.

[0056] In the third state, gas is not supplied from the first gas cylinder 10a to the gas consuming device 4. The third state is a state in which the first on-off valve 14a is closed and the first on-off valve 14a is disconnected from the first gas supply pipe 50a. In the third state, the first on-off valve 14a is disconnected from the first gas supply pipe 50a, thereby opening the inlet 51a of the first gas supply pipe 50a without sealing it.

[0057] Next, the first moving device 30a of the first tank unit 100a will be described. The first moving device 30a includes a first moving platform 32a, a first motor 40a, a first movement limiting member 38a, and a first position sensor 42a. The first moving device 30a is capable of moving the first gas tank 10a to a first position, a second position, and a third position. The first position is where the first gas tank 10a is in the first state described above. Furthermore, the second position is where the first gas tank 10a is in the second state described above, and the third position is where the first gas tank 10a is in the third state described above.

[0058] The first movable platform 32a supports the first gas tank 10a, with the first on-off valve 14a of the first gas tank 10a facing the first gas supply pipe 50a. The first movable platform 32a is driven by a first motor 40a while carrying the first gas tank 10a. The first movable platform 32a is driven by the first motor 40a to move toward or away from the first gas supply pipe 50a. The first motor 40a is, for example, a stepping motor.

[0059] The first moving stage 32a includes a front recess 34a and a rear recess 36a into which the first movement restriction member 38a is inserted. The front recess 34a is provided closer to the first gas supply pipe 50a than the rear recess 36a.

[0060] The first movement-restricting member 38a is configured to move forward and backward by solenoid operation. The first movement-restricting member 38a moves upward and is inserted into the front recess 34a or the rear recess 36a of the first movable platform 32a. Insertion of the first movement-restricting member 38a into the front recess 34a or the rear recess 36a restricts the movement of the first movable platform 32a. This state is sometimes referred to as the restricted state.

[0061] Furthermore, the first movement restriction member 38a moves downward and exits from the front recess 34a or the rear recess 36a of the first movable platform 32a. The first movement restriction member 38a exits from the front recess 34a or the rear recess 36a, releasing the restriction on the movement of the first movable platform 32a. This state is sometimes referred to as the released state.

[0062] The first position sensor 42a is connected to, for example, the first motor 40a and detects the position of the first movable stage 32a by detecting the number of steps of the first motor 40a. By detecting the position of the first movable stage 32a, the first position sensor 42a can detect the position of the first gas tank 10a. Information on the position detected by the first position sensor 42a is transmitted to the control device 90.

[0063] The control device 90 includes, for example, a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and executes various controls and processes related to the gas supply device 2 according to a predetermined program. For example, the control device 90 controls the first moving device 30a and the second moving device 30b to move the first gas tank 10a and the second gas tank 10b. This causes the states of the first gas tank 10a and the second gas tank 10b to change.

[0064] Next, a method of replacing the gas cylinders (the first gas cylinder 10 a and the second gas cylinder 10 b ) in the gas supply device 2 will be described. Figure 2 and Figure 3This is a flowchart explaining how to replace the gas cylinder. Figure 4 In the initial state of the embodiment, the first gas cylinder 10a and the second gas cylinder 10b are in the third position (ie, the third state).

[0065] like Figure 2 As shown, in S2 of the embodiment, the first moving device 30a of the gas supply device 2 brings the first movement restricting member 38a into the released state, and the second moving device 30b brings the second movement restricting member 38b into the released state.

[0066] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in the next S4, the first moving device 30a and the second moving device 30b move the first gas cylinder 10a and the second gas cylinder 10b from the third position to the second position respectively (that is, change the state from the third state to the second state). When the first gas cylinder 10a and the second gas cylinder 10b are changed to the second state, the first gas cylinder 10a is connected to the first gas supply pipe 50a, and the second gas cylinder 10b is connected to the second gas supply pipe 50b (refer to Figure 1 ).

[0067] In the subsequent S6 , the first moving device 30 a and the second moving device 30 b respectively place the first movement restricting member 38 a and the second movement restricting member 38 b in the restricted state.

[0068] In the following step S8, the first moving device 30a and the second moving device 30b move the first gas cylinder 10a and the second gas cylinder 10b, respectively, from the second position to the first position (i.e., change the positions from the second state to the first state). When the first gas cylinder 10a is in the first state, the first on-off valve 14a opens, allowing gas to be supplied from the first gas cylinder 10a to the first gas supply pipe 50a. Similarly, when the second gas cylinder 10b is in the first state, the second on-off valve 14b opens, allowing gas to be supplied from the second gas cylinder 10b to the second gas supply pipe 50b.

[0069] Next, in S10, the control device 90 compares the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 54a with the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor 54b (i.e., compares the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a with the pressure of the gas in the second gas supply pipe 50b). Based on the comparison results, the control device 90 determines which gas tanks 10a and 10b to use. For example, if the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 54a is lower than the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor 54b, the control device 90 determines to use the first gas tank 10a. Alternatively, if the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor 54b is lower than the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 54a, the control device 90 determines to use the second gas tank 10b. In this embodiment, the description assumes that the first gas tank 10a is used.

[0070] In the following S12, the first moving device 30a and the second moving device 30b move the first gas cylinder 10a and the second gas cylinder 10b, respectively, from the first position to the second position (i.e., change the state from the first state to the second state). When the first gas cylinder 10a changes to the second state, the first on-off valve 14a is closed, and when the second gas cylinder 10b changes to the second state, the second on-off valve 14b is closed.

[0071] like Figure 3 As shown, in the next S14, the first moving device 30a moves the first gas cylinder 10a, which was determined to be used in the above-mentioned S10, from the second position to the first position (i.e., changes it from the second state to the first state). On the other hand, the second moving device 30b leaves the unused second gas cylinder 10b at the second position (i.e., in the second state).

[0072] When the gas tank to be used (in this embodiment, the first gas tank 10a) is in the first state, the first on-off valve 14a is opened, and gas is supplied from the first gas tank 10a to the gas consumption device 4 through the first gas supply pipe 50a. Furthermore, as the gas is consumed by the gas consumption device 4, the amount of gas in the first tank body 12a of the first gas tank 10a decreases, and the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a gradually decreases.

[0073] Next, in S16, the control device 90 monitors whether the detection pressure of the pressure sensor on the side of the gas tank in use is reduced to less than the prescribed first reference pressure. In the present embodiment, in S16, the control device 90 monitors whether the detection pressure of the first pressure sensor 54a on the side of the first gas tank 10a is reduced to less than the prescribed first reference pressure. The detection pressure of the first pressure sensor 54a on the side of the first gas tank 10a is the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a. In the case where the detection pressure of the first pressure sensor 54a is reduced to less than the first reference pressure (in S16, it is yes), the processing enters S18, and in the case where it is not reduced to less than the first reference pressure (in S16, it is no), the processing waits in S16. In the case where the detection pressure of the first pressure sensor 54a is reduced to less than the first reference pressure (refer to Figure 4 T2) means that the amount of gas in the first tank body 12a of the first gas tank 10a decreases to less than a predetermined reference amount.

[0074] In S18, following a yes in S16, the first moving device 30a moves the first gas cylinder 10a, currently in use, from the first position to the second position (i.e., changes it from the first state to the second state). Even if the first gas cylinder 10a, currently in use, moves to the second position (i.e., changes to the second state), gas will still remain in the first gas supply pipe 50a immediately after reaching the second position. Therefore, the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a is supplied to the gas consumption device 4, and the gas is consumed by the gas consumption device 4. As the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a is consumed by the gas consumption device 4, the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a gradually decreases.

[0075] Next, in S20, the control device 90 monitors whether the detection pressure of the first pressure sensor 54a on the same side as the above-mentioned S16 (i.e., the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a) is reduced to less than the specified second reference pressure. The second reference pressure is a pressure less than the first reference pressure in the above-mentioned S16. In the case where the detection pressure of the first pressure sensor 54a is reduced to less than the second reference pressure (yes in S20), the processing enters S22, and in the case where it is not reduced to less than the second reference pressure (no in S20), the processing waits in S20. In the case where the detection pressure of the first pressure sensor 54a is reduced to less than the second reference pressure (refer to Figure 4 T4) means that the amount of gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a is sufficiently reduced.

[0076] Next, in S22, the second moving device 30b moves the other unused gas tank (in this embodiment, the second gas tank 10b) from the second position to the first position (i.e., changes it from the second state to the first state). When the second gas tank 10b changes to the first state, the second on-off valve 14b opens, and gas is supplied from the second gas tank 10b to the gas consumption device 4 through the second gas supply pipe 50b. Furthermore, as the gas is consumed by the gas consumption device 4, the amount of gas within the second tank body 12b of the second gas tank 10b decreases, and the pressure of the gas within the second gas supply pipe 50b gradually decreases.

[0077] Next, in S24, the first moving device 30a sets the first movement restricting member 38a to the released state. In the following S26, the first moving device 30a moves the used first gas cylinder 10a from the second position to the third position (i.e., changes it from the second state to the third state). When the first gas cylinder 10a is in the third state, the first on-off valve 14a is disconnected from the first gas supply pipe 50a. In the following S28, the first moving device 30a sets the first movement restricting member 38a to the restricted state.

[0078] The above describes the gas supply device 2 and the gas cylinder replacement method of the embodiment. As can be seen from the above description, in the gas cylinder replacement method, the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a is consumed by the gas consumption device 4. As a result, after the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a is reduced to less than the second reference pressure, the first gas cylinder 10a is changed from the second state to the third state (see FIG. Figure 3 S20, S26).

[0079] With this configuration, when the first gas tank 10a is removed from the first gas supply pipe 50a, the pressure of the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a is reduced before the first gas tank 10a is removed. This suppresses the generation of noise due to the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a when the first gas tank 10a is removed.

[0080] The gas supply device 2 includes a first moving device 30a for moving the first gas tank 10a. According to this configuration, the state of the first gas tank 10a can be switched with less effort.

[0081] Furthermore, in the gas cylinder replacement method, after the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a decreases to less than the second reference pressure due to consumption of the gas in the first gas supply pipe 50a by the gas consumption device 4, the second gas cylinder 10b is placed in the first state. With this configuration, after the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a is consumed, gas can be supplied to the gas consumption device 4 from the second gas cylinder 10b, which is different from the first gas cylinder 10a.

[0082] In the embodiment, the first gas supply pipe 50a, located downstream of the first check valve 52a, merges with the second gas supply pipe 50b, located downstream of the second check valve 52b. This configuration prevents gas supplied from the first gas tank 10a to the first gas supply pipe 50a from flowing back through the second gas supply pipe 50b. Similarly, gas supplied from the second gas tank to the second gas supply pipe 50b from flowing back through the first gas supply pipe 50a is prevented from flowing back through the second gas supply pipe 50b.

[0083] Correspondence

[0084] S14 of the embodiment (refer to Figure 2 ) is an example of the "first step" described in the claims. Figure 3 ) is an example of “Step 2”, the processing of S26 is an example of “Step 3”, and the processing of S22 is an example of “Step 4”.

[0085] Modifications

[0086] Existence Figure 3 After S18 shown, the first gas tank 10a is in the second position (i.e., in the second state). In this case, the control device 90 may supply power from the battery 8 to the power consuming device 6 instead of the gas consuming device 4 (fuel cell). The control device 90 may, for example, switch off the power supply between the gas consuming device 4 (fuel cell) and the power consuming device 6 and supply power to the battery 8 and the power consuming device 6.

[0087] When the gas consuming device 4 is a fuel cell and the first gas tank 10a is in the second state after S18, the fuel cell consumes the gas remaining in the first gas supply pipe 50a to generate electricity. It is believed that the amount of power generated by the fuel cell in this state is relatively low. Therefore, in this state, power is not supplied from the fuel cell to the power consuming device 6, but from the battery 8. This ensures that sufficient power can be supplied to the power consuming device 6.

[0088] While the specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples described above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of the objectives itself has technical usefulness.

Claims

1. A method for replacing a gas cylinder, wherein: The gas tank is replaced in a gas supply device, which includes a plurality of gas tanks connected to a plurality of gas supply pipes, and can supply gas from each gas tank to a gas consuming device through each gas supply pipe. The first gas tank, which is one of the plurality of gas tanks, can supply gas to the gas consuming device through the first gas supply pipe, which is one of the plurality of gas supply pipes. The first gas tank includes: a first tank body storing gas supplied to the gas consuming device under high pressure; and a first opening and closing valve opening and closing the gas supply port of the first tank body and connected to the first gas supply pipe. The first gas tank can be changed into: In a first state, when the first on-off valve is connected to the first gas supply pipe, the first on-off valve is opened, thereby supplying the gas in the first tank body to the gas consuming device through the first gas supply pipe; a second state in which the first on-off valve is connected to the first gas supply pipe and the first on-off valve is closed, thereby not supplying the gas in the first tank body to the gas consuming device; and In the third state, the first on-off valve is in a closed state, and the first on-off valve is separated from the first gas supply pipe. The method comprises: The first step is to change the first gas tank into the first state, thereby supplying the gas in the first tank body to the gas consuming device through the first gas supply pipe; a second step of changing the first gas tank from the first state to the second state when the amount of gas in the first tank body decreases to less than a predetermined reference amount after the first step; as well as In the third step, after the gas consumption device consumes the gas in the first gas supply pipe after the second step, causing the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe to drop to less than a specified reference pressure, the first gas tank is changed from the second state to the third state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The gas consumption device is a fuel cell that consumes gas to generate electricity, and is configured to supply the generated electricity to the power consumption device. The power consumption device is capable of consuming the power supplied from the fuel cell and the power supplied from a battery different from the fuel cell. The method includes the step of supplying power from the battery to the power consuming device instead of supplying power from the fuel cell when the first gas tank is in the second state after the second step.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The gas supply device includes a moving device for moving the first gas tank. The moving device changes the first gas tank between the first state, the second state, and the third state by moving the first gas tank.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The second gas tank, which is one of the plurality of gas tanks, can supply gas to the gas consuming device through the second gas supply pipe, which is one of the plurality of gas supply pipes. The second gas tank includes: a second tank body storing gas supplied to the gas consuming device under high pressure; and a second opening and closing valve opening and closing the gas supply port of the second tank body and connected to the second gas supply pipe. The second gas tank can be changed to a first state. In the first state, the second on-off valve is opened while the second on-off valve is connected to the second gas supply pipe, so that the gas in the second tank body can be supplied to the gas consumption device through the second gas supply pipe. The method further comprises a fourth step, In the fourth step, after the gas consumption device consumes the gas in the first gas supply pipe after the second step and the pressure of the gas in the first gas supply pipe decreases to less than the reference pressure, the second gas tank is changed to the first state.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The first gas supply pipe is provided with a first check valve. A second check valve is provided on the second gas supply pipe. The first gas supply pipe on the downstream side of the first check valve merges with the second gas supply pipe on the downstream side of the second check valve.

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